USA > Ohio > Butler County > A history and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio, with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers. Vol. 1 > Part 68
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daughters. Elizabeth St. Clair Sutherland died unmar- ried. James R. died in June, 1834, at the age of twenty- two. Mary A. married Carter B. Harrison, a son of Pres- ident William Henry Harrison. Carter B. Harrison died in Hamilton, the 12th of August, 1839, leaving his wife a widow with one daughter, Anna C., who married David W. MeClung, now surveyor of the port of Cincinnati. Sarah married Nathaniel Reeder, dying in 1863. Three of her children, Nathaniel, John, and James, are now liv- ing, and two died in infancy. John Sutherland, another brother, is still living. Jane, Isabella, and Nancy, the three youngest children, reside in the old homestead.
Isabella is married to Dr. J. S. McNeeley, and has one son, Joseph Sutherland MeNeeley.
SALES OF LAND.
The original lots laid off in Hamilton measured 6 by 12 poles, 100 by 200 feet ; eight such lots generally form- ing a block 400 feet square. A comparison between the prices paid Mr. Ludlow or his immediate purchasers for these lots and their present value may not prove un- interesting reading.
Take the square embracing Lots 99, 100, 101, and 102, bounded by High, Third; Basin, and Second Streets, now one of the most valuable blocks in town. The rec- ords show the following first sales :
Israel Ludlow's administrators sold to John Reily, on July 18, 1806, Lot 99, for $50; Lut 100, for $25.50; and Lot 101, for $20.
Samuel Dick sold to John Reily, July 18, 1806, Lot 102, for $28. The total for the block was $123.50.
Colonel Campbell still resides on part of Lot 99. The half block, bounded by Reily, Basin, Second and High Streets, is held by Mrs. Campbell, who inherited it from her father, John Reily, and her title deeds are probably the oldest of any resident of the city.
In the square bounded by Dayton, Second, Heaton, and Third, the only lots in this block that have not been subdivided are those now owned by St. Stephen's Church, Ezra Potter, and Calvin Skinner. Mr. Potter's lots (153 and 154), fronting 200 feet on Dayton and Third, were bought by John S. Gordon from David Gano, July 28, 1835, for $225.
Lot 151, corner of High and Second, was sold by Ludlow to Michael McNamee, together with Lot 18, June 22, 1795, for $28. On September 14, 1805, Michael Lafferty became the purchaser of Lots 151 and 152 (fronting 200 feet on Dayton by 200 on Second) from Samuel Enyart for $55. On February 22, 1830, James McBride sold these two lots to the St. Stephen's society for $400. These four lots make the south half of the block.
Lot 165, extending from James Neal's corner south on Second 200 feet to St. Stephen's property, and east on Heaton 100 feet, was sold by Ludlow to Rebecca F. Randolph, October 2, 1795, for $2.
Lot 166, cast of Neal's, fronting 100 on Heatou by 200 deep, was sold by Ludlow at the same time and same price to Sarah F. Randolph.
Lots 167 and 168, fronting 200 feet on Heaton and 200 on Third to Potter's Alley, were soll with fifteen other lots to Daniel Gano by Ludlow, July 13, 1827, for $700, and Gano sold the lots, 167 aud 168. July 25, 1855, to John M. Millikin and William Bebb for $550.
Fenton Lawson and others soll Lors 167 and 168 to W. H. Bartlett, December 11, 1841, for $700, and on February 18, 1844, Calvin Skinner bought the south halves of the lots, 200 feet front on Third by 200 deep, his present residence, from J. B. McFarland for $400.
HAMILTON.
289
Lot 108 comprises the entire strip of ground on the east side of Third Street from High to Basin, extending back to Smith Street,-72 square poles. This property was sold by John Brown to John Sutherland, June 18, 1800, for $30.
Lots 111 and 112, with Beckett's block and Dr. Fal- coner's residence on their front, extend baek to the Hy- draulic, and together have a front of 200 feet on High Street. Ludlow sold both these lots to Eleanor Moore, May, 1804, for $62-842 for 111, and $20 for Lot 112. Ludlow obtained possession of the lots again, and his heirs sold to John Woods, March, 1832, all of Lot 112, Falconer's and Beckett's Hall in part, and 3.4 feet of the south, High Street end, of Lot 111 for $500. April 17, 1835, Woods bought of James S. Green 66 feet more of the south half of Lot 111 for 8675; he thus had the en- tire front from the corner of Second to Faleoner's Alley for $1,175.
Starting from the Hamilton House corner, Lot 110, and going west, we find that Ludlow sold 50 feet of the east end of the lot (Hamilton House) to James McBride July 24, 1812, for $157, and at the same time the west 50 feet to Thomas C. Kelsey for $126. The next lot on High (109), was sold by Ludlow's administrators; the east half to Kelsey, March 1, 1813, for $150, and the west half to Samuel Morrison for $159.50. Subse- quently, April 1, 1835, Dr. Hittel bought the west half of James Young for $2,000.
The Sutherland Corner, Lot 107, fronting 200 on High, extending from the west line of Lot 109 to Front Street, and 100 on Front Street, was sold by Ludlow to John Sutherland in 1803, deed made March 1, 1813, for $30. The lot next north on Front Street (108) fronting 100 on Front, and running 200 deep on Stable, was also bought by Sutherland March 1, 1813, for $154. C. Morganthaler bought 50 by 100 feet of this lot October 19, 1849, paying $700. -
These figures make the value of the entire block be- tween Iligh Street and the Hydraulie, Seeond and Front, $770.50.
Lot 173, the residence of Dr. Howells, stands on the south-west corner of Front and Buckeye-200 feet on Buckeye by 100 on Front. Lots 174 and 173, extending the entire front on Front Street between Heaton and Buckeye, were sold by Ludlow to Benjamin F. Randolph October 2, 1795, for $40. Marel: 10, 1845, Samuel Suively sold Lot 173 to Joseph Howells for $600. On March 14, 18445, Dr. H. C. Howells bought 50 by 100 feet off of the east end (on Buckeye Street) of the lot, paying $100. August 15, 1848, the doctor bonght an addi- tional 50 feet next west of his first purchase, paying $350. He now owned half the lot. On September 14, 1849, he bright the remaining 100 feet front on Buckeye, on which hi- residence stands, paying 82,000. So the lot that cost Joseph Howells $600 in 1845 had eost Dr. Howells, in- Ruling buildings, 82, 450.
The lots originally laid out in the First Ward were 5x10 poles -- 823x166 feet; fractional lots, 823x823 feet.
The Straub House lot, No. 1493, 873x873 feet, was sold by Sutherland & Brown to James Mills, June 19, 1809, for $16. The stable lot, same size, in the rear, was sold at the same time by Sutherland & Brown to Thomas Mccullough, for $10.50.
Lot 1540 extends from the west line of the Straub lot to the corner of Main and Front, and is 823 feet deep. John Sutherland sold this lot to Kelsey & Smith, April 16, 1813, for $49.
The entire bloek, extending from Odd Fellows Hall to the river, and south on Front and Water to the alley, was sold by John Sutherland to John Hall, June 5, 1813, for $1,200.
The four lots, 1523, 1528, 1533, and 1538, extending on Second Street, east side, from Boudinot to Main, were sold by Sutherland & Brown to Robert and John Taylor, June 19, 1809, for $66.40.
Beeler's drug store stands on the south-east corner of lot 1539, and fronts 185 feet on Main. Lot 1532 lies behind it, is of the same size, and exteuds on Front to the John Brown Alley.
Sutherland & Brown sold the Beeler lot to Samuel Diek for $28.50, Jannary 15, 1810, and the other lot to Samuel Alston, June 19, 1809, for $23.25.
Doctor Miller's drug store stands on the north-east corner of Lot 1542. This lot fronts 185 feet on Main by 853 on Front. Sutherland & Brown sold this lot to Samuel Scott for $21, June 19, 1809, and on January 17, 1814, Isaac Falconer became the purchaser, for $100.
On June 19, 1809, Sutherland & Brown soll Samuel Dick niue lots for $10. One of these lots was 1543, on the south side of Main, extending from the corner of Second to the alley, going east; another was Lot 1552, where Doctor Scobey's residence stands; two others, 1544 and 1547, behind it, make a front of 165 feet on the north-east eorner of Main and Second.
Lots 1562 and 1563 extend on Ross Street, south side, between Front and Second. Mrs. Matthias lives on part of 1562, and P. C. Conkling, Mr. Beck, and Daniel Shaffer on Lot 1563. Sutherland & Brown soll Lot 1562 to Ethan Stone, June 19, 1809, for $55, and William Corry sold lot 1563 to John Reily, July 16, 1813, for $400.
The school-house lot opposite (Lots 1553 and 1558) were sold by the Presbyterian Church to directors of school district No. 2, St. Clair Township, August 9, 1851, for $500.
Lot 1559, north-west corner of Front and Ross, occu- pied in part by Daniel Galloway, was sold by Sutherland & Brown to John Reily, June 19, 1809, for $50.
JOHN WINGATE.
John Wingate was one of the earliest settlers in Hamilton. He was here almost as soon as the clash of
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290
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
arms ended, and remained here through our infancy as a lown, although afterwards going away to other places. He was born in the State of New York in the year 1774, and in his youth learned the trade of stonemason. Soon after the date of St. Clair's defeat, Mr. Wingate came to the Western country with the army commanded by General Wayne. He was a sergeant in Van Rensselaer's cav- alry, in the battle of Fallen Timbers, when Wayne gained a complete victory over the savages. He be- haved with bravery on this occasion, and his deeds were long remembered by his associates in arms. His brother was slain by his side in that action. After the disband- ment of the army, Mr. Wingate came to Fort Hamilton, where he settled, marrying Miss Mary Dillon, who was the daughter of one of the earliest pioneers. She died in a few years, leaving him with two children. Soon after coming here he opened a store on Front Street, in a log building, situated on the west side of the street, on the lot now occupied by St. Mary's Catholic Church. In 1806 he gave up business, and the store was rented to the Hough Brothers, of whom the survivor, Joseph Hough, was long an ornament of Hamilton. In October, 1807, he was elected sheriff of the county, serving for two years, and being preceded and followed by Mr. William McClellan. On the 24th of May, 1809, Mr. Wingate was married to Mrs. Emma Torrence, widow of John Torrence, then lately deceased. She was a lady of great worth, and highly esteemed for her many amia- ble and excellent traits of character. She was a daugh- ter of Captain Robert Benham, and sister of Joseph S. Benham, the distinguished lawyer. Mr. Wingate was elceted abont 1810 a brigadier general of the Ohio mili- tia, and in the year 1813 again went out to the war, serving six months in that capacity.
After his marriage with Mrs. Torrence, in 1809, he kept an inn for the accommodation of travelers, on the corner of Dayton and Water Streets, the stand that had been previously occupied by John Torrence. In 1816 he removed to Cincinnati, where for some years he kept the old Cincinnati Hotel, on Front Street. between Sycamore and Broadway, and after a time removed to Big Bone Lick, Kentucky, where he kept a house of entertainment for several years, finally removing further West. He re- turned during the last weeks of 1851, and took up his abode with John Burke, Jr., near Symmes's Corner, whose father, when au unprotected boy, had found a friend and benefactor in him.
His death occurred only a few weeks later, on the 14th of April, 1851, when he had attained the age of seventy-seven years. His funeral was largely attended. It was held in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Ham- ilton, the discourse being pronounced by the Rev. Arthur W. Elliott, and the body being interred in Mr. Elliott's own lot, iu Greenwood Cemetery. After the service at the church had closed. a funeral procession was formed, under the direction of Lewis D. Campbell. The fimeral
car was preceded by martial music; then followed a company of artillery with a brass field-piece, under the command of Captain Nathaniel Reeder; Major William P. Young, bearing the national flag, appropriately trimmed; the mayors of Hamilton and Rossville ; the clergy and pallbearers. The body was followed by the friends of the deceased, the soldiers, and a large train of citizens. As the procession entered the cemetery grounds, the artillery commenced firing minute guns, which, with the tolling of the bells in town, continued until the service at the grave was concluded. The whole formed a combination at once solemn and impressive.
POST-OFFICE AND PUBLIC MAILS.
In 1804 a post-office was established at Hamilton, and on the second day of August in that year John Reily was appointed postmaster, by Gideon Granger, then Postmaster-general. There was at that time only one mail route established through the interior of the Miami country. It was carried on horseback, once a week, leaving Cincinnati, and passing by Hamilton, Franklin, Dayton, and as far north as Stanton; thence to Urbana, Yellow Springs, and Lebanon, back to Cincinnati. In a year or two afterwards the route was reversed, so as to go out by the way of Lebanon and return by Hamilton. At that time all the people living north and west of Hamilton had to come to this post-office for their letters. .
Jolin Reily held the office of postmaster from the time of his appointment, in 1804, until July, 1832, when he resigned, and James B. Thomas was appointed in his room.
James Lowes was appointed postmaster and entered on the duties of the office on the first day of April, 1851. He resigned on the thirty-first day of January, 1853, and on the next day James K. Thomas, son of the former postmaster, who had been appointed, took pos- session of the office.
On the eighth day of August, 1853, L. M. Furrow, who had been appointed postmaster in the stead of James K. Thomas, removed, took possession of the post-office, and entered upon the discharge of the duties of the office.
On the twenty-sixth day of April, 1855, the post- office in Rossville was discontinued, and the business transferred to the post-office in Hamilton.
The following are the dates of the appointment of the postmasters at Hamilton and Rossville:
Hamilton .- John Reily, August 2, 1804; John Reily, June 29, 1818; James B. Thomas, July 9, 1832; James Lowes, March 27, 1851; James K. Thomas, June 19, 1853; Lawrence M. Furrow, July 29, 1853; Jacob Troutman, March 13, 1857; William H. Blair, April 23, 1861; William H. Rossman, March 30, 1871; John McKee, September 8, 1873; Charles E. Giffen, January 20, 1882.
Rowrille .- Joseph Wilson, November 24, 1819; Rob- ert B. Millikin, September 2, 1824; Jacob Matthias, September 21, 1836; Samuel G. Sweeney, March 8,
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291
HAMILTON.
1837; Samuel Millikin, March 29, 1839; Levi Riel- mond, May 1, 1844; Joseph Curtis, May 29, 1849; George Longfellow, April 14, 1853; Robert Hargitt, December 10, 1853. Discontinued April 19, 1855.
OLD ADVERTISEMENTS.
In the Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette, "published weekly at Cincinnati, Northwestern Territory, by Car- penter & Findlay," are several interesting and curious advertisements. Among the list of letters remaining in the post-office at Cincinnati, the only post-office in the Territory, we find the following: "Charles Brown, care of Samuel Dick; James Carter, care of Paul Hueston; James Cole, Big Miami; Patrick Graham, Gregory's Creek; Abraham Lakes, Deerfield; David Lee, Big Mi- ami; James McClelland, near Hamilton; John Cleves Symmes; Thomas Alston, and Peter Atherton, below the Big Miami; David Hendrix, near Hamilton; Jerome Holt, Dayton; King Dearmond; Daniel Doty, Big Prairie; Zina Doty; James McCloskey, care of Samuel Dick; Reverend Richard MeNemair; Joseph McMahan. near Hamilton; Azarias Thorn, near Hamilton; John Torrence, Hamilton; James White, schoolinaster; James Watson, near Hamilton; Anthony - Williams, Deerfield.
Here is a Hamilton advertisement :
LAST NOTICE. - We have every reason to return our warmest acknowledgment to those who have give birth to and support our interest in trade, yet the delinquencies are numerous, which renders it inconvenient to visit their sev- eral dwellings. We therefore request those (in friendship) to call at the places of contracting, viz. : here or at Dayton, and settle up their accounts as per contraet. Sueb characters as may fail in so doing before the 10th of August next will be deemed as being pregnant with fraud and deceit, and may not expect further indulgence by
HAMILTON, June 20, 1804. SUTHERLAND & BROWN.
N. B. We wish to purchase beef cattle delivered by the 10th of August next. S. & B.
THE COUNTY JAIL.
As soon as it was known that this would become the capital of the county a paper was circulated for enbserip- tions to build a county jail. Benjamin F. Bandolph aud Celalon Symmes were the agents of the county in col- lecting the money, which was not all got together for ten "worx. The building, which was of stone, was begun in 1805 and finished ia 1806. It cost $1,600, a little more than the subscriptions. The paper circulated reads thus:
SUBSCRIPTION LIST.
Be it known by these presents, that we, the subscribers, do each and severally and separately firmly bind and obligate ourselves or heirs and assigns, to the county of Butler, in the State of Ohio, for the different sums annexed to each and every n.une in the particular articies herein described ; viz., money, stone, brick, finw, lamber, mechanical work, labor, hauling, etr., etc., etc.,-to be appropriated to the only use of said minty to erect publick buildings, and such other purposes as the commonwealth of said county may deem necessary.
The same sums subscribed shall be recoverable at law by the trustees appointed for that and other publick purposes in said county, providing that the seat of justice of said county be appointed and established in the town of Hamilton, in said county of Butler-otherwise to be void and of no effect. In witness whereof we, the subscribers, have severally aud sep- arately set our names with the sums annexed thereto, this . eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord one thou- sand eight hundred and three.
The sums subscribed are to be considered in dollars.
Jno. Torrence, 50 | Francis H. Gaines,
Frederick Fisher, 50 Samuel Ewing, . 3
Charles Bruce, 50 Joseph Holloway, 5
Jonah Enyart, 10 Abner Willson . 7
Thomas Mccullough, 50 Thomas Baxter, 6
Jo. Mccullough, .
5 John M. Crane, 10
S. Line, . 35 Gco. Marlan, . 15
James Clark, 10
Panl Bony, 50 Richard MeCain, 10
Timothy Woodruff, 10 Samnel Alexander, 10
James Lyon, 20 William Mckinstry, 10
Benj. F. Randolph, 51 Edward Harlow, 10
David Line, . 15 James Cummins, 10
Jno. Vinnedge, 30 David Cummings, 10
Andrew Christy,
20 Thomas O'Brian, 5
Wm. Long, .
John Doiy, 10
Brice Virgin,
5 Philip Round,
Samuel Gregory,
Jacob Rowan,
5
Jolm Weyeney,
1 Joseph Botten,
4
John Wingate,
Celadon Symmes,
50 James Murphy,
1
Daniel Conner,
20
Joseph Peak,
Azarias Thorn,
25
Henry Thompson,
Joseph Walker, Henry Watts,
20
D. W. Nutt,
10
Isaac Stanley,
25 William Herbert,
6
Henry Wason,
20
James Hamilton, 5
Isaac Wiles, .
25 Tobias Talbott, .
3 John Dixon, . 13
Barney McCarron, .
15 William Sommes,
30
Jacob Lewis,
10 Joseph MeMaken,
7
John Gordon, . 60
Jas. Dunn,
20 Samuel Seward,
10
Samnel Brant, .
George Van Ness,
5
Gilbert McCrea,
5 George Brownherd,
William Mahan,
Daniel Davis,
Thomas Alston,
6 William Smith,
1
James Watson,
10 James Seward, 15
Samuel Walker,
10 Hezekiah Bradbury 26
James McGuire, .
? Robert Noble,
Jacob Scott, . .
3 Sutherland & Brown. 50
Robert Jonston,
Jonathan Pittman 5
Wailis Alsion, .
Philip Hoyle.
John Crum, .
Jeremiah Muriey, 1
John Maxwell,
Joseph Hennery,. 10
Jas. Blackburn,
William Roffen, 10
John MeDaniel,
James Patterson, 20
Joseph Urmston,
David E. Wade, 5
TOTAL.
Cash,
$355 00 | Hanling. $125 00
Timber
124 00, Whisky, €9 00
Mechanical work,
114 00 Grain. 241 50
Labor, .
216 00:
$1,242 50
HAMILTON IN 1803.
The appearance of Hamilton in 1803, when Mr. Reily moved here, was then far different from what it is at present. The fort had been dismantled and abandoned but a few years previously.
The fort was opposite the place where the bridge over the Miami River has since been built, extending from
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2
William Scott, 10 John MeMaken,
Isaac Seward,
6 John Smith, 5
Abr. Barlow,
4 Miles Whitmore, 5
John Moffett,
John Dunn,
4 John Reed, .
200000
Zopkan Bell,
29 William Legg,
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292
HISTORY OF BUTLER COUNTY.
Hydraulic Street to the site of the United Presbyterian Church, and from the river as far east as the ground on which the Universalist Church is built. The ground east of the fort extending as far as Second Street, including the public square and High Street, had been occupied as a burying-ground for the garrison, and numerous rude grave-stones and graves were dotted over the surface. A natural terrace, eight or ten feet high, ran along the west side of Front Street, separating the upper from the lower . plane. When this bank was excavated in grading High Street, several skeletons were taken up entire, and many human bones disinterred, which were all removed and buried. Many more, doubtless, lie in this space. As late as 1812 a paling inclosing a single grave stood in the middle of High Street opposite the Hamilton Hotel, but was removed that year.
The inhabitants of Hamilton, when Mr. Reily came here, were few in number, and composed chiefly of sol- diers and other persons who had been attached to Wayne's army, and had remained here when that army was dis- banded at the close of the campaign. These persons lacking energy and enterprise, spoiled for pioneer work by military camp life, and in many cases dissipated and immoral, were-not the class of citizens best calculated to promote the rapid improvement of the place.
Few houses had been erected. A two-story frame house stood in the center of High Street, not far from the present bridge. It was the old house erected by Gen- eral Wilkinson for the accommodation of the officers of his army. In this house William McClellan kept a tay- ern. Above it, extending from near the river to the east line of the pickets, was a row of stables, built of round hickory logs with the bark peeled off, which were orig- inally used for the horses of the officers and the cavalry, and afterward as stables for the tavern. The artificers' shops stood further to the north, near where the hydraulic race now is. The magazine stood in the south angle of the garrison, and some other dilapidated buildings were in and around the locality of the fort. There was a well of excellent water, which is still in use, a few feet west of the dwelling of John W. Sohn, over which there was then a large wheel for drawing water.
John Torrence kept a tavern at the corner of Dayton and Water Streets, in the house now owned and formerly occupied by Henry S. Earhart. Mr. Torrence died in 1807, but his widow continned the business-even for years after she became the wife of John Wingate. She was the daughter of Captain Robert Benhan, whose ad- ventures are frequently mentioned in the early history of the county, and a sister of Joseph S. Benham, for- merly a prominent lawyer of Hamilton. On the lot op- posite, on the north side of the street, was a log-house, which was built by Darins C. Orcutt, and then occupied as a boarding-house by Mrs. Griffin, a sister of Abner Enoch.
Isaac Stanley afterward kept a tavern with the sign
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of a Black Horse, on Front Street, in an old log-house, in the upper part of the town.
John Sutherland kept a store in a house on the east side of Front Street, between Dayton and Hydraulic Streets, and carried on an extensive trade with the In- diaus. It is now torn down. In the upper part of the town were several cabins, in which lived James Heaton, Isaac Wiles, George Harlan, William Herbert, and George Snyder.
John Wingate commenced a store in a log-house where St. Mary's Catholic Church now stands, where he failed in 1806. Thomas and Joseph Hough continued the busi- ness; and, after the death of the former, it was suc- cessfully occupied by Hough & Blair, and Kelsey & Smith, for the same purpose. Nearly opposite, on the south side of the street, lived Thomas Mccullough and Dr. Jacob Lewis. In the south part of the town resided John Greene, Azarias Thorn, Barney McCarron, Benjamin Davis, Ludlow Pierson, and perhaps others not now recollected.
On the west bank of the Miami River was a solitary log-house, occupied by Archibald Talbert, who kept a tavern and the ferry. The town of Rossville was not then in existence. It was surveyed and laid out by Mr. Reily in 1804.
EARLY DAYS OF THE TOWN.
When Mr. McBride first settled himself in Hamilton in the year 1807, the inhabitants were few in number, and the improvements principally confined to the margin of the river. William MeClellan, who served eight years as sheriff of Butler County, then kept a taveru in the old garrison house, which had been crected for the accommodation of the officers of the army, which has already been described. It was taken down in 1813. John Torrence kept a tavern on the corner of Dayton and Water Streets. William Murray kept a tavern en the opposite corner in a house on lot No. 145.
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