USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Cincinnati in 1826 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8
Gc 977.102 C49dr 1417480
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02481 0738
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/cincinnatiin182600drak
CINCINNATI
IN
1826.
BY B. DRAKE, AND E. D. MANSFIELD.
CINCINNATI :
TRINTED BY MORGAN, LODGE, AND FISHER.
FEBRUARY, 1827.
DISTRICT OF OHIO, TO WIT:
Be it remembered, that on the tenth day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty-seven, and in the fifty-first year of the American Independence, B. Drake, of said dis- trict, deposited in said office, the title of a book, the right whereof he claims as author and proprietor, in the words and figures following. tó wit :
'. Cincinnati in 1826, By B. DRAKE & E. D. MANSFIED."
In conformity to the Act of Congress of the United States, entitled " An Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned :" and also, of the Act, entitled " An Act supplementary to an Act, entitled an Act for the encouragement of learning, by securing the copies of maps, charts, and books to the authors and proprietors of such copies, during the times therein mentioned, and extending the benefits thereof to the arts of designing, engraving, and etching historical and other prints."
WM. KEY BOND,
Clerk of the District of Ohio.
t
PREFACE. 1417480
The almost unexampled rapidity, with which the late humble village of Cincinnati has ad- vanced to the rank and opulence of a city, has excited a wide spread and increasing interest throughout the country, in relation both to its actual condition, and its future prospects. The Authors of the following pamphlet, have re- cently undertaken the task of gratifying this general curiosity, (in which they could not fail to participate ; ) -- and, accordingly, their friends, and the public, are here presented with the result of a series of diligent inquiries and researches during the last twomonths, into the History and Statistics of Cincinnati.
Deriving their knowledge from personal, and for the most part, laborious investigation, they have some reason to feel confidence in the gen- eral accuracy of their statements ;- although, from the great haste with which the materials have been collected and arranged, and from the occasional interference of professional busi-
A 2
IV.
PREFACE.
ness, they are not without apprehensions that a few errors and omissions may be discovered, for which they must throw themselves upon the indulgence of their readers. For the introduc- tory pages, devoted to the more interesting sta- tistics of the State at large, they feel confident that no apology will be necessary : and they have, therefore, in conclusion, only to express their thanks to those gentlemen who have so promptly rendered them assistance, in collec- ting the numerous and important facts which are here so imperfectly embodied.
Cincinnati, February 20, 1827.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
State of Ohio :- Statistics, -
- 9
CHAPTER II.
Ohio River :- Hamilton county,
- 23
CHAPTER III.
Cincinnati :- Description, -
-
-
25
CHAPTER IV.
Religious Societies and Public Charities, - 33
CHAPTER V.
40 Literary and Scientific Institutions,
CHAPTER VI.
Municipal Government :- Courts of Judicature, - 48
CHAPTER VII.
Population, - -
- 57
CHAPTER VIII.
Manufactures, - -
59-
CHAPTER IX.
Capacity of Cincinnati for Manufactures,
67
CHAPTER X.
Commerce,
71
vi.
CONTENTS. CHAPTER XI.
Public Offices, 79
CHAPTER XII.
Value of Real Estate and Money,
82
CHAPTER XIII.
Roads, - -
83
CHAPTER XIV.
Summer's Residence in Cincinnati,
86
CHAPTER XV.
Fine Arts, - 88 -
CHAPTER XVI.
State of Society,
88
CHAPTER XVII.
Miscellany,
-
-
-
91
£
INDEX.
-
A
37 Aldermen, 51
47 Auctions, 81
47 Academy, C. F. 4º
B
28 Bank, Branch 80
28 Bridge over the Ohio, 95
C
37 City Prison,
53
41 Commerce,
71
41 Court House, 28
43 County, Hamilton
24
46 Church, Lutheran and Re-
50 formed 35
51 Courts, 48
52 Cincinnati, Aspect, &c. 25
E
34 Edifice, Medical College 30
76 66
Cincinnati College 30
F
88 Finances, 54
34 Future Importance of Cincin-
32 nati, 99
G
48
H
36 Hospital, 29
52
I
28 Journals, 47
36 Institutions, Literary and Sci-
76 entific 40
K
38
L
80 Louisville and Portland Canal, 97 97
8
Colonization Society, College, Cincinnati, Medical, Cincinnati Female School,
Cincinnati Library,
City Government, 66 Officers, Cleanliness,
Episcopal Society, Exports,
Fine Arts, Friends' Society, Fuel,
Government, Municipal
Humane Society, Health, Public
Jail, Jews, Imports,
Kidd Fund,
Land Office, Licking Canal,
African Church, Apprentices' Library, Academy Fine Arts,
Buildings, Public,
8
3
6
9
2
vill
Markets,
Mayor, Manufactures, Money, Masonic Hall, Materials for Building,
INDEX.
M
28 Masonic Institutions,
51 Museum, Letton's
4€ 46
59 Museum, Western
82 Manufactures, capacity of
91 Cincinnati for
67
27 Military Academy,
96
N
Newspapers,
0
Ohio, State of
9 10
66 Civil Divisions, 20
River,
10
66 Religion,
20
66
Climate,
10 11
66 Government,
20
Minerals,
11
Judiciary,
20
Canals,
13 14
Revenue andValuation, 21
Canal,
14
Manufactures and Com-
66 Miami Canal,
16
merce, 21
21
66 Roads,
12
66 Progressive and Future Developements,
22
66 Militia,
19
66
River,
23
66
Capital,
19
Office, Insurance 8C
81
P
Proprietors,
26 Post-Office,
79
Plan,
29 Public Square,
93
Preservation from Fire,
57
Population,
R
82 Reading Room, 44
E
S
72 Society, Presbyterian, First 66
Second 34
Society, State of
88
Humane
36
Episcopal
34
M. Bible
36
Methodist
34
66
F. Auxiliary Bible
36
Baptist, Enon
34
African
37
New Jerusalem,
31
W. N. B. and Tract
37
66
Wesleyan Methodist Friends'
34
Societies, Religious and Public Charities, 33
School, Woodward Free 39
6: Boarding Female 43
rian
36
T
Theatre, Cincinnati,
30
U
66
U. Sunday School
37
66
Baptist, First
35
Roman Catholic
35
66
Historical Sketch,
Education,
13
Population,
19
66 Principal Towns,
20
Intelligence
32 Population, Comparative 57
Real Estate,
Steam-Boats,
33
Summer's Residence,
86
34
Reformed Presbyte-
United States Banking House, 29 Universalisis, 36
37
47
CINCINNATI IN 1836.
CHAPTER I.
STATE OF OHIO.
STATISTICS.
SITUATION, ASPECT, AND PRODUCTIONS,
THE state of Ohio, situated between 38º, 30/, and 420 north latitude, and between 3º, 30', and 7º, 50' west longi- tude from Washington, is bounded on the east by Pennsylva- nia and Virginia; south by Virginia and Kentucky; west by Indiana; north by Lake Erie and the Michigan territory. From east to west, its greatest extent may be estimated at 220 miles; from north to south 200. Its area is about 40,000 square miles, which will give in round numbers 25,000,000 of acres. There is but a small portion of this immense tract of land that is not susceptible of cultivation, although one fifth of it may be characterized as abounding in hills and marshes, the latter of which are not alluvial valleys, but wet table lands, which may be rendered dry by clearing and cultivation. There are many large tracts of level and exceedingly fertile land; and upon the head waters of the Muskingum, Scioto, and the two Miamies, there are extensive, rich, and beautiful prairies. Among the forest trees, may be enumerated the black walnut, white flowering locust, white, black, lowland, chesnut, and bur oaks, wild cherry, yellow poplar, blue, and white ash, mulberry, honey locust, shell bark hickory, coffee nut, beech, sweet buckeye, sassafras, sugar tree, red maple, linden, and box elder. The timber of Ohio is supposed to be less durable
B
31
33 34 36 36 36 37 37 37 33 39 13
56
37 16 46 37 96
20 20 20 20
21 21 22 23
93 57
10
STATISTICS OF OHIO.
than that of the Eastern states, which, if true, may be refera- ble to its more rapid growth in a fertile soil. Wheat, maize, barley, beans, rye, oats, hemp, flax, and tobacco,* grow luxuriantly, and constitute the principal agricultural pro- ducts of the state. All the fruits, culinary vegetables, grasses, and flowers of the middle states, are produced in abundance. It has been proved, that the soil and climate are well adapted to the vine, and that a pleasant wine may be made from its fruit. The mulberry tree grows luxuri- antly, and there can be no doubt that the silk worm will be introduced at no distant day.
RIVERS.
The principal rivers which empty into the Ohio, are Big Beaver, Muskingum, Hockhocking, Scioto, and the Little and Great Miamies. Those that are tributary to Lake Erie, are Ashtabula, Cuyahoga, Black, Huron, Sandusky, Portage, and Maumee. The navigable water communication of the state, on the completion of the canals now in progress, will exceed 1,700 miles; upon which her products may be em- barked at certain periods of the year in boats for foreign markets. Of this extent of navigable water, the Ohio river affords 420 miles; Lake Erie, 200; Big and Little Miam- ies, 95; Scioto, 100; Hockhocking, 50; Muskingum, and its tributaries, Whitewoman, Killbuck, Mohican, and Wills' creeks, 265; Sandusky bay and river, 36; Maumee, and its tributaries, 260; Ohio and Miami canals, 385. The principal harbours on the southern shore of Lake Erie, with- in the limits of Ohio, are at Maumee bay, Sandusky city Grand river, Cleaveland, and Ashtabula creek. And af the mouth of Grand river, and at the entrance of Sandusky bay, there are light houses.
CLIMATE.
The climate is closely assimilated to that of Pennsylva. nia, perhaps rather warmer and more on extremes. The prevailing winds are from the south-west. The north-west is short lived,-the forerunner of storms in summer, and
* The peculiar adaptation of the soil of Ohio to the growth of tobac. co, its superior quality, its ready sale at high prices, together with the present and prospective facilities for transporting it to market afford the strongest evidences that its culture will hereafter greatly increase the wealth and resources of the state.
p ar 50 OV
3 1833 02481 0738
L
S
a
b
11
STATISTICS OF OHIO.
the cause of cold in winter. The east and north-east winds have less moisture and more elasticity than similar winds to the east of the mountains.
MINERALS.
SALT. Salt springs are found in many parts of the state. The water is strongly raturated, and the salt produced is of a good quality. The salt works in Muskingum county, yield annually about 300,000 bushels; in Morgan, 75,000; in Jackson, 10,000; in Gallia, 10,000; on Yellow creek, 50,000. The entire annual product of this indispensible article, within the state, may be estimated at 500,000 bush- els, being about one fifth of the quantity annually produced and consumed in the valley of the Mississippi.
IRON. The principal known localities of iron ore in Ohio, are in the counties of Adams, Muskingum, Licking, Geauga, and Columbiana, where there appear to be inexhaustible quantities. In Muskingum county alone, there are annually produced about 1,300 tons of metal, and 200 tons of bar iron. The ore is rich and of a good quality. All the iron of the state is obtained from argillaceous or bog ores.
COAL. Bituminous coal of a good quality, and in large quantities, abounds in those parts of the state, watered by the Hockhocking, Muskingum, and Beaver rivers, and their branches; and upon the Ohio river, above the mouth of the Scioto. The nearest localities to Cincinnati, of this impor- tant mineral, are where the western line of the great eastern coal region crosses the Ohio, above the mouth of the Scioto, and where it also cuts the Sandy and Licking rivers in Kentucky .*
GYPSUM. This valuable mineral abounds on Sandusky bay, and is supposed to extend quite across the peninsula formed by the lake and the bay. It is of a superior quality, and may be easily obtained.
* The bituminous coal of the United States, appears to lie in two immense beds, divided by a slip of country, about one hundred and sixty miles wide. This slip commences in Michigan, includes the section of the country watered by the Scioto and Miamies, the fertile parts of Kentucky and West Tennessee. The great eastern field of coal extends south to Alabama, and as far east as the Susquehanna and Potomac. It is about 800 miles long by 400 wide. The western stretches to the sand plains of Missouri and Arkansas, and is 800 by 500 miles in extent. The coal lies in horizontal strata, generally over limestone, or between it and sandstone : sometimes it attenuates with the limestone.
t
e
I
De
g le e, , le
te y
a. e,
12
STATISTICS OF OHIO.
DECOMPOSABLE PYRITES. The greatest western locality of this mineral is near Steubenville, in Jefferson county, where there is a hill composed of it, from which large quan- tities of excellent copperas are annually made: but other deposites are found near Paint creek, a western branch of the Scioto.
STRONTIAN. Fine chrystals of this mineral have been found on Sandusky bay.
LIMESTONE. This is the prevailing rock of the northern and western parts of the state. It is in horizontal strata, more or less buried up with clay and other alluvial matters. It is either blue or gray, of various shades. Being all sec- ondary, it abounds in petrifactions. The blue limestone is excellent for building. The gray is more disposed to crum- ble when exposed to the air, but makes the whitest lime. It affords some beds, which receive a fine polish, and constitute a good secondary marble. Some of the sub-varieties yield lime, which hardens under water, and is therefore adapted to the construction of canals.
SANDSTONE. Sand or freestone of various shades of gray, constitutes the prevailing rock of the south-eastern part of the state. It abounds in salt, iron, coal, and pyrites, which compensate, in some degree, for the comparative sterility of the soil which it supports. The stone itself is readily cut into blocks of various sizes and shapes, and is sent to different parts of the state thus prepared.
ROADS.
Three per centum of the proceeds of the sale of public lands within the limits of Ohio, are paid by the general gov- ernment into the treasury of the state, for the improvement of the roads. This sum, however, being distributed through- out the state,-each county being entitled to its proportion,- has been heretofore productive of but little permanent ad- vantage. Several turnpike companies have been incorpora- ted, but only one turnpike road has been completed. This extends from the mouth of Ashtabula creek, on Lake Erie, to Warren, in Trumbull county. Another is constructing between Cleaveland and Wooster, running through Medina; and another from Cleaveland, through Ravenna and New Lisbon, to the Ohio river. The great national road, which is intended to pass through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, to Missouri, has been surveyed as far westward as Indianopolis
13
STATISTICS OF OHIO.
Thirty miles of the distance, beginning at Wheeling, are already completed, and twenty-eight more under contract. During summer and autumn, the roads are good: in winter, tolerable: in early spring, from the flat and argillaceous character of the surface of the state, nearly impassable.
EDUCATION.
One thirty-sixth part of the lands owned, or which might be thereafter purchased from the Indians, by the general government, within the limits of Ohio, were granted by Congress, in the year 1803, for the use of common schools, besides three townships, (equal to 69,000 acres) for the use of the Miami* and Ohio Universities,-the former at Oxford, the latter at Athens. In addition to these two Universities, there are four Colleges: the Western Reserve College, at Hudson; Kenyon College and Theological Seminary, near Mount Vernon; the Cincinnati College, and the Medical College of Ohio, of which a part only are in operation. There are about twelve incorporated Academies. By a recent law of the state, establishing a general system of common schools, one twentieth of one per cent., or helf a mill on each dollar of the grand levy of taxable property through- out the state, is to be annually assessed and collected for their support.
CANALS.
It is several years since a canal communication between the waters of Lake Erie and those of the Ohio, was first projected.t What was then, however, considered merely
* This Institution, possessing a productive endowment, and being under the care of an intelligent board of trustees, seems now to be firmly established, and promises to become an ornameut to the state. The President is the Rev. R. A. BISHOP. During 1826, the institution contained in all the different classes one hundred and twelve stu- dents. The Commencement for conferring Degrees, is held in Septem- ber of each year. The village of Oxford is healthy, and the expenses of boarding and tuition, as low as at any college in the United States.
+In the Picture of Cincinnati, published in 1815 by Professor Drake, the several routes afterwards surveyed by authority of the legislature, and the particular course of the Miami Canal between this place and Hamilton, are marked out with prophetic accuracy and singular intelligence. The late Mr. William Steele, in the years 1819 and '20, with his characteristic enterprize, laboured to call public atten- tion to this subject. He caused some surveys to be made at his own expense, visited the New York Canals, and upon his return published a pamphlet upon the subject of Canals in Ohio.
B 2
14
STATISTICS OF OHIO.
- speculative, is now auspiciously commenced, and in rapid progress towards accomplishment.
This subject was first officially noticed by Gov. Brown, who recommended it to legislative attention in the year 1819. This recommendation he continued, with zealous perseverance, during the successive years of his continuance in office. It was first acted upon by the legislature in Jan- uary, 1822. At that time, Mr. M. T. Williams, from the " committee to whom was referred so much of the Govern- or's message as relates to canals," made an able and inter- esting Report, representing their great utility to the state, and its capacity to make them. Immediately after, a bill was passed, appropriating six thousand dollars to meet the expenses of surveys, and a Board of Commissioners was ap- pointed to examine into the practicability of the project, es- timate the cost, and suggest the means of accomplishing it. This Board employed Engineers to survey routes, connecting the Lake by the vallies of the Maumee, Sandusky, Black, Cuyahoga, and Grand rivers, with the Ohro by those of the Miami, Scioto, Muskingum, and Mahoning. In the course of the years 1822, 1823, and 1824, these surveys and estimates were made, under the direction of the Commissioners, and their respective results communicated to the Legislature in several interesting and detailed Reports. In February, 1825, the Legislature, with a full knowledge of the expendi- tures required, and the benefits anticipated, adopted what is now denominated the Canal Policy. 'They, at that time, authorized the construction of two distinct works, the Ohio and Miami Canals.
OHIO CANAL.
This was located on the Scioto and Muskingum route; its northern termination was subsequently fixed by the Com- missioners to be at the mouth of the Cuyahoga. The work was commenced in July, 1825, and is now in successful pro- gress. Its dimensions are the same with those of the Erie Canal of New-York, excepting the bottom, which is 26 feet broad. Its length, including feeders, is about 320 miles. In this distance, there are 1185 feet of Lockage,* a large res- ervoir, several aqueducts, and numerous smaller works es-
*The Lockage on the Ohio Canal is nearly double what it is on the Grand Canal of New-York.
15
STATISTICS OF OHIO.
sential to the convenience and utility of so extended a chain of artificial navigation. In its course from the Lake to the river, it traverses the central, and in many respects, the most productive parts of the state. Commencing at the beautiful village of Cleaveland, it keeps the valley of the Cuyahoga to Portage, which gives its name to the Summit Level between the Cuyahoga and the Tuscarawas; here it passes over to the latter stream, and descends with it by the villages of Kendall, Dover, and Coshocton, to the mouth of Wakatomaka Creek, where it leaves Zanesville a few miles to the south, and passing the high lands into Licking river, ascends that stream to the summit level; from this point it enters the Scioto valley by Walnut Creek, and passing Cir- cleville, Chillicothe and Piketon, joins the Ohio at er near
Portsmouth. A navigable feeder of 10 miles in length connects Columbus with the main Canal. In addition to this, a company has been incorporated and the stock taken, to connect Lancaster with it by a Lateral Cut. Improvements of the same nature will, doubtless, be made in relation to many other places, when a littte more experience has placed the utility of these works beyond the cavils of scepticism. It will be seen from the locality of this work, that besides the flourishing districts bordering on the Cuyahoga and Tus- carawas, the whole of the immense and fertile country water- ed by the Scioto and its tributaries, is, in a measure, de- pendent on this canal for its connection with the markets of the North and the South. It is from the products of this rich valley, that most deductions have been drawn with re- gard to the usefulness of the work. It abounds in all those staple commodities, from which a large portion of the west- ern country derives the means of easy subsistence, and sub- stantial wealth.
The actual progress of the Ohio Canal may be seen from the following statement:
Contracts have been made,
From Portage to Lake Erie-37 miles-to be finished in June, 1827. 66 66 south to Massillon, 26} ' 66 1st July, 1827. 66 1st June, 1827. On Licking Summit, 10₺
Feeder from S.Fork of Licking 6₺ " 66 15th Dec. 1826. Massillon to Goshen, 35 66 66 1st July, 1828.
LickingSummit to the Narrows 12} "
66 . Deep Cut, 34
1st Oct. 1828.
The entire distance is 131₺ miles.
1
·
-
·
1
16
STATISTICS OF OHIO.
Of this, 80 miles are to be finished on the 1st of July next. Sixty-four miles of continuous navigation from Cleaveland to Massillon, will then be open to public use. In addition to the regular line of canal and its feeders, a large Reservoir has been constructed on Licking Summit, to supply in the driest seasons the deficiency of water. This is a very inter- esting portion of the work; a natural marsh, flooded during freshets by the neighboring streams, is, by embanking a part of one side, converted into a large lake for the uses of artifi- cial navigation. Its length is between six and seven miles, and its breadth about half a mile. This Reservoir is now completed, and also the Feeder from the South Fork of Licking, and nine-tenths of the labor on the line from Port- age to the Lake, and that on the Licking Summit. This work has, so far, advanced with greater rapidity, and been less expensive, than was originally anticipated .*
On the part of the northern division put under contract, there will be, after deducting a sum deemed sufficient for superintendence and contingencies, a saving of $100,000 from the estimates.
On the contracts made on the Middle Division, there will be a similar saving of about $60,000.
MIAMI CANAL.
This work connects Cincinnati with the heart of the pop- ulous and exuberant region bordering on the two Miamies. It commences at Dayton, near the mouth of Mad-river, and descending the valley of the Miami, passes by the villages of Miamisburgh, Franklin, Middletown, and Hamilton; at the latter place it leaves the Miami, and follows the course of Mill-creek to the upper level of Cincinnati. It is intended to connect this level with the river Ohio, by a series of de- scending locks, and such additional works as may best serve the purposes of commerce and manufactures.
The length of this canal, as now located, is about 67 miles. and its dimensions the same with those of the Ohio Canal The work was commenced in July, 1825, and has since ad. vanced with uncommon rapidity. That part of the line now under contract, extends from Enoch's mill-dam, above Mid. dletown, to Main street, Cincinnati, and will be ready for
* A beautiful and accurate Topographical Map of Ohio, compiled by A. Kelley, esq. is now in publication by H. Howard, of Delaware. It will exhibit particularly the course, profile, and lockage of the canals
17
STATISTICS OF OHIO.
navigation in July next. The entire distance is near 44 miles, and includes a dam over the Miami, a drain from the pond at the head of Mill-creek, 5 aqueducts, 12 locks, 20 stone culverts, and some heavy embankments. Of this distance, 31 miles, together with most of the masonry, are completed, and the remainder in a state of rapid progres- sion. The rest of the line, between Middletown and Day- ton, will be put under contract next spring, and completed in the year 1828. Amount of lockage, 300 feet.
The estimated cost of the whole line is $616,837. The country bordering on the Miami Canal is eminently distin- guished for the abundance of its natural productions, and the rapid advances of its population. It includes the counties of Hamilton, Warren, Butler, Preble, Montgomery, Green, Clark, Champaign, Dark and Miami. It is in these counties that the immense quantities of flour, pork, whiskey, &c. an- nually exported from Cincinnati, are produced. Their con- tiguity to the canal is such, that most of their products must, of necessity, be conveyed upon it. They are now transport- ed in wagons-a mode of conveyance ever attended with comparative loss and difficulty, in a country where the soil, so abundant and various in its natural gifts, is, however, less favorable to the construction of good roads, than to that of canals.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.