West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 20 by Charlie Miller

WILD HOGS: Wild hogs were more dreaded perhaps than any other wild beasts. The genuine wild boar was the most terrible game in the forest and the hunt was exciting and dangerous. His attack was too sudden and headlong to be easily turned aside and the snap of his tusks, as he sharpened them in his furry, was not pleasant music to the timed hunter. His tusks are known to have measured over a foot in length, and many desperate fights and hair-breadth escapes are recounted. The wild hog was not valued for its flesh but was regarded simply as a dangerous pest. 

Also residing in the county were, the panther, lynx, native wild cat, and porcupine. Reptiles included racers, copper heads, and prairie rattlesnakes. The latter were very numerous as well as dangerous. The antidote for their bite, however, grew upon the prairie and was a kind of herb called by the Indians, “rattlesnake weed.” the person bitten, by immediately chewing a considerable quantity of the stalk, and binding the pulpy chewings upon the bitten part, prevented all ill effects that would otherwise result from the bite. 

One of the earliest incidents that have been recorded is a bear chase by Reason Francis which must have taken place as early as 1805. Reason Francis lived along Little Darby Creek on the east bank south of what is now Route 40. One day he was winding his way homeward on horseback through the dense forest when he discovered a large bear which he decided to give chase. The thought was executed by putting his horse under a good speed, but after a long and continuous chase, and his horse being almost exhausted, the bear struck on a trail led by the pursuer’s house on the east bank of the creek. Down the path the chase continued and, when passing by his house, he succeeded in getting his dog to pursue the animal which soon resulted in treeing the bruin near the creek. The dog was very vicious and, when the bear ascended the tree, he fastened his teeth so firmly in the bear’s ham that the bear carried him up the tree. Upon reaching the first limb, which chanced to be partly decayed, the bear hoped to rest and free himself from his enemy, but alas the limb broke, and down came a dog and bear, the latter seizing the dog in his paws and making him howl terrifically, when Francis, with his tomahawk, came up and buried it in the skull of his victim, releasing his faithful dog. The horse had been so completely exhausted that he soon afterward died from the effects.

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 21 by Charlie Miller

JAMES BURNHAM: James Burnham, son of James and Tamma (Holt) Burnham, was born in Windham, Conn. on December 21, 1791, and came to Ohio in 1817, located in the northwest part of Jefferson Township, where for years he kept a hotel on a stretch of the Columbus and Urbana Stage Route (Ohio Rt. 29). In 1832 he moved to a farm adjoining the land that was to be the future town of Jefferson. 

In those earliest days of settlement when the Indians still prowled around, military organizations were thought of as useful as well as ornamental, and a brigade of cavalry was organized from the counties of Madison, Union, and Champaign. Mr. Burnham was appointed General of this brigade. Also in the early days, Mr. Burnham was elected county Commissioner and was contentiously re-elected to this post for a period of 15 or 18 years. He was also elected Justice of the Peace and was re-elected to the office until his successive terms amounted to over 30 years, and until in 1854, he declined to run again. 

In 1823 he married Mary Ann Jones who was the sister of Rev. Isaac Jones who was the founder of Jefferson. Mr. Burnham died on January 6, 1857, leaving his widow, three sons, and a daughter. He is buried in the New Hampton Cemetery.

WEST JEFFERSON: On January 31, 1831, Samuel Jones and his wife, deeded to their son Isaac, for the sum of $50.00, 110 acres in Virginia Military Survey 2836, whose area now encompasses West Jefferson. He then decided to erect a town on a portion of this land. Three months before he bought it, he had a description and plat of a town recorded at the Recorder’s Office in London. As the National Road had been surveyed through here but not yet built, he made it the Main Street of the town, being 80 feet wide. This was notarized by Patrick McLene, the founder of London. He notarized this on September 13, 1830. There were originally 63 lots which were 50’ X 150’. Lots number 7 and 8 were for public use and are now occupied by the Village Hall and parking lot. The correct name of the village was Jefferson, On Octobe18, 1833 the West was added to designate the Post Office as there was another Jefferson in the State. (A later amendment to the Charter made the name West Jefferson legal.) 

The village was surveyed in the fall of 1831 by Col James Millikin and on April 24, 1834, the first town council met at the Post Office. This meeting lasted from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. At this meeting, the town was incorporated and the following offices were elected. President, John Simpkins; Recorder, Dr. David Wilson; the common council consisted of, David Mortimore, Ferrin H. Olmstead, James Roberts, Wilson Graham, and Abraham Hare. The Marshall was Joseph Powers. 

The first ordinance passed was: “Be it ordained by the President and Council of the town of Jefferson, that the following rules and regulations shall be strictly observed by the council when regularly assembled for discharging their duties in relation to the Corporation. 27 more ordinances followed.

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 22 by Charlie Miller

EARLY ACTIONS: After 28 ordinances were passed one of the first things that the Council did was to procure a common seal for the Town of Jefferson. The seal was to represent on its face, the end view of the Little Darby Bridge, to be enclosed by the words within a circle, “Corporation of Jefferson, Ohio”. This was to be used by the President and Recorder as they exercised their official duties. 

(The title of President was changed to Mayor several years later.) 

Of course one of the first things to do included taxation! An ordinance- To tax the performances of circuses, riding performances, wax figures, animal shows, or exhibitions, in the amount of $10.00, in addition to every 24 hours thereafter. Also, ordinances were passed to prevent gambling, disturbing the peace, intoxication, and loitering, and to license groceries at $35.00 per license for a period of one year. 

The first Street Supervisor was Ezekiel Arnett, and the first Treasurer was Daniel Ried. On May 13, 1834, it was ordained that the President be and hereby is authorized to contract with some suitable person to build and erect a small house for the use of the town of Jefferson in the manner and form that the council may agree upon for the purpose of confining disorderly persons and disturbances of the peace. (This was later repealed and included in another ordinance) 

Pay for the officers: President, $12.00, Recorder, $10.00; The Marshall, $5.00; and Treasurer, $5.00. The expense of running the town for its first year of existence was $32.00. The first building built for public use was the ‘market house’. (This building sat on the current site of Village Hall.) This building was to house the marketplace, the jail, and the townhouse. This was built in the summer of 1835. This structure lasted for 20 years before a new townhouse was built. We can see from the village records market days must have been a big event in the lives of the early pioneers, as this provided a method for selling goods that they had raised or made. An ordinance was passed appropriating $58.50 to erect a meeting house, calaboose, marketplace, and townhouse all under one roof. In September of 1835, they had to appropriate $85.00 for the completion of the Market House. (Cost overruns are nothing new!) 

Market House: Joseph Powers was appointed clerk of the Market and an ordinance was passed, establishing market days. Section-I, Be it ordained that a market shall be held in the town every Wednesday and Saturday from daylight until 9 o’clock in the fore noon. Butchers who rent stalls may display their meats for sale at an earlier hour. 

Section -II, It shall not be lawful for any person during market hours to sell or purchase any article of marketing at any other place than the marketplace or engage, buy, or sell any marketing of any kind, except buying or selling meat from a butcher, on any market day, before marketing hours. Any person convicted of a violation of this ordinance shall be fined not more than $50.00 or less than 50 c.

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 23 by Charlie Miller

EARLY LAWS: There were 17 sections alone pertaining to the Market. #17 read, The Clerk of the Market shall prevent the sale in the Market House of any butter offered and not weighed into 1lb. or ½ lb. packages. He shall also inspect or weigh any rolls or prints, and if in default in weight, he shall dispose of the same in a manner as directed in the fourth section of this ordinance. From some of the other laws, we can get some idea of the activity going on around town during these early years, of which very little was recorded. 

FREE HELP: July 15, 1836, Be it ordained by the President and council that all white males between the age of 21 and 50 years, who have resided 10 days within the said town, who are not a township charge, shall be liable yearly, and every year, to do and perform two days work on the public highways, streets, or alleys or anywhere within said town under the direction of the supervisors of said Corporation. 

On May 22, 1837, an ordinance was passed levying a tax of ¼% on the taxable property of the Village of Jefferson. A committee of two was appointed to finish or have finished the Town House. Ferrin Olmstead and J. W. Simpkins were appointed. 

Although the first Fire Co. was not formed until 1849, we find that 11 years earlier the town had purchased three ladders, 24 feet long and 3 feet wide, and two ladders 15 feet long and 8 fire hooks. These were all stored in the Market House. (The Jefferson Township Fire Dept. has one of the leather water buckets from that early time.) 

April 17, 1839- The Market House was painted. Center Street was graded by Henry Harnor in 1840 for the amount of $40.00 

It appears that they were still having trouble getting the Market House finished, on April 13, 1844, it was resolved “That it is expedient to finish the present Market House in a style suitable and make a Town House of it.” 

January 31, 1848- Council was called together by the President to devise some means of preventing the spread of smallpox in the village. Resolved: A committee of two will be appointed to visit smallpox houses in town to see about having all children vaccinated in town. Whereupon James Burrows and Henry Stickle were appointed.

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 24 by Charlie Miller

EARLY BUSINESSES: Mr. Dalby opened the first tavern in Jefferson. (This was located in the building on the northeast corner of Main and Chester Streets. For a long time this was called the Mantle House Hotel, it was a two-story building built in 1832 as the National Road was being surveyed. In later years it contained a barn with living quarters upstairs, Several years ago it caught fire and a resident who was living upstairs died. The second floor was removed and the downstairs still contains a bar.) 

Around 1832 John W. Simpkins bought Lot No. 23 in the wilds of nature and built a second tavern, this lot was on Main Street and is now a parking lot for the former Jefferson Savings. In 1834 Mr. Simpkins served as the President of the Village Council. On October 18, 1833, he was appointed Postmaster of the Post Office at West Jefferson, he served until 1842. Mr. John Gilmore had served as Postmaster of New Hampton from January 4, 1830, until the Post office was named West Jefferson. Mr. Simpkins was re-appointed on January 26, 1842, and served until 1845. John Simpkins served as Mayor off and on from 1834-1849. His grandson Wayne Simpkins was killed in the battle of Chickamauga on September 9, 1863, he was 16 years old and is buried at the Chattanooga National Cemetery. 

The first blacksmith in the new town was George Washington Lewis, he was also a farmer. Born in Ohio on February 11, 1807, and died on August 28, 1878. He also served as Mayor of West Jefferson at different times between 1854 and 1875. He was a former resident of New Hampton. 

George Lewis was the father of Wallace W. Lewis born on April 12, 1843. Wallace Lewis enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was wounded in the right lower leg causing it to be amputated by a Confederate surgeon. He then spent 11 months in the Andersonville Prison. Later he served as Mayor of West Jefferson in 1881. 

W.T. McCoy opened up a livery stable in the rear of the Mantle House, which is still standing and housed the former Williams Automotive Repair on Town Street. He also spent 9 months in Andersonville Prison. 

The first doctor was Dr. David Wilson. Dr. Wilson is buried in the New Hampton Cemetery. He was also a former resident of New Hampton. 

The new town grew rapidly due a lot to its location on the National Road. Many hotels flourished, plus a number of taverns and businesses. In 1846, Jacob McNeal Sr. started a carriage manufacturing business, which was located on the current site of the filling station on the southeast corner of Main and Twin Streets he also served as a Notary Public. He came to Ohio in May of 1837 with a family of 9 children. The great National Road was then completed to about the center of Madison County. They had traveled the road many miles and had not decided where to settle until they reached Jefferson. They knew that they were ending the end of the great road and felt that they could not leave such convenience and relocate here.

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 25 by Charlie Miller

WAR: Just a few years after the town had been incorporated we were at war again. We called it “The Mexican War,” and the Mexicans called it “The North American Invasion.” This was an outgrowth of the Texas fight for independence which started in 1835 when Americans had settled in territory claimed by Mexico. The Americans banned together and revolted. Mexican generals Santa Anna and Urrea moved quickly to crush it. The Americans captured San Antonio in 1835. Santa Anna recaptured it on March 6, 1836, and wiped out the whole garrison at the Alamo. On March 20th, Urrea captured Golidad and executed 300 captives. 

The Texans commanded by Sam Huston fell back to San Jacinto followed by Santa Anna. On April 21, 1836, Houston attacked and captured Santa Anna. Texas was soon cleared of Mexican troops and Texas won its independence as a republic. On March 1, 1845, Texas was invited to become a state of the Union. On May 1, 1846, the U.S. declared war on Mexico after an offer of $30,000,000 was turned down by the Mexican government. The war lasted 16 months. The men of Madison County, as part of the Ohio Volunteer Infantry (O.V.I.), fought from Veracruz to Mexico City. 

President Polk, suspecting the popular Gen. Zachary Taylor of political ambitions, put Winfield Scott in charge to take Mexico City. He sailed to Veracruz with 10,000 men and captured it. He then moved toward Mexico City. One of the heroes in this move was Capt. Robert E. Lee. Mexico City was captured on September 14, 1847, thus ending the war. Scott suffered 1,000 casualties.

The following man listed from West Jefferson who fought in the war was Lt. Edwin. R. Hill (he also served as a Sgt. in the Civil War) Others from Madison County were, Samuel Cramer Adam Bidwell, Wm. Frost, Mortimore Garrlick and Samuel Armstrong.

MORE BUSINESS: Things were starting to grow in the 1840s, and many businesses sprung up. Between 1844 and 1845 there were five hotels in town owned by R. S. Nichols, Nathan Patterson, Baltzer Mantle, James Hughs, and George Chapman., Two of the most well-known were the American House which stood on the lot first owned by J. W. Simpkins and the Mantle House. The American House burned to the ground in the Spring of 1882. It was not uncommon to see these five hotels thronged with travelers and the streets running stages at an early date, usually there ran to five coaches daily through West Jefferson. These coaches ceased running in 1853 due to the railroad. 

Abraham Hare was the local hatter using the skins from local animals, and Squire (J.W.) Simpkins kept the first Post Office. At one time this town was the leading business point in the County. In 1846 O. H. Bliss with his father, Dr. Ezra Bliss established a large wholesale and retail dry goods business, which was on the west side of N. Walnut St. opposite the current site of Fisher Cast Steel. There were also two tanneries owned by E. J. Hancock and Balzer Mantle.

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 26 by Charlie Miller

EARLY BUSINESS & FIRE DEPT.--- North of the Railroad (which was not elevated at that time) on a street running alongside it, (Pennsylvania Ave.) between Depot and Jackson Streets, was a Cooper Shop (a barrel maker) whose business was seasonal. In the winter he cut and stacked wood for stave stock. Different wood was used depending on what the barrels were holding. This shop was later turned into a broom corn drying factory by Lester Burnham, who was an extensive raiser of this product himself. It got its name from being used to make brooms. Medicine can also be made from the seeds. Broom corn was recorded as being used as far back as 8,000 B.C. 

In 1845, a school called the Academy was built on the present site of the Apostolic Church. It was built by Jeremiah Olney, It was conducted by a stock company, but soon failed to meet their expectations, and sank into oblivion as an enterprise as it was intended. The building was bought by the School District from Horace Putnam in 1856 who had previously bought it from Olney. The building served the School District until 1868 when a new brick building was erected which sat in the present site of Garrtte Park. Some of the first School Board members were - Dr. J. N. Beach, Dr. J. T. Colliver, Jacob McNeal, Eugene Babb, and J. J. Booth. 

Fire Company organized---January 11, 1849, a respectable number of citizens of Jefferson met at Jeanette Stutson’s store to take into consideration the purchasing of a fire engine and hose for the said town. The results were that the following contract was read, “A fire engine could be bought for $200.00 at delivery and $200.00 one year from delivery.” Dr. Jennett Stutson offered the following resolution, “That the town Council of the Town of Jefferson be, and hereby empowered by this meeting to buy the Niagara Fire Engine, with all her accessories and it is to be under the direct control of the Council of Jefferson forever, and under the direct control of a regularly sized fire company.” It was passed unanimously. The engine was bought from the City of Columbus, Ohio. 

January 25, 1847, a Resolution, “Resolved by the Town Council of the Village of Jefferson, that we receive the Niagara Fire Company as a regularly organized fire company, and as such we the council do agree to petition the legislation of the State of Ohio for the charter of said Niagara Fire Company.” After considerable debate by all of the Council, the Council adjourned until Saturday the 27th. 

January 27, 1849—The former motion was corrected by the insertion of this item, “To be forever the property of the Town of Jefferson and under the direct control of the President and Council, subject to the formation of a regular fire company to be acknowledged by the said Council.” Ed McCauly (Ed McCauly was a wagon maker and town Undertaker, he died in November of 1860 and his tombstone can still be seen in the New Hampton Cemetery.) moved “That the Niagara Fire Company is to be acknowledged as a regularly organized fire company,” this was agreed to. James Burrows offered the following amendment, “Provided the company is comprised of citizens living within the corporation of the Town of Jefferson. The company is not to exceed 50 men.” This was agreed to. The fire engine was kept at the Market House. On May 31, 1849, A two-mill levy was passed on all property in the village for the purpose of paying for the Niagara Fire engine and a house to keep it in.

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 27 by Charlie Miller

BOOZE & BUILDING: In 1855 Council passed the first ordinance against intoxication. 

SECTION 1- Be it ordained by the Council of the Village of Jefferson that if anyone should be found intoxicated, they shall upon conviction be fined $5.00 and cost. For the second conviction shall be fined $10.00 and five days in the county jail to be fed bread and water, and in all shall stand convicted until the fine and costs are paid. Provided that if the convicted person gives such information as to the person who furnished him the liquor, within the limits of the Village of Jefferson, the mayor shall remit the penalty or any part of it. 

In 1854 the village was ready for a new town hall to replace the old Market House which had been built in 1835. On March 6, 1854, the following agreement was made- “An agreement between the Mayor and Council and Thomas Timmons, Abraham Johnson and John Hunter, Trustees of Jefferson Township. In consideration of $300.00, the village is to lease a hall about to be built on the lot known as the Public Square of Jefferson. Said Hall to be used by the Village and Township. The building is to be 45 feet long and 20 feet wide and is to be of brick. The lower story is not less than 12 feet high and the second story is not less than 10 feet high. Said Hall to be completed by the first day of March A.D. 1855.” On May 20, 1854, four bids were received. On May 27th H. Putnam & Co. was awarded the contract. 

October 6, 1854, it was moved, “That the roof of the Town Hall be made of cement or gravel and that there be two columns in the upper story to be at least 6” square in diameter and that there be at least one bolt and washer in each column, and the joist that the bolt goes into is to be 3” thick.” The cost of the Town Hall was $450.00. The first meeting in the new Town Hall was held on April 13, 1855. 

On April 3, 1857, on motion of B. F. Fickey, Geo. W. Lewis be employed to haul 100 yards of dirt and gravel to be filled in around the Hall, for which we grant an order of $25.00 for which we will pay the same.” Motion carried. 

The upper floor of the Hall was rented to the Independent Order of Good Templars in 1858 for $36.00 a year. (The Templars was a fraternal organization founded in 1851 that encouraged people to refrain from the use of alcohol or other drugs. In 1979 there were 700,000 members internationally and only 2,000 in the U.S The headquarters are now in Sweden ) 

May 12, 1858, On motion the Village Recorder is hereby to give notice for a proposal for the erection of a fence around the Public Square comprised of boards similar to Mrs. Pennington’s. Mr. Ezekial Arnett and J. C. Olney received the job of building the fence.

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 28 by Charlie Miller

NEWSPAPER ARTICLES: The following articles appeared in the Madison Chronicle, London, Ohio. 1860- We are informed that the London & Jefferson Pike bridge over Deer Creek, fell while Esq. Simpson of Lafayette was crossing with a loaded team. (Ohio Rt. 142) 

April 1860- Since the death of the proprietor B. M. Mantle, of the Mantle House in West Jefferson, it has passed into the hands of E. R. Hill whom we are informed has refilled the premises and keeps an excellent house of entertainment. Persons having an occasion to stop in “Jeff” will find good accommodation at the Mantle House. (Mr. Mantle was quite prominent in West Jefferson, his son, Charles, built the house on the corner of Frey Ave and Lilly Chapel Rd. in 1855) 

November 1860- A colored man, name unknown, a fugitive from Kentucky, threw himself on the railroad tracks in front of a freight train on Tuesday last. The train passed completely severing his head from his body. Cause—disappointment in love. 

November 1860 - The First Universalist Church, 4 miles north of Jefferson, will be dedicated on Saturday next. Service by W. W. Norton at 10 a.m., November 29th. (This was Alder Chapel which was later torn down, by Mr. Domby who owned the land. It stood just beside the Alder Cemetery on the Plain City-Georgesville Rd.) 

We now come to the end of the era between the founding of West Jefferson and the beginning of the Civil War, in 1861. Only 30 years prior there had been nothing in this area except a few widely scattered settlers. The land was untamed, uncultivated, and unsettled. Forests abounded, and nothing could be seen for miles but the trees and the rolling hills. The animals were wild and at night nothing could be heard but the rustling of the leaves and the occasional noises made by the animals. There were no lights at night as we see now but just the moon and the stars overhead. Most of all there would have been the awareness of the loneliness in such a vast untouched land. 

In a few short years, this area saw the greatest change in its landscape and in its way of life that may ever come in such a short period of time. In 1822 the first town was formed, there had already been a road built through here a few years earlier but now people were clustered together in a small area. Civilization had come! In a short time, they had a church, a cemetery, and even a few stores. At night people could see the lanterns burning in their neighbor’s houses. By 1850 and with the coming of the railroad prosperity was well on its way. By the time that the Civil War came many farms had been cleared and cultivated. Many people had settled in and the town’s business had flourished. People could travel by railroad, could reach the groceries within walking distance, could have fresh meat, and flour from the mills, and could get weekly news from the newspapers in London and the latest news via telegraph. Things pertaining to everyday life have changed since 1821!

West Jefferson in Days Gone By - series 29 by Charlie Miller

THE CIVIL WAR: We could do a dozen pages on the Civil War, we’ll try to hit the highlights. On April 15, 1861, President Lincoln issued a call for 75,000 men to be enlisted in the Union Army following the attack on Ft. Sumter by Confederate forces. The main bulk of the enlistments were raised by the individual states and mustered into the Federal Army. Most regiments contained ten companies. The Company formed from Jefferson Township became Company A, 40th Ohio Volunteer Infantry or (Co. A, 40th O. V. I.). This Company was mustered in at Camp Chase, Ohio on September 19, 1861. 

Dr. John Noble Beach was commissioned Surgeon of the Regiment and Col. William Jones, son of Rev. Isaac Jones, later was the Commanding Officer of the Regiment from September 1, 1863, to November 1, 1862, when he resigned due to disability. Both men were from West Jefferson. 

On paper, a regiment was supposed to contain between 900 to 1040 men. A regiment that could muster 350 enlisted men for duty was considered pretty solid. The standard infantry weapon was the rifled Springfield, a muzzleloader firing a conical lead bullet usually a .54 caliber. Only a good man got off more than two shots per minute. The weapon had a range of nearly a mile and an effective range of about 250 yards. In December the 40th became part of the 18th Brigade, commanded by Gen. James A. Garfield. Their first battle was on January 10, 1862, near Prestonburg, Ky. Out of 900 men, 1 was killed and 7 wounded, and the Confederates suffered 125 killed. 

On March 16, 1862, they fought at Pound’s Gap, Ky., then returned to Pikeville, Ky. There was much sickness while encamped there and many men died. On September 13, 1862, they went to Louisa, Ky. And did picket duty. They did duty in several towns and ended up at Cattletsblurg, Ky. On November 12. They stayed there until February of 1863. 

On June 23, 1863, they moved to Shelbyville, Tenn, and made a feint against the point with Gen. Granger’s Reserve Corps and some Cavalry. The army started in pouring rain, and the roads were terrible. The next battle was at Shelbyville, Tenn driving Bragg’s Army of Tennessee back to Tullahoma, Tenn, forcing him all the way back to Chattanooga, Tenn. This fighting resulted in 560 men killed, wounded, and missing. One of these was Sgt. Wilson Burrows of West Jefferson. They remained at Shelbyville until July 3. The people of the town seemed much pleased with the arrival of the “Yankees” as when our Corps marched into town with banners flying, it was greeted with cheers and waving of Handkerchiefs. They were then ordered to Wartace, Tenn. Union General Rosecrans Commander of the Army of the Cumberland planned next to take Chattanooga. 

Next: the Battle of Chickamauga, Georgia: