CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 69 CHAPTER III. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) FROM TOWN TO BOROUGH,: FROM BOROUGH TO CITY. Village Sidelights-Contemporaneous Incidents. There is something akin to classic glamour hanging over the near-village and village days of Columbus, and during its evolution ; and some of the incidents in connection with its early and village history had much to do with the making of history, not only for the state, but the Ohio and lower Mississippi valley,. How great their influence it is not easy to estimate, since the things prevented, as well as the things accomplished, are not readily differentiated and estimated. The accomplished things may be readily compared, analyzed and weighed, but the things that did not occur, because of these almost primal 70 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS negotiations between two opposing civilizations carried on here. on the verge of the unbroken wilderness itself, may neither be analyzed nor weighed, save in the delicate balance of an optimistic philosophy which has faith in mankind regardless of race, tradition, civilization or so-called education. One of these belongs to the opening of this chapter. The first and direct record is from the pen of James B. Gardiner, the pioneer editor and newspaper publisher of Columbus, and which, when the time. came. was analyzed and estimated by the brilliant mind of Colonel Edward L. Taylor. This was The Harrison-Tarhe Peace Conference. On the 28th of June, 1904, the Columbus Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution did themselves and their organization great honor by placing in Martin Park, in the western part of the city of Columbus, a large bowlder, of igneous origin, bearing a very handsomely designed tablet in commemoration of the important council or conference which General William Henry Harrison had with the chiefs of certain Indian tribe: near that spot, beginning on June 20th, 1813. By this act the Daughters rescued from the very brink of oblivion and gave a permanent place in the history of the war of 1812 to one of the important and controlling incidents of that war. But for this action on the part of this organization that event would probably have soon passed into entire forgetfulness, as there was but one contemporary report of the proceedings ever published of that conference or council, and that was in a weekly paper then published at Franklinton, called The Freeman's Chronicle, which was edited and owned by James B. Gardiner. It was the first weekly paper, or paper of any kind, ever published in what is now the city of Columbus. The first number of this paper was dated June 24. 1812, and the publication continued for more than two years. covering the entire period of the war of 1812. Mr. Gardiner was present at the council, and in the issue of his paper of June 25, 1813, he published an account of it. Mr. William Domigan, at that time a resident of the town of Franklinton. had the thoughtfulness to preserve a full file of that paper as it was issued, and had the same bound in substantial form, which sole copy has been preserved to this time and presents the best picture of the condition and life of the young village that is in existence today. Mrs. Orton Presides. Mrs. Edward Orton, Jr., regent of the Columbus Chapter of the organization before mentioned in her very appropriate address in presenting the memorial tablet to the city of Columbus, said: "We are assembled here today to commemorate an event more than local in character, far reaching in its results and of the greatest importance to the state as well as to the capital of Ohio." Hon. Robert H. Jeffrey, mayor of Columbus, in his remarks accepting the tablet on behalf of the city of Columbus, said: "The value of this bowlder lies in recalling to our memory the high patriotism of our forefathers. PAGE 71 - CHIEF TARHE (THE CRANE) PAGE 72 -BLANK CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 73 In its ruggedness, its strength and its power to defy all time it typifies the immutable principles of the great union of stars which these ancestors fought. bled and died for." General Benjamin R. Cowen then delivered an historical address concerning the events the monument and the tablet were intended to commemorate. This address as well as all the proceedings of the day have been published in booklet form by the regent, Mrs. Orton, for private circulation. In order to give further permanency to the record of this important event we give in full the account of Mr. Gardiner, as it appears in the issue of The Freeman's Chronicle of June 25, 1813: A Pioneer Newspaper Account. "On Monday last General Harrison held a council in this place with the chiefs of the Delaware, Shawanee, Wyandot and Seneca tribes of Indians, to the amount of about fifty. In the General's talk he observed that he had been induced to call them together from certain circumstances having come to his knowledge which led him to suspect the fidelity of some of the tribes, who had manifested signs of a disposition to join the enemy, in case they had succeeded in capturing Fort Meigs. That a crisis had arrived which demanded that all the tribes, who had heretofore remained neutral, should take a decided stand, either for us or against us. That the president wished no false friends, and that it was only in adversity that real friends could be distinguished. That the proposal of General Proctor to exchange the Kentucky prisoners for the friendly tribes within our borders indicated that lie had been given to understand that those tribes were willing to raise the tomahawk against us. And that in order to give the United States a guarantee of their good dispositions the friendly tribes should either move, with their families, into the settlements or their warriors should accompany him in the ensuing campaign and fight for the United States. To this proposal the chiefs and warriors present unanimously agreed, and observed that they had long been anxious for an opportunity to fight for the Americans. "We cannot recall the precise remarks that were made by the chiefs who spoke, but. Tarhe (The Crane), who is the principal chief of the Wyandots and the oldest Indian in the western wilds, appeared to represent the whole assembly and professed, in the name of the friendly tribes, the most indissoluble attachment for the American government and a determination to adhere to the Treaty of Greenville. "The General promised to let the several tribes know when he should want. their services, and further cautioned them that all who went with him must conform to his mode of warfare; not to kill or injure old men, women, children nor prisoners. That by this means we should be able to ascertain whether the British tell the truth when they say that they are not able to prevent Indians from such acts of horrid cruelty; for if Indians under him (Gen. H.) would obey his commands and refrain from acts of barbarism, it would be very evident that the hostile Indians could be as easily restrained by their commanders. The General then informed the chiefs of the agree- 74 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS went made by Proctor to deliver him to Tecumseh in case the British succeeded in taking Fort Meigs, and promised them that if he should be successful he would deliver Proctor into their hands-on condition that they should do him no other harm than to put a petticoat on him; `for,' said he. `none but a coward or a squaw would kill a prisoner.' The council broke up in the afternoon and the Indians departed next day for their respective towns." In order to understand and appreciate the importance and full significance of this conference, it is necessary to recall some of the chief events of the times relating to the war. The Battle o f Fallen Timbers. The battle of "Fallen Timbers" was fought August 20. 1794, at which General Wayne obtained a complete victory over the Indians who had concentrated in the region of the Maumee. This defeat was followed the next summer by a general council held by General Anthony Wayne at Greenville. Darke county, Ohio, with the Indian tribes of the northwest, which resulted in the celebrated treaty known as the "Treaty of Greenville," which was concluded August 3, 1795, and was in its results the most important of all the peace treaties made between the United States and the Indian tribe northwest of the Ohio. The Wyandots, Delawares, Shawnees, Ottawas, Chippewas. Pottawattomies, Miamis, Eel Rivers, Weas, Piankeshaws, Kickapoos and Kaskaskias became parties to that treaty. This treaty was followed by comparative peace for a period of sixteen years and until about the year 1811, although in the meantime turbulent, revengeful and evil-disposed Indians frequently broke away from the different tribes and from the control of their principal chiefs and formed marauding parties, which from time to time committed all manner of murders. thefts and outrages on the frontier settlers of the northwest. For a few years prior to the declaration of the war of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain the relations between these two governments had been very much strained, and it was generally considered that war was sure to ensue. In the meantime the British maintained numerous active and powerful agents among the Indians of the northwest for the purpose of supplying them with munitions of war and creating discontent among them and inciting them to make war on the white settlers. Thus encouraged, there was assembled under Tecumseh and his brother, the Prophet, at their camp at the junction of the Wabash and Tippecanoe rivers, in northwestern Indiana, a large number of turbulent and desperate Indians drawn from most of the various tribes east of the Mississippi. It was the purpose and hope of Tecumseh and his brother, and the Indians under their influence, by a united effort with the British forces, to drive the white people out of the territory of the northwest. These Indians thus assembled on the upper Wabash became very threatening and endeavored to deceive and surprise General Harrison, who was then governor of the territory of Indiana, with headquarters at Vincennes, Their actions and numbers were such as to make it prudent and even necessary that General Harrison should make a. demonstration against them for CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 75 the purpose of discovering their purpose and strength. This resulted in the battle of Tippecanoe, November 7, 1811, at which battle the Indians were defeated, but not greatly dispirited, as they still relied greatly upon the looked for war between the United States and Great Britain, when they would have the powerful aid of the British forces. Tecumseh was not present at that battle, and the Indians were under the command of his brother, the imposter Prophet. By this defeat the power which the Prophet had been exercising over his Indian followers was largely destroyed, and he was never afterward in much favor. The War of 1812. The war which had long been threatening between the United States and Great Britain suddenly flamed into activity, and war was declared on the part of the United States against Great Britain on June 18, 1812. This was the opportunity the discontented and turbulent Indians of the northwest had long been waiting for. Tecumseh had before that time, and in anticipation of it. concluded his alliance with the British forces, and the forces tinder him were already well prepared to join in active warfare. He was at the head of all the Indian forces in the northwest and was by far the ablest war chief of his, times and the ablest war chief which the Indian race has produced of which we have any accurate knowledge, unless it may be the great Pontiac of a half century before. He at once commenced a vigorous onslaught on the frontier military posts and frontier settlers, and with terrible effect Affairs went badly against the American forces for the first year after the declaration of war. On July 17. 1812. Lieutenant Hanks, in command of Mackinac, was compelled to surrender the garrison, consisting of fifty-seven effective men to the forces under the British commander at St. .Joseph's, a British post near the head of Lake Huron. On August 15 following, the massacre of the garrison at Fort Dearborn (Chicago) occurred, at which time between fifty and sixty United States soldier were mercilessly murdered and the. fort destroyed. This terrible slaughter. in which the treacherous and blood-thirsty Black Hawk was engaged, was followed the next day (August 16) by the cowardly and ignominious surrender of General Hull at Detroit of about fifteen or sixteen hundred troops to a greatly inferior number of British and Indians under General Brock of the English army. The Northwest Overrun. By the time of September, 1812, the entire northwest, with the exception of Fort Harrison on the Wabash and Fort Wayne on the Maumee had been overrun and was in possession of the British and Indians, and these two forts were both besieged by hordes of savages. Fort Harrison, with but. fifty or sixty men, under Captain Zachary Taylor (then a young officer in the United States army and afterward president of the United States), was heroically defended and the Indian hordes repelled. A like brilliant defense was made at Fort Wayne. The garrison was small, the Indians were in great 76 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS numbers, the captain in command of the garrison was dissipated and incompetent and was summarily deposed from command, which then devolved upon one Lieutenant Curtis, a young officer in the United States army, who, by his heroic defense of the fort during the two weeks of unremitting siege has recorded his name permanently in the annals of his time. It was just at this discouraging and perilous time that General Harrison was appointed commander of all the forces in the northwest. He at once took most heroic measures to raise the siege at Fort Wayne and strengthen that garrison, and also to strengthen the garrison at Fort Harrison on the Wabash. This he accomplished, and thereafter was able to maintain the lines of the Wabash and Maumee as the frontier between the American forces and the allied British and Indians. All beyond to the northwest was in possession of the enemy. But disasters to the American forces were not yet ended. On the 21st of January, 1813, General Winchester, who was in command of the forces on the Maumee, was defeated at the battle of the River Raisin by the combined forces of General Proctor and Tecumseh, and about seven hundred of his troops captured or destroyed, many of them being massacred after they had surrendered. General Harrison was at the headquarters of the array at Upper Sandusky when he first heard that General Winchester, who was in command of the forces on the Maumee, intended to make an important military movement, the nature of which, however, he could not learn. No important offensive movement was contemplated by him at that time. On receiving this information he at once ordered forward all the troops then at Upper Sandusky, about three hundred strong, and took a horse and rode to Lower Sandusky (Fremont) in all haste. Such was the energy with which he pushed forward over the terrible winter roads that the horse of his aid-decamp failed and died under the exertion. At Lower Sandusky he learned that on the 17th of January Colonel Lewis had been sent forward from the Rapids to the River Raisin in command of over six hundred troops, which was almost the entire available force on the Maumee. General Harrison's mind was filled with forebodings, and, ordering the troops at Lower Sandusky forward to the Rapids, he again pushed forward to that place, w here lie arrived early on the 20th. Here he learned that General Winchester had gone forward to join his command at the River Raisin. There was nothing that could be done but wait for the troops which he had ordered forward from the Sanduskies, which were floundering along as best they could through the swamps of the wilderness. He did not have to wait long before he received the appalling news of the battle at the River Raisin, which was one of the most disastrous of all our Indian wars. Columbus at Mercy of the Foe. The battle was fought on January 21, the defeat was complete and overwhelming. and Winchester's army was practically destroyed. This left the region of the Maumee entirely open to be overrun by the victorious British PAGE 77 - FRANKLIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE, HIGH AND MOUND STREETS PAGE 78 - BLANK CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 79 and Indians, and it was expected that they would soon make their appearance at the Rapids. A council of war was at once held and it was determined to withdraw the remaining troops to Portage river, about twenty miles east from the Maumee. Here a camp was established, and the troops, which were struggling forward, as well as the remnant of General Winchester's command, were concentrated. Within a few days such a force had been assembled as to enable General Harrison to move back to the Maumee. He did not, however, resume possession of the old camp, Fort Miami, which had been occupied before by General Winchester's command, but a better place was selected some distance up the river from the old camp and on the south side of the river, where a strong fort was erected which was named Fort Meigs in honor of the then Governor of Ohio. It was the intention to concentrate a force at Fort Meigs sufficient to maintain it against all attacks which might be made, but on account of the terrible roads through the wilderness the expected recruits from Kentucky and southern Ohio did not arrive until the fort was besieged by the entire forces under Proctor and Tecumseh. On the 1st day of April, 1813, the fort was invested on every side and an active siege was at once begun. The siege was carried on with great vigor, the Indians being incited to bravery by the promise of the monster General Proctor to deliver General Harrison into their hands should the siege be successful and the fort taken. However, after nine days of constant bombardment and conflict, the siege failed and the British and Indian forces withdrew. Immediately after the British and Indians had withdrawn from the Maumee. General Harrison hastened in person to southern and central Ohio to urge forward the troops that were being collected to meet and repel the British and Indian forces and drive them beyond the boundaries of the United States. It was under these anxious and harassing circumstances that General Harrison came to Franklinton and held the conference with the chiefs of the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanese and Senecas. The principal chiefs of these tribes had remained true to their obligations and neutrality under the Treaty of Greenville. but so many had been lured away from their tribal obligations by British pay and British bribes and promises, and such was their strength when commanded and guided by that able and energetic Tecumseh. that it became necessary for General Harrison to know as exactly as possible what proportion of the military strength of the powerful tribes would remain neutral or if necessary join with the American forces. The chiefs assembled not only assured him that they would remain true to their obligations, but if called upon would join with the American forces against the British. They were not called upon to take an active part in the war, but as a matter of fact several of the chiefs of these four great tribes, with a considerable number of their warriors, of their own volition accompanied General Harrison in his campaign, which ended in the decisive battle of the Thames. Chief Tarhe (the Crane), grand sachem of the Wyandots, whose village was then near Upper Sandusky. Wyandot county, and who was spokesman for all 80 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS the tribes at the conference at Franklinton, although seventy-two years of age, went with General Harrison on foot, with a number of his warriors, to Canada and was present at the battle of the. Thames. although he took no active part in that battle. This conference or council at Franklinton enabled General Harrison to know what he could depend upon as to these four neutral tribes and greatly relieved him from uncertainty and anxiety. and also greatly relieved the frontier settlers from the apprehension and fears with which their minds and hearts were filled. What the Tarhe-Harrison Conference Secured. From the date of that conference the tide turned strongly in favor of the American forces. The English and Indians were again in force along the Maumee, and in July, 1813, again besieged Fort Meigs, but it had been to strengthened and reinforced that they made no assault upon it, but retired after a few days-Proctor by water to Sandusky bay and the Indians through the forest to Sandusky river. This demonstration was quite formidable, both by land and water. Fort Stevenson, at the mouth of the Sandusky river, where the city of Fremont now stands, was first besieged. On July 31, 1813, the British approached Fort. Stevenson by water and landed about five hundred British troops, with some light artillery, while Tecumseh. with about two thousand Indians, besieged the fort on the land side. It is not our purpose here to narrate the history of that assault. Suffice it to say here that Major Croghan, in command of the fort with but one hundred and sixty men in the garrison, successfully repelled the assault of the British and Indians and compelled them to retire after heavy losses. This brilliant victory was succeeded on August 10 by the celebrated and world renowned victory of Commodore Perry, by which the British fleet on Lake Erie was destroyed. This enabled General Harrison to move his army across Lake Erie to the Detroit river and to invade Canada. On the 5th of October he was able to bring the allied forces under Proctor and Tecumseh to issue at the battle of the Thames, where a complete victory was gained over the allied forces. Tecumseh was killed in that battle and Proctor ignominiously fled the field. His army was captured or destroyed. The battle of the Thames and the death of Tecumseh practically ended the war in the northwest, although the British still held a few small forts like Mackinac and St. Joseph's, around the head of Lake Huron ; but these were powerless of any offensive operations. The war, however, between the United States and Great Britain continued in full force and destructiveness for more than a year after the battle of the Thames, during which time the commerce of both nations upon the high seas was largely ruined. In August, 1814, the British gained possession of the city of Washington and burned and destroyed all the public buildings and threatened further serious destruction. A year had now elapsed since the battle of the Thames, during which time quiet had reigned among the Indians in the northwest. The neutral tribes of the northwest remained CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 81 favorable to the cause of the United States, and many of those who had served under Tecumseh a year before had become angered and embittered toward the British for want of their fulfillment of their promises so lavishly made before the war, and were anxious to assist in the war against their former allies. The Greenville Conference. In this situation the government authorized and directed General Harrison and General Lewis Cass to meet the Indian tribes in conference at Greenville, Ohio, where the Treaty of Greenville had been concluded nineteen years before. Accordingly, the commissioners met, at that place with the chiefs of the Wyandots, Delawares, Shawanese, Senecas, Miamis, Pottawattomies and Kickapoos and concluded a treaty of peace as follows Article 2. The tribes and bands- above mentioned engage to give their aid to the United States in prosecuting war against Great Britain and such of the Indian tribes as still continue hostile, and to make no peace with either without the consent of the United States. The assistance herein stipulated for is to consist of such number of their warriors from each tribe as the president of the United States, or any officer having his authority therefor, may require. Article 3. The Wyandot tribe and the Senecas of Sandusky and Stony creek, the Delaware and Shawanese tribes, who have preserved their fidelity to the United States throughout the war, again acknowledge themselves under the protection of the said United States, and of no other power whatever, and agree to aid the United States in the manner stipulated for in the former article and to make no peace but with the consent of the said states. Article 4. In the event of the faithful performance of the conditions of this treaty the United States will confirm and establish all the boundaries between their lands and those of the Wyandots. Delawares. Shawanese and Miamis as they existed previously to the commencement of the war. Thus the Franklinton conference was embodied in treaty form. No call was made for Indian help under this treaty, as on December 24, 1814, the commissioners of the United States and the commissioners of Great Britain concluded the Treaty of Ghent, putting an end to the war. This second Treaty of Greenville was the last peace or war treaty ever entered into between the United States and any of the Indian tribes within the boundaries of the state of Ohio; and with the exception of an unimportant treaty concluded at Detroit the following year, the last made east of the Mississippi. A Heroic Figure. Tarhe, the Crane, knew every foot of Columbus and its vicinity, his capital for a long period being at Lancaster, and the sentinel tower of his prophets and watchmen was that matchless piece of scenery, Mount Pleasant, that rises abruptly from and overlooks the beautiful Hock-Hocking valley. Mr. Emil Schlup, of Upper Sandusky, thus estimates his personal or moral character and places him among the great characters of history, demonstrating 82 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS that the soil of Ohio, while yet a wilderness, was capable of and did produce ment of great souls, as witness Tarhe, Cornstalk, Tecumseh and others. Of Tarhe Mr. Schlup says A Man of Noble Traits. "Probably no other Indian chieftain was ever more admired and loved by his own race or by the outside world. He was either a true friend or a true enemy. Born near Detroit, Michigan, in 1742, he lived to see a wonderful change in the great northwest. Being born of humble parentage, through his bravery and perseverance he rose to be the grand sachem of the Wyandot nation. This position he held until the time of his death, when he was succeeded by Duonquot. Born of the Porcupine clan of the Wyandots and early manifesting a warlike spirit, he was engaged in nearly all the battles against the Americans until the disastrous battle of Fallen Timbers in 1794. Tarhe saw that there was no use opposing the American arms or trying to prevent them planting corn north of the Ohio river. At that disastrous battle thirteen chiefs fell, and among the number was Tarhe, who was badly wounded in the arm. The Americans generally believed that the dead Indian was the best Indian, but Tarhe sadly saw his ranks depleted and at once began to sue for peace. General Wayne had severely chastised the Indians and forever broke their power in Ohio. Accordingly, on January 24, 1795, the principal chiefs of the Wyandots, Delawares, Chippewas, Ottawas, Sacs, Pottowattomies, Miamis and Shawnees met. The preliminary treaty with General Wayne at Greenville, Ohio, in which there was an armistice, was the forerunner of the celebrated treaty which was concluded at the same place August 3, 1795. A great deal of opposition was manifested to this treaty by the more warlike and turbulent chiefs, as this would cut off their favors on the border settlements. Always Kept Faith. "Chief Tarhe always lived true to the treaty obligations which he so earnestly labored to bring about. When Tecumseh sought a great Indian uprising, Tarhe opposed it, and awakened quite an enmity among the warlike of his own tribe, who afterward withdrew from the main body of the Wyandots and moved to Canada. The Rev. James B. Finley had every confidence in Tarhe, as evidenced in 1800, when, returning from taking a drove of cattle to the Detroit market, he asked Tarhe for a night's lodging at Lower Sandusky, where the Wyandot chief then lived, and intrusted him with quite a sum of money from the sale of cattle, and the next morning every cent was forthcoming. "From 1808 until the war of 1812 Tarhe steadily opposed Tecumseh's treacherous war policy, which greatly endangered Tarhe's life, and it is claimed he came near meeting the same fate that Leather Lips met on June 1, 1810. He even went so far as to offer his services, with fifty other chiefs and warriors, to General Harrison in prosecuting the war against Tecumseh and the English under General Proctor. He was actively engaged in the battle on the Thames. So earnest was he in the success of the American cause, so sin- CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 83 cere did he keep all treaty obligations, that General Harrison in after years, in comparing him with other chiefs, was constrained to call him `The most noble Roman of them all.' He Abjured Strong Drink. "Tarhe never drank strong drinks of any kind nor used tobacco in any form. Fighting at the head of his warriors in Harrison's campaign in Canada at, the age of seventy-two years is something out of the ordinary. Being tall and slender, he was nicknamed `The Crane.' On his retiring from the second war for independence, he again took up his abode in his favorite town-the spot is still called `Crane Town,' about four and one-half miles northeast from Upper Sandusky, on the east bank of the Crane run, which empties into the Sandusky river. Here, surrounded by a dense forest, he spent his old age in a log cabin fourteen by eighteen feet. Just south of the old cabin site are a number of old apple trees-likely of the Johnny Appleseed origin-the fruit being small and hard; a short distance south of the cabin is the old gauntlet ground, oblong and about three hundred yards long; to the westward from the village site is a clearing of about ten acres, still known as the Indian field and still surrounded by a dense forest. Here Tarhe died in his log cabin home in November, 1818. In 1850 John Smith, then owner of the land, had most all of the cabin taken down for firewood. At that time a small black walnut twig, about the thickness of a man's thumb, was growing in the northwest corner of the cabin, and is quite a tree at the present writing a living and growing monument to the memory of the great and good Wyandot chief." The Chieftain's Widow. "Aunt Sally Frost was Tarhe's wife when he died. To them one child was born, an idiotic son, who died at the age of twenty-five years. Sally had been a captive from one of the border settlements and refused to return to her people. After the death and burial of Tarhe, the principal part of Crane Town was moved to Upper Sandusky, the center of the Wyandot reservation, twelve miles square. Here the government at Washington paid them an annuity of ten dollars per capita until the reservation reverted back to the government in March, 1842. "Cabin sites are plainly discernible in the old historic town, which was usually a half-way place between Fort Pitt and Detroit. Here in the early days Indian parties found a resting place when on their murderous missions to the border settlements. This was one of the `troublesome' Indian towns on the Sandusky river that the ill-fated Colonel William Crawford was directed against in the spring of 1782. Traces of the old Indian trail may be seen meandering southward through the forest, where the warwhoop was frequently given and the bloody scalping knife drawn over many defenseless prisoners. The springs, just westward from the town site, are cattle tramped, but still bubble forth a small quantity of water, but likely not nearly so active 84 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS as when they furnished the necessary water for the nations of the forest a century and more ago. "On June 11, 1902, Mr. E. O. Randall, the able and efficient secretary of the Ohio State Archaeological and Historical Society, in company with the writer, gave the place a visit. Numerous locusts were chirping away at their familiar songs quite loud enough to drown out the voices of the intruders. Tarhe's Friend, Jonathan Pointer. "Jonathan Pointer, who had been a colored captive among the Wyandots and who was a fellow soldier with Tarhe in the Canadian campaign under General Harrison, returned with that celebrated chieftain to his home and stayed with him until the time of Tarhe's death, always claiming that lie assisted in the burial of Tarhe on the John Smith farm, about a half mile southeast from his cabin home. Logs were dragged over the grave to keep the wild animals from disinterring the body. Jonathan Pointer was engaged as interpreter for the early missionaries among the Wyandots; he died in 1857. No memorial marks Tarhe's resting place. Red Jacket, Keokuk. Leather Lips and other chieftains have received monumental consideration from American civilization; but Tarhe, the one whose. influence and activity helped to wrest the great northwest from the British and the Indians, has apparently been forgotten. And how long shall it he so? "Colonel John Johnson, who for nearly half a century acted Indian agent of the various tribes of Ohio and who made the last Indian treaty that removed the Wyandots beyond the Mississippi, was present at the great Indian council summoned at the death and for burial of Tarhe. The exact .spot where the council house stood is not known, but a mile and a half north from Crane Town site are a number of springs bubbling forth clear water which form Pointer's run, that empties into the Sandusky river. They are still called the Council Springs and the bark council house was likely in this vicinity. Colonel Johnson, in his `Recollection:.' gives the following account of the proceedings:" Colonel Johnson's Recollections. "On the death of the great chief of the Wyandots. I was invited to attend a general council of all the tribes of Ohio, the Delawares of Indiana. the Senecas of 'New York, at Upper Sandusky. I found on arriving at the place a, very large attendance. Among the chieftains was the noted leader and orator Red Jacket from Buffalo. The first business done was the speaker of the nation delivering an oration on the character of the deceased chief. Then followed what might be called a monody, or ceremony, of mourning or lamentation. Thus seats were arranged from end to end of a large council house, about six feet apart, the head men and the aged took their .seats facing each other, stooping down, their heads almost touching. In that position they remained for several hours. Deep and long continued groans would commence at one end of the row of mourners and so pass around until all had responded and these repeated at intervals of a few minutes. The Indians were all washed PAGE 85 - OLD STATE CAPITOL, AND PUBLIC BUILDINGS IN 1846 PAGE 86 - BLANK CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 87 and had no paint or decorations of any kind upon their persons, their countenances and general deportment denoting the deepest mourning. I had never witnessed anything of the kind before and was told that this ceremony was not performed but on the decease of some great man. After the period of mourning and lamentation was over the Indians proceeded to business. There were present the Wyandots, Shawnees, Delawares, Senecas, Ottawas and Mohawks. Their business was entirely confined to their own affairs, and the main topics related to their lands and the claims of the respective tribes. It was evident, in the course of the discussion, that the presence of myself and people (there were some white men with me) was not acceptable to some of the parties and allusions were made so direct to myself that I was constrained to notice them, by saying that I cane there as a guest of the Wyandots, by their special invitation ; that as the agent of the United States, I had a right to be there as anywhere else in the Indian country; and that if any insult was offered to myself or my people, it would be resented and punished. Red Jacket was the principal speaker and was intemperate and personal in his remarks. Accusations, pro and con, were made by the different parties, accusing each other of being foremost in selling land to the United States. The Shawnees were particularly marked out as more guilty than any other; that they were the last coming into the Ohio country and although they had no right but by the permission of the other tribes,. they were always the foremost in selling lands. This brought the Shawnees out, who retorted through head chief, the Black Hoof, on the Senecas and Wyandots with pointed severity. The discussion was long continued, calling out some of the ablest speakers, and was distinguished for ability, cutting sarcasm and research, going far back into the history of the natives, their wars, alliances, negotiations, migrations, etc. I had attended many councils, treaties and gatherings of the Indians, but never in my life did I witness such an outpouring of native oratory and eloquence, of severe rebuke, taunting national and personal reproaches. The council broke up later in great confusion and in the worst possible feeling. A circumstance occurred toward the close which more than anything else exhibited the bad feeling prevailing. In handing round the wampum belt, the emblem of amity, peace and good will, when presented to one of the chiefs, he would not touch it with his fingers but passed it on a stick to a person next to him. A greater indignity, agreeable to Indian etiquette could not be offered. A Day of Disappointment. "The next day appeared to be one of unusual anxiety and despondence among the Indians. They could be seen in groups everywhere near the council house in deep consultation. They had acted foolishly were sorry but the difficulty was, who would present the olive branch. The council convened very late and was very full ; silence prevailed for a long time ; at last the aged chieftain of the Shawnees, the Black Hoof, rose-a man of great influence and a celebrated warrior. He told the assembly that they had acted like children and not men yesterday; that he and his people were sorry for 88 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS the words that had been spoken and which had done so much harm ; that he came into the council by the unanimous desire of his people to recall those foolish words and did there take them back-handing round strings of wampum, which passed around and were received by all with the greatest satisfaction. Several of the principal chiefs delivered speeches to the same effect, handing round wampum in turn, and in this manner the whole difficulty of the preceding day was settled and to all appearances forgotten. The Indians are very civil and courteous to each other and it is a rare thing to see their assemblies disturbed by unwise or ill-timed remarks. I never witnessed it except upon the occasion here alluded to, and it is more than probable that the presence of myself and other white men contributed toward the unpleasant occurrence. I could not help but admire the -genuine philosophy and good sense displayed by men whom we call savages, in the transaction of their public business, and how much we might profit in the halls of our legislature, by occasionally taking for our example the proceedings of the great Indian council at Upper Sandusky." The Original Charter. The joint resolution on February 12, 1812, merely declared that the name of the future capital should be Columbus -the town of Columbus-leaving it without municipal form, and to all intents and purposes, under the direct control of the legislature. As already shown, it assumed that direction and proceeded to appoint an overseer or supervisor, who took charge of it literally, and from his dicta there was no appeal except to the legislature itself. The necessity of a municipal government goon manifested itself, and the following act of incorporation was passed by the legislature: An Act to incorporate the town of Columbus in the County of Franklin. Sec. 1. Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Ohio. That so much of the township of Montgomery, in the county of Franklin. as is comprised within the following limits, that is to say: commencing at the southwest corner of the half section of Refugee land, number twenty-five, of township five, in range twenty-two, on the bank of the Scioto river. thence with the southern boundary line of said half section, east, to the southeast corner thereof ; thence north, with the eastern boundary of said half section, number twenty-five, and that of number twenty-six, and eighty poles on that of half section, number twelve; thence west, across half sections numbered twelve and ten, to the western boundary of the latter half section; thence north with the western boundary of said half section number ten, to the northwest corner thereof ; thence west, on the north boundary lines of half sections numbered ten and nine, to the northwest corner of the last named half section; thence south with its western boundary line, to the bank of the Scioto river; thence down said river, to the place of beginning, shall be, and the same is hereby erected into a town corporate, henceforth to be known and distinguished by the name of the borough of Columbus, subject however, to such alterations as the legislature may from time to time think proper to make. CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 89 Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That it shall be lawful for the qualified electors, who shall have been resident in said town of Columbus six months, to meet at the Columbus Inn, on the first Monday of May next, and then and there elect by ballot nine suitable persons, being citizens, freeholders or house keepers, and inhabitants of said town, to serve as mayor, recorder, and common councilmen of said town ; and the persons thus elected, shall within ten days after their election, proceed to choose out of their own body by ballot, a mayor, recorder, and treasurer; and the remaining six, in conjunction with the mayor, recorder and treasurer, shall act as common councilmen; and the mayor, recorder, treasurer, and common councilmen thus elected, shall at their first meeting determine by lot what term they shall severally serve; three of them shall serve until the next annual election; three others of them for two years; and the last three for three years; and at every annual election, which shall be on the first Monday of May, in every year, there shall be elected. three new members of said body, who shall continue in office three years, and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the mayor, recorder, treasurer and common councilmen so elected, and their successors in office, shall be, and they are hereby made a, body corporate and politic, by the name and style of, the mayor and council of the borough of Columbus; and by the name aforesaid, shall have perpetual succession, with power to purchase, receive, possess and convey any real or personal estate for the use of the said town of Columbus: Provided, The annual income thereof shall not exceed four thousand dollars; and shall also be capable in law by the naive aforesaid, of suing and be sued, pleaded and being impleaded, in any action in any court of this state; and when any action or suit shall he commenced against the corporation. the service shall be by the officer leaving; an attested copy of the original process with the recorder, or at his usual place of abode, at least three days before the return thereof; and the said mayor and common council are hereby authorized to have a common seal, with power to alter the same at their discretion. Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the person first elected mayor of said borough of Columbus, shall within ten days after his election, take an oath of affirmation before some justice of the peace for said county of Franklin, for the faithful performance of the duties of his office; and every person who shall thereafter be elected mayor, shall be qualified to office by one of the board of said common council; and every recorder, treasurer and common councilman, before he enters on the execution of the duties of his office, shall take an oath or make affirmation before the mayor for the time being, for the faithful performance of his duty. Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That the mayor and members of the common council shall have power to appoint an assessor, a town marshal, a clerk of the market, a town surveyor and such other subordinate officers as they may deem necessary; and to give such fees to the recorder and other officers of the corporation, and impose such fines for refusing to accept such offices, as to them shall appear proper and reasonable. 90 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That the mayor and common council shall have power in the month of July, annually, to levy a tax within said borough, upon all objects of taxation for county purposes; but no tax shall be levied exceeding the rates prescribed by law for county purposes; and the assessor shall be governed in the discharge of his duty by the rules and regulations to be established by the mayor and common council: Provided, nothing herein contained shall be considered as prohibiting the said mayor and common council from levying a tax on dogs. Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That the mayor and common council shall have power to erect and repair such public buildings as they may deem necessary for the benefit of said town ; and make and publish such laws and ordinances, and the same from time to time to alter and repeal as to them may seem necessary for the safety and convenience of said town of Columbus and its inhabitants : Provided, such laws and ordinances are not contrary to the constitution and laws of the United States or of this state ; and the mayor shall have full power and authority to administer oaths, impose reasonable fines on such persons as shall offend against the laws and ordinances made as aforesaid; to levy and cause to be collected, all such fines by warrant under his hand, directed by the town marshal, who is hereby empowered to collect the same by distress and sale of the goods and chattels of the delinquent, and the same to pay to the treasurer of the corporation ; and when goods and chattels cannot be found whereon to levy, to commit the body of the offender to prison, there to remain until such fine shall be paid, or until he shall be discharged by order of the corporation : Provided always, That no person shall be imprisoned under the provisions of this section, more than twenty-four hours at any one time. Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That the mayor and his successor: in office, are hereby vested with powers coequal with justices of the peace within the corporation and shall have power to exercise the same jurisdiction and authority in civil and criminal cases within the limits of said borough, and be entitled to the same fees as justices of the peace in like cases; all process shall be directed to the town marshal who is hereby authorized and empowered to exercise the same powers in serving such process, levying execution, and making distress or delinquents in civil and criminal cases, and shall be entitled to the same fees as constables are; but it shall not be lawful for the said mayor or town marshal to take cognizance of or hold plea in any debt, personal or mixed, except the defendant shall reside within the. limits of the corporation aforesaid. Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That the town marshal shall collect all taxes assessed by the corporation, and he is hereby authorized and required to collect and pay over to the treasurer all such sums of money as shall be assessed for the use of said corporation, within three months from the time of his receiving a duplicate thereof ; and the treasurer's receipt shall be his voucher, on his settlement with the common council, which shall be when there unto required by them, after the expiration of three months as above; the town marshal shall give ten days notice before he makes distress for the collection of any tax; and if the tax on any lot on which no personal CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 91 property can be found, shall remain unpaid two months after the expiration of the three months aforesaid, the said town marshal shall give notice in one or more of the newspapers printed in said town, of the amount of such tax, and the number of the lot on which it is due ; and if said tax shall not be paid within two months after the date of such advertisement, the town marshal shall in such case proceed to sell so much of such lot or lots as will discharge the same, taking the part sold in such a manner as will include the same distance on the back line of the lot, as on its front line; Provided, That the former owner may at any time within one year thereafter, redeem the lot or part thereof so sold, by paying to the purchaser, his or her heirs, executors or administrators, the amount of said tax, and one hundred per centum damages thereon. Sec. 10. Be it further enacted, That the town marshal and treasurer shall each before he enters on the duties of his office, give bond with security to the recorder, to be approved of by the common council, conditioned for the faithful discharge thereof; the treasurer shall pay over all moneys by him received, to the order of the mayor and common council, and shall when required submit his books and voucher to their inspection. Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of the recorder to make and keep a just and true record of all and every law and ordinance made and established by the mayor and common council, and of all their proceedings in their corporate capacity; and the record so made, shall at all times be open to the inspection of any elector of said town ; and if any person shall think himself aggrieved by any judgment of the mayor, it shall be lawful for such person to appeal to the court of common pleas, within ten days after such judgment; and it shall be the duty of said court to hear such appeal, and give such relief as shall appear to them reasonable. Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That the annual election shall be opened at twelve, o'clock, and closed at four o'clock in the afternoon of said first Monday in May; at the first election, two judges and a clerk who are electors, shall be appointed by the electors present, who shall each take an oath faithfully to discharge the duties of his appointment; and at all subsequent elections the mayor, recorder, treasurer or common council, or any three of them, shall be judges of the election, and shall cause a statement of the votes to be publicly declared, and a fair record thereof made by the clerk on the same day, who shall notify the persons elected to the respective offices within two days thereafter, by giving personal notice, or by leaving a written notice at their most usual place of residence; and it shall be the duty of the recorder, every year, after the first election, to set up or cause to be set up, at least ten days previous to the first Monday in May, notice of the election, in five of the most public places in said town. Sec. 13. Be it further enacted, That in case of a vacancy in the office of mayor, recorder, or treasurer, the vacancy shall be supplied from the common council ; and in case of a vacancy in the common council, it shall be supplied by the mayor, recorder, treasurer and common council men, from among the electors of said town ; and in case of misconduct in office of 92 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS the mayor, recorder, treasurer, common council men or any subordinate officer, the others have hereby power to remove him or any of them, by an agreement of a majority of two thirds concurring. Sec. 14. Be it further enacted, That in case of the absence or inability of the mayor, it shall be the duty of the recorder to act in his stead, who shall at all times when the mayor resumes his office, render to him an account of his transactions during such absence or inability. Sec. 15. Be it further enacted, That the corporation shall use the jail of the county of Franklin, for the confinement of all such persons as by the laws of the corporation may be, liable to imprisonment.; and all persons thus imprisoned, shall be under the charge of the sheriff of the county. Sec. 16. And be it further enacted, That no law shall ever be made by this corporation, subjecting cattle, sheep or hogs, not belonging to any of the residents of said borough, to be abused or taken up and sold for coming within the bounds thereof. MATTHIAS CORWIN Speaker of the House of Representatives. PETER HITCHCOCK, Speaker of the Senate. February 10, 1816. Pregnant With Great Results. As heretofore suggested, the conference described was pregnant with great results, and had much to do in determining the immediate destiny of all that portion of the new republic lying west and northwest of the Alleghenies and south of the great chain of lakes. Having broken the French power in the Canadas, to lose in turn her own colonies in the American Revolution, the British government still fondly hoped to reconquer the republic, and bring the entire continent, at least north of the Rio Grande, under the British flag and sceptre. It is pretty well settled that the British aggressions, which led up to the war of 1812, had for their purpose the provocation of hostilities between the old nation and the infant republic. The English statesmen and soldiers apparently imagined that the republic was too poverty-stricken to maintain its existence in another war, and it provoked rejoicing rather than surprise in government circles in London when the United States declared their readiness and their determination to defend their rights against all comers and demonstrate that an American was not inferior to a king in all proper sovereignty. It is also clear that it was part of the program to threaten the republic from the sea and from Lower Canada, thus engaging all the military forces of the original states in self-defense, and leave all the vast empire lying west and northward in a defenseless and undefendable state, thus allowing the savage tribes in the northwest the opportunity to sweep away the white settlements which were scattered over the territory now comprising Ohio, PAGE 93 - APPROACH TO SCHILLER MONUMENT. CITY (SCHILLER) PARK A RUSTIC BRIDGE, CITY (SCHILLER) PARK PAGE 94 - BLANK CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 95 Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, and form a junction with the British armies in Virginia or Pennsylvania, or some other advantageous spot that would paralyze the new nation. After that the Indian allies would return to their wilderness domain, England would resume control of the lost colonies, a modified and a better form of government, would follow the once colonial system of the crown, and England would in the course of a century or two dominate the whole continent and build up the most splendid empire since the days of Persian greatness and opulence. All this was changed by that conference across the river, and whatever of cohesive alliance of all the Indian tribes, under the tutelage of the Canadian representatives of the crown was dissipated, when the wise chief Tarhe, who had not only learned to respect Americans but was able to estimate them as warriors, gave the keynote to his fellows that prevented an alliance, which if once consummated, would have made it impossible for the United States forces to have invaded Canada and put England herself on the defensive. To the military and statesmanic genius of General William Henry Harrison and the lofty idea of humanity entertained by Tarhe and his fellow chiefs and counselors, powerful enough to move and control all the northwestern tribes in the very crisis of an epoch, is due the fact that the growing young state of Ohio and its log cabin capital, were not whelmed in a century of darkness and disaster, from which but a slow recovery was to be expected, even if any semblance of the present political, commercial, social and educational conditions had been possible by the morning of the twentieth century. The commemoration of the event and the spot by the Daughters of the American Revolution. however, we have every reason to hope and believe will in the course of coming years incite the people of a great city, the heart of a. great state, to build other memorials to the simple minded sons of the forest, who seem to have apprehended the true vision of the future. The New Political Era. It is but just to say, however, that the sentiment of British statesmanship, current in the opening of the eighteenth century, does not exist in the beginning of the twentieth, and the two nations interested are mutually grateful that the Harrison-Tarhe conference was held, that the then possible horrors of savage warfare were averted, and that Anglo-American politics and statesmen (probably as one of the outflowing consequences) are second to none in the uplifting of manhood and liberal ideas of political governments. Following the event thus historically dwelt on to bring out the striking lights it throws upon current history and the state of which it is the capital went forward with full confidence in the future a confidence that time has most amply justified. 96 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS The State Offices Assembled at Columbus. In the fall of 1815, the state offices were removed from Chillicothe to Columbus, and on the first Monday of December, in the sauce year, the legislature commenced its first session in the then new state house in Columbus. The proprietors, having finished the public buildings and deeded the two ten acre lots to the state, agreeably to their proposals, at this session they presented their account for the erection of the public buildings: quid by an act passed the 29th of January, 1817, the governor was authorized to settle and adjust the account, and the auditor required to draw on the treasurer for the balance found due after deducting the fifty thousand dollars which the proprietors were by their proposals bound to give. In the settlement, after deducting from the charge for carpenter work some six or seven per cent, and the fifty thousand dollars, there was found a balance of about thirty-three thousand dollars due the proprietor which was paid by the state. and thus closed this heavy and responsible enterprise. A Practical Hanse Town. This "Charter" is to be taken as the type of municipal organization at the beginning of the century. It was as Hanseatic in its latitude and freedom, as were the Hanse towns in Europe of the previous century and still more remote. It was home rule in its simplicity save as to the eligibility to office. While the elector was only required to be a native born or naturalized citizen of the United States and six months a resident, there were two important restrictions as to eligibility to office. Under this rescript to be eligible to an elective office the aspirant must either be a freeholder or a housekeeper. In other words, he must either be the owner of real estate or the head of a family and "keeping a house." The advantages of the two classes were equalized and adjusted. however. The bachelor or widowed landowner was eligible to office. So also, was the landless head of a family. sheltered under the clapboard roofed cabin. To the appointive offices. save in occasional exception-. both classes were equally eligible. The original body determined the tenure of its numbers. dividing them into three classes of three years tenure each, after the first two years, three holding for one year. three for two and three for three, three being elected annually. This did not precisely make the mayor, recorder, treasurer and common council a self-perpetuating body, owing to the fact that in those days an occasional public officer knew when he had enough. The nine members of the borough council, who were the corporation itself. elected the mayor, recorder and treasurer from their own number. Two-thirds of them were in office when the remaining third were candidates for election to office, and as the whole body had the power to appoint all the subordinate officers of the town and control its entire business, expenditures, levies, etc., there was an opportunity for self-perpetuation at least. Whether it was taken advantage of or other is left to the judgment of the reader. CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 97 when he looks over the entire list of mayors, recorders, treasurers and councilmen, as well as the inferior officers on a later page, covering the entire borough period from 1816 to 1834. The duties of the officers were plain and simple, and the borough government was not an onerous one; the population grew and Columbus increased in importance ; there were no official scandals, and the people were, as a rule, satisfied. The final section forbidding the borough council to pass any law "subjecting cattle, sheep or hogs not belonging to the residents of said borough, to be abused or taken up and sold," is strikingly humane. They might abuse, take up and sell their own cattle, sheep and hogs, but such chattels belonging to the stranger and the outsider must receive respectful and humane treatment, a. nineteenth century legislative rendition of the Golden Rule in behalf of domestic animals. Early Years of Village Life. For the first few years the town improved rapidly. Emigrants flowed in apparently from all quarters, and the improvements and general business of the place kept pace with the increase of population. Columbus at that date, however. was a rough spot in the woods, afar from any public road of much consequence. The east and west travel passed through Zanesville. Lancaster and Chillicothe; and the mails came to Columbus by cross lines on horseback The first successful attempt to carry a mail to and from Columbus, otherwise than on horseback, was by Philip Zinn about the year 1816. once a week between Chillicothe and Columbus, via the Scioto river. How Real Estate was Sold. The proprietors of the town usually made their sales of lots by title bond. Upon receiving a. third, fourth or fifth of the price agreed upon in hand, and annual notes for the balance without interest if punctually paid. otherwise to bear interest from date, they executed a bond binding themselves to make a deed when the notes were paid; and it frequently happened that after one or two payments and a small improvement had been made, the whole would fall back to the proprietors. The lots for sale all being in the hands of the proprietors, and their giving time on the payments, kept up the prices at from two to five hundred dollars on any part of the town plat, and prices did not fall much below this until after the year 1820, when owing to the failure of two of the proprietors, McLaughlin and Johnson, as also of numerous other individuals who had possessed themselves of lots, there was such an immense number offered at forced sales by the United States marshal and sheriff, and so very little money in the country, that after being appraised and offered, and re-appraised and offered again and again, they finally had to sell. And lots which had years before been held at two and three hundred dollars. were struck off and sold at from ten to twenty dollars. and sometimes lower, even down to seven or eight dollars. for a lot on the extremities of the plat. 98 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS More Depression. To add to the depression of business and price of property, about the year 1822 or 1823, the title of Starling's half section, on which the town was in part 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. The First Disputed Title. It was now claimed by the heirs of Allen, who took various exceptions to Starling's title. First as to the sale from the old man Allen to his son also to the authentication of the mortgage by the son. and particularly to the sale by the sheriff to Starling, on the ground that there was no evidence that an appraisement had been made as, required by the statutes of Ohio. and suit was brought by ejectment against some of the occupant 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. Henry Clay in Ohio Supreme Court. Mr. Starling defended the suits and first engaged Henry Clay, who then practiced in the United States courts at Columbus. as attorney. But owing to his appointment as secretary of state. he was called to Washington city and gave up the case, and Henry Baldwin, then of Pittsburg. was next engaged, who conducted the defense with great ability. and about the year 1826 it was finally decided in favor of Starling's title. So the matter put to rest as to that half section. The suit against Starling's half section was scarcely decided. when r claim was set up against Kerr 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 Strawbridge. instead of Strawbridge conveying by agent, and was so signed: "J--M---- (agent), (seal), Attorney in fact for Strawbridge." Thus the defect in Kerr and McLaughlin's title was merely technical. But it was contended that this was not Strawbridge's deed. but the deed of the agent who claimed no title. Arid about the year 1826. a quit-claim was obtained from Strawbridge's heirs, by some man purporting to be a New Yorker, upon which a suit was brought in ejection, as in other cases, against one or more of the occupants of the most valuable lots. But by a suit in chancery to; quiet title about the year 1827, this was all sat right, and the title of Kerr and McLaughlin sustained. n March, 1851. an act was passed by the legislature of Ohio to remedy such defects in conveyances by which this technical distinction under the common law has been abolished. PAGE 99 - VIEW IN FRANKLIN PARK PAGE 100 - BLANK CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 101 The years 1819 and 1820 to 1826 were the dullest years in Columbus. But soon after this Columbus began to look up again. The location of the national road and the Columbus feeder to the Ohio canal gave an impetus to improvements, and by the year 1830, the prices of property and the improvements of the town had very considerably advanced. The Manufacturing Spirit Appears. Although Columbus possessed a reasonable amount of wealth and of money-making talent, the attention of its capitalists never was until of later years much turned toward manufacturing, but more directed to speculating upon the productions of others, by buying, selling, etc., than to creating new or additional wealth. The early efforts in the way of mills and manufactories, further than the common branches of mechanism, generally failed, either for want of capital or want of judgment and skill in their construction and management. The first partially modern sawmill erected within the present city limits was a sawmill on the Scioto, some ten or fifteen rods below where the penitentiary now is, in 1813, by John Shields and Richard Courtney. It passed through several hands in a, few Year:!: was considered a good property; but soon went to ruin: and for the last sixty-five years or more not a vestige of its remains has been perceivable. About the year 1816 the same John Shields erected a flouring mill on the run at the southwest corner of the town, a few rods west of Ball's tannery. The water was brought from east of High street in a race along the side of the bank, near the, south end of Hoster's brewery, and let on to in overshot wheel. This mill, after standing some twelve or fifteen years and being owned by several individuals in succession was suffered to go to ruin, and there have been no remains of it perceivable for fifty years. Along this hollow there formerly were, in succession, a number of breweries, distilleries, tanyards and asheries that have long since disappeared. At a later period there were two large breweries, one owned by Messrs. Roster & Silbernagle and the other by John Blenker, and some three or four tanneries. The First Circular Saw. In 1819, Moses Jewett, Caleb Houston and John E. Baker erected on the Scioto, just above Rich street, a sawmill upon a new patent plan. The saw was circular and was to cut constantly ahead with no back strokes. It was an experiment, and cost them a good deal without ever answering any valuable purpose. In 1821 Colonel Jewett and Judge Hines commenced the manufacturing of cotton yarn by horse power in a frame building on Front street, between Rich and Friend; and after experimenting with that some time and also with the circular saw in the mill, the spinning machinery was removed into the mill, where the spinning was continued by water power a. few years. But finally the whole concern was abandoned, and for nearly fifty years 102 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS there has not been a vestige of the building to show where it stood. The frame on Front Street where they first commenced the cotton spinning was for many years known as the "old factory.." A Hemp Dresser. About this time, Judge Hines having invented a machine for dressing hemp in an unrotted state, in 1822 he and William Bain constructed and put in operation one of the machines at the southeast corner of High street and South Public lane. It was propelled by horse power on a tread wheel. It after some time passed into the hands of Lafayette Tibbits. who worked it until the fall of 1824. when he failed and the whole concern went dawn. Woolen Manufacturers. About the year 1822, a woolen factory for carding, spinning and weaving was commenced by Ebenezer Thomas and others on the vest end of the lot later owned by Colonel S. W. Andrews, corner of High and Noble streets. It was worked by horse power on a tread wheel. It passed through the hands of different owners, without profit to any. About the year 1834 or 1835. the building and machinery were removed and re-erected by George Jeffries on the west abutment of the canal dam, where it was worked by water power, some two or three years, when the machinery was sold out by piece meal under the hammer: and so ended that manufacturing establishment. A Steam Sawmill. About the year 1831 or 1832, John McElvain erected a steam sawmill at. the head of the canal, where Hunter's warehouse afterward stood. It was worked by different persons (it is believed without much profit) for some seven or eight years, when the engine and machinery were disposed of and the warehouse erected over it, the mill frame answering as part of the warehouse. In 1843, the warehouse was totally consumed by fire. but was subsequently rebuilt. The first successful manufacturing establishment, other than common mechanic shops, was the foundry and plow manufactory of Mr. Ridgway, established in 1822. The County Seat Removed. In 1824 the county seat was removed from Franklinton to Columbus: and the courts were held in the United States courthouse until 1840. The court of common pleas then (1824) was composed of Gustavus Swan, president; Edward Livingston, Samuel G. Flenniken. and Aurora Buttles. associates : A. I. McDowell, clerk ; and Robert Brotherton. sheriff. Begins to Expand. As already observed, the original town was laid out in 1812. In the summer of 1814. John McGown's addition was laid out and called South CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 103 Columbus-surveyed and platted by John Shields. In 1830 the wharf lots were laid out by order of the town council. They are, and theoretically must remain city property. In 1831. a few lots were laid out by John Young and called Young's addition. McElvain's Addition. In 1832 a five acre lot of land near the head of the canal, owned by John McElvain and others. was laid out into lots and called McElvain's addition. In February, 1833. Otis and Samuel Crosby's first addition (between Town and South streets ) was laid out; and in November of the same year, their second addition (between South street and South Public lane) was also laid out. Brotherton and Walcutt's Addition. About the years 1831 and 1832. Robert Brotherton and John M. Walcutt who owned a few acres of an original reserve, sold out some building lots on Town street. which was generally called Brotherton and Walcutt's addition. They did not have their lots platted, but sold by metes and bounds as lands conveyed. The lots. however, were subsequently platted, agreeably to the sales. and recorded. Heyl and Parson's Addition. In 1815 judge Heyl and Dr. Parsons had a small addition of lots laid out in the southwest corner of the town. called Heyl and Parson's addition. In the s same year, 1835. Matthew J. Gilbert's addition was laid out. 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 104 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS 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 1542 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 calvary, 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. CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 105 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. Deshler, 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 106 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS 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 iii 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 on; 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. Postoffice and Borough Officers. The Columbus postofhce 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 postmaster 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 lister 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 PAGE 107 - OHIO HALL OF REPRESENTATIVES AND CHAMBER OF THE OHIO STATE SENATE PAGE 108 - BLANK CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS - 109 election for councilmen 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 Riorden. 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, 1823); 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; 110 - CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF COLUMBUS 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 Self. 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 term, 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 terns 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 3d. 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 he determined by lot, and afterward one member to be elected annually from each ward. The moor to be elected biennially by the people. (RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)