USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Columbus, Ohio: its history, resources, and progress : with numerous illustrations > Part 43
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
552
ADVERTISEMENTS.
FREE OF CHARGE.
Call at any Drug Store in the United States, and get a sample bottle of Dr. A. Boschee's German Syrup, Free of Charge. It has lately been introduced in this coun- try from Germany, and for any person suffering with a severe cough, heavy cold settled on the breast, consumption, or any disease of the throat and lungs, it has no equal in the world. Our regular size bot- tles, 75 cents. In all cases money will be promptly returned if perfect satisfac- tion is not given. Two doses will relieve any case. Try it. G. G. GREEN, Pro- prietor of WESTERN LABORATORY, No. 8 Gwynne Block, Columbus, O.
FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND!
500,000 Bottles of Green's August Flower
Have been sold in this State in three months. We only ask you to go to any Drug Store in the United States and get a Bottle
FREE OF CHARGE! OR A REGULAR SIZE AT 75 CENTS.
Every Bottle warranted to cure Dyspepsia or Liver Complaint, Sick Headache, Costiveness, Heartburn, Waterbrash, Sour Stomach, Indigestion, Impure Blood, and all diseases caused by Impure Blood or deranged Stomach and Liver.
Try it, or get a Descriptive Circular.
G. G. GREEN, Proprietor of Western Laboratory, No. 8 GWYNNE BLOCK, COLUMBUS, O.
553
COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
FRANKLIN BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION .- Incorporated September 18, 1868, with a capital stock of $200,000, with priv- ilege to increase to $500,000, in shares of $200 each.
Incorporators : J. J. Janney, R. Burr, D. Jay Thompson, John Reeves, John H. Grove, John F. Bartlit, and Justin Morrison.
HOME BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION .- Incorporated in 1868. Capital stock $500,000, in shares of $200 each.
Officers and directors for 1873: Wm. B. Hayden, president ; L. E. Wilson, secretary ; J. Falkenbach, treasurer; John G. Mitchell, solicitor; Charles Breyfogle, W. H. H. Shinn, A. D. Rodgers, and T. Ewing Miller.
CAPITAL BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION .- Incorporated in 1868. Capital stock $500,000, in shares of $200 each.
Officers and directors for 1873 : M. C. Lilly, president ; L. E. Wilson, secretary; J. Falkenbach, treasurer; John G. Mitchell, solicitor ; W. H. H. Shinn, Charles Breyfogle, Jacob Peetrey, and T. J. Janney.
CLINTON BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION .- Incorporated May 1, 1869, with a capital stock of $200,000, in shares of $1,000 each.
Incorporators : W. G. Deshler, C. J. Hardy, J. W. Sinks, R. Wentworth, and M. E. Brazee.
COLUMBUS BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION .- Incorporated March 4, 1870, with a capital stock of $500,000, in shares of $200 each.
Incorporators : Charles C. Walcutt, S. S. Rickly, Conrad Born, Sen., M. Halm, Thomas Robinson, and Henry O'Kane.
The association was organized November 13, 1872.
Officers and directors for 1873 : Charles C. Walcutt, president ; Thomas Robinson, vice-president; Ralph R. Rickly, secretary and treasurer; Conrad Born, Sen., and Henry O'Kane.
COLUMBUS REAL ESTATE AND BUILDING LOAN ASSOCIATION .- Incorporated February 16, 1871.
Incorporators : Wm. Jamison, W. M. Mansfield, Thomas Mil- ler, M. Haveland, R. C. Hoffman, W. A. Burt, J. F. Huffman, R. H. Gardner, and Wm. J. Lacey.
Organized for business May 1, 1871. The capital stock is $500,000, in shares of $200 each.
Officers and directors for 1873 : W. H. Akin, president; W. L. Jamison, secretary; Wm. Jamison, treasurer ; R. C.„,Hoffman, solicitor ; W. E. Ide, Thomas Miller, A. C. Hanes, E. T. Mithoff, Wm. J. Lacey, and Noah Bowen.
GERMANIA BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION .- Incorporated July 10, 1871, with a capital stock of $500,000, in shares of $200.
Incorporators : Joseph Falkenbach, Henry Lindenberg, Ernst J. W. Schueller, W. Saile, Fred. Krumm, and J. H. Heitman.
554
ADVERTISEMENTS.
F. FEISER.
J. REINHARD.
66 DER WESTBOTE,"
Published Weekly and Semi-Weekly, by
REINHARD & FEISER. No. 1801 South High Street, COLUMBUS, O. Terms of Weekly, $2.00 per Annum, in Advance,
The " Westbote," having a very extensive circulation throughout the Western States, is an excellent advertising medium for business men generally.
ALL KINDS OF
AND JOB PRIN ING
Will be executed with neatness and dispatch, in both German and English languages.
2
81 SOUTH HIGH STREET,
Columbus, O.
555
COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
Officers and directors for 1873 : H. Mithoff, president ; C. Sie- bert, vice-president; J. B. N. Guessbacker, secretary ; Ernst J. W. Schueller, treasurer ; J. H. Heitman, solicitor ; W. Saile, T. C. Pfaff, William Schabe, J. Bleile, G. P. Schroll, C. Synold, and J. Janton.
SAVINGS BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION .- Incorporated in 1873, with a capital stock of $500,000, in shares of $200 each.
Incorporators : J. A. Jeffrey, Wm. Barton, G. G. Collins, L. Williams, J. R. Hughes, Joseph Guitner, Augustin Converse, John J. Loop, and A. C. Hanes.
CITIZENS' BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION .- Incorporated January 28, 1873, with a capital stock of $500,000, in shares of $200 each.
Incorporators : James Watson, C. Breyfogle, W. H. H. Shinn, T. Leonard, A. D. Rogers, John G. Mitchell, and G. G. Collins.
TEUTONIA BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION .- Incorporated February 11, 1873, with a capital stock of $500,000, in shares of $200 each.
Incorporators : Conrad Born, Thomas Koch, John A. Single, Ernst Grissel, George Beitz, Frank Thone, and John Frech.
FIRE INSURANCE BUSINESS.
The first insurance business of which we can find record was done about 1822, by David W. Deshler, as agent of " The Insurance Company of North America of Philadelphia." Mr. Deshler was a justice of the peace, and had his office on Broad street, just west of High. His agency was profitable to the company, as he was quite conservative in his ideas of taking fire risks. He was one of the projectors and founders of the " Columbus Insurance Company," which was incorporated in 1833. Directors : Wm. Neil, president; D. W. Deshler, sec- retary; Jesse Stone, N. Medbery, C. Neiswanger, Bela Latham, Demas Adams, Wm. S. Sullivant, Noah H. Swayne, John Pat- terson, William Miner, Jos. Ridgway, and M. Northrop. Cap- ital stock, $300,000. After doing business a short time, there arose a diversity of opinion in the board of directors, as to the policy of establishing agencies and the writing of hazardous risks. The conservatives sold out their stock and withdrew from the company, which then established agencies and largely extended its business. The company met with large losses through its agencies at New York, St. Louis, Milwaukee, and Detroit. The company was closely connected in business with the City Bank of Columbus. The bank, for a long time, gave it such aid as was required by its necessities, consequent upon its many and large losses. The company struggled on for a time, but finally was compelled to yield and disastrously failed, carrying down with it the City Bank, in 1854.
556
ADVERTISEMENTS.
JOS. L. HALL, President and Treas.
O. Y. CONE,
.
Vice-Pres't and Sec'y.
HALL'S SAFE AND LOCK CO.
Manufacturers of Hall's Patent
TES
BANK LOCKS,
AND
VAULT WORK.
182 SUPERIOR
STREET. CLEVELAND. &
182 SUPERIOR STREET.
Cincinnati,
Boston,
St. Louis, Louisville, and
New York, Chicago,
Pittsburgh,
San Francisco.
557
COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
This was a blow so severe that the business of fire insurance, for many years thereafter, was done in Columbus by the agencies of eastern companies.
In 1864, the Home, Capital City, Franklin, and Central Insur- ance Companies were organized. Three of the companies, the Capital City, Franklin, and Central, did a joint business for some years, having separate boards of directors, with the same agents. The stock of the three companies was gradually concentrated into the same hands. The stockholders thinking it more eco- nomical to carry on the business as one company, voted to con- solidate the three companies; and, in accordance therewith, in April, 1872, the Capital City and Central were merged into the Franklin, and its capital stock increased to $300,000, full paid in cash. The cash assets of the Home Insurance Company, Janu- ary, 1873, were $800,733.76. The policy of our home insurance companies is, and always has been, to decline hazardous busi- ness. The business of the companies has been profitable. Their list of stockholders embraces our most successful and reliable business men and capitalists.
FRANKLIN INSURANCE COMPANY .- Officers and directors : John Greenleaf, president ; W. B. Hawkes, vice-president ; Allen G. Thurman, B. E. Smith, Wm. G. Deshler, F. C. Sessions, Isaac Eberly, J. P. Bruck, P. W. Huntington, E. Barcus, W. C. Brown, Henry O'Kane, secretary and treasurer; Zelotes Wood, man- ager ; and S. M. Shedd, solicitor.
HOME INSURANCE COMPANY .- Officers and directors: M. A. Daugherty, president; E. T. Mithoff, C. P. L. Butler, Henry Miller, Samuel Galloway, B. E. Smith, Jno. G. Mitchell, B. S. Brown, Francis Collins, Jared Sperry, Joseph Black, Henry Jones, J. Warren Keifer, Charles Follett, S. W. Pickering, Jacob Peetrey, secretary ; and J. W. Chapin, agent.
THE RAILROAD CONDUCTORS' LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF THE UNITED STATES AND THE CANADAS .- Organized in October, 1868, at Cincinnati, by the railroad conductors-passenger and freight -of the United States and the Canadas. The whole number of certificates of membership issued to January 1, 1873, is 5,420 ; present number of members in good standing, 3,500.
It is a mutual association. At the death or total or permanent disability, each member in good standing is assessed one dollar, to be paid to the heirs of the deceased, or to the party disabled. The sum of $480,000 had been assessed, collected, and paid, up to January 1, 1873. This is a large sum of money for an organi- zation in existence only four years.
The office of the association is in this city.
Officers for 1873: James Marshall, president; J. G. Cormick,
558
ADVERTISEMENTS.
THE ONLY EXCLUSIVE
MEN'S FOL
OS STORE
IN COLUMBUS.
Particular attention given to the manufacture of
TINE SHIRTS TO ORDER.
T. P. WHITE, . . 91 SOUTH HIGH STREET. All the Novelties of the Season received as soon as out.
STROBRIDGE & CO. COR. FOURTH AND RACE STS., CINCINNATI,
LITHOGRAPHERS, ENGRAVERS, AND PUBLISHERS OF CHROMOS, ETC.
Show Cards, Bonds, Diplomas, Maps, Portraits, Certificates of Stock, Drafts, Bill and Letter Heads, Cards, etc., executed in the best manner.
WM. R. KENT, AUCTION AND COMMISSION MERCHANT, Northeast Cor. Town and Fourth Sts., Columbus, Ohio.
DR. A. O. BLAIR, HOMEOPATHIC PHYSICIAN. Office and Residence, opp. the Town Street Methodist Church.
M. LANG, Dealer in all kinds of Building Stone. Stone Yard on Fifth St., South of Livingston Avenue, Columbus, 0.
R. C. HELLRIGLE.
A. R. TALCOTT.
HELLRIGLE & TALCOTT,
PUBLISHERS of DIRECTORIES, GAZETTEERS & RAILROAD GUIDES.
Directories of all the Principal Cities kept on File for reference.
559
COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
first vice-president; M. Spain Jay, second vice-president; and Jos. F. Culbertson, secretary and treasurer.
Executive Committee: John W. Moore, J. N. Horner, and E. Morrell.
PRUDENTIAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY .- Incorporated in January, 1873, with a capital stock of $200,000, in shares of $100.
Incorporators : John G. Doren, C. P. L. Butler, R. N. Brown, W. A. Hershiser, Isaac C. Aston, P. B. Ewing, Frank S. Osborn, John Seltzer, Peter Ambos, Joseph Falkenbach, W. H. Belville, W. H. Platt, O. C. Maxwell, A. S. Bates, John C. McKenny, and S. R. Stimson.
THE COLUMBUS STREET RAILROADS.
THE COLUMBUS STREET RAILROAD was the first street railroad constructed in the city, and it is generally known by the name of the High Street railroad. The company to build the road was incorporated in 1863; the road was constructed and went into operation the same year, with a double-track, and continued to use the double-track until 1866. The directors finding the enterprise unprofitable, took up the double-track and laid a single one, with turn-outs, six in number. Its entire length of track, including turn-outs, switches, etc., is about three miles. Its rolling-stock, horses, and other personal property is valued at about $80,000. Its value has been very much impaired by the occupation of High street as a switch-yard by the railroad companies.
The present officers of the company are Edward T. Mithoff, president, and Wm. Ferson, secretary and treasurer.
FRIEND STREET RAILWAY .- Incorporated April 10, 1868, with a capital stock of $22,000. Corporators: Thos. Miller, M. C. Lilley, H. H. Kimball, Isaac Eberly, N. Merion, and Horace Wilson.
The length of the road is three miles, running east from High, on Friend, to the county fair grounds. The road was con- structed in the summer of 1870, and in the fall of the same year cars commenced running.
Officers and directors : M. Haviland, president ; Thomas Miller, acting superintendent; J. McArty, F. Michael, John Joyce, D. C. Wax, and N. Miller.
FAIRWOOD STREET RAILROAD COMPANY .- Incorporated March 3, 1870, with a capital stock of $5,000.
Corporators : B. F. Martin, B. F. Stage, Frederick Michael, M. Haviland, and Samuel Galloway.
This road commences at Rose avenue, connecting with the Friend Street railroad where the latter diverges from the National
560
COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
Road to the county fair grounds, and runs east along the north side of the National Road, about three-fourths of a mile, to a point very near to Alum creek.
The company organized by electing as directors B. F. Martin, B. F. Stage, Thos. Miller, Michael Haviland, R. C. Hoffman, Frederick Michael, and E. W. Livingston: The board of direct- ors elected the following officers : B. F. Martin, president; Thos. Miller, vice-president; B. F. Stage, treasurer; E. W. Livingston, secretary-who still continue in office. The road was constructed in the winter and spring of 1871.
EAST PARK PLACE STREET RAILROAD COMPANY .- Incorporated in 1870. Capital stock, $25,000.
Corporators : William S. Sullivant, W. B. Hawkes, A. D. Rodgers, S. S. Rickly, F. C. Sessions, and John G. Mitchell.
The length of the road is one and one-fourth miles, running east from High, on Long, to Albert street. It is contemplated to be extended to the county fair grounds. The road was con- structed in the year 1871, at a cost of $13,000, and cars com- menced running in January, 1872.
Officers and directors : A. D. Rodgers, president; James Wat- son, secretary ; S. S. Rickly, treasurer; Wm. E. Ide, John G. Mitchell, W. S. Sullivant, Orange Johnson, William Trevitt, John M. Pugh, and William B. Hayden.
THE NORTH COLUMBUS. STREET RAILWAY COMPANY .- Office, No. 5 Odeon Building. This company was incorporated Sep- tember 12, 1871, by Samuel Doyle, Wm. Dennison, Rudolph Williams, M. M. Green, Henry M. Neil, Wm. Preston Brown, and Joseph Guitner ; but was not organized until November 2, 1872, when the following gentlemen were elected directors for 1872-73: Samuel Doyle, president; James Finley Brown, secre- tary and treasurer; Wm. Neil Dennison, E. L. De Witt, H. M. Neil, Joseph Guitner, George M. Peters, and George Williams. Capital stock, $75,000.
The line of the road is as follows : Beginning on High street, at the west end of Swan street (on the line of the High Street railroad, one block north of the Union Depot), and running east on Swan street to Third street, north on Third street to First avenue, east on First avenue to Summit street, north on Summit street to the Mock road (the north line of the city lim- its), thence west on the Mock road and Second street to Monroe street, in the Northwood Heights addition, thence north on Monroe street to the Columbus Sewer Pipe Works, at North Columbus, two blocks east of High street, extending three and three-fourth miles, through elevated and beautiful suburbs of our city.
The grading on the line of the road has been completed, at a
561
COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
cost of about $20,000. The track will be laid with T rails, thirty pounds to the yard. The equipments for the passenger traffic will consist of two of Baxter's steam street-cars, which are noiseless and smoke-consuming. The gauge of the road will be 4 feet 82 inches, so as to allow the transportation of freight and coal cars without breaking bulk.
M. S. Doyle, the president of the company, who has the con- tract for the construction of the road, expects to complete and equip the same by the middle of April next.
Estimated cost of construction, $45,000; of equipments, $15,000; total, $60,000.
GLENWOOD AND GREEN LAWN STREET RAILWAY .- Incorporated April 23, 1872, with a capital stock of $50,000.
OAK STREET RAILWAY COMPANY .- Incorporated January 23, 1872, with a capital stock of $20,000.
THE STATE AND OAK STREET RAILROAD .- Incorporated March 13, 1873, with a capital stock of $30,000.
Corporators : Luther Donaldson, John M. Pugh, R. C. Hoff- man, Wm. C. Stewart, and D. W. C. Jones.
The line of the road is to be as follows: Commencing at the east end of the State Street bridge, thence running east on State to Seventh, north on Seventh to Oak, east on Oak to an avenue on the east side of Stewart and Jones addition, thence north to the Fair Ground avenue, and thence east on Fair Ground ave- nue to the fair grounds.
COLUMBUS GASLIGHT AND COKE COMPANY.
The act creating Joel Buttles, Samuel Medary, Chas. Scott, J. S. Abbott, Dwight Stone, Jno. Miller, James D. Osborne, James Westwater, S. D. Preston, and Wm. Armstrong a body, corporate and politic, with perpetual succession, by the name and style of the Columbus Gaslight and Coke Company, was passed by the legislature February 21, 1846, and signed by Elias F. Drake, speaker of the House of Representatives, and Sea- bury Ford, speaker of the Senate. A meeting of the incorpo- rators named in this act of incorporation was held at the office of Gilbert & Baldwin, on the 21st of May, 1846. Wm. Arm- strong was appointed chairman, and J. D. Osborne, secretary. At this meeting, Gilbert & Baldwin were authorized to open books at their office for subscriptions to the capital stock, from and after that date.
The records do not show that any stock was subscribed until November, 1848. From that time to January 4, 1849, about one thousand shares, of $10 each, only were taken, notwithstanding that the enterprise was warmly recommended to the people by
562
COMMERCIAL INSTITUTIONS.
such reliable business men as J. Ridgway, Jr., Jno. Miller, D. W. Deshler, Jno. L. and W. A. Gill. The first meeting of stockholders was held December 6, 1848, and John Miller, D. W. Deshler, J. Ridgway, Jr., Jno. Lockwood, and W. A. Gill were declared duly eleeted direetors of the company. Jno. Miller was appointed president; J. Ridgway, Jr., secretary ; and D. W. Deshler, treasurer. The president and secretary were made a committee to prepare by-laws. At a meeting held at the American Hotel, January 5, 1849, the secretary was directed to proeure from the engineer of the Cincinnati gas-works, plans and specifications for gas-works, suitable for the wants of theeity.
At a subsequent meeting held on the 15th of February, 1849, a contract was entered into between the directors and Jno. Lockwood, by which said Lockwood was to furnish plans and specifications, with an estimate for constructing the works, which, if satisfactory to the directors, should be executed, and if not, then said Lockwood and his associates might construct gas- works on their own responsibility. At the annual election of directors, held on the Ist day of April, 1850, W. A. Gill, Jno. Miller, Peter Hayden, Thomas Moodie, W. A. Platt, J. Ridgway, Jr., and D. W. Deshler were elected ; and on the following day, W. A. Gill was elected president of the board ; W. A. Platt, sec- retary ; and T. Moodie, treasurer. A committee was also ap- pointed at this meeting, consisting of D. W. Deshler and W. A. Platt, to purchase grounds for the erection of gas-works.
On the 4th of April, 1850, a committee was appointed to con- traet with Jno. Lockwood for the erection of gas-works, and the committee on the purchase of grounds were authorized to purchase from Lewis Mills and C. Niswander, lots Nos. 249 and 250. On the 10th of April, a committee was appointed to procure from the city council a satisfactory ordinance, convey- ing to the company the right to use the streets and alleys for laying down pipes. The ordinance was passed on the 14th of May, 1850, and accepted on the day following by the gas com- pany. The contract for the erection of the works was concluded with Jno. Lockwood, on the 18th of May, 1850.
The first requisition on the stock subscribed was made June 10, 1850. Joseph C. Vance was appointed secretary of the company December 18, 1850. The gas-works were accepted from the contractor as complete December 24, 1850, and by or- der of the board of directors, a supper was tendered to Lock- wood and Barringer at the American Hotel. On the 5th of March, 1851, a committee, appointed for that purpose, reported a contract entered into with Grafton Douty as superintendent. The original capital stock of $40,000 was increased to $50,000
563
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
on the 30th of April, 1851. The first balloon inflated by the company was for John M. Kinney, July 4, 1851. The experi- ment of using Roman cement for joints in gas-mains was au- thorized by the board of directors, in May, 1851, since which time the company has used no other material.
On the 6th of April, W. A. Platt was elected president, and J. C. Vance resigned the office of secretary at the same date, and was succeeded by H. Z. Mills. Large extensions of main pipes in the principal streets were made during this season, and more grounds purchased for the necessary extension of the works, which the business already showed would soon be nec- essary.
The capital stock was increased (May 18, 1854,) $50,000, and on the 20th of January, 1858, the price of gas was reduced from $3.25 to $3,00 per one thousand cubic feet, without discount. The capital stock was increased, April 23, 1860, to $125,000; April 17, 1863, to $150,000; June 25, 1867, to $200,000; May 26, 1869, to $250,000, and April 24, 1871, to $400,000. There are now twenty-four miles of main pipe laid in the streets, and the consumers of gas number over two thousand; besides, six hundred and sixty-one street lamps are supplied with gas.
The company are erecting a large three-story building for a fitting-shop; and will, during the present season, build a large gasometer and enlarge the retort-house, so that the capacity of the works will be nearly or quite doubled.
Officers and board of directors for 1873: W. A. Platt, presi- dent; John F. Bartlit, John Miller, John L. Gill, George Mc- Donald, W. G. Deshler, P. W. Huntington; A. B. Robinson, secretary ; Grafton Douty, superintendent, and C. A. Platt, fore- man.
CHAPTER XX.
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
COLUMBUS AS A MANUFACTURING CENTER.
Columbus has grown from small beginnings to be one of the most important business and manufacturing centers in the West; and its facilities and prospects for future growth are un- equaled. While yet a small village, it owed much to the enter- prise and energy of its citizens. These form the true secret of its prosperous condition, inasmuch as these sterling qualities
564
MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.
have always distinguished, as they do now, in a pre-eminent degree, our manufacturers, merchants, and business men.
The locating of the State capital and State institutions here, no doubt, to some extent, assisted Columbus in her struggles upward. They gave some impetus to her infant business, but at the same time retarded her progress in an almost equal degree. They excited a jealousy and a prejudice against her, as though she were a parasite, living and growing at the ex- pense of the rest of the State. But it is needless to more than allude to this unreasonable prejudice, as it is now generally ad- mitted that the advantages Columbus enjoys from being the State capital are very few, and of very little consequence when compared with the wealth, trade, and resources that have been and are being developed by the talent and efforts of her citi- zens, unaided by the State.
The growth of Columbus, though not so rapid as some other western towns, has been as steady and stable as that of any of them, and bids fair to increase in the future with an ever accel- erated speed. In 1870, when the last federal census was taken, its population was set down at nearly thirty-two thousand. Since that time our city limits have been greatly enlarged ; our population has been rapidly increased, and our total number of inhabitants must now reach from forty to forty-five thousand. During the last decade, we have more than doubled our popula- tion, and at the rate of progress we are now making, our city will contain within its bounds, in 1880, from seventy-five to one hundred thousand people.
From our location, in the center of Ohio, and our means of easy transit to all points of the compass, our merchants and business men are not only fast building up a profitable trade with the rich and populous counties around us, but are extend- ing their enterprises into adjoining States. There is no more desirable place in the West, in which to fix a residence or engage in business. Our public schools are among the best regulated and the most thorough in the country. Our Holly water-works afford us almost perfect security against fire. As a railroad center, Columbus will soon rival Indianapolis. Six important lines already converge to this point; three others are about ready to be constructed, and several more will not be long delayed.
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.