Читать книгу Centennial History of Columbus and Franklin County - William Alexander Taylor - Страница 10

The First Court Record.

"At a meeting of the associate judges of the court of common pleas, of Franklin county, at the temporary seat of justice of said county, in Franklinton, on Tuesday, the 10th day of May, 1803,—present, the Hon. John Dill, chief judge; David Jamison, and Joseph Foos, Esqrs., associate judges of the court aforesaid; Who, having taken their official seats, were attended by Lucas Sullivant, clerk of the said court of common pleas, and they then proceeded to lay off the said county of Franklin into townships, as required by an act of the general assembly of the state of Ohio, entitled 'An act to regulate the election of justices of the peace, and for other purposes,' in the following manner, to wit: "Ordered, that all that part of Franklin county contained within the following limits, to-wit: Beginning at the forks of Darby creek, that is, at the junction of what is called Treacles creek with Darby creek, running thence south to the line between the counties of Ross and Franklin; thence east with said line until it intersects the Scioto river; thence up the same till it comes to a point one mile, on a straight line, above the mouth of Roaring run; and from thence to the point of beginning, do make and constitute the first township in Franklin county, and be called Franklin township.

"Ordered, that all that tract or part of Franklin county contained within the following limits and boundaries, to-wit: Beginning on the west bank of the Scioto river, one mile, on a direct line, above the mouth of Roaring run; from thence, on a direct line, to the junction of Treacles creek with Darby creek, which is frequently called the forks of Darby; thence south unto the line between the counties of Ross and Franklin; thence west with said line until it intersects the county line of Greene; thence with the last mentioned line north, and from the point of beginning, up the Scioto to the northern boundaries of Franklin county, do make and constitute the second township in said county, and be called Darby township.

"Ordered, that all that tract or part of Franklin county contained in the following meets (sic) and boundaries, to-wit: Beginning on the east bank of the Scioto river, at the points where the sectional line between the sections number eight and seventeen, in township four, and range twenty-two intersects the Scioto river; thence east with the said sectional line until it intersects the line between the counties of Fairfield and Franklin; thence south with the same to the line between the counties of Ross and Franklin; thence west with the same until it intersects the Scioto river; thence up the river to the point of beginning, to make and constitute the third township in Franklin county, and be called Harrison township.

"Ordered, that all that part of Franklin county contained within the following limits and boundaries, to-wit: Beginning on the east bank of the Scioto river, at the intersection of the sectional line between the sections number eight and seventeen, in the fourth township and twenty-second range; running thence with the said sectional line east, to the line between the counties of Fairfield and Franklin; thence north with said line, and from the point of beginning, with the Scioto, to the northerly boundary of Franklin county, do constitute and make the fourth Township in Franklin county and be called Liberty township.

"Ordered, that in Franklin township there be elected two justices of the peace, and that the electors hold their election for that purpose at the temporary place of holding courts for the county of Franklin, in Franklinton, on the twenty-first day of June next, as provided by law.

"Ordered, that in Darby township there be elected one justice of the peace, and that the electors in said township hold their election for that purpose at the house of David Mitchell, in said township, on the twenty-first day of June next, as provided by law.

"Ordered, that there be elected in Harrison township one justice of the peace, and that the electors in said township hold their election for that purpose at the house of Alexander Laughferty. on one Thomas Remixes' (sic) farm, in their said township, on the twenty-first day of June next, as provided by law.

"Ordered, that there be elected in Liberty township two justices of the peace, and that the electors hold their election for that purpose at the house of John Beaty, in said township, on the twenty-first day of June next, as provided by law.

"Ordered, that this court be adjourned without delay.

"Test.

"Lucas Sullivant, Clerk."

The regular courts for several years were held in hired rooms, until the Franklinton court house was erected, in 1807-8—Lucas Sullivant. contractor.

A jail was sooner provided, as was shown by the minutes.

The First Jail was a small log building. It was a temporary concern, and remained but a few years. About the same time that the courthouse was erected, a new brick jail was also erected, a few rods northeast from the courthouse—Arthur O'Harra, contractor. These buildings remained in use until the county seat was removed to Columbus, in 1824.

First Justices of the Peace.

On the 27th of June, 1803, under the provision of the 26th section of the act regulating elections the following justices of the peace were elected: Zachariah Stephen and James Marshall, in Franklin township; Joshua Ewing, in Darby; William Bennett, in Harrison; Joseph Hunter and Ezra Brown.

First Congressman Voted For.

On the same day, an election was held for a representative in congress, being the first election for a member of congress ever held in the state, the state being then entitled to but one member, and his term was to commence from the fourth of March preceding his election. Jeremiah Morrow was elected.

The following are copies of the certificates and abstract of the votes in Franklin county, to-wit: "On Monday, the 27th of June, 1803, in conformity to the 26th section of an act of the general assembly of the state of Ohio, entitled 'An act to regulate elections,' I called to my assistance David Jamison and Joseph Foos, Esqrs., two of the associate judges of the court of common pleas of Franklin county, and proceeded to open and examine the poll-books returned to me as clerk of said county, from the different townships therein contained, and for a representative in congress, find the votes as thus stated, to-wit: Michael Baldwin, 50: William McMillan, 34; Elias Langham, 44; Jeremiah Morrow, 2.

"In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name, and affixed the seal of the county aforesaid, this, the day and year above written.

Lucas Sullivant, C. F. C.

"We do hereby certify that the above statement of the election held on the 21st of this instant, in the county of Franklin, is a correct statement, as appears from the returns made to the clerk's office, from the several townships in our said county.

"Given under our hands this 27th of June, 1803.

"David Jamison,

"Joseph Foos."

First Military Execution.

In June, 1813. while the Ohio army of the war of 1812-1815 lay at Franklinton. a soldier, William Fish by name, was shot under sentence of court-martial on the charge of desertion and threatening the life of his captain.

Three other soldiers, whose names were not recorded by the original historian, were also condemned to death, but were pardoned by Gen. William Henry Harrison. One, however, was placed on a coffin by a newly opened grave, blindfolded, and left under the impression that he was to be shot along with Fish.

Imagining that the firing squad had missed him. he was restored to nervous equilibrium only when the general's pardon, with an admonition, was read to him by an adjutant.

The First Wedding.

The first nuptial ceremony celebrated in Columbus occurred in 1814, the high contracting parties being Mr. George B. Harvey and Miss Jane Armstrong. A week or two later, another couple followed suit. They were Mr. Joseph Dello and Miss Polly Collett. Rev. James Hoge was the officiating minister. These weddings took place on the east side of the river. There were possibly, previous to this date, weddings on the west side of the river, but there are no attainable records thereof.

The First Bank Established.

The first bank to be established in Columbus began business in 1816. In that year Columbus was first incorporated, fuller mention of which appears elsewhere.

The First Ohio Gazetteer.

This valuable publication by John Kilbourne appeared in 1816, being duly copyrighted by the author. So great was the demand for the work that it went through six editions in three years. He died in Columbus in 1831.

The First Almanac.

William Lusk in 1817 published the first almanac at Columbus. To this he added a complete roster of the public officers of the state, by counties, making a pamphlet of sixty-four pages and bestowed on the work the title of "Ohio Register and Western Calendar," which he copyrighted and published for a number of years. He died in Dayton in 1855. In his Register of 1821, he describes Franklinton as containing a post office, three taverns, a common school and an academy "in which are taught English, Grammar, Geography, Mensuration, Geometry, Trigonometry, Plane and Spherical Surveying, Navigation, Algebra, and Astronomy." He was president, faculty and teacher, all in one, of the institution.

He described Worthington as a town containing "a post office, a printing office, four taverns, four mercantile stores, a college, a Masonic hall and a number of large manufactories for woolen clothes, hats, saddles, shoes, combs, etc."

A First Presidential Visit.

In the latter part of August, 1817, President Monroe and suite passed through this county, on their return from Detroit after his northern tour of inspection of the public fortifications, etc. They were met at Worthington by the Franklin Dragoons, commanded by Captain Vance, and escorted to Columbus, where proper arrangements had been made for the reception; and the President was received in the state house, and welcomed to the capital by a neat and appropriate speech from Honorable Hiram M. Curry, then treasurer of state. To which the President made a suitable reply, complimenting the "infant city," as he called it, and its inhabitants.

They traveled on horseback, and were generally escorted from one town to another by the military, or some distinguished citizens. They rode fast, generally in a canter. Mr. Monroe wore the old-fashioned, three-cornered, cocked hat—his dress otherwise was in plain, citizen style. His face was effectually sunburnt from exposure.

This troop of dragoons was first organized in time of the war of 1812, and continued until 1832. or 1833, when they disbanded. They were commanded by the following, successive captains: Joseph Vance, Abram J. McDowell, Robert Brotherton, P. H. Olmstead, Joseph McElvain and David Taylor.

Captain Vance was a fine military officer, and was in the service, in different grades of office, during the greater part of the war. He was among the early settlers of the county; married in Franklinton in 1805, and remained a resident of the county the balance of his life. He was a surveyor and for many years the county surveyor; was one of the conspicuous citizens of his day, and highly respected. He died in 1824.

Captain McDowell was a military officer of portly and commanding appearance. He was afterward promoted to the rank of colonel, which title he bore through life. He was among the early settlers of the county, and held the office of clerk of the courts and county recorder many years. He was afterward mayor of the city of Columbus. Was a man of free and jovial disposition, and always had warm friends. He died in the fall of 1844, in the fifty-fourth year of his age.

Captain Brotherton was the third commander of this popular troop, and was. from that, promoted to the rank of colonel, which title he bore through life. He was a native of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and came to Franklinton when a youth, and resided in this county ever after. He married a daughter of Captain Kooken, a family of high respectability. He was of a mild and sociable disposition, and became very popular, apparently without an effort on his part. He served two constitutional terms of four years each, as sheriff, and filled that critical and unpleasant office with peculiar ease and kindness, and was never charged with oppression. He died in November, 1837, aged about forty-five years.

Captain McElvain, like his predecessors in the command of the troops, was promoted to the rank of colonel in the Ohio militia, and bore the title of colonel through life. He died suddenly on the 7th of February, 1858, at his residence in Worthington, aged about sixty-five years. Colonel McElvain was one of the first residents of Franklin county. He came here with his father and family, when he was a child, in the spring of 1798, and remained here ever since. He was in turn farmer, merchant, hotel-keeper and public officer.

He was many years an assistant at the Ohio penitentiary. He held the office of county treasurer four years, and was superintendent of the county infirmary a number of years, and discharged the duties of his office with kindness and urbanity.

First Toll Bridge.

The first toll bridge in Columbus was erected in 1815-1816 by Lucas Sullivant. It was erected across the Scioto on the road leading from Columbus to Franklinton. The bridge was erected under a charter granted by the legislature. This charter or franchise printed elsewhere in full, passed to the ownership of Joseph Sullivant, when the estate of his father, Lucas Sullivant, was divided among his heirs. The National road when located in 1832-1833 crossed at practically the same point, and the superintendent in charge agreed to erect a free bridge at the expense of the United States government, on condition that Sullivant's rights under the charter were abdicated. Public-spirited citizens on both sides of the river subscribed eight thousand dollars, and Franklin county, through its board of commissions, added two thousand dollars, and the ten thousand dollars thus raised was paid to Mr. Sullivant, for the abdication of his charter rights.

The First Pestilence.

The summer and fall of 1823 exceeded anything before known for sickness. The whole country was little else than one vast infirmary—whole families were frequently prostrate without well members enough to take care of the sick ones. The diseases were bilious and intermittent fevers, of all types, from the common fever and ague to the most malignant. Although the mortality was great, still it was not excessively so in proportion to the number of sick.

Many prominent men were taken off that season, amongst whom were Lucas Sullivant, Judge John A. McDowell, Judge John Kerr, David S. Broderick, Barzillai Wright, keeper of the penitentiary, and others. The ensuing year, 1824, was also very sickly, but not so much so as 1823. Amongst the prominent old citizens carried off this year were Captain Joseph Vance. Billingsby Bull, Esquire, James Culbertson, John Starr, Sr., and others.

First Court House East of the River.

In 1824 the county seat was removed from Franklinton to Columbus and a commodious brick building and jail was erected at the spot where the great stone Temple of Justice on the block bounded by Mound and Fulton and High and Pearl streets now stands.

First Extension of High Street.

In 1823 a road was opened extending from the then north end of High street to Worthington drawn at a tangent. This road obviated the use of the former thoroughfare, especially in muddy weather, extending up the Scioto and the Olentangy. This stream, formerly called Whetstone is, by a law passed in February, 1833, to restore the Indian names to certain streams, called Olentangy; and the stream sometimes called Big Walnut and sometimes Big Belly is named Gahannah, though it is said that the name Gahannah is only applicable to that stream below the junction of the three creeks, Blacklick, Walnut, and Alum—that the Indian word Gahannah signifies three united in one.

The First Silk Factory.

One often sees in the lawns of the city and along the roadways and boulevards leading out into the suburbs that species of mulberry tree which produces a luscious white berry. Along in the '30s, and a little later perhaps, its stately Latin name, Mora Multicaulus, was on all lips, and young and old prophesied in its name of fortunes so fabulous that Aladin's lamp looked as insignificant, as a fortune getter, as an emaciated firefly under a full moon in August. During the excitement enterprising people made money selling the mulberry trees, or bushes, to other people, who planted and nurtured them for a few years, when they would be able to feed vast colonies of silk worms, which would spin fortunes in silk for the tree owners.

The Mora Multicaulus sellers insured the growth of their trees, taking one-half in cash when they were "set out" and the other half the next year, when they come into full leaf and demonstrated their health and abilities to grow under Ohio's climate. The original purveyors made money, but the mulberry growers, the silk worm herders and silk manufacturers did not succeed so satisfactorily. In fact they did not succeed at all, save in having delicious fruit for table use during the mulberry season. Joseph Sullivant, A. S. Chew and some others formed a company, set out an immense Mora Multicaulus field, contracted for the product of the silk worms in all directions and erected and equipped a big frame silk factory on the west side, but never made a yard or a skein of silk, but abandoned the enterprise, and an antiquarian could not locate the site of the factory at this day if he tried.

This Mora Multicaulus business was then and since then denounced and pointed out as a fake and a humbug. But was it?

Almost immediately following the Mom Multicaulus failure came the "sugar beet" craze, and it turned out to be a worse humbug than the silk worm business, and history so records it, interspersed at various points by strong implication, with expletives, objurgations and impolite remarks. And yet how unreasonable is "history" with respect to the sugar beet? It came too early or under adverse circumstances, and was whistled down the wind. May it not be that the Mora Multicaulus came ahead of time in this latitude, earning only distrust because it came at an inopportune season of the continent's evolution? The future historian must answer this question.

The First Political Millennium.

This condition arrived in 1840 and continued throughout the presidential campaign of that year. It was hoe cake, the coon skin and hard cider for the present—"Two dollars a day and roast beef" for the future. The hoe cake, the coon skin and the hard cider came all right. The two dollars a day and roast beef did not appear in a well-defined form, but the people, without much regard to party divisions, did help to send one of Ohio's grandest and most patriotic citizens to the presidential chair—the heroic figure who most largely, from his headquarters on the west side of the river, directed the western and northern campaigns in the war of 1812, sometimes in personal command on the firing line, and whose military genius is not yet fully appreciated, whose achievements as a statesman were cut short by the untimely hand of death.

The First Paper Mill.

The first paper mill was erected in 1839-40 by Henry Roedter and John Siebert, a mile or two above the upper end of Franklinton, where they for some time carried on the paper making business. It did not. however, succeed well, and Roedter soon passed out of the concern and removed to Cincinnati. It was then for a time owned and worked by Siebert and Ernst Frankenberg, and succeeded no better. It then passed into the hands of Asahel Chittenden, who removed the machinery to a new brick building, erected for that purpose, just above the National road bridge in Columbus, where it was worked for some time by J. L. Martin and R. H. Hubbell, and then by William Murphy until it was destroyed by fire in 1848. It was then rebuilt and worked by Mr. A. B. Newburgh until the fall of 1849, when it finally closed its business. The same building was afterward converted into a machine shop, owned by Messrs. Swan and Davis, and in July, 1854, it was again destroyed by fire—building, machinery and all.

The First Newspaper.

The first newspaper in Franklin county was established at Worthington by Colonel James Kilbourne, grandfather of Colonel James Kilbourne, the present Columbus manufacturer, in 1811, and named the Western Intelligencer. In 1814 the paper was removed to Columbus, and it finally evolved into the Ohio State Journal of the present day. A full account of that evolution and the evolution of the Press Post, along with the rise and fall of a long line of newspapers down to the present time, finds a conspicuous place elsewhere in these volumes.

The First Turnpike.

The Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike was the first joint stock company road constructed, any part of which was in Franklin county. On the 31st day of January, 1826, an act was passed by the legislature incorporating John Kilbourne, Abram I. McDowell, Henry Brown, William Neil, Orange Johnson, Orris Parish and Robert Brotherton, of Franklin county, and nineteen others, named in the act and residing along the line of the road in and about Delaware. Bucyrus and Sandusky, and their associates, by the name of "The Columbus and Sandusky Turnpike company," with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars, with power to increase the same to two hundred thousand dollars: the stock divided into shares of one hundred dollars each; the company to be governed by a board of nine directors.

The charter was accepted by the. company, and by an act of Congress passed March 3, 1827, there was thirty-one thousand eight hundred and forty acres of land given to the state of Ohio in trust for the use of the said company, to aid them in the construction of the road. Without unnecessary delay the road was surveyed and located. Colonel Kilbourne was the surveyor and Orange Johnson, Esquire, was one of the locating commissioners and the principal agent for the company from first to last. The road was nearly eight years in constructing and was finished in the fall of 1834. It is one hundred and six miles in length, from Columbus to Sandusky, and cost seventy-four thousand three hundred and seventy-six dollars, being an average cost of a little over seven hundred and one dollars per mile. The charter required that at least eighteen feet in width should be made "an artificial road, composed of stone, gravel, wood or other suitable materials, well compacted together, in such manner as to secure a firm, substantial and even road, rising In the middle with a gradual arch." Upon a proper construction of this clause has hung all the troubles between the road company and the traveling public. The company seem to have supposed that a properly formed clay road would meet the requirements of the charter, while the public seem to have expected a stone or graveled road. The charter required that the governor should, at the proper time, appoint an agent to examine the road and report his opinion in writing to the president of the company, whether the same be completed agreeably to the provisions of the charter: and Nathan Merriman was appointed the agent for that purpose, and he reported "that he had examined the road and that, in his opinion, the same was completed agreeably to the provisions of the act incorporating said company." And thereupon the company erected their gates and exacted toll from those traveling the road. The road was quite an important public improvement at that time, but it was only a clay or mud pike, and in the spring and wet seasons of the year it was in places almost impassable; and to be obliged to pay toll at such times was grievously complained of and the gates occasionally torn down: but the agent of the company would immediately re-erect them. The subject was finally brought before the legislature and on the 28th of February, 1843, the act incorporating the company was unconditionally repealed; and it was further provided that it should not be lawful thereafter for said company to erect or keep up any gate or collect any tolls on the road. At the same session, in March, 1843, commissioners were appointed for that purpose, who surveyed and laid out a state road from Columbus to Sandusky upon the bed of the turnpike; and on the 12th of March, 1845. an act was passed establishing the same a public highway. Until this time the toll gates had been kept up and toll received, notwithstanding the repeal of the charter. But immediately after the passage of this act the gates on the road were torn down by an excited populace and never more erected. There was but one gate on this road within the bounds of Franklin county, and that was about two miles north of Columbus. The company claim that these acts of the legislature were unconstitutional; that their road had been made according to the provisions of the charter, and relied most particularly upon the decision of the state agent, who had formally accepted the road, and they kept applying regularly to each successive legislature for relief.

At the session of 1843-4 a committee, of which Dr. S. Parsons was chairman, reported in favor of the road company conveying to the state all their rights, interests and privileges in the road, and that the state pay the stockholders severally the amount of their stock in state bonds, and that the road be declared one of the public works of the state and placed under the control and supervision of the board of public works.

In 1847, by a resolution of the legislature, the subject was referred to the attorney general (Henry Stanberry, Esquire), and in his report he did not directly give an opinion on the constitutionality of the repeal, but says: "I am of opinion that a wrong has been done the company," etc. At the session of 1856-7 a bill passed the senate to authorize the company to bring suit against the state for injustice done in the repeal of the charter; but the bill was lost in the house and the project was never revived.

The Columbus and Worthington Plank Road or Turnpike, the Columbus and Portsmouth Turnpike, the Columbus and Harrisburg Turnpike, the Columbus and Johnstown Turnpike Road, the Columbus and Sunbury Turnpike and Plank Road, the Columbus and Granville Plank Road or Turnpike.

The Columbus and Groveport Turnpike, the Cottage Mills and Harrisburg Turnpike, the Franklin and Jackson Turnpike, the Columbus and Lock win (Lockbourne) Plank Road, the Clinton and Blendon Plank road, and other state and county highways which radiated from Columbus in all directions between 1826 and 1856, indicated how securely the city was attracting to herself the great possibilities incident not only to her outlying townships, but the adjoining counties east, west, north and south, two or three tiers deep with the great National Road bisecting the state east and west from Virginia to Indiana and the west and the great State Road—the first above named—bisecting it north and south, from Sandusky to Portsmouth, from Lake Harbor to navigable rivers, crossing at right angles under the shadow of the dome of the capitol.

Originally all these were toll roads, and one by one were bought by the county and the cost of purchase assessed against the abutting farm owners within prescribed limits, the last toll road disappearing about 1891-2. Free turnpikes, with the mile limit on either side, has given the country a good highway system, touching almost directly every section of land within its limits.

The First Canal.

The first canal in Columbus was a branch of the Ohio canal, and was the last one as well. On the 30th of April, 1827, was the commencement of the first manual operations upon this part of the Ohio canal. The citizens of Columbus and its neighborhood, to the number of eight or nine hundred, assembled at the state house and at two o'clock formed a procession, marshaled by Colonels McDowell and McElvain, and preceded by General Warner and his suite and parts of Captain Joseph McElvain's company of dragoons. Captain Foos's company of riflemen, Columbus Artillery and state officers, and marched to the ground, near where Comstock's warehouse stood at that time.

Joseph K. Swan, Esquire, delivered a short but pertinent address, and at its close General McLene, then secretary of state, and Nathaniel McLean, Esquire, then keeper of the penitentiary, proceeded to remove the first earth from the lateral canal, which was wheeled from the ground by Messrs. R. Osborn and H. Brown, then auditor and treasurer of state, amidst the reiterated shouts of the assembly. The company then retired from the ground to partake of a cold collation, prepared by Mr. C. Heyl, on the brow of the hill a few rods north of the penitentiary square. After the cloth was removed the following, among other toasts, were drunk: "The Ohio Canal—The great artery which will carry vitality to the extremities of the Union."

"The Citizens of Columbus—Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Who envies this day, let him slink back to his cavern and growl."

This branch of canal was over four years in process of construction. The heaviest jobs were the canal dam across the Scioto and the Columbus locks.

Messrs. W. McElvain, A. McElvain, B. Sells and P. Sells, contractors; the four mile locks at Lockbourne, the Granville Company, consisting of Messrs. Monson, Fasset. Taylor and Avery, contractors. The first mile from the Scioto was excavated by the penitentiary convicts under guards. Such men were selected by the keeper as would have least inducements to break away; and they generally received a remitment of part of their sentences for faithful services.

The farming and producing part of the community were watching with great anxiety the progress of this work, pretty correctly anticipating the new era that the completion of the canals would introduce in the Ohio market.

Of the substantial farmers along this short line who were thus watching its progress might be named William Merion, Moses Merrill, William Stewart, R. C. Henderson. Joseph Fisher, Andrew Dill, Percival Adams, Michael Stimmel, Fergus Morehead, Samuel Riley, James German, Thomas Morris, William Bennett, Jacob Plum, Luke Decker and Thomas Yause. Of whom Messrs. Adams. Stimmel and Riley were the only survivors in 1858.

On the 23rd of September, 1831, the first boat arrived at Columbus by way of the canal. About eight o'clock in the evening the firing of cannon announced the approach of the "Governor Brown." a canal boat launched at Circleville a few days previous and neatly fitted up for an excursion of pleasure to this place, several of the most respectable citizens of Pickaway county being on board as passengers. The next morning at an early hour a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen of Columbus repaired to the boat in order to pay their respects to the visitors; and after the delivery of a brief but very appropriate address by General Flournoy, exchanging those friendly salutations and cordial greetings which the occasion was so well calculated to call forth, the party proceeded back to Circleville. accompanied a short distance by a respectable number of the citizens of Columbus and the' Columbus band of music. On the afternoon of the second day after, two canal boats, the "Cincinnati" and the T' Red Rover," from the lake by way of Newark, entered the lock at the mouth of the Columbus feeder, where they were received by a committee appointed for that purpose, and proceeded, under a national salute of twenty-four guns and music from the Columbus band, to a point just below the National road bridge, where the commanders were welcomed, in the name of the citizens of Columbus, by Colonel Doherty in a very neat address. A procession was then formed, when the company proceeded to Mr. Ridgeway's large warehouse and partook of a collation prepared in handsome style by Mr. John Young. A third boat, the "Lady Jane," arrived soon afterward and was received in a similar manner. On the day following, these boats having disposed of their freight, took their departure for Cleveland in the same order and with about the same ceremonies as on their arrival, a large number of ladies and gentlemen, together with the Columbus band, accompanying their welcome visitors as far as the five-mile locks. Here they met the "Chillicothe" and "George Baker," which took them on board, and they returned home, highly delighted with their ride, at the rate of three or four miles an hour.

The First Canal Toll Collector.

Joseph Ridge way, Jr.. was the first collector of canal tolls, and kept the office up at the Ridgeway warehouse on Broad street, and nearly all the boats passed up there to put out and take in freight. M. S. Hunter was the second collector, and the office was removed to the head of the canal, where it continued ever after, and the freight business was nearly all done there following the removal of the office. David S. Doherty was the third collector, Charles B. Flood the fourth, Samuel McElvain the fifth and Benjamin Tressenrider the sixth.

The First Poorhouse.

The first poorhouse or county infirmary was erected on the Olentangy within the present general limits of the city in 1832, under the provisions of an act of the legislature of the date of March 8, 1831. Captain Robert Cloud was appointed superintendent. Further reference to this and subsequent buildings more appropriately occupy space in another chapter.

The First Agricultural Society

Was organized at a public meeting in the city hall on the (5th of September, 1851, and the following officers were elected: President, Samuel Medary: vice president, Samuel Brush; treasurer, George M. Peters: secretary, William Dennison, Jr.; managers. Pliny Curtis, David Taylor, Joseph O'Hara, William L. Miner and William H. Rarey. A committee of three was appointed from each ward and township to obtain subscribers to the institution and collect dues from the members.

The First Horticultural Society.

The Columbus Horticultural Society was organized April 10. 1845. The officers elected May 12, 1845. were: President, Bela Latham: vice presidents, W. S. Sullivant and Samuel Medary, recording secretary. Joseph Sullivant; corresponding secretary, M. B. Bateman; treasurer, John W. Andrews; manager. Dr. I. G. Jones, John Burr, John A. Lazell, John Fisher, Moses Jewett, John Miller and Leander Ransom. The first county agricultural fair was held on the state fairgrounds near Franklinton in October, 1851. The first horticultural fair and exhibition was held September 26, 1845.