Madison County History and Genealogy

History and Genealogy



History of Madison County


Sedalia


From History of Madison County, Ohio, Chester E. Bryan, Supervising Editor, B.F. Bowen & Co., Indianapolis (1915)

As Range township became thickly settled and the people advanced in the various improvements, from which spring, as an outgrowth, all towns and villages, so there have sprung into existence three villages. Sedalia is the largest of these villages, with Range, or Danville, and Chenoweth following in order.

"Midway," long since known as Sedalia, was the first to come into existence as a town. At quite an early date a road was opened through from east to west, passing through Range township and subsequently becoming a general thoroughfare, over which droves of cattle passed from the west to the eastern markets. Travel and traffic kept increasing, and hotels and stores for their accommodation were soon in demand to meet these increasing wants. On this great thoroughfare from east to west, in Range township, was a central point, which was half way between Chicago and Philadelphia. It is also a middle point between several of the towns of closer proximity. Hence, from these circumstances of its position, geographically considered, it was given the name of "Midway."

The land upon which the town is located was owned by William Morris, Frank Thompson and Lockhart Biggs. The exact date of the laying off of the first lots can not be definitely stated, but the records at London reveal that it was surveyed and laid off in lots, and that the town was platted and laid off by Holt, Morris and Blue, under record of June 13, 1833. Also, January 18, 1838, was recorded Ward's addition; again, on October 30, 1868, an addition by J. Q. Minshall; on January 6, 1869, an addition by Cyrus Timmons; on May 8, 1876, an extension by the council, and on February 15, 1879, an addition by Levi Counts. It appears that there were two small cabins built there before the town was laid out—one on the corner where later the hotel stood, built by William Oliver. After the laying out of the town, the first house was built by Isaac Newman, and was occupied by John Blue as a hotel. He was succeeded by Joseph Wilmuth, and he by W. T. Garrard. This house then ceased to be used longer for hotel purposes, but two others were erected, probably at nearly the same date, one by Richard Smith, who was succeeded by James Williamson, and he by Mr. Jackson; then Thomas Green, Elihu Watkins, and last by David Small, after which the property went into ownership as a private residence. The other hotel was erected by L. D. Rowe, and was kept by John McElhaney, who was succeeded by the following persons, in the order, respectively, as their names appear: Mrs. Elizabeth Watkins, James Blizzard, A. J. Thacker, Isaac Byers, A. Miller, Caroline Morris, Charles Bailey, A. Miller, Carty Ellers, W. C. Wheaton, John Timmons, Benson Hedley, E. C. Duff and Isaac N. Fisher. Thus this enterprise has been carried on by different parties, and in an early day, when this great thoroughfare was doing its greatest business with stock dealers, and its varied travel and traffic, the hotel trade was a very profitable business. There was the meeting place of the Eastern stock buyers and the Western stock sellers, and there they left hundreds of dollars with the landlords of the hotels for their accommodations. But when the railroads passed through the county, and stock ceased to be driven in the old slow and tedious way, and was transported by steam from the West to the East, then this road, with its numerous hotels, lost its prestige and the attention of the people was turned to other channels of business.

SPLENDID NATURAL ADVANTAGES

The first postmaster in Midway was James Williamson. The first store was opened by William Holt, who kept a general stock of merchandise, tinware, etc. The first blacksmith was a Mr. Boss. Doctor Clark was the first practicing physician of the town, and he was followed by Doctors Lemon, Garrard, Darling, Atkinson, Fields, Seaton and others. When the Dayton, Toledo & Ironton railroad was built the town took on a new life and has since continued to hold its place among the towns of Madison county. The name of the town was later changed to Sedalia and it has since continued to be known by that name. It is located in a splendid farming community and has many advantages. It has a large grain elevator and warehouse, owned by Vent & Riddle. Sedalia is well supplied with good schools and churches, has a high school, a group of the Madison county Young Men's Christian Association and a good, live class of merchants and business men.

The department store owned by C. C. Hewitt carries pretty much everything that is needed in that community. The Sedalia Auto Company handles automobiles and accessories, and does painting and general blacksmithing. M. C. Price & Son, dealers in groceries, also carry a full line of candles and cigars. The Farmers Bank of Sedalia has a good surplus and is a solid institution. George Dorn is the cashier. J. R. Jones is proprietor of a cement-block factory located in the old Dick Williams shop. Alfred Moore conducts an ice-cream parlor and confectionery store. H. L. Steele is proprietor of a general store and operates a barber shop. The Sedalia House is conducted by Sherman West, who also has a livery and feed barn in connection. Sedalia has a population of three hundred and fifty people, and the present (1915) mayor is J. N. Ford.

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