USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 1 > Part 32
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 (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89
This fixes the date of departure from Lime- stone beyond any real question, but strangely enough the date of the landing has ever been in dispute. The 26th day of December was for a long time accepted as the proper date, upon no other grounds apparently, says Cist, than that two days ought to take a flat-boat down the Ohio, 65 miles; in the condition of the river at that time covered with drift ice, it must be conceded that nothing reliable can be deduced from such data. Another writer quotes an English traveler, who arrived here in 1806, as saying :
"Travelling is so very good between Limestone and the town, a distance of sixty-eight miles, that I descended in two short days' run, without meet- ing with any obstacles."
It is apparent from this that the two days' run was regarded as an unusually successful trip, which could hardly be the fact when the river was filled with floating ice from shore to shore.
In the chancery case between the city and Joel Williams, involving the ownership of the Pub- lic Landing, the witnesses testified variously. One witness spoke of the landing as being late in December, 1788. Patterson and Ludlow said that the landing was as late as the early part of January, 1789, which seems improbable, as a trip so prolonged would have been so unusual as to make a clear impression on the minds of all the parties.
William McMillan, a very intelligent lawyer and a very prominent man in Cincinnati for many years, and one of scrupulous and exact habits of business, testified, "that he was one of those who formed the settlement of Cincinnati, on the 28th day of December, 1788."
Mr. Cist records that Judge Burnet assured him that he never had any doubt that this was the correct date. Denman, who was not with the party, in another case testified that they came "late in December," although he could not re- member the precise day. Judge Burnet in his
"Notes" has the party land on the 24th, an ob- vious error (p. 46).
The date fixed by McMillan is now generally accepted as the correct one. Tradition recites that "the party, occupied in completing the pre- parations, did not get away from Limestone until somewhat late in the day, and made but nine miles before tying up for the night; that the third day they sighted Columbia, but were un- able to reach it or stop on account of the ice; that the same cause prevented their landing here upon arrival opposite the spot on the evening of the same day, but that, after remaining in or near . the mouth of the Licking through the night of the twenty-seventh, they effected a crossing with their boats the next morning, and triumphantly entered the little inlet at the foot of Sycamore street, afterwards known as Yeatman's Cove. Fastening their frail barks to the roots and shrubs along the bank, they step ashore, collect driftwood and other dry fragments, strike the steel and flint, and provide themselves with their first necessity to comfort and cookery-ample fires. Very likely the fatigues of the voyage over, they soon realize, even long before night, the graphic picture drawn by Dr. Daniel Drake more than 63 years afterwards: 'Setting their watchmen around, they lay down with their feet to the blazing fires, and fell asleep under the music of the north wind whistling among the frozen limbs of the great sycamores and water maples which overhung them.' (Drake's Dis- courses, p. 10. )
"It was no time for prolonged rest or sleep, however. The depth of winter is not the season for open-air bivouacs, when shelters are at hand. The readiest expedient for the supply of material for dwellings-one already suggested by the practice of the boatmen of the age in breaking up their vessels and selling their constituent parts when the destination was reached-naturally oc- curred to the newly arrived, and their first cabin was constructed of boat-planks and other break- age from the craft in which they came." (Shaf- fer's Directory of 1840, p. 481, said by Ford to have been written by Judge Burnet; Ford's Cin- cinnati, p. 32).
This house was built as has been stated, on the present Front street, a little east of Main, and a trifle northwest of the cove or place of landing. This cove being the inlet opposite Sycamore street, was afterward named from Griffin Yeat- man, who for many years resided and kept tavern where that street intersects the Public Landing, "Yeatman's Cove."
12
186
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CINCINNATI
Another statement is to the same effect that the settlers first built a shelter of boards on the beach, under the bluff bank, felled trees, and be- gan the erection of a small cabin, on the south side of Front street, just cast of Main, for the use of Colonel Ludlow and his assistant survey- ors. This is claimed to have been the first house built in Cincinnati as a dwelling, and stood for a great many years afterward. There was a board nailed on a stick chimney marked "1788," and Dr. Jones, in his "Early Days of Cincinnati," records that several old pioneers still living re- member the house, or more properly the old cab- in, very distinctly, although there is no means of ascertaining in what way or just when it was torn down. (P. 28 and sketch on p. 29.) Cabins were said to have been built here by Clark's sol- diers in 1782, but they had disappeared.
THE SURVEY OF THE TOWN.
Ludlow immediately proceeded to make a sur- vey of the town. In this he was assisted by Badgley, who was one of Symmes' surveyors, and others, and the work was substantially com- pleted on the 7th of January, 1789, when the drawing took place for the donation lots.
According to the testimony of Patterson, given December 27, 1803, in a deposition which was taken in connection with the controversy about the Public Landing, Ludlow at this time did not attempt to make the survey of the whole town, but simply "laid out the front of said town as far as westwardly in Main street. * * The ground in front of Front street was de- clared at that time a public common for the use of the citizens of said town except and reserving only for the benefit of the proprietors the privi- lege of establishing a Ferry on the banks of the Ohio on said Common." (Hamilton County Recorder's Office ; Book D-I, page 74.)
This common as is explained hereafter be- came a subject of controversy. Melyn Baker testified on the same date, that Patterson's testi- mony was taken, that he arrived in Cincinnati in October, 1790, and occupied for a time a small enclosure on the common which was after- wards removed.
TIIE DONATION OF LOTS.
The article of agreement for the settlement which had been entered into for the proprietors in December, before leaving. Limestone, reads as follows :
-
"ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT."
"The conditions for settling the town of Lo- santiburg are as follows, viz .: That the thirty in and out lots of said town to as many of the most early adventurers shall be given by the proprietors, Messrs. Ludlow, Denman and Pat- terson, who, for their part, do agree to make a deed 'in fee simple, clear of all charge and in- cumbrances, except the expense of surveying and deeding the same, as soon as Judge Symmes can obtain a deed from Congress.
"The lot-holders, for their part, do agree to become actual settlers on the premises. They shall plant and attend two crops successively, and not less than an acre shall be cultivated for each crop ; and within two years of the date here- of, each person who receives a donation lot or lots, shall build a house equal to twenty-five feet square, one and one-half stories high, with brick, stone or clay chimneys ; which house shall stand on the front parts of their respective lots, and shall be put in tenable repair, all within a term of two years. These requirements shall be mi- nutely complied with on penalty of forfeiture. unless it be found impracticable on account of savage depredations."
This agreement was not signed at Limestone, but seems to have been tacitly assented to by all parties. (See, however, the statement in Den- man's deposition of August, 1833.)
When the survey had been completed on Jan- uary 7, 1789, Colonel Ludlow promulgated the following statement :
"CONDITIONS"
"ON WHICH THE DONATION LOTS IN THE TOWN LOSANTIVILLE ARE IIELD & SETTLED.
"The first Thirty town & out lots to so many of the most early adventurers shall be given by the proprietors Messrs. Denman, Patterson, & Ludlow who for their part do agree to make a deed free & clear of all charges and incum- brances excepting that of surveying & deeding the same so soon as a deed is procured from Con- gress by Judge Symmes.
"The lot-holders for their part do agree to become actual settlers on the premises ; plant & attend two crops successively & not less than One Acre shall be cultivated for each crop & that within the term of two years- each person receiving a donation lot or lots shall build an house equal to Twenty feet square One Storey & half high with a brick stone or clay Chimney which shall stand in front of their
1
187
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
respective in lots and shall be put in tenantable repair within the term of two years from the date hereof.,
"The above requisitions shall be minutely com- plyed with under penalty of forfeiture unless Indian depredations render it impracticable. Done this seventh day of January One thousand seven hundred & Eighty Nine.
"ISRAEL LUDLOW."
This proclamation, it will be seen upon com- parison, differs from the December contract in but two particulars,-the name is given Losanti- ville in place of Losantiburg, and the size -of the houses is reduced from 25 to 20 feet square. These papers dating long after Filson's death completely dispose of Judge Burnet's contention that the name Losantiville died with him.
The survey extended from the river to Sev- enth street, then called Northern row, and then from Broadway (Eastern row) to Central ave- nue (Western row) and thence to the river ; the out-lots of four acres each (81 in num- ber) extended beyond Northern row to the north limits of the Losantiville purchase, at Liberty street. This survey was not recorded by Israel Ludlow for himself and Denman until April 29, 1802, and then only because of the passage of a law requiring it. The entry may be found in Book E-2, pages 62-63, and is preceded by the following documents :
"References to the plan of the Town of Cin- cinnati, in page No. 62, exhibited by Colonel Israel Ludlow (as one of the proprietors), on the forenoon of the twenty-ninthi day of April, 1802, and recorded agrecably thereto.
"N. B .- The following certificate is attached to the original :
"This may certify that I consider myself as having been one of the original proprietors of the Town of Cincinnati, and hereby authorize Israel Ludlow to make or copy a plan according to the original plan or intention of the firm, and cause to be recorded as such, agrecably to the Laws of the Territory in that case made and pro- vided.
"MATTHIAS DENMAN."
"November 20th, 1801." "Test :
"P. P. STEWART, 1
"D. C. COOPER."
"The lots in the regular squares of the town contain 72 square perches, are 12 poles in lengthi and six poles wide. The ont-lots, which are en-
tire, contain each four acres, are in length, east and west, six and a half chains. The six long squares between Front and Water streets con- tain lots ten poles long and six poles wide. All the streets in the town are four poles wide, ex- cepting Seventh street and Eastern and Western rows, which are but two poles wide. The courses of the streets are North sixteen West and others crossing at right angles South seventy-four West. The streets through the outlots are four poles wide."
THE RIVAL PLATS.
On the Ludlow plat the streets are named as they are at present, excepting Broadway was marked as Eastern row and Central avenue as Western row. Plum street was spelt Plumb. The space from Broadway, or Eastern row, to Main street, and from Front street to the river was made a common or public landing forever, reserving the privilege to the proprictors of establishing a ferry at this point. The cove was shown as extending to the south line of Front street, just east of the foot of Sycamore and a little wider at its junction with the river than it was long. The lots in the south half of the squares between Second and Front streets, and all below them are laid out lengthwise north and south ; all others in an cast and west direc- tion. Lots 114 to 117 and 139 to 142 (the town plat ) are indicated in Ludlow's appended notes as given to public uses. They constitute the block bounded by Fourth and Fifth streets, and Walnut and Main streets. The south half of these was afterwards divided between the First Presbyterian Church, the Cincinnati College, and the county of Hamilton, and the old Lancaster Seminary.
East of Broadway, between Third and Fifth streets, were sixteen in-lots, and north of these the first range of . out-lots, numbered from one to eight. The northwestern range of out-lots be- gan also north of Fifth street.
On the same day another plat was exhibited to the recorder by Joel Williams, at six o'clock, p. m., which purported to be a plat "of the town of Cincinnati, (formerly called Losanterville)," agreeable to the original plan thereof, and was recorded at the instance of Samuel Freeman and Joel Williams, assignees of Mat- thias Denman and Robert Patterson. The prin- cipal differences between the two plats are the names of streets, and on the ( Public Landing) common. The east and west streets are desig- nated as follows, beginning with the river.
-
:
188
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CINCINNATI
Water, Front, Columbia (Second), Hill (Third), High (Fourth), Byrd (Fifth), Gano (Sixth), and Northern row (Seventh). The north and south streets, beginning with Eastern row (Broadway), running westward, were. Sycamore, Main, Cider (Walnut), Jefferson (Vine), Beech (Race), Elm, Filson (Plum), and Western row. The Public Landing space is filled with in-lots, numbering 461 to 468. The numbers of the other lots and the general fea- tures of the survey are the same as in the Lud- low plat. The same square, bounded by Main, Cider, High and Byrd streets, is "reserved for a. Court House, a Jail, a Church and School." The cove is not shown.
Williams' affidavit states that this record was made in the absence from the Territory of Den- man and Patterson, the two other original pro- prictors of said town. (Colonel Ludlow is not recognized in any way in the affidavit, the third proprictor being evidently regarded as Filson, who is said to be dead.) The affidavit goes on to say that they "have no intention of record- ing in person the plat of said town, agrecable to a late act of the said Territory, entitled 'an act to provide for the recording of town-plats.'" The affidavit avers that "this deponent further saith that he possesses, as he believes, sufficient information in the premises to cnable him to make a plat of the said Town of Cincinnati, agreeable to the original plat, plan, design, and intentions of the aforesaid original proprietors of said town, in manner and form as the same was originally laid laid out and declared by the proprictors ; and this deponent further saith that the within is a true and accurate Map or Plat of the said Town of Cincinnati, agrceable to the Original Plat, Plan, Design and intentions of the three proprietors aforesaid," ctc.
The purpose of recording this second plat, which by many has been regarded as the plat made by Filson (but without sufficient author- ity), was to support thic claim made by Williams to the town lots, which this plat indicated in the place of the Public Landing.
Joel Williams was the owner by purchase from Denman, Patterson, Freeman and others of all the remaining proprietary interests in the town. Patterson's interests in the lots unsold had been conveyed by him in November, 1794, to Samuel Freeman for cight dollars in silver an acre. Denman's interests as an original pro- prietor were transferred in March, 1795, to Wil- liams. Williams obtained from Symmes by deed of February 14, 1800, a title to this tract and
by a subsequent purchase in November, 1803, from Freeman of all the interests that he had acquired from Patterson he became the owner of a two-thirds interest in the unsold lots. Pat- terson as will be remembered remained here about a month then returned to Lexington after which he ceased to have any real interest in the place. Denman did not even come out with the colony in December but remained in New Jer- scy. Of the four persons originally associated with the founding of Cincinnati, therefore, Israel Ludlow is the only one who ever lived in the town or in . the immediate neighborhood. It suited Williams' interest of course to deny that Ludlow had any title whatsoever to the land es- pecially as there was no record of a transfer to him or in fact to any one else of the original interest of Filson. He set up a claim therefore to the common now known as the Publie Land- ing on the ground that it was private property reserved by the proprietors for future disposi- tion. To add force to his claim, he erected a brick house on the northwest corner of the tract in question, just at the south end of Main street which is shown on the early plats of the city and marked "Council House." This was a two- story brick house about twenty fcet square. Just east of this was placed a frame tenement a story and a half high and the whole was surrounded by a worm fence as late as 1806. The dispute over this land continued for a number of years and was finally concluded by a decree in chan- cery ended by the Supreme Court of Ohio in the November term of 1807, which required Wil- liams to dced to the town all rights he had in the property excepting his ferry rights together with the use of the brick house ereetcd by the said Joel Williams on the premises together with fifty feet in front commencing at the northwest corner of said house and one hundred feet in rear toward the Ohio River. As a result of this decree the sheriff, Goforth, put the municipal au- thorities. in formal possession by offering to them a spade full of earth which was accepted with the proper formalities.
In the picture of the city known as "Cincin- nati in 1802," there appears, on the northeast corner of Front and Main. Col. Thomas Gib- son's house at that time probably the largest in .the town. Just in front there appears a small building back of a large trec. It was at this point that Williams' brick house was crected. The lower story of the building was really a half basement while the upper part was at first left unfinished. In this building Henry Weaver
.
AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS
189
one of the early merchants of the city carried on business for a time and in the frame tenement to the east there was, some time later, a provision store. The frame buildings were built of plank taken for the first bridge built over the mouth of Mill ereek after it had given away in the spring freshet of 1807. (Cist's Miseellany, Vol. I, p. 271 ; Vol. II, pp. 27-37-56.)
After the property had been surrendered to the eity the briek building became known as the "Town House" and was used for the meetings of the Couneil. The chamber above was plas- tered and a stairway was run up to it on the out- side. (Minutes of Couneil, Mareh 4, 1816; Hen- derson's Council, p. 17.)
The tree, which is shown on the picture above referred to, is said to have been a black walnut nearly four feet in diameter. It was struck by lightning in June, 1807, and had to be taken down to prevent fire spreading to the buildings about it.
This digression is made necessary to explain the point of the recording the Williams plat. Colonel Patterson in his depositions with refer- enee to the matter deelared that he had examined both plats and believed "the one recorded by Israel Ludlow to be agreeable to the original plan."
THE ORIGINAL PURCHASERS. 4
On January 7, 1789, pursuant to the notice already sent out, the donation lots were dis- tributed by lottery, held under the personal diree- tion of Patterson and Ludlow. The first draw- ing resulted as follows :
Out- Lots
In-
Joel Williams
3 79
John Porter
2
77
David McClure
6
26
Samuel Mooney
14
33
Sylvester White
15
2
Joseph Thornton 28
3
James Carpenter
I
32
Matthew Cammel 8
28
Luthar Kitchel
13
58
James Cammel
21
34
Jesse Stewart
30
54
Benjamin Dument
25
53 8
Daniel Shoemaker
27
79
William McMillan 31
.
Ephraim Kibby 4
59
John Vance
24
Jesse Fulton
23
Henry Bechtel
16
56
Isaac Freeman
20
51
Samuel Blackburn
29
I
9
52
26
7
Archibald Stewart
12
57
James McConnel
5
30
Davison 27 19
James Dument II
5
Jonas Menser
10
29
Thomas Gizzel
17
9
Harry Lindsay
7
76
James Campbell
154
Mr. MeMillan does not seem to have drawn an in-lot and James Campbell apparently did not draw an out-lot. Daniel Shoemaker and Joel Williams are both recorded as drawing in-lots 79. In the list given by Mr. Cist, as taken from Colonel Patterson's papers, Daniel Shoe- maker is shown to have drawn in-lot 78.
After the drawing, a number of transfers were made. For instance: Joseph Thornton trans- ferred in-lot 3 and out-lot 28 to Robert Caldwell. Matthew Cammel (Campbell) transferred in-lot 28 and out-lot 8 to Nathaniel Rolstein. Ben- jamin Dument (Dumont) transferred in-lot 53 and out-lot 25 to Enoeh MeHendry. The name Davison, who drew in-lot 27 and out-lot 19 was erased from the records. These are but few of the many instanees.
The names of William MeMillan as drawing out-lot 31, and James Campbell as drawing in- lot 154, do not appear on Colonel Patterson's list. Archibald Stewart's name is there given as Richard Stewart. Isaac Freeman is given as drawing out-lot 29 in place of out-lot 20 as it should be. Jonas Menser is there given as James Monson and as having drawn out-lot 14 in place of 10 as it should have been. The in-lots, which were drawn at this time, covered the entire bloeks between Front, Second, Syeamore and Broadway ; Seeond, Third, Sycamore and Broad- way ; Front, Second, Syeamore and Main and the east half of the block bounded by Second, Third, Sycamore and Main exeept lot 55, on the north- west corner of Seeond and Sycamore. This lot was not drawn, as it was regarded as of a small value by reason of a swamp, which for years ex- isted at this eorner. The lots which faeed the Publie Landing were of course considered the most valuable. According to the drawing, they were taken as follows: Beginning at the north- west corner of Front and Broadway, the first lot was drawn by Samuel Blackburn ; seeond go- ing west on Front, Sylvester White; third No. 26, David McClure; fourth, No. 27, a corner lot, Davison (afterwards drawn by William McMillan). Crossing Sycamore, the first lot on the northwest corner of Front, No. 51, was drawn by Isaac Freeman; next to him were
Noah Badgeley 22
31
Isaac Van Meter
18
4 6
Scott Traverse
Elijah Martin
Lots
190
CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CINCINNATI
Scott Traverse and Harry Lindsay, and the northeast corner of Main and the landing fell to John Porter. Going up Broadway, the first lot in the rear of Blackburn and White, being No. 3, was drawn by Joseph Thornton (trans -- ferred to Robert Caldwell), and the corner lot on Second and Broadway fell to John Vance. Crossing the street, the northwest corner of Second and Broadway fell to James Dument or Dumont, and north of him was Jessc Fulton's lot. Lot 7, where subsequently was the mar- ket space, fell to Elijah Martin, and lot 8, to Isaac Van Meter. Lot 9, the southwest corner of Third and Broadway, located on the edge of the second bank or level of the city, fell to Thomas Gizzel. West of him on Third strect, lot 34, occupying the southeast corter of Third and Sycamore streets, was drawn by James Cam- mel or Campbell. South of Campbell was Samuel Mooney, Campbell's lot being on the top . of the bank, and Mooney's at the foot of it. Be- low Mooney's lot, where afterward was the market space, was lot 32, drawn by James Car- penter, and south of him, lot 31, was drawn by Noah Badgley. The northeast corner of Sec- ond and Sycamore fell to Jamcs or Richard Mc- Connel; the southeast corner was drawn by James Monson or Jonas Menser, and the lot south of that by Matthew Cammel or Campbell. This completes the squares bounded by Broad- way, Third, Sycamore and Front. Benjamin Dumont drew the lot on Sycamore street and north of Isaac Freeman's lot, and the south- west corner of Second and Sycamore was drawn by Jesse Stewart. Across the street from Jesse Stewart was the swamp, which no one seemed to want. Above that on a slope, Henry Bechtel, took lot 56, and north of him on the corner oppo- site the old market space, now Pearl street, Archibald Stewart took lot 57. On the opposite corner, lot 58 was drawn by Luther Kitchel, and the southwest corner of Third and Sycamore, just at the edge of the bank, fell to Ephraim Kibby. The west half of this block, covering the lots on Main street, between Sccond and Third streets, was not assigned at this draw- ing. The southcast corner of Second and Main was drawn by Joel Williams, and south of him came Daniel Shocmaker. James Campbell went west to the corner of Second and Walnut, either at this or the May drawing.
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.