570 - HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

CHAPTER III.

THE BANK-SHOWS-1815-FEMALE BIBLE SOCIETY-CABINTOWN-RATTLESNAKE -COMMONS-BUCKLOT-MARKET HOUSE-WAGON RATES-RIVAL SOCIETIES MAD RIVER BRIDGE-BRIDGE STREET BRIDGE-BREWERIES-TOWN ELECTION, 1816-FREIGHTING UP THE RIVER-SUNDAY SCHOOLS-CAMP MEETING-STAGE LINES-BOATING SOUTH - NEW YEAR'S BALL-SCARCITY OF MONEY-COMPTON'S TAVERN-SICKLY SEASON-HANGING OF MCAFEE-MAILS-1825 TO 1829 -DAYTON AND THE CANAL.

PERRY'S victory, and the continued success of Gen. Harrison's army rehewed confidence in business circles. In November, 1813, meetings of Dayton business men were held with a view of establishing a bank here. The next month the Dayton Manufacturing Company was incorporated by the Legislature, and began business in the stone house still standing on the east side of Main street,, at the north corner of the first alley south of Water street. December 28, the following Directors were elected: H. G. Phillips, Joseph Peirce, John Compton, David Reid, William Eaker, Charles R. Greene, Isaac G. Burnet, Joseph H. Crane, D. C. Lindsley, John Ewing, Maddox Fisher, David Griffin and John H. Williams. May 19, 1814, the board organized by the election of H. G. Phillips, President, and George S. Houston, Cashier. Banking hours were from 10 A. M. to 1 P. M.

The village blacksmith, who, before the war had the neighborhood shoeing, and could make all repairs to wagons, plows and other farming implements, found that with his rapidly increasing business came competition. After the war the town supported four blacksmith shops; the proprietors were John Burns, Obadiah B. Conover, Jacob Kuhn and James Davis.

Charles Tull started a ferry on the Miami, at the head of Ludlow street, in December, 1814. Farmers would come on horseback and in wagons to the north side of the river, hitch there and feed, and bring their truck over on the boat, to trade at the stores. William Cogswell, silversmith and jeweler, opened a shop on the west side of Main street, south of First.

During the winter the community had a new experience in the appearance of one and two dollar bills, of the Dayton Manufacturing Company, fraudulently raised to twenties, and one hundred dollar bills.

SHOWS.

Towns in Southern Ohio had now become large enough to make it tempting for shows, theaters and other traveling companies to come this way with their entertainments.

The first "show" of which there is record, was quite an extensive display of " wax works and figures," that were exhibited here February 13, 1815.

Monday night, February 27, there was a grand illumination of the town in celebration of the declaration of peace between the United States and Great Britain. The country people came in crowds to participate in the general rejoicing.

The following tempting programme was announced for the first theater:

THEATER.

At the dwelling of William Huffman, St. Clair street. The lovers of the drama are respectfully informed that on this evening, April 22, 1816, will be

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CITY OF DAYTON.- 573

presented the much admired, elegant comedy called "Matrimony; or the Prisoners." Between the play and farce, will be given, Recitation-" Scolding Wife Reclaimed; Recitation- "Mousier Tonson." Fancy Dance. Comic song "Bag of nails." To which will be added the celebrated comic farce, called "The Village Lawyer." Tickets 50 cents; doors open at 7 o'clock, curtain to rise at 7:30, precisely. Gentlemen are requested not to smoke cigars in the theater.

In April, 1819, an African lion was on exhibition, in an iron cage, for four days, beginning April 22, in the barnyard at Reid's Inn. Admission 25 cents; children half price.

In April, 1820, 11th to 14th inclusive, an elephant was shown in the log barn in the rear of Reid's Inn. Admission 37 1/2 cents.

A grand exhibition of living animals was announced at Germantown, September 19 and 20, 1823; Dayton 22, and 23; thence to Xenia and Waynesville. The show included an African lion, African leopard, a cougar from Brazil, ichneumon, Shetland pony and rider, and several other animals. Good music was promised on the ancient Jewish cymbol and other instruments. The show to be from 9 A. M. to 5 P. M. Admission 25 cents; children half price.

The first circus exhibited in the barn yard at Reid's Inn, three evenings, July 19, 20 and 21, 1825. Flying equestrians, running and vaulting; female equestrian in two-horse acts; clown; horsemanship, trained trick horse, bareback and fancy riding, ground and lofty tumbling. Admission 25 cents children half price.

A paper balloon was sent up in Dayton, Saturday evening, June 7, 1828. It passed east, and a few miles from town an old lady who saw it going over the farm predicted war, or death in the family. The balloon finally descended in a field where a woman was milking; she dropped her bucket and ran to the house to tell her husband, but the "old man" did not think it safe to venture out till morning, when ho mounted a horse and rode around outside the fence with great caution. To provide for a safe retreat, he left the bars down behind him, then finally made bold to capture the balloon, and escaped without injury.

The first week of July, 1829, there were two rival circus companies here. One showed afternoon and evening, July 5 and 6; and the other exhibited five evenings that week.

A special meeting of Council was called May 31, 1830, to grant free license to an Englishman, who was here to exhibit a " locomotive engine and railway." The following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That the proprietor of the locomotive engine and railway, now exhibiting in this place, be permitted to exhibit the same without taking license therefor."

The track was put up in the Methodist Meeting-House, and for a fee, persons could ride around the room.

In March, 1815, Mrs. Dionecia Sullivan opened a school for girls, on the west side of Main street, just south of Third street. She taught them reading, writing, sewing, lettering with the needle, and painting. Her husband, William Sullivan, had his tailor shop in the same building.

The Dayton Female Charitable and Bible Society was organized at the house of Mrs. Henry Brown, April 12, by the election of Mrs. Robert Patterson as President; Mrs. Thomas Cottom, Vice President; Mrs. James Welsh, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Joseph H. Crane, Recording Secretary; Mrs. Henrietta Peirce, Treasurer; Managers, Mrs. William King, Mrs. David Reid, Mrs. James Hanna, Mrs. James Steele and Mrs Isaac Spinning. This was the first organization of the kind in Dayton, and these ladies, with others, during the rest of their lives, were engaged in this and similar good work. June 25, the Rev.

574 - HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Joshua L. Wilson, preached a charity sermon in the Methodist Meeting-House, for the benefit of this Charitable Association. It was the custom of the ministers of the town to make similar efforts in behalf of the society each year afterward.

In June, Ann Yaman established a milliner shop on Main street, south of Second. She advertised for a supply of goose feathers, announcing, also, that military gentlemen would find at her shop, a full stock of plumes and other -- decorations.

It was estimated that, in the summer of 1815, there were about one hundred dwellings in Dayton. There were more log cabins than any other kind of buildings. The lumber business was called "trade in planks."

Sets of house logs and clapboards were gotten out in winter, sledded to town and sold in the spring.

CABINTOWN.

That part of the town south of Third street was called " Cabintown," from the fact that there were scarcely any other than log-cabin improvements. The ruling spirits of that part of the town, in after years, congregated in the evenings at the cabinet shop of James Elliot, northwest corner of Fourth and Main streets. The only two of that party now living are Philip Kiefer and Thomas B. Carpenter. The western border of " Cabintown," in the low ground west of Perry street, was called " Specksburg," for Barnhart Speck, a baker, who lived in the bottom near the river, now West Third street. "Specksburg" was soon lost in the extension of its more powerful neighbors, " Cabintown " and Dayton "Rattlesnake" was the name of a little prairie at the corner of Wilkinson and Water streets. The "Commons," until 1820, was the prairie lying east of St. Clair street and north of Third street, nearly to First.

" Bucklot " was first known as " buck pasture," and was so called because, at an early day, it lead been one of the favorite grounds for hunting deer tempted there by the many springs of cool, clear water. It included the territory between the two canals, north of Third street, to the " mill-pond " and race.

THE MARKET - HOUSE.

A frame market-house was erected on Second street, extending 100 feet west from Jefferson street. On the inside of the building, on both sides. were the butcher stalls, and outside, under the eaves (which projected some distance), were the stands for farmers and gardeners. From the building west, nearly to Main street, were two long horse-racks, or rails. This first market-house was opened for use without ceremony, July 4, 1815. Market hours were from 4 to 10 A. M., Wednesdays and Saturdays of each week. That part of Second street was, for the next forty years, known as Market street, and is yet so called by many of our older citizens. The ordinance to regulate the market took effect April 1, 1816. It forbid the sale of butter, cheese, eggs, poultry, fresh meat, and vegetables of all kinds, within the corporation bounds, on any other than market days, except that fresh meat and fish might be sold before 8 A. M. any day. Beef, by the quarter, or fifty pounds of pork, could be sold at any time. "Cabintown " and Dayton had a struggle for many years for change of location of the market-house, which resulted in triumph for " Cabintown," by the selection of the center of Main street, south of Third, as the site for a new market-house. The controversy did not end, however, until July 27, 1829; it was determined to locate the building in the alley running from Jefferson street to Main, between Third and Fourth streets.

The cost of the property to widen the market space, from Jefferson to Main street, was $1,196.20. Only the west half of the house was then built; the space east, to Jefferson street, was for market wagons. April 24, 1830,

CITY OF DAYTON. - 575

the old market-house, on Second street, was declared vacated, and was shortly afterward torn down.

William Clark was appointed Clerk and Marshal of the market at a salary of 87 5 per annum. In 1836, the building. was extended to Jefferson street. In the summer of 1845, a second story was buIlt on the west half of the market-house and arranged for City Hall, Library and Council Chamber.

The present city buildings were contracted for March 21, 1876, to cost $54,471.

WAGON RATES.

Competing lines, in 1815, established the following wagon rates:

Trip to Cincinnati, 75 cents; Cincinnati to Dayton, $1.; Urbana to Dayton, or vice versa, $1; Dayton to Piqua, or Piqua to Dayton, 75 cents; fourhorse team, per day, $4; two-horse team, per day, $2.50; stone, per perch, from Cooper's or Wade's quarries, $1.25; four-horse load of wood from outlet, 75 cents: two-horse load of wood from outlet, 37 1/2 cents; four-horse load of gravel, 50 cents; two-horse load of gravel, 25 cents.

RIVAL SOCIETIES.

Two societies, somewhat different in character, were organized here at about the same time, July, 1815. The Dayton Bachelors' Society, with George S. Houston, as President, and Joseph John, Secretary, was organized by the convivial bachelors and gentlemen of the town; possibly, without real opposition to an association of religious people, known as the Moral Society. Calls for meetings of the Society of Associated Bachelors were usually made through the Ohio Republican; but officer's names were withheld. The calls were made for the "usual places of meeting," "Strain's bar-room." The great drawback to the society was, that their members would desert, or rather become ineligible by getting married, and it was generally necessary to elect new officers at each quarterly meeting of the association.

The Moral Society met at the Methodist Meeting House, Saturday evening, July 22. James Hannah, President; George S. Houston, Secretary; William King, Henry Robinson, Matthew Patton. John Patterson and Aaron Baker, Managers. The object of the society was "the suppression of vice and immorality, Sabbath-breaking, swearing; and other unmoral practices, and to assist magistrates in the faithful discharge of their duties." George S. Houston, it will be seen, was President of the " Bachelor's Association," and Secretary of the "oral Society." September 24, he was married to the " amiable Miss Mary Foreman." and there was great rejoicing in the Moral Society. Shortly afterward, the Secretary, Joseph John, married Miss Jane Waugh, only daughter of William Waugh, of Washington Township, and the Republican took great pleasure in calling attention to the fact that both the President and Secretary of the Bachelor's Association were married men. Their places were immediately filled by the election of John Steele, President, and Alexander Grimes, Secretary.

MAD RIVER BRIDGE

Mad River was such a slashing, wild stream, and so rapid, that a ferry could not well be managed, and ordinarily in the spring the river was so dangerous to ford that merchants of the town found it desirable that a bridge should be built. To this end a meeting was held at Grimes' Tavern, Saturday, January 27, 1816, " to devise a plan to build a bridge across Mad River at the Staunton Road Ford."

The following committee was appointed to raise subscriptions, and Superintend structure ; D. C. Cooper, Aaron Baker, Samuel Dille, David Lock, John

576 - HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

D. Campbell, David Griffin and William M. Smith. This plan was abandoned and the bridge built the next year by the county.

March 21, 1817, the contract was sold to William Farmun at $1,400. It was a high bridge, built crowning in the old fashioned way, with a single span of 160 feet, so that the roadway over the middle of the river was several feet higher above the water than at the abutments. It was located at where Taylor street now is, just south of Water street; was not a covered bridge, and was painted red. Although not completed, it was opened to travel in the fall, and in December, was finished at an expense of $150. In 1824, being unsafe, a new floor was laid and additional braces put up. In May, 1828 the bridge fell into the river and was rebuilt that summer by John Hale.

BRIDGE STREET BRIDGE.

A stock company had been formed, and in April, 1818, they began the construction of the old red toll bridge across the Miami River at Bridge street. Nathan S. Hunt, of Hamilton, Ohio, was contractor.

A soldier on duty at the United States recruiting office here, fell from a boat that was used in building the pier; and was drowned.

December 22, an Indian was drowned in attempting to cross on the fee just below the bridge. The next month the bridge was opened to the public ; the toll house stood at the upper side, west end of the bridge.

BREWERIES.

In 1816, Robert Graham who kept the old tavern at the corner of Drain and Water streets, also had a small brewery there in operation.

About 1820, Henry Brown built a brick browery on Lot 105, south side of Second street, west of Jefferson street; James L. Morris bought it in October 1822, and in 1823 Michael Ott was proprietor. It was then known as the Dayton Brewery.

In August, 1828, George C. Davis built a new brick brewery on Jefferson street between First and Water streets. T. Hawley k Co. made the first brew ing there October 15 of the same year. They manufactured beer, porter and ale, and had a fine trade.

The following is an advertisement of the Dayton brewery, October 25, 1830.

Beer, similar to that brewed at Germantown, and equally as good, is now brewed by a brewer from the Germantown brewery, at the Old Brewery on Market street, formerly occupied by Mr. George Harris, where it is sold at $4.50 per barrel.

TOWN ELECTION - 1816.

At the corporation election, March 2, 1816, the following offIcers were elected : D. C. Cooper, President of the Select Council, Recorder, Joseph Peirce; Trustees, Aaron Baker, H. G. Phillips, Ralph Wilson, O. B. Conover. George Grove.

FREIGHTING UP THE RIVER.

Lines of keel-boats were again established up the Miami in 1816, carrying grain and produce that was transferred at Loramie to boats that were taken down the Maumee. A large warehouse for storage was built at the Maumee Rapids, as a point for transfer of freight from river boats to lake vessels.

MEDICAL SOCIETY.

The Dayton Medical Society was organized July 13, 1816. They were to meet three times each year.

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RATES OF POSTAGE.

Any distance not exceeding 30 miles, 6 cents ; over 30 miles and not exceeding 80 miles, 10 cents ; over 80, and not over 150, 12 1/2 cents ; over 150, and not over 400, 18 3/4 ; over 400 miles, 25 cents. Each paper carried not over 100 miles, 1 cent ; over 100 miles, 1 1/2 cents.

SABBATH SCHOOLS.

In March, 1817, an effort was made that soon resulted in the establishment of a Sunday school by the Presbyterians at their meeting house.

In July of the next year, they organized the Dayton Sabbath School Association ; and the Methodists organized the Methodist Sunday School Society. Their first meetings were held in August. Children and adults were taught the alphabet and to read. The Presbyterian school was held in their own meeting house ; the Methodist school was held in the Academy building on St. Clair street.

In 1817, there were but two pleasure carriages in Dayton. One was owned by D. U. Cooper, and the other by H. G. Phillips.

Simeon Stansifer started a tobacco factory in July of that year, near the post office.

Blackall Stephens opened the old Newcom tavern as the Sun Inn, in December ; he had a large picture of the Sun on the sign.

CAMP MEETING.

The Methodists in the neighborhoods throughout the valley usually gathered in the groves for worship whenever the services of a minister could be obtained. Friday, June 26, 1818, the first camp meeting was organized at the little prairie, three-fourths of a mile south of Dayton now the foot of Ludlow street. It was estimated that there were 3,000 people at the assembly. September 10, of the next year, they again met under the leadership of the Rev. James B. Finley, P. E., who was assisted by the Rev. John Strange, of the Mad River Circuit. The line of tents entirely encircled the prairie. These meetings were held at that point each year until the canal was located, and after that were held at the big spring on the north side of Mad River, near where the south abutment of the railroad bridge is now located.

STAGE LINES.

In May, 1818, a Mr. Lyon began makingregular weekly trips from Dayton to Cincinnati and return, for passengers, but he only continued for the summer.

June 2, John H. Platt, of Cincinnati, and D. C. Cooper started a stage line between the two points. The stage left Cincinnati Tuesday evenings, staying overnight at Hamilton, arriving here the next evening ; returning, left here Friday evenings, arriving at Cincinnati Saturday evenings. Fair, 8 cents a mile, with an allowance of fourteen pounds of baggage to each passenger.

In the spring of 1820, John Crowder. the Dayton colored barber, with Jacob Musgrove, another black man, as his partner, put a coach that would carry twelve passengers on the road. Crowder was driver, and with his coach and four. was an object of great interest to the townspeople, and farmers along the line. He took two days for the trip each way, staying overnight at Hamilton, going and coming.

Timothy Sguier had a stage running to Cincinnati in 1822. Worden & Huffman had the line to Columbus, and there connected with a stage line to Sandusky.

In May, 1827, the Cincinnati, Dayton, Columbus and Portland, on Lake

578 - HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

Erie, tri-weekly line of mail coaches began running through from Cincinnati to the lake, in four days. June 25, coaches were started daily, each way. At Portland they connected with steamers for Detroit and Buffalo. At Mt. Vernon they connected with a stage line for Cleveland. Fare from Cincinnati to Dayton, $3; to Columbus, $6; to the lake, $12. Proprietors, H. G. Phillips and Timothy Squier, Dayton; Jarvis Pike, and William Neil, Columbus; C. Barney, Mt. Vernon; K. Porter, Portland; F. Fowler, Milan. In 1828, just before the canal opened, stage lines were in operation in all directions. Twenty regular coaches arrived here each week.

BOATING SOUTH.

The last week of March, 1819, several flat-boats loaded with flour, pork and whisky, from Piqua and Troy, passed down the river, and eight fine flat-boats and one keel-boat left here with flour. March 16, 1823, seven flat-boats and one keel-boat left with produce for New Orleans. The last week of April, 1824, a boat came down Stillwater from Milton, and three loaded here started with her. One of the Dayton boats had forty barrels of whisky, 400 barrels of flour, and a half ton of bacon. Sunday, March 27, 1825, the town was all excitement. On Wednesday, the 23d, a heavy rain set in, and on Friday, the river began to raise. Saturday, merchants, farmers, millers, distillers and teamsters were busy loading the boats that were moored along the Water street landings. Several boats arrived from above during the day, and tied up here; others came down on Sunday, and from fear that the water might run out, the fleet of twenty boats got away. Some were snagged on the way down, but most of them got through safely.

For two or three davs the last of February, 1827, the river was in fine boating condition. On the 26th, twelve boats started south, loaded with grain, flour and whisky. Two others left on Sundav, the 29th, and struck on the rocks at "Broad Ripple;" the one belonging to Phillips & Perrine sunk, the other got off all right.

The last boat to leave with freight for the South by river, started from here in February, 1828. The next spring freight was shipped by canal. Freight to the North, however, was sent by river until about 1836, or possibly until the canal was opened to Piqua, a year later.

NEW YEAR'S BALL.

A grand New Year's ball was given at Fielding Gosnev's Inn, east side of Main street, south corner of the first alley South of Water street, Friday evening, December 29, 1819. William Griffin, Benjamin Brewbecker, E. W. Leveret, John H. Reid, Managers.

SCARCITY OF MONEY.

The general depression in business throughout the country after the war of 1812, withdrew gold and silver from circulation, and for ten years seriously affected trade in the West, where good currency was so very scarce. Dayton made but slow progress from 1820 until work was begun upon the canal.

Money was so scarce in 1820, 1821 and 1822, that trade of all kinds was carried on by barter. Wolf-scalp certificates were the " log cabin currency." What was known as " cut money" was made by cutting silver dollars into quarters, and Mexican quarters into dimes. Five quarters were thus cut from $1; and three dimes from a quarter.

COMPTON'S TAVERN.

John Compton opened the tavern at the corner of Second and Main streets June 19, 1821. The new sign was a picture of the naval engagement between the frigates Constitution and Guerrier.

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SICKLY SEASON.

The summer of 1821 was a very sickly season. Fever prevailed through out the valley to an alarming extent. During August, September and October, fully one-third of the population were sick. In Dayton there were nearly four hundred cases, and so many deaths as to cause great alarm.

In July, the roads to Cincinnati were in bad condition, and in many places were obstructed by fallen timber.

JOHN M'AFEE.

The trial of John McAfee for the brutal murder of his wife lasted two days, March 2 and 3, 1825. He was found guilty and sentenced by Judge Joseph H. Crane to be hanged March 28. Monday morning, March 28, 1825, crowds began to come in from the country. Capt. Conrad Wolf's Rifle Company, and Capt. Timothy Squires, Dayton Troop of Horse were ordered out as guards. At 10 o'clock in the morning, McAfee was taken from the jail and seated in a carriage, attended by the Rev. Father Hill, a Catholic priest who had been up twice before from Cincinnati to visit the prisoner. Guarded by the militia, the prisoner was taken to the gallows in the woods on the west of Dayton, near the Miami River. He made a confession of his crime, and was hanged at 3 o'clock P. M.

1825 TO 1829.

January 11, 1825, Thomas Morrison erected hay scales on Fourth street, just east of Ludlow, and charged 37 cents a ton for weighing hay, and 25 cents a half ton, one-half to be paid by the purchaser and one-half by the sel ler; but to save trouble for himself, Mr. Morrison required the seller to pay the full amount and collect the half from his customer.

April 6, the mail from Columbus arrived in a carriage. Two days later a stage was started to Cincinnati with the mail; before that it had always been carried by post rider on all the routes.

George S. Houston was the first real estate agent in Dayton; as such he advertised himself in November, 1825.

In June, 1826, James Perrine was appointed agent here for the Protection Fire Insurance Company, of Hartford, Conn. This was the first opportunity offered Dayton or Montgomery County people to insure their property by local agent.

The canal was to be cut through the little prairie at the foot of Ludlow street; the Methodists, therefore, changed their camp meeting grounds to the grove north of Mad River, near the big spring. With the Rev. John Collins as leader, they assembled there Friday, June 1, 1827. The meeting was continued until Monday, the 4th.

McElwee & Clegg made the first heat at their Dayton Iron Foundry, near the head of the basin, December 2, 1828.

DAYTON AND THE CANAL.

The town began to improve and increase in population soon after the canal law had passed the Legislature. In the spring of 1825, all houses and cabins were occupied; and new ones were erected. Brick and frame houses began to appear in the county in place of the cabins; new farms were opened and improvements made.

Saturday. July 9, Gov. De Witt Clinton and Staff, of New York, Gov. Jeremiah Morrow, Hon. Ethan A. Brown, Hon. Joseph Vance, Judge Tappan, M. T. Williams, Judge Bates and Judge Parish were met at Fairfield by Capt. Timothy Squier with the Dayton Troop of Horse and many citizens of the town, and were escorted to Dayton on their way to Middletown to break ground for the Miami Canal. The column arrived at Dayton at 2:30 in the afternoon,

580 - HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY.

and halted at Compton's Tavern, where an address of welcome was delivered by Judge Crane, with response from Gov. Clinton.

At 4 P. M., guests and .citizens dined at Reid's Inn. Judge Crane presided; Judge Steele and Col. Robert Patterson were Vice Presidents; a number of patriotic and complimentary toasts were responded to by the distinguished guests and citizens.

By actual count in August there were 1,100 white and thirty-four colored people living in Dayton.

The canal was located at the commons, between the Academy and the sawmill race, in May, 1827; it terminated in a basin seventy feet wide, at First street. Excavation on the canal near town was commenced in June. In December, there were 210 dwellings in Dayton-the court house, jail, county office building, Presbyterian and Methodist meeting-houses, the academy and five otherschools, three with male and three with female teachers, the library; two bridges, two apothecary shops, thirteen dry good stores and seventeen groceries; four taverns-Grime's, Reid's, Compton's and Strain's: two printing offices the Dayton Journal, in the second story of the County Office Building, John W. Van Cleve and Jeptha Regans, proprietors; and the Miami Herald, on the east side of Main street, a few doors south of Third, It. J. Skinner, proprietor; one wholesale store, three wagon-maker shops, one carriage shop, four blacksmith shops, two sickle factories, one tin shop. one coppersmith, three hatters, seven shoemakers, seven tailors. three tan-yards, three saddlers, three watchmakers, one brewery, one tallow chandler, two tobacconists, one flour-mill with three run of stone, one saw-mill with two saws, one fulling mill, and one cotton factory.

January 7, 1828, the Stillwater, Miami and Mad Rivers were higher than at any time since 1814. The State dam that had been built the fall before, was very much injured. The canal bridge at the east end of Main Cross street was washed away, and the Jefferson street canal bridge was injured. All of the mill race bridges were swept away. Broadwell's old red warehouse, on the Miami River bank, at the head of Wilkinson street, was carried off, and much damage was done to fencing and other property above and below town.

The population of the town May 1, 1828, was 1,693 whites, and seventy-four blacks; 429 voters.

The Alpha, a canal boat for freight and passengers, was built by Solomon Eversole, for McMaken & Hilton, and launched at the canal, near Fifth street, Saturday, August 16, 1828. A temporary dam was put across the canal, at the bluffs, and water was let in from the saw-mill tail race, near Fifth street, and trial trips were made down to the dam, and back. The Dayton Guards, a uniformed company of boys, organized on the 4th of July previous, had the first trip on her.

Timothy Squier opened the National Hotel, on the north side of Main Cross street, east of Jefferson, in the summer. During the year, there were thirty-six brick, and thirty-four frame buildings erected in town. At the time the canal to Cincinnati was completed, January 1, 1829, there were 125 brick, six stone, and 239 frame buildings in Dayton; 235 dwellings. A saw-mill had been built, and a shingle and lath factory, corn-mill, iron foundry and cooper shop. At that time there were seven doctors and thirteen lawyers, and many new mechanics in every branch, and new stores of all kinds.

A week before Christmas, a party of ladies and gentlemen of town, went to Miamisburg on the Alpha, Capt. T. Jones, Master. The formal opening of the canal was expected to be celebrated by the arrival at Dayton. January 12, 1829, of several boats from Cincinnati; but the canal was frozen over and the affair was delayed.

CITY OF DAYTON. - 581

Sunday morning, January 25, artillery at the landing announced the approach of the packet Governor Brown, and as she rounded to at the dock, the citizens of the town greeted her with hearty cheers. In the afternoon the Forrer arrived, at dark the General Marion, and during the night the General Pike.

The boats, Gov. Brown, Capt. J. D. Archibald, Master; Forrer, Capt. Campbell, Master; Gen. Marion, Capt. Clymer, Master; Gen. Pike, Capt. Swain, Master, were to leave for Cincinnati, accompanied by the Alpha, with a Dayton party, but a break in the canal near Alexandersville prevented their departure.

Regular lines of packets were soon in active competition; twenty hours was a fast packet trip to Cincinnati. Merchandise was brought from New York to Dayton by water, in twenty days' time, at $17.25 freight per ton. The route was by the Erie Canal to Buffalo, across the lake to Cleveland, by the Ohio Canal to the Ohio River, down the river to Cincinnati, and up the Miami Canal to Dayton, the entire distance was 1,152 miles.

April 16, 1829, the steam canal boat, Enterprise, arrived at Dayton from Cincinnati.