USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > Dayton > History of Dayton, Ohio. With portraits and biographical sketches of some of its pioneer and prominent citizens Vol. 1 > Part 19
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During 1832 fifty-one brick and sixty-two wooden houses were erected.
A silk manufactory was established in town this year by Daniel Roe. He made sewing silk and the warp for coarse stuffs. Some handkerchiefs were also manufactured. He advertises in June that he has two thousand Italian mulberry trees ready to pluck, and will furnish leaves, silk worm eggs, and frames for those willing to raise cocoons for him on shares. He also offers to pay the highest price for cocoons delivered at the store of Swain & Demorest, and hoped by the next year to take all that the neighborhood could produce. A number of persons planted mulberry trees at this time, and expected to engage in raising silk worms. But the factory was not a success:
Charles Soule, afterwards a noted portrait painter, opened a store for the sale of engravings and for framing pictures in 1833. He also carried on "his-old business of sign and ornamental painting " at his shop.
This year George C. Davis and William Sawyer represented Mont- gomery County in the legislature. Mr. Davis was a Whig and Mr. Sawyer a Democrat.
The second election of General Jackson to the presidency was celebrated in Dayton on the 8th of January, 1833, by a barbecue on the common west of the basin, now Library Park. National salutes were fired during the day. Immediately on the arrival at noon of a canal boat with from fifty to one hundred citizens of Miamisburg, " a hickory tree bearing the American flag, still larger and more majestic than
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that which on a previous occasion left a stump" ( an evident allu- sion to the cutting down of the Jackson pole in 1832), was erected. A large number of people from this and adjacent counties were present on this occasion.
After the erection of the pole, a procession was formed in front of which walked four Revolutionary soldiers bearing Liberty caps and two members of the Dayton Hickory Club carrying an appropriate banner, who were followed by another soldier bearing the American flag. After moving through the principal streets, the procession passed into the court house, where an address was made and resolutions adopted. From the court house they proceeded to the common, where an ox was roasted whole, of which and other refreshments all were indiscriminately invited to partake. The barbecue was followed by " some spirited sentiments," after which the procession reformed and marched to the center of town, where it dispersed.
A barbecue was usually an uninviting feast. The outer part of the ox was smoked and scorched, and the remainder uncooked, though the animal was always roasted for many hours. After the feast, the almost untouched carcass was hauled off by horses, surrounded by a crowd of boys and dogs, to be disposed of by hogs and hounds.
November 19, 1833, a new hand engine, called the Safety, was bought, a description of which, and the other hand engines subsequently bought, and the companies formed to operate them, will be found in the chapter on the " Fire Department."
In 1833 Christ's Church, the first Episcopal church erected in Dayton, was built on South Jefferson Street, near Fifth.
The following trades marched with appropriate banners in the Fourth of July procession for 1883: One coppersmith and tinner, two combmakers, three tobacconists, three bookbinders, five shoemakers, six stonecutters, seven briekmakers, eight printers, nine saddlers, ten coopers, eleven butchers, twelve carpenters, thirteen painters, fourteen bakers, fif- teen cabinet-makers; sixteen bricklayers, seventeen chairmakers, eighteen hatters, twenty coachmakers, nineteen blacksmiths, twenty-one tailors.
On account of the cholera, a fast day was appointed by Dr. Job Haines, mayor of Dayton, for the 23d of July. There were thirty-three deaths here from cholera from June to September, 1833.
There were one thousand and one buildings in Dayton in 1833. The population was four thousand. The following were the Dayton taverns about this period: The frame tavern kept by John Wolf, west side of Second Street, east of Ludlow, was popular with country people because it had a large feed yard and barn in the rear. In 1829 it was called
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the Farmers' Hotel, and afterwards Farmers and Mechanics' Hotel. A similar hotel, with barn and feed yard, was the Franklin House, south- west corner Main and Second streets. Edmund Browning, of Columbus, opened the National Hotel in the building still standing on Third Street, adjoining the Beckel House, in 1830, and kept it till 1836. The Travelers' Inn, a three-story brick building on the south side of First, near St. Clair Street, was opened by John Lehman in April, 1832. The Lafayette House stood on the north side of Third, between Jefferson and St. Clair streets. The Montgomery House, which still stands on the northeast corner of Canal and Third streets, did a thriving business during the early years of the canal.
January 3, 1834, an ordinance was passed by council for the appoint- ment of one or more watchmen. They were to wear uniform badges and have the same power to call on persons to assist them in arresting offenders as the marshal had. The marshal and these watchmen con- stituted the police of Dayton.
Plans for a covered wooden bridge over the Miami River on Main Street were advertised for on the 28th of January. The county com- missioners on June 4, 1835, appropriated six hundred dollars toward the building fund, and the remainder of the money was raised by subscription. The bridge was opened for travel in 1836.
February 2, 1834, five buildings were burned near the basin. This was the largest fire that had occurred here for fifteen years. The engines were found insufficient, and a subscription was raised to purchase an additional one.
The news of the death of Lafayette was received in 1834, and commemorative services were held here on the 31st of August. A pro- cession, composed of the mechanics of the town, carrying handsome banners draped in black, and representing their different occupations, the Masonic Fraternity, and the order of Independent Odd Fellows, formed about eleven o'clock and marched to the Presbyterian church. The exercises were opened with an impressive prayer by Rev. E. Allen, after which a beautiful and feeling ode, written for the occasion by a young lady of Dayton, was sung by the choir. Robert A. Thruston de- livered "an impassioned and eloquent delineation of the talents of the deceased patriot." Then an ode, written for a similar occasion in Cincinnati by James Hall, was sung by the choir. Solemn music by . the Cincinnati band accompanied the exercises, which closed with a prayer and benediction by. Rev. David Winters. The committee of arrangements on this occasion was composed of the following gentlemen : Thomas Clegg, George Owen, W. L. Helfenstein, E. W. Davies, Peter
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Odlin, John Steele, E. Browning, R. A. Thruston, E. Brabham, James Brown, Robert C. Schenck, John Anderson, Peter Baer, and C. G. Swain.
In 1834 the Mad River and Lake Erie Railroad Company was organized. The Dayton members of the first board of directors were H. G. Phillips, J. Harshman, and C. G. Swain.
In the winter of 1834 Alexander Grimes, I. T. Harker, John Rench, D. Stone, and others formed a company, called the Fire Guards. They carried white wands, and it was their duty to protect property and keep order at fires.
Horace Pease, who was a Whig, and William Sawyer, a Democrat, were elected to the legislature this year from Montgomery County. James Steele, a Whig, was elected State senator.
In the winter of 1834-1835 a one-story building of heavy cut stone was erected in the rear of the old jail. It contained four cells constructed with arched brick ceilings and stone floors. This building was used as county jail for ten years, as the one erected in 1813 was considered unsafe.
On January 1, 1835, appeared the first rhymed New Year's address of the carriers of the Dayton Journal. This custom was continued for years, and the patrons of the Journal always had a quarter or half dollar ready when the carrier appeared with his verses, printed on a separate sheet from the newspaper on New Year's morning. Some of these addresses were written in excellent verse, were very witty, and full of amusing puns, jokes, and local hits.
In 1835 Fielding Loury, a member of the Democratic party, rep- resented Montgomery County in the legislature.
In December, 1835, council passed an ordinance directing physicians, keepers of public houses, and commanders of canal boats, to report all cases of smallpox, cholera, or any other malignant or unusual disease to the mayor. A hospital was provided and all persons so diseased were to be sent there if willing to go, and if they objected to being removed, a notice or sign naming the disease was to be put up in a conspicuous place on the outside of the house where they were, on penalty of a fine. Per- sons suffering from such diseases were also to be fined if they left the house till well. All this was a preparation for an epidemie, which, fortunately, did not appear. It was the first time that such precautionary measures were adopted in Dayton.
The following fire wardens were appointed in 1836: First ward, Matthew Patton and Moses Simpson; second, James Steele and Abram Darst; third, Musto Chambers and Samnel Shoup; fourth, John Rench and David Osborn; fifth, A. Artz and William Hart. Council agreed this year to pay " fifty cents to cach of the sextous of the several churches 12
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as well as to the sheriff for ringing their respective bells at each fire to give the alarm more generally to the citizens." They also resolved to finish the cisterns already commenced with lime cement, and to purchase five hundred more feet of hose for the fire department.
James Steele was re-elected State senator in 1836, and Robert A. Thruston was elected member of the lower house of the legislature. Mr. Thruston was re-elected in 1837, but died before the close of his second term. Hle was a man of brilliant talents and noted for his graceful oratory. The deepest regret was felt by the community that a career of such fine promise was cut short in carly life.
CHAPTER XI.
Measures Proposed for Improving the Town-Proceedings of Council -- Public Meeting to Sustain Council-Library Park-Dayton Business Men in 1837-Value of Property - Abolition Mob -- Mad River Hydraulic-Montgomery Blues-Philharmonic Society --- Shin Piasters-Thomas Morrison-Zoological Museum-William Jennison, the Natur- alist -- Turnpikes -- Act of Legislature Authorizing State Aid to Turnpikes-Early Markets-Third Street Bridge-New Buildings Erected in 1838-Cooper Hydraulic- Fire Department-An Anti-Slavery Society Formed-Reward Offered for Arrest of a Fugitive Slave-John W. Van Cleve's Map of Dayton-Dayton Silk Company Incorpo- rated-First County Fair-Morus Multicaulis Excitement -- Swaynie's Hotel-Carpets Manufactured in Dayton-An Old-Time Fire-Number of Buildings Erected in 1839-Mosquitoes-Log Cabin Newspaper-Improved Stage Coaches-Harrison Conven- tion-Numbers in Attendance-Enthusiasm -- Hospitality of Dayton People-Banners Presented,
IN April, 1836, council appointed a committee, consisting of Messrs. 1 Stone, Smith, and Winters, to effect a loan in behalf of the corpora- tion of from one to ten thousand dollars at a rate of interest not exceeding six per cent and for a period of not less than five years, the interest to be paid annually. The money so obtained was to be used in improving the streets and the appearance of the town.
The following proceedings of the next meeting of council describe the proposed improvements: "The common council of the town of Dayton, at their meeting April 25, 1836, passed the following resolution: That they would appropriate and spend so much money ( provided a loan can be obtained ) as will make the following improvements -- viz .: wharf- ing across the head of the State basin; improving the public commons as requested by D. Z. Cooper, in consideration of his releasing a part thereof for the benefit of the corporation, provided the balance be improved immediately, to extend the market house on center market space to Jefferson Street; to grade the streets and walks throughout the town, and so soon as the grade is correctly ascertained, to raise and lower the walks in the different wards to the said grade; to finish the cisterns already commenced with lime cement, and to purchase five hundred more feet of hose for the fire department."
As there was a difference of opinion in respect to the propriety of borrowing money and making the above improvements, it was resolved, on motion of the recorder, David Winters, " that all citizens interested in the above matter be requested to meet at the court house Wednesday
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evening next at early candle lighting, and then and there express their approbation or disapprobation of the above measure."
Peter Anghinbaugh was chairman of the town meeting called by council, and Daniel Roe secretary. Addresses were made by Messrs. Robert C. Schenck, Ralph P. Lowe, Henry Bacon, and Daniel Roc. There was some opposition to the proposed improvements on the ground that they were more for ornament than use, and that they would increase the taxes, while the advantages would be unequally distributed.
Council proposed to borrow ten thousand dollars, three thousand of which was to be expended on the park and the remainder on other im- provements.
After a full discussion, a majority of the meeting passed resolutions commending the improvements contemplated by council and the loan by means of which they were to be accomplished. They recommended that council should apply one tenth of any amount to be expended during the year in filling up the ditch commonly called Secly's Basin.
An act of the legislature, passed February 17, 1808, empowered Daniel C. Cooper to amend the original plat of Dayton as to lots 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100, 141, 142, and 143, and set them apart as a common for the use of the citizens. To induce the citizens to convert the "com- mons" into a park that would be creditable, in December, 1836, David Zeigler Cooper executed a deed, authorizing the city to lease lots 94, 95, and 96, and releasing any reversionary interest that might accrue to . him. It was provided in the deed that the remaining ground should be enclosed, planted with trees, and forever kept as "a walk" for "the citizens of Dayton and its visitors." It was manifestly the intention that the proceeds from the leases should be used to keep the park in perfect order. ` The income from this source now amounts to eight hundred and eighty-three dollars per annum. In 1838 the "public square," as the park was then called, was prepared for and planted with fine forest trees, which the Journal of that day says was "a fair beginning for a work which promises to be a credit, as well as an ornament, to the town."
Major Daniel W. Wheelock, the efficient and public-spirited mayor of Dayton, during 1836, 1837, and 1838, suggested many of the new improvements, and energetically hastened the completion of those begun, while he was in office.
A number of new buildings were erected in 1836-1837. Among the most important was a handsome brick Catholic church. Thomas Morri- son, builder, as stated in the Dayton Journal, reported the number of buildings put up this year as forty-five of brick and thirty-five of frame.
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MEASURES PROPOSED FOR IMPROVING THE TOWN.
It may be interesting to mention the names of some of the business men whose advertisements appear in the Journal at this period. Numbers had been doing business in Dayton for many years; M. & G. A. IIatfield, chairmakers; T. & W. Parrott, merchants; John Bidleman, boot and shoemaker; Swain & Demarest, produce dealers; Samuel Shoup, mer- chant; Simon Snyder and Samuel McPherson, tanners; Thomas Casad, hatmaker; Thomas Brown, builder; Richard Green, shoemaker; J. Burns, edge-tool manufacturer; HI. Best, jeweler; James, Johnson V., & Henry V. Perrine, merchants; James MeDaniel, merchant tailor; Anghin- baugh & Loomis, hardware; George W. Smith & Son, merchants; Samuel Dolly, coachmaker; E. Edmondson, tanner; Jacob Stutsman, copper- smith; Conover & Kincaid, merchants; T. Barrett and R. P. Brown, booksellers and bindery; E. Helfenstein & Co., hardware; Phillips, Green & Co., merchants; C. Koerner, druggist; Henry Herrman, merchant; Rench, Harshman & Co., produce dealers; D. Z. Peirce and W. B. Stone, grocers; C. & W. F. Spining, merchants; Brown & Hoglen, grocers; Daniel Roe & Sons, druggists; Daniel Keifer, cabinet-maker; Alexander Swaynie, produce dealer; J. Greer & Co., stoves; T. & J. H. Boyer, copper and tin shop; Brown & Peirce, merchants; Van Cleve & Newell, drug- gists; Estabrook & Phelps, grocers; Edwin Smith & Co., druggists; Morrison & Arnold, builders; Samuel Brady, merchant; R. A. Kerfoot, saddler; Abram Darst, grocer; J. O. Shoup, merchant.
In July, 1836, David Zeigler Cooper and David Stone platted thirty- seven acres of ground, then known as " The Buck Pasture " and now within the First ward, expecting to sell them at the rate of seven hundred dollars per acre, which was considered a fair price. But such was the demand for the lots, which were regarded as a good speculation, that they sold at public auction at the court house on the 6th of August at the rate of six thousand dollars per acre, a convincing proof that the town was growing and prospering in a manner unexampled in its previous history.
During the winter of 1836-1837 both the pro-slavery and the abolition sentiments of the country were asserting themselves in the most violent manner. In February congress refused, by a vote of ninety-two to one hundred, to pass a resolution declaring that slaves had not the right of petition, and that the reception of such petitions was unconstitutional. The next morning the seats of the indignant Southern members, who had agreed to pursue this course, were vacant. Alarmed by this protest, the house; on the following day, reconsidered the subject and passed by a large majority-one hundred and forty-nine to fifty-four-a resolution similar to the one that had been rejected. The Dayton Journal for February 21, 1837, which contained these proceedings of congress, published on the
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same page, with the resolutions, an account of the mobbing of Aboli- tionists in Dayton.
For some time considerable excitement had been produced here by the efforts of Abolitionists to propagate their opinions, and in more than one instance the opposition to them had resulted in acts of violence. In January Dr. J. G. Birney, a noted member of the Anti-slavery party and formerly editor of the Philanthropist, an Abolition paper, published at Cincinnati, but destroyed by a mob July 30, 1836, endeavored to deliver an address on the abolition of slavery in the Union Church, but was interrupted and egged by a mob, fired with hatred of negroes and Abolitionists.
The Union Church stood on the west side of Main Street, south of Fourth, on the ground now occupied by the residence of G. W. Rogers, and was built mainly at the expense of the late Luther Bruen. It was usually occupied by the Christian or "Newlight " denomination, but was always open to abolition lectures, Mr. Bruen being an earnest and out- spoken Abolitionist when it required no ordinary amount of moral and physical courage to be one. Mr. Bruen was a prominent pioneer citizen. He had four children: Priscilla married Samuel Brady; Eliza married Robert G. Corwin; David H .; Luther B. married Augusta, daughter of Samuel Forrer. Luther B. died in hospital at Washington, D. C., from a wound received at the battle of Spottsylvania Court House.
Dr. H. Jewett, who was also a leading Abolitionist, in a letter to James Steele, State senator, asking his assistance to obtain redress from the legislature by an act compelling the corporation of Dayton to pay, with part of the fees obtained from grog shop licenses, the damage caused by the mob, says: "I, for the sin of lodging him [ Dr. Birney ], had my house assailed, my windows broken, and my furniture and family be- spattered with rotten eggs, and my life threatened in case I should ever shelter him or any other Abolitionist lecturer."
From this time the ferment increased. "In the face," the Journal says, " of threats of violence and for the purpose of braving, as it were, by a shout of defiance those who had threatened personal injury to anyone who might attempt the delivery of another abolition lecture in town, an individual was invited here for that purpose." The lecturer was the Rev. John Rankin, a Presbyterian minister. The meeting was held on Monday afternoon, February 13th, at the Union Church. The threats of the mob were carried out, and the lecturer was egged, forced from the pulpit, and in addition to other indignities, received a severe blow, but escaped alive and remained for some days at the house of Dr. Jewett, intending as soon as able to attempt to speak again.
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MEASURES PROPOSED FOR IMPROVING THE TOWN.
Mr. Rankin was not willing to trust himself in the house of an Abolitionist during the night of the mob, but applied for protection to a gentleman of high character and much influence, who did not sympathize with the extreme views of either Abolitionists or pro-slavery men, but was opposed to mobs, and willing to give the lecturer a lodging and breakfast. During the night the mob destroyed some houses occupied by negroes, and also the glass, sash, stove, and Bible of the Union Church. The Journal's account of these occurrences both denounces Abolitionists and condemns the mob. It says: "It is known to every reader of the Journal that we have never countenanced directly or indirectly the efforts of the Abolitionists. It is not our purpose to do so now. But we put it to every reflecting man in the community to say whether he can do otherwise than condemn these acts of violence. . . . Shall the mob or the law be supreme? that is the question. If you say the law shall govern, stand by your declaration, and justify no violation of it. Look to the act and not to the object."
Now that the "irrepressible conflict " has been happily and forever settled, it is difficult to justly judge of the conduct of those who were in the midst of the heated controversy. From our standpoint the con- demnation of the mob by the Journal seems tame and inadequate. But it must be remembered that at that time many excellent people, who were sincerely opposed to slavery, felt that it was a State institution, for which they were not responsible, and that the compromises of the Con- stitution ought to be observed.
This year a daily mail from Washington to Cincinnati, through in fifty-six hours, was established.
The Montgomery Blues, Captain Hopkins commander, were organized in May. The musicians of Dayton were invited to meet at the military hall, on Market Street, on the 16th of this month, for the purpose of forming a band of music for the "Grays" and the "Blues." The invitation was signed E. F. Lupton, Jacob Boyer, Joseph Davidson, committee of Grays; David Carroll, Adam Speice, and H. Mann, com- mittec of Blues,
In the spring of this year the Dayton Philharmonie Society was organized for the study of sacred music, with Stephen Fry as teacher and C. Hayden secretary. They were in the habit of giving concerts in the churches, sometimes for the benefit of the poor.
This was a period of financial difficulty throughout the United States, and therefore the Dayton Journal had reason to congratulate the citizens on the fact that the Dayton bank was the only bank in the country which redeemed its notes with specie.
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HISTORY OF DAYTON.
The wild speculations which preceded and culminated in 1837 re- sulted in a complete prostration of business from which the country did not recover for many years. The failure of many banks and the suspen- sion of specie payments by the others, made money, and especially silver change, excessively scarce. As a substitute for small coin, "shin plasters," or promises to pay fifty, twenty-five, or ten cents on demand, printed on ordinary paper, were issued by merchants, grocers, and others. Thomas Morrison, who was an extensive owner of real estate, which was a basis for credit, issued a large amount of these "shin plasters." It was so easy and tempting to issue money which was current to be redeemed in the future, that it is not surprising that an amount was put out much beyond the original intention. When the time came for redemption the follow- ing advertisement in the Journal of June 26, 1838, shows the unpleasant position in which Mr. Morrison was placed:
" PUBLIC NOTICE-SHIN PLASTERS IN DANGER.
"FELLOW-CITIZENS :- I am compelled to leave town to fulfill a contract that I have undertaken -- that is to build a mill at the falls of Greenville Creek, for G. W. Smith. I leave Dayton at this time with regret, because the law prohibiting the circulation of small notes or shin plasters is soon to take effect, and I wish to satisfy my fellow-citizens that I am not the man under any circumstances to take advantage of that law by which the State allows me to act the rascal. No, it is vain to try to induce me to do so. I intend to redeem every note' I have put in circulation, and that as soon as I return, and will do it with pleasure and satisfaction. I desire my fellow-citizens and all who have confidence in my word of honor-and I trust there are some who believe I will do as I say-not to refuse to take them till my return, when every cent shall be paid with the addition of six per cent interest for every day the notes are left unredeemed, after the 1st of July. On my return I will give public notice, so that the holders of my notes may call. It has been an unprofit- able business, but it shall end honestly."
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