Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th, Part 38

Author: Rockel, William M. (William Mahlon), 1855-1930, ed
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Biographical publishing co.
Number of Pages: 1086


USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > Century history of Springfield, and Clark County, Ohio, and representative citizens 20th > Part 38


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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the searching eyes of the pioneer had ever gazed upon.


When Simon Kenton in 1779 was taken a captive through the various Indian vil- lages he traversed from Old Chillicothe, north of Xenia, up through the old In- dian village of Piqua north along the Ur- bana Pike, thence through Urbana to the Indian villages of Wapakoneta up to Wapatomica, he was no doubt impressed with the beauty and natural resources of this valley, and it was probably through his instrumentality that the five families, including his brother-in-law, Jarbo, and Demint, came from Kentucky in 1799 and first located west of the city near Buck Creek, building some twelve or fourteen block houses. Kenton later on went fur- ther up the old Indian trail along which he had been led while a captive, and built his cabin not far from the present Hunt residence. Demint likewise went further, stopping north of Buck Creek near the location of the present school building, and close to a beautiful spring of clear crystal water, there building for himself the first house that stood in the city of Springfield. Inhabitants of Springfield today can hardly realize the wild, pic- turesque appearance of site of the city of Springfield as nature made it.


Along the north bank of Buck Creek, or as the Indians were prone to call it, "Lagonda," was a ledge of over-hanging rocks of limestone formation. On the south was a piece of apparently level tableland. Along where High Street now is located it appeared quite rough and hilly.


Mill Run, now arched over and hidden in its greater portion through the city, was then a placid spring water stream


361


AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS


with boggy, miry prairie land, for several rods beyond each side of its banks.


Buck Creek was easily forded at the present Limestone Street Crossing, but in the condition of nature the surround- ings were such that persons might easily be upon one side of the stream and not discover a house or dwelling on the other, and thus it appears that when Griffith Foos and his party first came through what is now the city of Springfield, they stopped at a spring located not far from the present intersection of Main and Spring Streets and then went on their way down into the Mad River Valley with- out discovering the hut that Demint had built on the rocks and ledges north of the creek. Plenty of good fresh water was one of the essentials that the pioneer first looked for in the location of his habita- tion.


Foos and his companions were im- pressed with the desirability of locating in this valley on the site of Springfield, in absolute ignorance that another had al- ready determined to locate here. Another important factor in selecting this site as a location for a city and which operated no doubt largely upon the mind of the pioneer, were the advantages afforded by the waters of Buck Creek and Mill Run, which could be utilized for mills of va- rious descriptions. This was before the age of steam and no other source of power than water suggested itself to these pio- neers.


These mills, of which a great number were afterwards located upon the streams flowing through the city of Springfield and the surrounding country, were a great factor in the increase of its population. In an early day, when the surplus corn


must be hauled to Cincinnati or Sandusky to be finally marketed, and flour to meet the necessities of the family must be pur- chased and hauled from the same places, the local mill to convert the one into the finished product of whiskey and thus find a home as well as a foreign market, and to make flour to meet the necessities of the family, was of immeasurable import- ance to the pioneer.


The following description of the scenery and surroundings of Springfield was writ- ten by Dr. John Ludlow for a former his- torical work.


"The scenery had all the irregularity and variety of a New England landscape, without its hardness and abruptness. For several miles east and south of the new village of Springfield, the country was an undulating plain, which in the summer was covered with tall grass, mixed with a great variety of flowers, among which a species of wild pea, very fragrant but now extinct, was abundant. The country north for miles was an unbroken forest of large trees in great variety. The beauti- ful and never-failing stream called Buck Creek, or Lagonda, fringed its northern border with clear, running water. Mad River, with its rapid current, was within a couple of miles of its northwestern boun- dary. The 'Rocks,' or the perpendicular bluffs, filled with deep strata of solid lime- stone on either side of Buck Creek as it advanced toward its. junction with Mad River, were covered with cedars, hanging vines, ferns, mosses and flowers ; the wild grape-vine hung from the stately trees and dipped its tendrils into the placid stream below: the sycamore bent its pro- jecting boughs over its banks, while the sugar, maple and mulberry, towering


20


362


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY


above, with the dogwood, redbud, spice- name to the embryo city. Some state that wood, butternut, buckeye and other trees, it was named by the wife of the founder, but Mr. Woodward in a narrative of his meeting in later years with Simon Kenton and his wife, says that Mrs. Kenton told him that she suggested the name for the city, and it was because of the innumer- able and beautiful fresh water springs that were to be found in that vicinity. with their variegated leaves, formed a beautiful and attractive picture. Near the mouth of Mill Run, a little rivulet which flowed near the south and west lines of the village, the scenery was unusually attractive and romantic. The little stream went tumbling over the rocks in order to reach the brief valley below and Not long after Demint had arrived on the site of Springfield there came to his cabin a young surveyor by the name of John Daugherty, and to him was as- signed the duty of making the first plat of the town. This was commenced by him in March, 1801. The land immediately south of the creek presented itself as the best adapted by nature at that time for a town plat, and the principal streets were made empty its waters into Buck Creek. On each side of this cascade, there were high, projecting rocks, covered with honey- suckles and wild vines and beautiful ferns, which hung down in festoons as a curtain to the chasm below, which was taller than a man's head. On the east side of this chasm, there was a large spring of water flowing from a round hole in the rock, with a strong current, remarkably cold, to run parallel with the creek.


and depositing a yellow sediment. On the west side, there was another spring of delicious water, which, in after years, slaked the thirst of little fishing and picnic parties, who found delight on the banks of Buck Creek in the wild and pic- turesque valley."


NAMING AND PLATTING OF THE CITY.


James Demint, after he had finished his house, which was of the double-log cabin variety and located on the south part of the grounds of the northern school building, began to think seriously of lay- ing out lots for a city.


Demint had entered and held by cer- tificate from the government a tract of land of considerable size, south of Buck Creek and west of Spring Street. His- torians are not all agreed as to whom should be given the credit for furnishing a dulged in a prolonged spree. On these


Columbia Street was made the prin- cipal thoroughfare. Main Street was des- ignated as South Street. Lot number 1 is where the D. T. & I. depot is now lo- cated. The numbers ran south on both sides of Limestone Street up to High Street. Where the county buildings are now, a public square was laid out, and this was the center of the first plat. These lots were six rods wide and twelve rods long 99x198 feet. Later on Demint made other additions running west to the first alley beyond Shaffer Street and north to Cedar Street.


It is said of the founder of Springfield that while he was "a man of some ability and possessed of many good qualities, yet he had a passionate fondness for whiskey and gambling. That he would frequently mount his fine bay horse for a visit to neighboring towns, where he usually in-


363


AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.


visits he would supply himself with a new deck of cards and eagerly engage with anyone for small wagers. That at one time when he was playing with a man who had a fine deck of cards, he took such a fancy to them that he decided to purchase them, but the owner refused to sell them. Mr. Demint offered him a deed for any lot in the plat of Springfield that he might select, for the cards, and he was induced


to part with the treasure. An exchange was made and the consideration for one of the finest and most valuable blocks in the city was once a gambler's deck of cards."


Since Demint's plat of the city of Springfield was made, there have been many additions, a list of which shows the development of the city, with the names of those who had faith in its future.


No. of Lots.


Date.


Part of City.


James Demint


1- 96


1803


Around Court House.


James Demint


102-225


1805


W. of Center N. of Main.


James Demint


103-225


1814


.James Demint


225-295


Not found


Giffith Foos


296-300


1832


E. High.


David Lowry


301-316


1832


W. High near Center.


P. A. Sprigman


317-337


1832


High E. of Fountain.


James Lowry


338-403


1833


S. of High, W. of Fountain.


Wallace & Cavileer


404-412


1835


E. Main N. side.


Jeremiah Warder


413-426


1843


E. Main S. to High.


Jacob W. Kills


427-431


1846


W. of Mill Run.


Joseph E. Anthony


431-447


1847


W. North near Factory.


Josiah Spencer


448-476


1847


Main S. E. of Yellow Springs.


John A. Crain


477-498


1848


Between Bridge & Gallagher.


Grant & others


499-521


1848


S. Center.


Hannah Reeder


522-567


1848


S. of Clifton.


Robt. Rodgers


568-579


1848


N. of Ansted & Burk Mill.


Newbolt Crocket


596-603


1848


W. of Fisher on Columbia.


Wm. & G. L. Foos


604-646


1848


E. High at York.


Mary S. R. Turner


646-677


1849


W. Columbia at Isabella.


Oliver Clark


700-712


1849


S. Factory at Pleasant & Clarke.


Burkley Gillett


713-733


1849


N. of Clifton along Vine.


John W. Baker


734-738


1849


Houck & Smallwood


739-748


1850


S. Center.


N. Clifton along Mill.


Dr. Robert Rodgers


763-770


išši


Peter Murray


770-812


1851


Peter Murray, Assigned


.813-822


1854


Peter Murray, 2d


823-828


1853


John Kenney


829-847


1853


Johu Patton


848-860


1853


S. of Clifton, Pearl & Gallagher.


Letitia Baker


861-954


1853


E. of S. Fountain at Pleasant.


John A. Warder


955-965


1849


Penn & High.


Patton & Gowdy


966-989


1853


Pearl along Euclid to Clifton Ave. E. High.


White Rodgers


990-1057


1854


Between York & East N. of Summer to R. R.


White Rodgers


1058-1080


1854


Between York & East N. of Summer to R. R.


Ramsey & Steele


1081-1101


1854


E. of Limestone along Euclid.


Harvey Vinal


1102-1109


1854


Henry Ruhl


1110-1123


1854


Jonathan Bruner


1124-1142


1854


Pierce & Edmondson


1143-1158


1854


W. H. Spencer


1159-1179


1860


Geo. Dibert


1180-1189


1865


Dr. Robert Rodgers


1190-1205


1864


Jacob Huben


1205-1232


1865


Elizabeth Clark


1233-1262


1866


S. Center, N. of Liberty.


Wm. H. Houck


1263-1273


1867


Wm. Houck & P. Slack


1294-1305


1867


S. Fountain opposite Miller.


Wm. G. Brain


1306-1322


1867


E. of Scott along Pleasant.


Wm. S. Thompson


1323-1334


1868


W. North, west of Yellow Springs.


Dr. Robt. Rodgers


1335-1352


1868


N. Limestone E. along Stanton.


E. N. Tibbetts


1353-1424


1868


N. of Euclid from Tavlor to Pearl.


Thomas & Mast


1425-1432


1868


N. of Chestnut, E. of Elm.


Hayward & Sherills


1433-1437


1868


S. Center along Clark.


J. R. Baumes


1438-1496


1869


N. of Clifton between Taylor & Scott.


Jobn M. Gallagher


749-762


E. of Gallagher.


N. of Main along Murray.


No. of Main, Water to Creek.


N. of Main, Water to Creek.


N. of Main, Water to Creek.


W. of Fountain Ave., at Mulberry.


Saul S. Henkle


966-988


S. of High bt. Plum & Race.


Bt. Miami & Plum along Fair. S. of W. High.


S. of W. Washington.


W. of Yellow Springs along Dibert.


E. of N. Limestone along Chestnut.


W. of S. Limestone & N. of Liberty.


S. Limestone, E. along Maple & Liberty.


579-595


1850


364


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY


Middleton & Rawlins


1497-1524


1869


E. Main S. of R. R. Crossing.


Geo. Spence


1525-1641 1869


S. of High along Light to Shaffer S. to Fair Grounds.


J. W. Wertz & Son


1642-1664


1868


Bt. Chestnut & Maple Avenues.


Wm. Grant


1665-1692


1869


N. Yellow Springs to Plum.


Lewis S. Clark


1693-1713


1869


Edwin L. Houck


1714-1749


1869


S. Yellow Springs bt. Clark & Pleasant.


Andrew Gowdy


1750-1753


1870


Along Gallagher.


Thomas Sharpe


1754-1774


1870


E. of East & S. of Kenton.


Leuty & Spence


1775-1806


1870


Thomas C. Stewart


1807-1812


1870


S. E. corner Yellow Springs & Clark.


Wm. Milhollin


1813-1816


1870


S. E. corner of Yellow Springs & Jefferson.


John L. Petticrew


1820-1825


1870


S. W. corner Race & High.


Chas. Rabbitts


1826-1838


1873


N. Limestone West side S. of Creek.


Steele & King


1839-1853


1872


Clifton Avenue opposite Maple.


Lewis S. Clark


1854-1874


1873


West Clark W. of Factory to R. R.


Oliver S. Clark


1875-1896


1873


West Clark W. of Factory to R. R.


David Shaffer's heirs


1897-1902


1873


N. side W. Main W. of Shaffer.


Dr. Robt. Rodgers


1903-1999


1873


S. of Stanton Ave., from Mason St.


Dr. Robt. Rodgers


2043-2049


1873


E. to Mill Race.


Jeremiah Toland


2000-2004


1873


S. E. of Clifton St. and Scott.


Coffin & Whitehead


2005-2042


1873


Bt. Columbia and North E. of Spring.


Coffin & Whitehead


2176-2187


Geo. Dibert


2049-2142


1874


S. of. Fair Grounds to Southern Ave.


1871


S. of E. High along Forrest Ave.


See above.


1874 N. Limestone W. along Cassilly.


2212-2239


1874


Mound S. to R. R. WV. of East.


S. Yellow Springs Southern Ave. to State.


Southern Ave .; Limestone to Factory.


John Grube


2331-233S


1874


N. E. cor. of Yellow Springs and Mulberry.


Coble & Shattles


2339-2354


1875


Bt. W. Main & High.


Anna Warder


2355-2480


1874


Between R. R. & Creek.


Chas. Rabbitts


2512-2528


1875


S. E. corner of McCreight & Limestone.


W. D. Miller


2528-2557


1875


Eden Ave., & W. Pleasant.


Chas. Stroud


2558-2589


1875


S. Shaffer W. side.


Andrew Gowdy


2590-2599


1875


Liberty & Gallagher.


Mitchell's heirs


2613-2626


1876


N. W. corner of Plum & Mulberry.


Mary B. Green


2627-2637


1876


Clifton St. bt. York & Taylor ..


J. P. & K. Reinheimer


2638-2665


1876


Dibert Ave., from Yellow Springs to R. R.


Miller & Hotsenpillar


2666-2681


1876


S. Limestone, N. W. to Maple.


Wm. T. MeIntire


2682-2705


1876


Front St. bt. Creek & Race.


1876 E. of George Street from R. R. to Maiden Lane.


Spencer & Davisson


2766-2777


1876


E. North to Warder & Creek.


R. S. Spencer


2778-2796


1876


E. of Water S. of Creek.


Fountain Ave., W. to Center N. of College.


Bechtle heirs


2813-2851


1878


WV. of Bechtle Ave., S. of Maiden Lane. Gallagher.


J. J. Snyder


2862-2947


1879


S. of Main on Western Ave., W. side.


Rice & Johnson


2948-2980


1880


E. R. Hotsenpillar


2987-3040


1881


Chas. Stroud


3041-3146


1881


From Plum on State to Yellow Springs.


N. of W. Columbia & Western Ave.


W. Cedar N. to Creek.


S. Yellow Springs E. at Grand.


Johnson & Scott


3252-3380


1882


Oak Street, N. of S. Clifton St.


Pringle & Johnson


3381-3422


1882


West of the above.


C. & C. & P. Grube


3423-3433


1882


N. Race.


M. M. Tiers


3434-3456


1881


N. Limestone & E. Cecil.


N. of College, Fountain & Center.


McCreight heirs


3467-3636


1882 McCreight Ave., S. to Cecil. W. of Limestone.


S. of Clifton opposite Laurel.


On Ward W. of Center.


Jas. Dory's heirs


3689-3709


1882


Limestone to Clifton on Grand Ave.


Wm. Whitely


3710-3726


1882


Arthur Cole's heirs


3725-3757


1882


A. B. Allen


3758-3771


1882


Wittenberg College Chas. Kellar


3792-3852


1882


Geo, Brain's heirs


3853-3924


1882


Smith & Thompson's


3925-4013


1882


Edwardsville


4014-4316


1882


Lagonda Ave., E. of R. R.


Hastings H. & Webb


4317-4348


1882


Clifton, opposite City Hospital.


P. Q. King


4349-4366


1883


Benj. Seever


4367-4395


1883


S. H. Gard


4396-4429


1883


S. Limestone W. to Factory, along Grand.


Jabez Seggar


2143-2175


Coffin & Whitehead


2176-2187


2188-2211


Jabez Seggar


I. B. Rawlins


2240-2250


1874


Edwin L. Houck


2257-2318


1874


Wm. H. Houck


2319-2330


1874


P. P. Mast


2711-2765


Geo. H. Frey


2796-2812


1875


Nancy Gowdy


2852-2861


1879


Thalls. Davis & Goode


3147-3167


1881


Peter Butzer


3168-3189


1881


Geo. Hils


3190-3218


1881


E. N. Tibbetts


3119-3251


1882


Pearl E. to Taylor in Grand.


Geo. H. Frey


3457-3466


1882


Robt. Johnson


3637-3672


1882


Lorimer & Wolfe


3673-3688


1882


East, Harrison & Mound.


Limestone to Clifton on Southern.


Southern Ave. from Yellow Springs to R. R.


3772-3791


1882


S. W. cor. Factory & Ferncliff.


S. of Clifton Ave., East side.


E. High S. side.


Maiden Lane to Snyder Park.


College Ave. & Center. S. Amelia Street near old Dayton Road.


No. of Lots. Date.


Part of City.


From Factory W. on Fair.


W. North from Shaffer to Western Ave.


1873 Bt. Columbia and North E. of Spring.


Cassilly & Frey


.


N. W. cor. Pearl & Southern Ave. Near Old Dayton Road.


365


AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.


No. of Lots. Date.


4430-4468


4469-4508


4509-4556


1884


1885


1885


Geo. Brain


4608-4705


1886


Sheridan, Green, Mound & Ludlow.


Robbins & Myers Geo. Brain 2d


4720-4779


1886


McCreight heirs


4780-4789


1886


No. of Lots.


G. J. C. Hils


4790-4822


W. & A. J. Hilker Henry Hubert


Wm. Perrin


4876-4922


Wm. Maitland


4923-4932


Lena Marmion


John Ludlow's heirs


5009-5090


1887


1887


East Street.


S. A. Bowman


5096-5111


1887


Park Place.


I. Ward heirs


5112-5164


1887


Fountain to Center N. of Ward.


P. Lohner's heirs Geo. Spence


5258-5285


1888


S. Dayton Pike.


Houck & Coleman


5286-5373


1888


S. Fountain Ave. W. to Western Ave. N. Shaffer.


F. M. Hagan, Ass. Miller


5426-5436


1888


Old Dayton Road.


1890 W. of Main & Thompson.


1886 Fountain. Ward & College.


B. H. Warder


5461-5499


1890


E. Main, North Greenmount.


Lagonda Ave. & R. R.


I. Ward Frey


5511-5522


1891


Woodlawn.


1891 Lagonda Ave. E. R. R.


1892 E. Main, Florence, Belmont & Columbus Ave.


West of S. York.


Main, Columbia & Western Ave.


Rice, Clifton & Southern.


Pearl, Rose, Clay & Catharine.


1893 N. of Lagonda Ave. on Park Ave.


G. S. Dial, Adm'r Stronger E. O. Hagan, Ass. A. B. Smith J. L. Little


S. H. Gard


6553-6572


Perrin et al.


6573-6775


1900


Highlands.


Smith & Thompson


6794-6823


1900 S. of Snyder Park.


A. M. Rileys


6824-6850


1901 South of Ferncliff Cem.


W. H. Houck


6854-6958


1901


E. of S. Limestone.


I. Ward Frey


6959-7011


1902


North of Eastern Ave.


Geo. H. Brain heirs


7012-7125


C. N. Slyer


7126-7147


7155-7195


1902


Lagonda Heights.


S. of Highlands.


Hill Top, Lagonda. Kenwood Heights, S. E. of City W. of Belmont.


N. of Park Ave.


1906


W: Columbia, R. R. & Snyder.


Columbus Ave. & Florence St.


A. C. Link et al.


7669-7740


E. G. Banta


7741-7766


Lewis S. Clark


7767-7900


Geo. Brain's heirs


7901-7966


Lots Not Consecutively Numbered.


A. Raffensberger Penfield


Riceville


Benj. Seevers


1874


1873


Near Lagonda Shop.


Lewis Jenkins


1876


W. Main near R. R. W. High and Walter.


Lagonda Ave. to R. R. at Florence St.


E. Main & Florence.


W. Main & Siglar.


Lagonda Ave.


Pearl & Rice


1881 Lagonda Ave.


1882


1892


Part of City. N. Race near Creek.


S. of W. Southern Ave.


Limestone W. on Southern & Factory.


Shaffer, Grant & Cedar. Pleasant, Clifton & Spring.


Dibert Ave. & L. M. R. R.


4706-4719


1886


S. of Lagonda Ave. near R. R.


E. Harrison.


N. of McCreight Ave.


Part of City, Streets, etc.


Yellow Springs to R. R. on Euclid.


WV. of Western Ave. N. of Maiden Lane.


E. High.


S. Limestone W. on Perrin


E. High


N. Limestone E. side.


E. High S. on Ludlow.


Kershner's heirs


5165-5257


1888


Park to R. R.


L. F. Young, Ass. Coblentz G. H. Frey


A. S. Bushnell


5500-5510


1891


J. W. Bookwalter


5523-5548


I. F. McNally


5549-6222


O. V. Hensley


6223-6329


W. H. C. Goode


6330-6348


Robt. Johnson


6349-6355


1893


J. L. Zimmerman


6356-6377


1893


Oschwald


6378-6393 6394-6451


1892


W. Pleasant and Old Dayton Road.


N. Western Ave., Cedar, Shaffer & Grant.


Clay St. W. Grand.


Elmwood.


1902 Pearl, Catharine, Clay & Fremont.


Real Estate Co., H. D. Keefers Anton Singers


W. H. Berger Brain et al.


7248-7290


H. D. Keefers


7563-7580


J. W. James


7581-7598


Brain-McGregor


7599-7668


1907


1907 Old B. H. Warder homestead.


1907 Clifton & Wheldon Lane.


1907 Grand Ave. to State, Plum to Fountain.


1907 Harrison S. to Sheridan.


Date. Part of City.


1869 F. Springfield.


1870


South Clifton.


1871


Rice & Pearl. W. Main.


J. Bauers


Hester A. Neel


Florenceville


T. Fetsch


S. Siglar


1880


W. H. Berger


E. T. & P. Dudley W. H. Berger C. Retter


O. V. Hensley


4823-4873


1886


4874-4895


1887


1887


1887


4933-5008


1887


5091-5095


H. J. Funk


5374-5425


· 1888


5437-5443


5444-5460


1892 1892


6452-6530 6531-6553


1898 1899


1902


7196-7247


1902


7291-7562


1903 1905


1905


1875 1880 1880·


1880


1881


E. of Clifton Ave. N. of Johnson Ave. S. E. of City.


J. B. Rubsam Kershner & Spence Wm. H. Houck Robt. Johnson G. L. Frankenstein J. P. Reinheimer


4557-4596


4597-4603


4604-4607


1883 1883


Date. 1887


1896


366


HISTORY OF CLARK COUNTY


Lots Not Consecutively Numbered.


Date.


Part of City.


I. Ward Frey


1892


S. of City (Landsdowne).


Jas. B. Thompson


1882


W. Main, S. in Siglar.


I. Ward Frey


1897


Landsdowne.


Ziehler


1897


W. Main.


M. & J. Donnelly


1900


E. Main & Buxton Ave.


W. H. McCain


1901


Melrose.


I. Ward Frey


1902


Landsdowne.


John Melking


1905


S. Limestone next to Landsdowne.


EARLY SETTLEMENTS.


We have before referred to the fact that in 1801 Griffith Foos had camped near the junction of Main and Spring Streets and had gone on down the Mad River Valley without discovering the hut of Demint on the north of Buck Creek, and that it was only after he and his companions had gone up the valley and crossed over the tableland and came down Buck Creek that they found Demint's cabin.


Foos and his companions stopped here for several days. They were well pleased with the country and Demint offered them land at a very reasonable price and in- formed them of his intention of laying out the town. Mr. Foos and his party re- turned to Franklinton, a village now part of Columbus, where he and his com- panions had left their families, and with them returned to the city of Springfield. This was in 1801. Soon after Mr. Foos returned he began the erection of a house to be used as a tavern. This building was located on the south side of Main Street, a little west of Spring Street. It was open to the public in June of that year and continued to be a public hostelry until 1814. From this time on, the town began to show some evidence of what it might become in the future, and in 1804 it contained about a dozen houses all built of logs. These houses, as given in Beer's History, were located as follows :


Market Streets a man named Fields kept a small repair shop. West and almost op- posite was a cooper shop owned by John Reed. On the northeast corner of the same street stood a log house, and a short distance west on the south side of what is now Main Street, near Primrose Alley, was a larger log structure, occupied by Charles Stowe of Cincinnati as a gen- eral store. Another log house was on the northeast corner of Limestone and Main Streets, and Colonel Daugherty's large log house was nearly opposite. A large two-story log-house, which in the time of Indian incursions was used as a block- house, stood near the southeast corner of High and Limestone, not far from what is known as the Old Buck- eye corner. Near the public square was another cabin in which two Frenchmen, named respectively Duboy and Lucroy, sold goods suitable mostly to the Indian trade. The two taverns conducted by Foos and Lowrey, with two or three other cabins on Columbia Street, composed the village of Springfield.


This hotel of Lowrey's was a large two- story hewn log house on the first alley west of Limestone Street, about half way to High Street.


SELECTION AS COUNTY SEAT.


One of the most important events that occurred in the early history of Spring-


Near the southeast corner of Main and · field was its selection as the seat of justice


367


AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS.


of the county which had just been organ- ized. This was in 1818. Springfield had for its competitor the town of New Bos- ton, located on the site of the old Indian village of Piqua, and had very little to boast over its competitor for the race was so close that Springfield only won by two votes. This gave new impetus to its growth for soon thereafter the county buildings were erected and court was held. (See County Buildings.)


EARLY EVENTS, ETC.


As already stated, the first log house was erected by James Demint, and the first tavern was put up in 1801 by Grif- fith Foos. The first frame house was erected in 1804 on the northeast corner of Main and Factory by Samuel Simming- ton. This house was destroyed by a wind storm before its completion. The first brick house was probably erected by Will- iam Ross. It was a two-story brick build- ing on the southeast corner of Main and Market Streets.


This building was at first occupied as a dwelling and store and afterwards as a hotel known as Ross' tavern. This build- ing was standing as late as 1869, when it was removed to make room for the build- ing now occupied by Theodore Troupe's drug store.


A very respectful authority, however, gives credit to John Ambler for having built the first brick house. His building was located on the north side of Main Street, about half way between Factory and Mechanic Streets and was built in 1815. This building is still standing and occupied by Charles T. Davis as a resi- dence upstairs, and as a millinery store and restaurant in the lower floors.




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