The early industries of London were o tnumerous or important. Daniel Thompson is authority for the statement that the first stock of goods brought to the town was in March, 1813, by the Gwynne brothers. There were six of the Gwynne brothers, who settled in what is now Madison County prior to the county's formation, namely, Thomas, John E., William, Eli W., David and Horatio. These brothers on coming to the county settled in Deer Creek Township. The records show that Thomas Gwynne, in 1810, was licensed to keep a tavern at his residence in Deer Creek Township, and also that in March, 1811, he was granted license to vend merchandise at the same place. They also show that at the February term of the court in 1815, William and Eli Gwyrine were granted license to vend merchandise in London. In 1815, their goods were sold from the Joseph Russell tavern. In 1819, license was granted to Thomas and E. W. Gwynne, under the firm name of Thomas Gwynne & Co. The business was still carried on in the Russell tavern. Soon after this they engaged in business in Urbana, where Thomas died a wealthy man. Eli died at Columbus December 7, 1866. The Madison County press, at his death, said "that he was born near Cumberland, Md., December 18, 1794, * * *; he, in connection with his older brothers, opened the first dry goods store in London * * * *; after retiring from merchantile pursuits, he gave his attention to grazing and shipping and driving cattle to the New York market, * * * *; at the time of his death, he was probably worth over $1,000,000; his income, in 1865, was $57,000. He never held any office within the gift of the people, for the reason that he always refused them. He was quiet and reserved, but courteous and agreeable to all who had intercourse with him."
In October 1813, the court granted license to William Wilson and Joseph McKelfish to vend merchandise in London. Mr. Wilson was a silent partner, and is believed not to have lived in London. The store was a general one, and was opened in a large two-story house erected by Col. Elias Langham, and stood immediately below the present residence of Stephen Watson. Mr. McKelfish was from near Cumberland, Md. He removed from London to Iowa, and there died.
In 1816, Thomas Needham and Robert Hume were granted license, to vend merchandise, under the firm name of Needham & Hume. The business was carried on in the Hume tavern building, under the name of the above firm, by James Erwin. The firm being then in business together in Chillicothe, and subsequently at Augusta, Ky., where they dissolved, Mr. Hume returning to London, and Mr. Needham going to Evansville, Ind., where he died.
William Nelson is said to have opened a store in the town as early as 1814. He was from Maryland, and returned to that State a year or two later.
In 1816, John Broadrick & Co. were granted license to engage in the mercantile business in the town, and in the following year license was granted to John Moore and Elias De Lashmutt for the same purpose. The latter firm carried on a store, in a frame house built by Mr. De Lashmutt, on the present site of James Phifer's residence. In several years the firm was dissolved, Mr. Moore remaining in business, and Mr. De Lashmutt moving away from London.
Among the early merchants were Robert Russell, about 1822; Isaac N. Chrisman and Reese Darlington, about 1824, the latter being succeeded by Joseph Chrisman about 1826. After a number of years, Isaac died and another brother, Jacob, succeeded him. The Chrismans were prominent business men of London.
In July, 1812, Joseph Russell and Philip Lewis were granted licenses to keep taverns for one year. In March, 1813, Robert Hume was granted license for the same purpose, and in June of the same year, John Gwynne was granted a similar license. William McCormack was granted a license to keep a tavern in London June 20, 1815. Most of these licenses were renewed year after year. Mr. McCormack was a native of Pennsylvania, and settled in the vicinity of London before the formation of the county.
William Jones and wife, with one son, Job K., came to the village from Tennessee, in 1814, and became the first blacksmith of London; this pursuit he followed a number of years, after which he was variously employed and became quite wealthy, but lost heavily by the crash of 1837.
William Pinkhard carried on a tannery near the present site of the Methodist Episcopal Church, prior to 1820. Another of the early tanners was Ephraim Dawson, who operated on the site of the Placier Mill. Next in order came William Bowers, and after him David Groves.
The old pottery referred to by Mr. Thompson, which stood on the site of the Presbyterian Church, was built by his father, John Thompson, and was carried on in the Thompson name a number of years. Another pottery was built about 1830, in the rear of the residence of Judge Clark on South Main street, by Amos G. Thompson.
A man by the name of Leonard early carried on a brick-yard on the corner of High and Oak streets. His cabin was on the corner of High and Water streets.
Thomas Rea and Henry Athey were early chair manufacturers. Among the early carpenters, other than those given, were the Bond brothers—Thomas, Nathan and Benjamin—natives of Fairfield County, this State. They located in London about the year 1816, and were employed in the building of the court house the same year. Subsequently, Thomas engaged in farming in this county, but the other brothers remained residents of London until their death. William Warner, Henry Warner and Robert McLaughlin were also early carpenters. Joseph Warner and Richard Bryan were early shoe-makers. About the year 1816, John Householder and James Cessna, saddlers by trade, located in London, coming from Chillicothe, and here carried on that business for a few years. One of the early tailors of London was Alva Winchester, a native of New York State, who settled in the village about 1820. He later began the retailing of clothing, and about the year 1853 associated with him a son, J. M. Winchester, who is yet in the business.