USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. I > Part 28
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40. John M. Pattison, democrat, Clermont county, elected in 1905. Vote cast: For Pattison, 473,264; for Myron T. Herrick, 430,617; Isaac Cowan, socialist, 18,432; A. S. Watkins, prohibitionist, 11,970. Governor Pattison served less than six months, and died in 1906, at Milford, Cler- mont county. He was born in the same county in 1847.
41. At the election in 1905, Andrew L. Harris, was elected as a repub- lican on the ticket with Governor Herrick, lieutenant governor, it being the third time he was chosen to that office. He succeeded Governor Pattison. He was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1834.
42. Judson Harmon, born in Hamilton county, Ohio, February 2, 1846, was judge of the court of common pleas, Hamilton county, 1876-78, judge of the superior court of Cincinnati, 1878-87, attorney general of the United States under President Cleveland, 1895-97, graduated from Deni- son University and the Cincinnati Law School, elected governor of Ohio in 1908, on the democratic ticket, receiving 552,569 votes, to 553,197 for Andrew L. Harris, republican; 28,573 for Robert Bandlow, socialist and 7,665 for John B. Martin, prohibitionist. There were 1,194 scattering votes cast. The total vote cast 1,122,198. Inaugurated January 11, 1909.
In 1906 a change in terms of office and dates of election resulted from a constitutional amendment and the laws passed thereunder. Instead of a state election annually in November and a local election annually in April, the state election is held biennially in November of the even numbered years and local elections biennially in the same month of the odd numbered years. The various official terms requiring it, were extended to meet the changed condition. As a consequence the next elected governor was chosen in 1908 and assumed office on the second Monday of January, 1909 ---
COLUMBUS CITY (CARNEGIE) LIBRARY.
HAYDEN RESIDENCE, EAST STATE AND SIXTH, Former Home of Governor, Secretary of the United States Treasury and Chief Justice of the United States, Salmon P. Chase.
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on the off numbered instead of the even numbered year, as had been the rule since 1852.
Up to and including 1907, there have been fifty-one gubernatorial terms and forty-one incumbents. Two men served parts of three terms each- Allen Trimble and Rutherford B. Hayes. Edward Tiffin was elected to two terms, as were Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr., Thomas Worthington, Ethan Allen Brown, Allen Trimble (who had previously been acting governor by virtue of his position as speaker of the senate), Robert Lucas, Wilson Shan- non (with one term intervening), Reuben Wood, Salmon P. Chase, Charles Foster, Joseph B. Foraker, William McKinley, Asa S. Bushnell and George K. Nash. Rutherford B. Hayes was elected three times, but not in succes- sion. Joseph B. Foraker was a candidate for a third term and was defeated. Governors Tiffin, Meigs, Brown, Shannon, Wood, Brough, Hayes and Patti- son by reason of resignation or death, did not serve in full the terms to which they were elected, which accounts for the disproportion between incumbents and the gubernatorial terms.
During the one hundred and five years of the state's organized exist- ence it has been fortunate in the choice of its chief magistrates. Some of them were men of unusual endowments and statesmanship; some were men of plain practical common sense, and some were men of great and versatile ability and genius, but the breath of suspicion never soiled their personal honor, nor did the tongue of scandal nor of accusation impugn the official honesty of either of them. They were not all great men, but they were all honest men.
The Pioneer Balloon Ascensions.
On the 4th of July, 1842, was the first balloon ascension from Columbus. Mr. Clayton, a celebrated aeronaut, then of Cincinnati, Ohio, made a beauti- ful ascent from the state house yard, where a vast concourse of people had assembled to witness the spectacle. He arose, it was supposed, to the height of from one to two miles. The balloon at first bore southward, then about due east, and landed safely about five miles east of Newark; and he returned to Columbus about two o'clock on the second day.
The second balloon ascension, was also by a celebrated aeronaut, Mr. Wise, of Pennsylvania. On the 4th of July, 1851, pursuant to an engage- ment with Mr. Kinney, he made his ascent from an enclosure prepared for the occasion, and other amusements of the day, at the corner of Broad and Seventh streets. There was a very large concourse of spectators, and the ascension as fine as could have been wished. He landed safe and sound about six miles from his starting point, and returned to the city the same evening. The State Journal of the next day says: "Too much praise can- not be given Mr. Kinney and Mr. Wise for their services in catering to the public taste in this most interesting and beautiful exhibition."
Proposed Horseback Balloon Ascension.
The third balloon ascension from Columbus, was by a Monsieur Godard, on the 29th of October, 1857, from the enclosure of the Capital City Fair
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Grounds, a short distance southeasterly from the lunatic asylum. This as- cension was also made pursuant to an engagement by Mr. John M. Kinney. Monsieur Godard was a Frenchman, and was engaged to come from the city of Philadelphia, to make an ascension, on horseback. The ascension was only intended as a preliminary one to the great horseback ascension, which was to come off two days after; but which, owing to a disappointment in obtaining gas, did not come off at all. But this ascension was a grand one. Monsieur Godard, his brother, Mr. P. W. Huntington of the Exchange Bank and Robert H. Thompson, of the post office department, all ascended-three of them in the car, and one of the Godards suspended by his feet to a rope some fifteen or twenty feet long, hanging below the car with his head down- ward, and in that position, waving a flag as he was carried through the air. They all landed safely, near Taylor's Station, some eight or nine miles east of Columbus. Mr. P. W. Huntington, in 1908, is one of the active bankers and business men in Columbus.
Escaped Slave Kidnapped.
The following narrative of kidnapping a negro slave from Columbus, by a disgraceful ruse, and the arrest and trial of some of the persons con- nected with it, has the merit of a happy ending of
Jerry Finney's Case.
"In the spring of 1846, a case of kidnapping occurred at Columbus. On the 27th of March, after dark, Jerry Finney, a black man, who had re- sided in Columbus some fourteen or fifteen years, was decoyed over to the town of Franklinton, to the office of William Henderson, Esq., who was, at the time, an acting justice of the peace of Franklin Township. The neces- sary certificate, etc., having been previously prepared, Jerry was forthwith delivered over by the justice, in his official capacity, to the decoying party ; one of whom was Alexander C. Forbes, of Kentucky, who held a power of attorney from Mrs. Bathsheba D. Long, of Frankfort, Kentucky, to whom it was claimed that Jerry belonged, and owed service, as an escaped slave. Jerry begged for a fair trial, but in vain. He was immediately hand-cuffed and put into a carriage standing at the door for that purpose, and driven to Cincinnati, from thence to Kentucky, and delivered over to his former mis- tress.
"As Jerry was generally known by our citizens (having been cook and general waiter or servant at most of our public houses), his sudden disap- pearance from our midst, and the time and manner of his capture, created some excitement. And the following persons were arrested and held to bail to answer the charge of kidnapping: William Henderson, Esq., Jacob Arm- itage, Henry Henderson, Daniel A. Potter and Daniel Zinn.
"At the July term, 1846, of the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, a true bill of indictment was found against all of the above named
01
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persons, together with Alexander C. Forbes (the agent), for the unlawful seizure, etc., of Jerry.
"At the following September term of said court, all of the defendants (except Forbes, who had not been arrested), were put upon trial. A. F. Perry, Esq., Prosecuting Attorney, and Wm. Dennison, Jr., conducting the prosecution and F. J. Matthews, Esq., and Col. N. H. Swayne, counsel for the defendants.
"The case occupied several days, and much interest was manifested by those who were acquainted with the defandants and with Jerry. During the progress of the trial, one of the jurors, Dr. George Richey, was taken sick, and unable to attend further at the court. At this juncture of the case, all of the defendants, as well as the state (by her counsel), agreed to proceed with the eleven remaining jurors. The case was ably conducted on both sides, and quite a large number of bills of exceptions were taken by the de- fendants' counsel as to the rulings of the court. The jury retired, deliber- ated, and returned a verdict of guilty as to Esq. William Henderson, and not guilty as to the remaining defendants. Esq. Henderson was then re- manded in jail, and the other defendants discharged from custody. The court suspended passing sentence upon Henderson, and the case was then, by his attorneys, taken up to the Supreme Court upon error, and among the many errors assigned, was, in substance, this: that it was not within the province of the defendant to waive his objection as to the absence of one of the jurors, and the proceeding in the trial with the eleven jurors, was error. This objection the court sustained, and decided the case upon that point ; and Esq. Henderson was discharged."
Typography a Profession.
On the 25th of February, 1834, the legislature passed an act incorpor- ating the "Columbus Typographical Society," and in the same act recog- nized typography as a "profession."
The incorporators were Patrick Howe, Jason Case, William C. Morrow, James Mead, Thomas R. Raymond, Peter J. Bartholomew, Charles L. Mur- ray, David B. Espy, James H. Patterson, Benjamin J. Gray, T. T. Sarchet, J. B. Halsey, Alexander E. Glenn, Theodore Laughre, Jonathan Phillips, Isaac Watson, Matthias Birck and Samuel Martin. The name and style of the corporation was "The Columbus Typographical Society," and it was de- clared to be competent to sue and be sued, to contract and be contracted with, acquire and dispose of property, etc., but "the annual income of said corpora- tions shall not exceed the sum of $500.00."
The object of the society was declared to be-"to afford relief to deserving indigent members, their widows and orphans, and to preserve the honor of the profession by the adoption of such measures as shall to them appear to be necessary for the encouragement of industry, sobriety, good order and morality, among its members." The officers consisted of a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and standing committee of three. No record is available which gives the names of any officials, or history of the society further than it continued to exist during a number of years.
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CHAPTER XI.
RISE AND GROWTH OF MANUFACTURING AND MERCANTILE INTERESTS, ETC.
By a brief review of the manufacturing and mercantile interests as they presented themselves in 1858, and then by an even briefer comparison of the present number and extent of like enterprises, the correct idea of the extent of the growth of the two during the half century is seen, freed from the confusing details of their annual progress. Herewith is the condensa- tion presenting to the present reader and citizen the manufacturing and mer- cantile enterprises of 1858; and in word and thought as they presented themselves in 1858 and as the subject would naturally have been written about at that date.
The Ridgway Foundry.
This was the first successful manufacturing establishment in Columbus. It was commenced in the spring of 1822, by Joseph Ridgway, then from the state of New York. For some years he used horse-power instead of steam, and the principal article of the manufacture was Jethro Wood's patent plow, of which he had made and sold an immense number. It was then considered the best plow in use. About the first of January, 1830, he having associated with him his nephew Joseph Ridgway, Jr., they introduced into their fac- tory steam instead of horse-power and extended their business to the manu- facturing of machinery, steam engines, stoves, etc. For many years, they did an extensve business, giving employment to about fifty or sixty hands, gen- erally. Joseph Ridgway, Jr., having died in 1850, the business was continued successfully by the surviving partner and administrator until the spring of 1854, when he sold out and transferred the whole establishment to Peter Hay- den, Esq., since which it has been owned and conducted by Mr. Hayden.
The Franklin Foundry,
Generally known by the name of "Gill's Foundry," was commenced in 1838, by John L. Gill, William A. Gill and Henry Glover. In 1839, John McCune took the place of Mr. Glover, and the firm of Gills & McCune continued till May, 1848. From that time the business was continued by J. L. & W. A. Gill till July, 1852, since which time it was conducted solely by John L. Gill until July, 1857, when he associated with him his son, J. L. Gill, Jr. This establishment commenced business with about twenty-five hands and was principally engaged in the manufacture of stoves, plows and mill irons, and did a successful business. For the last few years, the establishment gave employment generally to from sixty to seventy-five persons. In 1855, Mr. Gill commenced the manufacture of his celebrated combination steel plow and is now manufacturing nearly four thousand per year. The amount of capital invested in the establishment is estimated at about fifty thousand dollars.
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Columbus Machine Manufacturing Company.
This manufacturing establishment was commenced by Charles Ambos and James Lennox in 1849, with a capital of some eight or ten thousand dollars. It was designated by the name of "Eagle Foundry" and the firm by that of Ambos & Lennox. After continuing the business until the spring of 1854, they sold out for upwards of sixty-eight thousand dollars; and it was converted into a joint stock company, by its present name.
The present company commenced with about thirty stockholders, and a capital of eighty thousand dollars. They subsequently increased their cap- ital to one hundred thousand dollars. The company employ about one hun- dred and twenty-five men on an average the year round and pay to their officers and hands about four thousand dollars on the first day of each month; and turn out in machinery and castings, from one hundred and forty thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand dollars a year. This company put up the iron frame work for the roofing of the state house, all the iron ceilings, galleries and railings in the same. The ground occupied by the company is three hundred and twenty by one hundred and eighty- five feet.
Charles Ambos is, and has been, the superintendent from the commence- ment. Samuel Galloway was the first president, but being elected to congress in 1854, he was succeeded by that experienced manufacturer, John S. Hall, Esq. H. Crary was treasurer and secretary until January, 1857, when he was succeeded by P. Ambos as treasurer, and F. G. Jones as secretary. Joseph Coffin has been chief foreman ever since the commencement. The present directors are John S. Hall, P. Ambos, W. E. Ide, E. J. Matthews, Amos McNary, B. S. Brown, J. P. Bruck.
Peter Hayden's Extensive Works.
Commenced some twenty years since, consist principally in the manu- facturing of iron into various useful forms, partly from pig metal and partly from scrap iron, of which they procure immense quantities, and manufacture it into bar iron and all sizes of wires. The establishment is very extensive and gives employment generally to over a hundred hands. The manufacture of saddlery, stirrups, buckles, etc., by Mr. Hayden, is principally done in the prison by convict labor. The writer regrets that he is not able to give a fuller history and description of this large establishment, but it seems the proprietor did not desire it, and it is therefore thus briefly noticed.
Ohio Tool Company.
This is an extensive manufacturing company, incorporated in 1851, under a general law authorizing the formation and organization of such companies. Capital stock one hundred and ninety thousand dollars. The chief article of manufacture is carpenter's planes, hence it is frequently called the "Plane Factory." The average number of hands employed in
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the various departments of the business is about two hundred. The con- cerns of the company are said to be in a prosperous condition and the stock in good demand. It is controlled by a board of seven directors. Present Officers: George Gere, president; A. Thomas, secretary and treasurer; C. H. Clark, superintendent. Directors: O. Allen, W. A. Platt, A. McNairy, J. R. Swan, George Gere, P. Hayden, J. M. McCune.
Ridgway Car Factory.
In 1849, Joseph Ridgway, Sr., and Joseph Ridgway, Jr., who had for many years been doing a heavy business in their own foundry, associated with them in their new enterprise of car manufacturing, Mr. Pearl Kimball, from Massachusetts, a gentleman of experience in that line of business. They made extensive and costly buildings and preparations west of the river, by the side of the railroad, and went very extensively into the business under the firm name of Ridgways & Kimball. Their cars were of the first quality and in extensive demand. In 1850, Mr. Ridgway, Jr., died, but the business was continued by the other two partners successfully until the spring of 1856, when their main buildings and its contents were entirely de- stroyed by fire. They never rebuilt it but continued business on a smaller scale until about the first of January, 1857, when Mr. Ridgway sold out his interest to Mr. Kimball, who has since continued the business alone. Before the destruction by fire, they generally gave employment to about eighty men.
The Columbus Woolen Factory.
This company organized in 1851, under the general act authorizing such corporations. In 1851 and 1852, they erected their buildnigs, procured their machinery and commenced manufacturing in the summer or fall of 1852. The first board of directors were A. P. Stone, F. C. Kelton, Theodore Comstock, John Butler and James Lennox. The principal business officer of the company is the superintendent, who, subject to the order of the di- rectors, manages and controls the business of the establishment. The suc- cessive superintendents have been J. L. Haughton, John H. Stage, A. P. Mason.
The dividends to stockholders have generally been made in certificates of additional stock or manufactured goods, and in this way the capital stock has been increased until it now amounts to about fifty-six thousand dollars. The present officers and agents of the company are, A. P. Stone, president; J. F. Bartlett, Peter Ambos, J. P. Bruck, L. Hoster, directors; A. P. Mason, superintendent; C. E. Batterson, bookkeeper.
Brotherlin & Halm's Chair and Cabinet Ware Factory.
This is owned by a private firm, composed of the two gentlemen whose names it bears, who associated together for the purpose of manufacturing all kinds of chairs and cabinet furniture by steam power and machinery. In
THE FAMOUS' SPRING, OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY GROUNDS, Scene of Many Students Pranks.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.
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the spring of 1853, they commenced their building in the southwest corner of the city near the canal, and in July of the same year commenced manu- facturing. In February, 1856, their building was totally destroyed by fire, but with the energy of real business men, they without delay commenced re- building and by the first of July following, their manufacturing again com- menced. The number of hands they employ is generally about forty. Their furniture store, for the sale of their manufactured articles, is kept on High street.
Tub & Pail Manufactory.
This establishment is the property of an incorporated joint stock com- pany, formed for the purpose of manufacturing hollow wooden ware by steam power and machinery. They organized and erected their buildings on the west bank of the Scioto in 1855, and in July, 1856, commenced man- ufacturing. The capital stock subscribed and paid in is nearly twenty-eight thousand dollars, which was not a sufficient amount to pay for the improve- ments and start the business to advantage, but the company persevered and they were said to be mastering their difficulties and doing a pretty fair busi- ness with the prospect of a bright future. But on the 10th of May, 1858, their factory was struck by lightning, and the building and all its contents consumed by fire. It is said that they will rebuild. The affairs of the com- pany are controlled by a board of five directors. Present officers-George Kanemacher, president; W. L. Hughes, secretary; H. Crary, treasurer; J. H. Beebe, superintendent.
City Mills.
The City Mills are owned by a private firm composed of Messrs. Com- stock, Harrison and Decker, doing business under the firm name of A. S. Decker & Company. The mill was originally erected by Mr. Comstock west of the canal, and there known by the name of Novelty Mills. In 1856 the present firm was formed and the steam-power and mill machinery were re- moved into the new building on Fourth street in the early part of 1857 and was then named City Mills. Mr. Decker is the acting agent.
Beside the foregoing manufactories, there are various others in success- ful operation in the city, among which are the saw factory at the corner of Water and Spring streets, propelled by steam, proprietors, Messrs. Ohlen and Drake ; several planing machines, propelled by steam, at which are also man- ufactured doors, sash, blinds, etc .; Messrs. Swan and Davie's foundry and machine shop, on the west side of the river, established a few years since, and giving employment to from twenty-five to thirty men; the new steam paper mill of Messrs. Hines and Miller, erected in the fall of 1857, and which commenced manufacturing paper in January, 1858; the coffee and spice grinding mill, established by the Messrs. Rose and now owned by C. P. L. Butler, Esq., worked by steam power; Messrs. Schoedinger and Brown's furniture manufactory; and two extensive breweries at the south end of the city, one owned by Messrs. Hoster and Silbernagle and the other by Mr. John Blenkner.
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Some Comparative Figures.
In 1858 there were, all told, thirty-eight manufacturing establishments, great and small, in Columbus, and as nearly as may now be ascertained rep- resented approximately an invested capital of four hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, with an annual output of manufactured goods and articles of all kinds not exceeding one million two hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars in value. In 1908 there are, including the establishments in all lines of manufacturing, many of them singly representing a greater investment, ten times over, than all of the manufacturing establishments in 1858 (and the output increasing proportionally), no less than three hundred and eighty- one establishments. Here, as in other matters of growth and progress, the increase during the half century has been approximately one thousand per cent.
Mercantile Advancement.
There were in 1858 what may be termed mercantile establishments and stores. The first consisted of those establishments that carried single lines of goods, dry goods, jewelry, hardware and one or two other lines, and were, perhaps, of controlling importance in the mercantile sense, and in addition mixed or general stores, carrying several lines and of less importance, includ- ing restaurants (or eating houses), saloons and taverns. All told, they num- bered a little short of three hundred.
There is no authentic data upon which to estimate the annual amount of business done by these esablishments, but the best information available puts it at one million five hundred thousand dollars a year. If we include the same lines of business today along with new ones that have grown up, we find the number to be two thousand one hundred and ninety-three the aver- age per cent of increase.
Another suggestive comparison is the investment of three leading whole- sale houses today, which is one million five hundred thousand dollars, equal to the whole volume of mercantile business, wholesale and retail, in 1858. Their sales, also, when considered apart, confirm the fixed percentage of the city's growth along all channels; while one of the great establishments in the manufacturing line has an annual output of five million dollars, or approxi- mately twice as great as all business investments and sales of half a cen- tury ago.
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