USA > Ohio > Historical collections of Ohio, containing a collection of the most interesting facts, traditions, biographical sketches, anecdotes, etc., relating to its general and local history : with descriptions of its counties, principal towns, and villages > Part 25
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Immediately upon receiving the information that the constitution of Ohio prohibited slavery, Col. Kilbourne purchased this township, lying within the United States military land district, and in the spring of 1803, returned to Ohio and commenced improvements. By the succeeding December, one hundred settlers, mainly from Hart- ford county, Connecticut, and Hampshire county, Massachusetts, arrived at their new home. Obeying to the letter the articles of association, the first cabin erected was used for a school-house and church of the Protestant Episcopal denomination : the first Sabbath after the arrival of the third family, divine worship was held therein, and on the arrival of the eleventh family, a school was commenced. This early attention to religion and education has left its favorable impress upon the character of the people to the present day. The succeeding 4th of July was appropriately celebrated. Seventeen gigantic trees, emblematical of the seventeen states forming the Federal Union, were cut so that a few blows of the axe, at sunrise on the 4th, prostrated each successively with a tremendous crash, forming a national salute novel in the world's history.
COLUMBUS, the capital of Ohio and seat of justice for Franklin county, "is 106 miles southerly from Sandusky City, 139 miles south- west from Cleveland, 148 southwestwardly from Steubenville, 184 in the same direction from Pittsburg, Pa., 126 miles west from Wheel- ing, Va., about 100 northwest from Marietta, 105 northwest from Gallipolis, 45 north from Chillicothe, 90 in the same direction from Portsmouth, at the mouth of the Scioto river, 118 northwardly from Maysville, Ky., 110 northeast from Cincinnati, 68 easterly from Day- ton, 104 southwardly from Lower Sandusky, and 175 due south from Detroit, Michigan. North lat. 39 deg. 57 min., west long. 6 deg. from Washington city, or 83 deg. from London. It is situated ex- actly on the same parallel of latitude with Zanesville and Philadel- phia, from which latter place, it is 450 miles distant ; and on the same meridian with Detroit, Michigan ; and Milledgeville, Georgia. The National road passed through it east and west, and the Columbus and Sandusky turnpike extends from this point north to Lake Erie. In all other directions roads are laid out, and many of them in good re- pair. By the Columbus feeder, water communication is opened with the Ohio canal, and thence to Lake Erie and the Ohio river."
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171
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
From the first organization of the state government until 1816, there was no permanent state capital. The sessions of the legislature were held at Chillicothe until 1810; the ses- sions of 1810-11 and 1811-12, were held at Zanesville ; after that, until December, 1816, they were again held at Chillicothe, at which time the legislature was first convened at Columbus.
Among the various proposals to the legislature, while in session at Zanesville, for the establishment of a permanent seat of government, were those of Lyne Starling, Jas. John- ston, Alex. M'Laughlin and John Kerr, the after proprietors of Columbus, for establishing it on the " high bank of the Scioto river, opposite Franklinton," which site was then a native forest. On the 14th Feb., 1812, the legislature passed a law accepting their proposals, and in one of its sections, selected Chillicothe as a temporary seat of government merely. By an act amendatory of the other, passed Feb. 17th, 1816, it was enacted, " that from and after the second Tuesday of October next, the seat of government of this state shall be established at the town of Columbus."
On the 19th of Feb., 1812, the proprietors signed and acknowledged their articles at Zanesville, as partners, under the law for laying out, &c., of the town of Columbus. The contract having been closed between the proprietors and the state, the town was laid out in the spring of 1812, under the direction of Moses Wright. On the 18th of June, the same day war was declared with Great Britain, the first public sale of lots, by auction, was held. Among the first settlers, or as early as 1813, were George M'Cormick, Geo. B. Harvey, Jno. Shields, Michael Patton, Alex. Patton, Wm. Altman, John Collett, Wm. M'Elvain, Daniel Kooser, Peter Putnam, Jacob Hare, Christian Heyl, Jarvis, George and Benj. Pike, Wm. Long and Dr. John M. Edmiston. The first building erected for public worship was a cabin, on Spring street, in the spring of 1814, on a lot of Dr. Hoge's, which was used by the Presbyterians. It was not long occupied for that purpose : that denomination then worshipped in the Franklinton meeting-house until 1818, when the 1st Presbyterian church was organized in Columbus, and a frame meeting-house erected on Front street, where Dr. Hoge preached until the erection of " the 1st Presbyterian church," about 1825. In 1814, the Methodist church of Columbus was organized ; and the same year they erected, on the lot where the present Methodist church stands, a small hewed log-house, which served the double purpose of school-house and church until about 1824, when a permanent building was erected.
The first penitentiary was erected in 1813. The state house was erected in 1814; the brick of this edifice were partly made from a beautiful mound near by, which has given the name to a street. On the 10th of Feb., 1816, the town was incorporated as " the borough of Columbus." The first board of councilmen elected were Henry Brown, Michael Patton, Jarvis Pike, Robt. and Jeremiah Armstrong, John Kerr, John Cutler, Caleb Houston and Robt. M'Coy. About the year 1819, the United States or old court-house was erected. In 1824, the county seat was removed from Franklinton to Columbus. The present city charter was granted March 3d, 1834. The first newspaper in Columbus was commenced about the beginning of 1814, and was called " the Western Intelligencer and Columbus Gazette :" it was the foundation, the original of " the Ohio State Journal."
For the first few years Columbus improved rapidly. Emigrants flowed in, apparently, from all quarters, and the improvements and general business of the place kept pace with the increase of population. Columbus, however, was a rough spot in the woods, off from any public road of much consequence. The east and west travel passed through Zanes- ville, Lancaster and Chillicothe, and the mails came in cross-line on horseback. The first successful attempt to carry a mail to or from Columbus, otherwise than on horseback, was by Philip Zinn, about the year 1816, once a week between Chillicothe and Columbus. The years from 1819 to '26, were the dullest years of Columbus ; but soon after it began to improve. The location of the national road and of the Columbus feeder to the Ohio canal, gave an impetus to improvements .*
Columbus is beautifully situated on the east bank of the Scioto about half a mile below its junction with the Olentangy. The streets are spacious, the site level, and it has many elegant private dwellings. Columbus has a few manufactories only ; it does, however, a heavy mercantile business, there being many stores of various kinds. It contains 17 churches, viz. : 2 Methodist Episcopal, 1 German Metho-
* From the brief history in the Columbus Directory, for 1843.
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
dist, 2 Presbyterian, 1 Baptist, 1 German Lutheran, 1 do. Evangelical Protestant, 1 do. Reformed, 2 Episcopal, 1 Catholic, 1 Welch Pres- byterian, 1 United Brethren, 1 Universalist and 1 Bethel, and 1 Baptist for colored persons. The principal literary institutions in this city, are the Columbus institute, a flourishing classical institution for males, Mr. and Mrs. Schencks' female seminary, and the German theological Lutheran seminary, which last has been established about 17 years, Rev. Wm. Lehmann, professor of theology. There are in Columbus 6 weekly, 2 tri-weekly and 1 semi-monthly newspapers and several banks. Its 'population, in 1815, was about 700 ; in 1820, about 1,400 ; in 1830, 2,437 ; in 1840, 6,048, and in 1846, 10,016.
Ohio Lunatic Asylum.
The great state institutions located at Columbus, do honor to Ohio, give great interest to the city, and present strong attractions to strangers.
OHIO LUNATIC ASYLUM .- This noble structure occupies a com- manding position in an open space of ground, about one mile east of the state house. There are thirty acres of land attached to it, with an extensive plat in front of the building, handsomely ornamented by shrubbery. The institution is under the direction of Dr. William M'Awl, with whom are several assistants. The buildings present a continuous front of 376 feet : the main building is 296 feet in length and 46 feet in depth. The wings project beyond it 11 feet and ex- tend back 218 feet, thus forming a large court in its rear. The wings are 39 feet wide.
" The buildings were commenced in the year 1836. They con- tain upwards of five millions of brick, and have cost (including the labor of convicts, which was a large item,) upwards of $150,000. They cover an acre of ground, and contain 440 rooms. They are capable of accommodating (besides the officers, assistants, attendants, &c.,) 350 patients. The style of the buildings is in good taste, and does credit to the architect, (N. B. Kelley, Esq.,) by whom the de. signs were prepared, and who presided over their execution,
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
" The institution went into operation in the month of November, 1838. Since that time, there have been in it 866 patients : 461 males and 405 females ; 247 pay patients, 649 supported by the state ; 358 have been discharged cured-92 have died ; 420 were " recent cases," (of less than a year's duration when the patient was received,) 446 were old cases, (of more than a year's duration.) Of the recent cases discharged, 90.59-100 per cent. (or 289) were cured-of the old cases, 27 per cent. (or 69.) In addition to this, a great number of those incurable have been much improved in their condition.
" During the past year, [1846,] 175 patients have been admitted : 88 males and 87 females. Of these, 101 were "recent cases," 74 were old cases ; 71 have been discharged "cured," 18 have died. In the recent cases discharged, 95.38-100 per cent. were cured-in the old cases, 20.93-100 per cent. A number are still improving, with fair prospects of recovery. These results compare favorably with those in the best institutions, both in this country and abroad. The number of patients in the institution at the close of the fiscal year, was 291."
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Ohio Blind Institution.
THE OHIO INSTITUTION FOR THE EDUCATION OF THE BLIND, is situ- ated about three quarters of a mile easterly from the state house, on the national road, and is under the superintendence of W. Chapin, Esq. The building is a large and handsome structure of brick, in front of which the ground is pleasantly laid out into graveled walks, with flowers and shade trees. The institution was established in 1837, is now flourishing and has about 100 pupils. They are taught in a liberal course of instruction in the several English branches, with lectures on moral and natural science. They are also instructed in vocal and instrumental music, and have among them an excellent band of music. In the afternoon, they are engaged in several me-
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
chanical branches and fancy and ornamental work. The institution is flourishing, and the pupils contented and cheerful.
THE OHIO ASYLUM FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF THE DEAF AND DUMB, is situated one third of a mile east of the state house. The build- ings, which are of brick, cost about $25,000, including the grounds, which are handsomely laid out and adorned with shrubbery. The number of pupils is about 130. The institution is under the super- intendence of H. N. Hubbell, Esq., and is in a thriving condition. Its site was selected in 1829, and it soon after went into operation
Ohio Deaf and Dumb Asylum.
The pupils are daily instructed in the branches usually taught at other seminaries. The girls spend a portion of their time in do- mestic, and the boys in mechanical operations.
These noble institutions are sustained by the state, with a liberality that pure benevolence must delight to witness. Their several su- perintendents feel vividly the importance of their responsibilities, and discharge them in a happy and judicious manner.
THE OHIO PENITENTIARY, the most imposing edifice in Columbus, is situated on the east bank of the Scioto, about half a mile north of the state house. The main building, shown in the annexed view, is built of Ohio marble. It contains the warden's house, the office and guard rooms, and in each of its wings are 350 cells for pris- oners, arranged in five tiers. With the penitentiary walls, this building forms a hollow square of six acres : about one third of this area is shown in the large view. A railroad, about two miles long, extends from the prison to a stone quarry, at which a portion of the prisoners work in getting out stone.
The prisoners are all employed in several useful manufactures, and such is the efficiency of discipline, that the industry of the con- victs equals any association of voluntary or paid laborers. The discipline of the prison is conducted by rules, printed copies of which are given to the prisoners. At the sound of a bell, at noon,
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
they louve work and arrange themselves in thirteen different com- panies, in front of their workshops. One of these companies is composed entirely of blacks. When the bell strikes a second time, they march to their dinner, with their heads to the left, so as to bring their faces in view of the attendant, and prevent conversation
Ohio Penitentiary.
They move in close order, with the lock-step, and make a shuffling noise, that echoes loudly upon the walls of the area. Arrived at the table, they arrange themselves before their seats. At the sound of a small bell, they take off their caps, and when it again sounds, com- mence eating. They eat from wooden dishes made in the prison, and drink from tin cups; in the morning, their beverage is rye cof- fee, at noon, water. Their knives and forks are coarse, with wooden handles. A late visitor describes, in a public print, the discipline of the prison and treatment of its convicts.
The present warden has gathered around him assistants who have in their hearts much of the milk of human kindness. The new directory approves and seconds his labors, and as the result of these labors of love, the subordination is more perfect than ever before, the lash is very rarely used, the convicts are rarely reported, an air of cheerful alacrity charac- terizes the operations of the various shops, and all the movements of those who are com- pelled to pay the penalties of their crimes within the walls of the Ohio Penitentiary.
There are, at this time, about five hundred convicts in the penitentiary. Their labor yields to the state a surplus of $16,000 or $18,000 annually. They receive an abundance of substantial food, and enjoy good health. "On the Sabbath, they all attend religious ser- vices in the chapel. Their religious instruction is under the charge of Rev. Mr. Finley, one of the pioneer missionaries of the Methodist church, in the west-an old veteran of more than sixty winters, who is robust and vigorous, and whose heart overflows with love for poor, weak humanity. His tearful appeals have had their effect, too, and many of his charge do right from religious principle. There is a choir connected with the congrega- tion, that meets regularly for practice before service on Sabbath. During service, the effer: is almost electric when those five hundred voices peal forth their sacred songs. With tears streaming from their eyes, have I heard these unfortunate men confessing their grat- itude for the blessed lessons they had been taught in the penitentiary.
There is connected, also, with the penitentiary, a Sabbath school. Nearly one fifth of the convicts are permitted to avail themselves of its benefits. The instructions there given by Christians of the city, who attend for the purpose, exert an important, all-powerful in-
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FRANKLIN COUNTY.
fluence for good upon the minds of the convicts. Superadded to all this, there is an excel- lent library of several hundred volumes, secured mainly through the labors of the present warden and chaplain. The former chaplain, (Rev. Mr. Mills,) laid the foundation. The convicts rejoice in the benefits of this library, and speak of it with grateful emotions. They all have Bibles in their cells, also. They are permitted to write, within stated pe- riods, to their friends and relatives, and receive as many letters as are sent to them, when containing nothing improper. At a meeting held a few Sabbaths since, in the chapel, and in reply to a question propounded, about fifty of them acknowledged that they had learned to read since they entered the prison.
Temperance addresses are occasionally delivered in the chapel of the penitentiary. Messrs. T. and G. recently addressed the inmates. The question was put, " How many committed the crimes of which they stand convicted, owing to the use and while under the influence of intoxicating drinks." More than four hundred arose on their feet. Seventy or eighty admitted that they had been engaged in vending or making liquor. Nearly every one declared, by rising, his purpose to abstain entirely from the use of intoxicating drink the rest of his days.
We here insert a curiosity, from the Columbus Gazette, of Aug. 29th, 1822. At an early day, there was a law passed offering a bounty for the scalps of squirrels. Whether it was in force at this time, we do not know ; if so, it must have made quite a draft on the treasury.
Grand Squirrel Hunt !- The squirrels are becoming so numerous in the county, as to threaten serious injury, if not destruction, to the hopes of the farmer during the ensuing fall. Much good might be done by a general turn out of all citizens whose convenience will permit, for two or three days, in order to prevent the alarming ravages of those mis- chievous neighbors. It is therefore respectfully submitted to the different townships, each to meet and choose two or three of their citizens to meet in a hunting caucus, at the house of Christian Heyl, on Saturday, the 31st inst., at 2 o'clock P. M. Should the time above stated prove too short for the townships to hold meetings, as above recommended, the fol- lowing persons are respectfully nominated and invited to attend the meeting at Columbus.
Montgomery-Jeremiah M'Lene and Edward Livingston. Hamilton-George W. Williams and Andrew Dill. Madison-Nicholas Goetschius and W. H. Richardson. Truro-Abiather V. Taylor and John Hanson. Jefferson-John Edgar and Elias Ogden. Plain-Thomas B. Patterson and Jonathan Whitehead. Harrison-F. C. Olmsted and Capt. Bishop. Sharon-Matthew Matthews and Bulkley Comstock. Perry-Griffith Thomas and William Mickey. Washington-Peter Sells and Uriah Clark. Norwich- Robert Elliott and Alanson Perry. Clinton-Col. Cook and Samuel Henderson. Frank- lin-John M'Elvain and Lewis Williams. Prairie-John Hunter and Jacob Nef .. Pleas- ant-James Gardiner and Reuben Golliday. Jackson-Woollery Coonrod and Nicholas Hoover. Mifflin-Adam Reed and William Dalzell.
In case any township should be unrepresented in the meeting, those present will tabs the liberty of nominating suitable persons for said absent township.
RALPH OSBORN, GUSTAVUS SWAN, CHRISTIAN HEYL,
LUCAS SULLIVANT, SAMUEL G. FLENNIKEN, JOHN A. M'DOWELL.
A subsequent paper says : "the hunt was conducted agreeably to the instructions in our last paper. On counting the scalps, it appeared that nineteen thousand six hundred and sixty scalps were produced. It is impossible to say what number in all were killed, as a great many of the hunters did not come in. We think we may safely challenge any other county in the state to kill squirrels with us."
The following is a list of villages in this county, not previously mentioned, with their population in 1840. Dublin, 166; Harrisburg, 81; Lockbourne, 139, and Reynoldsburg, 309. Central college is a new and flourishing institution, in Blendon township, of which the Rev. Mr. Covert is president.
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SCENE AT THE OHIO PENITENTIARY, COLUMBUS.
The view was taken within the inner inclosure of the Penitentiary, and shows the manner in which the prisoners march to and from their work. Their shops appear on three sides of the area, while the Prison building bounds it on the fourth.
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GALLIA COUNTY.
GALLIA.
Gallia was formed from Washington, April 30th, 1803. The word Gallia is the ancient name of France, from whence it was originally settled. The surface is generally broken, excepting in the eastern part and on the Ohio river and Kiger creek, where it is more level, and the soil fertile. Much of the county is well adapted to wheat, and a great part covered with a sandy loam. The principal crops are corn, wheat, oats and beans. The following is a list of its town- ships, in 1840, with their population.
Addison, 692
Guyan, · 342
Perry, 973
Cheshire, 791
Harrison, 688
Raccoon, 1610
Clay, 745 Huntington, 972
Springfield, 991
Gallipolis, 1413
Morgan, 744 Walnut, 424
Green, 1047
Ohio,
626 Wilkesville, 738
Greenfield, 639
The population of the county was, in 1820, 7098; in 1830, 9733, and in 1840, 13,445, or 25 inhabitants to a square mile.
The first settlement in the county was at Gallipolis. It was set- tled in 1791, by a French colony, sent out under the auspices of " the Scioto company." This company was in some way connected with the Ohio company. What that connection was, does not fully appear .* Col. Duer, of New York, " secretary to the board of treas- ury," a Mr. Flint, and a Mr. Craig seem to have been the most prominent members of the company.
In May or June, 1788, Joel Barlow, the agent of the company, left this country for Europe. He distributed proposalst at Paris, from which the annexed is an extract.
A climate wholesome and delightful, frost even in winter almost entirely unknown, and a river called, by way of eminence, the beautiful, and abounding in excellent fish of a vast size. Noble forests, consisting of trees that spontaneously produce sugar, (the sugar maple,) and a plant that yields ready-made candles, (myrica cerifera.) Vension in plenty, the pursuit of which is uninterrupted by wolves, foxes, lions or tigers. A couple of swine will multiply themselves a hundred fold in two or three years, without taking any care of them. No taxes to pay, no military services to be performed.
Volney, who came to America in 1795, in his " View," where we find the above, says :
* Volney speaks of the Ohio company as being the original proprietors, and the Scioto as purchasers from them. Judge Hall, in his Statistics of the West, says the Scioto com- pany, which was formed from or by the Ohio company, as a subordinate. Barlow, he says, was sent to Europe by the Ohio company-which fact the biographical sketch of Barlow also states-and by them the lands in question were conveyed to the Scioto com- pany. Kilbourn's gazetteer says: " the Scioto company, which intended to buy of con- gress all the tract between the western boundary of the Ohio company's purchase and the Scioto, directed the French settlers to Gallipolis, supposing it to be west of the Ohio com- pany's purchase, though it proved not to be." The company, he adds, failing to make their payments, the whole of the proposed purchase remained with government .- Annals of the West.
t Volney states that these proposals were distributed in 1790.
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GALLIA COUNTY.
These munificent promisers forgot to say, that these forests must be cut down before corn yould be raised ; that for a year, at least, they must bring their daily bread from a great distance ; that hunting and fishing are agreeable amusements, when pursued for the sake of amusement, but are widely different when followed for the sake of subsistence: and they quite forgot to mention, that though there be no bears or tigers in the neighborhood, there are wild beasts infinitely more cunning and ferocious, in the shape of men, who were at that time at open and cruel war with the whites.
In truth, the market value of these lands at that time, in America, was no more than six or seven cents an acre. In France, in Paris, the imagination was too heated to admit of doubt or suspicion, and people were too ignorant and uninformed to perceive where the picture was defective, and its colors too glaring. The example, too, of the wealthy and reputedly wise confirmed the popular delusion. Nothing was talked of, in every social circle, but the paradise that was opened for Frenchmen in the western wilderness ; the free and happy life to be led on the blissful banks of the Scioto. At length, Brissot published his travels,* and completed the flattering delusion : buyers became. numerous and impor- tunate, chiefly among the better sort of the middle class: single persons and whole fam- ilies disposed of their all, flattering themselves with having made excellent bargains.
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