USA > Ohio > Licking County > Granville > The history of Granville, Licking County, Ohio > Part 22
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
In 1847, Munson C. Hillyer was engaged in merchandis- ing in the east room of the C. C. Rose building. Messrs. Isaac Smithyman and Thomas Woods had the grocery in the west room. The same gentlemen with Mr. George Ingra- ham and others had a joint stock business in the east room, to which Mr. Hillyer succeeded by purchase. He then bought out the grocery, also, and removed the intervening partition, making his store room more commodious. There he continued to trade until he went to California in 1851.
296
PRESENT MERCHANTS.
While George B. Whiting was in the postoffice, he began to deal in school books, wall paper, stationery, miscellaneous books, pictures, music, a circulating library, adding one feature after another, until now Granville can boast a very fine book store.
In like manner, the grocery business has grown from ordi- nary beginnings until we have some of the finest stocks in the county.
Thomas Jones has a little shop with a steam engine, chem- icals, and a good stock of ingenuity, with which he serves the people in silver plating, repairing sewing machines, clocks, guns, etc.
The DeBow brothers are doing very creditable work in the line of tombstones and monuments, using marble, granite, and other materials.
In 1871, under the laws of the State of Ohio, there was formed in Granville, most of the stockholders being citizens of the place, a company called, "The Sunday Creek Coal and Iron Mining and Transportation Company," with a nominal capital of $500,000, for the purpose of smelting iron, mining and selling coal. They bought a furnace near Toledo, Ohio, with a large tract of woodland ; also, a tract in the coal fields of Perry county, Ohio. Their operations were a failure.
About the same time, another coal land speculation in- volved many citizens of Granville, drawing away a large amount of capital from the place, and it, too, proved a failure.
These, with other unsuccessful transactions, are estimated to have withdrawn from the township within the past ten years, about one hundred thousand dollars.
297
THE ANTI-SLAVERY EXCITEMENT.
CHAPTER XLVI.
The beginning of anti-slavery meetings in the township was in 1834. Most of the people at that time were coloniza- tionists in sentiment. A Mr. Hawley, from Western Reserve College, lectured in the Congregational Church against col- onization as a means of doing away slavery; making quite a sensation. "Audible murmurings were heard throughout the church." Colonization meetings followed, with the adop- tion of a long series of resolutions, signed by many of the leading citizens.
The next lecturer was Theodore D. Weld, " one of the best platform speakers in the United States. With all the graces of oratory he had a masterly command of logic." He had been an agent of the American Colonization Society in Ala- barna, and an inmate of Judge Birney's family. He was one of the band of forty-two young men who, influenced by the reputation of Dr. Beecher, had gathered at Lane Seminary to study for the ministry. Not satisfied with the position taken by the Institution on the anti-slavery question they had left in a body. Coming from Columbus by stage, in crossing an unbridged stream swollen by rain, the horses, stage, and passengers were all swept down by the current. Mr. Weld narrowly escaped drowning. He lost consciousness but was resuscitated. Arriving at Granville, Friday, April 3, 1835, he lectured in the conference room of the Congrega- tional Society. A mob gathered and pelted him through the windows with eggs; the audience, even to the ladies, sharing in the honors of his reception to the extent that some were all next day restoring their soiled clothing.
The conference room, and every other public building was . thereafter closed against him. Those having charge of them would not risk the threatened damage. Deacon Leonard Bushnell had a dwelling house enclosed at this time except 29
298
WELD'S LECTURES.
doors and windows, and partitions incomplete. It was not in condition to be greatly damaged by eggs. It was so arranged that Mr. Weld by standing at an upper window could make himself heard through the house where the ladies were seated on planks, and through the grounds, where the gen- tlemen chiefly gathered. Many came from adjoining towns to hear him. This was his second ineeting. It was largely attended by young ladies from both the schools, and by citizens generally.
On this occasion, one of the Whiteheads of Jersey-a family of giant frame and strength - being on the outskirts of the crowd, heard a man muttering vengeance on the speaker and others. Stepping quietly up to him with one hand in his pocket, he grasped him under the other arın, lifted him over the picket fence, and set him down in the street, saying, "There, my little man, keep quiet! We do not allow such language in the yard. Do not make any noise." Having felt the power of Whitehead's arm, and seeing. plenty of others as quietly determined as he was, the man and those with him made no further disturbance.
The third meeting was held at the house of Mr. Ashley A. Bancroft, half a mile north of town. The town authori- ties had begun to move, opposing any further anti-slavery meetings within the corporation limits as endangering the peace of the village. Dr. Lewis Barnes, of Delaware, who was present on that occasion, writes as follows: "No mob was there; but as we came into town after the lecture, we found a hideous group of ruffians encumbering the side walk. A man by the name of S- appeared to. be their . leader. S- had been to the lecture with two or three younger men, where he drew a pistol with threats. But dar- ing nothing further at that time, he withdrew and returned
. to town. After the adjournment, as the convention inen came by, his evil eye was fixed upon Sam White, for whom he made a rush. But Sam turned upon him so impetuously that his ardor began to abate, and we also bore our belliger-
299
OHIO STATE ANTI-SLAVERY CONVENTION.
ant friend away from the spot, and thus the conflict was sus- pended. But the mob spirit had become so strong and defi- ant that no further appointments were made."
Mr. Weld then went to St. Albans township and continued his lectures at the Gaffield meeting house, just across the line. For a week they were largely attended by citizens of Granville as well as the neighborhood, and they occasioned no further disturbance.
Meantime the colonization element was not inactive. On the 28th of October (1835), in response to an open call, a meeting convened in. the parlor of the hotel, at which pro- vision was made for calling a general meeting of citizens to protest against the proceedings of the abolitionists and to revive the support of the Colonization Society. A paper was adopted and signed by twenty-six prominent citizens. At this subsequent meeting a long series of resolutions was offered, discussed and adopted.
Thursday, April 27, 1836, the Ohio State Anti-Slavery Convention held its anniversary in Granville, preliminary committee or business meetings being held on days preced- ing. No room could be obtained for it in the village. A remonstrance was signed by seventy-five men, including the mayor, recorder, and members of the council ; many of them prominent citizens, and of two classes: those who abomi- nated abolition, and those whose motive was to avoid a dis- turbance of the peace. On the other hand, the Abolitionists thought they held a " certain inalienable right " to meet for peaceable discussion, and that it would be bad policy to give ground while that right was questioned by a mob threatening violence. To render the situation more trying still, families were divided. Brothers, brothers-in-law, sisters, and other near relatives were ranged on opposite sides of the exciting question.
The anti-slavery party yielded so far as not to meet in the village. Mr. A. A. Bancroft again met the crisis. His large barn at that season of the year was nearly empty. This was
-
300
GATHERING STORM.
offered to the committee of arrangement as the place of meeting, accepted, arranged, and styled the Hall of Freedom. The day of meeting drew. near. The abolitionists went quietly forward with their preparations and the more violent of the other party showed a determined hostility.
On one of the evenings preceding the meeting of the convention, and not in any way connected with it, unless it was that some attended it who had come to attend the con- vention, a meeting was held in the school house on the Lan- caster road. After a lecture, a local anti-slavery society was formed. A mob went over from town and made considerable disturbance, throwing eggs and stones, and breaking the windows badly. Some of the audience sallied out in self defence. Clubs were freely used and men of both parties sustained serious personal injuries
This whetted the spirit of the mnob and made them more determined. During the night they sent out word in every direction calling together a crowd of men disposed to use violence in breaking up the convention. They came from Mt. Vernon and the extreme northwest corner of the county and many nearer places.
The day of the convention found the village filled by two crowds of men of these opposing sentiments, and uneasiness was manifested on the streets from early morning. The one crowd was headed by such men as President Mahan and Professor Cowles, of Oberlin College, Hon. J. G. Birney, of Cincinnati, and kindred spirits; the other, numbering about two hundred men, can hardly be said to have had any efficient leaders. The more wise of the opponents drew back from encouraging violence, and the turbulent elements that were ready for it knew not how to strike. The storın cloud was surcharged with electricity, but no conductor offered a track for its gathered force. They tried to get an experienced militia captain to organize and lead them. But in this they failed. They spent the day in harangues, in bobbing Abolitionists' horses, and in drilling by squads ;
301
PREPARATIONS.
marching around to the music of a violin, both about the public house, and on the summit of Prospect Hill, in sight of where the convention was sitting.
The mayor purposely absented himself that day, and the constable declined to use his office for the preservation of the peace until the afternoon brought the violence. Word was sent from the mob to the convention that if they did not adjourn by a given time they would be assailed, and the mob had spies out reporting all the movements of the convention.
The abolitionists quietly assembled and proceeded with their business. During the day the mob was hourly expected to attack them. Mr. Bancroft with a log chain secured the large gate leading to the barn, making it necessary for the mob, in case of attack, to scale the fence. Having, for the sake of peace, yielded so far as to go out of town to hold their meeting, they were determined on self-defense. A load of hoop poles was brought from James Langdon's cooper shop, (he was a brother-in-law of Samuel White), and each one cut in two, affording an abundant supply of shillalahs in case they should be needed. There were some personal collisions during the day, but nothing very serious until the afternoon.
The convention did not adjourn for dinner, but continuing its session finished its business by two o'clock P. M., and ad- journed sine die. The Ladies' School, under Misses Grant and Bridges, was suspended for the day, and teachers and scholars went in procession to the convention. The board- ing department was then accommodated in the brick building in the west end of town, now the residence of Dr. Gifford. The village sidewalks at that time ran close by the buildings on each side of the street. The young ladies, under the pro- tection of a strong escort, formed a procession four abreast, and marched around Prospect Hill into town, down Green Street and up the north sidewalk of Broad Street. The mob was gathered on the same side of the street in front of the hotel, at the corner of Prospect Street. At this point the
e
302
THE COLLISION.
two crowds came in collision. A part of the mnob gave way and let the procession pass partially through the outskirts, but the mass of them resisted, and the procession was crowded into the middle of the street, keeping very close together. As the procession passed them, the inob became excited and began to hoot and to move toward them, calling vociferously for Samuel White and William Whitney, both of whom were conspicuous among the escort, and both ob- noxious as abolition lecturers. The procession closed in together and quickened their pace as the mob pressed upon them. Thus they proceeded up the street nearly one square, the procession occupying the middle of the street and the mob the sidewalk and intervening space, the more daring ones pressing alongside the procession, some trying to trip the ladies in spite of their protectors. One prominent citi- zen was heard to shout: "Egg the squaws!" Following the procession were many on horseback and in wagons. These were assailed with eggs and other missiles, and females sought to escape the danger by jumping from the wagons and running away.
The old culvert at the outlet of the pond in the center of town used to extend only across the wagon track in the center of the street. As the procession was passing over this, a student of the college and the lady he was escorting were pushed off the culvert into the ditch. Hastening to see his lady among friends in the procession, he returned, found his assailant and knocked him down. The assailant " soon came to time and went to grass again." Seeing this, another of the mob made for the student and knocked him down. The ball was now fairly opened. A citizen rushed frantically at the head of the procession, where he tackled a powerful man-one of the Whiteheads, of Jersey-and was turned back with the loss of his wig. The student, who, by the way, had been a trained pugilist, returned to the fight, and singling one at a time from his assailants, laid several in the dust, until he was overpowered by numbers and buried
303
VIOLENCE.
under a pile of rails from Esquire Gavit's fence. Another of the mob was soon seen carrying on his shoulders something wrapped in a handkerchief, which proved to be a bloody head. He had been hit by a good-sized stone thrown from the midst of the procession. At the rear, a furnaceman had got an abolitionist down and was pounding him unmerci- fully, when a citizen ran from one of the stores across the street and pulled him off, crying : "Get off; you are killing him !" "Wh-wh-why," said the man, who was a stammerer, "I s'posed I'd g-g-got to k-k-kill him, and he aint d-dead yet !" and he gave him another blow. A little further on, several of the mob had laid hands on two of the young ladies and separated them from the procession. A workman at Mr. Sereno Wright's seeing this, dropped his tools, and gath- ering stones as he ran, began to throw them at the assailants. He was soon joined by others. One of the mob was hit on the shin and disabled. A few more stones opened the way for the girls to escape. One of them sank to the ground from fright, unable to run. The men had now come between them and the mob and held the latter in check, fighting with stones and whatever else came to hand, until the companions of the young lady gained courage to run back and help her escape. This was in front of where the Baptist Church is now.
One young man whose sympathies were with the opposers . rather than with the abolitionists, evoked the displeasure of some of the mob by acts of gallantry in this part of the drama, and had to take refuge in the cellar of a store. Dur- ing these transactions the women for the most part hid themselves within their houses, too fearful to witness the events. But one young housewife was making soap that day, and was dressed accordingly. Hearing a great noise, she looked out upon the street and saw the mob rapidly ap- proaching, a man of her acquaintance running past her as for life, and yielding to her first impulse, she ran through the garden and climbed hurriedly into a neighbor's barn-
304
BLOODSHED.
yard, tearing her working attire sadly in the effort. Then realizing that she was no safer there than she would be in the house, she climbed back again, and growing bolder and forgetting the plight she was in, she went into the street and began to expostulate with those of the mob with whom she came in contact.
The march had now changed to the double-quick, and almost a rout. But the ladies all reached some place of safety, some at the dwellings along the route, others at the boarding house. Mr. Whitney was so pressed that he broke ahead of the procession, ran through Mr. Haskell's house and secreted himself in the back part of the ladies' boarding house. Mr. White, also, after felling three or four with his fist, ran across the gardens, and was cared for by Rev. Henry Carr. He had two brothers also in the fray, which was not a bloodless one for them. Mr. John Lewis, a student from Oberlin, was set upon by one of the mob who carried a heavy stick. He turned and ran across the road toward an open door, which, just as he reached it, was closed against him; and exhausted, he stumbled upon the steps. His pursuer was just upon him when he fell, and he could only turn upon his back and hold up his arıns to defend his head, while blow after blow was dealt upon him in double-handed strokes. The mobocrat was made to desist, but not until the young man was covered with blood.
Ere this, Esquire Gilman had come upon the scene. He met the mob at the foot of Rose Street, and then and there commanded citizens in the name of the State of Ohio to help restrain the violent, with threats of instant fines for disobedience. But his presence could not be everywhere, and the mischief still went on.
A part of the mob now surged back again down the street in great disorder. Eggs were thrown, there were personal encounters and more or less personal injury. Gathering strength, they returned under a fresh impetus, excited in the determination to find some of the individuals they longed to handle.
305
THE FIELD CLEARED.
Mr. Jocelyn, steward at the Baptist Seminary, was chased around the old Baptist Church, but eluded the mob, and reached home in safety. Mr. Anderson, the constable, came upon the scene of action on horseback, and sought to use his authority. He was unceremoniously dragged from his horse and treated with indignity. The stammerer had by this time reached the van of the mob. He took after the constable, who fled incontinently, leaving his hat behind him. This was appropriated by the stammerer as a trophy. A squad of them, still looking for White and Whitney, met Mr. Bynner. "Have you seen anything of Whitney?" they asked. "Whitney," replied he, pointing in the direction of the college on the Columbus road, "why didn't you just now see Mr. Whitney running with all his might toward the col- lege ?" Supposing he meant that he had so seen him, they made haste to pursue, and were soon off the scent. In the evening, Mr. Whitney reached his boarding house. His host, however, was afraid to keep him over night, and he found his way across the gardens to the house of his friend, . Rev. William S. Roberts. He and his two brothers procured shotguns, ammunition, crowbars and axes, and they all bar- ricaded themselves in the west room of what is now Mr. Whitney's residence, but they were not molested.
Judge Birney and others standing with him were ap- proached on the sidewalk by a prominent citizen, who re- monstrated with them for holding such a meeting, and or- dered them out of town. The Judge mildly replied that they had accomplished their work and were just ready to leave. The citizen further said, with many oaths, "Well, -.- , I am glad of it; I hope you will, -; it is time you were going, for, -, you have periled the peace of our village long enough." This was simply to put the onus of the dis- turbance upon the abolitionists as the responsible cause of it.
The closing scene was the ride of Judge Birney past the mob, now re-assembling at the hotel. He started from Dr.
306
THE CLOSING SCENE.
Bancroft's on his awfully bobbed horse, rode slowly by the mob while they pelted him on every side with eggs; and when past the reach of their missiles, he put spurs to his horse, and in that plight left town.
Many of the mobocrats from a distance were disgusted with the citizens who sent for them, because no mnan of prom- inence among them would lead their assault, and they went away leaving inverted compliments for them, and declining to pull chestnuts out of the fire any more.
All these scenes occupied not much more time than it takes to read them. They were followed by a heavy thunder shower that cooled men's passions; and in the evening the Granville Band was out with music, as if such a day might still close in peace and pleasure.
The same evening an abolition meeting was held in the stone school-house on the Welslı Hills, and there was no dis- turbance. The abolition party received great accessions by that day's work; and at this day no one is found to speak approvingly of the violence that then filled our otherwise peaceful streets with confusion and bloodshed.
One very good man was heard to say with regard to the treatment the anti-slavery inen received that he was glad of it, and he would serve them the same way if they were to come to his neighborhood. But another said : "If that is the way, I am henceforth an abolitionist," and the next heard of him he was an agent of the Underground Railroad.
The following lines were appended to an account of this mob published at the time in pamphlet form, and called : "Granville Mobocracy Exposed, or a Pill for the Dough Faces." The pamphlet cannot now be found, but the lines have been preserved in print, and come to us from Boston :
"A PARODY ON THE MOB IN GRANVILLE IN 1834.
" In Granville when the sun was low The mobites filled each street and row, And low and mournful was the flow Of Raccoon rolling sluggishly.
307
THE FUGITIVE RESCUED.
" By yells and shoutings fast arrayed Each mobite drew his battle blade, And furiously they rushed to aid And join the drunken revelry.
" But Granville saw another sight When the mobites rushed to furious fight Commanding drunken fiends to light Upon the ladies suddenly.
" The riot deepens, on, ye slaves! Who rush with fury on the brave. Wave, mobites, all your cudgels wave, And charge with all your chivalry.
" Then shook the town with riot riven; Then rushed the mob by fury driven, And in savage yells to heaven, Loud shouted the mobocracy.
" Ah! few shall part where many meet Without a broken head to greet Their captain when he comes to treat The mobites for their gallantry."
A similar convention was held two or three years later in the Congregational Church, and the town cannon was fired for some time on the square during its sessions.
But the third convention was held not long after, and not a dog moved his tongue against it.
The next demonstration was about 1841, on the occasion of the taking of a fugitive slave (whose name was John), under the old Black Laws of Ohio. He was being tried in Newark under Judge Haughey, when Samuel White entered the court room, and at once espoused John's case. At his motion the case was postponed. He got Dr. Bancroft to procure a writ of habeas corpus, which brought him to Gran- ville for trial before Judge Bancroft. The trial was held in the conference room where Weld was egged. White, aided by Stanbery and Ells, defended John, and the court decided in his favor, the decision being that the arrest of the man as it had been brought about, was unconstitutional. Immediately White arose and shouted : "Knock off those shackles! No
308
THE TRIAL.
fetters here! John, you are a free man! Run, John, run for your life and liberty !" Quicker done than said. The shackles fell off as by magic. The crowd opened to the right and left. John was pushed through, and even borne over their heads by friends, he, with tears, stretching out his hand toward White and crying: "God bress you, Massa White! God bress you, Massa White." The Marshal who had brought him and stood near him during the trial, made some show of resistance. But a few overpowering words from White, with a significant gesture of his powerful right arm, sent the blood in upon his heart, and he cowered into non- resistance. Friends urged John to the horses, which stood waiting for him and his guides. One of these he mounted like an adept, and not waiting to get his feet in the stirrups, he was soon on top of the hill west of the Academy, swing- ing his hat and shouting : "Hurrah !" and in another moment was out of sight. Ere the bewildered master could take any further steps, John was beyond his reach. So eager were friends to see him off that certain people who were in the plan and others who were not, all friends, came into collision, and one or two blows were interchanged before they understood each other. Another mistake occurred in taking the wrong horse, one very similar to the one provided. The bridle was cut and he was off before it was perceived. The right horse followed, however, the inatter was rectified and no complaints were made.' " After all," said an old time opposer, "I'm rather glad he's got away."
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.