Читать книгу Centennial History of Columbus and Franklin County - William Alexander Taylor - Страница 12

The First Census.

In the spring of 1815 the census of the town was taken by James Marshal, Esquire, and amounted to about seven hundred. By this time there were some half dozen or more of stores, among which were those of Alexander Morrison, Joel Buttles, Henry Brown, Delano & Cutler and J. & R. W. McCoy; and a printing office issuing a weekly paper.

The First Lawyers.

The first lawyers to locate in Columbus were David Smith, Orris Parish, David Scott and Gustavus Swan, about the year 1815. Shortly after, succeeded John R. Parish, T. C. Flournoy, James K. Cory, William Doherty and others. Mr. Parish died in June, 1829, in the forty-third year of his age. He was a man of vigorous mind and an able lawyer and legislator, and for a time quite popular. But he had his frailties. Mr. Cory died the first day of January, 1827, in his twenty-ninth year. He was a promising young lawyer from Cooperstown, New York, and had resided in Columbus some seven or eight years.

On the same day Dr. Daniel Turney, a popular physician of Columbus, died from the effects of poison. Colonel Doherty was a native of Charleston, South Carolina, from whence he came to Ohio during the war of 1812, and took up his residence in Columbus in 1816. He subsequently, in 1820, married a daughter of General McLene, and made Columbus his residence the balance of his life. He possessed a turn of mind for public business, and, being a man of fine appearance and pleasant address, became popular and filled some highly respectable and lucrative offices. He was for seven years in succession clerk of the house of representatives in the Ohio legislature—one session at Chillicothe and six at Columbus. The clerks then received five dollars per day, while the members received three dollars. He was also for a number of years adjutant general of the state of Ohio. He was afterward United States marshal for the district of Ohio four years. He had, however, previous to this and since his residence in Columbus, prosecuted the study of the law and been admitted to the practice.

In 1831 he was elected senator for the district of Franklin and Pickaway counties, and was at his first session chosen speaker of that body—a compliment rarely bestowed on a new member. But he was competent to fill the place and filled it to the general satisfaction of the senate. He died in Feb ruary. 1840, at the age of fifty years.

The First Post office.

The Columbus post office was established in 1813 and was made a distributing office in 1838. From that period it has grown constantly.

The First Market House.

The first market house was erected in 1814 by voluntary contributions of property holders in the vicinity of its location. It was a substantial frame, probably fifty feet in length and proportionable in width and height. It was situated in the middle of High street, a little south of Rich street. It continued there until the town became incorporated. Immediately after the incorporation the subject of a new market house and the proper place for its location was agitated. Rich street, Town street, State street and Broad street were all proposed as sites. Property holders on Broad street were strenuous in favor of it, arguing its greater width than any other street and drawing the inference therefrom that it must have been designed in the plan of the town for the market house. Joseph Miller, who bought and erected the front of the building afterward known as the "Buckeye House," as early as 1816, it is said, was influenced in his purchase and made large improvements in the confident belief that the market house would be established nearly in front of his house.

But about the year 1817 it was determined by the council in favor of locating it on State street, immediately west of High; and pursuant to contract, John Shields erected the new market house. It was a two-story building, something larger than the old frame, the under story of brick for a market house for the town, and the second story was a pretty well finished frame, divided into two large and well finished rooms and belonged to Shields. Thus he furnished a market house for the town for the privilege of having rooms of his own over it.

These rooms he rented out for various purposes: one was occupied as a printing office and the other was for a time used by himself, and occasionally others, to hold preaching in. After some years Shields sold out to John Young, and by him the rooms were appropriated to amusement and gaming. The first billiard table kept in town was in the upper part of this market house.

About the year 1829 or 1830 the council bought out Young's interest and the building was removed and a larger market house, without any room above, was erected on the same site—Elijah Ellis, contractor. This building continued until the erection of the market house on Fourth street.

The First Corporation.

On the 10th of February, 1816, the town was incorporated as "The Borough of Columbus," and on the first Monday in May following, Robert W. McCoy, John Cutler, Robert Armstrong, Henry Brown, Caleb Houston, Michael Patton, Jeremiah Armstrong, Jarvis Pike and John Kerr were elected the first board of councilmen.

First Town Wit and Poet.

James B. Gardiner, who was the wit of the day, composed the following off-hand doggerel verse with reference to their occupations, with which he would occasionally amuse himself by repeating to the members:

I sell buckram and tape … McCoy.

I sell crocks and leather … Cutler.

I am the gentleman's ape … R. Armstrong.

I am all that together … Brown.

I build houses and barns … Houston.

I do the public carving … Patton.

I sell cakes and beer … J. Armstrong.

I am almost starving … Pike.

I sell lots and the like and dabble in speculation … Kerr

We and his Majesty Pike (Mayor Pike)

Make a splendid corporation.

Mr. Gardiner was very apt in writing amusing and satirical verse and wain the habit of using the signature "'Cokeley" until he was familiarly known by that name to all his acquaintances, and he was frequently so addressed by his jocular friends. But he also wrote some very fine patriotic and sentimental poetry for July celebrations and such occasions. He removed from Columbus to Greene county about the year 1823, and while there represented that county in the state legislature. He afterward returned to Columbus, and in 1834 was elected state printer for three years. He died in April, 1837, aged forty-eight years.

The First Incorporated Bank.

The Franklin Bank of Columbus was incorporated by the act of the legislature February 3, 1816, and on the first Monday of September, 1816, the first election of directors was held, the following being elected: Lucas Sullivant, James Kilbourne, John Kerr, Alexander Morrison, Abram I. McDowell, Joel Buttles, Robert Massie, Samuel Barr, Samuel Parsons, John Cutler, Robert W. McCoy, Joseph Miller and Henry Brown.

Lucas Sullivant was chosen the first president, and his immediate successors were: Benjamin Gardiner, John Kerr, Gustavus Sevan. The charter of the institution expired January 1, 1843.

First Big Sensation.

The first big sensation in banking, social and political circles occurred shortly after in the sudden disappearance of Benjamin Gardiner, the second president of the Franklin Bank, although it does not appear that he misapplied or carried off the money of others. This gentleman, whose true name was Barzillai Gannett, had left his home and family in one of the eastern states under unfavorable circumstances and obtained an appointment by the name of Benjamin Gardiner as quartermaster in the army, and was stationed at Franklinton during the war. He was grave and dignified in his appearance and manners and obtained a high reputation in the church and society generally, and married into a respectable connection in this county. But, unfortunately for him, his history followed him, and to avoid a prosecution for bigamy he left clandestinely and was never heard of, except perhaps by a few confidential friends.

The First Cotton Yarn Mill.

Colonel Jewett and Judge Hines erected a mill for spinning cotton yarns in 1821, run by horse power, on Front street, between Rich and Friend (Main) streets. Later it was run by water power, and it continued for some years, but was never very successful.

First Woolen Factory.

Ebenezer Thomas and others erected a woolen factory for carding, spinning and weaving at the corner of High and Noble streets. This venture, too, was not a great success.

First Steam Sawmill.

The first steam sawmill was erected in 1831-1832 by John McIlvain at the head of the Columbus branch of the Ohio canal. It was only comparatively successful in a business sense.

The First Plow Factory.

The first manufactory which was a success from the start was a plow factory and foundry established by Joseph Ridgeway in 1822. This being the heart of a great agricultural district, this establishment possessed signal advantages.

The First Addition.

The town was originally laid out in 1812 and the plat regularly made and laid down. The first addition was made to the original plat in 1814 by John McGown and called by him "South Columbus." The surveyor and platter was John Shields.

The First Insurance Company.

The Columbus Insurance Company was chartered by the legislature of 1832-33 and was known as the Columbus Insurance Company. It continued in business less than a score of years, and went upon the shoals of failure in 1851.