Montgomery County, Ohio - Chapter 4, 1882

Chapter 4

Charter Amended - Licenses - Town Boundaries, 1829 - The Five Waea Elections 1820 to 1841 Inclusive - Canal and Other Statistics - Ch< era - Seely's Basin - Peasley's Garden - New Bridges - Cooper Hydrai to - Change of Mad River - Canal Extension - Dayton Hydraulic pany - Harrison Convention - Clay Convention - City Charter - M. kets - Scraps of History - Elections 1841 to 1853, Inclusive - Statisti

Town Elections

I^ECORD of elections, proceedings of Council and reports of expenditure V from 1805 to 1829, have been misplaced or lost; at least they cannot n be found at the City Clerk's office. What information we have, therefore, gathered from other sources. With the exception of the year 1822, we givi complete list of the officers of the town from 1820 to 1841, inclusive:

March 4, 1820, H. G. Phillips was elected President of the Select Coi oil; George S. Houston, Recorder; Trustees, Aaron Baker, Luther Bruen, I vid Henderson, William Huffman, John Steele.

1821. - Election March 3. Matthew Patton, President; George S. Hoi ton, Recorder; Trustees, Henry Brown, Luther Bruen, Aaron Baker, Bal Wilson, John Dodson. At that election there were 280 votes cast.

The charter of the town was amended by the Legislature in the win of 1828-29. By the amendment, no one was entitled to vote at the to elections except " free white male freeholders, or householders, over twen

City Of Dayton

03 years of age, who have resided within the corporation one year next preciing the election." By the act, power was given the Town Council to license _icers, retail and wholesale liquor dealers, beer, ale and porter houses; to i ense and regulate all houses of public entertainment other than taverns, h power to regulate and suspend all such licensed places." ij north, the Miami River; on the south, the section line running from the imi, near the south end of Patterson's pond, eastwardly to a stone in the v)ds, near Wayne street; on the east, the half-section line which ci'ossed 7 rd street, at the forks of the Springfield and Xenia roads; on the north, m section line running from a point near the aqueduct, westwardly across i canal and Mad River, to a point on the west bank of the Miami, opposite 1 lower end of the first island up from Mad River, near the stump of a holo sycamore, about ten feet in diameter."

The First Ward was bounded on the north by the Miami and Mad River, che east by the corporation line, on the south by Second street, and on the v. t by Jefferson street.

Third Ward, north by Second street, west by the river, east by Jefferson Met, and south by the south line of the Market alley and a line running it west from that to the river.

east, to the south line of the Market alley, and by that south line to Jefbn street; thence north to Third street, and by Third street east to the cor- > cation line; east by the corporation line; south by Fifth street.

Canal And Other Statistics

In 1825, there were 497 passengers through Dayton by stage ; after tl canal was completed, competition between the stage and packet lines beean very active. In 1831 thers were 6,219 passengers through Dayton by stag; and from Cincinnati to Dayton by packet, from March 3 to November 30, 7,06 the number going from Dayton could not be ascertained.

During the year 1831, 563,000 pounds of bacon and bulk pork were shippt in addition to the amount packed in barrels. Boats landed along the we bank of the canal from First street to Sixth ; the packet landing was betweej Second and Third streets.

In 1828, seventy buildings were erected in Dayton; in 1829, ninety -nin in 1830, eighty-one; in 1831, fifty of brick and sixty-two frames. Id 182 the only improvements east of the canal and south of Fifth street, were the o "Mother Hess' ' house on the east side of Brown street at the alley south Sixth ; the Beniah Tharp and George Shartel houses, lower down on Brow street, and some cabins farther east, occupied by colored people. j

In February 1837, there were twenty-nine mechanics' shops, capital^ / o,6j nine manufactories, capital, $150,000; twenty-one groceries, capital, $364, 0( twenty-two dry goods stores, capital, $203,000; two confectioneries, jsapitj $1,800; two hardware stores, capital, $20,000; four drug stores, capital, $h 600; two book stores, capital, $12,000; four iron stores, capital, $12,000; fort one miscellaneous establishments, $36,200; total, $888,600. The hard tun checked progress and improvements ; the Town Council graded, graveled a: improved, business was extended, the public square was planted with fort trees ; fifty-six brick and thirty-three frame buildings were erected in 1838.

et of Ludlow, was in 1829 given the name of the Farmers' Hotel ; afterward hvas callad the Farmers' and Mechanics', and was always well patronized by etatry people, from the fact, that in the rear, was a large feed yard and barn, lie Franklin House, southwest corner Main and Second streets, also had good fid yard and barn.

Edmund Browning, moved from Columbus, Ohio, with his family to Dayt<', and opened the National Hotel on Third street, April 13, 1830, and kept until 1836, at which time he moved to Indianapolis and kept the Washing - ti - Hotel.

The name of the National Hotel was changed to that of the Voorhees Rase in January, 1848 ; and about ten years later was called the Phoenix J use, and is now occupied as part of the Beckel House ; it is the brick buildr adjoining the new Beckel building on Third street.

The Montgomery House, northeast corner of the Canal and Third streets ns built several years after the canal was opened, and did a flourishing trade 5 canal packet times.

Swaynie's Hotel, south side of First street, at the east corner of Race street, np built by Alexander Swaynie in 1838-39, and opened by him in April, 1839. Is house was fitted throughout with carpets of Dayton manufacture, and was a rays a first-class hotel in all of its appointments and keeping.

November 5, 1831, 250 Seneca Indians camped at the big spring on the mth side of Mad River, and three days afterward left for Cincinnati to be sit West by the (Jovernment,

In February, 1832, there was great destruction of property by a Hood in tl Miami; the bridge at Miamisburg was the only one left in good condition fun its source to the Ohio. The middle pier of the Dayton bridge at Bridge s'set was washed out, the clams were very much injured, and most of the fencig in the bottom lands was swept away. The flood in the Ohio River at the s;ae time also did great damage, and especially at Cincinnati, where the hjnes of many poor people were washed away, the citizens of Dayton raised 8)2 by subscription, which amount was sent by John W. Van Cleve, Mayor o Dayton, to the Mayor of Cincinnati, to aid in relieving the sufferers.

In the Jackson campaign of 1832, the Locofocos had a great barbecue here, Oithe commons north of Third street between St. Clair street and the canal; a ox was roasted, speeches were made and the crowd fairly took the town.

The Cholera

Asa matter of precaution, the Town Council, in June, 1832, appointed sanity committees in each of the wards, with power to compel people to clean Y their property. There were but two fatal cases that year. In the summer o|1833, the dread disease spread throughout the valley, making its appeara3e in Dayton the first week of June. Within the next three months there were t'rty-three fatal cases.

May 18, 1849, there was one fatal case of cholera in Dayton; then the next s1 fatal cases about the middle of June, were at the Farmers' and Mechanics' Ltel on Second street. Business was almost entirely suspended until Septembp, and within that time there were about three hundred deaths, many deaths *Fy 4 ay. A Board of Health was appointed, a cholera hospital established f;l every effort made to check the epidemic, and every attention shown by the relief committees, to the sick and dead. Appropriations for supplies were mac by the City Council; the streets and alleys were white from quantities of liu that was scattered in them, liberal contributions were made at th9 churches ar by the citizens generally. Physicians and citizens stood at their posts fait! fully and bravely; two of the physicians, Drs. Silas H. Smith and John Hal were stricken while visiting their patients, and died with the cholera.

While there was great dread of the disease, there was no panic; very fe if any of the people left the city. The epidemic raged throughout this ar neighboring counties.

The canal built by Morris Seely in 1832, and first known as Seely's Basil then Seely's folly, Seely's ditch, the old ditch, and now as " the ditch," w; an enterprise intended by Mr. Seely to benefit the property through which ran.

The water was taken from the canal at the east side of Wayne street, in mediately at the bridge, then running south along the east side of Wayne ( near Lodwick street (Fifth), thence southeasterly across Lodwick to Simpso street, and east along the north side of Simpson, crossing Plum and Pearl stree where a basin was formed extending up to Lodwick street (Fifth). Fro: Simpson street, the race led south between Mad River and Pearl streets, crosi ing Wayne at Richard street and following its preseut course to Warren stree and to the old basin at the Fair Ground Hill.

Mr. Seely's vision was that property along this race, especially whei wharves and docks could be constructed, would be greatly enhanced in value.

The old " pleasure garden," west side of Warren street, at the south sid of Seely's Basin, was established by A. M. Peasley, in 1833, rented in Ma; 1834, by Robert McMurray, and, in 1837, by C. M. Riley and 1. Harrisoi Parties were taken to the garden in boats down the canal to the basin, whei the horse forded the canal, and towed the boat up the basin to the garden.

New Bridges

January 28, 1834, plans were advertised for, for a wooden covered bridg over the Miami River, at North Main street. June 4, 1835, the County Con missioners appropriated $600 toward building the bridge, the balance ws raised by subscription, and in 1836 the bridge was opened for travel. In 187* the old wooden bridge was torn down, and the present iron structure erecte and finished in 1871.

In 1833, the Dayton & Western Bridge Company was organized to build bridge over the Miami River at the fording of the Germantown road, beio1 Fourth street, in Dayton. But the probability that if the National road sboul be located through Dayton, or a pike parallel to it be built, that the Mian River would be bridged at a point above Fourth street, influenced theabandor ment of the project. March 12, 1838, subscription books were opened forstoc in the Dayton Third street Bridge Company. In June, the County Commit sioners subscribed for $1,000 of stock for the county. The company was o.> ganized as follows: Jacob D. Lowe, President; P. Aughinbaugh, Henry la Tuyl, J. Wunderlich, Valentine Winters, Directors; and in the summer c 1839, it was opened as a toll bridge. The iron extension was built by th city in 1866-67.

The Cooper Hydraulic

The old saw-mill race, extending 'from the southwest corner of First an Madison streets, to a point near Fifth street, between the two canals, markei ilevel from which the ground fell toward the west. In 1838, E. TV. Davies n Alexander Grimes, as agents of Mrs. L. C. Cooper, built the hydraulic, 70 feet long, fifty feet wide, with twelve feet head, between Third and Fifth ;i?ts, west of Wyandot street.. Since the change in the channel of Mad i'r, this hydraulic has been fed direct from the canal.

Change Of Mad Eiveb

A bend in Mad River at the northeast corner of the town, extended south from u tqueduct to first street, and along that street, crossing what is now Keowee i Meigs streets, thence in a northwest direction, crossing Taylor street south ! Pater street, and on across Water street to and uniting with the Miami i r at a point about four hundred feet south of the present mouth of the [, River.

A bayou extended from the Miami River up the present channel of Mad : r to the Keowee street bridge, where, at that time, a log bridge crossed ie>ayou, thence sontheast to a big spring near Mad River. Between the rent Keowee street river bridge and the old bridge near the corner of Water k Taylor streets, over a marshy stretch there was a long, low log bridge, n oth sides of Mad River there were a number of large, deep springs of dey ful water, and the surrounding thickets were fine hunting grounds for il ducks and turkeys.

In 1840, Edward W. Davies and Alexander Grimes, as Trustees of the esof D. Z. Cooper, caused a survey to be made for the new channel of a River, from the aqueduct straight to the Miami River. They began the j! early the next year, and completed it late in the fall of 1842, and during a winter water was turned into the new channel.

In 1841, while excavation for the new river bed was in progress, the nty Commissioners built the abutments for the new bridge, and, in August, n acted with Uriah John for a double tracked, wooden covered bridge across a River, at the Troy road ford. The cost of the abutments was 8856.68, )f the bridge $3,588. It was completed in April, 1843. The iron extento the bridge was built to widen the channel in 1869.

Canal Extension

After the change in the channel of Mad River, the canal was extended 1 First street up to the junction near the aqueduct. The work was comd in 1845.

Dayton Hydeaulic Company

Dctober, 1844, H. G. Phillips, Daniel Beckel, J. D. Phillips and Samuel Igar, under the firm name of Phillips, Beckel & Co., advertised for bids - instruction of the hydraulic from Smithville, three miles up Mad River, 1 yton. In 1845, they were incorporated as the Dayton Hydraulic Company, Ihe work was completed, bringing into the city the water-power now known tp upper hydraulic.

Haeeison Convention

The great Whig Convention at Dayton September 10, 1840, was a gathered Whigs from all over Ohio. Wednesday night, September 9, Gen. Will- 1. Harrison and party were entertained by Jonathan Harshman, Sr., at 9 psidence in Mad River Township. At 7 o'clock the next morning the r were met by the military and crowds of people, at the forks of the Troy 'Springfield pikes. The roads were jammed with a mass of people in jus, on horseback and afoot. The military escort, in command of Capt. i am Bomberger, of the Dayton Grays, consisted of the Citizen's Guards, 0 (jacmnati ; Butler Guards, of Hamilton, Piqua Light Infantry, Dayton

Grays, and Washington Artillery, of Dayton. Gen. Harrison and staff, wi Gov. Metcalf and staff, of Kentucky, rode at the head of the great column delegations. The line of march was west on First street to Main street, sou to Third. At the corner of Third and Main the procession passed in revie' and continued the march on out to the hill east of Front street, north of Th.ii where the meeting was held. The city was gayly decorated with flags, ai everything arranged for a great gala day.

Clay Convention

The convention of 1842 was even more numerously attended than that 1840. It was estimated that there were 120,000 strangers here. Delegatio: came overland from Virginia, Kentucky and Indiana. Military compani were present from every part of Ohio. September 28, delegations with flac decorations, militia, and artillery began to arrive. Music from the banc church choirs and glee clubs could be heard in all directions. At night mei ings were organized in every part of the town. Private houses were throv open for the entertainment of the people. Henry Clay stayed the night of tl 28th with Thomas Corwin,. at E. Doolittle's Tavern, in Centerville. All of th night and the nest morning the roads leading to Dayton from all directio: Avere filled with the marching delegations. At 9 o'clock in the morning, Se ator Clay, with Mr. Corwin and a large, mounted escort were met at the jur tion of Warren and Jefferson streets by the great procession of delegation military and civic societies and trade representations. The procession w marched through the principal streets, and halted at the east end of the Mark House where, from a platform, the reception speeches and responses were mad Houses, yards, streets and alleys were crowded with people. The meeting w held at the hill near the west end of Union street. Dinner was provided i the ladies of the county for the immense crowd, on two great tables, each 8( feet long.

The town receipts from all sources for the year ending March 8, 1841, we $6,094; disbursements, $6,087.09; cash remaining in the treasury, $6.91.

The City Charter for Dayton was granted, March 8, 1841, subject to vote of the people. The limits of the city and township were made the sam The number of councilmen were increased to two from each ward. Monda May 3, the election was held; 382 votes were cast in favor of the adoption the new charter; 378 against; so that Dayton became a city by a majori of four' votes. The first election under the charter was held Saturday, May 2 the polls were opened at 12 M. ; closed at 4 P. M.

Second Ward, at Smith's fom'-story building, northwest corner Ma and Second streets; Judges, James Perrine, Abram Darst ; Clerk, D. \ Greene.

Markets And City Hall

As a committee of stockholders, in October, 1843; I. Meriam, Alexander vine, Dr. J. A. Walters and William Trebein, received proposals for the conration of the new market-house, north of Third street, between Webster ." Sears streets. The building was shortly afterward erected, and in 1848 is bought by the city and controlled as other markets, but was never very e patronized. It remained empty for a number of years, and was finally

In the summer of 1850, the question of building a market-house in the western part of the city began to be agitated, but it was not until the ibf 1865 that anything was accomplished. At that time, the Wayne street acet-house was built by a stock company, on the ditch, at the south side of i; street, and opened in March, 1866. It was afterward enlarged, and is owned by the company, organized as follows: President, George W.

Scraps Of History

The first " minstrel show " in Dayton, was at the National Hotel the ing of June 14, 1841. The entertainment began at 9 P. M. : admission, A Mr. Coleman personated " Bone Squash," the delineator of Euro- - character, and also rendered the negro song, "Carolina Boys."

The draymen, in June, 1841, petitioned Council to impose a license, and draymen responsible for goods damaged while in their charge. (Signed) bander Getzendanner, James Hall, William Allen, S. L. Broadwell, Will ''McKee, Thomas Eater.

The passenger route East, during the spring and summer of 1841, was by hi to Hebron, in Licking County, thence by canal-packet to Cleveland, e aev to Buffalo, then by the Erie Canal and Hudson River to New York

Eleven hours was the time required to make the trip to Cincinnati by h i, but in the spring of 1842 competition with the packet-lines reduced nime to seven hours. In 1846, the stages left for Cincinnati at daylight, would make the trip via Centreville and Lebanon; another stage left at 2 -, arriving at Cincinnati after midnight. Packets left daily, north and

A daily omnibus line was established in September, 1847, and made the i}::ia Miamisburg, Franklin, Monroe, Sharon and Reading to Cincinnati in -i hours; fare, $2, which, by reason of competition, was reduced to $1.

II Asylum. On the 4th of July of that year, they held a picnic for the : tit of the project. The asylum was located on the hill, north of Union oit, between Main and Warren streets. The institution was changed to the

The old Bridge street bridge, that had been barely passable for three 9Ej', was swept away by the high water in December, 1.852. The flood did other damage along the Miami, Stillwater and Mad Rivers.

The present wooden bridge at Bridge street was built in 1856; the ir extension was built in 1870. The flood of 1866 demonstrated the fact tl the water-way through the city should be widened; therefore, the bridges Keowee, Bridge and Third streets were lengthened.

David Stout; Councilmen, First Ward, David A. Wareham, J. G. Stutsm; Second Ward, Peter Odlin, William F. Comly; Third Ward, Henry L.Brov Richard Green; Fourth Ward, D. Kiefer, James H. Mitchell; Fifth Wa Madison Munday, Henry Strickler. Peter Odlin was elected President of Cot oil, and A. M. Bolton, Clerk.

Election December 31, 1842. Councilmen, First Ward, George 0. Dav Second Ward, Peter Odlin; Third Ward, William Huffman; Fourth Wai Henry Kissinger; 'Fifth Ward, John Painter; Peter Odlin was re-elected Pr ident, and A. M. Bolton, Clerk.

Election December 27. 1844. Councilmen, First Ward, G. C. Davis; S ond Ward, Peter Odlin; Third Ward, Hiram Wyatt; Fourth Ward, Hei Kissinger; Fifth Ward, Richard Chambers; Peter Odlin was re-elected Pn dent, and A. M. Bolton. Clerk.

Election December 24, 1845. Mayor, William J. McKinney; Marshal, Broadwell; Treasurer, D. Stout; Councilmen, First Ward, J. G. Stutsm Second Ward, William F. Comly; Third Ward, Adam Spiece; Fourth Wa Jacob Malambre; Fifth Ward, Samuel Marshall; Peter Odlin was re-elec! President, A. M. Bolton, Clerk. Peter Odlin resigned November 13, 18' and John Howard was elected to till the vacancy.

Election December 25, 1846. Councilmen, First Ward, J. H. Acli Second Ward, John Howard ; Third Ward, S. M. Sullivan; Fourth Wa Plenry Kissinger; Fifth Ward, D. S. Raymond; John Howard was cho; President of Council, and A. M. Bolton. Clerk.

Mayor Bomberger died June 21, 1848, and the City Council appoin John Howard, Mayor, and E. Fowler to till the vacancy caused by the appoi ment of Howard; J. G. Stutsman was elected President of Council.

Election December 29. 1848. Councilmen, First Ward, Adam Pritz; 8 ond Ward, Henry Herrman; Third Ward, R. A. Kerfoot; Fourth Ward, Ja< Richmond; Fifth Ward, Wesley Boren; Sixth Ward, W. N. Love, one ye William John, two years; William F. Comly, President; William C. Barth Clerk. May 25, 1849, D. S. Raymond was elected to till the vacancy in Coi cil caused by the resignation of William John of the Sixth Ward.

Cht Of Dayton

he ordinance to change city elections from December to April, was passed i . nber 3, 1852, and officers whose terms expired in December, held over T the first Monday in April, 1853.

Statistics

b 1841, there were at and near Dayton, five cotton factories, two carpet t ies, two carding machines, one hat factory, five flour mills, three chopijjnills, five saw-mills, one gun barrel factory, two oil mills, two paper mills, past and peg factory, two turning lathes, four foundries and machine '!- four soap and candle factories, one clock factory, four distilleries, two 'fries, thirty carpenter shops, ten boot and shoe makers, six harness shops,

1 inneries, eighteen tailor shops, nine blacksmiths, five carriage and wagon '!, four cooper shops, five tinners and coppersmiths, three hatters, four ' ^ a ; factories, two rope walks, six bakeries, eight cabinet shops, four gun- 'mijs, one glove factory, two locksmiths, twelve plasterers, one sash and blind

HISTORY OF MONTGOMERY COUNTYfactory, six jewelry shops, one cap factory, four stone yards, twenty-i painters, two mill-stone shops, four stove stores, three stone quarries, f< brick yards, live drug stores, one hardware store, three iron stores, three b< stores, twenty-two dry goods stores, thirty-one groceries, four lumber yai one insurance company, two newspapers, and one bank; 969 mechanics c ployed; value of manufactures, $624,575.

In 1848, there were nine miles of graded streets in the city, but only ab four and a half miles finished from curb to curb. The debt of the city wa little more than $12,000.

In 1845, there wei'e in the city 880 brick buildings, 1,086 frames, and stone houses; total, 1,972; fourteen taverns, two boat yards, fifteen frei canal boats, owned here, and six packets, three bridges over the Miami, « -over Mad River, ten wooden canal bridges, and one stone bridge, three ne papers - Journal, Empire , Transcript; one railroad, four miles long, for hat ing stone from the quarry in Van Buren Township to the canal; three coal yai five livery stables, five pork houses, fifteen churches - two Presbyterian, i Lutheran, two Methodist, one each Episcopal, Bunker, Christian, (Tern Reformed, Catholic, Disciples, African Baptist, Allbright Baptist. The tj versalists held services in the court house, and there were other church soeiet but they had no church buildings. There were two public schoolhouses, ;!! three other public schools held in rented buildings, one of them German, j female seminary, one academy, and a number of private schools.