Montgomery County, Ohio - Chapter 3 (2 of 2 so headed), 1882

Chapter 3

The Bank - Shows - 1815 - Female Bible Society - Cabintown - Ratti.esna - Commons - Bucklot - Market House - Wagon Rates - Rival Societies Mad River Bridge - Bridge Street Bridge - Breweries - Town Electk 1816 - Freighting up the River - Sunday Schools - Camp Meeting - Sta Lines - Boating South - New Year's Ball - Scarcity of Money - Coy ton's Tavern - Sickly Season - Hanging of McAfee - Mails - 1825 to li - Dayton and the Canal.

PERRY'S victory, and the continued success of Gen. Harrison's army i newed confidence in business circles. In November, 1813, meetings Dayton business men were held with a view of establishing a bank here. T next month the Dayton Manufacturing Company was incorporated by the L< Mature, and began business in the stone house still standing on the east si of Main street, at the north corner of the first alley south of Water street. I cember 28, the following Directors were elected: H. G. Phillips, Joseph Peiri John Compton, David Reid, William Eaker, Charles R. Greene, Isaac G. Bi net, Joseph H. Crane, D. C. Lindsley, John Ewing, Maddox Fisher, Dai Griffin and John H. Williams. May 19, 1814, the board organized fey the el tion of H. G. Phillips, President, and George S. Houston, Cashier. Badri hours were from 10 A. M. to 1 P. M.

ing, and could make all repairs to wagons, plows and other farming imp ments, found that with his rapidly increasing business came competitii After the war the town supported four blacksmith shops; the proprietors w John Burns, Obadiah B. Conover, Jacob Kuhn and James Davis.

Charles Tull started a ferry on the Miami, at the head of Ludlow stre| in December, 1814. Farmers would come on horseback and in wagons to ij north side of the river, hitch there and feed, and bring their truck over on 1 boat, to trade at the stores. William Cogswell, silversmith and jewel opened a shop on the west side of Main street, south of First.

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

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

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

Monday night, February 27, there was a grand illumination of the to i in celebration of the declaraion of peace between the United States and Gr Britain. The country people came in crowds to participate in the general joicing.

Theater

At the dwelling of William Huffman, St. Clair street. The lovers of drama are respectfully informed that on this evening, April 22, 1816, will rented the much admired, elegant comedy called "Matrimony; or the Pris- ,r!fs.'' Between the play and farce, will be given, Recitation - " Scolding Wife Claimed; Recitation - " Monsier Tonson. " Fancy Dance. Comic song - jo- of nails." To which will be added the celebrated comic farce, called -}he Village Lawyer." Tickets 50 cents; doors open at 7 o'clock; curtain to i at 7:30, precisely. Gentlemen are requested not to smoke cigars in the biter.

In April, 1819, an African lion was on exhibition, in an iron cage, for four 1£ J beginning April 22, in the barnyard at Reid's Inn. Admission 25 cents; I dren half price.

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

tv 19, 20 and 21, 1825. Flying equestrians, running and vaulting; female -pstrian in two-horse acts; clown; horsemanship, trained trick horse, barege and fancy riding, ground and lofty tumbling. Admission 25 cents; chilli'll half price.

A paper balloon was sent up in Dayton, Saturday evening, June 7, 1828. t assed east, and a few miles from town an old lady who saw it going over alarm predicted war, or death in the family. The baloon finally descended u field where a woman was milking; she dropped her bucket and ran to the cse to tell her husband, but the " old man" did not think it safe to venture .ntill morning, when he mounted a horse and rode around outside the fence 1:1 great caution. To provide for a safe retreat, he left the bars down bei 1 him, then finally made bold to capture the balloon, and escaped without miry.

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

A special meeting of Council was called May 31, 1S30, to grant free :.ase to an Englishman, who was here to exhibit a " locomotive engine and away." The following resolution was adopted:

Resolved, That the proprietor of the locomotive engine and railway, now exhibiting in -> place, he permitted to exhibit the same withont. taking license therefor."

In March, 1815, Mrs. Dionecia Sullivan opened a school for girls, on the ut side of Main street, just south of Third street. She taught them reading, 3ing, sewing, lettering with the needle, and painting. Her husband, William a.ivan, had his tailor shop in the same building.

The Dayton Female Charitable and Bible Society was organized at the *cse of Mrs. Henry Brown, April 12, by the election of Mrs. Robert Patterson President; Mrs. Thomas Cottom, Yice President; Mrs. James Welsh, Correriding Secretary; Mrs. Joseph H. Crane, Recording Secretary; Mrs. Henrietta Vce, Treasurer; Managers, Mrs. William King, Mrs. David Reid, Mrs. James Ima, Mrs. James Steele and Mrs Isaac Spinning. This was the first organ - ion of the kind in Dayton, and these ladies, with others, during the rest of 1 r lives, were engaged in this and similar good work. June 25, the Rev.

Joshua L. Wilson, preached a charity sermon in the Methodist Meeting-Hoi for the benefit of this Charitable Association. It was the custom of the 111 isters of the town to make similar efforts in behalf of the society each year terward.

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

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

That part of the town south of Third street was called " Cabintown," tithe fact that there were scarcely any other than log- cabin improvements. 1 ruling spirits of that part of the town, in after years, congregated in the evenii at the cabinet shop of James Elliot, northwest corner of Fourth and Main strei The only two of that party now living are Philip Kiefer and Thomas B. C penter. The western border of " Cabintown," in the low ground west Perry street, was called " Specksburg," for Barnhart Speck, a baker, v lived in the bottom near the river, now West Third street. " Speckebur was soon lost in the extension of its more powerful neighbors, " Cabinlow and Dayton " Rattlesnake" was the name of a little prairie at the corner Wilkinson and Water streets. The "Commons," until 1820, was the prat 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 becau at an early day, it had been one of the favorite grounds for hunting de tempted there by the many springs of cool, clear water. It included the t ritory between the two canals, north of Third street, to the "mill-pond" a race.

The Market-House

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

The cost of the property to widen the market space, from Jefferson Main street, was $1,190.20. Only the west half of the house was then bui the space east, to Jefferson street, was for market wagons. April 24, 1&

City Of Dayton

William Clark was appointed Clerk and Marshal of the market at a salijf $75 per annum. In 1836, the building was extended to Jefferson street.

Wagon Rates

Competing lines, in 1815, established the following wagon rates: jfrip to Cincinnati, 75 cents; Cincinnati to Dayton, $1; Urbana to Dayv>r vice versa, $1; Dayton to Piqua, or Piqua to Dayton, 75 cents; four- }j r: team, per day, $4; two-horse team, per day, $2.50; stone, per perch, tCooper's or Wade's quarries, $1.25; four-horse load of wood from outlot, (its; two-horse load of wood from outlot, 37-g- cents; four-horse load of 4, 50 cents; two-horse load of gravel, 25 cents.

Rival Societies

Two societies, somewhat different in character, were organized here at oi the same time, July, 1815. The Dayton Bachelors' Society, with George 1'Uston, as President, and Joseph John, Secretary, was organized by the vial bachelors and gentlemen of the town; possibly, without real opposition:;) an association of religious people, known as the Moral Society. Calls O' leetings of the Society of Associated Bachelors were usually made qh the Ohio Republican; but officer's names were withheld. The calls r< made for the "usual places of meeting," - "Strain's bar-room." The £ drawback to the society was, that their members would desert, or rather de ineligible by getting married, and it was generally necessary to elect v fficers at each quarterly meeting of the association.

he Moral Society met at the Methodist Meeting House, Satin-day evening, >!2. James Hannah, President; George S. Houston, Secretary; William Henry Robinson, Matthew Patton, John Patterson and Aaron Baker, Mani The object of the society was " the suppression of vice and immorality, swearing, and other immoral practices, and to assist magis- * iu the faithful discharge of their duties." George S. Houston, it will be aiwas President of the "Bachelor's Association," and Secretary of the Pal Society. " September 24, he was married to the " amiable Miss Mary "pan," and there was great rejoicing in the Moral Society. Shortly after - withe Secretary, Joseph John, married Miss Jane Waugh, only daughter of l|m Waugh, of Washington Township, and the Republican took great pJ cascading attention to the fact that both the President and Secretary of uchelor's Association were married men. Their places were immediately by the election of John Steele, President, and Alexander Grimes, Secret ai tad River was such a slashing, wild stream, and so rapid, that a ferry could 'll be managed, and ordinarily in the spring the river was so dangerous < ] that merchants of the town found it desirable that a bridge should be To this end a meeting was held at Grimes' Tavern, Saturday, January 16, " to devise a plan to build a bridge across Mad River at the Staunton Roaford."

March 21, 1817, the contract was sold to William Farmun at $1,400. was a high bridge, built crowning in the old fashioned way, with a single t of 160 feet, so that the roadway over the middle of the river was several higher above the water than at the abutments. It was located at w Taylor street now is, just south of Water street; was not a covered bri and was painted red. Although not completed, it was opened to travel in fall, and in December, was finished at an expense of $150. In 1824, being safe, a new floor was laid and additional braces put up. In May, 1828 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 struction of the old red toll bridge across the Miami River at Bridge at: Nathan S. Hunt, of Hamilton, Ohio, was contractor.

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

About 1820, Henry Brown built a brick brewery on Lot 105, south sic Second street, west of Jefferson street ; James L. Morris bought it in 0c( 1822, and in 1823 Michael Ott was proprietor. It was then known as the j ton Brewery.

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

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

Town Election 1816

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

Freighting Up The River

Lines of keel-boats were again established up the Miami in 1816, care grain and produce that was transferred at Loramie to boats that were 1 down the Maumee. A large warehouse for storage was built at the Ma Rapids, as a point for transfer of freight from river boats to lake vessels.

Sabbath Schools

In July of the next year, they organized the Dayton Sabbath School Assoi in ; and the Methodists organized the Methodist Sunday School Society, j r first meetings were held in August. Children and adults were taught alphabet and to read. The Presbyterian school was held in their own meett louse ; the Methodist school was held in the Academy building on St. Clair strjt.

Camp Meeting

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

Stage Lines

In May, 1818, a Mr. Lyon began making regular weekly trips from Day- ,r to Cincinnati and return, for passengers, but he only continued for the liner.

June 2, John H. Platt, of Cincinnati, and D. C. Cooper started a stage r between the two points. The stage left Cincinnati Tuesday evenings, stay- 4 overnight at Hamilton, arriving here the next evening ; returning, left : Friday evenings, arriving at Cincinnati Saturday evenings. Fair, 8 cents ile, with an allowance of fourteen pounds of baggage to each passenger. In the spring of 1820, John Crowder, the Dayton colored barber, with Jao'Musgrove, another black man, as his partner, put a coach that would carry vve passengers on the road. Crowder was driver, and with his coach and n was an object of great interest to the townspeople, and farmers along the D He took two days for the trip each way, staying overnight at Hamilton, -Ojg and coming.

Erie, tri-weekly line of mail coaches began running through from Cincinuat the hike, in four days. June 25, coaches were started daily, each way. i Portland they connected with steamers for Detroit and Buffalo. At Mt. Yer they connected with a stage line for Cleveland. Fare from Cincinnati to 13 ton, $3; to Columbus, $6; to the lake, $12. Proprietors, H. G. Phillips Timothy Squier, Dayton; Jarvis Pike, and William Neil, Columbus; C. I . ney, Mt. Vernon; K. Porter, Portland; F. Fowler, Milan. In 1828, just j fore the canal opened, stage lines were in operation in all directions. Tw'e regular coaches arrived here each week.

Boating South

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

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

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

A grand New Year's ball was given at Fielding Gosney's Inn, east side Main street, south corner of the flrsr, alley south of Water street, Friday ev ing, December 29, 1819. William Griffin, Benjamin Brewbecker, E. W. L eret, John H. Reid, Managers.

Scarcity Of Money

The general depression in business throughout the country after the \ of 18.12, withdrew gold and silver from circulation, and for ten years seriou affected trade in the West, where good currency was so very scarce. Dayi made but slow progress from 1.820 until work was begun upon the canal.

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

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

Sickly Season

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

The trial of John McAfee for the brutal murder of his wife lasted two days, firth 2 and 3, 1825. He was found guilty and sentenced by Judge Joseph £ Irane to be hanged March 28. Monday morning, March 28, 1825, crowds 9;,n to come in from the country. Capt. Conrad Wolf's Rifle Company, and a;. Timothy Squires, Dayton Troop of Horse were ordered out as guards. ..._t0 o'clock in the morning, McAfee was taken from the jail and seated in a aage, attended by the Rev. Father Hill, a Catholic priest who had been up ve before from Cincinnati to visit the prisoner. Guarded by the militia, aorisoner was taken to the gallows in the woods on the west of Dayton, near it Miami River. He made a confession of his crime, and was hanged at 3 c ck P. M.

January 11, 1825, Thomas Morrison erected hay scales on Fourth street, r east of Ludlow, and charged 371 cents a ton for weighing hay, and 25 ;k a half ton, one-half to be paid by the purchaser and one-half by the selr but to save trouble for himself, Mr. Morrison required the seller to pay lei'ull amount and collect the half from his customer.

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

In June, 1826, James Perrine was appointed agent here for the Protection i Insiu'ance Company, of Hartford, Conn. This was the first opportunity led Dayton or Montgomery County people to insure their property by local g!t.

The canal was to be cut through the little prairie at the foot of Ludlow -apt; the Methodists, therefore, changed their camp meeting grounds to the rie north of Mad River, near the big spring. With the Rev. John Collins 3 iader, they assembled there Friday, June 1, 1827. The meeting was con- E3d until Monday, the 4th.

Dayton And The Canal

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

Saturday, July 9, Gov. De Witt Clinton and staff, of New Arork, Gov. OYniah Morrow, Hon. Ethan A. Brown, Hon. Joseph Vance, Judge Tappan, J; Williams. Judge Bates and Judge Parish were met at Fairfield by Capt. ijothy Squier with the Dayton Troop of Horse and many citizens of the 101 "- and were escorted to Dayton on their way to Middletown to break ground for, he Miami Canal. The column arrived at Dayton at 2:30 in the afternoon,

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

The canal was located at the commons, between the Academy and the sa mill race, in May, 1827; it terminated in a basin seventy feet wide, at Fii street. Excavation on the canal near town was commenced in June. In Decei ber, there were 210 dwellings in Dayton - the court house, jail, county off building, Presbyterian and Methodist meeting-houses, the academy and fi other schools, three with male and three with female teachers, the library; t' bridges, two apothecary shops, thirteen dry good stores and seventeen grocerit 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, Jo' W. Van Cleve and Jeptha Regans, proprietors; and the Miami Herald, on t east side of Main street, a few doors south of Third, R. J. Skinner, proprieu one wholesale store, three wagon-maker shops, one carriage shop, four blac smith shops, two sickle factories, one tin shop, one coppersmith, three hi ters , seven shoemakers, seven tailors, three tan-yards, three saddlers, thr watchmakers, one brewery, one tallow chandler, two tobacconists, one flour-m with three run of stone, one saw-mill with two saws, one fulling mill, and o: cotton factory.

January 7, 1828, the Stillwater, Miami and Mad Rivers were higher tb at any time since 1814. The State dam that had been built the fall befoi was very much injured. The canal bridge at the east end of Main Cross stn was washed away, and the Jefferson street canal bridge was injured. All the mill race bridges were swept away. Broadw ell's old red warehouse, on t Miami River bank, at the head of Wilkinson street, was carried off, and mu damage was done to fencing and other property above and below town.

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

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

A week before Christmas, a party of ladies and gentlemen of town, wt to Miamisburg on the Alpha, Capt. T. Jones, Mastei. The formal opening the canal was expected to be celebrated by the arrival at Dayton, January 1 1829, of several boats from Cincinnati; but the canal was frozen over and t affair was delayed.

Sunday morning, January 25, artillery at tire landing announced tlie apujacli of the packet Governor Brown, and as she rounded to at the dock, the dizens of the town greeted her with hearty cheers. In the afternoon the rer arrived, at dark the General Marion, and during the night the General ?]e.

The boats, Gov. Brown, Capt. J. D. Archibald, Master; Forrer, Capt. upbell, Master; Gen. Marion, Capt. Clynier, Master; Gen. Pike, Capt. Swain, liter, were to leave for Cincinnati, accompanied by the Alpha, with a Dayto party, but a break in the canal near Alexandersville prevented their de- )!.;ure.

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