The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 59

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180

USA > Ohio > Madison County > The history of Madison County, Ohio > Part 59

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On the 4th of March. 1854, the first number of the Madison Chronicle was issued under the same prorpietorship, the name having been changed at the suggestion of some of the patrons of the paper. It is but proper to here add that the citizens of London greatly sympathized with Mr. Sprung in the loss he had sustained by the fire. and assisted him in beginning anew. The Chronicle. came before the public an 18x24 inch paper, with seven columns, without a head motto, but at the beginning of the third volume it adopted the following head- ing: " Devoted to Politics, Agriculture, Literature, Foreign and Domestic News," and over the editorial column was

" Our flag is there, And long may it wave O'er the land of the free And the home of the brave."

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

At the beginning of Volume IV, this was dropped, and the time of publi- cation changed from Saturday to Thursday. The center head of the paper was also graced at this time by a cut of the new court house, the type made larger and the paper otherwise much improved. The Chronicle was conducted by Mr. Sprung until in May, 1863, when it passed into the hands of J. D. Stine and John Wallace, who changed the name of the paper to the Madison County Union. This firm conducted the paper until the following January, when Mr. Stine withdrew, and the paper was published by Mr. Wallace until the fall of 1864, when Mr. Stine became the sole proprietor. The Union bore successively the mottoes: " The Union of the States-One Country-Que Destiny," and " De- voted to Politics, General News, Home News."

On the 11th of April, 1867, Col. C. W. Griffith, of Bellefontaine, formerly connected with the Bellefontaine Republican, became a partner of Mr. Stine, and on the 2d of May enlarged the paper one column, and dropped the motto. In May, 1869, Col. Griffith sold his interest to Col. George E. Ross, and the pro- prietors of the Union from this date until August, 1870, were Stine & Ross. The paper was then issued under the name of J. D. Stine, until October 20, following, when he retired with that issue, selling to Mr. Ross, the latter then associating with him D. L. Harbaugh. These gentlemen purchased a new printing press with all new material, type and fixtures. The next issue bore the name of the London Times, and was enlarged to a nine-column paper, and appeared on the same day of the week-Thursday. The firm of Ross & Harbaugh was dissolved February 4, 1874, Mr. Ross purchasing. The issue of November 3, 1875, ap- peared under the name of Ross & Acton, who conducted the paper until Sep. tember 6, 1876, at which date it was leased to Peyton H. Acton and J. M. Kling- elsmith, and the issue of that number was under the name of the London Weekly Times, with the following motto: " A Madison County Institution." In January, 1877, Klingelsmith disposed of his interest to Mr. Acton, who took in with him his brother, E. I. Acton, and the Times appeared October 3, 1877, under the name of the Acton Brothers, publishers. The next October, Mr. E. I. Acton went out, and the paper was continued under the name of Peyton H. Acton, until January 10, 1879, from which date until April 25 of the same year it was published by the London Publishing Company. The issue of that date began under the proprietorship of D. Mann & Son, with John D. Maddux, editor. The number of September 3, 1880, appeared without motto, and under the former title of London Times, with George E. Ross again the proprietor. Mr. James F. Kelley about this time became associated with Mr. Ross, and remained one year, when in August, 1881, W. S. Shepherd purchased a half-interest in the office, and until October, 1882, the Times was issued under the proprietor- ship of Ross & Shepherd. In October last, J. M. Craig purchased the interest of Mr. Ross and the paper has since been conducted by Messrs. Shepherd & Craig.

The Times is, as we have seen, the lineal successor of the London Sentinel, running back through various changes of name and proprietorship to the year 1843. In size, it is a 27x43-inch eight-column folio paper, issued every Friday morning from the " Times Block" on Main street, which building was purchased in 1874 by Mr. Ross. It is a newsy sheet, and devoted to the interests of the Republican party. It has a circulation of 1,700 copies.

The first cylinder press of the office was set up in 1875; it is a Campbell City Steam Press, and the first steam press brought to London. Steam power, however, has not yet been employed in the press work.

The Madison County Democrat, as its name implies, is a Democratic news- paper. It is the lineal descendent of the Buckeye Union, a weekly newspaper established in London in 1857, by E. Douglass King, who had previously pub- lished the Recorder at South Charleston. The first number was issued on

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

Saturday, February 21, 1857, was a respectable looking journal, “ Inde- pendent in all Things." November 5, 1857, the name was changed to the National Democrat, flying the motto, " The World is Governed too Much," and Democratic in politics. November 12, 1857, the first issue of the new paper came out, a double sheet, seven columns, 18x24 inch paper, published on Thursday. On the 7th of January, 1858, the paper was sold to John M. Smith of Madison County, who associated with him, as editor, D. M. Creighton. On the 28th of the same month, Mr. Creighton retired from the editorial chair, which was then filled by M. L. Bryan and J. A. Kissinger, who published the paper under the proprietorship of Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith died May 8, 1859, but the paper continued to be conducted as before, until the beginning of Volume II., when Mr. Bryan became sole editor and publisher of the National Demoerat. Upon taking charge of the paper, in January, 1858, Messrs. Bryan & Kissinger published the following prospectus.

"In assuming the control of the National Democrat, we take upon ourselves a responsibility which we feel will task our utmost endeavors to accomplish, viz., sustaining a Democratic journal in Madison County. It remains yet to be proven that the undertaking is practicable; but from evidences already received, we are led to believe that success will ultimately crown our efforts ; that a Democratic organ is much desired in this county, every member of the party will emphatically declare ; and it needs but little effort on the part of cach to insure the publication of such a one. We need not comment on the benefits arising from the permanent establishment of local newspapers, for they are acknowledged by all to be a necessary auxiliary to fireside enjoyment and intellectual advancement. We are flattered by promises of aid from some of the first political and literary talent of this community (chief among whom may be mentioned our gentlemanly predecessor), and a number of our friends abroad have given us assurance of their favor by promising an occasional correspond- ence. Our efforts to furnish an instructive and amusing miscellany and to give a weekly synopsis of the most important news. will be untiring. We shall pay particular attention to matters relating to live stock and commercial affairs, and endeavor to keep our readers posted to the latest hour of going to press. We desire to invest the " Dem." with a local interest by publishing such items of note as may transpire from time to time throughout the county. It is our determination that a high moral tone shall pervade our columns, and we sincerely trust that we may not, for a moment, forget the courtesy due gen- tlemen of the opposition. Our paper, so far as our efforts can make it, will be what its title imports-a National Democrat. We shall advocate the principles of right and truth as inculcated by the acknowledged teachers of Democracy- always bearing in mind, that as we interpret it, Democracy me s to vest in the people the right to regulate their domestic institutions in their o./n way. Take from a people the smallest iota of self-government, and thus much you approxi- mate the antipodes of Democracy. Let the people rule untrammeled by any sectional interest, and all will be well. To them belong the God-given privilege of governing themselves, and let that right be religiously respected."

November 21, 1861, the Democrat was reduced to a six-column paper, and so remained until the 20th of March, 1862, when it was enlarged to its former size. During the period of its publication as a six-column paper, it was with- out a motto. The name of the paper was also changed March 20, 1862, to the Madison County Democrat, bearing the motto : " A Weekly Journal Devoted to the Interests of the People of Madison County." It was enlarged to an eight- column paper with the issue of March 31, 1870. and the motto changed to the one it now bears : " Devoted to the Interest of its Patrons." On the 22d of March, centennial year. it was made a nine-column paper.

At the time Mr. Bryan became connected with the Democrat, the press-

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

work was done on a Washington hand press. This was destroyed by the fire of September 30, 1867, when it was replaced by a similar one of the same make. In December, 1880, the office was supplied with a Campbell country cylinder press.

September 30, 1867, the Democrat office burned with all of its contents, and there being no insurance on the property, it was a total loss. Mr. Bryan, however, made the best of the situation, and by the aid of the citizens of Lon- don, was soon equipped for furthering the mission of the Democrat. It is but justice to the enterprise of the publisher to here state that the readers of the Democrat were only without their companion for two weeks. The paper is still published by the veteran editor of London, M. L. Bryan, who has conducted it for a quarter of a century. It is issued every Wednesday morning from Riley's building on the corner of First and Main streets. Circulation, 1,250. Mr. Bryan has long been identified with the press of this and neighboring counties, having, previous to coming to London, been engaged in the printing business in the city of Columbus and villages of Circleville and Batavia. In 1842, he was engaged as a type-setter on the Ohio Statesman, and had prior to this, learned his trade in the office of the Clermont Courier. He remained in Co- lumbus one year, then went to Circleville, where he operated the Circleville Herald for one year ; then returned to Columbus, and after a year's stay there, he removed to London. During his life at the capital, he, in connection with others, established the Daily Reveille of that city.

The London Enterprise, a Republican weekly journal, published under the proprietorship and editorship of John Wallace, was established by this gentle- man, January 1, 1872. The first issue made its appearance Thursday, January 18, and bore the motto : "Devoted to the Interests of the People and its Publisher." In size, the Enterprise was 25x38 inches, double sheet, with seven columns to the page. Under the head of Salutatory, in the first issue, appeared the following : " In accordance with a time-honored custom, we 'rise to ex- plain.' The Enterprise will not be a political paper, but will make a specialty of local news-improving the bare one advantage we possess over the city press. We have no promises to make, but will let each issue of our paper speak for itself. Our terms will be two dollars per year as near in advance as we can get it. Persons who feel that they cannot pay for the paper had better not take it from the post office."

At the urgent solicitation of many prominent Republicans of the county, the Enterprise was made with the issue of April 16, 1879, a Republican paper, the principles of which party it still advocates. The paper is now just closing its eleventh year, during which period it has undergone no change in name, size or proprietorship, its motto only being changed, or rather shortened, so as to read : "Devoted to the Interests of its Patrons .. " Mr. Wallace, the pub- lisher, is a practical printer, having served an apprenticeship in the office of the London Sentinel under G. W. Sprung. He was also connected with the Union as one of its publishers for a period during the late war. and is a man of considerable experience in journalism. The Enterprise is still located in Toland Block, where it began its career. Its circulation numbers about 1,000 copies. The office is well supplied with presses, and all kinds of job-work is executed.

BANKS.

The Madison National Bank .- The citizens of London were without a banking-house until the summer of 1861, by which time capitalists felt that the business interests of the village would justify the opening of a bank, and consequently there was organized (mainly through the efforts of Dr. A. Tol- and, E. W. Gwynne and Richard Cowling), under the Free Banking Laws of Ohio, the Madison County Bank. The stockholders of the institution were E.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

W. Gwynne, Richard Cowling, A. Toland and B. Gwynne ; of whom Richard Cowling was President, A. Toland Vice President and B. Gwynne, Cashier. The bank was opened for business July 9, 1861, and its location was in Toland Block, on Main street. The business was begun with a capital stock of $20,000, and a general banking business carried on until May 15, 1865, when it ceased operations as the Madison County Bank, having been re-organized and merged into the Madison National Bank the preceding January ; on the 19th of which month its certificate of incorporation was dated, authorizing the commencement of a general banking business, as a National Bank, May 15, 1865. The capital stock of the bank was $120,000, and it was officered as fol- lows : President, H. W. Smith ; Vice President. Richard Cowling ; Cashier, B. Gwynne. Mr. Gwynne resigned on the 11th of April, 1866, and the vacancy was filled by A. Toland. Another change in the officers occurred November 22, 1867, when H. W. Smith resigned the presidency and Mr. Cowling became his successor, and James Q. Minshall was elected Vice President. On the 28th of January, 1871, Jesse Watson succeeded Mr. Cowling as President, which position he filled until his death. which occurred September 5, 1871. On the 15th of the following January, James Q. Minshall was elected President and Samuel Sidner Vice President. Mr. Minshall was succeeded in the presidency of the bank by Stephen Watson, January 22, 1880, and on the same day B. F. Clark became cashier. In addition to the above officers, the teller of the bank is now G. Van Wagener, and the Board of Directors is as follows : Stephen Watson, Samuel Sidner, B. F. Clark, Robert Boyd. Wyatt Minshall, J. C. Bridge- man and David Watson. In April, 1872, extensive improvements were made in the banking-house, in the line of a new front, extension in length of room. and counter with white and black walnut finish, new doors and windows with full size plate glass, etc., making it an elegant room for the transaction of bus- iness.

The London Exchange Bank .- This bank had its origin in Madison County Bank No. 2, which was opened in the Phifer House building, on Main street, June 1, 1866, with a capital stock of $50,000. The proprietors were Robert Boyd and Addison Shanklin. A stock company was formed in May, 1870, and purchased the Madison County Bank, and July 1 took possession thereof. The bank was removed to the new banking-house of Robert Boyd, located in what is now known as Union Block, on Main street, opposite the court house, where the business of the bank has since been carried on. The name was changed to the London Exchange Bank, July 1, 1870. The institution began with a capital stock of $20,000. The officers were : Robert Boyd, President ; Stephen Watson, Vice President; Otway Watson, Cashier ; Wyatt Minshall, Teller. From October, 1872, until December, 1878, Mr. Minshall was the cashier of the bank, and A. C. Watson served as teller during that period, and since December, 1878, the last-named gentleman has filled the position of cashier. Stephen Watson, the Vice President of the bank, has acted as President since its organization. There have been no other changes. The directors and stockholders are the same as those of the Madison National Bank. The build- ing in which the bank is located is one of the finest blocks in London. It is three stories, with a basement ; the second and third floors arranged for offices, and cost about $20,000. The main business room is 20x22 feet ; the private room at rear is a cozy place indeed, 12x20 feet, both well lighted and heated. The counter and other furniture are constructed of white ash, and are fine spe- cimens of mechanism. The vault is a substantial fire and water proof one, and the safe acknowledged to be the best in the county. It was built by Die- bold & Hanhan, of Cincinnati, and cost $2,500.

The Central Bank .- This individual or partnership bank was organized with a partnership of twenty-five stockholders, December 14, 1875. The first

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

Board of Directors was composed of the following-named gentlemen : John Jones, John Farrar, Robert Rea, T. J. Sutton, and W. A. Koontz; and the officers were, Robert Rea, President; William Farrar, Cashier; C. W. Pringle, Teller. What was known as the Harrison property, on the west side of Main street, was purchased in 1875, and fitted up for a banking house, by Messrs. John & William Farrar, where the Central Bank commeneed business, January 1, 1876, with a capital stock of $60,000, and where its business has since been continued. A prosperous business in general banking has been conducted by this bank since its organization, and it continues to be in a prosperous condi- tion under the present management. The officers for 1882 are: Thomas J. Stutson, President; William Farrar, Cashier; John D. Maddux, Teller; Jesse C. Pancake, Clerk; Board of Directors, T. J. Stutson, John Jones, J. T. Hous- ton, Jeremiah Rea and William Farrar. The banking room is neatly and con- veniently arranged.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XVIII.

TOLAND HALL-PAST AND PRESENT MANUFACTURING INTERESTS-GRAIN ELE- VATORS-BURYING-GROUNDS-THE CENTENNIAL FOURTII-THE LONDON

GAS COMPANY -CHURCHES-THE LONDON LIBRARY ASSOCIATION-

SOCIETIES-THIE WOMAN'S ANTI-LIQUOR CRUSADE-SALES DAY-INCORPORATION AND GROWTH OF LONDON.

T THE only public hall in London is the monument of the late Dr. Aquilla Toland. It is located on the east side of the main street, near the I. B. & W. R. R., and forms part of what is known as Toland Block. In the sum- mer of 1866, Dr. Toland contracted with Edwin Bird for an addition to his premises there situated, of one storeroom, and to erect a hall over that and an adjoining room, to be 75x38 feet in the clear, with an eighteen-foot ceiling. The hall was completed and opened December 4, 1866, by a grand concert given by the De Beriot Club of Columbus. The hall, on that evening, was crowded to its utmost capacity; not only all of the seats were occupied, but a large number were compelled to avail themselves of standing positions. There were present over five hundred people. The hall was damaged by the fire in that vicinity September 30, 1867, but was immediately repaired and refitted, and re-opened December 12, 1867, by a musical entertainment given by members of the Mæn- nerchor Association of Columbus. The hall is comfortably seated and tastily frescoed. It has a medium-sized stage, which is supplied with the usual scen- ery required for ordinary plays and show performances.

PAST AND PRESENT MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.

The Old Long Tannery .- In 1856, B. C. Long erected in the northern suburb of the town a large building fronting on Main street, for tanning pur- poses. It was two and a half stories high, with a front of forty feet, and one hundred feet deep. In the basement was a large number of vats, all of which were so arranged that even the coldest weather in winter was no obstacle to the work hands to pursue that kind of labor which was customary to be done in the summer season in tan-yards out of doors. The first room on the second floor was a large dry room, being large enough to dry several thousand dollars' worth of stock at one time. The room adjoining this was for grinding pur- poses, and was also very large and convenient, and back of which was a space under cover, to contain over one hundred and fifty cords of bark. The third floor was devoted to drying hair and material for making glue. The proprietor remarked, in 1856, that he was able to turn out $1,000 worth of finished leather per month. The building was erected by William Link, and was then consid- ered the largest business building in the county.

This property finally fell into the possession of and was operated by a Ger- man named Zohlche, and was entirely destroyed by fire December 20, 1865.

The Weber Brewery .- The brick building located on Centre street, east of Main, was erected in the summer of 1862, by Peter Weber, for a brewery. It is a large two-story building, with a basement. Operations as a brewery were began in it February 2, 1863, and continued until in 1877. The brewery was destroyed by fire March 2, 1871. but was again rebuilt shortly afterward, and continued in operation until in 1877, since which period it has been idle.

James Bond

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

The London Woolen Manufacturing Company .- Foremost among the manu- facturing interests of London was the woolen mill of the above named com- pany, the history of which is as follows : On the 1st of January, 1866, a number of gentlemen of energy and capital met at the office of the Probate Judge for the purpose of forming a joint-stock company. A charter was im- mediately gotten up and filed at Columbus, and within sixty days from that time the crection of a building was under headway. The officers elected January 1, of that year, were C. K. Slagie, President; Stephen Watson, Treasurer; Oli- ver Slagle, Secretary; Directors-Stephen Watson, Jesse Watson, George W. Lohr, Richard Baskerville and C. K. Slagle. The site of the present grist-mill on South High street was purchased, and thereon was erected, by E. J. Gould and James Self, a brick structure four stories in height, covered with slate. The main building was 40x60 feet; on the first floor was the office, salesroom and finishing rooms ; the second floor was devoted to weaving and making stocking yarn ; the third floor to carding, and the fourth to spinning. In a side building was the dye-house and engine room. The mill had two sets of

torty inch cards, capable of consuming one hundred and twenty-five pounds of wool per day, each, in the rough; two spinning jacks with two hundred and forty spindles each, and capable of spinning wool as fast as it passed through the cards; eleven looms, capable of turning out thirty yards of jeans per day each. The establishment gave employment to about forty hands, and in 1867 consumed over $17,000 worth of wool. The engine was forty horse-power ca- pacity, and was furnished by I. & E. Greenwald, of Cincinnati, and the woolen machinery was purchased of E. C. Cleveland & Co., of Worcester, Mass., at a cost of over $15,000. The total expenditure in the construction and outfit for the establishment was about $50,000. The mill was superintended by Dennis Clark. On the night of December 5. 1871, the building, machinery, goods, books, and, in fact, everything, was destroyed by fire, making a total loss to the company of $50,000, on which there was an insurance of $10,000. On the night of this fire the weather was very cold, the mercury standing below zero. Thus ended an extensive enterprise, which was a source of profit to London and a convenience to farmers and the public generally.

London Agricultural Works .- In 1869-70, Messrs. Barnard, Dougherty & Stone, assisted by subscriptions from some of the enterprising men of London, erected the large two-story brick building located on West High street, just beyond the the I. B. & W. R. R. crossing, with a view of establishing machine shops. Mr. Barnard, who was at the head of the establishment, was believed by interested parties to be engaged in a swindling scheme by which they were to suffer, owing to which the enterprise was abandoned. The same year of the completion of the building. it was purchased by James Coultas and A. L. Mes- more, who fitted it up for a planing mill, sash and blind factory, and for the manufacture of the Bowman planter, which found ready sale, and under their management this projected home enterprise began to assume shape and pro- portions. They displayed taet and energy, and paved the way for a larger establishment, and in 1873 a company, composed of the following named gen- tlemen, was formed: Harford Toland, Haworth & Sons, J. R. Atchison & James Coultas; Mr. Toland was President of the Company; Mr. Atchison, Secretary, Treasurer and General Manager. The various agricultural imple- ments manufactured by the company were the Haworth Check Rower, Bow- man Planter, Dickey Drill and Haworth Planter. The various departments of the establishment were the machine shop, blacksmith shop, paint and wood- working departments, tarring and knotting department, storage rooms, and the department for setting up work. In December, 1875, there were in process of manufacture 1,500 drills, and 1,000 cheek rowers. Capacity of workmanship

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 59

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1180

Author: Brown, Robert C; W.H. Beers & Co., pub
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Chicago, W.H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1180