every section of land within its limits.
The First Canal.
The first canal in Columbus was a branch of the Ohio canal, and was the last one as well. On the 30th of April, 1827, was the commencement of the first manual operations upon this part of the Ohio canal. The citizens of Columbus and its neighborhood, to the number of eight or nine hundred, assembled at the state house and at two o'clock formed a procession, marshaled by Colonels McDowell and McElvain, and preceded by General Warner and his suite and parts of Captain Joseph McElvain's company of dragoons. Captain Foos's company of riflemen, Columbus Artillery and state officers, and marched to the ground, near where Comstock's warehouse stood at that time.
Joseph K. Swan, Esquire, delivered a short but pertinent address, and at its close General McLene, then secretary of state, and Nathaniel McLean, Esquire, then keeper of the penitentiary, proceeded to remove the first earth from the lateral canal, which was wheeled from the ground by Messrs. R. Osborn and H. Brown, then auditor and treasurer of state, amidst the reiterated shouts of the assembly. The company then retired from the ground to partake of a cold collation, prepared by Mr. C. Heyl, on the brow of the hill a few rods north of the penitentiary square. After the cloth was removed the following, among other toasts, were drunk: "The Ohio Canal—The great artery which will carry vitality to the extremities of the Union."
"The Citizens of Columbus—Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity. Who envies this day, let him slink back to his cavern and growl."
This branch of canal was over four years in process of construction. The heaviest jobs were the canal dam across the Scioto and the Columbus locks.
Messrs. W. McElvain, A. McElvain, B. Sells and P. Sells, contractors; the four mile locks at Lockbourne, the Granville Company, consisting of Messrs. Monson, Fasset. Taylor and Avery, contractors. The first mile from the Scioto was excavated by the penitentiary convicts under guards. Such men were selected by the keeper as would have least inducements to break away; and they generally received a remitment of part of their sentences for faithful services.
The farming and producing part of the community were watching with great anxiety the progress of this work, pretty correctly anticipating the new era that the completion of the canals would introduce in the Ohio market.
Of the substantial farmers along this short line who were thus watching its progress might be named William Merion, Moses Merrill, William Stewart, R. C. Henderson. Joseph Fisher, Andrew Dill, Percival Adams, Michael Stimmel, Fergus Morehead, Samuel Riley, James German, Thomas Morris, William Bennett, Jacob Plum, Luke Decker and Thomas Yause. Of whom Messrs. Adams. Stimmel and Riley were the only survivors in 1858.
On the 23rd of September, 1831, the first boat arrived at Columbus by way of the canal. About eight o'clock in the evening the firing of cannon announced the approach of the "Governor Brown." a canal boat launched at Circleville a few days previous and neatly fitted up for an excursion of pleasure to this place, several of the most respectable citizens of Pickaway county being on board as passengers. The next morning at an early hour a considerable number of ladies and gentlemen of Columbus repaired to the boat in order to pay their respects to the visitors; and after the delivery of a brief but very appropriate address by General Flournoy, exchanging those friendly salutations and cordial greetings which the occasion was so well calculated to call forth, the party proceeded back to Circleville. accompanied a short distance by a respectable number of the citizens of Columbus and the' Columbus band of music. On the afternoon of the second day after, two canal boats, the "Cincinnati" and the T' Red Rover," from the lake by way of Newark, entered the lock at the mouth of the Columbus feeder, where they were received by a committee appointed for that purpose, and proceeded, under a national salute of twenty-four guns and music from the Columbus band, to a point just below the National road bridge, where the commanders were welcomed, in the name of the citizens of Columbus, by Colonel Doherty in a very neat address. A procession was then formed, when the company proceeded to Mr. Ridgeway's large warehouse and partook of a collation prepared in handsome style by Mr. John Young. A third boat, the "Lady Jane," arrived soon afterward and was received in a similar manner. On the day following, these boats having disposed of their freight, took their departure for Cleveland in the same order and with about the same ceremonies as on their arrival, a large number of ladies and gentlemen, together with the Columbus band, accompanying their welcome visitors as far as the five-mile locks. Here they met the "Chillicothe" and "George Baker," which took them on board, and they returned home, highly delighted with their ride, at the rate of three or four miles an hour.
The First Canal Toll Collector.
Joseph Ridge way, Jr.. was the first collector of canal tolls, and kept the office up at the Ridgeway warehouse on Broad street, and nearly all the boats passed up there to put out and take in freight. M. S. Hunter was the second collector, and the office was removed to the head of the canal, where it continued ever after, and the freight business was nearly all done there following the removal of the office. David S. Doherty was the third collector, Charles B. Flood the fourth, Samuel McElvain the fifth and Benjamin Tressenrider the sixth.
The First Poorhouse.
The first poorhouse or county infirmary was erected on the Olentangy within the present general limits of the city in 1832, under the provisions of an act of the legislature of the date of March 8, 1831. Captain Robert Cloud was appointed superintendent. Further reference to this and subsequent buildings more appropriately occupy space in another chapter.
The First Agricultural Society
Was organized at a public meeting in the city hall on the (5th of September, 1851, and the following officers were elected: President, Samuel Medary: vice president, Samuel Brush; treasurer, George M. Peters: secretary, William Dennison, Jr.; managers. Pliny Curtis, David Taylor, Joseph O'Hara, William L. Miner and William H. Rarey. A committee of three was appointed from each ward and township to obtain subscribers to the institution and collect dues from the members.
The First Horticultural Society.
The Columbus Horticultural Society was organized April 10. 1845. The officers elected May 12, 1845. were: President, Bela Latham: vice presidents, W. S. Sullivant and Samuel Medary, recording secretary. Joseph Sullivant; corresponding secretary, M. B. Bateman; treasurer, John W. Andrews; manager. Dr. I. G. Jones, John Burr, John A. Lazell, John Fisher, Moses Jewett, John Miller and Leander Ransom. The first county agricultural fair was held on the state fairgrounds near Franklinton in October, 1851. The first horticultural fair and exhibition was held September 26, 1845.
The First Sale of Lots.
The first sale of lots in the city of Columbus began on June 18, 1812, and continued an a public vendue for three days, and after that they were disposed of at private sale.
The First State Home.
the old state house was built on the southwest corner of the Capitol Square in 1814. A fuller description and an account of its destruction by fire appears elsewhere.
The First Stores.
The first stores in Columbus, say from 1812 to 1818, were opened in the following order and conducted or "kept" by the following persons, respectively: Belonging to the Worthington Manufacturing Company, kept by Joel Buttles in a small brick building on west end of lot later covered by the Broadway Exchange. Belonging to McLene & Green, in a log cabin on Rich street. Three connected cabins, kept as a bakery and place of entertainment by Christian Heyl.
The First Taverns.
The first tavern was kept by Volney Payne in a two-story brick on the lot afterward occupied by the Johnston building, Volney Payne, John Collett, John Mcllvain, Robert Russell and James Robinson, respectively, conducted this house until 1844. In 1844 Daniel Kooser opened a tavern on Front street, south of State, and a Mr. McCollum opened one on Front, north of Broadway.
The Franklin, afterward called the Nagle, was kept by Christian Heyl, and several smaller hotels, incident to a growing town