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tion. The State established its title, and laying out the ground into lots, eventually sold them. When the public buildings were completed, commissioners were mutually appointed, in April, 1817, to fix their value. Their valuation was fixed at eighty-three thousand dollars, and the proprietors received from the State in settlement thirty-three thousand dollars. The public squares, when donated, were covered with a growth of forest trees. These were removed as necessity required during the erection of the public buildings. The State house square was enclosed by a rough brush and rail fence, erected under direction of Jarvis Pike, who partially cleared it and, during three or four years, raised very good crops of corn thereon. Afterwards it became a common, and was a favorite resort for town boys, who here enjoyed many a game of "tom cat," "round base," and similar games of ball. In 1834 the square was enclosed by a neat picket fence, under direction of Alfred Kelley, agent for the State. He improved the square to some extent, replacing some of the inferior forest trees with others more shady and ornamental. In 1839 this fence was taken down, and a tight, rough board fence, about twelve feet high, built around it, to screen the convicts at work on the foundations of the new State house. After the erection of the State house, and by persistent efforts on the part of citizens of Columbus, the legislature, from time to time, caused the square to be improved, and finally enclosed it with the present iron fence. The centre of the square was filled several feet, and made gradually declining in all directions. It is now tastefully laid out and presents a neat and somewhat attractive appearance.

The coming of the legislature and the State and court officers aided much to liven the society of the capital. The United States court was established in 1820, and a court house built for its use. It stood north of the offices, about where the western gate of the capital square is now placed, and is well shown in the illustrations in this article. In 1824 Columbus was made the county seat, and the county offices removed from Franklinton. Better houses, stores and shops, and larger and more commodious taverns were built to accommodate the growth of the rising town. But it was still a town in the woods, whose chief commercial outlet was the river bounding its western limits. A road from Franklinton passed through the cornfield and meadow on the plains below the town, crossed the river at a ford and ferry south of the penitentiary, and went on south to Lancaster. Up this route came the mail, and from Columbus or Franklinton went on to Worthington. Another road from Franklinton crossed the

river about the terminus of Gay or Spring street, and went on east through the settlements on Big Darby and Gahanna, and on to Granville and Newark, diverging to Mt. Vernon and other northern points. A road to Worthington passed up the river bank, and from thence went on to Delaware. In 1813 Mr. Sullivant built a wooden bridge across the Scioto, obtaining a charter enabling him to exact toll. It crossed the river from the foot of Broad street. It stood about ten years, when, being unsafe, it was rebuilt. In 1832 the toll bridge and franchise, the property of Joseph Sullivant, were purchased by citizens of Franklinton and Columbus for ten thousand dollars, and the bridge became part of the great national free turnpike. Soon after Columbus was founded, roads were made to Zanesville and other eastern points. The roads were through the forest, and were, at times, well nigh impassable The rich soil froze in winter to a considerable depth, thawed in the spring, and filled with water from the summer rains. Bridges were almost unknown. Fords and ferries were the usual methods of crossing all streams. Heavy wagons, drawn by four and six horse teams, cut deep into the soil as they slowly wended their way westward with emigrants or merchandise. The road followed no certain track. It went from "side to side" as the circumstances of the soil demanded, finding new routes through the woods bordering the way. Entering the capital these thoroughfares diverged in different ways, not always following the streets. In truth, it would have been difficult at times to do so. In the efforts of settlers to establish their homes, but little attention was paid at first to streets and alleys. Pedestrians went "cross lots" any way they choose, as fences, as a rule, were used chiefly in keeping stock at night. The stumps of the fallen trees filled the streets, compelling wagons to adopt a serpentine course as they passed to and from town. Sidewalks, save as they covered pools and rills of water or mud holes, were not as a rule in use. No attempts were made to grade the streets, and, as a consequence, they were anything but pleasure drives. About the State house and public offices a brick pavement was made, and in front of a few stores and taverns board or brick walks were laid, but pedestrians generally went about over the town regardless of street boundaries. In dry weather they fared very well; in wet weather they did as their children sometimes do now when traversing High street immediately after a shower-"rain maledictions loud and deep" on the head of the town council, who then, as now, soon learned to placidly receive the abuse of

the constituents who first elevated them to office and then denounced them and their acts.

The stumpy streets, especially High street, received a cleaning in 1816, when, by a united effort, the citizens raised two hundred dollars for that purpose. This street was also somewhat improved, and began to appear something like a business thoroughfare. Front street was also not neglected. People could travel about the town moonlight nights in tolerable comfort, and with some degree of safety. When moonlight failed, a primitive lantern kept their feet from stumbling over stumps, logs or brush. The dim candle light was thought a great improvement over the tallow dip, as it shed its flickering light to guide them on their way.

By the time the "beginning" of the Buckeye Capital was over, and its growth had begun, it was a bustling town of about one thousand inhabitants, had half a dozen stores, as many taverns, perhaps twice as many shops of various kinds, one or two mills, two churches, and two or three good schools, supported by contributions, whose teachers sometimes. “boarded 'round" and sometimes "boarded out." A tri-weekly mail soon came and went, affording the people often an opportunity to pay twenty-five cents or more on letters sent to them, which they received and sent without the use of envelopes.

The citizens were beginning to enjoy life in 1816; the day of the capital's infancy was over. Its life and its vigorous growth had begun, and, save an occasional check in its steady progress, it has not since known a sluggard's pace nor an idler's ease. The men of 1812 laid a good foundation for the Buckeye Capital. Those who followed builded well, and where three score and three years ago was an Ohio forest is now a busy city, whose ceaseless pulsations are an endearing monument to the energy and activity of the early pioneers of Ohio.

A. A. GRAHAM.

REV. JOSEPH BADGER.

There have been but few men in the clerical profession, or out of it, who have made a worthier or more exemplary life record for themselves than Rev. Joseph Badger. He fought for liberty in the Revolution, and for Christianity in the wilds of the Western Reserve. In the one case he fought with the musket, in the other with the sword of the spirit. Whether serving as a soldier or as a missionary, he proved himself steadfast and sincere in his devotion to duty.

Rev. Joseph Badger was born at Wilbraham, Mass., February 28, 1757. He was a lineal descendant of Giles Badger, who emigrated from England and settled at Newburyport, not far from Boston, about the year 1635. The father of Joseph was Henry Badger, who married Mary Landon. They were both devoutly pious, and equally poor in this world's goods. They instructed their son, Joseph, at an early age, in the catechism of the Puritan faith, and gave him such further elementary education as they were able at the domestic fireside. He grew strong in the faith as he grew to manhood, when he began to realize that, in sharing life with his parents, good and kind as they were, he shared their poverty. In consulting his mirror he was often painfully reminded of the fact that his garments, patched as they were, displayed about as many colors as the coat of his ancient namesake. Inspired with the patriotic sentiment of the times, and desiring not only to provide for himself but to obtain sufficient money to give himself a liberal education, he enlisted in 1775, when but eighteen years of age, in the Revolutionary army, as a common soldier, and was assigned to the regiment commanded by Colonel Patterson. The regiment was stationed at Fort No. 3, near Litchmore's Point, in the vicinity of Boston. At the time of the battle on Breed's hill this regiment was posted on Cobble hill, in a line with the front of the American battery, and about a half mile distant, where every man of the regi ment could see the fire from the whole line, and enjoy the fun of seeing

the British break their ranks, run down the hill, and then reluctantly return to the charge. On their third return, as luck would have it, they carried the works at the point of the bayonet. This was the first time after his enlistment that young Joseph had an opportunity to smell the smoke of British gunpowder. It was some time in September of the same year he enlisted, that the British landed three or four hundred men on Litchmore's Point to take off a herd of fat cattle. Colonel Patterson ordered his regiment to attack the marauders and prevent them from capturing the cattle. A sharp conflict ensued, in which Joseph tested the virtues of his musket and poured into the enemy nine or ten shots in rapid succession and with apparent effect. Several were killed and others wounded on both sides. Joseph escaped unharmed. But soon after this skirmish he took a violent cold, attended with a severe cough. His cap

tain advised him to return home until he could recover. This he did, and within twenty days came back and rejoined his regiment quite restored to health.

The British evacuated Boston on the seventeenth of March, 1776. On the next day Colonel Patterson's regiment, with several other regiments, was ordered to New York, where they remained for three weeks, and were then ordered to Canada. They were transported up the Hudson to Albany, and thence by way of lakes George and Champlain and St. Johns to La Prairie, on the banks of the St. Lawrence and in sight of Montreal. On the way the troops suffered severely from exposure to rain storms and snow storms, and from want of provisions. They arrived at La Prairie late in the day, and in a state bordering on starvation, and there they encamped supperless. The next day each soldier received a ration of a few ounces of mouldy bread for breakfast, and a thin slice of stale meat. for supper. Joseph accepted his share of the dainty feast without a murmur, but doubtless thought the wayfaring soldier had a pretty "hard road to travel." A part of Colonel Patterson's regiment was then ordered up the river to a small fort at Cedar Rapids, which was besieged by a British captain with one company of regulars and about five hundred Indians, led by Brant, the famous Indian chief. The Indians were thirsting for blood. A fierce conflict ensued, which lasted for an hour or more, when the enemy was compelled to retreat towards the fort. At this juncture a parley was called, and the firing ceased. A number were killed and more wounded. It so happened that the fifth company, to which Joseph belonged, did not arrive in time to participate in the fight, though they had

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