USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Centennial history of Columbus and Franklin County, Ohio, Vol. I > Part 9
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Early Years of Village Life.
For the first few years the town improved rapidly. Emigrants flowed in apparently from all quarters, and the improvements and general business of the place kept pace with the increase of population. Columbus at that date, however, was a rough spot in the woods, afar from any public road of much consequence. The east and west travel passed through Zanesville. Lancaster and Chillicothe; and the mails came to Columbus by cross lines on horseback The first successful attempt to carry a mail to and from Columbus, otherwise than on horseback, was by Philip Zinn about the year 1816, once a week between Chillicothe and Columbus, via the Scioto river.
How Real Estate was Sold.
The proprietors of the town usually made their sales of lots by title bond. Upon receiving a third, fourth or fifth of the price agreed upon in hand, and annual notes for the balance without interest if punctually paid, otherwise to bear interest from date, they executed a bond binding them- selves to make a deed when the notes were paid; and it frequently happened that after one or two payments and a small improvement had been made, the whole would fall back to the proprietors. The lots for sale all being in the hands of the proprietors, and their giving time on the payments, kept up the prices at from two to five hundred dollars on any part of the town plat, and prices did not fall much below this until after the year 1820, when owing to the failure of two of the proprietors, Mclaughlin and Johnson, as also of numerous other individuals who had possessed themselves of lots, there was such an immense number offered at forced sales by the United States marshal and sheriff, and so very little money in the country, that after being appraised and offered, and re-appraised and offered again and again, they finally had to sell. And lots which had years before been held at two and three hundred dollars, were struck off and sold at from ten to twenty dollars, and sometimes lower, even down to seven or eight dollars, for a lot on the extremities of the plat.
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More Depression.
To add to the depression of business and price of property, about the year 1822 or 1823, the title of Starling's half section, on which the town was in part located was called in question. It had originally been granted to one Allen, a refugee from the British provinces in the time of the American Revo- lution. Allen had deeded it to his son, and the son had mortgaged it and it was sold at sheriff's sale to satisfy the mortgage, and Starling was the pur- chaser.
The First Disputed Title.
It was now claimed by the heirs of Allen, who took various exceptions to Starling's title. First as to the sale from the old man Allen to his son; also to the authentication of the mortgage by the son, and particularly to the sale by the sheriff to Starling, on the ground that there was no evidence that an appraisement had been made as required by the statutes of Ohio, and suit was brought by ejectment against some of the occupants who owned the most valuable improvements, first in the supreme court of Ohio, and then in the United States court for the district of Ohio.
Henry Clay in Ohio Supreme Court.
Mr. Starling defended the suits and first engaged Henry Clay, who then practiced in the United States courts at Columbus, as attorney. But owing to his appointment as secretary of state, he was called to Washington city and gave up the case, and Henry Baldwin, then of Pittsburg. was next engaged, who conducted the defense with great ability, and about the year 1826 it was finally decided in favor of Starling's title. So the matter was put to rest as to that half section.
The suit against Starling's half section was scarcely decided, when a claim was set up against Kerr and MeLaughlin's half section. They had bought from one Strawbridge, who conveyed by an attorney or agent. and the deed ran thus: That the agent conveyed for Strawbridge, instead of Strawbridge conveying by agent, and was so signed: ")- ----- M- (the agent), (seal), Attorney in fact for Strawbridge."
Thus the defect in Kerr and Mclaughlin's title was merely technical. But it was contended that this was not Strawbridge's deed, but the deed of the agent who claimed no title. And about the year 1826, a quit-claim was obtained from Strawbridge's heirs, by some man purporting to be a New Yorker, upon which a suit was brought in ejection, as in other cases, against one or more of the occupants of the most valuable lots. But by a suit in chancery to: quiet title about the year 1827, this was all set right, and the title of Kerr and Mclaughlin sustained. In March, 1851, an act was passed by the legislature of Ohio to remedy such defects in conveyances, by which this technical distinction under the common law has been abolished.
VIEW IN FRANKLIN PARK
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The years 1819 and 1820 to 1826 were the dullest years in Columbus. But soon after this Columbus began to look up again. The location of the national road and the Columbus feeder to the Ohio canal gave an impetus to improvements, and by the year 1830, the prices of property and the im- provements of the town had very considerably advanced.
The Manufacturing Spirit Appears.
Although Columbus possessed a reasonable amount of wealth and of money-making talent, the attention of its capitalists never was until of later years much turned toward manufacturing, but more directed to specu- lating upon the productions of others, by buying, selling, etc., than to creat- ing new or additional wealth. The early efforts in the way of mills and manufactories, further than the common branches of mechanism, generally failed, either for want of capital or want of judgment and skill in their construction and management. The first partially modern sawmill erected within the present city limits was a sawmill on the Scioto, some ten or fif- teen rods below where the penitentiary now is, in 1813, by John Shields and Richard Courtney. It passed through several hands in a few years; was considered a good property; but soon went to ruin; and for the last sixty-five years or more not a vestige of its remains has been perceivable.
About the year 1816 the same John Shields erected a flouring mill on the run at the southwest corner of the town, a few rods west of Ball's tan- nery. The water was brought from east of High street in a race along the side of the bank, near the south end of Hoster's brewery, and let on to an overshot wheel. This mill, after standing some twelve or fifteen years and being owned by several individuals in succession was sufferel to go to ruin, and there have been no remains of it perceivable for fifty years.
Along this hollow there formerly were, in succession, a number of brew- eries, distilleries, tanyards and asheries that have long since disappeared. At a later period there were two large breweries, one owned by Messrs. Hos- ter & Silbernagle and the other by John Blenker, and some three or four tanneries.
The First Circular Saw.
In 1819, Moses Jewett, Caleb Houston and John E. Baker erected on the Scioto, just above Rich street, a sawmill upon a new patent plan. The saw was circular and was to cut constantly ahead with no back strokes. It was an experiment, and cost them a good deal without ever answering any valuable purpose.
In 1821 Colonel Jewett and Judge Hines commenced the manufactur- ing of cotton yarn by horse power in a frame building on Front street. be- tween Rich and Friend; and after experimenting with that some time and also with the circular saw in the mill, the spinning machinery was removed into the mill, where the spinning was continued by water power a few years. But finally the whole concern was abandoned, and for nearly fifty years
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there has not been a vestige of the building to show where it stood. The frame on Front Street where they first commenced the cotton spinning was for many years known as the "old factory."
A Hemp Dresser.
About this time, Judge Hines having invented a machine for dressing hemp in an unrotted state, in 1822 he and William Bain constructed and put in operation one of the machines at the southeast corner of High street and South Public lane. It was propelled by horse power on a tread wheel. It after some time passed into the hands of Lafayette Tibbits, who worked it until the fall of 1824, when he failed and the whole concern went down.
Woolen Manufacturers.
About the year 1822, a woolen factory for carding, spinning and weav- ing was commenced by Ebenezer Thomas and others on the west end of the lot later owned by Colonel S. W. Andrews, corner of High and Noble streets. It was worked by horse power on a tread wheel. It passed through the hands of different owners, without profit to any. About the year 1834 or 1835, the building and machinery were removed and re-erected by George Jeffries on the west abutment of the canal dam, where it was worked by water power, some two or three years, when the machinery was sold out by piece meal under the hammer; and so ended that manufacturing estab- lishment.
A Steam Sawmill.
About the year 1831 or 1832, John McElvain erected a steam sawmill at the head of the canal, where Hunter's warehouse afterward stood. It was worked by different persons (it is believed without much profit) for some seven or eight years, when the engine and machinery were disposed of and the warehouse erected over it, the mill frame answering as part of the ware- house. In 1843, the warehouse was totally consumed by fire, but was sub- sequently rebuilt. The first successful manufacturing establishment, other than common mechanic shops, was the foundry and plow manufactory of Mr. Ridgway, established in 1822.
The County Seat Removed.
In 1824 the county seat was removed from Franklinton to Columbus; and the courts were held in the United States courthouse until 1840. The court of common pleas then (1824) was composed of Gustavus Swan, presi- dent; Edward Livingston, Samuel G. Flenniken, and Aurora Buttles, associ- ates; A. I. McDowell, clerk; and Robert Brotherton, sheriff.
Begins to Expand.
As already observed, the original town was laid out in 1812. In the summer of 1814, John McGown's addition was laid out and called South
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Columbus-surveyed and platted by John Shields. In 1830 the wharf lots were laid out by order of the town council. They are, and theoretically must remain city property. In 1831, a few lots were laid out by John Young and called Young's addition.
McElvain's Addition.
In 1832 a five acre lot of land near the head of the canal, owned by John McElvain and others, was laid out into lots and called McElvain's ad- dition.
In February, 1833. Otis and Samuel Crosby's first addition (between Town and South streets) was laid out; and in November of the same year, their second addition (between South street and South Public lane) was also laid out.
Brotherton and Walcutt's Addition.
About the years 1831 and 1832, Robert Brotherton and John M. Wal- cutt, who owned a few acres of an original reserve, sold out some building lots on Town street, which was generally called Brotherton and Walcutt's addition. They did not have their lots platted, but sold by metes and bounds as lands conveyed. The lots, however, were subsequently platted, agreeably to the sales, and recorded.
Heyl and Parson's Addition.
In 1835 Judge Heyl and Dr. Parsons had a small addition of lots laid out in the southwest corner of the town, called Heyl and Parson's addition. In the same year, 1835, Matthew J. Gilbert's addition was laid out.
Kelley and Northrup's Addition.
In 1838 Alfred Kelley, Moylen Northrup and John Kerr's heirs, laid out into lots what they called on their recorded plat, "The allotment of the central reservation ;" but which was more commonly called Kelley and Northrup's addition. Since which there have been so many small additions and sub-divisions of out-lots into building lots, that it would be more tedi- ous than interesting to trace them any farther.
Demise and Failure.
Of the four original proprietors, John Kerr died in 1823, leaving a young family and a large estate, which, however, did not long remain with his heirs after they arrived at age.
Alexander McLaughlin failed in business about the year 1820 and never again rose from his fallen fortune. He had once been considered amongst the wealthiest men of the state. In his latter years he obtained a
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support by teaching a common country school. He was a sensible man, with a fine business education and qualifications, but he had over-reached himself before the depression of business and prices of real estate, which took place from 1817 or 1818, to 1824 and 1825, and his large landed estate was sold under the hammer (figuratively speaking) for a mere song. He died about the year 1832 or 1833.
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James Johnston, commonly called Colonel Johnston, failed about the same time and in the same way as Mr. Mclaughlin. He left Columbus and went to Pittsburg to live about the year 1820, where he remained the bal- ance of his life and died in the summer of 1842 at a very advanced age.
Lyne Starling, Last of the Four Founders.
Lyne Starling, the surviving one of the four, after the settlement of the proprietors' accounts with the state and among themselves, about the year 1818 or 1820, made a pleasure tour through Europe and then returned and spent the balance of his life principally in Columbus. He lived a bach- elor and died quite wealthy in the fall of 1848, aged sixty-five years. He had, some half dozen years before his death, donated thirty-five thousand dollars to the erection of Starling Medical College and was in return com- plimented by having the college named after him.
John McGown, proprietor of South Columbus, died in the summer of 1824 in the seventy-fifth year of his age.
A Fourth of July Celebration.
On the 4th of July, 1825, a celebration of the commencement of the Ohio canal took place at Licking Summit, at which Governor Clinton, of New York, pursuant to invitation, attended, accompanied by Solomon Van Rensselaer, and Messrs. Rathbone and Lord, who made the first loan to the state for canal purposes. On the Wednesday following, Governor Clinton was escorted into Columbus by General Warner and suite, Colonel P. H. Olmsted's squadron of calvary, Captain Hazel's light infantry, Captain Andrew McElvain's rifle corps, and Captain O'Harra's artillery; together with other citizens, to the state house, where he was addressed by Governor Morrow with a cordial welcome to Ohio's fertile and productive lands and her capital.
To which Governor Clinton made an appropriate reply, eulogizing our state and our canal enterprise, and closing with this sentence: "In five years it may, and probably will be completed, and I am clearly of the opin- ion that in ten years after the consummation of this work it will produce an annual revenue of at least a million of dollars; and I hope this remark may be noted, if anything I say shall be deemed worthy of particular notice, in order that its accuracy may be tested by experience." Governor Clinton overestimated the revenues, but the canal added hundreds of millions in wealth to the state.
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Dined at the Golden Bell.
At the conclusion of the ceremonies at the state house, Governor Clin- ton was escorted to Mr. Robinson's tavern, sign of the Golden Bell, on the lot where the Johnston building was later erected, and partook of a public dinner.
Insurance Company Incorporated.
At the session of the legislature of 1832-33, the Columbus Insurance Company was incorporated. It failed in 1851.
The Clinton Bank Incorporated.
At the session of 1833-34, the Clinton Bank of Columbus was char- tered, and in October, 1834, the first board of directors was elected and con- sisted of William Neil, Christopher Neiswanger, David W. Deshler, Demas Adams, John Patterson, Jesse Stone, Noah H. Swayne, Joseph Ridgway. Bela Latham, William S. Sullivant, William Miner, O. W. Sherwood and Nathaniel Medberry.
First President and Cashier.
William Neil was elected president, and John Delafield, Jr., cashier. Mr. Neil continued president until January, 1846, when he was succeeded by William S. Sullivant, who was continued as president until the charter expired, 1st of January, 1854. Mr. Delafield was succeeded as cashier by John E. Jeffords, in January, 1838. Mr. Jeffords died in April. 1842. and David W. Deshler was then appointed cashier and continued until the expiration of the charter. During the last nine or ten years of the bank, W. G. Deshler served as teller, and David Overdier as bookkeeper.
Charter Expired-New Bank.
After the expiration of the charter, some half dozen of the principal stockholders in the old bank formed themselves into a new private bank- ing company and continued to do business as such in the same room. They styled their institution Clinton Bank, merely dropping from the old name the words "of Columbus." They redeemed the notes of the old Clinton Bank of Columbus.
The First Cholera Scourge.
In the summer of 1833, the cholera made its first appearance in Frank- lin county. It first broke out in the early part of the summer in a neigh- borhood on the canal, in Madison township, where it proved very fatal. but was confined to the space of a few miles only. On the 14th of July. it made its first appearance in Columbus and continued until about the first
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of October. A Mr. Stagg, who resided at the west end of Rich street, op- posite the Jewett block, was the first victim. During its prevalence, there were about two hundred deaths in Columbus, notwithstanding the whole population of the town was not much, if any, over three thousand and it was supposed that one-third had fled to the country. Much sickness from fevers also prevailed at the same time, so that in many cases it was impos- sible to determine to what disease to attribute the death of the patient; though it is believed that about two-thirds of the deaths were attributable to cholera. Out of the whole number, the board of health discriminated one hundred as being of cholera proper. The number that was more or less attributable to cholera, has been variously estimated at from one hundred to one hundred and fifty. The mortality and terror of this season far sur- passed any pestilence that ever afflicted Columbus, before or since. Other parts of the county, beside the town and the neighborhood above alluded to, were not more sickly than ordinary seasons.
Among those who fell victims to the epidemic, were the following well known citizens: the Horton Howard family, consisting of the old gen- tleman, his wife and daughter, two grandchildren, and son-in-law, Mr. Little; James Woods and wife; C. C. Beard and wife; Ebenezer Thomas: William John; John B. Compston; Benjamin Sweetzer; Henry Jewett : Nimrod Rochester; Mr. White, coachmaker, and his wife; and Mrs. Zach- ariah Mills.
Postoffice and Borough Officers.
The Columbus postoffice was established in 1813 and in 1838 was made a distributing office.
Matthew Matthews, appointed postmaster in 1813-retired in 1814.
Joel Buttles, appointed postmaster in 1814-retired in 1829.
Bela Latham, appointed postmaster in 1829-retired in 1841. John G. Miller, appointed postmaster in 1841-retired in 1845.
Jacob Medary, appointed postmaster in 1845-died in 1847.
Samuel Medary, appointed postmaster in 1847-retired in 1849. Aaron F. Perry, appointed postmaster in 1849-retired in 1853.
Thomas Sparrow, appointed postmaster in 1853-retired in 1857.
Thomas Miller, appointed postmaster in 1857-retired in 1858.
Samuel Medary, appointed postmaster in 1858.
Beginning and End of the Borough.
The first act to incorporate the borough of Columbus was passed the 10th of February, 1816, and vested the corporate authority in nine coun- cilmen, from which body a mayor, who also acted as president of the coun- cil. a recorder and treasurer, were elected by the council. They also ap- pointed a surveyor, a marshal, and clerk of the market, and a lister and ap- praiser, to list and value property for borough taxation. The recorder made out the tax duplicate, and the marshal was the collector. The first
OHIO HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES, Ready for the Assembling of the General Assembly.
CHAMBER OF THE OHIO STATE SENATE.
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election for councilmen was held at the Columbus Inn on the 6th of May, 1816.
The elections were by general ticket, and all the town voted at the same poll. The first members were to serve one, two and three years, so that three new members were elected each year after. The first council- men elect met at the same inn on the 13th of the same month and organized. In March, 1817, the old market house, that had been erected by contri- butions, was declared a nuisance and an ordinance passed for its removal.
Members of Council.
During the eighteen years of the borough organization, from 1816 to 1834, the following gentlemen served at various periods, as members of the council, to-wit: Messrs. Robert W. McCay, Jeremiah Armstrong, Robert Armstrong, Henry Brown, John Cutler, Caleb Houston, John Kerr, Michael Patton, Jarvis Pike, James B. Gardiner, Christian Heyl, William McElvain, James Kooken, Townsend Nichols, Ralph Osborn, P. H. Olmsted, John Jeffords, Eli C. King, L. Goodale, Charles Lofland, W. T. Martin, John Greenwood, John Laughry, James Robinson, John W. Smith, William Long, Joel Buttles, Nathaniel McLean, Joseph Ridgway, George Jeffries. John Warner, Robert Brotherton, Jonathan Neereamer, Robert Riorden, Samuel Parsons, John Patterson, Moses R. Spurgion.
The following were the officers appointed by the town council :
Mayor-Jarvis Pike, 1816; Jarvis Pike, 1817; John Kerr, 1818; John Kerr, 1819; Eli C. King, 1820; Eli C. King, 1821; Eli C. King, 1822; John Laughry, 1823; William T. Martin, 1824; William T. Martin, 1825; William T. Martin, 1826; James Robinson, 1827; William Long, 1828; William Long, 1829; William Long, 1830; William Long, 1831: William Long, 1832; P. H. Olmsted, 1833.
Recorder-R. W. McCoy, 1816; R. W. McCoy, 1817; Jas. B. Gardiner, 1818; Ralph Osborn, 1819; John Kerr, 1820; John Kerr, 1821; John Kerr, 1822; William T. Martin, 1823; William Long, 1824; William Long, 1825; William Long, 1826; William Long, 1827; L. Goodale, 1828; L. Goodale, 1829; L. Goodale, 1830; N. McLean, 1831; R. Osborn, 1832; John Patterson, 1833.
Marshal-Samuel King, 1816; Samuel King, 1817; James Fisher. 1818; William Richardson, 1819; Samuel Shannon, 1820; Samuel Shan- non, 1821; Samuel Shannon, 1822; Samuel Shannon, 1823; Benjamin Sells, 1824; Samuel Shannon. 1825; Samuel Shannon, 1826; John Kelly, 1827; Benjamin Sells, 1828; Benjamin Sells, 1829; J. G. Godman, 1830; John Kelly, 1831; Benjamin Sells, 1832; George B. Harvey, 1833.
Treasurer-Robert Armstrong, 1816; Robert Armstrong, 1817; Chris- tian Heyl, 1818; Christian Heyl, 1819; Christian Heyl, 1820; Christian Heyl, 1821; Christian Heyl, 1822; Christian Heyl, 1823; Christian Heyl, 1824: Christian Heyl, 1825; Christian Heyl, 1826; Christian Heyl. 1827;
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R. W. McCoy, 1828; R. W. McCoy, 1829; R. W. McCoy, 1830; R. W. Mc- Coy, 1831; R. W. McCoy, 1832; R. W. McCoy, 1833.
Surveyor-John Kerr, 1816; John Kerr, 1817; John Kerr, 1818; John Kerr, 1819; Jeremiah McLene, 1820; John Kerr, 1821; John Kerr, 1822; Jeremiah McLene, 1823; Jeremiah McLene, 1824; Jeremiah McLene, 1825; Jeremiah McLene, 1826; Jeremiah McLene, 1827; Jeremiah McLene, 1828; Jeremiah McLene, 1829; Jeremiah McLene, 1830; Jos. Ridgway, Jr., 1831; Byron Kilbourne, 1832; Byron Kilbourne, 1833.
Clerks of Market-William Long, 1816; William Long, 1817; William Richardson, 1818; William Richardson, 1819; Samuel Shannon, 1820; Samuel Shannon, 1821; Samuel Shannon, 1822; Samuel Shannon, 1823; Samuel Shannon, 1824; Samuel Shannon, 1825; Samuel Shannon, 1826; John Kelly, 1827; Benjamin Sells, 1828; Benjamin Sells, 1829; Julius G. Godman, 1830; John Kelly, 1831; Benjamin Sells, 1832; George B. Har- vey, 1833.
It will be observed that while there were one hundred and sixty-two councilmanic terms during the sixteen years of the borough organization, there were but thirty-seven different councilmen chosen or nearly five terms for each.
There were eighteen mayorial terms and eight different mayors.
There were eighteen recordership terms and ten different recorders.
There were eighteen terms of marshalship and ten different marshals.
There were eighteen terms of treasurership and three different persons were treasurer.
There were eighteen terms of surveyorship and four different persons surveyor.
There were eighteen terms of clerk of the market and six different per- sons clerk.
That is to say that seventy-eight persons constituted the entire official- dom of the borough during the eighteen years of its existence, where as there were fifteen terms of office beginning and ending annually, after the first year, which if divided on the two term basis, would have given one hundred and thirty-five officials two terms each.
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