USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 1
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1789.
HISTORY
OF
HAMILTON COUNTY
OHIO,
WITH
ILLUSTRATIONS AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
COMPILED BY
HENRY A. FORD, A. M., AND MRS. KATE B. FORD. 11
1
L. A. WILLIAMS & CO.,
PUBLISHERS,
UBRARY OF CONGRESS 1896 CITY OF WASHINGTON
1881.
-DOM PRINTING HOUSE OF W. W. WILLIAMS, CI.FURT
١
U
-
PREFATORY NOTE,
It should ever be borne in mind that the office of an historian is one of immense responsibility; that it always tells for good or evil; and that he will be held responsible for the consequences of a want of fidelity .- [Hon. Jacob.Burnet, Cincinnati.
An earnest and very laborious effort has been made to compose this history in the spirit of Judge Burnet's remark. No source of information available to the writers has been left unsearched, nor any effort or ex- pense spared to produce a work which should satisfy the reasonable expectations of a city and county which have waited nearly a century for the compilation and publica- tion of their annals. The list of works consulted is too large for convenient citation here. It includes those of all the earlier writers -- Burnet, Cist, the Drakes, Mans- field, and others-with a multitude of later volumes, and pamphlets, magazines, newspapers, and manuscripts in- numerable. It has not been practicable in so many cases to secure formal permission for the use of books con- sulted or quoted; but it is trusted that due respect has been paid to all copyrights, and that no author whose writings have contributed to this volume will object to such use as has been made of them. Acknowledgments are also due to many persons, in all parts of the county and at several points elsewhere in the State, for their kind and helpful aid in the preparation of this book. Particular mention should be made in this connection of
Miss E. H. Appleton, librarian of the Historical and Philosophical society; Mr. John M. Newton, of the Mercantile library; Chester W. Merrill, esq., of the Pub- lic library ; Colonel Sidney D. Maxwell, superintendent of the Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. H. A. Ratter- man, secretary of the German-American Insurance com- pany; all of Cincinnati-and to Louis W. Clason, mayor of Madisonville.
It may seem, in some cases, that public institutions or private interests of public importance have not received the notice that was due to them, or are, possibly, wholly unnoticed in these volumes. It may be concluded in such cases, with scarcely any exception, that the omission is the result of failure on the part of those possessing desired information to co-operate with the historian.
The compilers regret most sincerely that their inability to read some of the proofs has resulted in many errors of typography, and a few of statement. It is hoped, however, that all of any importance will be found cor- rected in the errata at the close of the respective vol- uines.
The special biographies and "notes of settlement" have been prepared, in nearly all cases in both volumes, by other hands than those of the compilers.
P
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NEWPORT
TOWNSHIP MAP
CITY OF
HAMILTON COUNTY
SHORT LINE
KENTUCKY
OHIO.
STATE OF
LICKING RIVER
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CONTENTS.
HISTORICAL,
CHAPTER
PAGE
XIX .- Courts and Court Houses .
230
-Description.
O
X.X .- Civil List of Hamilton County .
237
-Geology and Topography
12
TOWNSHIPS.
-The Aboriginal American
21
Anderson
242
-The Ohio Indians
Colerain
255
2-Titles to Ohio-The Miami Purchase
34
Columbia
263
VI/ -The Miami Immigration
45
Crosby
282
VII.
The Miamese
50
VIII
The Miamese and the Indians
56
Green
IX Civil Jurisdiction- Erection of Hamilton County .
65
Harrison
312
. X
Progress of Hamilton county .
70
Miami
319
XI .- , Military History of Hamilton County
76
Mill Creek
333
XII .- The Morgan Raid through Ohio
193
Spencer
346
XIII .- The County Institutions
200
361
XIV .- The County Associations
201
Sycamore
388
XV .- Railroads 208
Symmes
396
XVI. - (. allals
217
Whitewater
401
XVII .- Roads .
22I
Supplementary Matter .
414
XVIII .- Early Legislation and Legislators
225
Appendix 75
430
BIOGRAPHICAL.
PAGE
PAGE
Armstrong Family
following 25+
Hughes, Ezekiel.
412
Cloud, Jared ,
. following 262
Isgrig, Daninl
3II
Cilley, Bradbury
262
Langdon Family
359
Cary, Freeman Grant
346
McGill, William R.
. following 254
Cochran, Hon. John M.
383
Riddle, John L.
385
Edwards, William, sr.
following 254
Sater Family
292
Ebersole, Abram
following 254
Sater, Joseph
292
Frondorf, Frank
3II
Turpin Family
254
Friend, George H.
386
Wills, Thomas
310
Hill, Colonel W. H.
394
Walker, George W.
384
ILLUSTRATIONS,
PAGE
PAGE
Portrait of E. J. Turpin
following 254
Portrait of Daniel Isgrig
between 308 and 309
.. William Edwards
following 254
Portrait, with biography, of Thomas Wills
facing 310
William R. McGill
following 254
Portrait, with biography, of F. Frondorf
facing 3IL
· Abram Ebersole
following 254
Portraits of Richard Calvin and wife, with biog- raphy
between 312 and 313
Portraits, with biography, of Stephen Burk and wife
between 314 and 315
Residence of M. S. Bonnell
between 316 and 317
Portrait of Joseph H. Hayes facing 318
Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. M. S. Bonnell
between 318 and 319
= Mr. and Mrs. James Campbell between 318 and 319
Portrait, with biography, of Charles Flinchpaugh facing 320
Portrait of Charles Simonson
between 224 and 225
Residence of Charles Simonson
between 224 and 225
Portrait of Henry Attemeyer facing 337
Residence of F. G. Cary
between 344 and 345
Portrait of F. G. Cary
facing 346
Portrait, with biography, of S. M. Ferris
View of Mt. St. Vincent Academy
facing 300
Portrait, with biography, of Dr. E. D. Crookshank . facing 305
Portraits of S. S. Jackson and wife, with biography facing 306
Portrait, with biography, of G. W. H. Musekamp, between 308 an 309
Catharine Riddle Hon. John M. Cochran
between 36
between is wide at its mouth,
„itn several large branches navi- P, the principal of which intersects with hich runs into Lake Erie, to which there · · portage to Sandusky.
Portrait, with biography, of James P. Williams facing 297
facing evR far
Portrait of J. D. Langdon Portrait of John Riddle
Residence of Joseph Sater
between 288 and 289
Thomas E. Sater
between 288 and 289
Portraits, with biography, of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sater between 292 and 293
between 262 and 263 between 262 and 263
Portrait, with biography, of Jared Cloud
Portraits, with biography, of Thomas E. Sater and wife 282
Residence of George Wabnitz between 284 and 285 Portraits, with biography, of George Wabnitz and wife
facing 286
T. M. Armstrong .
following 254
Portraits, with biography, of Mr. and Mrs. Bradbury Cilley,
CHAPTER
PAGE
GENERAL HISTORY.
29
Delhi
29-
Springfield
VD Portraits of Cary Johnson and wife Residence of C. B. Johnson
between 372 and 373 between 372 and 373
facing 377
Portrait of Captain George W. Walker
Portraits of Benjamin Urmston and wife
between 378 and 379
Portraits, with biography, of Reeves McGilliard and wife .
between 380 and 381 Portraits, with biography, of John R. Field and
Portraits of Joseph and Mrs. Joseph Jackson
Residence and Portrait of John L. Riddle between 384 and 385 Portrait of G. H. Friend
facing 386 facing 394
Colonel W. H. Hill Portraits of Rev. W. B. Chidlaw and Mrs. W. B. Chidlaw · Portrait of Ezekiel Hughes .
between 408 and 409
facing 412
Jacob Clark facing 421
Portrait of Herman Knuwener
Portrait, with biography, of W. D. Mundell facing 417 wife · between 380 and 381 between 382 and 383
facing 425
K
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1
HISTORY
OF
HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO,
CHAPTER I. DESCRIPTION.
There is a land, of every land the pride, Beloved by Heaven o'er all the world beside, Where brighter suns dispense serener light, And milder moons imparadise the night; A land of beauty, virtne, valor, truth, Time-tutored age, and love-exalted youth : The wandering mariner, whose eye explores The wealthiest isles, the most enchanting shores, Views not a realm so bountiful and fair, Nor breathes the spirit of a purer air.
.
Man, through all ages of revolving time, Unchanging man, in every varying clime, Deems his own land of every land the pride, Beloved by Heaven o'er all the world beside ; His home the spot of earth supremely blest, A dearer, sweeter spot than all the rest.
JAMES MONTGOMERY, "My Country."
HAMILTON, the second county erected in the territory now covered by the State of Ohio, but, almost ever since, the first in the State in wealth, population, and general importance, is the southwesternmost subdivision of the Commonwealth. It is bounded on the south by the river Ohio, next beyond which are the counties of Camp- bell, Kenton, and Boone, in Kentucky; on the west by Dearborn county, Indiana, and at the southwestern corner by the Great Miami river; on the north by Butler and Warren counties, Ohio, formed from its own territory in 1808; on the east by Clermont county and the Little Miami river, beyond which, from the northeastern corner of the county, runs a narrow strip of Warren county. Upon no side of its territory is the boundary a direct line throughout. The tortuous windings of rivers supply great curves on the eastern and southern boundaries, and also break up the western line as it nears the southern ex- tremity; and the northern line is considerably zigzagged by the irregularity of the early surveys in the Symmes (or Miami) Purchase.
The area of Hamilton, once so great as to include about one-eighth of the present territory of Ohio, is now among the smaller county areas of the State. It includes but about three hundred and ninety square miles, or two hundred and forty-nine thousand acres. Its surface was probably part of a vast plain many thousands of years ago, but has become exceedingly diversified and broken by the long wash of streams and by the changes of the geologic ages.
It is a remarkably well-watered and fertile country. The underlying rocks of the Miami country are calcare- ous, and the drift-gravels usually composed largely of limestone. From both these sources fertilizing elements are imparted to the soil.
The valley of the Ohio is about five hundred feet be- low the general level of the county; while the valleys of the Great and Little Miamis, of the Dry fork of White- water, of Mill, Duck, and Deer, Taylor's and Blue Rock creeks, and many small streams corrugate further the sur- face of the country.
The characteristics of some of these streams were no- ticed by travellers at a very early day. Captain Thomas Hutchins, of His Brittanic Majesty's Sixtieth regiment of foot, afterwards geographer of the United States, during his service with the British armies in this country in the last century, made many explorations in the western wil- derness between the years 1764 and 1775, the results of which are embodied in a valuable Topographical De- scription published in London in 1778. It contains, probably, the first printed notices of the Miami river ex- tant. He says:
Little Mineami river is too small to navigate with batteaux. It has much fine land and several salt springs; its high banks and gentle cur- rent prevent its much overflowing the surrounding lands in freshets.
Great Mineami, Afferemet, or Rocky river has a very strong chan- nel; a swift stream, but no falls. It has several large branches, passa- ble with boats a great way; one extending westward towards the Wa- bash river, and then towards a branch of the Mineami river (which runs into Lake Erie), to which there is a portage, and a third has a portage to the west branch of Sandusky, besides Mad creek, where the French formerly established themselves. Rising ground here and there a little stoney, which begins in the northern part of the Peninsula, between Lakes Erie, Huron, and Michigan, and extend across the Little Mine- ami river below the Forks, and southwardly along the Rocky river to Ohio.
A part of Captain Hutchins' description would hardly be approved nowadays. However industrious he was in observation, he would have necessarily to rely much upon hearsay ; and no little knowledge that he seemed to have appears absolutely incorrect, or vague and indefinite, when confronted with the facts.
Imlay, an English traveller, wrote in 1793, evidently borrowing from Hutchins:
The Great Miami is about three hundred yards wide at its month, is a rapid stream, without cataracts, with several large branches navi- gable for batteaux a long way up, the principal of which intersects with a branch of the Miami river, which runs into Lake Erie, to which there is a portage, and a third has a portage to Sandusky.
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9
IO
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
This region forms one of the richest, as well as the most beautiful, sections of the State, an extension, indeed of the far-famed "blue grass region" of Kentucky .* The system of agriculture in this valley is esteemed the best in the State, except that of the Western Reserve. By underdraining and other permanent soil-improvements and ameliorations important changes have been effected. It is the most famous tobacco region of the State, and in it more than forty per cent. of all the tobacco raised in Ohio is produced. The very richest bottom lands are selected for this crop, and the average yield for five years is ascertained to be eight hundred and sixty-six and one- half pounds per acre. In the early day comparatively little wheat was grown in the valley, but within the last quarter of a century it has sown a greater breadth, and harvested a larger quantity than any similar area in the State. A comparison of the Miami valley with other parts of Ohio, made a few years ago, showed that fifty per cent. wider breadth of soil was sown to wheat in this valley than in any other part of the commonwealth. The corn crop was also very large, averaging thirty-eight and one-fourth bushels per inhabitant, against thirty- seven and one-half bushels per inhabitant for the general average of the State. Says the report cited below :
The farmns throughout the valley are, as a rule, in good order; the surroundings in neatness' and good taste more nearly resemble the Western Reserve than does any other valley in the State. Many of the inhabitants are Pennsylvanians and Marylanders, who have brought with them their ideas of good shelter and care of domestic animals; hence, throughout the valley are found well-constructed and good- sized, comfortable barns and other outbuildings. The interiors of farm-houses, especially the more recent ones, are well arranged for convenience and comfort, and many of them are even luxuriously fur- nished. +
How greatly and essentially the character of the county is changing, however, is shown by the following extract from the report of the secretary of the Hamilton County Agricultural society to the State Board of Agriculture, published in its annual report for 1871. He says:
Our county is no longer a farming community. Our farms are now occupied as dairies, rented by gardners, used as pasture or meadow, and on the railroads and leading thoroughfares are being subdivided and improved as country homes by the business men of Cincinnati.
Other crops are produced in great abundance and va- riety from the soil of Hamilton county; the fertile valleys near Cincinnati, especially the broad valley of Mill creek, which has a peculiarly favorable location, are in great re- quest for market gardening. The lands here, and indeed generally throughout the county, are exceedingly valua- ble; and large sums are invested in and large fortunes realized by the pursuits of agriculture in this region.
The Mill Creek valley just mentioned, which consti- tutes one of the most prominent and important physical features of the county, begins near Hamilton, in Butler county, not far from the valley of the Great Miami. In- deed, it is said that in wet seasons the water is discharged from a large pond near Hamilton at the same time through Pleasant run into the Great Miami and by Mill creek into the Ohio river. This creek becomes a con- siderable stream as it nears Cincinnati; and traversing, as
it now does, the greatest breadth of the city, it is justly reckoned, notwithstanding the pollution of its water by manufactories and other establishments along its borders, an important element in the topography of the city and county. Other streams, except the Miami and Ohio rivers, are comparatively insignificant, although some of them, in the course of the ages, have come to occupy broad and deep valleys.
North of the range of hills adjoining, or rather now mostly in the city, in the country beyond Avondale and the Walnut Hills, is a spacious basin or amphitheatre of about twenty-five square miles, in which a splendid city inight advantageously be located, but to and through which the city of Cincinnati will undoubtedly one day extend. It is traversed by the Marietta & Cincinnati railroad, and the Montgomery and other turnpike roads. The soil in this and the northwest portions of the county is for the most part friable clay, resting on limestone, which gives them an excellent character as grass-growing regions, from which much of the hay to Cincinnati is supplied.
Permanent springs are not very numerous in the county, but well water of excellent quality is in general obtained without difficulty. Ponds and morasses were formerly frequent, especially in the northern part of the county, but are less known now.
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