USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Groveport > History of Madison Township, including Groveport and Canal Winchester, Franklin County, Ohio > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32
Almost every section of the state was anxious that the canal should be located for its convenience, and this condition made the choice of an engineer - who was expected to have considerable influence in locating the route - an important matter; James Geddes of New York State was appointed and made a preliminary survey during the summer of 1822, and reported the result to the Legislature under date of January 4,
1
Digitized by Google
:
62
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
1823. The Canal Commissioners were then authorized to secure "rights of way," grants of land, and sub- scriptions in aid of the canals, and to ascertain whether loans of money could be made. Little progress was made by the surveyors during the season of 1823 on account of the prevailing sickness, mention of which is made elsewhere in this volume. Under date of January 24, 1824, the commissioners say: "It was found impossible to keep an engineer's party together for active service, on account of the sickliness of the season," and "Few of the surveying parties were able to preserve their health or continue their services for more than a week at a time."
February 24, 1825, "An Act" passed the Legis- lature authorizing the Canal Commissioners to "Com- mence and prosecute the making of a navigable canal on the Muskingum and Scioto route, so called, from the Ohio river at or near the mouth of the Scioto river, by the way of the Licking summit and the Muskingum river to Lake Erie, commencing at the Licking summit." Thirty-four members of the Senate voted yea, and only two voted nay; fifty-eight mem- bers of the House voted yea, and 13 voted nay. The first shovel full of earth was dug up by Governor De Witt Clinton of New York on July 4, 1825, at the place designated - Licking summit. The following advertisement, which explains itself, appeared in the Civil Engineer and Herald of Internal Improvement, a weekly published by John Kilbourn at Columbus, October 11, 1828: "Ohio Canal proposals will be re- ceived on the 14th day of November next, at Lan- caster, for the construction of forty-three miles of canal, lying between the Licking Summit and Circle- ville. Twenty-eight to thirty locks, with two aque-
Digitized by Google ·
63
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
ducts and a dam across Walnut creek are included in the work to be let. Bidders, who are unknown as contractors to the acting commissioner, will be expected to accompany their propositions with recommenda- tions of a substantial and unquestionable character. Plans and specifications of the work may be seen at the office in Lancaster at any time after the 10th of November. M. T. Williams, Acting Commissioner, October 10, 1828."
The following are among the most interesting local proposals: "Section No. 54 is on my inclosed field, therefore I claim the right to it if I think proper at such bid lower than my own, Adam Rarey." "Sec- tion No. 52 being mostly on my land, I claim my pro- prietary right of taking it at the lowest responsible bid, if I should wish to do so .- W. H. Richardson." "Section No. 43 being on my own land, I will under- take it at the lowest responsible bid, and will be grati- fied if the job shall be awarded to me at a fair price, as it would be pleasanter to me on my account .- Abra- ham Harrison." The above proposition was accom- panied by a letter of recommendation from Jacob Clay- pole, "Micagal T. Williams, Esq .- Sir: A good part of section No. 42 being on my land, it would be desir- able for me to have the job. I therefore offer to com- plete said section including all the work thereon at the lowest responsible bid. Given under my hand, this 14th day of November, 1828 .- Reuben Dove." Sec- tion No. 36, I want to take through my own land at a responsible bid, but not bound .- Samuel Loucks."
The sections varied in length according to the amount of labor required. The contracts contained a description of the various kinds of work to be done and the stipulated price of each item. For instance,
Digitized by Google
i i
---
64
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
the bid of W. H. Richardson on section No. 52. Grubbing, $3.00 per chain; excavation, 8c per yard; solid rock, 75c; detached rock, 25c; embankment, IOc; excavation for lock and culvert, 20c; stone work, per perch, $4.00; puddling culvert, 20c. We were un- able to find a bid, or contract, other than that of Mr. Dove's, on section No. 42, but according to common report J. L. Vance had the contract. Abbott, Abbott & Sherlock had Nos. 43, 45, 58, 62 and 63, for which they received $8.921.82; Samuel, James G. Samuel, Jr., and Wm. G. Hand had sections Nos. 44, 47 and 48 for $17,490.67; Daniel B. McConnell, Elias S. Cun- ningham, Edward Lewis and Edward Byers had sec- tion No. 46 at $5,477.34; Jacob L. Vance had section No. 49 for $3,005.27. The proposition for section No. 49 was written in Egyptian characters. W. H. Rich- ardson had sections Nos. 51 and 52 for $2,937.83 ; Wm. Love & Loy had sections Nos. 53, 71 and 74; they got $2,920.99 for section No. 53; F. Cunningham, Wm. Bland, Thos. Perkins and Andrew Green had section No. 54-through Groveport-for $1,595.77. Adam Rarey's bid for the bridge across the canal on Main street, Groveport, was $200.00. This bridge was ex- actly 214 miles from Cleveland. Wm. Butt had sec- tions Nos. 55 and 56 for $3,869.33. Jacob L. Vance and Thomas Gray had section No. 57 for $1,867.71. Thaddeus Williams, Mathew Clark, Aaron Clark and Jonathan Foster had sections Nos. 59 and 60. Joseph Fassett and Lucius Mower had sections Nos. 64, 65, 67, 68 and 69 for $47,015.90. A. Smith and John Pat- terson had section No. 66. Sections Nos. 44, 46, 47 and 48 had locks; these were first built of stone quar- ried in the neighborhood of Lithopolis, and were rebuilt in 1846 to 1852 with stone brought from the Hocking
Digitized by Google
i
:
1 1 1
1
1
LOCK NO, 20, ONE MILE WEST OF WINCHESTER, 1808.
Google Digitized by
-
--
1
Digitized by
65
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP
valley. The locks are numbered-beginning west of Winchester (Chaney's Mill), Nos. 19, 20 (Woolen Factory ) No. 21, and east of Groveport No. 22. Nos. 19 and 22 were rebuilt in 1845-46.
The Canal Commissioners in their annual report, under date of January 11, 1832, after referring to the State Dam across Little Walnut creek, say: "About five miles below this point the canal receives water from Rager's run feeder three-fourth of a mile in length ; and through the same feeder from Blacklick, a branch of Big Belly creek, the waters of which are thrown into Rager's run by a cheap and shallow cut.
* This feeder is a valuable acquisition to the canal." Nathaniel Bray built this feeder in the sum- mer of 1832 for $735.30. It was only used a few years. when it was abandoned. Traces of a trench dug through a portion of the farm now occupied by Thomas Lowe-being the northwest quarter of section No. 26 -are still plainly visible. It was the intention to fol- low the bank along the south side of the Winchester and Groveport road. After the work was begun a change was made and the canal bed located farther. north.
The following extracts from Form of Agreement set forth the essential features of the specifications for the building of the canals: "First, in all places where the natural surface of the earth is above the bottom of the canal, and where the line requires excavation, all the trees, saplings, bushes, stumps and roots shall be grubbed and dug up at least sixty feet wide; that is thirty-three feet on the towing path side of the cen- ter, and twenty-seven feet wide on the opposite side of the center of the canal, and together with logs, brush and wood of every description shall be removed 5 HMT
Digitized by Google
1
!
66
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
at least fifteen feet beyond the outward line of the said grubbing on each side; and on said space of fif- teen feet on each side of said grubbing, all trees, sap- lings, bushes and stumps shall be cut down close to the ground, so that no part of any of them shall be left more than one foot in height above the natural surface of the earth, and shall also, together with all logs, brush and wood of every kind, be removed en- tirely from said space. Second: The canal and banks shall be so constructed and formed, by excavation and embankment, as either or both shall be necessary, in order to bring the same to the proper level, so that the water may in all places be at least forty feet wide in the canal at the surface, twenty-six feet wide at the bottom, and four feet deep; each of the banks shall be at least two feet, perpendicular measurement, above the top water line; and such a slope shall be pre- served on the inner side of the banks, both above and below the top water line, that every foot perpendicu- lar rise in said bank shall give a horizontal base of one foot nine inches; the towing path shall be at least ten feet wide at its surface, and not more than five feet in any place above the top water line; and whenever a difference in the elevation of the towing path shall occur, the ascent or descent shall not be greater than one foot rise or fall in sixty feet in length, and shall be gradual; the towing path shall be smooth and
even * and shall be so constructed that the side next to the canal will be six inches higher than the opposite side, at the surface, with an uniform and regular slope, so that the water may run off from said path ; * the bank opposite the towing bank shall in no place be less than five feet wide at the surface ; and neither of said banks shall
Digitized by Google
1
1 1
1
67
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
have a slope of lesser base in proportion to its height on the outer than on the inner side, except where there is a redundance of stuff increasing the width of the bank beyond the requisition aforesaid. * * * Third : In all cases of embankment, where the bottom line of canal is above the natural surface of the earth, all the trees, bushes, saplings and stumps, on the space occu- pied by the canal and its banks, shall be cut close to the ground, and, together with all logs, brush and wood of every description, shall be removed from a space of at least forty-five feet wide on each side of the cen- ter of the canal ; and from a strip fifteen feet wide un- der each bank to be so situated that the inner side of said strip shall be perpendicularly under the outer ex- tremity of the top water line, all the trees, bushes, stumps and roots shall be thoroughly grubbed, and, together with all logs, brush, roots, grass, herbage, vegetable and porous earth, shall be removed entirely without said banks, so that the banks may unite se- curely with the solid earth beneath.
Fourth: The locks shall be constructed so that the chamber will be 90 feet in length and 15 feet in breadth in the clear. The walls of the lock shall be of solid masonry laid in water cement, and well grouted with water cement. * The walls shall be five feet in thickness at the bottom of the lock and four feet at the top water line of the upper canal. * Buttresses shall be so built that 20 feet in length of the walls opposite the upper gates, and 17 feet in length opposite the lower lock gates shall be 9 feet thick at the bottom and 8 feet at the top water line.
The foundation of the lock, unless a smooth and firm rock foundation can be obtained, shall be composed of solid white oak timber, hewed square, and one foot in
Digitized by Google
68
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
thickness, to be laid horizontally across the foundation, level and even, * * and covered with three- inch white oak or pine plank, free from knots, rots or shakes, well jointed and firmly trunneled or spiked to the timber beneath; a flooring composed of two-inch white oak or pine plank, free from knots, rot or shakes, well jointed and securely spiked with spikes ten inches in length, shall be laid throughout the whole chamber of the lock.
When active work began on the construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal in 1829, times at once began to get better ; many of the settlers worked on the exca- vations and thus secured ready cash with which to pay their taxes and other necessary expenses. Wages were $8.00 per month, or 302 cents and two jiggers of whiskey per day ; a day was from sun to sun. The immediate demand and the prospect of an early outlet for the surplus produce attracted many settlers. Wheat advanced from 25 cents to $1.00 per bushel, and other produce in like ratio. From this time on the town- ship has made a steady and prosperous growth. The Canal Commissioners announced that the canal from Newark to Columbus and Circleville was opened for navigation on September 25, 1831. The first canal boat passed through on a Saturday night, and the next two on the following Sunday forenoon. People come from ten to fifteen miles to see the first boats pass, and gathered in large crowds along the banks; especially is this true of a point where the Middletown road crosses the canal, just east of lock No. 20. Early in the morning they began to gather; the scene is de- scribed by the late John R. Wright as resembling a camp-meeting in the size of the crowd in their holi- day attire. A brass band of music from Lancaster
.
Digitized by Google
---
69
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
accompanied the second boat, and it is related by the late Geo. P. Champe that when the first sounds of the music was heard the crowds would shout: "The boat is coming," and then the words would be taken up by other crowds further down, all followed by a general movement towards the east to meet the boat. Happy the man or woman who was fortunate enough to get passage on this swift-flying (?) craft.
A party of workmen wintered some sixty head of oxen on the farm now occupied by David Martin, hav- ing purchased the corn crop in the shock. They slept in a log-cabin near by and boarded with Joseph Wright, who lived in a log house that stood where Isaac Leh- man's substantial residence now stands. These work- men are spoken of as a jolly set of Irishmen, when sober.
"'An Act' to regulate the navigation and collec- tion of tolls on the canals" was passed February 23, 1830, and contained 78 sections.
We quote a few of the regulations : "No float shall move faster than four miles an hour." "When a boat or other float shall overtake any other boat or float, it shall be the duty of the master of the latter to turn from the towing path, and give the former every fa- cility for passing." "When any float shall meet any other float, passing in an opposite direction, it shall be the duty of each to turn to the right side of the center of the canal, and the moving power of the boat which shall turn from the towing path shall be stopped so as to allow the moving power of the other float to pass freely over the towing rope." "If, on the arrival of any two or more floats, at any lock, a question shall arise as to which shall be first entitled to pass, such question shall be determined by the lock-keeper."
Digitized by Google
1
70
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
"The owner of every boat shall subscribe and deliver to the collector of whom the first clearance shall be demanded a certificate to be entitled a 'Certificate of Registry,' containing the name and place of abode of such owner." "Every owner of a boat who shall change its name from that stated in the certificate of registry, without the written consent of the collector shall, for every such offence, forfeit the sum of twenty dollars." "No boat shall receive a clear- ance, or be permitted to pass on either of the canals, unless such boat shall have the name thereof and place where it is owned, painted in some conspicuous part of the outside of the boat, in letters of at least four inches in height." Rates of toll per ton per mile of
various articles : "Flour, wheat, etc., Igc; corn, oats, rye, etc., whether ground or unground, Ic; mineral, coal and iron ore, ¿c; boards, planks, timbers, etc., per 1,000 feet per mile, Ic; posts, rails, etc., per 1,000 per mile, 2c; boats used chiefly for freight per mile, 2c; each passenger, conveyed in any boat, per mile, ¿c." All the boats at first carried passengers. The following is a list of some of the more familiar names of canal boats: Cincinnati, Red Rover, Lady Jane (these were the first three to pass through this town- ship, and arrived in Columbus on September 25, 1831), Rockingham, Iola, Searcher, Storm, Eureka, Robin, Chute, Crescent, Danube, Hurricane, Akron, Miami, Boone, Express, Mendon, Josephine, Carlisle, Wash- ington, Henrietta, Antelope, Buckeye, Pirate, Superior, Laurel, Ben Bolt, Ellen, Empire Mills, St. Paul, Em- bassy, Gallant, St. Louis, L. B. Curtis, Emigrant, In- diana, David Dixon, T. A. Walton, M. M. Greene, Viola, Dick Gorham, Arrow (this was the name of one of the packet boats). The U. S. Grant was the last
Digitized by Google
-
71 ·
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
boat built, at the Groveport dry docks. Many of the boat captains would take a load of wheat or corn to Cleveland or Portsmouth and then purchase a boat load of staple merchandise, which they sold to the mer- chants along the canal on the return trip.
The boat trade was much sought after in the palmy days of the canal. Business houses usually fronted the canal on the tow-path side, and attracted trade by extensive wharves and hitching rings, signs, enumer- ating the leading articles kept, such as corn, oats, hay, wood, groceries, etc., and a conveniently located well. In the forties Samuel Bartlett, who then kept a store in a frame building where Gayman's store now stands, ,displayed a muslin sign that extended the whole length of the canal side of the building, and read: "Boats Loaded to the Water's Edge for Long Sam."
The "laying up" of from five to ten boats with their crews, in a small town, during the winter fur- nished plenty diversion and excitement for the natives. One of the events of the season was "a thaw." They would then hitch all their teams to a heavy plank ice- breaker that they had built during the winter. Enough stones were put into the stern of the breaker to bring the bow to the surface, when three or four of the most venturesome, whose duty it was to rock it from side to side with all their might, would enter it. When, amid the vociferous swearing of the drivers - for most boat drivers would swear - the great wave which swept the banks on either side and the crashing of the ice as the horses and mules were urged to their utmost speed, occurred one of the exciting episodes in a boatman's life.
Chas. W. Speaks and Henry J. Epply served as Superintendents (State Boss) of this division of the
Digitized by Google
72
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
canal. Samuel Loucks and Lewis Kramer petitioned the State for damages to their water powers soon after the canal was built.
1 i
1
:
1
Digitized by
CHAPTER IX.
CHOLERA IN 1833.
In the latter part of June, 1833, a man traveling by canal boat from Cleveland, stopped off at the road crossing the canal about a mile and one-half west of Winchester, and went to the residence of a Mr. Wood- cock - who lived near where the toll gate used to be kept on the Columbus and Winchester pike, now owned by Mr. Judy - and at his request Mrs. Woodcock did some washing for him, and it is supposed that the clothes were infected with cholera. Mr. Woodcock went to George's creek to fish while his wife did the washing; he soon after returned and drank freely of buttermilk. In a very short time afterwards he took violently sick, his family and near neighbors thinking from the effect of the buttermilk. At that time this was one of the most thickly settled neighborhoods in the township, and of course everybody was always ready to lend a helping hand when they had to depend on each other. It was not long until nearly the whole neighborhood had gathered to lend what assistance they might, none dreaming of the dread pestilence so soon to enter their homes. Mr. Woodcock soon died, and only a few hours afterwards his wife died also. Dr. Wiley, who lived in the Wheeler house, now owned by J. M. Lehman, expressed the opinion that they had died of cholera. Nearly all present thought it precau- tionary to leave at once, and suited their actions to their
(73)
Digitized by by Google
74
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
feelings. But it was too late. Within the next few weeks some 30 or more persons died in this neighbor- hood alone. Nearly all died in a few hours after be- ing attacked. Among those who died are the follow- ing: Wm. Woodcock, a cooper by trade, and his wife; Walter Hughes, and his son Walter, who lived in a log house just south of the road and opposite the residence of Geo. Keichle; Henry Schoonover and son Perry aged 7 years, who lived in a log house on the bank of Walnut creek, just back of Chaney's track, now occupied by Mr. Bitler; John Schoonover, who lived 200 or 300 yards south of his brother Henry ; Wm. Davis and wife, Geo. W. Drain, Benj. Boyd and his wife Polly and two children, Isaac and Sarah ; they lived in a log house just north of Union Grove Ceme- tery, which house was afterwards removed to the first lock west of Winchester, where it stood many years and was finally consumed by fire. Mrs. Isaac McCor- mack. Evans McCormack, Thompson Cross, wife and son, who lived in a log cabin that stood near where D. H. Tallman now lives; a Mr. Cox, who lived in a log house on the Amos Painter farm; a Mr. Gale, who lived about one hundred yards south of the canal, on the east side of the Oregon road, and Mrs. Wm. Smith, who lived in the old brick house on the Jerry Alspach farm. She was the last victim. Mr. Martin, in his history referring to this epidemic, writes: "In the summer of 1833 the cholera made its first appearance in Franklin county. It first broke out in the early part of the summer, in a neighborhood on the canal, in Madison Township, where it proved very fatal, but was confined to the space of a few miles only. On the 14th of July it made its first appearance in Colum- bus, and continued until about October.
Digitized by Google
i
1
1
!
- -
75
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
During its prevalence there were about two hundred deaths in Columbus, notwithstanding the whole popu- lation of the town was not much, if any, over three thousand, and it was supposed that one-third had fled to the country. * * * The mortality and terrors of this season far surpassed any pestilence that ever afflicted Columbus before or since."
In the latter part of August, 1854, there were three deaths in Winchester supposed to have been by cholera. Two strangers came on a boat; one of them died the next morning and the other soon after; the third one was Dutch Philip (Philip Bourne) ; he lived in the house now occupied by Mrs. McFadden; it was then plastered on the outside and painted to represent va- riegated marble, and in consequence was called the "calico house." The two strangers died in the old Bartlit store building near the canal bridge, in which Jacob Direling then kept a tavern.
Digitized by Google
CHAPTER X.
OFFICERS OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
"Statesman, yet friend to truth, of soul sincere, In action faithful, and in honor clear; Who broke no promise, served no private end, Who gained no title, and who lost no friend." -POPE.
We will supplement the list of township officers with a list of Madison Township citizens who have held county, state and other honorary positions.
In October of 1827 John Swisher succeeded James Kilbourne as county assessor, and served until 1835. The office of county assessor was abolished in 1841, when the office of Township Assesssor was created. Wm. W. Kyle was elected County Commissioner in 1840, and re-elected in 1843, serving six years. Chas. W. Speaks was elected County Commissioner in 1852, serving three years. John G. Edwards was elected County Commissioner in 1866, serving three years. Samuel Kile, a former resident of this township, served as County Auditor from October, 1867, to 1874. Aaron C. Headley, a former merchant of Groveport, was elected County Treasurer in 1867, and served two years. F. M. Senter was elected County Recorder, and served two terms, from October, 1879, to October, 1885. Chas. D. Rarey has served as deputy under Neville Williams, County Recorder, since September, 1898, three years. Chas. C. Swisher is serving a term
(76)
Digitized by Google
1
- :
77
HISTORY OF MADISON TOWNSHIP.
of three years as deputy (issuing clerk) under John W. McCafferty, County Clerk, beginning August, 1900.
In 1837 John R. Wright was appointed Farm Su- perintendent of the County Poor Farm, then located about three miles north of Columbus, and served un- til 1840, when the location was changed and the farm sold. In 1851 Dr. A. A. Short was appointed physi- cian of the County Infirmary and served to March, 1857.
McConnell Seymour has been a member of the. County Board of Elections since 1899.
Samuel Bartlit was elected State Senator in 1853,. serving two years.
The following have served as representatives of Franklin county in the State Legislature: Edward Courtright 1851-53, Hiram Hendron 1853-55.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.