USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Columbus, Ohio: its history, resources, and progress : with numerous illustrations > Part 12
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
140
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
the Columbus water-works. At the succeeding April election, William B. Hayden was chosen in place of William Monypeny. No change was made in the board at the election in 1872.
The trustees, in 1870, appointed J. L. Pillsbury, chief engineer of construction, and Charles M. Ridgway, in 1871, superin- tendent of the works. The present superintendent is Frank Doherty.
The secretary of the board is J. R. Armstrong, appointed in 1870, and the engineer of the works is John Kilroy, appointed in 1871.
PROGRESS OF THE WORKS .- Mr. Pillsbury, chief engineer of construction, on the 23d of May, 1870, commenced, under the direction of the trustees, preparing specifications for pipe- laying, pipe-making, and trenching, and for building-stone and other materials for beginning the construction of water-works for the city of Columbus. Measures were taken for a vigorous prosecution of the work, and contracts made for the construction of its main portions. So far had it progressed that, on the 6th of March, 1871, abundant streams of water were thrown through hose in the State-house yard.
Forty-two permits for taking water were issued by the secre- tary previous to April 1, 1871. The General Assembly had, on the 16th of January previous, by joint resolution, authorized the trustees to excavate trenches across the Public Square, in front of the Capitol, and lay the necessary pipes and fixtures for the extension of the water-works of the city.
By the first of April, 1872, water-pipes had been laid through- out nearly the entire built-up portion of the city to operate as a fire protection. This involved the crossing of the river at a point immediately west of the penitentiary, with a ten-inch wrought-iron pipe.
LENGTH OF PIPE LAID .- There had been laid, on the first of April 1872, throughout the city for distributing mains, of cast- iron pipes, varying in size from four to twenty inches in diam- eter, 123,264 feet, or twenty-three miles and thirty-four one- hundredths of a mile. Besides these, there had also been laid, for small distributing mains, 16,900 feet of wrought-iron pipe, varying in size from three-fourths of an inch to two inches in
141
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT.
diameter. This made a total of nearly twenty-seven miles of pipe.
FIRE PROTECTION .- As in the general distribution of pipes, fire protection was considered of the first importance, fire- hydrants have been placed throughout the city at very con- venient distances apart. There were, on the first of April, 184 Holly fire-hydrants, cach having two outlets. Referring to this subject of fire protection, the trustees, in their last report, re- mark:
"With the late improvements in the boilers, together with the strength and capacity of the pipes, we are perfectly safe in say- in'g that we have one of the most reliable fire protections in the country, which fact should greatly reduce insurance upon the property of our citizens."
VALVES .- There are distributed throughout the lines of mains, of various sizes, 113 stop-valves. This distribution of valves precludes the possibility of the stoppage of the water supply from any cause, except the giving out of the large twenty-inch main, running from the works, on Spring street, as far east as Center alley.
WATER SUPPLY .- The machinery was started on the 1st of May, 1871, on regular domestic water supply, and the engines kept in constant use day and night. Throughout the dry sea- son of last year, the supply of water was sufficient for all do- mestic purposes ; and only on an occasion or two, during fires, was the water from the river used. On the 1st of April last, the works were raising from the well about 550,000 gallons in twenty-four hours ; and the surface of the water in the well, at this rate, stood three fect below the surface of the river, with seven feet of water over the surface of the suction-pipes.
Up to March 31, 1872, there had been issued 772 water per- mits. Water was then used from 702 hydrants or stop-cocks. In many cases, several families, offices, dwellings, etc., were sup- plied from the same hydrant. The total number of months for which water was paid for by all consumers, during the year end- ing March 31, 1872, was 6,010. The time paid for varied from one month to twelve. The average number of months to each consumer or hydrant was about eight and one-half. The aver-
142
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
age amount paid by each was $14.82. The largest amount paid by any one consumer during the year was $220.60, and the smallest amount 42 cents. There were in use 48 meters by con- sumers, who paid water-rent according to the number of gallons used. Water had been supplied during the year, for building purposes, as follows : For 5,183,793 brick, for 9,455 perches of stone, and for 53,303 yards of plastering; besides, 9,220 barrels had been furnished to builders. The amount received for this water supply was $816.12.
RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS .- For the two years ending March 31, 1872, the receipts were : From permits to connect with service-pipe, $7,997.67; and from water-rents, $11,218.81, making a total of $19,216.48.
For the same period, the receipts from all sources were $459,123.69, and the disbursements $444,053.59, leaving a bal- ance on hand March 31, 1872, of $15,070.10.
Deducting $19,754.08 receipts from old materials sold, permits and water-rents, from the total of disbursements for the two years ending March 31, 1872, $444,053.59, makes the net cost of the water-works to that date $424,299 51
Cost of pipe delivered on the ground $198,000
Paid Holly Manufacturing Company for machinery and boilers. 55,000
Water-works grounds 8,000
Making $261,000
This last amount of money was the actual cost of the above items, delivered on the ground, not including the cost of founda- tions for the machinery, the buildings themselves, the well, or the laying of pipes, together with the hydrants and valves, lead, levee, embankment and earth filling, or any portion what- ever of the construction.
143
COURTS AND COUNTY OFFICES.
CHAPTER IX.
THE COURTS AND COUNTY OFFICES.
AFTER Columbus became, in 1824, the county-seat of Frank- lin county, the courts were held in the United States court- house, on the Public Square, north of the old State buildings, until 1840, when they were removed to the county. court-house.
THE SUPREME COURT .- Prior to 1824, the annual sessions of this' court for Franklin county were held in Franklinton, and afterward in Columbus. The court in bank, a kind of special session of the Supreme Court, organized in 1823, and consisting of the four supreme judges, any three of whom might be a quorum in bank, was also held annually in Columbus, and its decisions reported.
By the present State Constitution, which took effect Septem- ber 1, 1851, the Supreme Court consists of five judges, elected for five years, a majority of whom constitute a quorum. It is required to hold at least one term in each year at the State capital. Since the completion of the State-house, it has held its terms in the rooms assigned it in that building.
In one of these rooms is the Law Library, in charge of a li- brarian appointed by the court for three years under the act passed February 9, 1867. This library is a branch of the State Library, and contained, November 15, 1871, 5,142 volumes. The first law librarian appointed was James H. Beebe, of this city, whose office is a permanent one.
The clerk of the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin county was also clerk of the Supreme Court while in session at the State capital, until the taking effect of the act of March 29, 1865, which provided for the triennial election of a clerk of that court at the State election in October. His office is in a room assigned him in the State capital, adjoining the room in which the ses- sions of the court are held. Rodney Foos, of Clinton county, was elected clerk of the Supreme Court in 1865, and re-elected in 1868, and again in 1871.
. 144
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
-RICHES-SC.
COURT-HOUSE, Located on the southeast corner of High and Mound streets.
145
COURTS AND COUNTY OFFICES.
Among the official reporters appointed by the Supreme Court to report its decisions, have been from this city P. B. Wilcox, in 1840-41; James H. Smith, in 1854, and L. J. Critchfield, first ap- pointed in 1856, and still holding the office. Columbus has fur- nished two judges of the Supreme Court, Gustavus and Joseph R. Swan, both of whom had previously been judges of the Court of Common Pleas.
COURT OF COMMON PLEAS .- In 1824, when the sessions of this court for Franklin county were transferred from Franklinton to Columbus, the judges were Gustavus Swan, president judge, and Edward Livingston, Samuel G. Flenniken, and Arora But- tles, associate judges. These judges, as well as the judges of the Supreme Court, were, previous to the going into effect of the present State Constitution, elected by the Legislature. The president judges of our Court of Common Pleas under the Con stitution of 1802, after Gustavus Swan, were Frederick Grimke, elected in 1830; Joseph R. Swan, in 1834, and J. L. Torbet, in 1848.
The changes in the associate judges of the Franklin Common Pleas, after 1824, were as follows :
1829-William McElvain elected in Livingston's place ; 1831- Arora Buttles and Samuel G. Flenniken, both re-elected ; 1836- Adam Reed, in place of William McElvain ; 1837-William Mc- Elvain, in place of Buttles; 1838-Christian Heyl, in place of A. Reed, deceased, and Samuel G. Flenniken, re-elected ; 1843- James Dalzell, appointed in place of William McElvain, de- ceased ; 1844-John A. Lazell, elected in place of James Dal- zell; 1845-John Landes, in place of Flenniken, deceased, and C. Heyl, re-elected ; 1851-William T. Martin, in place of Dalzell.
By our present Constitution, the State is divided into nine Common Pleas districts, and each district into subdivisions, in which Common Pleas judges are elected for five years by popu- lar vote. Franklin, Pickaway, and Madison counties comprise the third subdivision of the fifth judicial district. James L. Bates, of Columbus, was elected Common Pleas judge for this subdivision in 1851, re-elected in 1856, and for the third time in 1861. In 1866, John L. Green, also of this city, succeeded Judge Bates, who declined a re-election. In 1871, Judge Green
146
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
was re-elected. Joseph Olds, of Circleville, is an additional Com- mon Pleas judge in this subdivision.
DISTRICT COURT .- This court, usually held by three Common Pleas judges of the proper judicial district, generally holds a short annual term in Franklin, as in other counties. The clerk of the Common Pleas is also clerk of the District Court, so that before the passage of the act of 1865, making the office of clerk of the Supreme Court an elective one, the clerk of the Frank- lin Common Pleas was also clerk of the Supreme and District Courts, as well as clerk of the Superior Court of Franklin county during its continuance.
SUPERIOR COURT .- The Superior Court of Franklin county was established by act of March 27, 1857, as a sort of adjunct to the Common Pleas, with a single judge elected by popular vote for five years, and having jurisdiction only in civil cases. Fitch James Matthews, of Columbus, was elected in April, 1857, judge of this court, and re-elected in 1862. Before the expiration of his term of office, Judge Matthews resigned on account of fail- ing health, and J. William Baldwin, of this city, was appointed his successor. The Legislature, by an act which took effect April 1, 1865, abolished the court, and transferred its unfinished business to the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin county.
PROBATE COURT .- Under the constitution of 1802, the Courts of Common Pleas had jurisdiction of probate matters, which were generally disposed of by the associate judges for each county. But the constitution of 1851, divested the Common Pleas of this jurisdiction, and established a Probate Court in each county, to be holden by a single judge, elected by the peo- ple of the county for three years. At first, the Probate Court of this county, as well as others in the State, had jurisdiction in minor criminal cases. That jurisdiction was, however, taken away from our Probate Court, by an act of the Legislature, passed in May, 1862. The following is a list of the Probate Judges elected in Franklin county, all of whom were and are still residents of Columbus : William R. Rankin, elected in 1851 ; William Jamison, elected in 1854; Herman B. Albery, elected in 1857, and re-elected in 1860; and John M. Pugh, elected in 1863, and re-elected in 1866, 1869, and 1872.
147
COURTS AND COUNTY OFFICES.
COUNTY OFFICERS.
COMMON PLEAS CLERKS .- Before the adoption of the present State Constitution, a clerk of the Common Pleas was appointed by that court in each county; for the term of seven years. In 1824, Abram I. McDowell was clerk of the Franklin Common Pleas, having been appointed in 1815, to succeed Lyne Starling, who, in 1810, had been appointed the successor of Lucas Sulli- vant, the first clerk of the court, appointed in 1803.
McDowell had been reappointed in 1822, and was again re- appointed in 1829. His successors weer :
1836-Elijah Backus, appointed pro tempore, and continued until
1838-March 15, when Lyne Starling was appointed.
1845-Lyne Starling reappointed, but resigned in Febru- ary, 1846.
1846-February 21, Lewis Heyl appointed, and continued to hold the appointment until the second Monday of February, 1852, when it was vacated by the Constitution of 1851.
The present Constitution provides for the election by the voters in each county, at the October election, of a clerk of the Com- mon Pleas Court to serve for three years. The following are the clerks elected or appointed under the present Constitution :
Kendall Thomas was elected in 1851, Albert B. Buttles in 1854, and John L. Bryan in 1857. Mr. Bryan having died before the expiration of his term, James H. Smith, February 2, 1859, was appointed to the office, to which he was afterward elected by popular vote. Mr. Smith died during his term, and David W. Brooks, February 3, 1862, was appointed to fill the vacancy. In 1861, Thomas S. Shepard was elected clerk, and re-elected in 1864. C. Lowenstein was elected to the office in 1868, and James S. Abbott in 1871.
PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS .- Prior to 1833, this office was filled by appointment of the Court of Common Pleas, and generally for an indefinite time. In 1833, the office was made elective through biennial elections by the voters of the county. In Oc- tober of that year, Joseph R. Swan was elected to the office in this county ; but he having been made Common Pleas judge, P.
148
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
B. Wilcox was, in 1834, appointed prosecuting attorney, and in the fall of that year elected by the people. The prosecuting at- torneys elected since have been : Moses H. Kirby, elected in 1836 ; William W. Backus, 1838; Lewis Heyl, 1842; L. H. Web- ster, 1846; Thomas Sparrow, 1848; B. F. Martin, 1850; Geo. L. Converse, 1854; J. O. Reamy, 1856; Milton H. Mann, 1866; E. T. De Laney, 1868 ; George K. Nash, 1870, and re-elected in 1872.
SHERIFFS .- The sheriff of this county at the time Columbus became the county-seat, in 1824, was Robert Brotherton, elected in 1823. In 1825, he was re-elected for another two years. The office was afterward filled by election, as follows : 1827, John McElvain ; 1829 and 1831, Robert Brotherton ; 1833 and 1835, Andrew McElvain ; 1837 and 1839, James Graham; 1841 and 1843, William Domigan ; 1845 and 1847, John Graham; 1849 and 1851, John Greenleaf; 1853, Thomas Miller ; 1855, William Miner ; 1857, Silas W. Park; 1859 and 1861, George W. Huff- man ; 1863 and 1865, William Domigan; 1867, George H. Ear- hart, who died November 27, 1868 ; the coroner, Elias Gaver, then filled the office until Samuel Thompson, who was elected in 1869, entered upon its duties. Mr. Thompson was re-elected in 1871, and is still sheriff.
CORONERS .- The coroner of this county, in 1824, was Adam Brotherlin, elected in 1821, and re-elected in 1823. The suc- ceeding coroners have been : Jacob Ebey, elected in 1825; Jona- than Neereamer, 1830; George Jeffries, 1835, in place of Neereamer, who had resigned; James Walcutt, 1839; A. W. Reader, 1843; Horton Howard, 1845; A. W. Reader, 1849; James W. Barbee, 1851; A. W. Reader, 1853; Elias Gaver, 1855 ; Patrick Eagan, 1869, re-elected in 1871, and still coroner.
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS .- County commissioners hold their offices for three years, so that regularly one is elected in each year. But this order is often broken by the occurrence of va- cancies. In 1824, when Columbus became the county-seat, Robert Armstrong was elected or appointed commissioner. Prior to that, in 1821, Mr. Armstrong and Horace Walcutt be- came commissioners; James Marshall in 1822, and Andrew Dill in 1823.
149
COURTS AND COUNTY OFFICES.
The changes in the board, since 1824, have been as follows : 1825, William Stewart; 1826, John M. Walcutt; 1827, William McElvain ; 1828, William Stewart; 1829, Horace Walcutt and William Miner; 1830, Matthew Matthews; 1831, William Stew- art ; 1832, Horace Walcutt, who died the following year ; 1833, John M. White and Matthew Matthews; Timothy Lee was ap- pointed the same year in place of White, deceased ; 1834, Hiram Andrews, in place of Stewart; 1835, Robert Lisle; 1836, James Bryden ; 1837, R. W. Cowles, in place of Andrews; 1838, John Tipton, in place of Lisle ; 1839, James Bryden, re-elected ; 1840, William Kyle, in place of Cowles; 1841, Samuel S. Davis ; 1842, John Greenwood, in place of Bryden; 1843, William W. Kyle, re-elected ; 1844, Samuel S. Davis, re-elected ; 1845, John Clark, in place of Greenwood; 1846, Adams Stewart, in place of Kyle; 1847, Thomas J. Moorman, in place of Davis ; 1848, O. P. Hines, in place of Clark ; 1849, Jacob Slyh, in place of Stewart; 1850, Eli F. Jennings, in place of Moorman; 1851, Jesse Baughman, in place of Hines; 1852, C. W. Speaks, in place of Slyh; 1853, Edward Livingston, in place of Jen- nings; 1854, Willis Mattoon, in place of Baughman ; 1855, Theo- dore Comstock, in place of Speaks ; 1856, Edward Livingston, re-elected; 1857, Mattoon having died, O. P. Hines was ap- pointed for the remainder of the year; the same year Isaac White was elected in place of Hines; 1858, David L. Holton, in place of Comstock ; 1859, Holton resigned in July, and Thomas Sparrow was appointed for the remainder of the year; the same year Jacob Snyder was elected in place of Holton, and Thomas Sparrow in place of Livingston; 1860, Dennis B. Strait, in place of White; 1861, Jacob Slyh, in place of Snyder ; 1862, James W. Barbee, in place of Sparrow ; 1863, Dennis B. Strait, re-elected ; 1864, John M. Koenner, in place of Slyh; 1865, James W. Barbee, re-elected ; 1866, John G. Edwards, in place of Strait; 1867, William Gulick, inpl ace of Koenner ; 1868, Eli M. Lisle, in place of Barbee ; 1869, J. O. B. Renick, in place of Edwards; 1870, in the spring of this year Lisle and Gulick both resigned; Francis Collins was appointed in place of the former, and William Cooper in place of the latter ; in the fall, Cooper was elected in place of Gulick, or for the long term of
150
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
three years ; and Frederick Beck, in place of Lisle, or for the short term of one year; 1871, Beck resigned March 10, and J. P. Bruck was appointed to fill the vacancy, and was elected in October for the long term; 1872, Adin G. Hibbs, elected in place of Renick. The present county commissioners are : Wm. Cooper, J. P. Bruck, and Adin G. Hibbs.
COUNTY AUDITORS .- Prior to 1824, county auditors were elected annually, and since, biennially. Joseph Grate, who had held the office of auditor of Franklin county for the two preced- ing years, was in 1824 re-elected for two years. In 1826 he was again re-elected, but died a few days after the election, and John C. Brodrick was appointed to the office, to which he was elected in 1827, and was continued in it by successive re-elections until 1839, when Frederick Cole was elected and held the office till 1845. The succeeding auditors were: Smithson E. Wright, elected in 1845, two terms; Holdemond Crary, elected in 1849, two terms; John M. Pugh, elected in 1853, two terms; John Phillips, elected in 1857, two terms-dying shortly before the expiration of his second term; Matthias Martin, 1861, two terms. Thomas Arnold was elected in 1865, and having re- signed in the fall of 1866, Dennis B. Strait was appointed in his place. In 1867, Samuel E. Kile was elected to the office, and re-elected in 1869. There was no election of auditors in 1871, owing to some charge or attempted charge in the law, and Kile continued to hold the office. In 1872 he was re-elected auditor for two years.
COUNTY TREASURERS .- County treasurers were first appointed by the associate judges, and then by the county commissioners, until 1827, when the Legislature passed an act requiring the treasurers to be elected biennially by the voters of the county. Jacob Grubb was the first treasurer of Franklin county, and was continued in the office by successive reappointments until in June, 1827, when Christian Heyl was appointed to the office by the commissioners, to which he was elected in October of that year, and re-elected in 1831. George McCormick, elected in 1833, held the office one term ; William Long, in 1835, three terms; Joseph McElvain, in 1841, two terms ; Joseph Leiby, in 1845, three terms; O. P. Hines, in 1851, two terms; James H.
151
COURTS AND COUNTY OFFICES.
Stauring, in 1855, two terms; John G. Thompson, in 1859, two terms; Jos. Falkenbach, 1863, two terms. Aaron C. Hadley, elected in 1867, having resigned, Jas. E. Wright was appointed August 6, 1869, in his place, and in October of that year, James H. Stauring was elected, but died July 17, 1870, before entering upon the duties of the office. J. E. Wright continued to act as treasurer by appointment until he was succeeded by Lorenzo English, elected in October, 1870. Jas. E. Wright was elected to the office in 1872.
COUNTY RECORDERS .- The office of country recorder was filled by appointment of the judges of the Court of Common Pleas until 1831, and since then, by triennial elections. Until that year, Abraham J. McDowell, appointed in 1817, was continued in the office by successive appointments. In 1831, William T. Martin was elected and successively re-elected until 1846, when Nathan Cole, the present recorder, was first elected, and has been since kept in the office by repeated re-elections-his last re-election having taken place in 1870.
COUNTY SURVEYORS .- The Court of Common Pleas made the appointments of county surveyor, until a law was passed in March, 1831, requiring their election triennially by the people. The first surveyor for this county was Joseph Vance, appointed in 1803, and continued in the office by successive reappoint- ments until 1824. In that year, Richard Howe was appointed surveyor, but discharged the duties of the office in person only for a short time, as his deputy, General McLene filled the office until 1827.
In 1827, Jeremiah McLene was appointed county surveyor, and continued as such until Lyne Starling, Jr., was elected in 1832. The latter resigned in April, 1833, and Mease Smith was appointed to fill the vacancy. In October, 1833, Frederic Cole was elected and served three years; William Johnston, in 1836, one term; Uriah Lathrop, 1839, one term; John Graham, 1842, one term; William Johnston, 1845, one term ; Jesse Cortright, 1848, two terms; W. W. Pollard, 1854, one term ; Daniel Hess, elected in 1860, resigned, and his deputy, W. W. Pollard, dis- charged the duties of the office. C. C. Walcutt, elected in 1860, also resigned, and Uriah Lathrop was appointed in his place.
152
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
The latter was elected to the office in October, 1862; W. P. Brown in 1865, and re-elected in 1868; Josiah Kinnear, the present incumbent, was elected in October, 1871.
THE COURT-HOUSE .- Dr. M. B. Wright, then of Columbus, but afterward of Cincinnati, and Mary L., his wife, by deed dated October 20, 1837, in consideration of the commissioners of Franklin county agreeing to erect a court-house and county buildings on the premises, conveyed by warranty deed to Robt. Lysle, James Bryden, and R. W. Cowles, then commissioners of the county, and their successors in office, "for the use of the county, for the purpose of being occupied as a location for a court-house, county offices, and jail, and for no other purpose," in-lots 358 and 359, situated on the southeast corner of High and Mound streets.
The court-house was afterward erected on these two lots, but it was early discovered that they would not suffice for the pur- poses intended. The commissioners therefore purchased a third lot adjoining the other two on the south, numbered 360, and bounded on the south by Strawberry alley, running east and west. This lot was originally owned by Dr. Wright, but at the time of its purchase by the county, the ownership was vested in seven different persons-Jas. Bryden, Adin G. Hibbs, Nehe- miah Gregory, John Patterson, and Jesse Stone, each owning one undivided ninth part, and Dwight Woodbury and William Miner, each owning two undivided ninth parts. These several interests were extinguished by deeds of conveyance in fee simple to the county, without conditions, from all the owners of frac- tional parts. These deeds were executed at various times, chiefly in 1839 and 1840-the last one, however, which was from Wm. Miner and wife, was not executed until August 24, 1847. From the consideration named in each deed, seven parts out of the nine, each cost the county $222.22. In the deed from William Miner for two-ninths, the consideration named is only $50. Ac- cording to these statements in the deeds, the lot cost the county $1,556.04. The purchase of this third lot made the county the owner of the whole block or square of about two acres and a half.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.