Franklinton, Ohio-- Part 2: Role in the War of 1812

After the flooding, the town was located less than a mile away, but off the banks of the Scioto River.  It became the county seat of Franklin County in 1803 and the town and population grew during the War of 1812  as it served as the staging point of General Benjamin Harrison's Army of the Northwest.

In 1846, traveler Henry Howe wrote:  "During the late war, it was a place of general rendezvous for the northwestern army, and sometimes from one to three thousand troops were stationed there.

After the war, it continued to grow, as did Columbus, across the river as it became the new state capital.

So, Franklinton is now a neighborhood of the city of Columbus which is the capital of Ohio.

However, Columbus was not the first capital of Ohio.  It wasn't even the second one.  The first capital was Chillicothe and the second one was Zanesville.

--Brock-Perry

Franklinton, Ohio (In Case You're Wondering)-- Part 1: Named for Benjamin Franklin

From Wikipedia.

In the last post I mentioned the Harrison House in this place getting a plaque.  I'd never heard of Franklinton, Ohio.

Franklinton is a neighborhood in Columbus, Ohio, and was the first settlement in Franklin County, Ohio. As the City of Columbus grew, it annexed and incorporated the settlement and today is a Columbus neighborhood located directly to the west of the downtown.

The neighborhood gets its nickname "The Bottoms" from the fact that it is prone tp flooding from the Scioto and Olentangy rivers.

In 1795, Lucas Sullivant was sent from Virginia to survey the Central Ohio District of the Virginia Military District.  As payment for this work, he received 6,000 acres  in the Refugee Tract reserved for those who fought in the American Revolution.

In 1797, he laid out 220 lots in Franklin County which he named Franklinton in honor of Benjamin Franklin, who had recently died.  The original settlement was abandoned because of flooding the next year.

--Brock-Perry

Franklinton (Ohio) Set to Celebrate Historic Harrison House

From the October 17, 2019, Columbus (Ohio) Dispatch by Rita Price.

This Saturday, Oct. 19, the historic Harrison House, built in 1807, will be getting a historic marker along with historic exhibits, food and children's activities.  The marker will be dedicated at 2 p.m..  It is hosted by the Frankinton Historical Society, Franklinton Board of Trade and Ohio History Connection.

Also the 1822 Sullivant Land Office, the only remaining structure built by Franklin and Columbus founder Louis Sullivant, will also be open.

During the War of 1812, future U.S. president Benjamin Harrison had his headquarters of his U.S. Northwest Army located at the Harrison House.

--Brock-Perry