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A Brief History of Columbus, Ohio
Franklin County Ohio, Genealogy and History
Submitted by Ruth Ficarra
Email: [email protected]
Date: February 10, 2000
Taken from Columbus City Directory 1852
Part V
To add to the depression of business , and the price of property, about the year 1822 or 23, the title of Starling's half-section on which the city was located was called in question. it had originally been granted to one Allen , a refugee from the British Provinces in the time of the American Revolution. Allen had deeded it to his son and the son had mortgaged it and it was sold at Sheriff's sale to satisfy the mortgage, and Starling was the purchaser....
It was now claimed by the heirs of Allen who took various exceptions to Starlings title: First as to the sale from a old man, Allen to his son ; and , particularly to the sale by the Sheriff to Starling, on the ground that there was no evidence that an appraisement had been had as required by the statues of Ohio; and suit was brought by ejection against some of the settlers who owned the most valuable improvements, first in the Supreme Court of Ohio and then in the United States Court for the District of Ohio; Mr. Starling defended the suits and first engaged Henry Clay of Kentucky who then practiced in the United States Court in Columbus as a attorney but who owing to his business in Washington City, gave up the case, and Henry Baldwin then of Pittsburgh, after wards one of the Judges of the United States Court was next engaged who conducted the defense with great ability; and about 1824 or 25 it was finally decided in favor of Starling's title and the matter was put to rest as to that half-section.......
The suits against Starling's half-section were scarcely decided until a claim came against Kerr's and McLaughlin's half-section. They had bought from one Strawbridge who conveyed by an Attorney or Agent and the deed ran thus: That the Agent conveyed for Strawberry instead of Strawberry conveying by Agent and was so signed...........
thus the defect in McLaughlin and Kerr's title was merely techical; but was contended that this was not Strawberry's deed but the deed of the Agent , who claimed no title. And about the year 1824 a quit-claim was obtained from Strawberrys heirs by some man purporting to be a New Yorker, upon which suit was brought to ejectment , as to the other case against the settlers with the valuable improvements. But a suit in chancery, about the year 1826, this was all set right, and the title of Kerr and McLaughlin sustained.......
the years 1819 and 20 to 25 or 26 were the dullest years of Columbus. But soon after this Columbus began to look up again. The location of the National Road and of the Columbus Feeder to the Ohio Canal gave an impetus to improvements and by the year 1830 the price of poperty and improvements of the town had considerably advanced and from 1830 to 37 improvements and all kinds of business were brisk and the price of real estate ran up at rail-road speed..........
A check was given to the rise in real estate in 1839-40 bt the general depression of business throughout the country, but after that period business again began to flourish, and Columbus has since continued steadly to increase in population and business and at this time has a population of about 22,000 inhabitants. And in exports of the productions from various mamufactories of the city and vicinity stands next to Cincinnati.......
in 1833 the cholera visited Columbus-it commenced the 14th of July and continued for three months. The population was about 3500.-about 1000 of the inhabitants left the city- 150 died of the cholera out of the 2500 who remained in the city-about 1 out of 17 of the population. The first case and death was Josiah Stagg, residing oppisite the Jewett buildings, west end of Rich Street.......
In 1840-50, the cholera again visited Columbus. In 1840 the first case occured about the 29th of June in the Jewett building opposite the place where it commenced in 1833- in the family of Mrs. George B. Smith- a boy about ten years old was taken and died,- then Mr. Smith and his wife; and several others of the family died in a short time. The cholera continued for abou three months, during which time 300 died, exclusive of deaths in the prison. The population was probably 16,000 at that time. About 3000 left the city, leaving 13000- A little over 2 deaths to 100 of population. Far the largest number of cases and deaths were in the south part of the city........
In the following year the cholera commenced on or about the 9th of July, and continued until September 23 , and prevailed more generally over the city, then the preceding year. A much larger number of citizens left then -probably about 5,000., and the cholera deaths were estimated to be 500. About one out of 22 of the population........
The cholera had a depressing effect upon the business of the place, but in less than a year s time the increase of business and population was in rapid progression......
Mr James Cherry, who has been for some time engaged in making out a list of those who lived in Columbus in the years 1819-20 and 21 says that there are probably not over 125 who lived in the town then, that are presently residing in the city. His list has at present but 95........
Of the Lawyers who were engaged in business as Attorneys in Columbus and Franklinton, up to 1819, the Hon. Gusinvus Swan is the only one within our recollection- and he is undoubtedly indebted to his temperate and regular habits, for life, and his present robust and healthy appearance at the age of probably sixty-five years............
In the early settlement of the country, Atorneys generally visited courts from 50 to 100 miles around their residences; and their exposure in traveling and the bustle and excitement which attended their business and the meeting together from different places, had a strong tendency to fix upon them , habits of dissipation, and but few escaped. At the taverns, where the lawyers put up- the choice spirits of the surrounding country- those fond of life and excitement would collect- and the song and anecdote, accompanied by the social glass, occupied their time, generally until a late hour of the night- and it required a n attorney to have more then a common share of ability and perseverance to succeed in business, unless he permitted himself to be drawn into the "social spree"............
Columbus is situated in latitude 39 degrees. 53 min. north and longitude 6 degrees west from Washington City, is 106 miles southernly from Sandusky City, 135 southwest from Cleveland, 148 miles southwestwardly from Steubenville, 184 in the direction from Pittsburg, Pa.. 126 miles west from Wheeling, Va., about 100 miles nothwest from Mareitta, 105 miles northwest from Gallipolis, 45 north from Chillicothe, and 90 in the same direction from Portsmouth, at the mouth of the Scioto River, 118 mile northwardily from Maysville, Ky., 110 miles northeast from Cincinati,68 mile eastwardly from Dayton, 104 miles southwardly from Lower Sandusky and 175 miles due south from Detroit, Michigan. It is situated exactly on the same parallel of laditude with Zanesville and Philadelphia, from latter place, it is 450 miles distance and on the same meredian with Detroit, Michigan; and Milledgeville, Georgia.......
There was but little attention paid to manufactories in Columbus, other than the common mechanics shops until within a few years past, probably on the account of there being little opportunity of conveyance to a market out of the city. The most successful establishments of long standing are the Founderies of the Messrs, Ridgways, commenced in 1823- The Messrs. Gills commenced about 1838, and Ohio Stage Co.'s Manufactory of Stage Coaches. These establishments are still in successful operation, furnishing employment to a large number of workmen......
Among the most extensive manufacturing establishments in the city we notice the following.........
The Birmingham Works, the property of P. Hayden, situated on State Street, and the east bank of the Scioto River, The Ohio Tool Company's Factory, situated on State Avenue and the river, north of the National Road Bridge. Brown, Winterbotham & Company, extensively engaged in the manufacturing of agricultural tools, tubs,buckets, at the Ohio Penitentary, The Columbus and Xenia Railroad Machine Shop, adjoining their depot. The Railroad Car Factory of Kimball& Co., near the west bank of the river adjoining the Cincinnati railroad. The extensive Foundery and Steam Engine and Boiler Manufactory , of Ambos& Lennox, west of the river and near the National Road Bridge. The new steam sawmill of Strickler& co. for sawing and dressing of stone. The new Planeing Works of Field, Adams& Biddle, together with their extensive lumberyard on Spring Street. the xtensive Sash and Window Blind Factory of Carter, Lott& Co., corner of Front and Spring Street. Messers. Comstocks & L. Buttles Planing machine and Flour Mill at the head of the canal. The extensive City Brewery of Hoster & Co. south end of Front Street. J.J. Funstons Candle and Soap Manufacty, corner of Front and Spring Streets. Columbus Woolen Factory,at the foot of Mound Street on the west bank of the canal.........
The first mill erected within our present city limits was a sawmill on the Scioto some ten or fiftenn rods below the New Penitentiary, in 1813 by John Shields. It passed through many hands in a few years and fell to ruin. About the year 1816 the same John Shields erected a flouring millon the run of the southwest corner of the town. About the year 1820 Col. Jewett and others erected on the Scioto, west of his white frame house a sawmill. About the year 1821 Col. Jewett commenced the manufactory of cotton-yarn, by horsepower in a frame building corner of Front Street and Cherry Alley, later owned by James Cherry.1821 or 22 a Woolen Factory was commenced by Ebenezer Thomas and others. it was on land owned by S.C. Andrews, ESQ. About the year 1831 or 32 John McElvain erected a sawmill by the canal. ...........
Note From Author:
There is more description on alot of these business if somebody is interested I will type them up after I get the rest of this history done.Additions described are McGowan's; Young's; McElvain, Brotherton & Walcuts; Crosbys; Heyl and Parsons; Gilbert's; Kelleys and Northrups; Dr William Awl's; C.F. Jaegers; A. Kelleys; Jas. Bryden's; Krauses; Brush, Jarvis, and Cadwaladers; Armstrong's; William Phelan's; Deshler and Sullivants, D.W. Deshlers; Willian Neils; Jacob Stricklers; C.A. Platts; W.B. Jarvis; W.e. Whites; S. Brush; Jas. Brydens 2nd; C.F. Jaegers 2nd; C. F. Jaegers 3rd; John Morrison; Sullivant and Mitchell's; J.R. Bartlett's; William Phelans; W.A.Gills; neil and Dennison's; A.H. Pinneys.....If anybody wants a further desription on any of these additions, please let me know.................
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