expansion, 1815-1860
African-Americans in Early Central Ohio and Ohio Black Laws
The first African Americans arrived in Franklinton accompanying white families from Kentucky and Virginia who settled in Franklinton. Although slavery was prohibited in Ohio, Lucas and Sarah Sullivant, Franklinton's founders, owned slaves on their Kentucky plantation. Arthur Boke, Jr., the son of a former slave woman of Sarah Sullivant, lived with the Sullivant family in Franklinton.
About 300 African Americans lived in Ohio when the General Assembly passed the first of the Black Laws in 1804. These laws were designed to discourage African-American migration to Ohio. To enter the state, African Americans had to provide a $500 bond signed by two white men within twenty days of arrival. African Americans could not give evidence in a court case in which a white man was a party, could not serve on juries, and were not counted when determining the number of seats in the Ohio General Assembly. By 1810, there were 1,890 African Americans in Ohio, with 43 living in Franklin County (about 1 percent of the county population).
About 300 African Americans lived in Ohio when the General Assembly passed the first of the Black Laws in 1804. These laws were designed to discourage African-American migration to Ohio. To enter the state, African Americans had to provide a $500 bond signed by two white men within twenty days of arrival. African Americans could not give evidence in a court case in which a white man was a party, could not serve on juries, and were not counted when determining the number of seats in the Ohio General Assembly. By 1810, there were 1,890 African Americans in Ohio, with 43 living in Franklin County (about 1 percent of the county population).
Anti-Slavery and the Underground Railroad
Under the Black Laws passed by the Ohio General Assembly, whites were prohibited from employing blacks who had no proof of freedom, and were mandated to turn in any runaway slaves. Nevertheless, the Underground Railroad was active in central Ohio, with over twenty documented Underground Railroad stations. James Poindexter, a barber and minister, led an active network of black conductors on the Underground Railroad.
From Columbus, those seeking freedom moved north to Clintonville and Worthington along High Street and to Westerville along Harbor Road (Cleveland Avenue) and Sunbury Road. Their ultimate goal was to reach Canada, where they would be outside the scope of the federal Fugitive Slave Law.
The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 stated that any black person suspected of being a runaway slave could be arrested without warrant and turned over to a claimant on nothing more than his sworn testimony of ownership. Any person aiding a runaway slave by providing shelter, food or any other form of assistance could be imprisoned for six months and fined $1,000. Bishop William Hanby, a founder of Otterbein University in Westerville, openly defied the Fugitive Slave Law, declaring that it was better to follow God's law than man's law.
From Columbus, those seeking freedom moved north to Clintonville and Worthington along High Street and to Westerville along Harbor Road (Cleveland Avenue) and Sunbury Road. Their ultimate goal was to reach Canada, where they would be outside the scope of the federal Fugitive Slave Law.
The Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 stated that any black person suspected of being a runaway slave could be arrested without warrant and turned over to a claimant on nothing more than his sworn testimony of ownership. Any person aiding a runaway slave by providing shelter, food or any other form of assistance could be imprisoned for six months and fined $1,000. Bishop William Hanby, a founder of Otterbein University in Westerville, openly defied the Fugitive Slave Law, declaring that it was better to follow God's law than man's law.
Transportation: The National Road
President Thomas Jefferson signed legislation in 1806 authorizing a national road to link Cumberland Maryland and St. Louis, Missouri. At this time, more than two-thirds of the nation's population lived within 50 miles of the Atlantic coast, and the center of population was just 18 miles from Baltimore.
In 1811, construction of the National Road began at Cumberland, Maryland. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), on the Ohio River in 1818. The National Road extended across Ohio from 1825-1838, providing a gateway to the West for thousands of settlers. To finance maintenance of the road, Ohio made the National Road a toll road throughout the state.
The National Road reached Columbus in 1833. Entering Columbus along East Main Street, the National Road turned right on High Street and left on West Broad Street. Present-day U.S. Route 40 follows the original route of the National Road.
In 1811, construction of the National Road began at Cumberland, Maryland. It crossed the Allegheny Mountains and southwestern Pennsylvania, reaching Wheeling, Virginia (now West Virginia), on the Ohio River in 1818. The National Road extended across Ohio from 1825-1838, providing a gateway to the West for thousands of settlers. To finance maintenance of the road, Ohio made the National Road a toll road throughout the state.
The National Road reached Columbus in 1833. Entering Columbus along East Main Street, the National Road turned right on High Street and left on West Broad Street. Present-day U.S. Route 40 follows the original route of the National Road.
Transportation: Canals
Recognizing the importance of internal improvements, the Ohio General Assembly created the Ohio Canal Commission in 1822. Construction of the Ohio and Erie Canal began in 1825 with groundbreaking at Licking Summit near Newark, Ohio. When the canal was complete in 1832, it stretched 308 miles from Portsmouth to Cleveland.
The canal passed through Central Ohio at Winchester and Lockbourne. Construction of the Columbus feeder began in 1827. The fourteen mile connection to Lockbourne was completed and the first boat arrived in Columbus in 1831, near the present-day site of Bicentennial Park on the Scioto River.
Alfred Kelley, Ohio Canal Commissioner from 1823-1829, was known as "the father of the Ohio canal system." Kelley, who served in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, personally supervised canal construction in Columbus. Kelley's Greek revival mansion at 282 E. Broad Street in Columbus was known as "The House That Saved Ohio," when Kelley pledged its worth as collateral for bonds floated on the New York market to complete the Ohio canal system. Kelley was also instrumental in bringing the first railroad to Columbus in 1850.
The canal passed through Central Ohio at Winchester and Lockbourne. Construction of the Columbus feeder began in 1827. The fourteen mile connection to Lockbourne was completed and the first boat arrived in Columbus in 1831, near the present-day site of Bicentennial Park on the Scioto River.
Alfred Kelley, Ohio Canal Commissioner from 1823-1829, was known as "the father of the Ohio canal system." Kelley, who served in both the Ohio House and Ohio Senate, personally supervised canal construction in Columbus. Kelley's Greek revival mansion at 282 E. Broad Street in Columbus was known as "The House That Saved Ohio," when Kelley pledged its worth as collateral for bonds floated on the New York market to complete the Ohio canal system. Kelley was also instrumental in bringing the first railroad to Columbus in 1850.
Immigration and Population Boom
The completion of the Ohio and Erie Canal and the National Road in the 1830s facilitated a population boom in Columbus. By 1834, the population of Columbus reached 4,000 people, officially elevating it to "city" status. John Brooks was elected as its first mayor.
German immigrants established a community by purchasing cheap land to the south of the city limits, creating "Die Alte Sud Ende" (the Old South End). The areas around City Park, Third Street, and Livingston Avenue were home to the earliest German immigrants. German immigrants were successful in the brewing industry. By 1865, one-third of Columbus’s population was German.
Irish immigration to Columbus increased as a result of the Great Potato famine in the 1840s. The Irish settled in the north side of the city where they could purchase inexpensive land and find work in the railroad shops. Naghten Street (present-day Nationwide Boulevard) became known as "Irish Broadway."
German immigrants established a community by purchasing cheap land to the south of the city limits, creating "Die Alte Sud Ende" (the Old South End). The areas around City Park, Third Street, and Livingston Avenue were home to the earliest German immigrants. German immigrants were successful in the brewing industry. By 1865, one-third of Columbus’s population was German.
Irish immigration to Columbus increased as a result of the Great Potato famine in the 1840s. The Irish settled in the north side of the city where they could purchase inexpensive land and find work in the railroad shops. Naghten Street (present-day Nationwide Boulevard) became known as "Irish Broadway."
Transportation: Railroads
Canals in Ohio declined in importance as railroads emerged as a faster and more flexible mode of transportation. Early trains could travel fifteen to twenty miles per hour, compared to four miles per hour for canal boats. By 1836, Ohio had a few miles of rail line connecting Toledo with Adrian, Michigan.
The Columbus and Xenia Railroad was chartered in 1844, with William Dennison, who later became Ohio Governor, as the company president. The first passenger train arrived in Columbus in 1850 over the Columbus and Xenia Railroad. In 1851, an eighteen acre site north of Naghten Street and east of High Street was purchased jointly from Orange Johnson by the Columbus and Xenia Railroad and the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad for the construction of the first Union Station.
The second Union Station was completed on February 14, 1875. The third Union Station opened in 1897 and included a road viaduct over the tracks to solve traffic congestion on High Street. This final Union Station was razed in 1976, with only a single arch remaining in nearby Arch Park today.
The Columbus and Xenia Railroad was chartered in 1844, with William Dennison, who later became Ohio Governor, as the company president. The first passenger train arrived in Columbus in 1850 over the Columbus and Xenia Railroad. In 1851, an eighteen acre site north of Naghten Street and east of High Street was purchased jointly from Orange Johnson by the Columbus and Xenia Railroad and the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad for the construction of the first Union Station.
The second Union Station was completed on February 14, 1875. The third Union Station opened in 1897 and included a road viaduct over the tracks to solve traffic congestion on High Street. This final Union Station was razed in 1976, with only a single arch remaining in nearby Arch Park today.
Expansion of Public Education
The creation of the public education system in the United States helped foster a common national identity based on democratic ideals. Nineteenth Century reformers called for increased educational opportunities. In 1825, the Ohio General Assembly passed legislation requiring property owners to pay taxes to support public schools.
By an act of the state legislature in 1845, the public schools of Columbus were placed under the control of a board of directors who constituted the "Board of Education for the town of Columbus." Dr. Asa Lord was selected as the first Superintendent. Central High School began in 1847 as the first high school in Columbus.
In 1848, a state law established separate black schools in communities with twenty or more African Americans of school age. Prior to this date, African-American children were not permitted to attend public schools. In 1871, the Starling Loving School was opened at Third and Long Streets in an abandoned white school and replaced the Alley School. The school served poor families and their children, both black and white, who lived in the so-called Badlands slum area stretching from Long Street to the military barracks (now Fort Hayes).
By an act of the state legislature in 1845, the public schools of Columbus were placed under the control of a board of directors who constituted the "Board of Education for the town of Columbus." Dr. Asa Lord was selected as the first Superintendent. Central High School began in 1847 as the first high school in Columbus.
In 1848, a state law established separate black schools in communities with twenty or more African Americans of school age. Prior to this date, African-American children were not permitted to attend public schools. In 1871, the Starling Loving School was opened at Third and Long Streets in an abandoned white school and replaced the Alley School. The school served poor families and their children, both black and white, who lived in the so-called Badlands slum area stretching from Long Street to the military barracks (now Fort Hayes).
Ohio Constitution of 1851
Ohio voters are asked every twenty years whether a new constitutional convention should be called. By 1850, many Ohioans believed the state constitution gave too much power to legislature, and was not able to address new issues that arisen in the first few first decades of statehood. Ohio held its second Constitutional Convention in 1850-1851 resulting in the adoption of the Ohio Constitution of 1851.
The convention was originally slated to meet in Columbus, but a cholera epidemic moved the meeting to Chillicothe. The state legislature remained the most powerful branch of Ohio government, but new limits were placed on the power of the General Assembly. The governor was still denied the power of veto. However, all judges were to be elected by popular vote, instead of being chosen by the legislature. An overwhelming majority of the delegates voted against extending suffrage to African-American men (by a 66 to 12 margin) and women of all races (by a 72-7 margin).
Although substantially amended since 1851, this constitution remains the fundamental law of Ohio today.
The convention was originally slated to meet in Columbus, but a cholera epidemic moved the meeting to Chillicothe. The state legislature remained the most powerful branch of Ohio government, but new limits were placed on the power of the General Assembly. The governor was still denied the power of veto. However, all judges were to be elected by popular vote, instead of being chosen by the legislature. An overwhelming majority of the delegates voted against extending suffrage to African-American men (by a 66 to 12 margin) and women of all races (by a 72-7 margin).
Although substantially amended since 1851, this constitution remains the fundamental law of Ohio today.
