The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 60

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

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

was then sufficient to turn out between one hundred and one hundred and fifty drills per week, and other implements in proportion.

The company was incorporated December 10, 1873, and commenced oper- ations in January, 1874. The business was continued until in February, 1879, when the establishment was closed, and the result was anything but profitable to those concerned.

The London Flouring Mill .- After repeated efforts on the part of the citi- zens to supply a long needed want to the town, and the failure of parties from abroad who came with propositions to the citizens on the subject soliciting as- sistance for such an enterprise, the first grist-mill of the town was erected at the hands of Frederick Placier and Alvin Blue, of Pickaway County, this State. These gentlemen, in the spring of 1874, purchased the ground and ruins of the old woolen mill on South High street, for $3,000, and at once erected thereon a brick building two stories and a half high. The building was supplied by machinery brought from another mill in the vicinity of Canal Winchester; John Smith was the millwright, and James Self the builder of the brick work. The mill was completed and opened for grinding October 12, 1874, under the following circumstances, an account of which appeared in the Democrat of October 14, 1874: "One of the oldest pioneers of Madison County, being a resident of sixty-five years, says: . I have watched with much pleasure the progress of Placier & Blue's new mill to the present time. I was in the mill at my post of observation on Monday, the 12th of October, when it was announced: " The mill is ready to grind." Then one of the own- ers of the mill called on the old pioneer to put the first half bushel of grain in the hopper, as he was the oldest man present. I complied with pleasure, and then stepped back to look at the monster start. The steam being put on. the machinery took motion, and the buhrs commenced revolving, and down went the golden meal; I stepped to the stairway, and who should I see there at the spout, but another old pioneer, Col. J. H. -, on duty, waiting for the sack to fill, so that he could have the honor of taking away the first sack from the spout; all of which he did with great pride.'"

The cost of the mill was $12,000; it is now owned and operated by Frede- rick Placier, it has a capacity of making from twenty-five to thirty-five barrels of flour per day of twelve hours, and from 300 to 500 bushels of meal per week.

The London Woolen Mills .- This important industry is the property of Dennis Clark, located on Water street, between Fourth and Fifth. In the spring of 1872, Mr. Clark erected the buildings, consisting of a main building, two stories in height and 60x30 feet in size, with a one-story dry-house and engine-room attached, 30x40 feet-all of frame. The mill is well equipped with excellent machinery, consisting of one set of spinning-jacks, with 230 spindles, three power looms and finishing machinery. Eight hands are employed, and the annual trade of the mills amounts to about $10.000 on an average. There are manufactured here all kinds of woolen goods, which are both retailed and wholesaled, the latter trade being confined chietly to the cities of Columbus, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Steubenville. Mr. Clark is a man of large experience in this line of business, having been engaged in the different mills in and about London since 1850, and at one time owned and operated the old mill that stood about one mile north of London, and later superintended the mills of the London Woolen Manufacturing Company of this place.

The Planing-Mill and Lumber Yard of E. J. Gould & Co .- This mill, yard and wood-working establishment-the largest in Madison County-is located on Main street, between the P., C. & St. L. and I. B. & W. Railroads. The planing-mill was erected in 1867 by Messrs. E. J. Gould and A. L. Brown, and

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the manufacture of doors, sashes and blinds commenced. A number of years prior to this, the lumber yard had been established by William Gould, a brother to Mr. Gould of the firm. Later, the Gould brothers became associated together in the lumber yard, in connection with which they carried on a car penter and builders shop. The main building is two stories and a half high, and in size is about 100x40 feet; and the dry-house is about 20x60 feet, a one- story building. Mr. Brown, in the course of several years, sold his interest to Mr. Gould, who, in the spring of 1875, associated with him Gerald Fitzgibbons. The firm does an extensive business, and gives constant employment to nine or ten men.

The Lumber Yard and Wood- Working Establishment of J. F. Morgan .- The location is on High street, opposite the grist-mill. The business was begun by the Morgan Brothers. W. H. H. and J. F., in 1873. Since 1878, the business has been carried on by the present proprietor, J. F. Morgan. The mill is a two-story frame, supplied with suitable machinery for general wood-working. There are six or more hands employed and all kinds of lumber, doors, blinds and sash dealt in.

The Lenhart Carriage Manufactory, located on Oak, between Fourth and High streets, was established by Bush Paine in the fall of 1866, when the present building, a two-story brick and frame, about 140x28 feet, was erected. The factory became the property of the present proprietor, Samuel Lenhart, in the fall of 1868, and the business has since been conducted by him. He has on hand, at all times, a full stock of custom made buggies, carriages and spring wagons, and manufactures and sells the Lockwood wagon-bed. He has employed ten hands.

Mr. Paine first engaged in the manufacture of carriages, buggies, etc., in connection with Samuel Roadhamer, about the beginning of the late war, having succeeded P. S. Fay, who was located on South Main street. This firm remained in that locality but one or two years, when they dissolved, and Mr. Paine removed to the north side of Second street, between Main and Union, and purchased a shop of that kind there carried on by P. C. Palmer, where he established himself, and remained until October 3, 1866, when his entire manu- factory was destroyed by fire, and he sustained a loss of $4,000. He then built on Oak street, and was killed by lightning in 1867.

The Carriage Manufactory of B. Judy .- In September, 1871, Richard Acton, Tim Riordon and William Staley erected, on the corner of High and Union streets, a large brick building two stories high, and 133 feet deep, and in November following opened and established the above-named manufactory. Mr. John Duddy was taken in as an associate in the business. In August, 1873, Messrs. Riordon and Staley withdrew from the firm, and several years later the business ceased. In 1877, the building was rented and the business of manufacturing carriages, buggies and wagons, and doing general repairing, continued by the present proprietor. There are employed at these shops on an average, the year through, nine men, and the sales amount to about $6,000.

The London Marble and Granite Works were established in London in the neighborhood of 1853, by Samuel Minter. Mr. Minter died in 1861, and the business was carried on for about one year by the present proprietor, Jacob March. The works were then purchased by Messrs. Hutchinson & Reitzell, who conducted the business together for a period when Mr. Hutchinson became sole proprietor. In June, 1866, Jacob March purchased a half-interest of Mr. Hutchinson, and the two gentlemen operated together for about six months, when Levi March bought out Mr. Hutchinson's interest, and the firm name be- came the March Brothers. Six months later, Mr. Jacob March became sole propri- etor and carried on the business until 1872, when he sold to James Self. About this time, another marble shop was started in town by Aaron Bentezell. Mr.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY

March became associated in the business as a partner with Mr. Bentezell. These gentlemen after about one year together dissolved, Mr. March purchasing About the year 1875 Mr. March purchased the shop of Mr. Self and consoli- dated the two. The works were destroyed by the fire of 1874, but immedi- ately thereafter rebuilt where now located on West High street, where can be found anything in the marble and granite line, for monuments or tombstones, and a full supply of limestone and freestone for door or window sills, door- steps. etc.

Grain Elerators .- Madison County has always produced more grain than was necessary for home consumption, and in the last decade three large grain elevators have been erected along the lines of the two railroads, and are now num- bered among the important industries of its " seat of justice." The advan- tages over the old mode of shipping the surplus of grain are so many and great that the elevator has been brought into popular favor and encouraged shipment. The amount of grain received and shipped necessarily fluctuates, vet it is estimated that several hundred thousand bushels are handled annually. The largest of the three elevators referred to is the one located at the inter- section of the I. B. & W., and P., C. & St. L. R. R., built by James Hamilton, the present proprietor, in the spring of 1876. This was destroyed by fire June 16, 1879, and with it burned two thousand bushels of wheat and four hundred bushels of corn, the total loss over insurance being $4,000. Mr. Ham- ilton rebuilt at once.

The second in size is the elevator located along the P., C. & St. L. R. R., near Water street, built in 1878 by Messrs. William Farrar and Thomas Wood, who were proprietors until in October, 1882, when it was purchased by William M. Jones and R. H. Edwards, who are now carrying on the business. The capacity of this elevator is eight thousand bushels per day.

The last is the Cowling elevator, located at the touring mill, built by R. B. Cowling. in 1876 ; capacity, from three thousand to four thousand bushels per day.

Burying Grounds,-Ontlot No. 11, situated in the extreme northeastern part of the original plat of the town, was reserved for burial purposes, and was extensively used for sneh until the organization of Oak Hill and Kirk- wood Cemetery Associations. Many of the pioneers of London were interred here. In 1873, resolutions were passed by the Council advising the State Sen- ator of this district, and the Representative of the county, that a special act was needed authorizing the sale of this place of burial, and the purchase of a new lot outside of the corporate limits of the town. The bill became a law, and on the 19th of December. 1873, the Council passed an ordinance prohibit- ing the burial of the dead within the corporate limits. Ten lots were purchased by the Conneil, in Kirkwood Cemetery, for the interment of bodies removed, and early in January, 1874, the removal of the bodies was begun. This bury- ing ground, from its close proximity to the old Methodist Church, probably, has been known as the Methodist Burying-Ground.

About the year 1830, a piece of ground located in the western part of town, along the P., C. & St. L. R. R., was set apart by James Mitchell, for a Presbyte- rian graveyard. The organization of the Cemetery Associations above named. and the subsequent action of the Council did away with both of these places of burial.

THE CENTENNIAL " FOURTIL."

There was no special observance of the one hundredth anniversary of American Independence at London ; nevertheless, a great many people were in town, and the average small boy jubilated in spite of adverse circumstances, and the noise of the festive tire-cracker made music for shattered nerves. The nearest a celebration was a pienie, given at the fair grounds by the congrega-

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tion of St. Patrick's Church. The societies under the auspices of the church marched out in procession in the morning. The attendance at the grounds was large, notwithstanding the rainy weather, and the enjoyment of the occasion was very generally participated in. Smith's Band. of Springfield, was in attendance.

THE LONDON GAS LIGHT COMPANY.

The London Gas Light Company was organized in 1875, with a capital stock of $38,000. The original officers were : Harford Toland. President ; R. G. Jordan. Superintendent. Treasurer and Secretary ; Board of Directors- Toland Jones, B. F. Clark, M. Riley, J. M. Dungan, R. B. Cowling and R. G. Jordan. August 6. 1875. the Town Conneit passed an ordinance by which R. G. Jordan, of Wheeling, W. Va., was granted the right of way and authority to ereet gas works. In consideration of the franchise, Mr. Jordan agreed to furnish gas, for the period of ten years, to the town at a sum not exceeding $2.75 per 1.000 cubic feet. and to the citizens, for private use, at a sum not exceeding $3.25 per 1.000 cubic feet ; also, to furnish and keep in repair for ten years 100 cast iron lamp posts, the Council reserving the right to purchase the works. In August. 1875, R. G. Jordan purchased ground adjoining the Weber Brewery, of Peter Weber, for $500. On the twenty third of that month, the first shovelful of earth was thrown out by the Mayor, John F. Locke, and the building was immediately erected and the works completed. London was, for the first time, lighted with gas on the night of December 7, 1875. The Madison House, and several other buildings, were illuminated from cellar to garret. There has been some change in the Board of Directors since the organization, but otherwise the company remains as organized. The capacity of the works is 10,000 cubic feet per day. There are 132 public gas Jamp- posts, and gas mains laid to the extent of four and one half miles.

CHURCHES.

The Methodist Episcopal Church of London .- In our endeavor to present to the reader a sketch of the Methodist Episcopal Church of London, we have met with obstacles on every hand ; yet, upon careful and protracted research, without the aid of local records, we have been able to obtain a fragmentary sketch.

We only refer to what is historical. in saying that Methodist itinerants were among the first in bearing the Gospel to those finding homes in the West. The earliest resident minister of Madison County was Rev. Lewis Foster, a Methodist preacher, who settled in what is now Jefferson Township in the fall of 1806. but having been to that vicinity as early as 1805. Several years later, be organized a small society in the same vicinity. In 1807, a small Methodist class was organized at the house of Jonathan Minshall, on Walnut Run, about four miles south of the site upon which London was afterward built. A year or two later, another class was organized, on Glade Run, and designated as the Lower Glade Church. Shortly after London was laid out about the year 1813 or 1814-a Methodist class, or small society, was organized in the village, composed-in part, at least-of Robert Warner. Robert Warner. Jr., and wife. William Warner and wife and two daughters, John Warner and wife and Will iam Wingate and wife. It is not known. definitely, to what circuit any of these classes or societies were attached prior to 1219, yet circumstances strongly point toward their connection with Paint Creek Circuit. The Walnut Run class, however, was first visited by Rev. Benjamin Lakin. in 1807, upon the solicitation of the few members. Mr. Lakin was, at this time, traveling the Chillicothe Circuit, which was some years prior to the formation of Paint Creek Circuit.

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

From 1812 until 1819, the presiding elders and preachers in charge of this circuit were as follows : 1812-Rev. James Quinn, Presiding Elder, Revs. Isaac Pavey and T. Corkhill, preachers ; 1813-Rev. James Quinn, Presiding Elder, Rev. Moses Trader, preacher ; 1814-Rev. James Quinn, Presiding Elder, Rev. William P. Finley, preacher ; 1815-Rev. James Quinn, Presiding Elder, Rev. Robert W. Finley, preacher ; 1816-Rev. David Young, Presiding Elder, Revs. Jacob Hooper and William Westlake, preachers ; 1817-Rev. John Col- lins, Presiding Elder, Revs. John Soloman and D. Carr, preachers ; 1818-Rev. Moses Crume, Presiding Elder, Rev. William P. Finley, preacher.

On the 25th day of August, 1817, a deed was made for the lot designated on the town plat of London as No. 112, cornering on Back street and Fifth, con- taining thirty-two square poles, between Patrick McLene, Director for the town, and William Erwin, Jonathan Minshall, John McDonald, William Warner, Sr., William G. Pinkard, Robert Warner, David Watson, James Greenby and Amos G. Thompson, Trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their successors in office. The consideration therein specified was $11. Upon this lot, but just at what time we are unable to state, this denomination erected the hewed log meeting house, still standing, though it has since been weather-boarded and con- verted into a dwelling. It is believed that the house was built prior to 1820. This was the first church building erected in London, and the only one until 1834-35.

In 1819, London circuit was formed and Rev. Andrew S. McLean appointed preacher in charge. Rev. James B. Finley was this year and the year following Presiding Elder of the district, and Revs. Zachariah Connell and James Smith, preachers, on the circuit in 1820. The Presiding Elders and preachers in charge from 1821 to 1836, were as follows : 1821-Rev. John Strange, Presiding Elder, Revs. D. D. Davisson and William Simmons, preachers ; 1822-Rev. J. B. Finley, Presiding Elder, Revs. George Maley and Aaron Woods, preachers ; 1823-Rev. John Collins, Presiding Elder. Revs. James Collard and Richard Brandriff, preachers ; 1824-Rev. J. B. Finley, Presiding Elder, Rev. Robert W. Finley, preacher ; 1825-Rev. Russel Bigelow, Presiding Elder, Revs. J. L. Donahoo and J. C. Havens, preachers ; 1826-Rev. Russel Bigelow, Presiding Elder, Revs. S. P. Shaw and J. W. Clarke, preachers ; 1827-Rev. J. B. Finley, Presiding Elder; Revs. S. P. Shaw and F. Buller, preachers ; 1828-Rev. J. B. Finley, Presiding Elder, Revs. Thomas Simms and B. Austin, preachers ; 1829 - Rev. J. F. Wright, Presiding Elder, Rev. Benjamin Lawrence, preacher ; 1830 --- Rev. J. F. Wright, Presiding Elder, Revs. Benjamin Lawrence and William Sutton, preachers ; 1831-Rev. J. F. Wright, Presiding Elder, Revs. William Sutton and J. C. Hardy, preachers ; 1832-Rev. W. H. Raper, Presiding Elder, Revs. J. Smith and J. Hill, preachers ; 1833-Rev. Augustus Eddy, Presiding Elder, Revs. William Morrow and Henry Whiteman, preachers ; 1834-Rev. W. H. Raper, Presiding Elder, Revs. Joshua Boncher and G. Moody. preachers ; 1835-Rev. Jacob Young, Presiding Elder, Revs. Philip Nation and W. Westlake, preachers ; 1836-Rev. Jacob Young, Presiding Elder, Revs. William Morrow and Jacob Martin, preachers.

The Rev. Jacob Young, in his autobiography, in speaking of his appoint- ment as Presiding Elder of the Columbus District in 1835, thus alludes to the London Circuit : " We had a prosperous year on London Circuit, under the labors of Philip Nation and William Westlake. Brother Nation was not what was called a great preacher, but a very useful one, and as good a natural singer as I ever knew ; he has been successful on all the circuits he ever traveled. His slender constitution soon completed his labors, and he passed to his rest." In 1836, the London Cirenit embraced the following preaching points : London, Somerford, JJoseph Warner's. William Gear's, Reader's, Brighton, D. Watson's, Phifer's Schoolhouse, Troxel's, La Fayette, Lower Glade, J. Chenoweth's, Judge

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Fitzgerald's, Harrisburg. Leasenbes, Morain's, Yankeetown, Mount Sterling, Don Roe's, or Heath's Mill, Bethel, Wilmonth's Schoolhouse, D. Dye's, or Linson's, and Maxey's. This took in an extensive tract or scope of country, as the reader acquainted with its localities must see, but each preacher in charge was expected to preach at each point once in every four weeks.

In the autobiography of Rev. Jacob Young, we find another allusion to the London Circuit, which we deem not out of place here to record. In speaking of the Conference of 1842, Mr. Young says: "Bishop Morris appointed me to the London Circuit. Zachariah Connell was my Presiding Elder, and William Sutton was my colleague. The work of the Lord soon began to revive in the town of London and other places. At the first quarterly meeting, Z. Connell received a heavenly baptism, and was like a flaming herald the balance of the year. Brother Sutton was a very reliable man. We had several excellent preachers living on the circuit-Brother Steele. Brother China, Brother Eb- enezer Webster and Brother Jacob Martin, though much afflicted and unable to do effective work. his example and counsel was very useful. My coming on- to the cirenit was of great advantage to me, and I hope I was no disadvantage to it. I formed friendships which will be as lasting as eternity. James Foster, Stephen Moore, Isaac Moore and Joseph Warner and Sally Warner will never be forgotten by me. She was a mother in Israel, and one of the best friends I have met with in the house of my pilgrimage. I delivered my valedictory all round the circuit, and many tears were shed, both by the preacher and the people."

About this time (1842), the members of the London charge erected a one- story frame church building on the present site of the brick edifice now stand- ing. and abandoned the old log meeting-honse. This building served them as a honse of worship until the erection of the present brick in 1859-60. The latter edifice was dedicated Sabbath. February 26, 1860, the dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Clark. editor of the Ladies' Repository, of Cincinnati, Ohio. After the services a collection of between $1.500 and $1,600 was taken up, which sum nearly completed the payment of the cost of the building.

The Presiding Elders and preachers in charge of the circuit from 1837 to 1860 were the following named: Rev. Jacob Young, Presiding Elder, Revs. Will- iam Morrow and George Fate, preachers; 1838 - Rev. Jacob Young, Presiding El- der. Revs. Benjamin Ellis and E. T. Webster. preachers: 1839-Rev. Z. Connell, Presiding Elder. Revs. E. T. Webster and Noah Haugh, preachers; 1840-Rev. Z. Connell, Presiding Elder, Revs. J. W. Steele and Noah Hangh, preachers; 1841 -Rev. Z. Connell, Presiding Elder, Rev. J. W. Steele and A. M. Lorraine, preachers; 1842- Rev. 4. Connell, Presiding Elder, Revs. Jacob Young and William Sutton. preachers: 1843-Rev. William Simmons, Presiding Elder, Revs. William Sutton and E. B. Warrington, preachers; 1844-Rev. William Simmons, Presiding Elder. Revs. Martin Wolf and Thomas Heard, preachers; 1845-Rev. William Simmons, Presiding Elder. Revs. Martin Wolf and J. W. Smith, preachers; 1846-Rev. William Simmons, Presiding Elder, Revs. James Armstrong and S. Haines, preachers; 1847 -Rev. D. Kemper, Presiding Elder, Revs. James Armstrong and JJ. W. Steele. preachers; 1848-Rev. D. Kemper, Presiding Elder, Revs. Samnel Maddox and T. M. Gossard, preachers; 1849- Rev. J. A. Jameson, Presiding Elder, Revs. Joseph Morris and William Sutton, preachers: 1850 -- Rev. J. M. Jameson. Presiding Elder. Revs. David Smith and James Laws. preachers; 1851-Rev. Cyrus Brooks, Presiding Elder, Revs. David Smith and James Laws, preachers; 1852-Rev. Uriah Heath, Presiding Elder. Revs. John Stewart. J. S. Brown and J. D. Crum. preachers; 1853- Rev. Uriah Heath, Presiding Elder, Reys. John Stewart, T. S. Loyd and J. D. Crum, preachers; 1854-Rev. Uriah Heath, Presiding Elder, Revs. A. B. Lee and J. F. Longman, preachers; 1855-Rev. Z. Connell, Presiding Elder. Revs.

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J. F. Longman and J. T. Miller, preachers; 1856-Rev. 4. Connell, Presiding Elder, Revs. A. Flemmons and Richard Pitzer, preachers; 1857-Rev. Z. Connell, Presiding Elder, Revs. A. Flemmons and S. Tippitt, preachers; 1858-Rev. Z. Connell. Presiding Elder, Revs. S. Tippitt and A. M. Alexander, preachers; 1859 -- Rev. J. M. Jameson, Presiding Elder, Revs. Levi Hall and A. M. Alex- ander. preachers.

In 1860, the London charge was made a station with Rev. H. E. Pilcher ap- pointed pastor; Rev. J. M. Jameson was this year the Presiding Elder of the distriet. In 1866, Centenary Chapel was built in the rear of and adjoining the brick edifice, mainly for a lecture room and Sabbath school purposes. It is of brick. thirty-five by sixty feet in size, and is of the Roman style of archi- teeture; it is connected with the main building by a corridor. The brick and stone work was done by James Self, and the carpenter work by E. J. Gould. The Chapel cost about $7,000 and was built and furnished through the liber ality of Mrs. Eliza Chrisman. It was dedicated on Christmas morning 1866. by Bishop Clark, of Cincinnati, who delivered one of his ablest sermons to a large audience. The venerable David Watson who assisted in the ercetion of the old log meeting-house in London, attended the dedicatory service. In 1871. the church was incorporated.

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 60

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