USA > Ohio > Franklin County > History of Franklin County [Ohio]: > Part 21
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SUCCESSIVE SUPERINTENDENTS.
Dr. Wm. M. Awl, appointed in 1838 - retired, 1850.
Samuel HI. Smith, "
1850
1852.
E. Kendrick, 66
1852 66 1854.
" Geo. E. Eels,
1854
1856.
" R. Hills, 1856.
.
.
CENTRAL OHIO LUNATIC ASYLUM.
/
417
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
ASSISTANT PHYSICIANS.
Dr. D. Chambers, jr., appointed in 1838- retired 1840.
" S. M. Smith,
1840
1843.
" R. J. Patterson,
1843
66 1848.
R. C. Hopkins, 66
1848
1850.
S. Willey,
1850
1852.
O. C. Kendrick,
1852
1854.
" A. McElwee,
1854
66
1856.
" L. Ely,
1856.
Various other medical gentlemen have held situations at the institution, generally denominated junior assist- ants, amongst whom were Robert H. Awl, T. P. McCul- lough, Joseph Sherborn, C. R. Price, C. Disney, Wm. R. Thrall, and R. Gundry.
STEWARDS.
Geo. S. Fullerton, appointed, 1838 - retired in 1849. B. B. Brown, 1849
1851.
Jonathan Ream,
1851
1852.
L. A. Curtis,
1852 - died in 1853.
W. T. Criss,
1853 - retired in 1856.
C. A. Barker, 66 1856.
BLIND ASYLUM.
This Institution was established by an act of the Legislature, passed at the session of 1836-37. The 27
418
HISTORY OF
Rev. Dr. Hoge, N. II. Swayne, Esq., and Dr. Wm. M. Awl, were appointed the first Board of Trustees, to carry the provisions of the law for organizing and open- ing the school, into effect. They first secured the servi- ces of Mr. A. W. Penniman as a teacher, and rented rooms in the Eight Buildings, so called, on Town street, west of High ; and in July, 1837, the school was opened. It contained at first but five scholars, but they increased during the year to eleven. Measures were then soon taken to obtain a suitable site and buildings for the per- manent location of the Institution ; and the citizens of Columbus purchased and donated for that purpose the site, consisting of nine acres of land, about one mile east of High street, on which the Institution was estab- lished ; and the main building was erected in 1838 and '39, at a cost of about $28,000, including furniture, fix- tures, etc., and was first occupied in October, 1839, with seventeen pupils. The following year, the number in- creased to thirty-six, and the next year to fifty. Since which the number has generally ranged from fifty to seventy.
SUCCESSIVE SUPERINTENDENTS.
A. W. Penniman, appointed July, 1837 -retired in 1840.
William Chapin, appointed in 1840-retired in 1846.
419
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
A. W. Penniman, again, in 1846-retired in 1848. Geo. McMillen, appointed in 1848-died in 1852.
R. E. Harte, in 1852-retired in 1856.
Dr. Asa D. Lord, in 1856.
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. Wm. M. Awl, being one of the Trustees, for a time prescribed as physician.
Dr. N. M. Miller.
Dr. S. Parsons.
Dr. R. L. Howard, appointed 1844-retired 1852.
Dr. John Dawson, 1852 1856.
Dr. R. J. Patterson,
1856.
STEWARDS.
Mr. Isaac Dalton boarded the pupils, and served as steward from 1837 to 1840.
When Mr. Chapin came into office as superintendent, he boarded the pupils himself, and dispensed with a steward.
James W. Watson, appointed in 1846-retired, 1851.
Thomas F. Jones,
1851
" 1852.
David Holton,
66
1852
1855.
James Carlisle,
66
1856.
420
HISTORY, ETC.
IDIOT ASYLUM.
This Institution was established by an act of the Leg- islature, passed April 17, 1857, entitled, “ An act to es- tablish an asylum for the education of idiots and imbe- cile youth." It is governed by a Board of three Trus- tees, appointed by the Governor. They organized in the spring of 1857, and procured and fitted up build- ings on the national road, opposite the Blind Asylum, and opened their school there in the fall of the same year. On the first of November, the Trustees reported sixteen pupils already received ; of whom seven pay wholly or in part, and nine have been received as State pupils.
The present officers of the Institution are -
Trustees - Hon. Wm. Dennison, jr., Columbus ; Hon. Asher Cook, Perrysburg ; N. S. Townsend, M. D., Avon. Superintendent-R. J. Patterson, M. D.
Matron-Miss Emily C. Whitman.
Teacher-Miss Julia B. Burbank.
CHAPTER XLI.
TRAGEDIES.
Execution of Clark, etc. - Kidnapping of Jerry Finney - Murder of Parcels-Mrs. Slocum-Beebe-Foster-Kelley.
ON the 9th of February, 1844, William Clark and Esther Foster were executed. Clark was a white man, and Esther a black woman. They were both convicts in the penitentiary at the time they committed the mur- ders for which they were executed. Clark's offense was that of killing Cyrus Sells, one of the prison guards, at a single blow, with a cooper's axe. Esther's offense was that of beating a white female prisoner to death, with a fire shovel. The two murders were in no way connected, but happened within a few months of each other, and the prisoners were both tried and convicted at the same term of the court. The defense in Clark's case, was insanity. In the woman's case, that the killing was not premeditated, and consequently not murder in the first degree. Doubts were entertained by some whether either should have been convicted and executed-but
422
HISTORY OF
they both were. The gallows upon which they were executed, was erected on the low ground, at the south- west corner of Mound and Scioto streets, in Columbus. The occasion called together an immense crowd of peo- ple, both male and female, and it was a day of much noise, confusion, drunkenness and disorder. A well known citizen of the town, Mr. Sullivan Sweet, was pushed over in the crowd, and trampled on by a horse, which occasioned his death in a few hours. Many, how- ever, of the citizens of the town prudently refused to witness the scene.
A good wax figure likeness of Clark is to be seen at Captain Walcutt's museum.
In the spring of 1846, a case of kidnapping occurred at Columbus. On the 27th of March, after dark, Jerry Finney, a black man, who had resided in Columbus some fourteen or fifteen years, was decoyed over to the town of Franklinton, to the office of William Henderson, Esq., who was, at the time, an acting justice of the peace of Franklin Township. The necessary certificate, etc., having been previously prepared, Jerry was forthwith delivered over by the justice, in his official capacity, to the decoying party ; one of whom was Alexander C. Forbes, of Kentucky, who held a power of attorney from Mrs. Bathsheba D. Long, of Frankfort, Kentucky,
423
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
to whom it was claimed that Jerry belonged, and owed service, as an escaped slave. Jerry begged for a fair trial, but in vain. He was immediately hand-cuffed, and put into a carriage, standing at the door for that purpose, and drove to Cincinnati, from thence to Ken- tucky, and delivered over to his former mistress.
As Jerry was generally known by our citizens, (hav- ing been cook and general waiter or servant at most of our public houses,) his sudden disappearance from our midst, and the time and manner of his capture, created some excitement. And the following persons were ar- rested and held to bail to answer the charge of kidnap- ping : William Henderson, Esq., Jacob Armitage, Henry Henderson, Daniel A. Potter, and Daniel Zinn.
At the July term, 1846, of the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, a true bill of indictment was found against all of the above named persons, together with Alexander C. Forbes, (the agent,) for the unlawful seizure, etc., of Jerry.
At the following September term of said court, all of the defendants (except Forbes, who had not been arrest- ed,) were put upon trial. A. F. Perry, Esq., Prosecuting Attorney, and Wm. Dennison, jr., conducting the prose- cution, and F. J. Matthews, Esq., and Col. N. H. Swayne, counsel for the defendants. ,
The case occupied several days, and much interest
424
HISTORY OF
was manifested by those who were acquainted with the defendants, and with Jerry. During the progress of the trial, one of the jurors, Dr. George Richey, was taken sick, and unable to attend further at the court. At this juncture of the case, all of the defendants, as well as the State (by her counsel), agreed to proceed with the eleven remaining jurors. The case was ably conducted on both sides, and quite a large number of bills of ex- ceptions were taken by the defendants' counsel as to the rulings of the court. The jury retired, deliberated, and returned a verdict of guilty as to Esq. William Hender- son, and not guilty as to the remaining defendants. Esq. Henderson was then remanded to jail, and the other de- fendants discharged from custody. The court suspended passing sentence upon Henderson, and the case was then, by his attorneys, taken up to the Supreme Court upon error, and among the many errors assigned, was, in sub- stance, this : that it was not within the province of the defendant to waive his objection as to the absence of one of the jurors, and the proceeding in the trial with the eleven jurors, was error. This objection the court sustained, and decided the case upon that point; and Esq. Henderson was discharged.
By the authority of the Legislature of this State, Hon. William Johnson, a distinguished lawyer, and now residing in Cincinnati, was employed to institute pro-
425
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
ceedings in the Kentucky courts, with the view of set- tling certain legal questions, and which would, as claim- ed by our authorities, result in the liberation of Jerry from bondage. Mr. Johnston appeared before the Ken- tucky court, argued his case with masterly ability, but the decision was against him ; and here closed all legal proceedings growing out of this case.
Jerry remained in Kentucky for some months as a slave, until by subscription from the citizens of Colum- bus, a sufficient amount of money was raised to purchase his freedom, and restore him to his family. He returned -but with the seeds of consumption sown in his system. Within a short time he wasted, sickened and died.
In the month of April, 1851, a homicide was commit- ted at the Franklin House, in Columbus, then kept by Grundy Taylor. The victim was George Parcels, and the perpetrator of the homicide, Thomas W. Spencer. The parties were acquaintances and friends. The tragedy commenced with playful jokes, which were succeeded by frenzy of passion on the part of Spencer, who in that state of frenzy, discharged a pistol at, and killed his friend. Spencer was indicted for murder in the first degree, and tried at the March term of the Court of Common Pleas, 1852. The jury returned a verdict of manslaughter, and he was sentenced to six years confine-
426
HISTORY OF
ment in the penitentiary. After serving out about one year of his sentence, he was pardoned by Governor Wood.
In the month of May, 1851, a murder was committed by George W. Slocum killing his wife some two or three miles from Columbus, on the farm of Mr. Jacob Hare, then occupied by a Mr. Robertson. Jealousy was at the bottom of this tragedy. Slocum was in- dicted for murder in the first degree, and tried at the June term, 1851, and convicted of murder in the second degree. Sentence, confinement in the penitentiary during life.
On the 27th of April, 1854, Cyrus Beebe, one of the city police, was killed by William Jones, alias William Morgan. Jones had committed some burglaries in Licking County, and had been arrested, but made his escape, and was pursued by the Licking County officers, who supposed him to be at the Scioto Hotel, in Colum- bus. Beebe, by request, accompanied them to aid in making the arrest. Jones refused to surrender. Sev- eral pistol shots were fired on both sides, when Beebe was shot dead by Jones, who ran and made his escape from the crowd.
The City Council caused him to be advertised, and a reward of $500 offered for his apprehension. No cer-
427
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
tain intelligence was ever had of him until the summer of 1857, when he was arrested in Wisconsin, and brought to the Franklin County jail. In Novem- ber, 1857, he had his trial in the Court of Common Pleas, and was found guilty of murder in the second degree, and sentenced to the penitentiary during life.
On the 4th of July, 1855, Henry Foster, a young man of about nineteen years of age, a native of Colum- bus, was killed on the street by a shot from a pistol, by some one of the association of Turners. This associa- tion was composed of young Germans. The object of their asssociation was to practice and improve them- selves in various kinds of athletic exercises. They had their officers, and their rules and regulations, like other societies. On this occasion they were marching the street in procession, when it appears they were assault- ed by some boys - Henry Foster of the number - by throwing stones into their ranks, which assault was returned, and from the throwing of stones, the firing of pistols ensued, when Foster was shot down and died in a few hours.
This created a great excitement, and some thirty or more of the Turners were arrested and hurried into jail. From thence they were taken before 'Squire Field where they underwent a legal examination, and a
428
HISTORY, ETC.
number of them were held to bail. But on trial no conviction was ever had, as the individual who dis- charged the fatal shot could not be identified.
In the month of April, 1856, Nicholas Kelley, a youth of about eighteen years of age, a son of Mr. N. J. Kelley, of Columbus, was shot by a German named Christian Henold, on the river bank near the Harris- burgh bridge, in the vicinity of Columbus, for a trifling provocation. Henold was indicted for murder in the first degree, and tried in July, 1856. The jury return- ed a verdict of murder in the second degree, and he was sentenced to the penitentiary during life.
CHAPTER XLII.
MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENTS IN COLUMBUS IN 1858.
RIDGWAY'S FOUNDRY.
THIS was the first successful manufacturing establish- ment in Columbus. It was commenced in the spring of 1822, by Joseph Ridgway, then from the State of New York. For some years he used horse power instead of steam, and the principal article of manufacture was Jethro Wood's patent plow, of which he made and sold an immense number. It was then considered the best plow in use. About the first of January, 1830, he hav- ing associated with him his nephew Joseph Ridgway, jr., they introduced into their factory steam instead of horse power, and extended their business to the manufacturing of machinery, steam engines, stoves, etc., etc. For many years, they did an extensive business, giving em- ployment to about fifty or sixty hands, generally. Jo- seph Ridgway, jr., having died in 1850, the business was continued successfully by the surviving partner and administrator, until the spring of 1854, when he sold out, and transferred the whole establishment to Peter
430
HISTORY OF
Hayden, Esq., since which it has been owned and con- ducted by Mr. Hayden.
THE FRANKLIN FOUNDRY,
Generally known by the name of " Gill's Foundry," was commenced in 1838, by John L. Gill, Wm. A. Gill, and Henry Glover. In 1839, John McCune took the place of Mr. Glover, and the firm of Gills & McCune continued till May 1848. From that time the business was continued by J. L. & W. A. Gill, till July 1852, since which time it was conducted solely by Mr. Jolin L. Gill, until July 1857, when he associated with him his son, J. L. Gill, jr. This establishment commenced business with about twenty-five hands, and was princi- pally engaged in the manufacture of stoves, plows and mill irons, and did a successful business. For the last few years, the establishment gave employment generally to from sixty to seventy-five persons. In 1855, Mr. Gill commenced the manufacture of his celebrated combina- tion steel plow, and is now manufacturing near four thousand per year. The amount of capital invested in the establishment is estimated at about $50,000.
COLUMBUS MACHINE MANUFACTURING COMPANY.
This manufacturing establishment was commenced by Charles Ambos and James Lennox, in 1849, with a cap-
431
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
ital of some eight or ten thousand dollars. It was des- ignated by the name of "Eagle Foundry," and the firm by that of Ambos & Lennox. After continuing the business until the spring of 1854, they sold out for up- wards of $68,000; and it was converted into a joint stock company, by its present name.
The present company commenced with about thirty stockholders, and a capital of $80,000. They subse- quently increased their capital to $100,000. The com- pany employ about one hundred and twenty-five men on an average, the year round, and pay to their officers and hands about $4,000 on the first day of each month ; and turn out in machinery and castings, from $140,000 to $150,000 a year. This company put up the iron frame work for the roofing of the State House, all the iron ceiling, galleries and railings, in the same. The ground occupied by the company is three hundred and twenty by one hundred and eighty-five feet.
Charles Ambos is, and has been, the Superintendent from the commencement. Samuel Galloway was the first President, but being elected to Congress in 1854, he was succeeded by that experienced manufacturer, John S. Hall, Esq. H. Crary was Treasurer and Secre- tary until January, 1857, when he was succeeded by P. Ambos as Treasurer, and F. G. Jones as Secretary. Jo-
432
HISTORY OF
seph Coffin has been chief foreman ever since the com- mencement.
The present Directors are, John S. Hall, P. Ambos, W. E. Ide, F. J. Matthews, Amos McNary, B. S. Brown, J. P. Bruck.
PETER HAYDEN'S EXTENSIVE WORKS,
Commenced some twenty years since, consist princi- pally in the manufacturing of iron into various useful forms, partly from pig metal and partly from scrap iron ; of which they procure immense quantities, and manu- facture it into bar iron, hoop iron, and all sizes of wires. The establishment is very extensive, and gives employ- ment generally to over a hundred hands.
The manufacture of saddlery, stirrups, buckles, etc., by Mr. Hayden, is principally done in the prison, by convict labor.
The writer regrets that he is not enabled to give a fuller history and description of this large establishment, but it seems the proprietor did not desire it, and it is therefore thus briefly noticed.
OHIO TOOL COMPANY.
This is an extensive manufacturing company, incorpo- rated in 1851, under a general law authorizing the for- mation and organization of such companies. Capital
433
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
stock $190,000. The chief article of manufacture is carpenters' planes, hence it is frequently called the Plane Factory. The average number of hands employ- ed in the various departments of the business, is about two hundred. The concerns of the company are said to be in a prosperous condition, and the stock in good demand. It is controlled by a Board of seven Directors.
Present Officers. - George Gere, Pres't; A. Thomas, Sec'y and Treas'r; C. H. Clark, Sup't.
Directors .- O. Allen, W. A. Platt, A. McNairy, J. R. Swan, George Gere, P. Hayden, J. M. McCune.
CAR FACTORY.
In 1849, Messrs. Joseph Ridgway, sr., and Joseph Ridgway, jr., who had for many years been doing a heavy business in their iron foundry, associated with them in their new enterprise of car manufacturing, Mr. Pearl Kimball, from Massachusetts, a gentleman of ex- perience in that line of business. They made extensive and costly buildings and preparations west of the river, by the side of the railroad, and went very extensively into the business under the firm name of " Ridgways & Kimball." Their cars were of the first quality, and in extensive demand. In 1850, Mr. Ridgway, jr., died ; but the business was continued by the other two part- ners successfully, until the spring of 1856, when their 28
434
HISTORY OF
main building and its contents were entirely destroyed by fire. They never rebuilt it, but continued the busi- ness on a smaller scale, until about the first of January, 1857, when Mr. Ridgway sold out his interest to Mr. Kimball, who has since continued the business alone.
Before the destruction by fire, they generally gave employment to about eighty men.
THE COLUMBUS WOOLEN FACTORY.
This company organized in 1851, under the general act authorizing such incorporations. In 1851 and '52, they erected their buildings, procured their machinery, and commenced manufacturing in the summer or fall of 1852. The first Board of Directors, were A. P. Stone, F. C. Kelton, Theodore Comstock, John Butler, and Jas. Lennox.
The principal business officer of the company is the Superintendent, who, subject to the order of the Direc- tors, manages and controls the business of the establish- ment.
The successive Superintendents have been, J. L. Haughton, John H. Stage, A. P. Mason.
The dividends to stockholders have generally been made in certificates of additional stock, or manufactured goods. And in this way, the capital stock has been in- creased until it now amounts to about $56,000.
435
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
The present officers and agents of the company are, A. P. Stone, President ; J. F. Bartlett, Peter Ambos, J. P. Bruck, L. Hoster, Directors.
A. P. Mason, Superintendent ; C. E. Batterson, Book- keeper.
BROTHERLIN AND HALM'S CHAIR AND CABINET WARE FACTORY.
This is owned by a private firm, composed of the two gentlemen whose names it bears, who associated together for the purpose of manufacturing all kinds of chairs and cabinet furniture by steam power and machinery. In the spring of 1853, they commenced their building in the south-west corner of the city near the canal, and in July of the same year commenced manufacturing.
In February, 1856, their building was totally de- stroyed by fire. But with the energy of real business men, they without delay commenced rebuilding ; and by the first of July following, their manufacturing again commenced. The number of hands they employ is generally about forty.
Their furniture store, for the sale of their manufac- tured articles, is kept on High street.
TUB AND PAIL MANUFACTORY.
This establishment is the property of an incorporated joint stock company, formed for the purpose of manu-
436
HISTORY OF
facturing hollow wooden ware, by steam power and machinery. They organized and erected their buildings on the west bank of the Scioto in 1855, and in July, 1856, commenced manufacturing. The capital stock subscribed and paid in is near $28,000, which was not a sufficient amount to pay for the improvements and start the business to advantage. But the company per- severed, and they were said to be mastering their difficulties and doing a pretty fair business, with the prospect of a bright future. But on the 10th of May 1858, their factory was struck by lightning, and the building and all its contents consumed by fire. It is said that they will rebuild. The affairs of the com- pany are controlled by a Board of five Directors.
Present Officers-George Kanemacher, President; W. L. Hughes, Secretary ; H. Crary, Treasurer ; J. H. Beebe, Superintendent.
CITY MILLS,
Now owned by a private firm composed of Messrs. Comstock, Harrison and Decker, and doing business under the firm name of " A. S. Decker & Co." The mill was originally erected by Mr. Comstock, west of the canal, and there known by the name of "Novelty Mills." In 1856, the present firm was formed, and the steam power and mill machinery were removed into the
437
FRANKLIN COUNTY.
new building on Fourth street in the early part of 1857, and was then named " City Mills." Mr. Decker is the acting agent.
Beside the foregoing manufactories, there are various others in successful operation in the city, amongst which are the Saw Factory at the corner of Water and Spring streets, propelled by steam-proprietors, Messrs. Ohlen and Drake; several Planing Machines, propelled by steam, at which are also manufactured doors, sash, blinds, etc .; Messrs. Swan and Davies's Foundry and Machine Shop, on the west side of the river, established a few years since, and giving employment to from twenty-five to thirty men; the new steam Paper Mill of Messrs. Hines and Miller, erected in the fall of 1857, and which commenced manufacturing paper in January, 1858 ; the Coffee and Spice Grinding Mill, established by the Messrs. Rose, and now owned by C. P. L. Butler, Esq., worked by steam power; Messrs. Shoedinger and Brown's Furniture Manufactory ; and two extensive Breweries at the south end of the city, one owned by Messrs. Hoster and Silbernagle, and the other by Mr. John Blenkner.
CHAPTER XLIII.
POST OFFICE, AND BOROUGHI AND CITY OFFICERS, ETC.
THE Columbus post office was established in 1813, and in 1838 was made a distributing office.
Matthew Matthews, appointed postmaster in 1813-retired in 1814.
Joel Buttles,
1814
66
1829.
Bela Latham,
1829
66
1841.
John G. Miller,
1841
1845.
Jacob Medary,
1845-died in 1847.
Samuel Medary,
1847-retired in 1849.
Aaron F. Perry,
66
1849
1853.
Thomas Sparrow,
1853
1857.
Thomas Miller,
1857
66
1858.
Samuel Medary,
1858.
The first act to incorporate the Borough of Columbus, was passed the 10th of February, 1816, and vested the corporate authority in nine Councilmen; from which body a Mayor, who also acted as President of the Coun- cil, a Recorder and Treasurer, were elected by the Council. They also appointed a Surveyor, a Marshal, and Clerk of the Market, and a Lister and Appraiser,
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