Page:Women of Ohio; a record of their achievements in the history of the state (Vol. I).djvu/53



Nobody would undertake to tell the early story of Columbus, Ohio, without paying due tribute to Lucas Sullivant, sent at the age of 30 from Virginia as deputy surveyor to trace and mark the Virginia Military Tract in the region that later became Ohio. He had acquired grants in the north- central part of the state and selected for settlement one beautiful and well wooded spot, on the west bank of the Scioto, at the bend of the river, which he named “Franklinton” in honor of Benjamin Franklin. Franklinton is now part of Columbus, where has been preserved, in historical documents, paintings, buildings and old landmarks, the name of the enterprising and enthusiastic founder.

“The story of Lucas Sullivant and his experiences in founding Franklinton has been well told in many a volume,’ ’ says Ruth Young White in “We, Too, Built Columbus,” “but that of the young gentlewoman who took her place beside that of her famous husband has remained untold.”

The bride brought by Sullivant to the wilderness which the magic and good fortune of his touch was to make blossom like a rose, stemmed from a class and family far more favored financially, socially and culturally than that of the average pioneer.

She was a Starling. The Starlings had moved from their Virginia home to Harrodsburg, Ky., in 1794, taking their children, their blooded stock and their retinue of numerous slaves with them.

The Starlings were descended from Sir William Starling of Stopplesy Hall, Bedfordshire, England, who became Lord Mayor of London in 1670. It was a far cry for SARAH STARLING! SULLIVANT, the 20 year old bride of Lucas Sullivant, from the luxuries and gayeties of her spacious Kentucky home to the pioneer settlement where wolves, wild cats and Indians vied with famine and hardship as grim background of the new settlement.

Nor is credit due the brave young bride for her readiness to face what might befall lessened by the fact that she was spared much of the toil and terror undergone by other pioneers of her sex. Lucas Sullivant was not the man to deprive his wife of any of the comforts— or luxuries—to which she had been accustomed, as far as his power to provide them could possibly be extended.

Lucas, as a matter of fact, did very well indeed by Sarah. He built her the first brick house erected in Franklin County. It had 20 rooms and was made so strong and staunch that it stands to this day—as part of the Convent of the Good Shepherd, at Broad and Sandusky Sts., Columbus.