Reynoldsburg in Franklin County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Reynoldsburg

The Historic National Road in Ohio

— The Birthplace of the Tomato —

Reynoldsburg Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, July 5, 2016

1. Reynoldsburg Marker

Inscription. The eastern portion of Franklin County began to be settled about 1812 when Ohio was still a vast forested wilderness. Transportation moved at a snail’s pace over old Indian trails and natural waterways. 1n 1818 the National Road reached the Ohio River at Wheeling, (West Virginia) Virginia. On July 4, 1825, ground was broken in St. Clairsville, Ohio, to extend the National Road through Ohio. By 1830 the National Road construction crews were moving west. James Reynolds established a store to supply the road workers. He boarded with the family of John D. French, who owned land in the path of the National Road, and persuaded French to lay out a village on his farmland in 1831. Reynolds was later elected Post Master, state Representative and Militia General. The village was named after him, and incorporated March 16, 1839. Building the National Road was the major event that resulted in the founding of Reynoldsburg. The National Road reached Reynoldsburg in 1831, Columbus in 1833, and the Ohio-Indiana border in 1840.

Reynoldsburg and the Underground Railroad
The fugitive slave law of 1793 required the return of escaped slaves.

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

A loose-knit, secret, “Underground Railroad” was created to help runaway slaves from slave-holding states escape into “free” states or Canada. These anti-slavery underground railroaders risked heavy fines, jail sentences, even death to help the slaves escape to freedom. “Stations” were clustered in a community, with several safe hiding places always ready. Fugitives were transported to the next station, usually a night’s journey away. The most active period of the Underground Railroad was the mid-1800’s. Alexander W. Livingston, (founder of the edible tomato) was the “mastermind” of the Underground Railroad in Reynoldsburg. Livingston owned the “Arc,” a long, covered wagon with seats along the sides in which Benjamin Patterson, who was an employee of Livingston’s, drove and transported fugitive slaves northward to underground stations from Granville to Mt. Vernon.

The Road That Helped Build the Nation An All American Road - National Scenic Byway

Erected 2013 by The National Road Association, Inc.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic

The Historic National Road in Ohio Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, July 5, 2016

2. The Historic National Road in Ohio Marker

marker, as seen from a distance

lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Horticulture & Forestry • Roads & Vehicles • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the The Historic National Road series list.

Location. 39° 57.31′ N, 82° 48.096′ W. Marker is in Reynoldsburg, Ohio, in Franklin County. It is at the intersection of East Main Street Old National Road (U.S. 40) and Lancaster Avenue (Ohio Route 256), on the right when traveling east on East Main Street Old National Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7357 U.S 40, Reynoldsburg OH 43068, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Scioto Valley

and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance

Paid Advertisement

of this marker: City of Reynoldsburg (a few steps from this marker); Mile Markers (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lewis W. Krumm (approx. ¼ mile away); Civil War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); a different marker also named Civil War Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9473 Veterans Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away); Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 9473 War Memorial (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Reynoldsburg.

Additional keywords. National oad

Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 30, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,280 times since then and 121 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 30, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.