History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 27

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202

USA > Ohio > Franklin County > Columbus > History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I > Part 27

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The Worthington Manufacturing Company was incorporated in 1811, with James Kilbourn as President and General Agent. It was the pioneer manufactur- ing enterprise of Central Ohio, but was by no means limited to manufacturing. Besides undertaking to produce various articles in wool, leather and other materials, it circulated its notes as eurrency, and engaged extensively in merean- tile business and banking." Its factories were established at Worthington and

195

WORTHINGTON.

Steubenville, and its stores opened at Worthington and Franklinton. When the War of 1812 broke out, the Company engaged extensively in the production of woolen fabrics for army and navy clothing. This part of the industrial depart- ment ceased, of course, with the conclusion of peace in 1815, after which the Company lost heavily in its multiplied enterprises until it failed, in 1820, sweeping away the investments of its shareholders and the entire fortune of its President.

" Finding himself thus totally destitute of means," says Mr. Kilbourn's biog- rapher, " he took up his surveying apparatus again, and went into the woods. For more than twenty years he was much of the time busily engaged in his calling. and we bazard nothing in saying that he has surveyed more townships, highways, turnpikes, railroads and boundary lines than any other three men in the State."12

Although fifty years of age when financial disaster overtook him, Mr. Kilbourn regained, by these efforts, a portion of his financial independence, and continued to take a conspicuous part in public enterprises. His services in political station, and on occasions of general interest, at various periods of his life, will be men- tioned in their proper historical connection.

We have now reached the period when the colonies at Worthington and Franklinton became rival suitors for the location of the Capital of the State. Their emulation related not only to different sites but differing elements of population. Worthington was settled almost exclusively from New England; Franklinton from Kentucky, Virginia and Pennsylvania. The New Englanders offered the most elevated, the healthiest, and by far the most comely situation, but were over- matched. Franklinton was rejected for reasons which experience has fully justi- fied : but when the location was finally chosen it was near enough to the rivals for both to unite, and both did unite, in the development of the new community. Whatever special qualifications each possessed were actively and harmoniously exerted to this end. Virginian, Kentnekian, Pennsylvanian and New Englander each performed his part. . They joined hands and hearts, not in founding a new city only, but in the evolution of a new individuality- that of the typical Ohio Man.

NOTES.

1. In writing this chapter, the author has made liberal use of a manuscript sketch of the Worthington colony, written, and kindly submitted, by A. A. Graham, Esq., Secretary of the Ohio Archaeological and Historical Society.

2. Constitution of 1802, Art. III., Sec. 2.

3. The original model of Mr. Fitch's steamboat is in the possession of Mr. A. N. Whit- ing, of Columbus, who is one of his descendants.

4. History of the Kilbourn Family ; by Payne Kenyon Kilbourn ; 1856.

5. This was doubtless the socalled Carpenter settlement, mention of which will be found in a subsequent portion of the present chapter.

6. During these visits of exploration Mr. Kilbourn drew a map of Ohio which was sub- sequently much used by landbuyers and emigrants. In executing this work, he was assisted by charts and surveys placed under his inspection by Colonel Thomas Worthington, then Register of the Land Office at Chillicothe. He also drew upon information furnished him by his fatherinlaw, Mr. Fitch, who had been, in his youth, a captive among the Indians of the Northwest Territory.

196

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

7. The surveying was done by Mr. Kilbourn. The lands of the Company were divided into one hundred acre tracts, and apportioned among the shareholders, pro rata. Each share- holder was entitled to one town lot for each hundred-acre tract which he possessed. In the selection of places of residence in the town, Ezra Griswold settled on town lot 71, Wil- liam Thompson on 70, David Bristol on 60, James Kilbourn on 61, Samuel Beach on 92, Zo- phar Topping on 83, Alexander Morrison on 82, Nathan Stewart on 100, and Glass Cochran on 101. All drew water from a well on the church lot.

8. The log schoolhouse stood on the sonth college lot. In its construction is said to have been used the first timber cut in the settlement.

9. Mr. Robe was a dwarf, or man of remarkably small size, not weighing more than fifty to sixty pounds in ordinary health. He was well proportioned and neat in his appear- ance; a well educated man, and gentlemanly in his manners. He was a teacher in the Worth- ington Seminary - afterwards a clerk in the State Anditor's office. He died in January, 1823, aged about fortyfive years .- Martin's History of Franklin County.

10. This appointment was tendered in the following letter - here copied from the origi- nal manuscript -addressed to "Rev.'d James Kilburn, Franklin County, near Franklin- ton ":

DEAR SIR:

MARIETTA, July 3d., 1804.

I have the honor to inform you that with the approbation of the Secretary of the Treasury, you are appointed District Surveyor for No. 1, of Chillicothe District, or of all that tract within the Sd. District. which is called the military tract. I must request you to afford me the speediest intelligence of your acceptance or nonacceptance. In case of the first, the law requires an oath of affirmation, which it will be necessary to take before some magis . trate, and transmit a copy thereof to the Secretary of the Treasury. With profoundest re- spect,

1 am Sir,

Your obt. Hum. Servt.

JARED MANSFIELD.

It appears on consideration necessary that a copy of the oath should be sent to this office.

11. The following extracts from the Company's Articles of Association are copied from an original document, printed, except the signatures, at the office of the Western Intelligencer, at Worthington, in January, 1813 :

ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF THE WORTHINGTON MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 45 * -* **

Article 1st. The objects, which this association or copartnership propose to effect, are, to establish at Worthington in the state of Ohio, an extensive Manufactury of the various kinds of woolen cloth; of Hats, Leather, and the various manufactures of which leather is a part ; a manufactory of pot and pearl ashes, and generally, any and all kinds of manufactories which experience may advise, and the company think fit and profitable for them from time to time to establish ; to purchase, raise and keep an extensive flock of sheep; to introduce into the state of Ohio, and encourage the raising of the full blooded Merino sheep; to purchase, export, and sell, any and all kinds of the country productions which we shall judge profitable; and to establish and continue a complete variety store of goods, both of foreign and domestic articles which shall be suited to the demands of the country, including our own mannfac- tories, and the same to divide into as many branches as we shall think expedient. And to promote these purposes and the general object of this our association, we will also purchase and hold, or barter, sell and convey, as circumstances in the opinion of the company duly expressed shall justify any property or estate, real. personal, or mixed ; prescribing to our- selves no other limits, as to the amount of the capital stock, or the application thereof, than such as the body shall determine by ordinance or special resolution as may be done in pur- suance thereof by the proper officers.

197

WORTHINGTON.

Art. 2nd. The seat of the said manufactories, the store and countinghouse, or office of the company, shall be in the town of Worthington aforesaid; but the members, and even some of the officers, as occasion shall require, may reside, and particular parts of the business of the company be transacted in any other place or places, where, and when we shall agree, or appoint by vote or otherwise.

Art. 3rd. The capital stock of this company, be the same more or less, shall be divided into shares of one hundred dollars each, payable by installments of one fifth at a time ; the first at the time of subscribing, and the remaining four, at such times as the company shall agree when duly organized.

Article fourth provides for the election of a president, a secretary, three directors and "such other officers as may be found convenient," by the stockholders.

Article fifth provides that the officers shall be chosen by ballot, each share casting one vote.

Article sixth directs that no person shall be employed by the company in any clerkship or other important function who is not a shareholder.

Art. 7th. When any person shall make his subscription in sheep, labor, materials for building, land for the establishment, or goods for the store, to the acceptance of the directors, the payment or performance thereof as stipulated, will be received in place of a regular pay- ment by installments, as in the case of cash subscriptions.

Article eighth instructs as to the duties of the president, acting as general agent for the Company.

Article ninth relates to proxies representing non-resident shareholders.

Article ten provides for the calling of special meetings.

Art. 11. Books of subscription shall be immediately opened, under the care of James Kilbourn, of said Worthington, and George Fitch, of New York City, who are hereby author- ized and requested to superintend the same, provide the proper books, and make exhibition thereof to the first meeting of the stockholders, to be holden as hereinafter provided.

Article twelve fixes the time, place, and manner of holding regular meetings and elec- tions, and concludes as follows: " And we do hereby appoint James Kilbourn to be our President and General Agent, and Joseph Garnett, Secretary, until the said first Tuesday of May next, and till others shall be elected and duly qualified to said offices."

To the foregoing articles of association, and to the strict observance thereof we do each of us bind and pledge himself to the others, in the full amount of all damages which may accrue by his neglect or refusal.

In testimony whereof, we have severally hereunto subscribed our names and affixed our seals, in presence of each other and of the attesting witness.

First signed at the city of New York, this first day of November, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eleven.

P. S .- The business proposed by this association shall go into operation so soon as one hundred shares shall be subscribed.

Evolution of the City.

PHOTOGRAPHED BY BAKER.

Residence of John Otstot, 318 South Front Street, built in 1834.

CHAPTER XI.

THE FOREST SETTLEMENT.

Columbus has the unique distinction of having been born a capital. Its origin dates from the hour when the General Assembly of the State passed an act making it the seat of government. Until then it was an Indian bunting ground, covered with the primeval forest.

The Constitution of 1802 fixed the seat of government at Chillicothe until 1808, and expressly forbade any expenditure for public buildings for legislative purposes until 1809. The first General Assembly therefore met in the Ross County courthouse, which is described as a twostory stone building over which rose a cupola topped by a gilded eagle standing upon a ball. The edifice thus provision- ally adopted as the capitol had been begun in 1800 and completed in 1801. With- in its walls, said to have been laid up by a soldier of the War of Independence,1 the Territorial Legislature had held its last session, and the convention which framed the first constitution of the State had met. But its apartments were soon found inadequate for the uses of the General Assembly, and were supplemented by erect- ing a brick annex connected with the main building by a covered passage. The Senate met in the brick edifice, the House of Representatives in that of stone .?

But the government was temporarily located, as well as housed. That its permanent seat would go to some point nearer the center of the State than Chilli- cothe was generally anticipated from the beginning, and, in this expectation, every settlement in the State even remotely eligible to win the prize took timely steps to secure it. Franklinton, Delaware, Worthington, Zanesville, Lancaster and Newark were among the earliest and most ardent of these suitors. The "address of the in- habitants of the town of Worthington " hereto appended 3 doubtless fairly repre- sents the spirit and ingenuity with which each of the embryo cities ambitious of being Ohio's eapital presented its ease.

Pressed by these importunities, the General Assembly passed an act February 20, 1810, providing for a commission of five members, to he selected by joint ballot of both houses, to hear arguments, inspect localities, and recommend a site for the permanent seat of government.4 In pursuance of this act James Findlay, W. Sil- liman, Joseph Darlinton, Resin Beall and William McFarland were appointed commissioners, and visited Franklinton, but discarded its pretensions. It was condemned, because of its low situation, and the unsuitableness of its plan. The commissioners then visited various other localities, with like results, and finally agreed to report : " That they have diligently examined a number of different places within the circle prescribed [forty miles from the 'common centre '], and

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202

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

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204

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

the majority of said commissioners are of opinion that a tract of land owned by John and Peter Sells, situated on the west bank of the Scioto River, four miles and three quarters west of the town of Worthington, in the county of Franklin, and on which said Sells now resides, appears to them most eligible." This report, dated at New- ark, September 12, and signed by all the commissoners was delivered to the Gen- eral Assembly December 11, 1810. The site thus recommended is that of the pres- sent town of Dublin, Franklin County, and seems to have owed its preference chiefly to the desire to identify the political with the geographical center of the State.

The General Assembly continued to meet at Chillicothe until 1810, but in the latter part of that year was induced to transfer its sittings to Zanesville, where a building for its especial accommodation had been provided. Here the sessions of 1810-1811 and 1811-12 were held, and various additional proposals for permanent location, as well as the report of the legislative commission on that subject, were received. No definite action was taken, but among the new propositions submit- ted was one which narrowed the controversy at once to a choice between the in- ducements which it offered and those presented by the people of Worthington.

The objections made to Franklinton on account of its low situation and unfit- ness of plan suggested to some of its citizens, particularly landowners, the eligi- bility of the plateau forming the east bank of the Scioto, opposite. The elevation there was reasonably good, and the opportunity for platting a town without hin- drance from buildings, prearranged streets, or even clearings, was unlimited. The lands on the plateau had been patented as early as 1802 to John Halstead, Martha Walker, Benjamin Thompson, Seth Harding and James Price, all refugees of the War of Independence. The original patentees had disposed of their titles, and these, after intermediate transmissions, had come into the hands of Lyne Starling, John Kerr, Alexander McLaughlin and James Johnston. Combining their inter. ests, these four proprietors laid off a tract of about twelve hundred acres on the plateau, platted it, provisionally, into streets and squares, and submitted proposals, for the location of the seat of government thereon to the General Assembly at Zanesville. A copy of the plat accompanied their propositions, the full text of which was as follows :

ORIGINAL PROPOSALS OF THE PROPRIETORS OF COLUMBUS.5

To the Honble the Legislature of the State of Ohio:

We the subscribers do offer the following as our proposals provided the legislature at their present session shall fix and establish the permanent seat of Government for said State on the East bank of the Scioto River nearly opposite to the town of Franklinton on half sec- tions Nos. 9, 25 & 26, and parts of half sections Nos. 10 & 11, all in Township 5 of Range 22 of the Refugee lands and commence their session there on the first Monday of December, 1817 :

1st. To lay out a Town on the lands aforesaid on or before the first day of July next agreeably to the plans presented by us to the Legislature.

2d. To convey to the State, by general warranty deed in fee simple such square in said town of the contents of ten aeres or near it for the public buildings and such lot of ten acres for Penitentiary and dependencies, as a director or such person or persons as the legislature will appoint may select.

3d. To erect and complete a State House, offices & Penitentiary & such other buildings as shall be directed by the Legislature, to be built of stone and Brick or of either, the work to be done in a workman like manner and of such size and dimensions as the Legislature shall think fit. the Penitentiary & dependencies to be complete on or before the first day of Jan- uary, 1815, The Statehouse and offices on or before the first Monday of December, 1817.

205

THE FOREST SETTLEMENT.

When the buildings shall be completed the Legislature and the subserihers reciprocalty shall appoint workmen to examine and value the whole buildings which valuation shall be binding, and if it does not amount to Fifty thousand dollars we shall make up the deficiency in such further buildings as shall be directed by law, but if it exceeds the sum of Fifty thon- sand dollars the Legislature will by law remunerate us in such way as they may think just and equitable.

The legislature may by themselves or agent alter the width of the streets and alleys of said Town previous to its being laid out by us if they may think proper to do so.

LYNE STARLING. [seal.]

JOHN KERR. [seal.]

A. MCLAUGHLIN. [seal.] JAMES JOHNSTON. [seal.]

Attest

WILSON ELLIOTT. ISAAC HAZLETT.

These propositions were accompanied by the following bond :

Know all men by these presents that we, James Johnston, of Washington County, Lyne Starling, of Franklin County, Alexander McLaughlin, of Muskingum County, & John Kerr, of Ross County, all of the State of Ohio, our heirs, executors, administrators or assigns do promise to pay to William McFarland, treasurer of said State, or his successors in office, for the use of the State of Ohio, the sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars for the payment of which we do hind ourselves firmly by these presents, which are sealed with our seals and dated the 10th day of February, in the year of our Lord, 1812.

The condition of the above obligation is such that if the above bonnden James Johnston, Lyne Starling, Alexander McLaughlin, & John Kerr, their heirs, executors, administrators or assigns, shall truly and faithfully comply with their proposals to the State of Ohio by erecting the public buildings and conveying to the said State ground for the State House, offices and penitentiary they have proposed to do, then this obligation to be null and void, otherwise to be and continue in full force and virtue.

JAMES JOHNSTON. seal.

LYNE STARLING. seal. A. MCLAUGHLIN. seal.

JOHN KERR. seal,

In presence of

WILSON ELLIOTT. ISAAC HAZLETT.

The absolute permanence of location on which the foregoing scheme was con- ditioned appearing to jeopardize its acceptance, the following supplementary propositions were submitted :

To the Honble the legislature of Ohio:

We the subscribers do agree to comply with the terms of our Bond now in possession of the Senate of the State aforesaid, in case they will fix the seat of government of this State on the lands designated in their proposals-now with the Senate, on the east bank of the Scioto River, nearly opposite to Franklinton, and commence their sessions there at or before the first Monday of December, 1817, and continue the same in the town to be laid off by ns until the year 1840.

These conditional proposals are offered by us for the acceptance of the Legislature of Ohio provided they may be considered more eligible than those previously put in.

JOHN KERa. seal.

JAMES JOHNSTON. seal.

A. MeLACanLAN. seal. LYNE STARLING. scal.

Witness

WILSON ELLIOTT.

February 11, 1812.

206

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

JOHN KERR.

207

THE FOREST SETTLEMENT.

LYNE STARLING.

208

HISTORY OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS.

This departure was promptly met by counter proposals from other contest- ants, particularly from Worthington, which place, it has been said, counted a ma- jority in its favor. But in the closing hours of the session a supreme effort was made in which Foos, Sullivant and other alert citizens of Franklinton took part, and when the test finally came, a decided majority was found on the side of Mr. Starling and his associates.6 On the fourteenth of February, the General Assemby settled the controversy for thirty years, at least, by passing the following act :

Chapter XXXIV., Ohio Laws, Volume 10. - An act fixing and establishing the perma- nent and temporary seats of government.

SEC. 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That the proposals made to this legislature by Alexander McLaughlin, John Kerr, Lyne Starling and James Johnston, ( to lay out a town on their lands, situate on the east bank of the Scioto River, op- posite Franklinton, in the county of Franklin, and [on] parts of half sections number nine, ten, eleven, twentyfive and twentysix, for the purpose of having the permanent seat of gov- ernment thereon established ; also, to convey to this state a square of ten acres aud a lot of ten acres, and to erect a state house, such offices, and a penitentiary, as shall be directed by the legislature), are hereby accepted and the same and their penal bond annexed thereto, dated the tenth of Feb. one thousand eight hundred and twelve, conditioned for their faith- fn performance of said proposals shall be valid to all intents and purposes, and shall remain in the office of the treasurer of state, there to be kept for the use of this state.

SEC. 2. Be it further enacted, that the seat of government of this state be, and the same is hereby fixed and permanently established on the land aforesaid, and the legislature shall commence their sessions thereat on the first Monday of December one thousand eight hun- dred and seventeen, and there continue until the first day of May, one thousand eight hun - dred and forty, and from thence until otherwise provided for by law.

SEC. 3. That there shall be appointed by a joint resolution of this general assembly a director who shall, within thirty days after his appointment, take and subscribe an oath faith- fully and impartially to discharge the duties enjoined on him by law, and shall hold his office to the end of the session of the next legislature: Provided, That in case the office of the director aforesaid shall by death, resignation, or in any other wise become vacant during the recess of the legislature the Governor shall fill such vacancy.

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History of the city of Columbus, capital of Ohio, Volume I, Part 27

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co Publication date: 1892 Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co. Number of Pages: 1202

Author: Lee, Alfred Emory, 1838-; W. W. Munsell & Co
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: New York and Chicago : Munsell & Co.
Number of Pages: 1202