USA > Ohio > Madison County > History of Madison County, Ohio : its people, industries and institution with biographical sketches of representative citizens and genealogical records of many of the old families > Part 27
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will be erected called "Memorial Hall." on whose walls be inscribed the names of these, the founders and defenders of their country. A building sacred to the memory of "The Soldiers, Sailors and Pioneers."
In the visionary city. aircraft has become the most perfect and safest mode of tran- sit. One hundred years hence the present-day motor car corresponds to the springless wagon of one hundred years ago. The horse has disappeared; stuffed specimens being exhibited in museumis to show what was once called "man's best friend."
Telephone and telegraph wires have been superseded by an improved system undreamed of at the present time. Science has solved the problem of the equalization of temperature. No longer will the torrid heat of midsummer exhaust the inhabitants, for the excessive cold of winter has been condensed in tanks to be distributed in every community ; turn on a tap and the air becomes cool.
In winter the homes of the rich and poor alike will be made comfortable from the surplus heat of summer that has been stored according to the best approved methods.
Best of all, to the muilk consumers, the "separator" has disappeared !
The vision ended.
FIRST COUNTY SEAT OF JUSTICE.
During the session of the Legislature of 1810-11, three commissioners were appointed by that body to select a seat of justice for Madison county, and on the 19th of August, 1811, the report of these commissioners was presented to the court of common pleas, then in session, which was as follows:
"To the Honorable Judges of the court of common pleas, next to be holden for the county of Madison :
"We, Peter Light, Allen Trimble and Lewis Newsom, having been appointed by the last Legislature of Ohio commissioners for fixing the seat of justice in said county of Madison, having notified the inhabitants and attended agreeable thereto, we took the oath prescribed by law, and proceeded to view and examine said county, and have muutually selected and agreed ou a tract or piece of land of 200 acres owned by John Murfin, including the cabin where he now lives, on the northeast side of Oak run, on the road which passes E. Langham's, and is on the plat of the county two miles and eighty-six poles from the upper center A, and one mile two hundred and ninety-three poles from the lower B, which piece of land, or such part thereof as the county may think proper, is, in our judgment (from the law under which we act), the most eligible place for the seat of Madison county. The proposition of a donation of Murfin's is enclosed to be used as the court may think proper.
"Given under our hand this 9th day of April, 1811.
"PETER LIGHT, "ALLEN TRIMBLE, 'LEWIS NEWSOM.'
The donation spoken of, dated April 6, 1811, reads as follows:
"I, John Murfin, do offer my tract of land on Oak run, adjoining Elias Langham's land, containing 200 acres, which I will cause to be laid out into a town at my own expense under the direction of the county's director, the streets and alleys to be made commodious for public good ; a convenient public square shall be laid out, which, together with one-half the in- and out-lots shall be for the use of the county, and to all of which there shall be made a general warrantee deed. The above is humbly submitted for the consideration of the gentlemen commissioners. JOHN MURFIN."
The court at the same session appointed Patrick McLene, director and ordered him to prepare evidence of title of Mr. Murfin and make his report. This was subsequently accomplished, and the title proving satisfactory, it was ordered by the court "that the
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director proceed to purchase one hundred or one hundred and twenty-five acres, as nigh a square as possible, of Mr. Murfin's land, on Oak run, at a sum not exceeding four dollars per acre, and the donation of the lot on which his cabin may be' situated, and pay for the same out of the proceeds of sale, and on delivery of deed for purchased land, he proceed to lay out or off a town into lots, streets and alleys, the main street to cross each other at right angles one hundred feet wide, and the other streets not exceeding seventy-five feet wide, and the alleys sixteen or eighteen feet wide; the lots to be in front not more than sixty-five feet and not more than one hundred and thirty-two feet back to an alley, and that he lay out not more than one hundred and twenty even' lots, the residue of the ground to be laid off in out-lots of two acres each, and that he reserve one lot for court house or public square at the intersection of main streets, two lots for churches and academy, one for jail and one for out-lot for a burial place; that he call streets and alleys by appropriate names, and that he get the plat so laid off recorded; after acknowledgment, that he sell the lots at public sale, after the purchase and laying-off as aforesaid, on the third Monday and Tuesday of September next, or at a convenient time after in the same month; that he give certificate of sale to purchaser and receive contracts for payment-one-third in three months, one-third in nine and residue in eighteen months; and the condition of sale be that, if purchaser fail to pay first installment, to sell the lot so sold to another person at the direction of the director, and that he lay off a town in neat form as convenient to the water as possible, adjourn the sale at discretion and sell after public sale, taking into consideration the average price, and that the lots on intersection of main streets be sold for not less than $50 each ; and further ordered that said town or city, when so laid off, be called and known by the name of London, and that the director keep a book in which he will record regularly the conditions of sale, the lots sold and to whom, the moneys received, and make a separate and distinct entry for every purchase and exhibit the same to the court at the next term and make report of lots sold by number, etc."
THE TOWN OF MADISON.
Prior to the above action relative to the county seat. as has appeared in the general history of the county, the court of common pleas of Franklin county, in 1810, appointed Phillip Lewis, director, to lay out a seat of justice for Madison county. A town was laid out and platted, which was designated by the name of Madison, which plat was acknowledged before Thomas Gwynne, a justice of the peace of Deer Creek township, November 13, 1810, and placed on record in the county recorder's office. Research has failed to reveal anything of record designating the site of the town of Madison, further than that in the index book referring to the plats of towns appears "Madison (Deer Creek T. S.)." It is a tradition that London was built upon the site of Madison. Below is set out all matters pertaining to the town of Madison that search has revealed in the records of the court house. December 4, 1810, John Pollock and George Jackson were allowed the sum of fourteen dollars each for their services for fixing on the place for the county seat of Madison county, by order of the board of county commissioners.
December 14, 1810, Robert Shannon, William Reed and Alexander Morrison, associate judges of Franklin county, were allowed six dollars and two dollars, respectively, for attending at the town of Franklinton, by the request of Philip Lewis, Esq., director of the town of Madison, for giving him directions and fixing on the day of sale of the lots in said town, by order of the board of county commissioners. Also under the same date, "ordered that there be allowed to Elias N. Delashmutt, sheriff of Franklin county, $2.50 for summoning court at the request of P. Lewis, Esq., director of the town of Madison."
"January 3, 1811, ordered that there be allowed to Philip Lewis the sum of $20 for part of his services in laying off the town of Madison, in the county of Madison."
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January 8, 1811, the board of commissioners ordered one hundred and fifty dollars to be appropriated for the purpose of erecting a jail in the town of Madison, and that the same be advertised, the sale to be on the 14th of January, next. On the latter date the commissioners met, and after being informed that there was a new committee appointed by the Legislature to explore the county and affix the seat of justice, perman- ently, agreed to postpone the sale of the jail.
"June 10, 1811, ordered that there be allowed to John Arbuckle, Esq., the sum of $4 for acting as a crier for two days in the sale of lots in the town of Madison. by the order of the director."
Returning to the town of London, it is found that one hundred and three and three- quarters acres of the Murfin tract was, on the 14th of September, 1811, in consideration of four hundred and fifteen dollars, deeded to the director of the town. However, the town had previously been laid out and platted on this ground, as the plat was acknowl- edged by Patrick McLene and certified to before Samuel Baskerville, one of the asso- ciate judges of Madison county, September 13, 1811. The plat comprised one hundred and twenty-eight in-lots and twenty out-lots, the former being four by eight poles in size. The lots were bounded on the north by Fifth street. on the south by Front street, on the west by Water street and on the east by Back street. The original number of streets was ten; Main and Main Cross (now High) streets were made six poles wide, and all others four and one-half poles. Two lots were reserved for county buildings, two for churches and academies, one out-lot for burying grounds and one for John Murfin.
The cabin of Murfin as early as 1809 stood on the south side of West High street. He was a Virginian. His wife's name, as written in the deed for the land, was Janey, but very likely, if properly written, would be Jane. He removed from London at an early date to the state of Indiana; thence to Illinois, where he died. Three houses were built in London in 1811, one by David Watson and a second by Rev. Father Sutton, but it is not known who built the third.
INCORPORATION AND GROWTH OF LONDON.
London was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, bearing date of February 10, 1831, to take effect and to be in force from and after April first of that year. For many years the officers elected by the people consisted of a president, recorder and five trustees.
For quite a period after the town was laid out, its growth was decidedly slow, and after it had attained the growth of thirty years it seemed to remain almost entirely in statu quo. It is said that an Irishman who visited London about that time, after sauntering leisurely through its few streets, and hearing not the sound of a hammer, or the buzz of a single notable industry, is said, in the very depth of disgust, to have exclaimed, "Be dad, this is the first town I ever saw that was entirely finished !" Neither was the village very attractive at an early period. A venerable doctor of southwestern Ohio, on his first visit to London, gave offense to some of the residents, by recommending that they get their gardens lathed and plastered, to keep out the frogs. This visit was made in a wet season and it is no doubt true that the frogs were holding full sway.
After remaining in a state of torpidity for a number of years and apparently gain- ing a broad foundation for the building which was to come later, London began to arouse itself, and grow until the spirit of enterprise, eventually, made it what it is today, one of the most substantial, bustling, wealthy and enterprising communities in this section of the country. Its broad streets, substantial business buildings and beautiful residences give to it an air of solidity possessed by few towns of its size in the state. Nor has the financial side of the town alone grown at the expense of the broader sides of life. The literary and social, moral and ethical, have all been looked after and rank well with the growth of the town.
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DOINGS OF COUNCIL IN DAYS GONE BY. By A. T. Cordray.'
The council is the local law-making body. There can be no council until there is an incorporated village. By an act of the Ohio Legislature, passed February 16, 1810, to go into effect March 1, 1811, three commissioners, Peter Light, Allen Trimble and Lewis Newsome, were appointed to select a location for the county seat of this [Madison] county. These commissioners were to make a report of their proceedings to the court of common pleas of Franklin county. The commissioners made careful examination of different localities in the county and finally, April 9th, 1811, decided to buy one hundred acres of land of John Murfin. The commissioners made their report and appointed Patrick McLene, director, to lay off a town on the Murfin land and to call it London. The plot was recorded in September, '1811. Lots Nos. 9 and 10 were. reserved for a court house and jail and two other lots were reserved for churches. One lot where John Murfin's cabin stood, where the Peirce Lumber Company's yards now are, and one for a cemetery, were also reserved. The land purchased was one hundred and three and three-fourths acres, and the price, four hundred and fifteen dollars. There were one hundred and twenty-eight in-lots 'and twenty out-lots. The lots' were sold by Patrick McLene, director. Before a court house was built here, court was held at the home of Thomas Gwynne.
" 'London was incorporated on February 10th, 1831. In accordance with the pro- visions of an act of the Legislature for the incorporation of the town of London, the first election in said town to choose officers was held at the court house on the 9th of April, 1831. David Reeves, John B. Croney and James M. Thompson were chosen judges and Peter Smith and Daniel R. Ferguson were chosen clerks of said election. The officers to be elected were a president and five other members of council, a recorder, now termed clerk, and a marshal. Patrick McLene was elected first president of the council, and P. Smith, recorder. The other members of the council elected were S. Watson, A. Winchester, William Jones, S. N. Kerr and A. Toland. David Reeves was elected marshal.
The following is a copy of the order for the first meeting of council :
"London, April 22, 1831.
"Ordered that the trustees or common council of the corporation of the town of London meet the 23d inst., at 3 o'clock, p. m., at the office of P. McLene in said town of London. P. MCLENE, President."
COUNCIL'S FIRST ORDINANCES.
At this first meeting, S. N. Keri was appointed supervisor; J. B. Croney, treasurer ; W. Jones and A. Toland, a committee to "draft a bill' regulating swine;" P. Smith and A. Winchester, a committee to "draft a bill for taxing' dogs." This was all the business transacted at the first meeting. ' At the next meeting, the committees appointed to draft bills regulating swine and taxing dogs reported progress and obtained further time to report. At this meeting the council passed its first ordinance, one to require, "That every able-bodied elector is required and shall be liable to perform and do yearly and every year two days' labor on the streets, alleys and highways who shall have resided ten days within the corporation of said town of London next preceding such requisition of said corporation." There are six closely written pages of this ordinance and from the exquisite care used to frame the law so that no one of the class could possibly escape performing the two days' labor, by any means whatever, one must reach the conclusion that the observation attributed to the Indian that "White man is mighty uncertain," wa's at least as true in those days as it is now. At the first half- dozen meetings of the council other ordinances were passed "regulating groceries."
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"requiring the removal of dead auimals from the corporation," and "to prevent the pollution of the streams of said village," "to prevent dogs with hydrophobia from run- ning at large." "to regulate the streets and alleys in said village," "regulating public shows," "for the prevention and suppression of nuisances," etc.
The following, copied from the minutes of the second meeting of the council, shows the method of procedure in those days, and a copy in full of the second ordinauce passed in this village :
"Londou, May 17, 1831.
"The Common Council of the town of London met at P. McLene's office agreeable to an order from the presideut.
"The committee appointed to draught a bill for levying a tax on dogs reported that it is inexpedient to pass an ordinance on that subject at present.
"On motion made and seconded, the following ordinance was passed :
"An Ordinance of the Common Council Regulating Groceries :
"Be it ordained and enacted by the common council of the towu of London :
"Sec. 1st. That the president of the common council of the town of London be, and he is hereby authorized, upon application for that purpose, to grant a license to any person for one year to keep a grocery and retail spirituous liquors in any part of the incorporation of said town on the payment of the sum of ten dollars per annum; which sum shall be paid into the treasury of the incorporation for the use of same and shall be subject to the order of the common council.
"Sec. 2d. That all applications as aforesaid shall be made by petition subscribed by at least twelve respectable householders of the incorporation. And before granting said liceuse, the president shall be satisfied that said applicaut or applicants has or have ten days' notice by posting advertisements of his or her intention to apply for such liceuse specifying the time of application in the public places withiu the limits of such corporation.
"Sec. 3d. That if any person or persons shall keep a grocery and sell spirituous liquors to be drank where sold in said incorporation, without first having obtained license agreeably to the provisions of these ordinances, shall forfeit and pay not less than ten nor more than thirty dollars to be recovered by an action for money had and received for the use of said corporation, before the president, and in case of inability, then before the recorder, at the suit of the treasurer; and the treasurer is hereby authorized aud required to bring and prosecute said suit. Provided all suits instituted under the provisions of these ordinances shall be brought in the name of the common council.
"Sec. 4th. That if any person or persons licensed agreeably to the provisions of these ordinances shall suffer or permit rioting, drunkenness or gambling iu his or their grocery, he or they shall forfeit and pay for every such offense a sum not less than one dollar or more than fifty dollars, to be recovered and paid over in the same manner and for the same purpose and use as it provided by the preceding section of these ordinances.
"Sec. 5th. That it is largely made the duty of the treasurer to inquire into and prosecute all suits for the recovery of any forfeiture under the provisions of this act. "These ordinances to take effect and be in force from and after the 26th day of this inst.
May 16, 1831.
"Ordered by the common council the day and year above written that the above ordinances be published at length on the door of the court house, in the town of Lon- don, ten days before taking effect of same.
"P. SMITH, Recorder. P. McLENE, President."
MAIN STREET, LONDON
SCENE AT LONDON, DURING THE BIG SNOW, FEBRUARY 17, 1910
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EXCELLENT LANGUAGE USED.
These proceedings are given verbatim to show what excellent language was used by the men of those days, who had but meager opportunities for an education. The handwriting is beautiful, quaint and legible.
Space will not permit taking up in detail the workings of the many councils of our town. It would be interesting if one of our newspapers would, from time to time, print some of the old ordinances and proceedings of council as are now sometimes printed "From our issue of 42 years ago."
Many of the forefathers of the F. F. V.'s of London took an active part in both making the local laws and in enforcing them. R. A. Harrison and H. W. Smith, two great lawyers, were members of the council at the same time. W. H. Chandler, Sr., was president of the council while George W. Wilson was clerk. Mr. Wilson was also clerk during the terms of M. L. Bryan and O. P. Crabb as mayors. W. H. Squires, Henry Warner, Amos G. Thompson, Nathan Bond, B. Custer, S. Watson, John Jones, John Dungan, Wm. Farrar, E. J. Gould, Charles Gulcher, Philip Speasmaker, Dr. Toland Jones, George W. Lohr, Robert Rea, Valentine Bauer, Jeriah Sweetland, George Ronemus, E. R. Watts, A. Duncan, S. H. Cartzdafner, William A. Neil, J. C. Bridgman, James Ryan and Richard Peard are some of the members who have served in the council in years long past.
In looking over the minutes of the proceedings of the council from the first down to the present, one must be impressed with the evident sincerity of purpose of those public servants. The councils seem to have been more precise in all their deliberations and business transactions in the early years of the village than are councils in later years. The people had not so many things to engage their time and attention then and life had not become so strenuous. One could hardly imagine the Hon. R. A. Har- rison acting as village clerk in the last twenty years of his remarkably successful life. But as recorder of our village, performing his services gratuitously, his records show the same painstaking care as he afterwards used in drawing pleadings in important cases.
INCENTIVE TO LOYALTY AND PATRIOTISM.
The council is many times severely criticised and some members permitted to serve but a single term in this body because the dear people, especially the proletariat, have some real or fancied grievance for some sin of omission or commission. The electors should bear in mind that the councilmen perform thankless service; that, like the choir in the mining camp, they humbly ask the people not to shoot because they do the best they can. They would be thankful for helpful suggestions. Things are many times neglected that should have attention because the people do not notify council of their needs. All should feel more interest in the public business and assist council to come to correct decisions in important matters. This cannot be done by harsh criticism or meddlesome interference, but by taking time and pains to investigate mat- ters and then as a result to offer helpful suggestions. If every citizen would do his full duty as a citizen, the labor of the council would be greatly simplified.
Many times the work of the council and the expenses of the village are greatly increased by the act or neglect of a class of the citizens and resulting from such act or neglect, criticism does not always settle where it belongs, but frequently on the mem- bers of council. So that many times good men are greatly loath to accept a nomination for the office. If the citizens of the village would attend the meetings of council more frequently and observe the great amount of important business transacted there, they would have a higher appreciation of the arduous and responsible labors of this honor- able body. Attendance at these meetings would bring about a more intelligent concep- tion of the business of the council and the affairs of the municipality and would result
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in a greater loyalty and patriotism of the citizenship, a more generous and general commendation of the good things and less reason for criticism of the evil things.
PRESENT CITY OFFICERS.
Following is a list of present (1915) officers of the city of London :
Mayor, M. L. Burnham; clerk, John W. Byers; treasurer, O. C. Burris; solicitor, (. C. Crabbe: city engineer, J. H. Asher.
Police Department-Chief, Edward Marshall ; night watch, Carl Becker and William Golden.
Fire Department-Chief. Jolin W. Byers; vice-chief, James Goldsberry ; driver hose reel, John Gallagher; driver hook and ladder, Harry Turner.
Health Department-Health officer. Dr. Kyle: sanitary police. John Duffey.
Board of Public Affairs-E. R. Schurr. E. B. Pancake, Edward P. Speasmaker.
Park Commissioners-J. R. Atchison, Austin Hutson, George H. Van Wagener.
Public Library Board-J. B. Van Wagener, president ; Mrs. Gideon T. Clark, Sr., vice-president : Mrs. Ida White, secretary; R. W. Boyd, treasurer; Chester E. Bryan, Mrs. Sallie Robison.
Street Commissioner and Sewer Inspector-Nathan Vanskoy.
Members of Council-Samuel Ballenger, George. W. Carter, Reed Chrisman, H. V. Christopher, Ernest Green and M. B. Cannon. II. V. Christopher, president pro tem.
Standing Committees, first named being chairman-Sewer: Carter, Green, Cannon ; Light : Ballenger, Christopher, Chrisman. Fire: Cannon, Ballenger, Green. Finance : Carter. Cannon, Green. Buildings and Grounds: Green, Christopher, Ballenger. Street : Cannon. Carter, Christopher. Bridge: Chrisman, Ballanger, Carter. Health: Chris- topher. Green, Chrisman. Police: Christopher, Chrisman, Carter. Law and Order : Green. Chrisman. Ballenger. Water: Chrisman, Carter, Cannon. Rules: Ballenger, Cannon, Christopher.
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