suit against Starling's half section was scarcely decided, when a claim was set up against Kerr and McLaughlin's half section. They had bought from one Strawhridge, who conveyed by an attorney or agent, and the deed ran thus: That the agent conveyed for Strawhridge, instead of Strawhridge conveying by agent, and was so signed:
"J M (the agent), (seal). Attorney in fact for Strawhridge.''
Thus the defect in Kerr and McLaughlin's title was merely technical.
But it was contended that this was not Strawbridge's deed, but the deed of the agent who claimed no title. And about the year 1826, a quit-claim was obtained from Strawbridge's heirs, by some man purporting to be a New Yorker, upon which a suit was brought in ejection, as in other cases, against one or more of the occupants of the most valuable lots. But by a suit in chancery to, quiet title about the year 1827, this was all set right, and the title of Kerr and McLaughlin sustained. In March, 1851, an act was passed by the legislature of Ohio to remedy such defects in conveyances, by which this technical distinction under the common law has been abolished.
The years 1819 and 1820 to 1826 were the dullest years in Columbus. But soon after this Columbus began to look up again. The location of the national road and the Columbus feeder to the Ohio canal gave an impetus to improvements, and by the year 1830, the prices of property and the improvements of the town had very considerably advanced.
The Manufacturing Spirit Appears.
Although Columbus possessed a reasonable amount of wealth and of money-making talent, the attention of its capitalists never was until of later years much turned toward manufacturing, but more directed to speculating upon the productions of others, by buying, selling, etc., than to creating new or additional wealth. The early efforts in the way of mills and manufactories, further than the common branches of mechanism, generally failed, either for want of capital or want of judgment and skill in their construction and management. The first partially modern sawmill erected within the present city limits was a sawmill on the Scioto, some ten or fifteen rods below where the penitentiary now is, in 1813, by John Shields and Richard Courtney. It passed through several hands in a few years; was considered a good property; but soon went to ruin; and for the last sixty-five years or more not a vestige of its remains has been perceivable.
About the year 1816 the same John Shields erected a flouring mill on the run at the southwest corner of the town, a few rods west of Ball's tannery. The water was brought from east of High Street in a race along the side of the bank, near the south end of Hoster's brewery, and let on to an overshot wheel. This mill, after standing some twelve or fifteen years and being owned by several individuals in succession was suffered to go to ruin, and there have been no remains of it perceivable for fifty years.
Along this hollow there formerly were, in succession, a number of breweries, distilleries, tan yards and sherries that have long since disappeared.
At a later period there were two large breweries, one owned by Messrs. Master & Silbernugle and the other by John Blenker, and some three or four tanneries.
The First Circular Saw.
In 1819, Moses Jewett, Caleb Houston and John E. Baker erected on the Scioto, just above Rich street, a sawmill upon a new patent plan. The saw was circular and was to cut constantly ahead with no back strokes. It was an experiment, and cost them a good deal without ever answering any valuable purpose.
In 1821 Colonel Jewett and Judge Hines commenced the manufacturing of cotton yarn by horse power in a frame building on Front street, between Rich and Friend; and after experimenting with that some time and also with the circular saw in the mill, the spinning machinery was removed into the mill, where the spinning was continued by water power a few years.
But finally the whole concern was abandoned, and for nearly fifty years there has not been a vestige of the building to show where it stood. The frame on Front Street where they first commenced the cotton spinning was for many years known as the "old factory."
A Hemp Dresser.
About this time, Judge Hines having invented a machine for dressing hemp in an unrotted state, in 1822 he and William Bain constructed and put in operation one of the machines at the southeast corner of High street and South Public lane. It was propelled by horse power on a tread wheel.
It after some time passed into the hands of Lafayette Tibbits, who worked it until the fall of 1824, when he failed and the whole concern went down.
Woolen Manufacturers.
About the year 1822, a woolen factory for carding, spinning and weaving was commenced by Ebenezer Thomas and others on the west end of the lot later owned by Colonel S. W. Andrews, corner of High and Noble streets. It was worked by horse power on a tread wheel. It passed through the hands of different owners, without profit to any. About the year 1884 or 1835, the building and machinery were removed and re-erected by George Jeffries on the west abutment of the canal dam, where it was worked by water power, some two or three years, when the machinery was sold out by piece meal under the hammer; and so ended that manufacturing establishment.
A Steam Sawmill.
About the year 1831 or 1832. John McElvain erected a steam sawmill at the head of the canal, where Hunter's warehouse afterward stood. It was worked by different persons (it is believed without much profit) for some seven or eight years, when the engine and machinery were disposed of and the warehouse erected over it, the mill frame answering as part of the warehouse. In 1843, the warehouse was totally consumed by fire, but was subsequently rebuilt. The first successful manufacturing establishment, other than common mechanic show, was the foundry and plow manufactory of Mr. Ridgway, established in 1822.
The County Seat Removed.
In 1824 the county seat was removed from Franklinton to Columbus: and the courts were held in the United States courthouse until 1840. The court of common pleas then (1824) was composed of Gustavus Swan, president; Edward Livingston, Samuel G. Flenniken, and Aurora Buttles, associates; A. I. McDowell, clerk; and Robert Brolherton, sheriff.
Begins to Expand.
As already observed, the original town was laid out in 1812. In the summer of 1814. John McGown's addition was laid out and called South Columbus—surveyed and platted by John Shields. In 1830 the wharf lots were laid out by order of the town council. They are, and theoretically must remain city property. In 1831, a few lots were laid out by John Young and called Young's addition.
McElvain's Addition.
In 1832 a five acre lot of land near the head of the canal, owned by John McElvain and others, was laid out into lots and called McElvain's addition.
In February, 1833, Otis and Samuel Crosby's first addition (between Town and South streets) was laid out; and in November of the same year, their second addition (between South street and South Public lane) was also laid out.
Brotherton and Walcutt's Addition.
About the years 1831 and 1832, Robert Brotherton and John M. Walcutt, who owned a few acres of an original reserve, sold out some building lots on Town street, which was generally called Brotherton and Walcutt's addition. They did not have their lots platted, but sold by metes and bounds as lands conveyed. The lots, however, were subsequently platted, agreeably to the sales, and recorded.
Heyl and Parson's Addition.
In 1835 Judge Heyl and Dr. Parsons had a small addition of lots laid out in the southwest corner of the town, called Heyl and Parson's addition. In the same year, 1835, Matthew J. Gilbert's addition was laid out.
Kelley and Northrup's Addition.
In 1838 Alfred Kelley, Moylen Northrup and John Kerr's heirs, laid out into lots what they called on their recorded plat, "The allotment of the central reservation;" but which was more commonly called Kelley and Northrup's addition. Since which there have been so many small additions and sub-divisions of out-lots