The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 63

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 63

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The 5th and 7th of March were days of great triumph to the crusaders, for on these days surrendered two men engaged in the liquor traffic, one of which seeming to be so great a conquest that nearly all of the bells in town were rung, causing great excitement and much joy. After the bells had ceased ringing,a number of the more enthusiastic temperance advocates met at the Pres- byterian Church and sang songs of thanksgiving and praise. On March 6, the Woman's Temperance Alliance of Madison County was organized at the Presbyterian Church for the purpose of furthering the cause of temperance. The daily and evening meetings were continued, but by the middle of March

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

the campaign was considered about at an end, though there still remained a few obstinate scattered forces to subdue. Thereafter, operations were chiefly confined to " Battle Run " and the forts in the neighborhood of the railroad.

At the spring elections, an entire crusade ticket was elected. The four- teenth week of the movement still saw the ladies making one visit a day to each of the obstinate rum-sellers, and both the morning and evening meetings were in progress, but several weeks later street singing and praying was gradually ended.

While the movement did not perhaps result as successfully as some of the most enthusiastic supporters of the cause had anticipated, it certainly was the means of accomplishing great good by materially lessening the evil arising from the sale of liquor for a period of time.

SALES DAY.

The first Tuesday in each month may appropriately be termed a gala day at London, for it is then that the regular monthly public live stock sales, which have been held here, alnost without exception on that day for about twenty- seven years, occur. Countrymen in general having business matters in town requiring attention, generally aim to make sales day the time for meeting for their adjustment; and so, from all sections may be seen Madison's farmers crowding into her capital on said day. Business houses of all kinds, and restaurants especially included, are thronged from morning until night, the streets swarm with people, the pavements are lined with horses and all sorts of vehicles wedged in among each other as tightly as sardines in a box; the middle portions of the streets are before noon a moving medley of men, horses, vehicles and cattle; while the cries of street fakirs and stock autioneers joined to the general hubbub and confusion make perfect pandemonium of the day. Buyers and noted stock men from all parts of the country here assemble, and the mingling together of the people, renewing old acquaintances and forming new ones, make the occasion one of festivity. The noise and confusion are at their height by 2 o'clock in the afternoon, and it is not until night draws near that anything like quiet re-visits the town. Droves of cattle standing in al- ternate herds for blocks, awaiting their turn to be driven to the public square by the court house, where thousands of dollars change hands almost in a twinkle. The public square is the center of the live-stock trade.

Frequently can be observed several auctioneers, each crying the sale of a separate drove of cattle, while other droves yet to be offered can be seen square after square in each of the four directions. These auctioneers seem to be sui generis, tramping around the circle which incloses the cattle which he is selling. Now he shouts at the top of his voice, and anon button-holes some substantial farmer, whispering confidentially in his ear the extent of the present oppor- tunity for a great bargain.

The sales are not confined alone to cattle, but include stock in general; however, the cattle sales are the most numerous and important. The horse market, too, forms an important feature of the sales, and likewise extends over several squares.

INCORPORATION AND GROWTH OF LONDON.

London was incorporated by an act of the Legislature, bearing date Feb- ruary 10, 1831, to take effect and be in force from and after April first of that year. For many years the officers elected by the people consisted of a Presi- dent, Recorder, and five Trustees.

For quite a period after the town was laid out, its growth was decidedly slow, and after it had attained the growth of thirty years or thereabouts, it seemed to remain almost entirely in statu quo. It is said that an Irishman who

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

visited London about that time, after sauntering leisurely through its few streets, and hearing not the sound of a hammer, or the buzz of a single notable industry, is said, in the very depth of disgust, to have exclaimed : "Be dad, this is the first town I ever saw that was entirely finished !" Neither was the village at an early period very attractive. A venerable doctor of Southwestern Ohio, on his first visit here, gave offense to some of the residents, by recom- mending that they get their gardens lathed and plastered, to keep out the frogs. This visit of the doctor's, then a traveling circuit preacher in the itinerancy of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was made in the spring of the year, just after a protracted rainy season.

After remaining for a number of years in a state of torpidity, London began to arouse itself, and grow until the spirit of enterprise, eventually, made it what it is to-day, one of the most substantial, bustling, wealthy, and enterprising rural communities in the country. Its broad streets, substantial business buildings and beautiful residences give it an air of solidity possessed by few towns of its size in the State.

The first impetus given the town in way of improvement was the construc- tion of the Jefferson, South Charleston & Xenia Turnpike; next came the build- ing of the Columbus & Xenia, now the Little Miami Division of the P., C. & St. L. Railroad, in 1848-49, and that of the Columbus & Springfield road, now the I. B. & W. Railroad, each of which gave an additional impetus. The growth of London may be said to have been gradual, but constant and healthy. If any one year exceeded another in the line of improvement, that of 1869 might with safety be singled out as a year in which a greater sum of money was expended for private building purposes. That year, about $70,000 was expended in building, and, among the buildings erected, the most important was Buff Block, on the corner of High and Main streets, by Robert Boyd, Lohr & Clark, and Mrs. Eliza Chrisman, at a cost of about $40,000.

Probably in this connection it would not be out of place to mention the names of Dr. Aquilla Toland and Maj. Richard Cowling, than whom none were more closely identified with the growth, progress and interests of the town. All of the public improvements of the day found in these men warm friends and advocates. Among the gifts of Maj. Cowling to public enter- prises in London were the donation of the original tract of land of Oak Hill Cemetery, and by will setting apart a large tract of land adjoining, as an exten- sion of the grounds for perpetual use; the building of the soldiers' monument on the grounds ; the donation of the old homestead on West Main street, together with about four and a half acres of land to the town as a public park. The Madison, formerly Cowling House, was also built by him.

The population of London, as given by the census of the periods below named, is as follows : 1840, 297; 1850, 512; 1860, 1,111; 1870, 2,066; 1880, 3,067.

PART IV.

TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.

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TOWNSHIP HISTORIES.

CHAPTER I.

DARBY TOWNSHIP.

BY DR. JEREMIAH CONVERSE.

N the 30th day of April, 1810, the Commissioners of Madison County created this township, and we find on record the following, under the head of that date: "Ordered, that all that tract of country comprised in the following boundaries be, and the same is hereby created into a separate township, to be known by the name of Darby, and is bounded as follows, to wit: Beginning at the upper corner of Jefferson Township, thence north with said line to Delaware County; thence with said line east, to the north- west corner of Franklin County; thence with said line to the place of be- ginning." This creation existed for only one year, and was then declared void. The reason for this action is not given, but we find the following record under date of June 11, 1811: " At a meeting of the Commissioners of Madison County, ordered, that all that tract of country comprehended in the following boundaries be, and the same is hereby created into a separate township, by the name of Darby. and is bounded as follows: Beginning at the northeast corner of Madison County, thence south with Franklin County line, so that a point turning west will strike Calvin Cary, Sr.'s. lower corner: thence westwardly to Abraham Johnson's lower corner, on Little Darby; thence to Peter Paugh's southeast corner; thence westwardly so as to strike the Champaign County line, two miles north of William Frankabarger, Sr.'s; thence with said line to Delaware County line; thence with Delaware County line to the place of beginning." The above territory has been greatly reduced by subsequent creations. Canaan and Pike Townships were taken from Darby, the former of these in the year 1814 and the latter in 1819. Union County, in the year 1820, was created from the territory of Delaware and Madison Counties, and a strip of land two and a half miles in width was taken from the northern boundary of Darby Township. Thus it has been reduced in territorial advantages until it is among the smallest townships in the county.

STREAMS.

Big Darby rises in the northeast portion of Champaign County, thence through the northern portion of Union County, passing through Darby, a portion of Canaan Township, and thence forming the boundary line between Madison and Franklin Counties. This stream was named by the In from a Wyandot chief by the name of Darby, who for a long time re- sided upon it, near the line of this and Union Counties. Sugar Run rises in Union County, and flows through the eastern portion of this township. empties into Big Darby and forms one of its tributaries. In the early set- tlement of this county. Big Darby furnished important and indispensable

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

water-power privileges, which were made to subserve and meet some of the pressing wants of the people, such as grist and saw mills. Prior to these im- provements, the nearest and only mills were at Chillicothe, Ross County. To think of going sixty miles through a dense and unbroken forest, beset on every side with wild beasts and the prowling and treacherous Indian, ready to take your life and pillage your goods, required much more of the spirit of adventure and dare than is found in most of us at the present day. To meet the emergencies under such circumstances, all the families of the first settlers had their " hominy block," an indispensable article in frontier life, and by them more frequently used than the flouring mills of Chilli- cothe.

SOIL.

The soil of this township is diversified. Near the streams it is a red- dish, gravelly loam. very deep, well adapted to mixed agriculture. such as wheat, rye, oats and corn, as well as root crops. After leaving the stream on the east, the soil, on the more elevated lands, partakes of a light colored clay, with a small admixture of gravel, better adapted for grass and grazing purposes. But the greater portion is a black loam, and when once thoroughly drained, is well calculated to grow any and all of the agricultural products adapted to this climate. The western portion of this township, or, more properly speaking, the prairie lands, are composed of a deep, black loam, presenting the appearance of having been composed of vegetable decompo sition, upon which, in its native state, grew a wonderful growth of vegeta- tion, that for years had been decomposed, either in its native or alkaline state. This latter condition will be referred to in another part of this work.

PHYSICAL FEATURES.

All that portion lying east of Big Darby was heavy timber lands, made up of walnut, ash, beech, white and black oaks, hickory, basswood and white elm on the swampy lands. There were some extensive sugar groves along Sugar Run and near Big Darby. The principal underbrush was spice- bush, that grew extensively, especially on the flat lands. All that por- tion lying west of Big and east of Little Darby, except a narrow strip near these streams, was known as the Darby Plains; and yet this prairie was dot- ted here and there with small oak openings, or a narrow, long line of scrub- by burr-oak timber. whose growth had been, and still was, very much impeded by the prairie fires that burned over this country every returning autumn. The larger portion of all the timber at the present time has come up and grown to its mammoth proportions since the arrest of these fires. It was a grand sight to see those prairies on fire, especially at night, when hundreds of acres were surrounded by the destroying element, whose forked tongs shot upward above the interspersed oak openings, and its light almost equal to that of a mid-day sun, revealing the rapid retreat of the deer and other wild animals to some secluded place of safety. The very nature of the vege- tation that grew upon these prairies made the fires formidable and to be dreaded by the first settlers, whose homes and property were endangered thereby. This whole country was a sea of wild grass and flowering herbs Upon the lower portions of the prairies grew a kind of grass that came up in single stalks, very thick at the ground, with a large round straw, very tough, long, broad blades, and on top a head, somewhat resembling barley. This species grew from six to eight feet in height, but was of no value for grazing purposes. except when it first came up in the spring. There were two other varieties that grew upon the more elevated portions of the prairie

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DARBY TOWNSHIP.

-the "limber-will" and " ledge-grass." The former of these came up in single stalks, very thick on the ground, with long, drooping blades and slightly sickle edged. The latter variety grew in bunches, or tufts, very compact, with fine blades and center stalks very tall, smooth and round, like rye. These latter varieties were very nutritious, not only in a green state, but equally so when cut and made into hay. There were some other varieties, but not of sufficient importance to attract attention.

It would be almost impossible to give a full and accurate description of the flowering portion of its vegetation, but I will allude to a few, among which was the " prairie dock," with' large, brittle roots, long, broad leaves, and, every alternate year, largo center stalks. It grow to a height of six or eight feet and very branching near the top, upon each of which was a beau- tiful yellow blossom. When the stalks were cut near the ground, or the leaves punctured, a thick, gummy exndation took place, which soon became semi-solid, and was gathered by the young people for " chewing gum," it being far superior to the manufactured article of the present day. The " wild sunflower " was a kind of weed that grew with a large, strong stalk, very high, with numerous branches, having a yellow blossom on each, about three inches in diameter and drooping like the cultivated species.

All of the ponds were surrounded by the wild " blue-flag," and on the top of each center stalk was a large, blue blossom, very pretty in appear- ance, but its fragrance was of an offensive and sickening character. There were many other varieties that grew upon the prairies besides those that were found skirting and in the oak openings, such as the daisies, butter- cups, wild pink, coxcombs, lilies and many others equally beautiful. It was indeed a grand sight to a nature-loving mind to look over these extensive prairie fields and behold them mantled with so luxuriant a growth of vego tation, and decorated so lavishly with an almost endless variety of flowers, variegated with all the colors of the rainbow and so blended in beauty that the inmost soul would almost involuntarily praise God for the grandeur of His omnipotent wisdom and power; but, to that class of persons who cannot appreciate any loveliness or beanty in the works of nature, it might appear as a God-forsaken wilderness, and not intended as a home for civilized hu- manity. It was true that a large portion of these prairie lands were covered with water a greater part of the year, for what little outlet there was for the surface water, was filtered. as it were, through this wonderful growth of vegetation. The height and density of the wild grasses that grow upon these prairies was that which was calculated to produce a feeling of do- spondency and desolation to the beholder.

TOPOGRAPHY, WITH PRE-HISTORIC DEDUCTIONS.

There is one peculiar feature in the topography of these lands, which very much retarded the early development and drainage of the prairies. It has only been within the last few years that the fact was demonstrated and generally understood. The first opinions were, that, as these prairies were situated between the two Darbys, that the drainage would be of about equal distance to each. But, upon the contrary, the fact is now clearly demon. strated that all the prairies lying cast of Little Darby, with but one or two exceptions, drains to Big Darby. The dip of the country here is east and southeast. Here, then, was a stubborn obstacle in the way of a complete and thorough drainage, for no one or two men could afford to ent the nec- essary long and deep artificial drains to secure such benefits to the upper

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HISTORY OF MADISON COUNTY.

lands as were required to make the agricultural pursuits a success. But right here the legislative enactments of the State came to their relief-that by petition of twelve interested freeholders to the Trustees of the proper township, an artificial drain could be located, and the cutting of the same awarded to the land-owners along the line thereof, according to the benefits derived therefrom. Allow me a little digression from my subject, for I shall be doing great injustice to the history of Canaan Township were I to omit the record of the fact that Eli Perkins, one of its pioneers, drafted the first ditch bill, and through the efforts of her worthy Representative from Madison County, H. W. Smith, of London, it became a law. Though rude and imperfect at first, the way was opened by which amendments were made that met all the obstacles in the way of a complete and thorough system of drainage. This law, with its amendments, has done more for the develop- ment of the hidden wealth that was buried in the soil of Darby Township than any or all other enactments combined. Under the present existing laws, some of the largest and longest artificial drains of the county have been located and completed under the supervision of skillful engineers. In the year 1881-82, under one petition, twelve miles of artificial drain were made, at a cost of nearly $7,000. There are many others constructed under the same law, but this one is specially mentioned to show its practical work- ings. Were it not for this practical system of drainage, this portion of the State, as well as many others, would be almost worthless for agricult- ural purposes. When all the necessary main drains have been made, and a thorough system of under drainage instituted, then will these Darby plains be the Eden of the State.

But to return to my subject. The supposed worthlessness of these prairies by the early land speculators, who bought soldiers' claims and laid their warrants in the Virginia Military District, is clearly shown by leaving out of their surveys as much as possible all of the above lands. Another evidence in support of the same conclusion is evinced by the first settlers making their purchases near or adjacent to the streams, supposing these lands would ever remain wet, worthless and uninhabitable. But the scientific and demonstrated truth in regard to this part of the country is, that her altitude is nearly equal to that of any other part of the State: and yet, her reputation has been but little above sea level. There were two distinct decades in the origin of the burr-oak timber that was growing here when first discovered by the white man. The first of these are scattering, few in number, and are found growing upon the highest points of the prairie lands, the limbs of which came out almost at right angles with the trunk, an evidence of hav- ing stood alone, and dating back to the forming periods of all the forests of this country. The latter are of more recent origin, and date back from two to three hundred years There is considerable uniformity in the age of each of these decades. Why so many years should elapse between them is a question difficult of solution; but by a thorough knowledge of the to- pography of these prairie lands, a reasonable hypothesis might be adduced that would remove the obscurity in part at least.

Topographical science has demonstrated beyond all questions of doubt that the Darby plains are table-land . Snch lands are always surrounded with one or more rims of a greater or less elevation, but of sufficient height to hold, as it were, like a basin, the rainfall or waters from any cause that may flow into it, and there to remain. unless otherwise dried up by evapora- tion. Many of the first settlers were greatly deceived as to the most natural and available points for the drainage of these lands, and. as a result, some

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very unpleasant law-suits have been prosecuted. to the detriment of all par- ties. The error consisted in mistaking the rim that formed the basin for the natural water-shed between the two Darbys. This latter elevation is quite distinctive, and is easily traced by the timbers that grow upon either side. Upon the one it is characterized by the kinds of timber that are found near all the streams. and upon the other by that which is peculiar to the prairie lands. This natural water-shed is generally found from one-half to one mile east of Little Darby, thus continuing for several miles, but gradually leaving the stream until it abruptly circles away, connecting itself with one or more of the rims of this table-land. That these elevations at some pre- historic age of the world has been much more elevated than at present, or that the prairie depressions have been greater, or both, is very evident from this standpoint. That there was a time, or pre-historic period, when these lands were covered with water, there can be no doubt. But these elevations have been slowly worn down by the overflow of water and tread of the buffalo, elk and other wild animals, until some of the more elevated points of the prairie (or lake) appeared as dry land. This process of reasoning would date the period when those few and scattering burr oaks first sprang into existence. Hence, the conclusion that, as this wearing away, and fill- ing up continued, much larger portions were brought to the surface upon which sprang the second decade, or growth, that was in existence when first discovered by the white man. As this wearing away and filling up still continued, the whole of these prairies was covered with a heavy coat of vegetation. Thus, year after year, or centuries it may be, this growth and decay has been going on until the depth of soil is unsurpassed by any other portion of the State. There is one more conclusive evidence in support of the theory that these prairies were for a long time submerged in water, for, when the lowest prairies were first broken by the plow, large quantities of snail and clam shells were turned up, which, however, soon crumbled on ex- posure to atmosphere.

Considerable time must have elapsed after the second decade or growth of burr-oak timber sprang into existence, before the North American Indians had penetrated thus far into the interior of this continent. for their practice was to burn all over the prairie lands every returning autumn, for the pur- pose of driving the deer and other animals from their hiding-places; and it is certain that these fires would have destroyed all this growth, as it was afterward demonstrated that nothing more of a forest kind grew until after the cessation of these prairie fires. Another thought presents itself, that if the first timbers, almost without an exception, were burr oak, would we not reasonably expect that when the causes that prevented any young growth, were removed, that the same in kind would start into existence? But upon the contrary. the greater portion is so entirely different, not only in kind, but also in point of durability, that we are unable to assign any uncontro- vertible or legitimate cause.

GEOLOGY.

Geologically considered, this township differs from many other portions of the county. There are no ores, and but few limestone ledges, and these are only found near the banks of Big Darby and below the water line; therefore, they are inexcessible, and of no practical value. Gravel is found in abundance near the streams and of the very best quality, from which some excellent gravel roads have been made. In nearly all of these gravel beds, some relics of a pre-historic race, or the North American Indians, have been found, such as human skeletons, stone hammers or axes, pestles. arrow-

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The history of Madison County, Ohio, Part 63

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