Читать книгу Centennial History of Columbus and Franklin County - William Alexander Taylor - Страница 18

Kelley and Northrup's Addition.

In 1838 Alfred Kelley, Moylen Northrup and John Kerr's heirs, laid out into lots what they called on their recorded plat, "The allotment of the central reservation;" but which was more commonly called Kelley and Northrup's addition. Since which there have been so many small additions and sub-divisions of out-lots into building lots, that it would be more tedious than interesting to trace them any farther.

Demise and Failure.

Of the four original proprietors, John Kerr died in 1823, leaving a young family and a large estate, which, however, did not long remain with his heirs after they arrived at age.

Alexander McLaughlin failed in business about the year 1820 and never again rose from his fallen fortune. He had once been considered amongst the wealthiest men of the state. In his latter years he obtained a support by teaching a common country school. He was a sensible man with a fine business education and qualifications, but he had over-reached himself before the depression of business and prices of real estate, which took place from 1817 or 1818, to 1824 and 1825, and his large landed estate was sold under the hammer (figuratively speaking) for a mere song. He died about the year 1832 or 1833.

James Johnston, commonly called Colonel Johnston, failed about the same time and in the same way as Mr. McLaughlin. He left Columbus and went to Pittsburg to live about the year 1820. where he remained the balance of his life and died in the summer of 1842 at a very advanced age.

Lyne Starling, Last of the Four Founders.

Lyne Starling, the surviving one of the four, after the settlement of the proprietors' accounts with the state and among themselves, about the year 1818 or 1820, made a pleasure tour through Europe and then returned and spent the balance of his life principally in Columbus. He lived a bachelor and died quite wealthy in the fall of 1848, aged sixty-five years. He had, some half dozen years before his death, donated thirty-five thousand dollars to the erection of Starling Medical College and was in return complimented by having the college named after him.

John McGown, proprietor of South Columbus, died in the summer of 1824 in the seventy-fifth year of his age.

A Fourth of July Celebration.

On the 4th of July, 1825, a celebration of the commencement of the Ohio canal took place at Licking Summit, at which Governor Clinton, of New York, pursuant to invitation, attended, accompanied by Solomon Van Rensselaer, and Messrs. Rathbone and Lord, who made the first loan to the state for canal purposes. On the Wednesday following, Governor Clinton was escorted into Columbus by General Warner and suite, Colonel P. H. Olmsted's squadron of cavalry, Captain Hazel's light infantry. Captain Andrew McElvain's rifle corps, and Captain O'Harra's artillery; together with other citizens, to the state house, where he was addressed by Governor Morrow with a cordial welcome to Ohio's fertile and productive lands and her capital.

To which Governor Clinton made an appropriate reply, eulogizing our state and our canal enterprise, and closing with this sentence: "In five years it may, and probably will be completed, and I am clearly of the opinion that in ten years after the consummation of this work it will produce an annual revenue of at least a million of dollars: and I hope this remark may be noted, if anything I say shall be deemed worthy of particular notice, in order that its accuracy may be tested by experience. Governor Clinton overestimated the revenues, but the canal added hundreds of millions in wealth to the state.

Dined at the Golden Bell.

At the conclusion of the ceremonies at the state house, Governor Clinton was escorted to Mr. Robinson's tavern, sign of the Golden Bell, on the lot where the Johnston building was later erected, and partook of a public dinner.

Insurance Company Incorporated.

At the session of the legislature of 1832-33, the Columbus Insurance Company was incorporated. It failed in 1851.

The Clinton Bank Incorporated.

At the session of 1833-34, the Clinton Bank of Columbus was chartered, and in October, 1834, the first board of directors was elected and consisted of William Neil, Christopher Neiswanger, David W. Desbler, Demas Adams, John Patterson, Jesse Stone, Noah H. Swayne, Joseph Ridgway, Bela Latham, William S. Sullivant, William Miner, O. W. Sherwood and Nathaniel Medberry.

First President and Cashier.

William Neil was elected president, and John Delafield. Jr., cashier. Mr. Neil continued president until January, 1846, when he was succeeded by William S. Sullivant, who was continued as president until the charter expired, 1st of January, 1854. Mr. Delafield was succeeded as cashier by John E. Jeffords, in January, 1838. Mr. Jeffords died in April, 1842, and David W. Deshler was then appointed cashier, and continued until the expiration of the charter. During the last nine or ten years of the bank, W. G. Deshler served as teller, and David Overdier as bookkeeper.

Charter Expired—New Bank.

After the expiration of the charter, some half dozen of the principal stockholders in the old bank formed themselves into a new private banking company and continued to do business, as such in the same room. They styled their institution Clinton Bank, merely dropping from the old name the words "of Columbus." They redeemed the notes of the old Clinton Bank of Columbus.

The First Cholera Scourge.

In the summer of 1833, the cholera made its first appearance in Franklin county. It first broke out in the early part of the summer in a neighborhood on the canal, in Madison township, where it proved very fatal, but was confined to the space of a few miles only. On the 14th of July, it made its first appearance in Columbus and continued until about the first of October. A Mr. Stagg, who resided at the west end of Rich street, opposite the Jewett block, was the first victim. During its prevalence, there were about two hundred deaths in Columbus, notwithstanding the whole population of the town was not much, if any, over three thousand and it was supposed that one-third had fled to the country. Much sickness from fevers also prevailed at the same time, so that in many cases it was impossible to determine to what disease to attribute the death of the patient: though it is believed that about two-thirds of the deaths were attributable to cholera. Out of the whole number, the board of health discriminated one hundred as being of cholera proper. The number that was more or less attributable to cholera, has been variously estimated at from one hundred to one hundred and fifty. The mortality and terror of this season far surpassed any pestilence that ever-afflicted Columbus, before or since. Other parts of the county, beside the town and the neighborhood above alluded to, were not more sickly than ordinary seasons.

Among those who fell victims to the epidemic, were the following well known citizens: the Horton Howard family, consisting of the old gentleman, his wife and daughter, two grandchildren, and son-in-law, Mr. Little; James Woods and wife; C. C. Beard and wife; Ebenezer Thomas: William John: John B. Compston; Benjamin Sweetzer; Henry Jewett: Nimrod Rochester; Mr. White. coachmaker, and his wife; and Mrs. Zachariah Mills.

Post office and Borough Officers.

The Columbus post office was established in 1813 and in 1838 was made a distributing office.

Matthew Matthews, appointed postmaster in 1813—retired in 1814.

Joel Buttles, appointed postmaster in 1814—retired in 1829.

Bela Latham, appointed postmaster in 1829—retired in 1841.

John G. Miller, appointed postmaster in 1841—retired in 1845.

Jacob Medary, appointed post master in 1845-died in 1847.

Samuel Medary, appointed postmaster in 1847—retired in 1849.

Aaron F. Perry, appointed postmaster in 1849—retired in 1853.

Thomas Sparrow, appointed postmaster in 1853—retired in 1857.

Thomas Miller, appointed postmaster in 1857-retired in 1858.

Samuel Medary, appointed postmaster in 1858.

Beginning and End of the Borough.

The first act to incorporate the borough of Columbus was passed the 10th of February, 1816, and vested the corporate authority in nine councilmen, from which body a mayor, who also acted as president of the council, a recorder and treasurer, were elected by the council. They also appointed a surveyor, a marshal, and clerk of the market, and a listor and appraiser, to list and value property for borough taxation. The recorder made out the tax duplicate, and the marshal was the collector. The first election for councilman was held at the Columbus Inn on the 6th of May, 1816.

The elections; were by general ticket, and all the town voted at the same poll. The first members were to serve one, two and three years, so that three new members were elected each year after. The first councilmen elect met at the same inn on the 13th of the same month and organized.

In March, 1817, the old market house, that had been erected by contributions, was declared a nuisance and an ordinance passed for its removal.

Members of Council.

During the eighteen years of the borough organization, from 1816 to 1834. the following gentlemen served at various periods, as members of the council, to-wit: Messrs. Robert W. McCoy, Jeremiah Armstrong, Robert Armstrong, Henry Brown, John Cutler, Caleb Houston, John Kerr, Michael Patton, Jarvis Pike, James B. Gardiner, Christian Heyl, William McElvain, James Kooken, Townsend Nichols, Ralph Osborn, P. H. Olmsted, John Jeffords, Eli C. King, L. Goodale, Charles Lofland, W. T. Martin, John Greenwood, John Laughry, James Robinson, John W. Smith. William Long, Joel Buttles, Nathaniel McLean, Joseph Ridgway, George Jeffries, John Warner, Robert Brotherton, Jonathan Neereamer, Robert Riordan, Samuel Parsons, John Patterson, Moses R. Spurgion.

The following were the officers appointed by the town council: Mayor—Jarvis Pike, 1816; Jarvis Pike, 1817; John Kerr, 1818: John Kerr. 1819; Eli C. King, 1820; Eli C. King, 1821; Eli C. King, 1822; John Laughry, 1823; William T. Martin, 1824; William T. Martin, 1825: William T. Martin, 1826; James Robinson, 1827; William Long, 1828; William Long, 1829; William Long, 1830; William Long, 1831; William Long, 1832; P. H. Olmsted, 1833.

Recorder—R. W. McCoy, 1816; R. W. McCoy, 1817; Jas. B. Gardiner; 1818: Ralph Osborn, 1819; John Kerr, 1820; John Kerr, 1821; John Kerr, 1822; William T. Martin, 1823; William Long, 1824; William Long, 1825; William Long, 1826; William Long, 1827; L. Goodale. 1828: L. Goodale. 1829; L. Goodale, 1830; N. McLean, 1831; R, Osborn, 1832; John Patterson, 1833.

Marshal—Samuel King, 1816; Samuel King, 1817; James Fisher, 1818; William Richardson, 1819; Samuel Shannon, 1820; Samuel Shannon. 1821; Samuel Shannon, 1822; Samuel Shannon, 1823; Benjamin Sells, 1824; Samuel Shannon. 1825; Samuel Shannon, 1826; John Kelly, 1827; Benjamin Sells, 1828; Benjamin Sells, 1829; J. G. Godman, 1830; John Kelly, 1831; Benjamin Sells, 1832; George B. Harvey, 1833.

Treasurer—Robert Armstrong, 1816; Robert Armstrong, 1817; Christian Heyl. 1818: Christian Heyl, 1819; Christian Heyl, 1820; Christian Heyl, 1821; Christian Heyl, 1822; Christian Heyl, 1823; Christian Heyl, 1824; Christian Heyl, 1825; Christian Heyl, 1826; Christian Heyl. 1827; R. W. McCoy, 1828; R. W. McCoy. 1829; R. W. McCoy, 1830; R. W. McCoy, 1831; R, W. McCoy, 1832; R. W. McCoy, 1833.

Surveyor—John Kerr, 1816; John Kerr, 1817; John Kerr, 1818; John Kerr, 1819; Jeremiah McLene, 1820; John Kerr, 1821; John Kerr, 1822; Jeremiah McLene, 1823; Jeremiah McLene, 1824; Jeremiah McLene, 1825; Jeremiah McLene, 1826; Jeremiah McLene, 1827; Jeremiah McLene, 1828; Jeremiah McLene, 1829; Jeremiah McLene, 1830; Jos. Ridgway, Jr., 1831; Byron Kilbourne, 1832; Byron Kilbourne, 1833.

Clerks of Market—William Long, 1816; William Long, 1817; William Richardson, 1818; William Richardson, 1819; Samuel Shannon, 1820; Samuel Shannon, 1821; Samuel Shannon, 1822; Samuel Shannon, 1823; Samuel Shannon, 1824; Samuel Shannon, 1825: Samuel Shannon, 1826; John Kelly, 1827; Benjamin Sells, 1828; Benjamin Sells. 1829; Julius G. Godman, 1830; John Kelly, 1831; Benjamin Sells, 1832; George B. Harvey, 1833.

It will be observed that while there were one hundred and sixty-two councilmanic terms during the sixteen years of the borough organization, there were but thirty-seven different councilmen chosen or nearly five terms for each.

There were eighteen mayorial terms and eight different mayors.

There were eighteen recordership terms and ten different recorders.

There were eighteen terms of marshalship and ten different marshals. There were eighteen terms of treasurership and three different persons were treasurer.

There were eighteen terms of surveyorship and four different persons surveyor.

There were eighteen terms of clerk of the market and six different persons clerk.

That is to say that seventy-eight persons constituted the entire officialdom of the borough during the eighteen years of its existence, where as there were fifteen terms of office beginning and ending annually, after the first year, which if divided on the two term basis, would have given one hundred and thirty-five officials two terms each.

Enter the City of Columbus.

By an act of the legislature, passed March 3rd, 1834, Columbus was incorporated a city and divided into three wards. All north of State street constituted the first ward, all between State and Rich the second, and all south of Rich the third ward: each ward to be represented by four councilmen, to be elected on the second Monday of April in the same year. The term of service of the first board to be determined by lot, and afterward one member to be elected annually from each ward. The mayor to be elected biennially by the people.