Page:History of Richland County, Ohio.djvu/118

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��HISTORY OF OHIO.

��height. In the lower room of this wing, Col. Thomas Gibson, Auditor of the Territory, kept his office, and in the upper room a small family lived. In the upper room of the main building a billiard table was kept. It was also made a re- sort of gamblers and disreputable characters. The lower room was used by the Legislature, and as a court room, a church or a school. In the war of 1812, the building was a rendezvous and barracks for soldiers, and, in 1840, was pulled down.

The old State House was commenced in 1800, and finished the next year for the accommodation of the Legislature and the courts. It is said to be the first public stone edifice erected in the Ter- ritory. Maj. William Rutledge, a Revolutionary soldier, did the mason work, and William Guthrie, the carpenter. In 1801, the Territorial Legislature held their first session in it. In it was also held the Constitutional Convention of Ohio, which be- gan its sessions the first jMonday in November, 1802. In April, 1803, the first State Legislature met in the house, and continued their sessions here until 1810. The sessions of 1810-11, and 1811- 12, were held in Zanesville, and from there re- moved back to Chillicothe and held in the old State House till 1816, when Columbus became the permanent capital of the State.

Making Chillicothe the State capital did much to enhance its growth. It was incorporated in 1802, and a town council elected. In 1807, the town had fourteen stores, six hotels, two newspa- pers, two churches — both brick buildings — and over two hundred dwellings. The removal of the capital to Columbus checked its growth a little, still, being in an excellent country, rapidly filling with settlers, the town has always remained a prominent trading center.

During the war of 1812, Chillicothe was made a rendezvous for LTnited States soldiers, and a prison established, in which many British prison- ers were confined. At one time, a conspiracy for escape was discovered just in time to prevent it. The plan was for the prisoners to disarm the guard, proceed to jail, release the officers, burn the town, and escape to Canada. The plot was fortu- nately disclosed by two senior British officers, upon which, as a measure of security, the officers and chief conspirators were sent to the penitentiary at Frankfort, Kentucky.

Two or three miles northwest of Chillicothe, on a beautiful elevation, commanding an extensive view of the valley of the Scioto, Thomas Worth-

��ington,* one of the most prominent and influential men of his day, afterward Governor of the State, in 1806, erected a large stone mansion, the wonder of the valley in its time. It was the most elegant mansion in the West, crowds coming to see it when it was completed. Gov. Worthington named the place Adena, " Paradise " — a name not then considered hyperbolical. The large panes of glass, and the novelty of papered walls especially attracted attention. Its architect was the elder Latrobe, of Washington City, from which place most of the workmen came. The glass was made in Pitts- burgh, and the fireplace fronts in Philadelphia, the latter costing seven dollars per hundred pounds for transportation. The mansion, built as it was, cost nearly double the expense of such structures now. Adena was the home of the Governor till his death, in 1827.

Near Adena, in a beautiful situation, is Fruit Hill, the seat of Gen. Duncan McArthur,"}" and later of ex-Gov. William Allen. Like Adena, Fruit Hill is one of the noted places in the Scioto Val- ley. Many of Ohio's best men dwelt in the valley ; men who have been an honor and ornament to the State and nation.

Another settlement, begun soon after the treaty of peace in 1795, was that made on the Licking River, about four miles below the present city of Newark, in Licking County. In the fall of 1796, John RatclifF and Elias Hughes, while prospecting on this stream, found some old Indian cornfields, and determined to locate. They were from West- ern Virginia, and were true pioneers, living mainly by hunting, leaving the cultivation of their small cornfields to their wives, much after the style of

��* Gov. Worthington was born in Jefferson County, Va., about the year 1769. He setlled in Ohio in 1798. He was a firm Ijeliever in liberty and came to tlie Territory after liberating liis slaves. He was one of the most efficient men of his day ; was a member of the Constitutional Convention, and was sent on an important mission to Congress relative to the admission of Ohio to the Union. He was afterward a Senator to Congress, and then Governor. On the expiration of his gubernatorial term, he was appointed a mem- ber of the Board of Public Works, in which capacity he did much to advance the canals and railroads, and other public improve- meulB. He remained in thiB office till his death.

t Gen. McArlhur was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., in 1772. When eight years of age, his father removed to Western Pennsyl- vania. When eighteen years of age, he served in Harmar's campaign. In 1792, he was a very efficient soldier among the front- iersmen, and gained their approbation by his bravery. In 1793, he was connected with Gen. Massie, and afterward was engaged in land speculations and became very wealthy. He was made a mem- ber of the Legislature, in 1806; in 7806, a Colonel', and in 1808, a Major General of the militia. In this capacity he was in Hull's surrender at Detroit. On his return he was elected to (-'ongress, and in 1813 commissioned Brigadier General. He was one of the most efficient officers in the war of 1812, and held many important posts. After the war, he was again sent to the Legislature ; in 1822 to Congress, and in 1830 elected Governor of the S'ate. By an un- fortunate accident in 1830, he was maimed for life, and gradually declined till death came a few years after.

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