Madison County, Ohio - Chapter 17: London, 1883

Chapter 17: London

LONDON. SEAT OF JUSTICE - LONDON IN 1812 - ORIGINAL LOTS AND LOT-OWNERS - EARLY INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS - LONDON IN 1835 - POSTMASTERS - ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE - THE CONFLAGRATION OF 1854 - DR. KANE - FIRST STREET SPRINKLING IN LONDON - DISTINGUISHED MEN VISIT LONDON - FIRE DEPARTMENT- SCHOOLS OF LONDON - THE NEWSPAPER PRESS - BANKS.

DURING- the session of the Legislature of 1810-11, three Commissioners were appointed by that body to select a seat of justice for Madison County, and, on the 19th of August, 1811, the report of these Commissioners was presented to the Court of Common Pleas then in session, which was as follows:

We, Peter Light, Allen Trimble and Lewis Newsom, having been appointed by the last Legislature of Ohio Commissioners for fixing the seat of justice in said county of Madison, having notified the inhabitants and attended agreeably thereto, we took the oath prescribed by law, and proceeded to view and examine said county, and have mutually selected and agreed on a tract or piece of land of 200 acres owned by John Murfin, including the cabin where he now lives, on the northeast side of Oak Run, on the road which passes E. Langham's, and is on the plat of the county two miles and eighty-six poles from the upper center A, and one mile two hundred and ninety-three poles from the lower B, which piece of land, or such part thereof as the court may think proper, is, in our judgment (from the law under which we act), the most eligible place for the seat of Madison County. The proposition of a donation of Murfin is inclosed to be used as the court may think proper.

I, John Murfin, do offer my tract of land on Oak Run, adjoining Elias Langham's land, containing 200 acres, which I will cause to be laid out into a town at my own expense under the direction of the County's Director, the streets and alleys to be made commodious for the public good, a convenient public square shall be laid out, which, together with one-half the in and out lots shall be for the use of the county, and to all of which there shall be made a general warrantee deed. The above is humbly submitted for the consideration of the gentlemen Commissioners. John Murfin.

The court at the same session appointed Patrick McLene, Director, and ordered him to prepare evidence of title of Mr. Murfin and make his report. This was subsequently accomplished, and the title proving satisfactory it was ordered by the court " that the director proceed to purchase one hundred or one hundred and twenty-live acres, as nigh a scpaare as possible of Mr. Murfin's land, on Oak Run, at a sum not exceeding $1 per acre, and the donation of the lot on which his cabin maybe situated, and pay for the same out of the proceeds of sale, and on delivery of deed for purchased land, he proceed to lay out or off a town into lots, streets and alleys, the main streets to cross each other at right angles one hundred feet wide, and the other streets not exceeding seventy-five feet wide, and the alleys sixteen or eighteen feet wide; the lots to be in front not more than sixty-five feet and not more than one hundred and thirty-two feet back to an alley, and that he lay out not more than one hundred and twenty even lots, the residue of the ground to be laid off in outlots of two acres each, and that he reserve one lot for court house or public square at the intersection of main streets, two lots for churches and academy, one for jail and one for outlot for a burial-place; that he call streets and alleys by appropriate names, and that he get the plat so laid off recorded; after acknowledgment, that he sell the lots at public sale, atter the purchase and laying-off as aforesaid, on the third Monday and Tuesday of September next, or at a convenient time after in same month; that he give certificate of sale to purchaser and receive contracts for payment - one-third in three months, one-third in nine and residue in eighteen months: and the conditions of sale be that, if purchaser fail to pay first installment, to sell the lot so sold to another person at the direction of director, and that he lay off a town in neat form as convenient to the water as possible, adjourn the sale at discretion and sell after public sale, taking into consideration the average price, and that the lots on intersection of main streets be sold for not less than $50 each; and further ordered that said town or city, when so laid off, be called and known by the name of London, and that the director keep a book in which he will regularly record the conditions of sale, the lots sold and to whom. the moneys received, and make a separate and a distinct entry for every purchase and pxhibit the same to the court at the next term and make report of lots sold by number, etc."

Prior to the above action relative to the county seat, as has appeared in the general history of the county, the Court of Common Pleas of Franklin County, in 1810, appointed Philip Lewis, Director, to lay out a seat of justice for Madison County. A town was laid out and platted which was designated by the name of Madison, the plat was acknowledged before Thomas Gwynne, a Justice of the Peace of Deer Creek Township, November 18, 1810, and placed on record in the County Recorder's office. We have been unable to find anything of record designating the site of the town of Madison, further than that in the index book referring to the plats of towns appears "Madison (Deer Creek T. S."). It is a tradition that London was built upon the site of Madison. We give below all matters pertaining to the town of Madison that we have been able to find on record in the court house. December 4. 1810, John Pollock and George Jackson were allowed the sum of $14 each for their services for fixing on the place for the county seat of Madison County, by order of the Board of County Commissioners.

December 14, 1810, Robert Shannon, William Reed and Alexander Morrison, Associate Judges of Franklin County, were allowed $6, $6 and $2 respectively, for attending at the town of Franklinton, by the request of Philip Lewis, Esq., director of the town of Madison, for giving him directions and fixing on the day of sale of the lots in said town, by order of the Board of County Commissioners. Also under the same date, " ordered that there be allowed to Elias N. Delashmutt, Sheriff of Franklin County, $2.50 for summoning court at the request of P. Lewis, Esq., director of the town of Madison."

"January 3, 1811, ordered that there be allowed to Philip Lewis the sum of $20 for part of his services in laying off the town of Madison, in the county of Madison."

January 8, 1811. the Board of Commissioners ordered $150 to be appropriated for the purpose of erecting a jail in the town of Madison, and that the same be advertised, the sale to be on the 14th of January next. On the latter date the Commissioners met, and after being informed that there was a new committee appointed by the Legislature to explore the county and affix the seat of justice, permanently, agreed to postpone the sale of the jail.

" June 10, 1811, ordered that there be allowed to John Arbuckle, Esq., the sum of $4 for acting as a crier for two days in the sale of lots in the town of Madison, by the orders of the director. "

Returning to London, we will state that 103f acres of the Murfin tract was, on the 14th of September, 1811, in consideration of $415, deeded to the director of the town. However, the town had previously been laid out and platted on this ground, as the plat was acknowledged by Patrick Mc- Lene and certified to before Samuel Baskerville, one of the Associate Judges of Madison County, September 13, 1811. The plat comprised 128 inlots and twenty outlots, the former being four by eight poles in size. The lots were bounded on the north by Fifth street, on the south by Front street, on the west by Water street and on the east by Back street. The original number of streets was ten; Main and Main Cross (now High) streets were made six poles wide, and all others four and one-half poles. Two lots were reserved for county buildings, two for churches and academies, one outlot for a burvingf-ffrcmnd a,nd one for John Murfin.

The cabin of Mr. Murfin as early as 1809 stood on the south side of West High street, on the site of the present lumber yard of J. F. Morgan. He was a Virginian. His wife's name, as written in the deed for the land. was Janey, but very likely, if properly written, would be Jane. He removed from London at an early day to the State of Indiana, thence to Illinois, where he died. In the autobiography of David Watson, it is stated that three houses were built in London in the spring of 1811. He says: " One I helped to build, and Rev. Father Sutton, living here at the time, built one of them." It is not stated who built the third.

" On the 18th of November, 1812, I saw a family of six members crowding their household goods into a cabin sixteen by eighteen, a little northeast of where the Presbyterian Church now stands. As soon as things were a little quiet. I started out in the grove in search of London. I soon found a kind friend who showed me the stakes setting out the lots, and introduced me to Mr. Patrick McLene, the director of the town of London. Its inhabitants at that time all dwelt in ten or eleven cabins, with clapboard roof, knees and weight poles, and the floors made of split timber, all, I say. except Russell's tavern, which had a shingle roof, but otherwise rather barny, being neither chinked nor daubed. Robert Hume. Clerk of the Court, had two rooms in his cabin, one for his family and the other for his office. The office had a hole cut in the wall and greased paper pasted over it to admit the light, like a Virginia schoolhouse. I made him a nine-light sash out of a piece of box I brought from Virginia. This was the first and the only glass window in London at that time.

"Col. Philip Lewis and Joseph Russell kept hotels. Each had, perhaps, a dozen bottles, great and small, and, perhaps, as many tumblers, with plenty of sots and rowdies always on hand. The heads of families were Philip Lewis. James Russell, Robert Hume, Joseph Warner, John Murfin, Cary. the tanner, William Wingate. John Thompson, David Dungan and Rev. William Sutton. The boarders at Col. Lewis' were Capt. John Moore, who was recruiting for the army, Col. Langham, Robert Smith, James Bal- lard and Patrick McLene, Esqs. The County Commissioners were Jonathan Minshall, Burton Blizzard and William Gibson. A temporary court house and jail were the public buildings. I cut hay in sight of town to winter seven horses and cows. The timber that was then standing on the town plat was beautiful, tall and straight. I cut a red oak on Lot No. 6, where John Dungan's store now stands, of which I made 2.000 lap shingles. There was a fall of snow about the 12th of December, which lasted six weeks: there has been no such sleighing any winter since. As an evidence of this fact, thei*e was a dispatch came from Fort Meigs, the carrier of which wished a sleigh. I had just made one, which he took to Chillicothe and back to Fort Meigs three times during the winter. Chillicothe was the residence of the Governor and the base of army supplies, hence there were teams passing at all hours. The first stock of goods that was brought to London was in March, 1818. The Gwynne brothers arrived there with five hvehorse teams direct from Baltimore. The first day, thinly as the country was settled, they sold goods to the amount of $500. Shortly after this, we built the earthenware factory, where the Presbyterian Church now stands. This ware was the substitute of delf and china for three or four years - about the close of the war. There are, I think, of those who resided within the town in the winter of 1812, now living, but myself and Mrs. S. M. Bond. I should, perhaps, have excepted A. A. Hume, who was then an extra chubby urchin of about four years of age."

Mr. Thompson, we believe, is mistaken in the County Commissioners of that year, as the records show that Mr. Blizzard was not elected until 1815. The Commissioners at the time spoken of were Joshua Ewing, Jonathan Minshall and William Gibson. The name should read Joseph instead of James Russell; this was most likely a misprint. Mrs. Betsey Toland, widow of the late Dr. A. Toland, should have been included among the living ones who were residents of the town in November, 1811. She was the daughter of Col. Lewis, was born before London was laid out, and is yet numbered among its venerable citizens.

Of the residents of the town in 1812, Philip Lewis was a native of Pennsylvania and settled in what later became this county in 1809. His tavern is believed to have been built in the fall of 1812. It was a two-story hewed- log house, and stood on the east side of Main street, not far from High, on the present site of C. Gulcher's restaurant. Mr. Lewis was a tavern-keeper in London for nearly forty years. His death occurred June 28, 1851. The tavern was destroyed by the fire of 1854.

Joseph Russell came from the State of New Jersey. His tavern stood on High street, just in the rear of the site of the Exchange Bank. It was also a two-story hewed-log building, and is believed to have been built in 1811. Many years afterward an addition was built to this house, and it was known as the National Hotel, and as such was destroyed by lire on the night of August 4, 1874. Mr. Russell, after remaining in London a number of years, removed to the West ami there died.

Robert Hume's cabin, too, is believed to have been built in the spring or summer of 1811. It stood on the present site of the residence of John Dungan, on Main street; this, in a year or two, was replaced by a more commodious structure, two stories high, built of hewed logs. The building was about 24x50 feet, built of white oak timber, which was very heavy, and, owing to the few inhabitants of the town, when they came to raise it, outside help was sought from the settlements of Darby and Paint. In this house Mr. Hume kept a tavern until 1815, when he removed to Chillicothe, but after a few years again returned to London. He was a native of Virginia, and, in 1804, settled in what is now Madison County. He died May 9, 1854.

Joseph Warner was from Virginia, and was a carpenter by trade. His cabin was built in 1811, and stood on the corner of Third and Main streets, now the site of H. W. Smith's residence. He came to the vicinity of London about the year 1810, being then a single man. He followed his trade many years, then removed to a farm in Union Township, and died in 1868. His wife was Sarah Atchison.

"William Wingate most likely only resided in London temporarily, as his life is known to have been passed in the country. For further particulars concerning him the reader is referred to the sketch of Union Township.

John Thompson, the father of the writer of the above article, was from the State of Virginia. He built a cabin on Main street, where the Central Bank now stands.

Rev. William Sutton was a local preacher, and by trade a carpenter, which occupation he followed in and about London for some years. In after years, however, he entered the itinerant service of the M. E. Church.

It is not known that David Dungan resided in the town at all; he, too, must have been only a temporary resident. Carey, the tanner, is remembered by some of the old citizens, but that is all, as he left the place at an early day.

Capt. John Moore was a Virginian by birth; he settled in this vicinity before the county was formed, and remained here until his death, in 1839.

Col. Langham came to the Northwest Territory toward the close of the eighteenth century, and was a resident of Ross County for some years. He lived in the vicinity of London as early as 1807, and died in the county about the year 1830.

Patrick McLene was a native of Pennsylvania. He came to Ohio at an early day, and for a time prior to the laying-out of London, resided in this vicinitv. His death occurred in London in 1863.

Original Lots And Lot-Owners

The following table exhibits the names of persons purchasing lots on the original plat of London from 1812 to 1820, with the number of lot, year purchased and the amount paid:

Early Industrial Interests

The early industries of London were not numerous or important. Daniel Thompson is authority for the statement that the first stock of goods brought to the town was in March, 1813, by the Gwynne brothers. There were six of the Gwynne brothers, who settled in what is now Madison County prior to the county's formation, namely, Thomas, John E., William, Eli W., David and Horatio. These brothers on coming to the county settled in Deer Creek Township. The records show that Thomas Gwynno, in 1810, was licensed to keep a tavern at his residence in Deer Creek Township, and also that in March, 1811, he was granted license to vend merchandise at the same place. They also show that at the February term of the court in 1815, William and Eli Gwyrine were granted license to vend merchandise in London. In 1815, their goods were sold from the Joseph Russell tavern. In 1819, license was granted to Thomas and E. W. Gwynne, under the firm name of Thomas Gwynne & Co. The business was still carried on in the Russell tavern. Soon after this they engaged in business in Urbana, where Thomas died a wealthy man. Eli died at Columbus December 7, 1866. The Madison County press, at his death, said " that he was born near Cumberland, Md., December 18, 1794, * * *; he, in connection with his older brothers, opened the first dry goods store in London

* * * * ; after retiring from merchantile pursuits, he gave his attention to grazing and shipping and driving cattle to the New York market, * *

* * ; at the time of his death, he was probably worth over $1,000,000; his income, in 1865, was $57,000. He never held any office within the gift of the people, for the reason that he always refused them. He was quiet and reserved, but courteous and agreeable to all who had intercourse with him. "

In October 1813, the court granted license to William Wilson and Joseph McKelfish to vend merchandise in London. Mr. Wilson was a silent partner, and is believed not to have lived in London. The store was a general one, and was opened in a large two-story house erected by Col. Elias Langham, and stood immediately below the present residence of Stephen Watson. Mr. McKelfish was from near Cumberland, Md. He removed from London to IowTa, and there died.

In 1816, Thomas Needham and Robert Hume were granted license, to vend merchandise, under the firm name of Needham & Hume. The business was carried on in the Hume tavern building, under the name of the above firm, by James Erwin. The firm being then in business together in Chilliccthe, and subsequently at Augusta, Ky., where they dissolved, Mr. Hume returning to London, and Mr. Needham going to Evansville, Ind., where he died.

William Nelson is said to have opened a store in the town as early as 1814. He was from Maryland, and returned to that State a year or two later.

In 1816, John Broadrick & Co. were granted license to engage in the mercantile business in the town, and in the following year license was granted to John Moore and Elias De Lashmutt for the same purpose. The latter firm carried on a store, in a frame house built by Mr. De Lashmutt, on the present site of James Phifer's residence. In several years the firm was dissolved, Mr. Moore remaining in business, and Mr. De Lashmutt moving away from London.

Among the early merchants were Robert Russell, about 1822; Isaac N. Chrisman and Reese Darlington, about 1824. the latter being succeeded by Joseph Chrisman about 1826. After a number of years, Isaac died and another brother, Jacob, succeeded him. The Chrismans were prominent business men of London.

In July, 1812, Joseph Russell and Philip Lewis were granted licenses to keep taverns for one year. In March, 1813, Robert Hume was granted license for the same purpose, and in June of the same year, Johu Gwynne was granted a similar license. William McCormack whs granted a license to keep a tavern in London June 20, 1815. Most of these licenses were renewed year after year. Mr. McCormack was a native of Pennsylvania, and settled in the vicinity of London before the formation of the county.

William Jones and wife, with one son, JobK., came to the village from Tennessee, in 1814, and became the first blacksmith of London; this pursuit he followed a number of years, after which he was variously employed and became quite wealthy, but lost heavily by the crash of 1837.

William Pinkhard carried on a tannery near the present site of the Methodist Episcopal Church, prior to 1820. Another of the early tanners was Ephraim Dawson, who operated on the site of the Placier Mill. Next in order came William Bowers, and after him David Groves.

The old pottery referred to by Mr. Thompson, which stood on the site of the Presbyterian Church, was built by his father, John Thompson, and was carried on in the Thompson name a number of years. Another pottery was built about 1830, in the rear of the residence of Judge Clark on South Main street, by Amos G. Thompson.

A man by the name of Leonard early carried on a brick-yard on the corner of High and Oak streets. His cabin was on the corner of High and Water streets.

Thomas Rea and Henry Athey were early chair manufactiirers. Among the early carpenters, other than those given, were the Bond brothers - Thomas, Nathan and Benjamin- - natives of Fairfield County, this State. They located in London about the year 1816, and were employed in the building of the court house the same year. Subsequently, Thomas engaged in farming in this county, but the other brothers remained residents of London until their death. William Warner, Henry Warner and Robert McLaughlin were also early carpenters. Joseph Warner and Richard Bryan were early shoe-makers. About the year 1816, John Householder and James Cessna, saddlers by trade, located in London, coming from Chillicothe, and here carried on that business for a few years. One of the early tailors of London was Alva Winchester, a native of New York State, who settled in the village about 1820. He later began the retailing of clothing, and about the year 1853 associated with him a son, J. M. Winchester, who is yet in the business.

The business portion of the village was then on Main, between Second and Third streets, and the men engaged in business were Col. John Moore, dealer in dry goods, located on North Main street; Stanley Watson, dealer in dry goods, located on South Main street; and Col. John Rouse, dealer in dry goods, located on South Main street.

The grocerymen were Gabriel Prugh, located on the southeast corner of Main and High streets: and Edward Turner, located on the northeast corner of the same street.

Those engaged in the manufacture of saddles and harness were Samuel T. Pearce, located on South Main street; and the firm of James Q. Lotspeich and William H. Squires, located on South High street.

The carpenters and furniture manufacturers were Nathan Bond, Benjamin Bond and WilsoD Dungan; chair manufactiirer, William McCormack, located on North Main street. ,

Hat manufacturer, Henry Stickles, located on the west side of Main street, on the present site of the establishment of Winchester, the clothier.

There were two tanneries, one located on West High street, carried on by George Phifer, and the other located on East Fourth street, operated by William Bowers.

There were two potteries in the village, one located on South Main street, in the rear of the present residence of Judge Clark, carried on by James M. Thompson, and the other located on the site of the Presbyterian Church, carried on by W. W. Burchnell.

The tinsmith was John Dungan. The taverns of Cols. John Rouse and Philip Lewis were located on the south side of West High street, and on the east side of Main street, where Speasmaker's hardware store now is, respectively. These two were the only taverns then in the village.

The professional men of the village were Dr. A. Toland, physician; Samuel N. Kerr, lawyer; and Peter Smith, the school teacher (the ministers being given below).

The church buildings were two in number, and stood, the Methodist on the corner of Fifth and Back streets, and the Presbyterian on the corner of Fifth and Oak streets. The pastors were Philip Nation and W. Westlake. of the Methodist Church (then only a circuit), and D. C. Allen, of the Presbyterian Church.

The business houses above named were all within a radius of about 400 hundred yards, and at this date there are only eight buildings standing in the corporate limits of the town that were here in 1835, namely, the Methodist Church building, since converted into a dwelling house, the brick residence of Stephen Watson, the residence of G. W. Lohr, the residence of Benjamin Farnsworth, which was the old weaving establishment of Peter Peetrey, the residence of Julia Freeman, residence of John Kanneaster, residence of Mrs. Dresbach, residence of Mrs. Dr. Lemen, formerly the old Presbyterian Church building.

The only survivor of the business men of London of 1835, now engaged in business in the town, is John Dungan, who has withotit interruption been an active merchant of the place since 1835. Mr. Dungan then began in the tin business, and continued in the same until in 1852, at which date he combined with the business, general hardware; this he continued until 1872, since which time he has been engaged in the furniture and book and stationery business respectively.

London was made a post office in 1813. The following table, prepared from the records of the Post Office Department, at Washington, exhibits the Postmasters of the town, with the date of their appointment:

Electric Telegraph And Telephone

The Columbus & Xenia Railroad, passing through London, was constructed in 1848-49. The first passenger train passed over the road February 20, 1850. With this road the electro-magnetic telegraph was brought into use in London. At the depot of the same road, though now known as the Little Miami Division of the P., C. & St. L. R. R. , is located the office of the Western UnioD line, under the management of John Kennelly.

In 1872, at the completion of the C, S. & C. R. R., from London to Columbus, a line of the Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company was constructed through the town, which, in January, 1881, on the consolidation of that company with the Western Union, became an office of the latter company, and is now a branch of the Western Union office proper, at the depot of the Little Miami Division of the P., C. & St. L. R. R. That road, too, has undergone a change, and is now the I. , B. & W. R. R.

During the year 1882, a number of telephones were constructed in the town, by the Midland Telephone Company of Chicago, under the management of Job J. Clark. Telephonic connection between London and Springfield, and between London and Columbus, was completed November 18, 1882. Connection is now made between London and the surrounding towns and cities, and between points as far south as Cincinnati, Covington, Middletown, Lebanon and other places as far distant.

The Conflagration Of 1854

The following account of the great fire occurring at London, on the morning of February 2, 1854, by which nearly the entire business portion of the village was destroyed, appeared in the Reveille of Saturday, February 4, 1854:

It is with deep regrel that we announce to our readers that our little town of London was visited with a destructive conflagration on Thursday last, at about 1 o'clock in the morning. Tbe lire was first discovered breaking through the roof of V. S. Chamberlain's clothing store. From thence it spread and took within its march of destruction tbe following buildings:

The above estimate of losses and insurances was furnished us by a friend and we suppose they are literally correct In addition to the above buildings, several stables at a considerable distance from the main tire, caught and burned down. So violent was the wind, during the above conflagration, that parts of the roofs of the burning houses were carried a distance of one-fourth of a mile from town, and communicated fire to buildings wherever it fell. Had it not been for the great exertions made by our citizens in tearing down several buildings adjoining those burnt down on Main street the whole town would have been one pile of ashes. Let us be thankful it is no worse ' No lives were lost, nor any person injured during the fire.

The clothing store of Mr. Chamberlain, where the fire originated, was located on West High street one door east of the alley; and the course of the fire was east on High to Main street, and down the west side of Main to Second street, sweeping away the entire block, and the flames, on reaching Main street from High, extended across to the east side of Main, and down the same to a point where extinguished.

"The hub bub is past, and expired the flame, Yet the ravages meet the sad eye; But LONDON will yet cut a figure in fame, And raise her droop'd head to the sky!

"Like the Phoenix she'll rise with her plumage more gay, Than it was ere she sunk in her pyre, Thus, 'onward and upward,' her sons will display New life from the purgative fire!

"Combustible 'Shantees' no more shall they rear The disgrace and annoyance of all; Henceforth the hard granite and brick will appear, Top'd off with the fire-proof wall.

The remains of the distinguished traveler and explorer, Dr. Kane, passed through London on Saturday night, March 7, 1857, en route for Philadelphia, where it was to be consigned to its last resting place. The passage of the corpse through the United States was a complete ovation. From all quarters, both in city and country, all acknowledged the public loss, and mingled with the relatives of the deceased the tears of sympathy.

At this place, the arrival of the cars was received bv a salute from the Madison Guards, under command of Capt. Phillips, after which, on invita- tion of the committee in whose charge the corpse had been assigned, they filed through the car in which it lay, and after gazing on the coffin retired, and the cars sped on their way.

At a meeting of the citizens, held in the Town Hall May 25, 1863, arrangements were made to sprinkle Main Cross street, from the court house to the Columbus & Xenia Railroad, and Main street, from the Phifer House to the National House. The time for sprinkling was fixed for four months, from Juno 1. Mr. Hilt was engaged to perform the work.

A special train, conveying President Andrew Johnson and party, arrived at the depot on the afternoon of September 19, 1866. Several hundred people had collected at the depot to see the President and the notables. The President was first introduced, and was received with immense applause. Afterward Gen. Grant, Admiral Farragut and Secretary Wells were introduced. The parties were introduced by Gen. McCollum, of the President's Staff. At the conclusion, three rousing cheers were given by the crowd for the Constitution and the Union.

The event of Horace Greeley's visit to the town excited considerable interest. A large number of citizens collected at the depot, on the morning of September 20, 1872, and no sooner had the cars halted than a rush was made to the rear car, and cries of " Greeley ! " soon brought the Sage of Chappaqua to the platform, when he was greeted with three rousing cheers. As soon as silence prevailed, he addressed the crowd. As he concluded his remarks a repitition of the cheers followed, and as the old philosopher's eye fell upon the mammoth white hat, which some jovial fellow had conspicuously placed on a pile of ties, he could not refrain from smiling. All who had the pleasure of seeing and hearing Mr. Greeley were very favorably impressed with the man.

Fire Department

In the absence of records, we are unable to give the early ordinances passed by the Council on the question of fires. Prior to 1864, there was no organized company for the protection of property from fire, however, the "Bucket Brigade, " known to most villagers in an earl}' day, was not unknown to London.

In November, I860, the Council purchased from the authorities of Springfield a hand fire engine named the " Silver Grey " paying $400 for it. The Silver Grey arrived in Loudon November 8, and on the 15th of the same mouth a volunteer fire company was organized with about seventy members, embracing all classes of citizens. The officers were : George W. Athey, President ; Owen Thomas, Vice President; F. J. Betts, Secretary; Thomas McCormack, Treasurer; C. C. McCormack, Foreman of Engine, Ferd Rickardt, Assistant Foreman of Engine; Jack Lewis. Foreman of Eose; Minor Paine, Assistant Foreman of Hose. This company continued an organized body and performed service until the purchase of a steam fire engine in the summer of 1871, when it disbanded.

At a meeting of the Council June 23, 1871. a contract was made with Col. I. II. Morrow, of Columbus, Ohio, for a Silsby's third-class steam fire engine, to be manufactured at Seneca Falls, N. Y., the engine to be accompanied with two hose-reels and 1,200 feet of best rubber hose, the total cost of engine and apparatus, $7,200. The name of the new engine to be the " Belle of London." On the 3d of July. 1871. at a meeting held at Fireman's Hall, temporaiy officers were selected, and sixty-live names were enrolled for a Dew fire company. On the following Tuesday evening, a constitution and by-laws were adopted, and on July 28 the following first officers of the Belle of London Fire Company wen; elected : President, Isaac (i. Peetrey ; Vice President, B. F. Clark ; Secretary, James S. Crain ; Foreman of Hose No. 1, D. T. Fox ; Assistant Foreman, J. S. Davidson ; Foreman Hose No. 2, John Conway ; Assistant Foreman, Austin Slagle ; Nozzlemen, No. 1, Orotleib Hammar and Albert Marshall ; No. 2, James M. Jones and E. J. Myers ; No. 3, W. II. Chandler, Jr., and A. L. Messrnore. The Belle of London was taken out on trial July, 1871, under charge of the agent, Col. Morrow, before the Mayor and Town Council, and a large number of the citizens of London, and the following account of the trial appeared in the; Democrat of July 20, 1871 :

" The engine is of third size, very beautiful in finish and design ; there are also with her two improved hose carts and 1,200 feet of the best end-capped rubber hose, with the celebrated Tegh's coupling, all furnished by the Silsby Company. The weather was not very favorable, a wind prevailing at the time of the exercises, yet the trial was satisfactory in the highest degree to all of the citizens who witnessed the display. The engine was taken to the creek in the rear of the woolen factor}', where the water had been dammed and a box sunk for the suction hose. A committee of citizens was appointed to aid the Council in keeping a record of the several tests made at the trial. In two minutes from the time the match was applied, the ' Belle ' had three pounds of steam ; in five minutes she had ten pounds, and hall a minute later water was thrown. After filling the 500-barrel cistern in front of Gr. W. Lohr's. the balance of the 1,200 feet of hose was attached, reaching to opposite the court house, and an inch and a half nozzle put on. After deluging the streets and the Buff Block, the stream was turned on the court house, and washed the dust of many years from some of its nooks and crevices. The nozzle was then elevated, and the stream thrown some fifteen or twenty feet over the cupola. and this, too, with the engine pumping away twelve hundred feet distant. The ' Belle ' was then brought to the cistern just filled, and two leads of hose, 400 feet each, laid, through which two streams mounted away above the highest point of the court house cupola. When all were satisfied, another stream was added, and three beautiful jets of water ascended high into the air at one time. All this with the tireless 'Belle' humming away livel}' - no quickened heartbeats from unusual exertion, no lame backs or wicked cuss words ; everybody appeared fully satisfied with the test, and had a good word to say of the beautiful 'Belle.' In the evening, there was a meeting of the Council, and the steamer was accepted without a dissenting vote."

Since the organization of the Belle of London Fire Company, several ordinances regulating the fire department have been enacted by the Council, by which changes have been made. In the spring of 1876, the office of Chief of Fire Department was created, and the first to fill that position was B. F. Clark. This same year, there was added to the department a new truck, with hooks, ladders, etc., complete, at a cost of $365. In 1878, a horse hose-reel was added. The engine was drawn by hand until the spring of 1878, when, horses were purchased for it only. In December, 1879, a horse was purchased for the hose-reel. The truck is still drawn by hand. The department is well equipped and consists of about forty active members, five of whom, the chief, vice chief, engineer and drivers are the only paid men. The engineer and drivers are at the engine-house night and da}\ The engine-house is a two-story brick, built in 1869, and is located on Second street, near Main. The supply of water is derived from thirteen cisterns, var}-ing in capacity from 500 to 1,700 barrels, with total capacity of 10.000 barrels, located in different parts of the town.

The first school in town, of which we have any account, was taught hy Joseph Grillingham. This was about 1815, and the building occupied as the schoolroom was located in the northwestern part of the town, now the site of the residence of Chris Straus. A. A. Hume attended this school, and from him we learn that one means of punishment resorted to by the master, Mr. Gillingham, was the dunce block, which he required the disobedient to mount and hold in his or her mouth a raccoon's tail. Another of the very early teachers was a Mr. Young, a New Englauder. A school was taught in the old log court house by Samuel Huston, Samuel Harvey and Chester Alden. Mr. Huston was teaching school in the village as late as 1824, at which period school was held in a log schoolhouse that stood on the corner of Second and Union streets, now the site of A. Dunkin's residence. The building was subsequently replaced by a schoolhouse constructed of brick. A Mr. Williams taught in the log schoolliouse about the year 1825. This was the only schoolhouse in the village at the time, and it is said that the attendance was large. Mr. Williams was succeeded by John Warner and he by a Mr. Chestnut. Mr. Chestnut was followed by Abraham Simpson. In 1835, Peter Smith was teaching in this house. He is said to have been an earnest teacher and to have devoted much time to the cause of education. Lafer teachers were William Webb and Elias Lewis, the former having taught a number of years. Subsequently, a frame schoolhouse was built on the corner of Oak and Fourth streets. In 1848, James Jones taught in this house, and in 1849 and 1850 Peter Peetrey. The schools at this period were partly kept up by public money and partly by subscription. High street was the dividing line between the two schools, those residing south of this street generally attended the Union Street School and those living north of the street attended the Oak Street School. After the adoption of the Union school S3'stem by the citizens of London in 1852, the academy building, erected a few years previous to this date, was used in connection with the Union street building for the Union schools. We should have stated above that one of the earl}- schools was held in the old Methodist Episcopal Church building.

London was organized as a single school district April 3, 1852, under what was known as the Akron school law. At a meeting of the qualified electors of t he district, a vote was taken upon the adoption or rejection of the law in the district, which resulted in the vote standing fifty-nine for, to fifty-five against such law. On the l!)th of the same month, the first election for Directors was held and resulted as follows: Dr. D. E. McMillen and A. F. Reed for one year each; John Jones and A. F. Freeman, two years each, and J. H. Merrill and A. A. Hume, for three }-ears. A. A. Hume was elected President, and T. F. Kreeman, Secretary. The first Board of School Examiners was appointed by the Board of Education May 3, 1852. and was as follows: R. A. Harrison, H. W. Smith and A. T. Heed. The records of that year show that William D. Hinkle, of Lebanon, Ohio, afterward one of the most noted educators of Ohio, agreed to act as Principal for $500 per year, but on the 21st of August, W. E. Pearce, of Oberlin. was employed for $450. The first annual session of the union schools commenced .Monday. September 20, 1852, in the East Ward Schoolhouse and the academy. The following rate of tuition for non-resident pupils was decided upon for the year; in primary department, #2 for twelve weeks; in secondary department, $2.50 lor twelve weeks; in high school, for English branches, $4 for twelve weeks, and $5 for the Latin and Greek languages. The school year was divided into three terms, the first beginning September 20 and ending December 21; the second term beginning January 3, 1853, to continue twelve weeks, and the third term commencing April 4 and closing June 24. September 21), the Board adopted Ray's arithmetic and algebra. James Sampson was the assistant male teacher for the first two terras of the year, when he resigned; salary, $30 per month. Miss J. E. Turner, of Urbana, was the assistant female teacher, at a salary of $165 per year. Among the teachers for the lirst few years of the London Public Schools, were Mrs. E. W. Cozzins, $200 per year;' Miss E. C. Pease, $25 per month; Miss C. Chandler. 825 per month.

Mr. Pearce remained Principal of the schools until January, 1854, when he was succeeded by David Donaldson, whose salary was li . d at $35 per month. He only taught during the one term, when he was succeeded by William P. Gibson, whom the board employed, together with his wife, for one yearof fortyfour weeks for $900. In September, 1856, J. II. Drew and wife were likewise employed at the same rate for the ensuing year. They were again employed for the school year of 1857-58, at a salary of $900, but Mrs. Drew being unable to fill the engagement, the board employed Miss ('. Clark, who assisted Mr. Drew, receiving $275 for the year, and Mr. Drew $025. In April, 1858, Mr. Drew resigned the position of Principal, and the unexpired term of the year was taught by C. W. Finley, at the same salary. Mr. Finley's successor, commencing in September, 1858, was John McGaffey, at $60 per month. His successor was John B. Lotspeich, who resigned the position in the spring of 1859. J. D. Stine was then elected Principal to serve for two months, a1 $65 per month, and $70 per month for the remainder of the year. Mr. Stine resigned November 4, 1863, and was succeeded by J. M. Thomas, at $600 per year. The Principal for the year 1864 05 was H. T. Wheeler, assisted by his wife, the salary paid the two being $1,200. They taught the following year, and were paid $1,500. The following items concerning the schools up to this time we give from the records of the Board of Education, thinking they may be of interest to some: In 1852, the schools were supplied with Holbrook's apparatus; the tax levied that year on the taxable property for the district for the carrying on of the schools, was three and three-quarter mills on the dollar. In September, 1853, the board decided to adopt Pineos grammar. In 1858. Cornell's geography was introduced to take the place of Colton and Fitch's, then in use; also McGuffey's reader, in place of the Normal reader. The tax levied for school purposes in 1853, was two and three-quarter mills on the dollar; in 1854, two and one-half mills; in 1855, two and three-quarter mills; in 1856, two and three-quarter mills; in 1857, two and one-half mills: in 1858, two and one-half mills ; in 1859, two and one-half mills ; in 1860. two and one-half mills ; in 1801, two and one-quarter mills; in 1862, two and one-quarter mills ; in 1864. fourteen mills.

During the year 1852, under the new system, numerous changes took place in the Board of Directors. Other than those named above, as elected August 19, 1852, the following-named gentlemen were on the board during that year : R. A. Harrison. James Smith. William Gould, J. Q. Lotspeich and John Rouse. In 1863, Dr. Coblentz and W. S. Shepherd, as members of the board, first agitated the subject of a new schoolhouse, and on the 4th of January. 1864, at a called public meeting, committees to procure a site and plan for building were appointed. Alter considerable marching and counter-marching on the part of the board, a contract for a building from a plan made by Anderson & Hanaford, of Cincinnati, was let to Edwin Bird on the last day of March. 1806, at $36,500. Of the members of the School Board who stuck by the people in their demand for the new schoolhouse. Dr. Coblentz and Jacob Peetrey are entitled to special mention for their services. As Secretary of the board, Mr. Peetrey was of invaluable service, and as Treasurer, Dr. Coblentz performed his duties faithfully and honestly. Their labors were free of charge. The site selected for the new school building was on Hack street, where four acres of ground was purchased of Toland .Jones for $1,500 in the spring of

The building is of the Norman style of architecture, built of brick with stone basement, of four rooms, two of which are supplied with slow combustion monitor furnaces, the heat from which warms up the entire building ; the other two rooms are for the children to play in during stormy weather. In the first and second stories are eight school-rooms capable of accommodating seventyfive scholars each. Every one of these rooms is 25x37 feet, with sixteen feet ceiling, and each is supplied with a cloak room with seventy-five hooks, speaking-trumpet, cold and hot-air registers, and upward and downward ventilators to purify rooms ; while for light, each has four large windows, 12x4 feet. The Superintendent's room is in the second story, and here speaking-tubes from the different rooms concentrate, with an indicator on each. The third-story is devoted exclusively to the large hall for exhibitions, etc. This hall is 54x77 feet, with twenty-two foot ceiling ; four hot and four cold registers, with proper facilities for carrying off foul air. The ceiling is beautifully frescoed, while plenty of light is furnished by the cluster of five windows on the east and west sides, and double windows at short intervals. The stage is 20x54 feet, and the hall will comfortably seat 800 people. There are two towers to the building, nineteen feet square and one hundred feet in height to the top of railing. These towers furnish the only entrance to the different stories, and from them a grand view of the surrounding country is obtained. The entire cost of the building was $50,000. The taxable property in the district was $100,000, and the population 2,000 persons. The dedication of the building took place on the evening of June 21, 1867, with an exhibition given by the school consisting of the opening by prayer, followed b}' singing, declamations, essays, etc., winding up with the fairy play of " Cinderella."

On the completion of the new building, the people decided to have a graded school. Although the schools had gradually assumed that form before, there was a lack of system and proper classification. At this time, a high school was established, and a course of study adopted, requiring three years for its completion, which, but with little change, was as follows :

Second Term - Latin, Grammar and C;esar ; Algebra ; Botany, twiceeach week ; Physical Geography, three times each week ; General History, elective.

Third Term - Latin, Grammar and Cresar ; Algebra; Botany (pupils are expected to analyze one hundred plants) ; Natural Philosophy ; General Histor\T, elective ; Exercises in Composition and Declamation, weekly throughout the year : Biography ; Course of Reading selected by the Superintendent.

Third Term - Latin, Virgil's iEneid ; Geometry ; Chemistry ; Natural History, elective : Literary Exercises, semi-monthly; Spelling and Reading once a week throughout Hie year ; Course of Reading, selected by the Superintendent.

The Primary Department is divided into four grades, designated respectively, A, B, C and D Primary Schools, and each grade is subdivided into two divisions.

Pupils entering the public schools at six years of age can, therefore, with proper diligence, graduate from the High School at seventeen years of age.

The following named text-books are used in the schools : Appleton's Readers, McGuffey's Spellers, Harvey's Grammar, Harkness' Latin Grammar, Harkness' Introductory Latin Book, Harkness' Latin Beader, Harkness' Cassar and Cicero, Eclectic Geographies, Cornell's Physical Geography, Alden's Citizen's Manual, Quackenboss' History, Lockyer's Astronomy, Steele's Physiology, Cooley's Chemistry, Wood's Botany and Plant Becord, Steele's Geology, Hill's Rhetoric, Ray's Algebras, White's Arithmetics, Carter's Histoiy, Rolfe and Gillett's Philosophy, Davie's Legendre, Wayland's Moral Science, English Literature, Hooker's Natural History, Mayhew's Book Keeping, Payson Dunton & Scribner's Copy-books.

The first-class graduated at the London High School was in 1873. It was composed of Annie Burnley, Sallie Biddle, Alice Bichmond, Jonas Bagnall and Peyton H. Acton. The last named gentleman completed the course of study in 1871, but was given a diploma with the class of 1873. Since that year, the number of graduates each year have been as follows: 1874, 6 ; 1875, 11 ; 1876,10; 1877,7; 1878,9*; 1879,11; 1880,12; 1881.20; 1882,19.

At a meeting of the graduates, held May 14, 1875, the Alumni Association of the London Public Schools was organized with a membership of eleven, the first officers being Peyton Acton, President; Miss Sallie Riddle, Vice President; Miss Jennie Burnley, Secretary, and George Lilly, Treasurer.

A school for the colored children was organized in 1865, and has been maintained since that time. The school was opened in the building still standing near the Colored Baptist Church, on Fourth street, then occupied by that denomination as a place of worship. The school was conducted for three years by lady teachers. During the school years of 1869-70 and 1870-71, Squire J. A. Hume taught this school, at $60 per month. Mr. Hume was succeeded by the present incumbent, S. B. Norris. who took charge in the fall of 1871, and has since successfully conducted the school. His salary has ranged from $45 to $60 iter month. In 1872, two lots were purchased by the Board of Education, located on Center street, of John Dungan, James Watson and others, for $530, and thereon was built a neat one-story brick schoolhouse for the use of the colored school, which has been carried on in the same since the completion of the building, in 1873.

The commodious High School building, heretofore described, in the course of a few years was not of sufficient size to accommodate the rapidly increasing numbers that daily flocked to its doors, and in 1874 a second building was erected on the same grounds for the use of the schools. The new building contains four rooms, each 28x30 feet, and is occupied by the primary department. The grounds around these buildings were set out with the beautiful shade t i ccs now decorating them in the spring of 1868, by S. P. Davidson. The varieties were larch, Lombardy poplar, charter oak, savin, Norway spruce, Scotch pine, cedar, linden, sycamore, cypress, linn, mulberry, ash, wahoo, white walnut, dogwood, hackberry, red-bud, elm, sugar-tree, maple, willow, water beech, ironwood - whole number of trees. 2K>.

It was our purpose to show in a tabular statement the development and progress made in the schools of London from the year of its organization into a separate school district to the present time, but not being able to go back of 18(34, we give from that date only the following table:

We append a list of the Superintendents since 1867. Mr. McClintock resigned February 1, 1872, on account of poor health, and Mr. Harford resigned November 1. 1875, for the same reason:

The present Board of Education is H. Toland, President; E. R. Watts. Secretary; Philip Speasmaker, Treasurer; S. W. Durflinger, R. B. Cowling and R. H. McCloud. The Board of Examiners is. Jonathan Arnett. S. W. Durflinger and George E. Ross.

The London Academy was established by a stock company, incorporated by an act of the Legislature passed March 12,1845. The academy building was erected the same year upon grounds deeded to the Trustees of the institution by Richard Cowling. The first Principal of the school was a Mr. Ross, assisted by Miss Sarah A. Norton. Among others who taught in this school, when it was known as an academy, as Principals or Assistants, were a Mr. Cooper, Dr. J. M. Christian and A. H. Guy. The tuition per quarter was, for the primary branches, two dollars and a half; common branches, three dollars ; higher branches, four dollars, mathematics and languages, five dollars. The institution did not pay, and when the union school system was adopted the board took possession of it. The building was transferred to Richard Cowling, who in 1868 sold it to Chris Soulke for $400. Mr. Soulke tore it down and erected with the timbers and frames several small dwellings.

Deceased

Application having been made by the congregation of St. Patrick's Catholic Church of London for its establishment of Parochial Schools to the authorities of Ursuline Convent in Brown County, Ohio, on the fourth of September, 1874, an association of teachers, through Father Conway, then in charge of St. Patrick's Church, purchased the Bigh street residence of J. K. Smith. Esq., the property comprising live full lots, two fronting on Walnut and two on High Street, for which they paid $7,000. A substantial two-story brick schoolhouse containing four rooms was at once erected under the supervision of the church here, and on the 14th of November following, the building was completed and dedicated with the usual rights of the church on such occasions. The ceremonies were more than usually impressive, and the attendance from London and abroad unusually large. The Catholic Benevolent and Total Abstinence Societies participated in the procession. Then- were present three hands of music and six societies, witli the following clergymen : Rev. Father Conway. Rev. Father Ousac, of Cincinnati, Father .Miller, of Jefferson, and Father Grennon, of South Charleston - Father Cusac, officiating. The school was at once opened under the direct control and management of the Cloister Sisters from St. Martin's Ursuline Convent. The names of the four Sisters who opened the schools wen; Sister Pauline, director, assisted by Sisters Gabriel and Alphonse, the household department being in charge of Sister Anthony. The parochial schools, as they are termed, have continued under the management of Sisters from the Ursuline Convent since their organization. The usual common branches, including history, are taught. All who apply for tuition are admitted, hoys being restricted to the age of twelve years. The enrollment on the opening of the school was about one hundred and thirty, and at present there are in attendance nearly two hundred scholars. Four teachers are employed.

The Newspaper Press

Prior to 1835, at least two newspapers were started in London, yet both were so short lived that even their names cannot be recalled by the life-long citizens of the town, and no traces of a file of either can be found. P. Lapham published the first paper, and Joseph Anthony, a brother to the late Gen Charles Anthony, of Springfield, the next.

The fust permanent newspaper established in London bore the name of London Sentinel, it was a double pagesix column paper, eighteen by twentyfour inches; Whig in politics, and flying the motto. Whatever measures have n tenderta/ in dissolve the I hion, <>r contribute to violate orlessen tin sovereign authority, ought to In considered us hostileto the liberty and independence of America. The Sentinel under the proprietorship and publication of George W. Sprung made its appearance in September. 1843. (t was so continued until March 1. 1851, when the name was changed to the Madison Reveille, the following prospectus of which appeared in the Sentinel of February L'-. 1851:

"Events are daily transpiring around us which will leave an indelible mark upon the history of the coming future. Old things arc passing away, and all things arc; becoming new. A sanguinary struggle between .Might and Right - between Truth and Error - is heaving the Old World with the convulsive throes of Domestic Revolution, and time-honored abuses are trembling al the gradual approaches of modern progress. In our own country, the voice of faction and discord is calling out for the overthrow of our institutions, and tin- Hydra of Disunion ha-, reared its gorgon head to clamor for the disruption of our confederacy. Of this excited and exciting a'_re. the year that is before us forms a most important part. It will behold the final decision of questions intimately blended with the interests of ovi-ry man. and every man is called upon to watcli with prudent care the doubtful current of public events. But above all, this is an important year for the State of Ohio. Here we have the last General Assembly which will convene under the present Constitution of the State, together with our Constitutional Convention and their respective action. While a long and important session of Congress engrosses our attention, we must engage in a controversy which is to decide the great and fundamental features of our organic law. Following that comes the first election under it. when all our public functionaries will receive their honors, and their emoluments, directly from the dictum of the people.

-' While these things are enacting, who should be without their county newspaper? Not one. On the 1st day of March next, the Sentinel will be brought to a close. The undersigned has made arrangements to issue, on that day, the first number of a new paper under the above title. These arrangements have been made not without great labor and expense, and we now look for remuneration to the generous support of the people of Madison County. The Reveille will contain a full detail of the proceedings of Congress, the Constitutional Convention, and the Legislature - with the latest telegraphic dispatches and advices from Europe and California. Its department of general news shall not be exceeded by any county newspaper in the State. Its editorial management will be assigned entirely to Mr. E. E. Hutcheson, while its mechanical execution will devolve upon the present publisher and proprietor. Pains and expense will not be spared to make the Reveille a first-class family journal, and in all respects worthy of the liberal patronage, which an intelligent community will ever bestow upon their home paper. In politics, it is unnecessary to say the Reveille, will be Whig, and devoted to all the reformatory measures which distinguish that party. Conservative, while we are progressive, we will contribute our mite in advocating the perpetuity of the Union, the supremacy of the law, and the compromises of the constitution.

The above prospectus bore the signature of Mr. O. W. Sprung. The first issue of the Reveilh came forth March 8, 1851, bearing the motto, " The memory of Washington and the union of the States. - Siinto Perpetua; while over the editorial column was the following motto: u The perpetuity of the Union, tin supremacy of tht Lawand the compromises of the Constitution." This paper, like its predecessor, was issued every Saturday, and was of the same size. January 29, 1853, the motto was dropped from the head of the editorial column, and the Latin phrase sunto jterpetua was discontinued the same month. On the 2d of February, L854, the office was desti-oyed by the great fire which occurred on thai date, and the numbers eleven, eighteen and twentylive were single sheet extras published in Columbus, the latter issue closing the third volume, and ending the career of the Madison R< \uilli .

On the 4th of .March. 1S."> I. the first number of the Madison Chronicle was issued under the same prorpietorship, the name having been changed at the suggestion of some of the patrons of the paper. It is but proper to here add that the citizens of London greatly sympathized with Mr. Sprung in the loss he had sustained by the fire, and assisted him in beginning anew. The Chronicle came before the public an 18x24 inch paper, with seven columns, without a head motto, but at the beginning of the third volume it adopted the following heading: -' Devoted to Politics, Agriculture, Literature, Foreign <»/"/ Domestic Newt," and over the editorial column was

At the beginning of Volume TV, this was dropped, and the time of publication changed from Saturday to Thursday. The center head of the paper was also graced at this time by a cut of the'new court house, the type made larger and the paper otherwise much improved. The Chronicle was conducted by Mr. Sprung until in May, 1863, when it passed into the hands of J. D. Stine and John Wallace, who changed the name of the paper to the Madison County Union. This firm conducted the paper until the following January, when Mr. Stine withdrew, and the paper was published by Mr. Wallace until the fall of 1864. when Mr. Stine became the sole proprietor. The Union bore successively the mottoes: " The Union of the iStates - One Country - One Destiny." and " Deratal to Polities. General News, Home News."

On the 11th of April, 1867, Col. C. W. Griffith, of Bellefontaine, formerly connected with the Bellefontaine Republican, became a partner of Mr. Stine, and on the 2d of May enlarged the paper one column, and dropped the motto. In May, 1869, Col. Griffith sold his interest to Col. George E. Ross, and the proprietors of the Union from this date until August, 1870, were Stine & Ross. The paper was then issued under the name of J. D. Stine, until October 20, following, when he retired with that issue, selling to Mr. Ross, the latter then associating with him D. L. Harbaugh. These gentlemen purchased a new printing press with all new material, type and fixtures. The next issue bore the name of the London Times, and was enlarged to a nine-column paper, and appeared on the same day of the week - Thursday. The firm of Ross & Harbaugh was dissolved Februaiy 4, 1874, Mr. Ross purchasing. The issue of November 3, 1875, appeared under the name of Ross & Acton, who conducted the paper until September 6, 1876, at which date it was leased to Peyton H. Acton and J. M. Klingelsmith, and the issue of that number was under the name of the London Weekly Times, with the following motto: UA Madison (Jaunty Institution." In January, 1877, Klingelsmith disposed of his interest to Mr. Acton, who took in with him his brother, E. I. Acton, and the Times appeared October 3, 1877, under the name of the Acton Brothers, publishers. The next October, Mr. E. I. Acton went out, and the paper was continued under the name of Peyton H. Acton, until January 10, 1879, from which date until April 25 of the same year it was published by the London Publishing Compan}-. The issue of that date began under the proprietorship of I). Mann & Son, with John D. Maddux, editor. The number of September 3, 1880, appeared without motto, and under the former title of London Times, with George E. Ross again the proprietor. Mr. James F. Kelley about this time became associated with Mi*. Ross, and remained one year, when in August, 1881, W. S. Shepherd purchased a half-interest in the office, and until October, 1882, the Times was issued under the proprietorship of Ross & Shepherd. In October last, J. M. Craig purchased the interest of Mr. Ross and the paper has since been conducted by Messrs. Shepherd & Craig.

The Times is, as we have seen, the lineal successor of the London Sentinel, running back through various changes of name and proprietorship to the year 1843. In size, it is a 27x43-inch eight-column folio paper, issued every Friday morning from the "Times Block" on Main street, which building was purchased in 1874 by Mr. Ross. It is a news}' sheet, and devoted to the interests of the Republican party. It has a circulation of 1,700 copies.

The first cylinder press of the office was set up in 1875; it i> a Campbell City Steam Press, and the first steam press brought to London. Steam power, however, has not yet been employed in the press work.

The Madison County Democrat, as its name implies, is a Democratic newspaper. It is the lineal descenclent of the Buckeye Union, a weekly newspaper established in London in 1857. by E. Douglass King, who had previously published the Recorder at South Charleston. The first number was issued on

Saturday, February 21, 1857, was a respectable looking journal, "Independent in all Things." November 5, 1857, the name was changed to the National Democrat, flying the motto, " The World is Governed too Much" and Democratic in politics. November 12, 1857, the first issue of the new paper came out, a double sheet, seven columns, 18x24 inch paper, published on Thursday. On the 7th of January, 1858, the paper was sold to John M. Smith of Madison County, who associated with him, as editor, D. M. Creighton. On the 28th of the same month, Mr. Creighton retired from the editorial chair, which was then filled by M. L. Bryan and J. A. Kissinger, who published the paper under the proprietorship of Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith died May 8, 1859, but the paper continued to be conducted as before, until the beginning of Volume II., when Mr. Bryan became sole editor and publisher of the National Democrat. Upon taking charge of the paper, in January, 1858, Messrs. Bryan & Kissinger published the following prospectus.

''In assuming the control of the National Democrat, we take upon ourselves a responsibility which we feel will task our utmost endeavors to accomplish, viz., sustaining a Democratic journal in Madison Count}'. It remains yet to be proven that the undertaking is practicable; but from evidences already received, we are led to believe that success will ultimately crown our efforts ; that a Democratic organ is much desired in this county, every member of the party will emphatically declare ; and it needs but little effort on the part of each to insure the publication of such a one. We need not comment on the benefits arising from the permanent establishment of local newspapers, for the}' are acknowledged by all to be a necessary auxiliary to fireside enjoyment and intellectual advancement. We are flattered by promises of aid from some of the first political and literary talent of this community (chief among whom may be mentioned our gentlemanly predecessor), and a number of our friends abroad have given us assurance of their favor by promising an occasional correspondence. Our efforts to furnish an instructive and amusing miscellany and to give a weekly synopsis of the most important news, will be untiring. We shall pay particular attention to matters relating to live stock and commercial affairs, and endeavor to keep our readers posted to the latest hour of going to press. We desire to invest the " Dem." with a local interest by publishing such items of note as may transpire from time to time thi'oughout the county. It is our determination that a high moral tone shall pervade our columns, and we sincerely trust that we may not, for a moment, forget the courtesy due gentlemen of the opposition. Our paper, so far as our efforts can make it, will be what its title imports - a National Democrat. We shall advocate the principles of right and truth as inculcated by the acknowledged teachei ) of Democracy - always bearing in mind, that as we interpret it, Democracy mc s to vest in the people the right to regulate their domestic institutions in their o.vu way. Take from a people the smallest iota of self-government, and thus much you approximate the antipodes of Democracy. Let the people rule untrammeled by any sectional interest, and all will be well. To them belong the God-given privilege of governing themselves, and let that right be religiously respected."

November 21, 18(11. the Democrat was reduced to a six-column paper, and so remained until the 20th of .March. 18G2, when it was enlarged to its former size. During the period of its publication as a six-column paper, it was without a motto. The name of the paper was also changed March 20, 1862, to the Madison County Democrat, bearing the motto : "J- Weekly Journal Devoted to the Interests of the People of Madison County." It was enlarged to an eightcolumn paper with the issue of March 31, 1870, and the motto changed to the one it now bears : " Devoted to the Interest "/' its Patrons." On the 22d of March, centennial year, it was made a nine-column paper.

work was done on a Washington hand press. This was destroyed by the fire of September 30, 1867, when it was replaced by a similar one of the same make. In December, 1880, the office was supplied with a Campbell country cylinder press.

September 30, 1867, the Democrat office burned with all of its contents, and there being no insurance on the property, it was a total loss. Mr. Bryan, however, made the best of the situation, and by the aid of the citizens of London, was soon equipped for furthering the mission of the Democrat. It is but justice to the enterprise of the publisher to here state that the readers of the Democrat were only without their companion for two weeks. The paper is still published by the veteran editor of London, M. L. Bryan, who has conducted it for a quarter of a century. It is issued every Wednesday morning from Riley's building on the corner of First and Main streets. Circulation, 1,250. Mr. Bryan has loug been identified with the press of this and neighboring counties, having, previous to coming to London, been engaged in the printing business in the city of Columbus and villages of Circleville and Batavia. In 1842, he was engaged as a type-setter on the Ohio Statesman, and had prior to this, learned his trade in the office of the Clermont Courier. lie remained in Columbus one year, then went to Circleville, where he operated the Circleville Herald for one year ; then returned to Columbus, and after a year's stay there, he removed to London. During his life at the capital, he, in connection with others, established the Daily Reveille of that city.

The London Enterprise, a Republican weekly journal, published under the proprietorship and editorship of John Wallace, was established by this gentleman, January 1, 1872. The first issue made its appearance Thursday, January 18, and bore the motto : li Devoted to the Interests of the People and its Publisher." In size, the Enterprise was 25x38 inches, double sheet, with seven columns to the page. Under the head of Salutatory, in the first issue, appeared the following : " In accordance with a time-honored custom, we ' rise to explain." The Enterprise will not be a political paper, but will make a specialty of local news - improving the bare one advantage we possess over the city press. We have no promises to make, but will let each issue of our paper speak for itself. Our terms will be two dollars per year as near in advance as we can get it. Persons who feel that they cannot pay for the paper had better not take it from the post office."

At the urgent solicitation of many prominent Republicans of the count}', the Enterprise was made with the issue of April 10, 1879, a Republican paper, the principles of which part}' it still advocates. The paper is now just closing its eleventh year, during which period it has undergone no change in name, size or proprietorship, its motto only being changed, or rather shortened, so as to read : " Devoted t<> tin- Interests of its rations.." Mr. Wallace, the publisher, is a practical printer, having served an apprenticeship in the office of the London Sentinel under Gr. W. Sprung. He was also connected with the Union as one of its publishers for a period during the late war. and is a man of considerable experience in journalism. The Enterprise is still located in Toland Block, where it began its career. Its circulation numbers about 1,000 copies. The office is well supplied with presses, and all kinds of job-work is executed.

The Madison National /lank. - The citizens of London were without a banking-house until the summer of 1861, by which time capitalists felt that the business interests of the village would justify the opening of a bank, and consequently there was organized (mainly through the efforts of Dr. A. Toland, E. W. Gwynne and Richard Cowling), under the Free Banking Laws of Ohio, the Madison County Bank. The stockholders of the institution were E.

W. Gwynne, Richard Cowling, A. Toland and B. Gwynne ; of whom Richard Cowling was President, A. Toland Vice President and B. Gwynne, Cashier. The bank was opened for business July 9. 1861, and its location was in Toland Block, on Main street. The business was begun with a capital stock of $20,000, and a general banking business carried on until May 15, 1865, when it ceased operations as the Madison County Bank, having been re-organized and merged into the Madison National Bank the preceding January ; on the 19th of which month its certificate of incorporation was dated, authorizing the commencement of a general banking business, as a National Bank, May 15, 1865. The capital stock of the bank was $120,000, and it was officered as follows : President, H. W. Smith ; Vice President, Richard Cowling ; Cashier, B. Gwynne. Mr. Gwynne resigned on the 11th of April, 1866, and the vacancy was filled by A. Toland. Another change in the officers occurred November 22, 1867, when H. W. Smith resigned the presidency and Mr. Cowling became his successor, and James Q. Minshall was elected Vice President. On the 28th of January, 1871, Jesse Watson succeeded Mr. Cowling as President, which position he filled until his death, which occurred September 5, 1871. On the 15th of the following January, James Q. Minshall was elected President and Samuel Sidner Vice President. Mr. Minshall was succeeded in the presidency of the bank by Stephen Watson, January 22, 1880, and on the same day B. P. Clark became cashier. In addition to the above officers, the teller of the bank is now G. Van Wagener, and the Board of Directors is as follows : Stephen Watson, Samuel Sidner, B. F. Clark, Robert Boyd, Wyatt Minshall, J. C Bridgeman and David Watson. In April, 1872, extensive improvements were made in the banking-house, in the line of a new front, extension in length of room, and counter with white and black walnut finish, new doors and windows with full size plate glass, etc., making it an elegant room for the transaction of business.

Tlie London Exchange Bank. - This bank had its origin in Madison County Bank No. 2, which was opened in the Phifer House building, on Main street, June 1, 1866, with a capital stock of $50,000. The proprietors were Robert Boyd and Addison Shanklin. A stock company was formed in May, 1870. and purchased the Madison County Bank, and July 1 took possession thereof. The bank was removed to the new banking-house of Robert Boyd, located in what is now known as Union Block, on Main street, opposite the court house, where the business of the bank has since been carried on. The name was changed to the London Exchange Bank, July 1, 1870. The institution began with a capital stock of $20,000. The officers were : Robert Boyd, President ; Stephen Watson, Vice President ; Otway Watson, Cashier ; Wyatt Minshall, Teller. From October, 1872, until December, 1878, Mr. Minshall was the cashier of the bank, and A. C. Watson served as teller during that period, and since December, 1878, the last-named gentleman has filled the position of cashier. Stephen Watson, the Vice President of the bank, has acted as President since its organization. There have been no other changes. The directors and stockholders are the same as those of the Madison National Bank. The building in which the bank is located is one of the finest blocks in London. It is three stories, with a basement ; the second and third floors arranged for offices, and cost about $20,000. The main business room is 20x22 feet ; the private room at rear is a cozy place indeed, 12x20 feet, both well lighted and heated. The counter and other furniture are constructed of white ash, and are fine specimens of mechanism. The vault is a substantial fire and water proof one, and the safe acknowledged to be the best in the county. It was built by Diebold & Hanhan, of Cincinnati, and cost $2,500.

The Central Bank. - This individual or partnership bank was organized with a partnership of twenty-five stockholders, December 1-4, 1875. The first

Board of Directors was composed of the following-named gentlemen : John Jones, John Farrar, Robert Rea, T. J. Sutton, and W. A. Koontz; and the officers were, Robert Rea, President; William Farrar, Cashier; C. W. Pringle, Teller. What was known as the Harrison property, on the west side of Main street, was purchased in 1875, and fitted up for a banking house, by Messrs. John & William Farrar, where the Central Bank commenced business, January 1, 1876, with a capital stock of $60,000, and where its business has since been continued. A prosperous business in general banking has been conducted by this bank since its organization, and it continues to be in a prosperous condi tion under the present management. The officers for 1882 are: Thomas J. Stutson, President; William Farrar, Cashier; John D. Maddux, Teller; Jesse C. Pancake, Clerk; Board of Directors, T. J. Stutson, John Jones, J. T. Houston, Jeremiah Rea and William Farrar. The banking room is neatly and con veniently arranged.