USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > Columbus, Ohio: its history, resources, and progress : with numerous illustrations > Part 8
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On the day of the reception, Tuesday, August 29, flags were displayed from almost every building in the central portion of the city. The American red, white, and blue was intermingled and blended with the old German black, red, and gold. Flags, arches, and circlets of evergreens and flowers, and emblematic devices and mottoes, were to be met on every hand.
People thronged the streets, as if in anticipation of some great event. During the day sixteen or seventeen singing societies arrived, and were escorted to the headquarters at Schreiner's Hall, by the band of the Eighteenth regiment, United States infantry.
The reception concert took place at the Opera House, in the evening. After an overture, James G. Bull, mayor of the city, made an address of welcome to the Saengerbund. A flag was then presented to the Saengerbund, on behalf of the German ladies of the city. It was made in New York city, and cost
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
$450. On the white side of the flag, a magnificent embroidered eagle spread his wings over a lyre; beneath the lyre, in a book of sheet music, was seen the song, "Stand firm, my country," etc. The whole was surrounded by grapes and grape leaves, with stars over the lyre, representing the societies participating in the festival. The inscription in violet-colored German letters, was as follows, " First German Saengerbund of North America, founded June 2, 1849." The other side, of blue silk, bore the inscription-" Donated by the German ladies of Columbus, Ohio, at the Thirteenth Union Festival, August 29, 1865."
The presentation address was made by Miss Frederika Theobald, on behalf of the lady donors. The flag was received, in behalf of the Saengerbund, and the reception address made in German, by Otto Dressel, of this city.
The concert then proceeded. It consisted of instrumental music by the orchestra, and vocal music by the Columbus Maennerchor, and the Maennerchor Ladies' Club. The large audience gave frequent manifestations of approval and admira- tion.
The next evening (Wednesday, August 30), the grand con- cert of the Saengerbund took place at the Opera House. It was estimated that, apart from the singers, there were twelve or fifteen hundred persons present. On the platform in the rear of the stage, there was an array of about four hundred singers, belonging to the different societies taking part in the festival. Said a reporter who was present at the concert : "It would be presumption in one unskilled in musical criticism to attempt a description of an entertainment, which at times seemed to elec- trify the immense audience, and afforded wonderful specimens of the compass, variety, and harmony which the human voice may attain, and of its overpowering effect with hundreds of cul- tivated singers in full concert."
The prize concert took place at the Opera House, on Thurs- day evening, before another immense assemblage. In this musical tournament, if we may so term it, the different singing societies contended for the prizes that had been offered. The judges were H. M. Groenland (founder of the North American Saengerbund), Professor Nothnagel, Karl Schoppelrei, Emil
89
HISTORY, 1852 TO 1862.
RICHES.SC
CITY PARK.
Location at the terminus of South Third Street. In this park is the oak planted by the Germans at the Peace Celebration.
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
Foerster, and Karl Spohr. There were twelve prizes in all- the first was awarded to the Cincinnati Maennerchor, and the second to the New York Liederkranz.
Friday, September 1, was the closing day of the Saengerfest. Early in the morning an immense concourse of people, number- ing many thousands, assembled at the west front of the Capitol. The different singing societies, with their banners waving and bands playing, met at that point, and thence a grand proces- sion was formed for a picnic in the City Park, in the southern part of the city. From a large platform erected on the grounds, speeches were made by Dr. J. Eberhardt, of Wheeling, in German, and R. B. Warden, of Columbus, in English. Then followed a superb banquet, songs, toasts, speeches, and general hilarity. In the evening, after the dis- tribution of the prizes awarded to the different societies, a grand ball took place at Wenger and Zettler's halls, a com- munication having been established between the two halls, so as to unite them as one. Capacious as they were, these halls were densely crowded. Music and dancing formed the finale of the grand festival.
GENERAL GRANT'S VISIT.
At a meeting of the city council, on the evening of September 18, 1865, on motion of Mr. Donaldson, a committee, consisting of Mayor James G. Bull, G. Douty (who was then president of the council), George M. Parsons, A. G. Thurman, Joseph R. Swan, Peter Ambos, and Thomas Lough, was appointed to ex- tend an invitation to U. S. Grant, Lieutenant-General of the United States, to visit the capital of Ohio, his native State, and accept the hospitalities of the city of Columbus. Messrs. Buttles, Donaldson, Ross, Stauring, and Patterson were also appointed a committee to make arrangements for the reception of General Grant, should he accept the invitation.
The invitation was accepted, and Tuesday, the 3d day of October, was set apart for the proposed visit. At an early hour of that day the city put on her holiday attire. By noon the state-house yard and the streets were thronged with expectant people. At one o'clock, the boom of cannon announced the
91
HISTORY, 1862 To 1872.
arrival of the general at the depot. Thence a procession moved to the west front of the Capitol, in the following order : Band of the Eighteenth U. S. infantry ; General Grant, family, and staff, in carriages ; Governor Anderson and Ex-Governor Tod ; Mayor Bull and the city council ; military officers, members of the press, city fire department, and citizens in carriages.
When the procession reached the west gate of Capitol Square, a novel and interesting spectacle was presented. The whole western facade of the state-house was lined with pupils from the public schools, attended by their teachers, and displaying flags and bouquets. The procession passed into the state-house, where the general had a formal reception in the governor's room. He was then conducted to the west front of the Capitol, and intro- duced by Mayor Bull, in a neat and appropriate address, to the assembled multitude. The general replied, expressing his grati- fication at his warm reception, but declining any attempt at speech-making. General Grant then re-entered the state-house, amid the cheers of the assembly outside, and held a levee in the rotunda, the people passing him in double column, and many having the pleasure of shaking him by the hand. After this ceremony, the general and staff were escorted, by the committee, to the asylums for the blind and for the deaf and dumb.
At about four o'clock, a dinner or banquet was given General Grant and party at the Neil House. There were present about three hundred citizens, including some of the prominent men of the State. After the dinner, Governor Anderson, with an appropriate speech, introduced the general, who made his usual brief response. Speeches were then made by Governor Tod, Samuel Galloway, and General Joseph H. Geiger. The following toast, proposed by General Geiger, was drank standing and in silence, " The Memory of the Illustrious Dead of the War."
In the evening, General Grant and party visited the opera house, which was crowded with people more curious to see him than to witness the plays. That night General Grant took his departure for Pittsburg.
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
RELICS OF THE PAST.
On the morning of July 14, 1868, a fire broke out in a build- ing on the northeast corner of High and Rich streets, owned by Dr. Aikin, and at that time occupied by H. H. Witte, as a drug- store, and previously by Denig & Son, druggists. The first, second, and third stories of the building were burnt out, and both the lessee and the owner were heavy losers.
In repairing the building, about two months afterward, the workmen found a zinc-box, containing a pamphlet, entitled Franklin County Register, by Wm. T. Martin, comprising a list of the civil officers that served in the county after its organi- zation, until 1834, from representatives in Congress to justices of the peace ; a brief history of the settlement of the county, and a list of the principal State officers, printed by Scott & Wright, in 1834 ; a copy of the Ohio Annual Register for 1835, published by Gilbert & Bryan; copies of the several papers published in this city in April, 1835 ; copies of the Western In- telligencer of 1811 and 1812, published at Worthington, by Buttles & Smith ; and other documents-all in good preserva- tion.
One of the written documents, dated August 27, 1835, con- tained the following interesting statements, couched in these words :
" This house is now building in place of a wooden house, which was burnt down on the night of the 4th of April last, belonging to J. Buttles, who is yet the owner of the premises. He is also a merchant of this place, and established the first store in it in 1813. The writer of this resided seven years in the building formerly occupying this ground. There are six places of the public worship of God in this city, viz : 1 Presby- terian, built in 1831; 1 Episcopal, built in 1833; 1 Lutheran (German) ; 1 Baptist ; 1 Methodist ; 1 African (colored people). " Attest : Matthew Matthews."
Dr. Aikin replaced these relics in the new wall, which it be- came necessary for him to build in repairing the building, together with a description of the city, the number of places of public worship, public buildings, etc.
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HISTORY, 1862 TO 1872.
RAILROAD CONDUCTORS' CONVENTION.
The second annual convention of railroad conductors of the United States was held at Ambos' Hall, October 20 and 21, 1869. It was composed of delegates from the United States Railroad Conductors' Life Insurance Company. An annual ad- dress was delivered by George B. Wright, commissioner of rail- roads and telegraphs for the State of Ohio. A constitution and by-laws were adopted; the organization to be known as the " United States Railroad Conductors' Life Insurance Com- pany." A president and other officers were elected. The presi- dent elect was James Marshall, of the New York and Harlem road. The convention enjoyed a fine banquet at the Neil House on the evening of the second and last day of its session.
THE HUMBOLDT JUBILEE.
The centennial anniversary of the birth of Alexander von Humboldt was celebrated in Columbus, on the 14th of Septem- ber, 1869. At an early hour the city was gayly decorated with flags, banners, and evergreens. A grand procession, consisting of military companies, the fire department, and various bene- ficial and musical societies, principally German, paraded the principal streets, headed by Hemersbach's band. The proces- sion disbanded at the Opera House, which was densely filled by an assembly of citizens. An opening address was made in both English and German, by Henry Olnhausen, president of the day. A letter was then read by Colonel Henry B. Carring- ton from Joseph Sullivant, who had been appointed to deliver an address on the occasion.
Rev. C. Heddaeus was introduced and delivered a learned dis- sertation in German on the life and character of Humboldt. He was followed by E. E. White, who spoke on the same theme. The exercises were enlivened with singing and instrumental music by the various musical societies, and made the entertain- ment a grand jubilee in memory of one of the most illustrious men of modern times.
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
THE GERMAN PEACE CELEBRATION.
Seldom has a finer display been made in our city than that on the 1st day of May, 1871, when our German fellow-citizens celebrated the restoration of peace to fatherland. At six o'clock in the morning, the festivities were ushered in by an artillery salute of twenty-five guns. The whole city, but more especially the southern and central portions, assumed the habiliments and gayety of a May queen. There was a large revolving wheel in front of Ambos' Hall representing the German national col- ors. There was a triple arch of honor at the entrance to the City Park-the center one being for the passage of vehicles, and those on the sides for pedestrians.
The different societies intending to participate in the exer- cises of the day met at their respective halls; other citizens at their headquarters, at Schreiner's Hall, opposite the court-house. In that vicinity a procession was formed under Dr. O. Zirckle as chief marshal, with five assistant marshals, each in charge of a division.
The procession moved through the principal streets to the City Park. Some of its noticeable features were : "Peaceful Germania," a wagon drawn by six white horses, each led by a page; Germania on the throne, in the attire of the German em- peror; on each side a girl representing peace and liberty ; around this group the German representatives of art, science, technics, and commerce, as Johannes Kepler, born December 27, 1571, called the father of modern astronomy, and celebrated for the discovery of the laws of planetary motion known as "Kepler's laws; " Uprecht Durer, born May 20, 1471, the founder of the German school of painters; Johannes Gutten- berg, born in Mainz, in 1395, claimed as the father of modern printing by the discovery of the use of movable types; Fugger, of Augsburg, of the fifteenth century, who began, like Roths- child, a poor linen-weaver, and became a millionaire-his imme- diate descendants having at their command almost the entire commerce of the world.
There were also wagons representing the different mechanical pursuits, with workmen actively engaged at their respective
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HISTORY, 1862 TO 1872.
trades, as bakers, carpenters, car-builders, fence-makers, boiler- makers, etc.
At the City Park an immense assemblage gathered around the speakers' stand, from which speeches were made by Gov- ernor Hayes, Prince Alexander von Lynar, Henry Olnhausen, Dr. R. Wirth, J. H. Heitman, and Dr. J. Wechsler. Between the addresses there were musical interludes by the bands and singing societies. The day's festivities were closed by grand displays of fireworks, and a dance at Turner Hall.
CHICAGO RELIEF.
In pursuance of a call issued by the mayor, a meeting of citi- zens was held at the Opera House, on the afternoon of October 9, 1871, to aid in the relief of the sufferers by the terrible fire at Chicago. The mayor presided at the meeting. P. W. Hunt- ington, Dr. W. E. Ide, and General George B. Wright, were ap- pointed a committee to obtain contributions ; and William G. Deshler, a treasurer to receive funds contributed. Subscrip- tions were made on the spot to the amount of $10,430. The following gentlemen subscribed a thousand dollars each: Will- iam Dennison, William G. Deshler, George M. Parsons, A. G. Thurman, Benjamin E. Smith, H. J. Jewett, and the firm of B. S. & W. C. Brown.
The committee and treasurer appointed by the meeting were charged with the duty of disbursing these funds. A committee of two from each of the nine wards was appointed to solicit fur- ther aid.
A meeting of ladies was held the next day at the First Pres- byterian Church for a similar purpose. Mrs. J. M. McKee pre- sided, and Mrs. Huston filled the place of secretary. The city was divided into five districts, and committees of ladies ap- pointed to solicit aid in each. A purchasing committee was also appointed to expend a thousand dollars set apart for buying ma- terials to be manufactured into clothing; and ladies desiring to extend a helping hand were invited to meet that day in the sec- ond story of Hayden's new building on Broad street.
On the 14th of October following, Mr. Deshler, the treasurer, reported total collections to the relief fund to that date, amount-
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
ing to $13,966. Several subscriptions were still unpaid, and several collection committees had not reported. Besides, large amounts of provisions and clothing had been sent forward by the enterprise and liberality of individual citizens on their own account.
P.HAYDEN.
PETER HAYDEN'S building, on Broad street, opposite Capitol Square, erected in 1869, has a front of 63 feet on Broad street, and is 125 feet deep. It is four stories high, with a basement of ten feet in depth.
The front is of free-stone and is of a brown color. The building has a center projection, heavily wrought quoins at the angles, arch-headed doors and windows, a heavy molded drop course at each story, and the whole crowned by a massive bracketed cornice. Each window in front on the first floor is of French plate glass, one light, in size five feet by ten.
The rooms on the first floor are fifteen feet high. Each room is provided in the back part with a strong fire-proof vault, with boiler iron, in which to place a burglar-proof safe.
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GROWTH AND PROSPECTS.
CHAPTER VII.
COLUMBUS-ITS GROWTH AND PROSPECTS.
Columbus is pleasantly situated on cach side of the Scioto river, but principally on the castern side. It is 70 miles from the outlet of the Scioto into the Ohio river, 110 miles northeast of Cincinnati, and 350 miles from Washington City. It is in latitude 39º 57' north, and longitude 83º 3' west from Greenwich.
Columbus is the third city in Ohio, in point of size and im- portance, yielding in these respects only to Cincinnati and Cleveland. It is laid out on the rectangular plan. In its pub- lic and private edifices, in the improvement of its streets and parks, and in its general appearance, there is a skillful blending of beauty with utility, and of uniformity with variety.
The object that first strikes the eye of the visitor on entering the heart of the city is the Capitol, or, in familiar language, the State House. No other building of the kind on this continent rivals it in size, except the National Capitol at Washington. It is a noble structure, 184 feet wide by 304 feet long, covering, with its terraces and steps, over two acres of ground. The gray limestone with which it is built gives it the appearance of a marble structure. To the chaste and elegant outside of the edi- fice, the interior corresponds in the fitness of its arrangements, and in the beauty, solidity, and finish of the materials and workmanship.
Columbus also presents its large, well-built, and well-regulated Penitentiary, its spacious and elegant Asylums, its City Hall, its churches, the Medical College, Capitol University, its fine Public School buildings, its hotels and large blocks for stores and business houses, and, above all, its extensive and flourishing furniture, iron, and other manufacturing establishments, as attestations of the spirit and energy of its citizens, and as proofs of the advantages it offers to men of capital and enterprise.
Not many years ago, it was a common saying, that Columbus owed its existence and all its importance to the State capital
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STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
and the State institutions located within its limits. But its progress of late years has proved the falsity of all such asser- tions, and silenced the tongue of slander. Now, instead of de- crying Columbus, it is becoming the fashion to laud its thrift and enterprise. Those who are most familiar with the growth and prospects of our cities, do not hesitate to declare that no city in the State is making more real, substantial progress than Columbus, and that in no other are the prospects of future growth and prosperity better assured.
INCREASE IN EXTENT OF TERRITORY.
Within a few years, the rapid increase of our population and our advance in manufacturing and other enterprises, has com- pelled a corresponding extension of our corporate limits. Pre- vious to 1863, the city occupied an area of 1,100 acres. By an annexation of territory that year, its area was increased 1,600, making a total area of 2,700 acres. Eight years afterward, or in 1871, its corporate limits were enlarged by the annexation of territory taken from the surrounding townships, as follows : From Montgomery and Franklin townships, 2,740 acres; and from Clinton township, 1,312-making an addition of 4,052 acres, and increasing the whole area of the city to 6,752 acres .. This makes Columbus over six times larger in extent of territory than it was in 1863, and two and a half times larger than it was in 1871. Still, it is so surrounded on all sides-east, west, north, and south- by an almost unlimited extent of level land suitable for building purposes, that, before the close of the present century, its area may exceed that of an ordinary county.
INCREASE OF POPULATION. Population of Columbus, by Wards, from 1850 to 1870.
Wards.
1850. White.
Colored.
Wards. Columbus .....
17,557
997
1st Ward
..
3,325
477
1st Ward.
4,522
503
2d
.....
2,443
276
2d
2,444
140
3d
66
.....
3,091
187
3d
16
.....
2,661
77
4th
.....
4,019
109
4th
.....
3,367
85
5th
.....
3,727
228
5th
66
.....
4,563
192
1860. White.
Colored.
Columbus .. ..
16,605
1,277
99
GROWTH AND PROSPECTS.
1870.
Wards. Columbus .....
Total.
Native. 23,663
Foreign. 7,611
White. 9,427
1,847
1st Ward.
3,045
2,400
645
2,836
209
2d
66
..
2,621
2,267
354
2,386
235
3d
.....
2,575
2,217
358
2,451
124
4th
66
.....
3,671
2,957
714
3,451
220
5th
3,849
2,614
1,235
3,598
251
6th
66
.....
4,728
2,899
1,829
4,672
56
7th
=
.....
3,025
2,315
710
2,950
75
8th
66
......
4,361
3,425
936
3,710
651
9th
......
3,399
2,569
830
3,373
26
Sixty years ago, or at the time Columbus was laid out as a town in 1812, it was an almost unbroken forest, with no human inhabitants resident within its limits. Three years afterward, or in 1815, its population was seven hundred. By the federal census, it was, in 1820, 1,450 ; in 1830, 2,437 ; in 1840, 6,048 ; in 1850, 17,882 ; in 1860, 18,554; and in 1870, 31,274.
The increase from 1820 to 1830 was 987, making 70 per cent. ; from 1830 to 1840, it was 3,611, making 150 per cent .; from 1840 to 1850, it was 11,834, making nearly 200 per cent .; from 1850 to 1860, it was only 772; and from 1860 to 1870, the increase was 12,720, being over 70 per cent ..
During the decennial period from 1850.to 1860, Columbus had a severe attack of the western emigration fever, which, with other causes, tended to keep down the increase of population to a low figure. But it revived in the next ten years, nothwith- standing that period included the war, in which she lost many of her young and stalwart sons.
Of the total population in 1850-17,882-16,605 were white, and 1,277 colored ; of the total in 1860-18,554-17,557 were white, and 997 colored ; and of the whole population in 1870- 31,274-23,663 were of native, and 7,611 of foreign birth ; 29,427 were white, and 1,847 colored.
The total population of Franklin county, in 1820, was 10,172; in 1860, it was 50,361, and in 1870, 63,019. The proportion of the population of Columbus to that of the whole county was, in 1820, about one-seventh ; in 1860, about three-eighths, and in 1870, nearly one-half.
The total vote cast in Columbus, for Governor, at the State election in October, 1871, was 5,415.
Colored.
31,274
..
.....
100
STUDER'S COLUMBUS, OHIO.
The total vote for Secretary of State cast in Columbus, in Oc- tober, 1872, was 6,668.
The total vote for President of the United States cast in Columbus, in November, 1872, was 7,340.
The following important statistical statement is taken from the Daily Ohio State Journal, December 7, 1872 :
GROWTH OF CITIES.
Estimates from Election Returns of the Population of Twenty- nine Cities and Towns of Ohio.
The presidential election returns open a field for speculation on the growth of cities and towns of Ohio since the census of 1870. Below will be found a tabulation, in which estimates of present population are based on the calculation that for every voter there are six inhabitants. This ratio is generally considered a little high, and we presume a diligent comparison of the vote of 1870 and the census of the same year would show less than six in- habitants for every voter, in a majority of the cities and towns in the State. But in some cases the ratio was six-in Columbus it was very nearly that figure-and in others it was greater. Multiplying the presidential vote, by a less number than six, would show a decrease in population in a number of places where the popular idea, based on convincing outward evidences of prosperity, is that there has been considerable growth. The variation in ratio would perhaps seem to argue the unreliability of election returns as a basis on which to estimate population, but at the same time they present the only opportunity we have of applying the logic of figures to present population, and it may be they will come as near striking the truth as some loosely taken census statistics.
For purposes of comparison the ratio of six is just as good as any other, and we adopt it. No account is taken of annex- ation. Some of the cities mentioned in the table annexed terri- tory before the census of 1870, and some since ; but as annexa- tion is usually a natural result of legimate growth, we do not perceive any necessity for striking differences on that score. Of course those annexations which are merely consolidations (as in the case of Zanesville and Putnam) should be excepted from the proposition.
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