The Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1863-1886, 1869-03-04
From the Ohio State Journal.
"NOW AND THEN"

Fifty.years ago this month, the
writer of this article removed from
WorthiDgton to this place, and in
conjunction with my pal tners, Joel
Buttles and Ezra Griswold, jr, is.
sued the first paper printed in this
town, under the name ofthe "West.
tern Intelligencer and Columbus
Gazette" now the Ono STATE
JOURNAL, Tho Office was located
in part.of what was long known
as the City House, on the corner
of High and Town streets; the
same lot on which now stands
The Deshler building. We had no
post Office then, and. had to resort
to that in Franklinton for our.
mail matter. Matthew Matthews
had been appointed postmaster,
but never opened an Office. He
resigned, and Joel Battles was ap.
pointed in his place, who held the
ofhreuntll General Jackson became
President, when Bella Latham re.
ceiced the appointment. The mail
between Friinklinton and Chilli.
Gothic was carried on horseback
ence u week. except whea the
streams were too high 10 ford, aud
,bnn on,,at, D,au xua yuaca stw,
weeks withouta u mail. The route
was on the west side Of tho Scioto
Our printing paper was brought
on horseback from the Hooking
Paper MllI, below Lancaster.
Heavy articles, such as nails, glass,
otc, were brought il keel boats up
the Scloto. there being no dams
to. impede their progress. Salt
was frequently transported from
the Muskingum Valley on pack
horses
Tho beautiful grounds around
our Capitol were ut one lime occu
pied by jarvis Pike as u wheat
tield by leave Of Governor Worth
ington The fence around the
same was made OF rough logs and
rails. Fuel for Our office, for one
or two years was taken from trees
standing on High street There
was not u road leuding,to or out OF
the lown They all conferred at
the county scat Franklnlon, The
first Hotel OF any note WAS built
By John Collet, OF the the lot now
occupied by the johnson Block,
The first church was rude one.
built OF logs in the north part of
town, In which the Ruv. DR.. Hoge
preached occasionally. OF thosc
persons residing here in 1914, /
know of but two VINO are still
among us-Judgc Heyl and Peter
Putnam.
Our usual route TO Franklinton,
then tho county seat, was TO cross
the river just below Comstock's
slaughter house, generally in a !
Terry boat kept by jacob Armi.
tage, the Scioto those times being
much higher than at present,
During the year 1914, think it
was that stream was not fordable |
but for u few days the entire year,
u circumstance that has not occur
red since. Before Mr. Sullivan.
built his diking to prevent the
overflow Of he Scioto during tho
spring treshets, 1T was not unfre-
Quent for Franklihton TO DO sur.
rounded by water; and could only |
be approached by some kind Of
water craft. In fact, the country |
to the west oil us looked like q lake
and Franklinton like small is
land. | have passed in q skiff
from this place to that ancient
town and tied up to a sign post.
1t is now high and dry, and quite
a village has grown up between
tho two places, which is now a
part of our city. %
Moro than half a century has
elapsed since tho late DR.. Goodalo,
with John Greed and two othor
young men. each with a bundle on
bis arm, left Belpre, on foot, to
seek their fortunes. Creed settled
in Lancaster, where be spent the