The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 63

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214

USA > Ohio > Montgomery County > The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county > Part 63

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).

McElwee & Clegg made the first heat at their Dayton Iron Foundry, near Limead of the basin, December 2, 1828.

DAYTON AND THE CANAL.

The town began to improve and increase in population soon after the canal had passed the Legislature. In the spring of 1825, all houses and cabins ve occupied, and new ones were erected. Brick and frame houses began to prar in the county in place of the cabins; new farms were opened and im- rements made.

Saturday, July 9, Gov. De Witt Clinton and staff, of New York, Gov. Jemiah Morrow, Hon. Ethan A. Brown, Hon. Joseph Vance, Judge Tappan, MI.]. Williams, Judge Bates and Judge Parish were met at Fairfield by Capt. Tipthy Squier with the Dayton Troop of Horse and many citizens of the ton, and were escorted to Dayton on their way to Middletown to break ground forthe Miami Canal. The column arrived at Dayton at 2:30 in the afternoon,

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

and halted at Compton's Tavern, where an address of welcome was deliver by Judge Crane, with response from Gov. Clinton.

At 4 P. M., guests and citizens dined at Reid's Inn. Judge Crane pr sided; Judge Steele and Col. Robert Patterson were Vice Presidents; a numb of patriotic and complimentary toasts were responded to by the distinguish guests and citizens.

By actual count in August there were 1,100 white and thirty-four color people living in Dayton.

The canal was located at the commons, between the Academy and the sa mill race, in May, 1827; it terminated in a basin seventy feet wide, at Fi street. Excavation on the canal near town was commenced in June. In Decel ber, there were 210 dwellings in Dayton-the court house, jail, county offi building, Presbyterian and Methodist meeting-houses, the academy and fi other schools, three with male and three with female teachers, the library; t' bridges, two apothecary shops, thirteen dry good stores and seventeen grocerit four taverns-Grime's, Reid's, Compton's and Strain's; two printing offices the Dayton Journal, in the second story of the County Office Building, Jo. W. Van Cleve and Jeptha Regans, proprietors; and the Miami Herald, ou t east side of Main street, a few doors south of Third, R. J. Skinner, propriet one wholesale store, three wagon-maker shops, one carriage shop, four blac smith shops, two sickle factories, one tin shop, one coppersmith, three hi ters, seven shoemakers, seven tailors, three tan-yards, three saddlers, thr watchmakers, one brewery, one tallow chandler, two tobacconists, one flour m with three run of stone, one saw-mill with two saws, one fulling mill, and o. cotton factory.

January 7, 1828, the Stillwater, Miami and Mad Rivers were higher th at any time since 1814. The State dam that had been built the fall befor was very much injured. The canal bridge at the east end of Main Cross stre was washed away, and the Jefferson street canal bridge was injured. All the mill race bridges were swept away. Broadwell's old red warehouse, on t Miami River bank, at the head of Wilkinson street, was carried off, and mu damage was done to fencing and other property above and below town.

The population of the town May 1, 1828, was 1,693 whites, and sevent four blacks; 429 voters.

The Alpha, a canal boat for freight and passengers, was built by Solom. Eversole, for McMaken & Hilton, and launched at the canal, near Fifth stres Saturday, August 16, 1828. A temporary dam was put across the canal. att bluffs, and water was let in from the saw-mill tail-race, near Fifth street, a: trial trips were made down to the dam, and back. The Dayton Guards, a w formed company of boys, organized on the 4th of July previous, had the fi trip on her.

Timothy Squier opened the National Hotel, on the north side of Me Cross street, east of Jefferson, in the summer. During the year, there we thirty-six brick, and thirty-four frame buildings crected in town. At the tir the canal to Cincinnati was completed, January 1, 1829, there were 125 brio six stone, and 239 frame buildings in Dayton; 235 dwellings. A saw mill b been built, and a shingle and lath factory, corn-mill, iron foundry and coo er shop. At that time there were seven doctors and thirteen lawyers, and ma new mechanics in every branch, and new stores of all kinds.

A week before Christmas, a party of ladies and gentlemen of town. ws to Miamisburg on the Alpha, Capt. T. Jones, Master. The formal opening the canal was expected to be celebrated by the arrival at Dayton, January 1 1829, of several boats from Cincinnati; but the canal was frozen over and t affair was delayed.

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CITY OF DAYTON.

Sunday morning, January 25, artillery at the landing announced the ap- prach of the packet Governor Brown, and as she rounded to at the dock, the rizens of the town greeted her with hearty cheers. In the afternoon the Trer arrived, at dark the General Marion, and during the night the General Pie.

The boats, Gov. Brown, Capt. J. D. Archibald, Master; Forrer, Capt. Capbell, Master; Gen. Marion, Capt. Clymer, Master; Gen. Pike, Capt. Swain, Mster, were to leave for Cincinnati, accompanied by the Alpha, with a Day- to party, but a break in the canal near Alexandersville prevented their de- aure.

Regular lines of packets were soon in active competition; twenty hours was . st packet trip to Cincinnati. Merchandise was brought from New York to ).ton by water, in twenty days' time, at $17.25 freight per ton. The route we by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, across the lake to Cleveland, by the Ohio Cial to the Ohio River, down the river to Cincinnati, and up the Miami Canal oDayton; the entire distance was 1,152 miles.

April 16, 1829, the steam canal boat, Enterprise, arrived at Dayton from Cicinnati.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

CHAPTER IV.

CHARTER AMENDED-LICENSES-TOWN BOUNDARIES, 1829-THE FIVE WARD ELECTIONS 1820 TO 1841 INCLUSIVE -- CANAL AND OTHER STATISTICS -. CHI ERA-SEELY'S BASIN-PEASLEY'S GARDEN-NEW BRIDGES-COOPER HYDRAI IC-CHANGE OF MAD RIVER-CANAL EXTENSION-DAYTON HYDRAULIC!'( PANY-HARRISON CONVENTION -- CLAY CONVENTION -- CITY CHARTER -- M. KETS-SCRAPS OF HISTORY-ELECTIONS 1841 TO 1853, INCLUSIVE-STATISTI

TOWN ELECTIONS.

R ECORD of elections, proceedings of Council and reports of expenditure from 1805 to 1829, have been misplaced or lost; at least they cannot n. be found at the City Clerk's office. What information we have, therefore, gathered from other sources. With the exception of the year 1822, we give complete list of the officers of the town from 1820 to 1841, inclusive:

March 4, 1820, H. G. Phillips was elected President of the Select Cor cil; George S. Houston, Recorder; Trustees, Aaron Baker, Luther Bruen, I vid Henderson, William Huffman, John Steele.

1821. - Election March 3. Matthew Patton, President; George S. Hot ton, Recorder; Trustees, Henry Brown, Luther Bruen, Aaron Baker, Ral Wilson, John Dodson. At that election there were 280 votes cast.

1822 .- E. Stebbins was Marshal.

1823 .- Election March 1. John Compton, President; Joseph H. Conov Recorder; Trustees, Luther Bruen, O. B. Conover, E. Brabham, George Hari N. Wilson.

1824 .- Election March 6. John Compton, President; John W. Van Cle Recorder; Trustees, Elisha Brabham, John Burns, Job Haines, William Patt son, David Stout.

1825 .- Election April 5. Simeon Broadwell, President; Warren Mung Recorder; Trustees, Dr. John Steele, Matthew Patton, Nathaniel Wilson, W iam Roth, John Lehman.

The receipts and disbursements for the year ending March 6 were as f lows:

Receipts, $487.65. Disbursements-Paid for fire engine, $226; Marsha salary, 1824, $25; sign for engine house, $8; sundries, $73,02}; cash in treası $155.622. Total, $487.65

1826 .- Election March 4. Elisha Brabham, President; Robert J. Sk ner, Recorder; Trustees, Dr. John Steele, Matthew Patton, William Roth, . exander Grimes, Peter Baer.

1827 .- Election March 3. Dr. John Steele, President; Robert J. Sk ner, Recorder; Trustees, O. B. Conover, William Huffman, D. Stout, T. M. rison, N. Wilson.

1828 .-- Election March 1. Dr. John Steele, President; John W. V. Cleve, Recorder; Trustees, N. Wilson, O. B. Conover, T. Morrison, D. Sto W. Huffman.

The charter of the town was amended by the Legislature in the win of 1828-29. By the amendment, no one was entitled to vote at the to elections except " free white male freeholders, or householders, over twen

583

CITY OF DAYTON.

o. years of age, who have resided within the corporation one year next pre- cling the election." By the act, power was given the Town Council to license gcers, retail and wholesale liquor dealers, beer, ale and porter houses; to Iense and regulate all houses of public entertainment other than taverns, wh power to regulate and suspend all such licensed places."

The following is the result of the first election held under this amended carter, at the court house, Saturday, March 6, 1829:

Mayor, John Folkerth; Recorder, David Winters; Trustees, Nathaniel VIson, James Slaght, John Rench, Luther Bruen, William Atkins.

The boundaries of the town at that time were as follows: "On the west a.l north, the Miami River; on the south, the section line running from the Vami, near the south end of Patterson's pond, eastwardly to a stone in the woods, near Wayne street: on the east, the half-section line which crossed I'rd street, at the forks of the Springfield and Xenia roads; on the north, Ł section line running from a point near the aqueduct, westwardly across I canal and Mad River, to a point on the west bank of the Miami, opposite ] lower end of the first island up from Mad River, near the stump of a hol- 10 sycamore, about ten feet in diameter."

November 24, an ordinance was passed dividing the town into five wards. The First Ward was bounded on the north by the Miami and Mad River, the east by the corporation line, on the south by Second street, and on the rt by Jefferson street.

Second Ward, north and west by the river, east by Jefferson street, and hoch by Second street.

Third Ward, north by Second street, west by the river, east by Jefferson tet, and south by the south line of the Market alley and a line running ilt west from that to the river.

Fourth Ward, west by the river, north by a line running from the river · It east, to the south line of the Market alley, and by that south line to Jef- e on street; thence north to Third street, and by Third street east to the cor- Cition line; east by the corporation line; south by Fifth street.

Fifth Ward, north by Fifth street, east, south and west by the corpora- ic line. Nearly the entire improvements of the town were west of Mill and St. 'Ir streets, to the river, and north of South street (now named Sixth street) ne river.

1830 .-- Election March 4. Mayor, John W. Van Cleve; E. W. Davies, Weorder; Trustees, First Ward, Elisha Brabham; Second, Abraham Darst; "I'd, Robert J. Skinner; Fourth, Nathaniel Wilson; Fifth, Thomas Brown. 1831 .- Election March 5. Mayor, John W. Van Cleve; Edward W. Da- i, Recorder; Trustees, First Ward, Thomas Clegg; Second, Charles R. hene; Third, David Hawthorne; Fourth, Nathaniel Wilson; Fifth, Beniah Chrp.

1832 .- Election March 3. Mayor, John W. Van Cleve; F. F. Carrell, Lerder; Trustees, First Ward, C. G. Swain; Second, John Compton; Third, On John Steele; Fourth, Nathaniel Wilson: Fifth, Beniah Tharp.

1833 .- Election March 2. Mayor, Dr. Job Haines; Rev. David Win- 31 Recorder; Trustees, First Ward, Alexander Grimes; Second, Henry A. Pi son; Third, Jacob Leeds; Fourth, David Davis; Fifth, Thomas Brown.

[834 .- Election March 1. Mayor, Henry Stoddard; Rev. D. Winters, Rorder; Trustees, First Ward, A. Grimes; Second, H. A. Pierson; Third, Jaes Stover; Fourth, N. Wilson; Fifth, David Pruden.

1835 .- Election March 7. Mayor, John Anderson; Rev. D. Winters, Rorder; Trustees, First Ward, Samuel Foley; Second, Levi B. Jones; Third, Jaes Stover; Fourth, John Engle; Fifth, Henry Slaght.

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HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

1836. - Election March 5. Mayor, Daniel W. Wheelock; Rev. D. Wir ters, Recorder; Trustees, First Ward, S. Foley; Second, Dr. Edwin Smith Third, Richard Green; Fourth, David Stone; Fifth, Henry Slaght.

1837 .- Election March 4. Mayor, D. W. Wheelock; John Mills R corder; Council, First Ward, John Lehman; Second, Dr. E. Smith; Thir R. Green; Fourth, J. Engle; Fifth, Augustus George.

1838. - Election March 3. Mayor, D. W. Wheelock; Joseph Davidson Recorder; Council, First Ward, J. Lehman ; Second, Robert C. Schencl Third, Frederick Boyer; Fourth, J. Engle; Fifth, J. Malambre.

1839 -- Election March 2. Mayor, William J. Mckinney; J. Davidso Recorder; Council, First Ward, S. Foley; Second, John Mills; Third, Georg Owen; Fourth, J. Engle; Fifth, J. Malambre.

1840. - Election March 7. Mayor, William J. Mckinney; James McDa iel, Recorder; Council, First Ward, Henry Kimes; Second, Isaac Demares Third, Henry L. Brown; Fourth, Edward W. Davies: Fifth, J. Malambre.

1841 .- Election March 6. Mayor, Morris Seely; A. M. Bolton, R corder; Council, First Ward, H. Kimes; Second, John Garner; Third, H. ] Brown; Fourth, E. W. Davies; Fifth, J. Malambre.

These officers served only till the City Charter took effect in May followin;

CANAL AND OTHER STATISTICS.

In 1825, there were 497 passengers through Dayton by stage ; after tl canal was completed, competition between the stage and packet lines bacan very active. In 1831 thers were 6,219 passengers through Dayton by stage and from Cincinnati to Dayton by packet, from March 3 to November 30, 7,06 the number going from Dayton could not be ascertained.

The three first year's shipments of produce by canal, were as follows :

Flour, 1829, 27,121 barrels; 1830, 56,864 barrels; 1831, 59,550 barrel Whisky, 1829, 7,378 barrels; 1830, 7,142 barrels; 1831, 5,602 barrels. Por 1829. 3,429 barrels ; 1830, 2,497 barrels; 1831, 4,244 barrels. Oil, 1829, 4: barrels; 1830, 281 barrels: 1831, 344 barrels.

During the year 1831, 563,000 pounds of bacon and bulk pork were shippe in addition to the amount packed in barrels. Boats landed along the we bank of the canal from First street to Sixth ; the packet landing was betwee Second and Third streets.

In 1828, seventy buildings were erected in Dayton; in 1829, ninety-nin in 1830, eighty-one; in 1831, fifty of brick and sixty-two frames. ID 182 the only improvements east of the canal and south of Fifth street, were the o "Mother Hess " house on the east side of Brown street at the alley south Sixth ; the Beniah Tharp and George Shartel houses, lower down on Brow street, and some cabins farther east, occupied by colored people.

Mr. Thomas Brown's brick yards were on Brown street, from Hess stre south to New Brown street.

In 1833, there were 1,001 buildings in the town.

In February 1837, there were twenty-nine mechanics' shops, capital, $77,00 nine manufactories, capital, $150,000; twenty-one groceries, capital, $364,00 twenty-two dry goods stores, capital, $203,000; two confectioneries, capiti $1,800; two hardware stores, capital, $20,000; four drug stores, capital, $1: 600; two book stores, capital, $12,000; four iron stores, capital, $12,000; fort one miscellaneous establishments, $36,200; total, $888,600. The hard tim checked progress and improvements ; the Town Council graded, graveled a improved, business was extended, the public square was planted with fore trees ; fifty-six brick and thirty-three frame buildings were erected in 1838.

The frame tavern kept by John S. Wolff, on the south side of Second stre

585

CITY OF DAYTON.

et of Ludlow, was in 1829 given the name of the Farmers' Hotel ; afterward itwas callad the Farmers' and Mechanics', and was always well patronized by country people, from the fact, that in the rear, was a large feed yard and barn. Te Franklin House, southwest corner Main and Second streets, also had good fd yard and barn.

Edmund Browning, moved from Columbus, Ohio, with his family to Day- to, and opened the National Hotel on Third street, April 13, 1830, and kept ifintil 1836, at which time he moved to Indianapolis and kept the Washing- to Hotel.

The name of the National Hotel was changed to that of the Voorhees Euse in January, 1848 ; and about ten years later was called the Phoenix Euse, and is now occupied as part of the Beckel House ; it is the brick build- in; adjoining the new Beckel building on Third street.

The Travelers Inn was the three story brick, south side of First street, nr St. Clair, opened by John Lehman, in April, 1832.

The Lafayette House stood in the center of the block, north side of Third seet, between Jefferson and St. Clair.

The Montgomery House, northeast corner of the Canal and Third streets w3 built several years after the canal was opened, and did a flourishing trade incanal packet times.

Swaynie's Hotel, south side of First street, at the east corner of Race street, ws built by Alexander Swaynie in 1838-39, and opened by him in April, 1839. Te house was fitted throughout with carpets of Dayton manufacture, and was arays a first-class hotel in all of its appointments and keeping.

November 5, 1831, 250 Seneca Indians camped at the big spring on the n'th side of Mad River, and three days afterward left for Cincinnati to be set West by the Government.

In February, 1832, there was great destruction of property by a flood in tl, Miami; the bridge at Miamisburg was the only one left in good condition fim its source to the Ohio. The middle pier of the Dayton bridge at Bridge steet was washed out, the dams were very much injured, and most of the fen- e g in the bottom lands was swept away. The flood in the Ohio River at the sme time also did great damage, and especially at Cincinnati, where the h'nes of many poor people were washed away; the citizens of Dayton raised $)2 by subscription, which amount was sent by John W. Van Cleve, Mayor Dayton, to the Mayor of Cincinnati, to aid in relieving the sufferers.

In the Jackson campaign of 1832, the Locofocos had a great barbecue here, o the commons north of Third street between St. Clair street and the canal; a ox was roasted, speeches were made and the crowd fairly took the town.

German people began to come to Dayton, in numbers in 1833.

THE CHOLERA.

Asa matter of precaution, the Town Council, in June, 1832, appointed san- Try committees in each of the wards, with power to compel people to clean v their property. There were but two fatal cases that year. In the summer 1833, the dread disease spread throughout the valley, making its appear- ace in Dayton the first week of June. Within the next three months there were t'rty-three fatal cases.

May 18, 1849, there was one fatal case of cholera in Dayton; then the next si fatal cases about the middle of June, were at the Farmers' and Mechanics' Etel on Second street. Business was almost entirely suspended until Septem- Ir, and within that time there were about three hundred deaths, many deaths epry day. A Board of Health was appointed, a cholera hospital established &d every effort made to check the epidemic, and every attention shown by the

586

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

relief committees, to the sick and dead. Appropriations for supplies were mad by the City Council; the streets and alleys were white from quantities of lin that was scattered in them, liberal contributions were made at the churches ar by the citizens generally. Physicians and citizens stood at their posts faitl fully and bravely; two of the physicians, Drs. Silas H. Smith and John Hal were stricken while visiting their patients, and died with the cholera.

While there was great dread of the disease, there was no panic; very fe if any of the people left the city. The epidemic raged throughout this ar neighboring counties.

SEELY'S BASIN.

The canal built by Morris Seely in 1832, and first known as Seely's Basi) then Seely's folly, Seely's ditch, the old ditch, and now as "the ditch," wa an enterprise intended by Mr. Seely to benefit the property through which ran.

The water was taken from the canal at the east side of Wayne street. in mediately at the bridge, then running south along the east side of Wayne t near Lodwick street (Fifth), thence southeasterly across Lodwick to Simpso street, and east along the north side of Simpson, crossing Plum and Pearl street where a basin was formed extending up to Lodwick street (Fifth). Fro: Simpson street, the race led south between Mad River and Pearl streets, cros ing Wayne at Richard street and following its preseut course to Warren stres and to the old basin at the Fair Ground Hill.

Mr. Seely's vision was that property along this race, especially when wharves and docks could be constructed, would be greatly enhanced in value.

PEASLEY'S GARDEN.

The old "pleasure garden," west side of Warren street, at the south sid of Seely's Basin, was established by A. M. Peasley, in 1833, rented in May 1834, by Robert McMurray, and, in 1837, by C. M. Riley and I. Harrisor Parties were taken to the garden in boats down the canal to the basin, wher the horse forded the canal, and towed the boat up the basin to the garden.

NEW BRIDGES.

January 28, 1834, plans were advertised for, for a wooden covered bridg over the Miami River, at North Main street. June 4, 1835, the County Con missioners appropriated $600 toward building the bridge, the balance wa, raised by subscription, and in 1836 the bridge was opened for travel. In 1874 the old wooden bridge was torn down, and the present iron structure erecte and finished in 1871.

In 1833, the Dayton & Western Bridge Company was organized to build bridge over the Miami River at the fording of the Germantown road, belo Fourth street, in Dayton. But the probability that if the National road shoul be located through Dayton, or a pike parallel to it be built, that the Miar River would be bridged at a point above Fourth street, influenced the abardon ment of the project. March 12, 1838, subscription books were opened for stoc in the Dayton Third street Bridge Company. In June, the County Commis sioners subscribed for $1,000 of stock for the county. The company was o! ganized as follows: Jacob D. Lowe, President; P. Aughinbaugh, Henry Va Tuyl, J. Wunderlich, Valentine Winters, Directors; and in the summer o 1839, it was opened as a toll bridge. The iron extension was built by th city in 1866-67.

THE COOPER HYDRAULIC.

The old saw-mill race, extending 'from the southwest corner of First an Madison streets, to a point near Fifth street, between the two canals, marke

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CITY OF DAYTON.

th level from which the ground fell toward the west. In 1838, E. W. Davies n Alexander Grimes, as agents of Mrs. L. C. Cooper, built the hydraulic, 70 feet long, fifty feet wide, with twelve feet head, between Third and Fifth trets, west of Wyandot street .. Since the change in the channel of Mad Rir, this hydraulic has been fed direct from the canal.

CHANGE OF MAD RIVER.

A bend in Mad River at the northeast corner of the town, extended south from haqueduct to first street, and along that street, crossing what is now Keowee n Meigs streets, thence in a northwest direction, crossing Taylor street south f Vater street, and on across Water street to and uniting with the Miami i'r at a point about four hundred feet south of the present mouth of the I& River.

A bayou extended from the Miami River up the present channel of Mad tir to the Keowee street bridge, where, at that time, a log bridge crossed heayou, thence sontheast to a big spring near Mad River. Between the rent Keowee street river bridge and the old bridge near the corner of Water Taylor streets, over a marshy stretch there was a long, low log bridge. On oth sides of Mad River there were a number of large, deep springs of de- lig ful water, and the surrounding thickets were fine hunting grounds for il ducks and turkeys.

In 1840, Edward W. Davies and Alexander Grimes, as Trustees of the es- tiof D. Z. Cooper, caused a survey to be made for the new channel of !a River, from the aqueduct straight to the Miami River. They began the of early the next year, and completed it late in the fall of 1842, and during Lawinter water was turned into the new channel.

In 1841, while excavation for the new river bed was in progress, the uty Commissioners built the abutments for the new bridge, and, in August, n'acted with Uriah John for a double tracked, wooden covered bridge across a River, at the Troy road ford. The cost of the abutments was $856.68, woof the bridge $3,588. It was completed in April, 1843. The iron exten- s. )to the bridge was built to widen the channel in 1869.

CANAL EXTENSION.

After the change in the channel of Mad River, the canal was extended First street up to the junction near the aqueduct. The work was com- ed in 1845.

DAYTON HYDRAULIC COMPANY.

October, 1844, H. G. Phillips, Daniel Beckel, J. D. Phillips and Samuel Agar, under the firm name of Phillips, Beckel & Co., advertised for bids ronstruction of the hydraulic from Smithville, three miles up Mad River, 1.yton. In 1845, they were incorporated as the Dayton Hydraulic Company, dhe work was completed, bringing into the city the water-power now known te upper hydraulic.

HARRISON CONVENTION.

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The history of Montgomery county, Ohio, containing a history of the county, Part 63

Author: W.H. Beers & Co Publication date: 1882 Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co. Number of Pages: 1214

Author: W.H. Beers & Co
Publication date: 1882
Publisher: Chicago, W. H. Beers & co.
Number of Pages: 1214