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 33

Author: Bryan, Chester Edwin
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : Bowen
Number of Pages: 1150

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 33

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to the business success of the county. Other sales followed in due time ,and the project for regular sales in London began to be mooted. In 1855, William G. Jones, proprietor of the Phifer House, calleed a meeting at his hotel to consider the feasibility of inaugurat- ing monthly stock sales. Besides Mr. Jones, there were present at this meeting William H. Creighton, David Selsor, Jesse Rea, Mathew Rea, John G. Dun, James J. Jones, Peter Slaughter, and other wealthy farmers and stock men. There was no regular associa- tion organized, but the originators, having confidence that the project would succeed, got out handbills advertising a sale to be held in London on March 5, 1856. On that day was inaugurated an institution that made Madison county famous. These sales were held the first Tuesday in each month, and, from the beginning to the time they were abandoned, proved a grand success.

SOME OF THE LEADING STOCK MEN.

Benjamin Porter, a native of Virginia, was the pioneer salesman of this vicinity. He lived at Catawba, Clark county, Ohio; was a large, portly man, of fine physique and . strong common sense. His tact as an auctioneer was equailed only by the extraordinary strength of his lungs, but the love for strong drink conquered "poor Ben" at last. He possessed splendid judgment as an auctioneer and was a man whom everyone con- sidered an adept in his business.

In 1856 J. C. Bridgman began his career as a stock salesman, and, in 1860, formed a partnership with Porter, which lasted until the death of the latter. From that time to the close of his active career, "Jack" Bridgman was the leading stock auctioneer of Madison county, and missed but few sales. He possessed all the shrewdness of the Yankee, combined with that freedom from ceremony and wholesouled manner, charac- teristic of the Western people. To know "Jack" was to be his friend, for he was always ready and willing to do a favor, and few men would go further than he to per- form a kind action. "Jack's abilities made him wealthy-a president of a national bank, a model of propriety, and a representative citizen. For many years he was engaged in the live stock business, and it is no exaggeration to say that there was not a better judge of stock in Madison county than this go-ahead successful, old-time auctioneer.

Charles Jones, of Jefferson, began selling at these sales upon their inception, and was considered a good salesman. Giles James, of London, was engaged in the business for about twelve years, while John Kilgore and William Douglass were auctioneers at these sales for years. Others from adjoining counties took part whenever called upon, and there can be little doubt that to this class of men is due much of the success which attended the growth and progress of the London sales from the beginning.

It will not be inappropriate to give a list of the men who, from the first, fostered and encouraged these sales, the reader bearing in mind, however, that others, perhaps, whose names do not appear, did something toward building up this wonderful institu- tion. The long-continued prosperity of the Madison county stock sales was unques- tionably due to the early activities of a certain class of her citizens, among whom the following names deserve mention : William G. Jones, William H. Creighton, David Selsor, Jesse Rea, Robert Boyd, Mathew Rea, John G. Dun, James J. Jones, Peter Slaughter, Peter Buffenbergh, William D. Wilson. J. Q. Minshall, James Wilson, Thomas Wilson, Alexander Wilson, Valentine Wilson, Jerry Rea, Robert Rea, John Pancake, Charles Phellis, Jr., Tip Guy, James Carter, the Weaver brothers, Chandler Mitchell, Newman Mitchell, Charles Mitchell, Thomas Bales, James A. Dun, Augustus Bonner, Walter Dun, Jr., Washington Withrow, Robert Reed, Eli Gwynne, Baldwin Gwynne, William Franklin, John Thompson, W. Morrow Beach, John McCoy, John Heath, Thomas Farrar, Marion Chenoweth, John F. Chenoweth, Frank and Joel Hicks, James Abernathy, Elijah Bragg, Otho Luffboro, Willian Johnson, Elijah O'Day, Manley

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Bozarth, William A. Neil, John Lucas, the Bidwells, J. B. Morgridge, John Price, Will- iam D. Wilson, Jr., James Rankin, Abner Bateman, Adolphus Dunkin, William H. Summers, J. C. Smith, W. H. Smith, John Wilson, John McDonald, Henry, John and Darius Burnham. James Guy, Joseph Williams, Luther Johnson, William Minter, Hiram and Charles Richman. Charles H. Beale, William and John O'Day, George Kious, William and David Heath, William Junk, Linson Brothers, Jesse and David Watson, Thomas J. Stutson, Clement Shockley, Smith Brothers, P. R. Asbury, Benjamin and Batteal Harrison, John T. Maxey, Daniel Boyd, Marcus Yates, Levi Counts, Fulton Armstrong, Edward Fitzgerald, Edward Roberts, Richard Johnson, James Converse, James Davis, Robert Deyo, James Robinson, Joseph Rea, W. H. Morgan, J. W. Byers, and doubtless a few others.

GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE ATTEND SALE.

From all of the adjoining counties, as well as many of those at a distance, came leading stock men to buy and sell. Dealers residing in Cincinnati and Chicago shipped stock from those cities to the little town of London, where they knew the highest prices in the Union were always paid for good cattle. Not only did Ohio pay tribute to the Madison county stock sales, but also the great states of New York, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Iowa and Kansas. On the 2nd of March, 1869, the Ohio Legislature, with Governor Hayes, and other state officers, including many of the representatives of the press of Ohio, paid London a visit for the purpose of seeing how cattle sales were managed, and to examine this county as a location for the State Agricultural and Mechanical College. At the same time, the agricultural convention of the Scioto and Miami valleys met here in annual council. It was one of the most noted days in the history of the county. Some three hundred legislative, agricultural and other invited guests were entertained with a banquet at Toland Hall, and all honor was given to "Old Madison," the only county in Ohio or the West sustaining a stock sale. On that day, Daniel Boyd sold to David Selsor a mammoth steer, weighing three thousand and thirty pounds, for which the "cattle king" paid five hundred and forty dollars.

During the first thirteen years and a half that these sales existed, but four were missed. the fall of Vicksburg, in July, 1863; the state election, in October, 1863; the Fourth of July, 1865; and the cattle plague, in September, 1868, being the causes wliv no sales were held in those months. The average sales per year for that period amounted to more than ten thousand dollars each month, but for the last five years of that time the average was often double that figure. The sales continued to increase in size and importance, until the average reached twenty-five thousand a month. Surely this showing entitled Madison county to that proud position which she so long main- lained as the "Queen of Cattledom."

The custom became rooted and grounded in its establishment. Without organiza- tion or officers, in the interests of no ring or clique, with but one other worthy of the name, the sale held at Paris, Kentucky, it stood for years unrivaled in the history of the nation. Good stock cattle brought better prices at the Madison county stock sales than at any other market on this continent. Madison county paid a higher valuation on her horned stock than any other county in Ohio, and, doubtless, in the United States. During the latter years of David Selsor's life, he annually shipped to New York the premium beef of the metropolis; and it is a well-known fact that this beef, fed upon the bluegrass and corn of Madison county, brought the highest prices in that market of epicures.

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HERD ATTRACTS NATIONAL ATTENTION-

The herd of Red Poll cattle belonging to Frank Nelson has attracted national atten- tion, Mr. Nelson having received the following letter from B. H. Heide, secretary of the International Live Stock Exposition :

"Union Stock Yards, Chicago, Ill., "October 10, 1914. "Mr. Frank Nelson, London, Ohio.

"My Dear Sir: As it has come to my attention that you have some high-class Red Polls which should be exhibited at this show. I felt it my duty to send you one of our premium lists so that you might be able to glance over the classes and thus be in a better position to reach a decision in this connection.

"If you should decide to bring some of your animals to this year's 'International,' I trust you will advise me of the fact at your earliest convenience so that the necessary entry forms may be mailed to you without delay.

"Yours very truly, "B. H. HEIDE, Secretary."

MADISON COUNTY PERCHERON BREEDERS.

It is not generally known that Madison county ranks fourth in the state among the breeders of Percheron horses. During the fiscal year ending October 31, 1914, breeders of this county recorded twenty-eight Percherons in the Percheron Society of America. This number was registered by thirteen breeders, all of whom belong to the society. In number produced the county is third in the state, but the ranking is done on a basis of the number of Percherons per square mile of the county. Following is a list of Madison county Percheron breeders and the number registered last year : Marion Bidwell, West Jefferson, three; C. A. Butler, Plain City, two; J. W. Goodson, West Jefferson, one; C. M. Jones, Plain City, five; Louis Matteler, Plain City, one; Wilbur Murray, London, one; P. H. Roberts, Route 5, London, one; Smith and Houston, Route 7, London, one; James E. Spencer, West Jefferson, five, and one imported; A. J. Torbert, Plain City, one; G. M. Van Dyke, London, one; Moses I. Weaver, Plain City, four; Cloud Smith, London, two.

RESIDENT LANDOWNERS IN MARCH, 1819.

The people of today hardly realize or appreciate what they owe to the large-hearted pioneer fathers and mothers, who, with their children, braved the perils of the wilder- ness; who reared their families in the fear of God, and implanted within them all the virtues necessary to the welfare of humanity, and passed away, leaving to them an inheritance that is invaluable and that should ever be cherished and kept in sacred remembrance. The record of Madison county would be incomplete without some notice of these pioneers, who, by reason of their limited sphere of action, could not become conspicuous in the great drama of pioneer life, but whose busy hands and conscientious regard of duty made them great factors in the establishment of the solid foundation upon which the society of today rests. It is a little thing to preserve their names in the pages of history; yet it is about all that is left to do. Their lives were much alike ; they met the stern necessities of the hour, and were content in the consciousness of duty nobly done.

In March, 1819, the commissioners of Madison county prepared a duplicate of all the resident landowners of said county at that time, and while hunting through the musty pages stored away in the court house vaults, the historian fortunately discovered this record. It consists of a few sheets of paper sewed together, without back or cover;

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yet for years it has preserved in its pages the names of those men who settled and built up the rich and prosperous county of Madison. It reads as follows:

"London, Commissioners' Office. March, 1819 .- Duplicate of resident land proprie- tors for the tax of 1819, with all new entries and transfers made in this office, Madison county, Ohio: John Adair, Jr., John Arbuckle, Charles Atchison, Jonathan Alder, Paul Alder, Jolin Adair, William Alkire, Leonard Alkire, Samuel Alkire, Jacob Alkire, Abram Alkire, Robert Alkire, Samuel Adair, Samuel Adams, Charles Andrews, William Akins, Francis Ayres, Annanias Allen, Jacob Blougher, Samnel Baskerville, John Beetley, Hezekiah Bayliss, William Blaine, Norton Bailey, Vestal Blair, Daniel Brown, Jonas Bradley, Jonathan Burgess. Peter Buffenburgh, Francis Brock, John Baird, James Bowls. Peter Baker, Thomas Baldwin, William Buffenburgh, Elisha Bidwell, Isaac Bidwell, Joseph Bidwell, Stephen Buckman, Uri Beach, Ambrose Beach, Thompson Cooper, William Cummings, John Clements, Peter Cntright, Andrew Cypherd, Philip Cryder, Abijah Cary, Luther Cary, Calvin Cary, William Chard. James Criswell, James Cowen, Elizabeth Cary, James Curry, Samnel Colver, Levi Cantrel, Thomas Clark, Henry Coon, Louis Coon, John Carnthers, James Collins. Jeremiah Converse, Joshua Cope, Abner Chapman, John Carpenter, William Creath, Ashel Cleveland, Samuel Car- roll, David Colver, Levi Churchill, Otho W. Delashnintt, Joseph Downing, John Down- ing, James Dines, James Douglass, E. L. Delashmutt, George Deeds, Francis Downing, Judah Dodge, Thomas Davidson, John Davidson, William Dakin, David Dennison, Walter Dun, Jesse Dungan, James Dungan. John Erwin, Joshna Ewing, James Ewing, Edward Evans, William Erwin, Reason Francis, Daniel Francis, John Fifer, William Frankabarger, Lewis Foster, David Foster, Joshua Foster, William Fleming, Isaac Freeman, Abram Fresher, Jacob Fairfield. Benjamin Garrett, Daniel Gamble, Nehemiah Gates, Thomas Gwynne, D. Gwynne, Fergus Grimes, John Grimes, James Grimes, David Groves, William Rennick. Henry Goodall. George Hoover, David Harris, Michael Har- pole. Martin Humble, Levi Humble, Cornelius Humble, Samuel Herrod, Israel Heath, John Heaton, William Howsman, Mary Holbert, Philip Holbaugh, Elisha Hard, John Irwin, Jacob Johnston, Mary Johnston, William Jameson, John Johnston, Andrew Jame- son. Stephen Johnston, John Kelso, William Kirkly, Benjamin Kirkpatrick, James Kent, John Kent. Baltzer King. Thomas Kilgore, Nahmum King, William King, John Lane, John Littler, William Linton, Dennis Lane, William Lapin, Elias Langham, William Lewis, Joshua Littler, George Linson, Nathan Low, Joseph Melvin, John Marsuis, Jona- than Minshall, John Mozer, Hnghi Montgomery, John Melvin. James McDonald, William Mann. Samuel Mitchell. David Mitchell, Samnel Mitchell, Jr., Moses Mitchell, David Mitchell, Jr., John McDonald, - Mathews, William McCoy, James Moore, James Marquis, Gabriel Markle. William Marquis, Roger Moody, John McNeal, Jacob Mozer, Rowan McCaully, Sally Moore, Jesse Mckay, John Mills, S. McDonald, Renben Mann, Samuel Mann. Robert Nelson, Andrew Noteman, Aun Noteman, Robert Nicholson, Usual Osborn, George Prngh, William Patterson, Robert Powers. John Pepper, John Phoebus, Peter Paugh, Thomas Patterson. Samuel Powell. Samuel Pearce, David Park's heirs, James Pringle, George Phifer, Robert F. Pringle, Andrew Rea. Daniel Ross, Henry Roby, Thomas Robinson. James Robinson, Samuel Robinson, John Robinson, Thomas Reed, E. Reynolds. John Rathburn, Jolin Simpkins, William Starnes, John Stroup, John Smith, Tobias Shields. Robert Soward, George Sutherland, John Sutherland, Abram Shepherd, Frederick Sager, Christian Sager, Samuel Sager, Philip Sidener, Jacob Sid- ener. John Selsor, Henry Smith, William Sharp, Benjamin Springer, Silas Springer, John Scott, Jacob Steele, George Sager, Henry Shover, Charles Sterret, Abram Sager, Henry Sager. Thomas Stoddard. John Stafford. David Sidener. Isaac Smith, Gibson Savage, John Taylor. William Taylor, Daniel Taylor, Richard Taylor, John Troxel,

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Alexander Thompson, Enoch Thomas, Jacob Trumbo, Isaac Troxel, Joshua Thompson, Jonah Toppin, William Thomas, Robert Thomas, Phineas Trussel, Peter Vandevender, George Vanness, Joseph C. Vance, Jacob Vandevender, John Warner, Walter Watson, David Watson, James Withrow, Jolin Williams, James Whitesides, William Woods, Jane Wingate, Isaac Williams, Delashmutt Walling, Valentine Wilson, James Wright, Daniel Wright, George Weaver, Joseph Wiley, William Wilson, Joseph Ward, Samuel Watson, Joseph Warner, William Warner and David Witter.

The historian cannot vouch for the accuracy of this list or that it contains the name of every landowner residing in Madison county in March, 1819. The list is copied verbatim, and it is presumed that such a record would be correct. The only object in printing it is to try and preserve the names of many who have long since been for- gotten. If this has been accomplished, the purpose of publication is attained, and it is felt that the reader may derive some interesting information from a careful perusal of a list of pioneers who laid the foundation of the present commonwealth.

MADISON COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY.

In 1846, the Clark and Madison County Agricultural Society was organized, which held fairs alternately at South Charleston and London. The last of these fairs was held in London, on the 6th, 7th, and 8th of October, 1852. On the 13th of November, 1852, the following Agricultural notice appeared in the Madison Reveille: "We, the undersigned, citizens of Madison county, are in favor of calling a county convention, for the purpose of organizing a county agricultural society, within and for Madison county, separate and apart from Clark county; and recommend such convention to be held on Saturday, the 20th day of November, 1852. Paul Smith, Sabastian Roberts, Abraham Johnston, Thomas J. Stutson, J. Mccullough, R. Acton, G. W. Lewis, G. B. Olney, N. H. S. Miller, Jennet Stutson, F. H. Olmstead, O. C. Standart, G. E. Hart- well, Nathan Burnham, E. S. Hancock, B. Crabbe, N. E. Davis, Evans Pennington, Henry Alder, Carlton E. Gregg, John G. Dun, Caleb Morse, James Burnham, John T. Maxey, Robert Armstrong, William C. Minter, Dr. J. Stutson, A. Toland, A. J. Ryan, John Williams, William Morris, Washington Withrow, Jackson Brock, W. A. Koontz, Cole- man Asbury, William Riddle, D. Haskell, P. R. Asbury." In response to this call, a large and enthusiastic meeting of the farmers, mechanics and business men took place in London on that date.

The meeting was organized by appointing T. J. Stutson, of Jefferson township, chair- man, and William H. Creighton, secretary. The chairman, in a brief but appropriate address, explained the object of the meeting, which was to dissolve the connection which had theretofore existed with Clark county in an agricultural society, and to organize such society for Madison county alone. The necessity of such a course was obvious. The fairs were held in Clark county "except occasionally by special favors, and by private individuals at London defraying certain expenses." The consequence was that a very large portion of the county was excluded from its benefits by being so remote from the point where the fairs were held. He urged that Madison county con- tained the elements within herself to produce the very best agricultural exhibitions of any county in the state. On motion of David Haskell, it was resolved to proceed to organize a Madison county agricultural society, and elect such officers as were neces- sary to conduct the affairs of such society. On motion of John Melvin, it was resolved that the officers of this society should be a president, vice-president, treasurer, secretary, and five directors. The officers were then elected as follow: President, Richard Cowling ; vice-president, Dr. J. Stutson; treasurer, John Rouse; secretary, W. H. Creigh-

(16)

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ton: directors, John H. Findlay, John T. Maxey, John G. Dun, Jesse Watson, Jonathan Farrar.

On motion, Messrs. Toland, Findlay and Stutson were appointed a committee to draft a constitution for the society, which was reported and unanimously adopted. On motion it was resolved that a connnittee of one for each township in the county be appointed to solicit names for members of this society, whereon John Melvin was appointed the committee for Jefferson township; John Williams, Stokes; Charles Phellis, Pike; Henry Alder, Canaan; John Smith, Darby; David Morris, Monroe; W. B. Davis, Fairfield ; John H. Kennedy, Somerford; James Q. Minshall. Range; James Robinson, Pleasant ; R. B. Winchester, Union; John G. Dun, Deer Creek. On motion, it was resolved that one hundred and fifty copies of the constitution of the society be printed for distribu- tion through the county. On motion, it was resolved that John T. Maxey, Richard Cowling, and Jonathan Farrar be a committee to wait on the directors of the late Clark and Madison Agricultural Society, and obtain from them the portion of the money in the hands of the treasurer of the said society that was contributed by and properly belonged to Madison county.

THE FIRST ANNUAL FAIR.

The first fair of the Madison County Agricultural Society, was held in Loudon on September 28 and 29, 1853. The officers of the society, under whose auspices this fair was held, were elected on June 4, 1853, and were as follow : John H. Findlay, presi- dent : James Foster, vice-president ; John Rouse, treasurer; J. F. Freeman, secretary ; Richard Cowling, Charles Phellis, James Burnham, William Harrold and John F. Chen- oweth, directors. The day prior to the opening of the fair, the sale of the imported thoroughbred stock, brought from Enrope a short time before, took place, and gave the new enterprise of the agricultural society an impetus it could have received in no other way. Hundreds of leading stock men attended the sale, and remained for the fair, which proved a grand success. In September, 1854, the society purchased eight acres and eighty perches of land. in survey No. 5670. from John T. Maxey, paying for the same four hundred and twenty-five dollars. This tract is located in the northeast part of London, and the fairs were held there for fourteen years, with varying success. The last exhibition was held on September 18, 19 and 20. 1867, and the following were the officers at that time: J. Swetland, president ; John Reed, vice-president ; S. W. Dur- finger, secretary: Preston Adair, treasurer; directors, David Haskell. William Curtain. Robert Deyo, Adam Young; committee of arrangements, J. Swetland, L. Mount, Preston Henry Tyler, James Converse, Charles Phellis. John Mitchel, L. Mount, Daniel Boyd, Robert Deyo, Aam Young; committee of arrangements. J. Swetland, L. Monnt. Preston Adair. Henry Tyler; marshals. William Summers and J. C. Bridgeman.

Many canses led to the abandonment of these fairs. In the fall of 1868. a Union Agricultural Society was organized at Mechanicsburg. which had for its promoters some of the leading citizens of the northwestern portion of Madison county. These men had previously belonged to the Madison county society, and their withdrawal from it, together with the starting of a new association so close to the north part of the county, naturally had a dampening effect upon the old organization. A second cause was the absence of a track where horsemen could exhibit their animals. The grounds were small. and races were not a part of the program at these fairs; hence one of the prin- ripal attractions was missing. Efforts were made at different times to purchase addi- tional ground, with the object of constructing a good track thereon, but nothing was ever accomplished in that direction. The principal cause, however, why the hokling of fairs in London was abandoned, was on account of the rapid growth of the Madison county stock sales, at that time and for years the glory and pride of this portion of

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Ohio. This county needed no annual fair, for it held one every month. The Madison County Agricultural Society, however, still lived; its organization was kept intact and its financial condition healthy. Its officers were: Stephen Watson, president; Jeriah Swetland, vice-president ; J. C. Bridgeman, treasurer; Edwin Phifer, secretary ; Preston Adair, Joseph Williams, Stephen Watson, James Millikin, John Pancake, Charles Phellis, Jr., .R. G. Dun, Philip Durflinger, J. C. Bridgeman, W. H. Summers, Daniel Boyd, Jeriah Swetland, Adam Young, Robert Boyd and Erwin Phifer, directors.

LONDON DRIVING-PARK ASSOCIATION.

The first step taken toward the revival of the county fairs was probably the organi- zation of the London Driving-Park Association. This association was formed early in the year 1883 and soon after leased sixty acres of land for a park of R. B. Cowling, about one mile east of London, between the railroad and the Jefferson pike. On March 23, of the same year, they gave the contract for building a half-mile dirt track to Morris Nevils for three hundred and thirty-nine dollars, the track to be finished by May 1. During that spring the local papers began the discussion of the revival of the old county fairs. Stables on the driving association's park were erected by E. S. Vent and a high board fence was placed around the grounds by A. L. Slagle. The park was opened on July 4, with the following program of races: Gentlemen's trot; 3:00 trot, purse one hundred dollars; 2:40 pacing, purse one hundred; 2:35 trot, purse one hun- dred and fifty ; one-half mile running; one-half mile bicycle. Admission was placed at fifty cents for gentleman; ladies free. Of this association C. F. Richman was presi- dent; A. W. Boyd, secretary and F. T. Creamer, treasurer. This meet was a great suc- cess and it was estimated that there were from five to seven thousand people present.

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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 33

Author: Bryan, Chester Edwin Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : Bowen Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Bryan, Chester Edwin
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Indianapolis, Ind. : Bowen
Number of Pages: 1150