USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 1 > Part 68
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II. "Arthur St. Clair, Governor of this Ter- ritory, may his ways be strewed with flowers."
14. "May we never want courage when put to a shift."
15. "A mixture of Lake water with Ken- tucky whiskey, for the use of the Legion."
The same number announces that the post had arrived from Pittsburg and that the post office was kept at the dwelling house of Abner M. Dunn, Esq.
James Wilkinson announces that "the friend- ship which I bore him when alive, and the respect in which I hold his memory, induced me to ad- minister upon the estate of Mr. Francis Solan- der, deceased" and therefore the General asks all persons indebted to the estate to please make set- tlement. Solander was a French emigrant who had died suddenly but a short time before at Fort Hamilton. He seems to have been a man of very fine education and of many accomplish- ments and was regarded with great respect by his acquaintances.
Thomas Thursbey, late of the United States Legion, announces his removal to North Bend where he proposes to carry on the "Tayloring" business and solicits custom.
On July 19th John Houston offers twenty dol- lars reward for the recovery of his black leather pocket book lost in Cincinnati or the river adja- cent thereto which contained about the sum of $150 in bank notes and also a note of hand on Simon Kenton.
Winthrop Sargent on July 24th announces for the benefit of magistrates and others that the printed list of the laws of the Territory passed at the last session are ready for delivery.
By a proclamation of July 21, 1794, Winthrop Sargent, acting as Governor, set apart the 14th of August as a day for fasting, humiliation and prayer.
The public are cautioned to beware of counter-
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feit bills and an elaborate description of the counterfeits are given.
(Dr.) R. M'Clure on August 16th calls upon those indebted to him to settle "that he may as soon as possible, be enabled to send for a fresh supply of medicines, without which he cannot do justice to his patients. The great difficulty of getting medicines to this place, so remote from where a general assortment can be procured, must appear obvious to very person of common understanding. He therefore hopes this notifi- cation will be attended to with punctuality."
Dr. M'Clure also adds: "ALL Persons who have received phials from me, which are not in immediate use, are requested to return them to me immediately, and any person who brings spare phials, which did not belong to me should be paid their value in cash."
Samuel Robinson on August 23rd advertises : "FOR SALE A valuable track of land, contain- ing 300 acres, lying on Harmers trace, within four miles of his place.
"Also a half lot in the town, with a small cab- in on it, next door to Colonel Gibson's, and a four acre out lot with a good crop of corn."
The proclamation of Winthrop Sargent, the commandant of the militia, directing the carry- ing of arms when going to church printed in a preceding chapter, is published in the issue of the Centinel on August 30, 1794.
A very. elaborate correspondence with regard to Capt. John Armstrong of Columbia who had resigned the previous year from the army was printed in the issue of August 30th.
From a letter of Winthrop Sargent, published September 6, 1794, it is learned that the old In- (lian grave was opened at Cincinnati on August 30th previous. Mr. Sargent asks for various ar- ticles in the hands of individuals which had been taken from the grave and also for other scientific information. He encloses a letter announcing the formation of an historical society in the city of Boston which society is desirous of collecting certain information. A detailed list of the arti- cles on which information is desired is printed in full. The answers if any were made would be of inestimable value to-day.
James Robison "begs leave to, forewarn all persons from taking an assignment on a note of . hand that he give to Abraham Garrison for nine pounds, payable on demand. As he is deter- mined not to pay it, until compelled by law."
William Reed publishes his wife, announcing his determination not to pay hier debts.
James Kavenaghi informs the public "that he
purposes carrying on the black and white smith business, horse shouing, and farrieing, in its dif- ferent branches, bell making."
For some unexplained reason Anthony Symth, who had been advertising for some time as he was executor of Maj. Ballard Symth, gives no- tice that he declines transacting any further busi- ness for the estate.
On September 13th is published the proclama- tion referred to elsewhere of Winthrop Sargent, acting Governor, in which he recited the attack by a party of lawless men on a number of Choc- taw Indians who had returned from Wayne's army. He recited the proceedings of the day and of the night following at which times per- sons referred to paraded the streets in hostile ar- ray. He announced his unalterable determina- tion to correct the past and prevent all future aggressions. He attributed the outrages to the violation of the statutes against selling intoxicat- ing liquors and called upon the proper officials to bring to justice the offenders and to cause the proper legal descriptions and distinctions to be affixed at those places authorized to vend the ar- dent spirits.
John S. Gano and William Stanley announce the formation of a new firm at Columbia on Sep- tember 17, 1794, where they will give credit for two or three months, and will extend indulgence until crops are gathered, at which time corn will be received in place of cash.
John Brown advertises September 27th: "To the Public, At the sign of his Excellency George Washington Esq. horses will be taken in, keeping. and due attendance will be given by the public's most humble servent."
On the same date W. Maxwell requests all that have not paid the first part of their subscription to the Centinel to make payment that he may be enabled to lay in a supply of paper for the en- suing winter.
Daniel Symmes, sheriff, announces to the pub- lic on September 27th that he has committed to jail William Courtnay, a laborer, an escaped prisoner from Mason County, Kentucky and a slave named Ned of the same county and notifies the sheriff that he may have Courtnay and slave upon paying the legal fees but in the following week's issue Mr. Symmes appears with an adver- tisement of $30 reward. From this it is learned that Courtnay and the negro man named Ned and another prisoner broke jail on Tuesday night, the 30th of September, stole a canoe and went down the Ohio. One of the prisoners is described as a small man who was almost naked
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when he made his escape "but by the great pro- pensity he has to steal he will soon be clothed. Hc is noted as having been convicted and whipped for breaking and robbing a store in this town."
As usual, advertisements for stolen horscs are intermingled with the ordinary trade advertise- nients and the offers of rewards for deserters.
The death of Robert Elliott which is described elsewhere in this work is announced with poign- ant regret in the issue of October 11, 1794.
The issue of October 18th contains a procla- mation of the commander-in-chief congratulat- ing the army on their brilliant success in the ac- tion of August 20th, "against the whole combined force of the hostile savages, aided by a body of the militia of Detroit, and countenanced by the British post and garrison close in their rear ; be- yond which the fugatives fled with disorder, pre- cipitation and dismay, leaving their packs, pro- visions, and plunder, at their encampment in the rear of that post."
It is apparent from the list of letters remain- ing in the post office on the last day of Scptem- ber, 1794, that many prominent citizens were careless about their mail. Among the names are those of Seth Carhart, William Harrison, Licut. Calvin Morrell, Levi Munsell, Robert Purdy, cn- sign, Capt. D. E. Turner, Samuel Willard, Ben- jamin Whiteman and Lieut. Husband Young.
The discharge of the Kentucky volunteers un- der the command of Major-General Scott, cross- ing the Ohio on their way home is noted as of the 22nd and 23rd of October.
In the same paper Robert Kean forewarns "all persons from taking an assignment on a note of hand that I gave to Benjamin Brown, for twenty dollars, in payment for a horse-and as the horse has been proven to be the public property, I am determined not to pay the notc."
William Recd on September 5th forbids all persons to trust his wife as he is determined to pay no debts of her contracting.
Evidently Lieut. Young Husband, who is un- doubtedly the Husband Young whose letter was uncalled for, had but little use for the letter as his death on the 16th of October took place at Fort Jefferson. "His extreme honest candour relished not with all; but made him be loved by many-lic had many virtues! If he possessed foibles, spare them ye creticks, he lies in a wil- derness where but few but thic real soldier will find it convenient to visit his grave."
In the number of October 18th is published the charge to the grand jury delivered by Hon. Ru-
fus Putnam. Judge Putnam dwells generally upon the powers of the grand jury and applauds the independence of character which permitted one such jury to present the judges of the Gen- eral Court for not holding their sessions in the county of St. Clair and states while he despises the anonymous scribbler who libelcd the Ordin- ance for the goverment of the Territory, and in a billingsgate dialect abused the principal offi- cers of it, he glories in the unprejudiced inquiry of a grand jury into and representation to proper authority of any grievance the people labor un- der. The matters in detail were left to Mr. Free- man, attorney of the United States, to present to the people.
This charge seems to have excited the animos- ity of one citizen who under the name of "Philo Vitruvius," writing from the council chamber on October 23rd, says that "the judge in his judicial capacity, cxhibited to the public, all of the splen- itic invective, which the rancorous mind of nar- rowness, founded for the instrument of public calamity, and supported by a power directly con- trary to the will of the people, could possibly sug- gest !" The charge he thought was "formed chiefly by plagiarism exhibited in incoherent man- ner and was a long jargon of nonsense in which his honor's ignorance was conspicuous." This letter is a fair specimen of the sweet temper of the debates of those days.
General Wayne's letter of August 28th, an- nouncing to the Secretary of War his victory of the 20th, is published in full on November Stli. Accompanying this letter is the correspondence between Wayne and Major Campbell command- ing the British post on the banks of the Miami with the statement : "Had Mr. Campbell'carried liis threats into execution it is more than prob- able lie would have experienced a storm."
On November 15th the printer announces that from the uncertainty of the arrival of the post and by the request of a number of subscribers of the Centinel he is induced to fill the first or part of the first page of each week's paper with the laws of the Territory, "which we hope will be agrecable and useful to the citizens of this Ter- ritory." As a result, the paper resembles a "Con- gressional Record" of the time when some stren- nous Senator is trying to. thwart a vote. The first law of course is that regulating the militia and the second is that establishing the General Courts of Quarter Sessions of the Peace.
Under date of Cincinnati, November 15th, ap- pears the following interesting news item which no doubt was well understood by all the readers :
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"He whom the Cap fits may wear it." "AN INUENDO."
"An ill natured Grogorian more famed for his impudence and loquacity, than politeness or men- tal acquirements, in a nocturnal ramble swag- gered into a room occupied by a select company, and without ceremony or introduction, insulted them with his .(as he termed them) political ob- servations; which give occasion for him in a proper manner to be shewn the door. Away went Momus grumbling, and muttering revenge; and having procured a knife and brace of pistols, the first offensive, the latter defensive weapons, posted himself at a back door leading into the 'above mentioned apartment ; after being there a few minutes he discovered in an adjacent garden, a statue resembling Cato, in the attitude which that Philosopher and Patriot is figured when ut- tering his soliloquy on the immortality of the soul, which he believing to be a real person who might be the means of his being detected, should he persist in the prosecution of his intended enter- prise, crept in rear of the statue, and aimed a deadly blow ; but at the same time observing he was discovered by some of the family vociferated, 'damn my soul, but the first is this, you have in- sulted me without provocation, and by God I'll have satisfaction in a honorable way, &c., &c.' The servants who had been witnesses to this ro- mantic scene of chivalry made report to the mas- ter and beged leave to chestisc the insolent in- .truder. 'Do not mind him,' replied the master, 'before Cato flinches he will find himself foibled.' "A NEIGHBOUR."
Robert Benham advertises eight dollars re- ward for a negro man named Will who ran away from him on the Ohio three miles above the mouth of Licking River.
Several notices appear of the finding ot rifle guns which can be had by proving ownership and paying charges.
On November 18th Oliver Spencer, judge of Probate of Columbia, notifies persons who have taken upon themselves the administering of the estates of the deceased, to render accounts of the settlement of the estates.
The paper at this time is full of proclamations, letters, poems and news items referring to the in- surrection in Western Pennsylvania which seems to have excited even the Northwest Territory so far remote from the scene of the contest.
On November 29th is announced the arrival of Capt. Israel Ludlow who informs the editor that
his excellency, Arthur St. Clair, may be hourly expected.
Winthrop Sargent, acting Governor, publishes the appointments of Timothy Symmes and Ste- phen Wood as justices of the peace and Aaron Cadwell, commissioner for granting licenses vice William McMillan and John S. Gano resigned. Isaac Darneille is appointed attorney for the United States, Hamilton County, vice Israel F. Freeman, resigned.
A number of changes are recorded in the mil- itia including such names as William Ritten- house, Robert Whealing ( Wheelan), Garret Van- nice, Celadon Symmes, Samuel Seward, James Lyon, Uzuel Bates, Samuel Dick, Darius C. Or- cutt, John Schooly, John Riddle, Seth Cutter, James Cox, John Brown, John Bowman.
This number contains an indignant letter from "Dorastus" upon the custom of adding the title "esquire" to the names of the President, Govern- ors, judges, legislators, magistrates and attorneys. "Dorastus" thinks it as proper to annex that of duke, baron, marquis, earl or knight to their respective offices; for the English dictionary ex- plains the meaning of the term as "armour bearer of a knight; a title of dignity, & next in degree below a knight." "When France once so de- luded in superstition is eradicating from that na- tion, those titles and orders of men calculated only to inslave mankind, Shall not this great American nation; (whose fame for liberty and equeal freedom, is resounded from east to west, & from north to south-that has caused tyrants to shudder on their thrones-at whom the powers of Europe trembles) endevour to eject all such needless distinction from this happy land?"
To enforce his point "Dorastus" concludes with a high sounding poem in honor of manly worth.
On December 6th the death of two men at the hands of Indians within four miles of Columbia and the wounding of another man within one and a half miles of this place are given as "convine- ing proofs that those yellow savages are not like- ly to come to a treaty."
To vary the monotony of the territorial laws, the printer begins the publication of official docu- ments and State papers.
On December 13th appears the following item : "The Printing Office is removed from where it was formerly kept, to the house lately occupied by Capt. Levi Woodward, on the top of the sec- ond bank."
Stephen Reeder on December 20, 1794, offers "For Sale-The house formerly occupied by the
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subscriber, situate on Syeamore. street, between third and fourth streets. It is a neat log house and very eligant situated, standing high and dry, with a commodious kitehen adjoining thereto. For terms apply to Mr. James Ferguson in Cin- einnati, or to the subscriber, at his farm."
Thomas Gibson "offers for sale Elegant Epau- lettes for the gentlemen of the army.'
A very interesting advertisement is the follow- ing in the same issue :
"The Subseriber, Begs leave to inform the pub- lic, that he intends to open shool ( sic ) on Monday the 22d of this inst. in the house lately occupied by David Williams, nearly opposite James For- guson's store, where he proposes to educate youth in the following seienees and mathematical branches, viz: reading, writing, arithmetic, book- keeping, trigonometry, mensuration of super- ficials and solids, dialing, gauging surveying, navigation, elements of geometry, and algebra.
"The parents and friends of all such as are committed to liis trust, may depend on his utmost care and best endeavours to form their tender minds to a love of learning and virtue ; He like- wise will employ every opportunity in ground- ing his pupels in the practical parts of the above. "STUART RICHEY."
"CINCINNATI, December 19, 1794."
This issue contains also a communication to the editor from Winthrop Sargent, enclosing a letter written by him notifying the publie that he will prevent the surveying of lands within the unex- tinguished elaims of the Indians.
The arrival of Governor St. Clair at Marietta makes it possible to announce his resumption of the administration of his government within the Territory.
Four Indian chiefs are reported as having come to Greenville for the purpose of treating.
This issue is printed on very coarse gray paper which is explained by the editor as fol- lows: "Being disappointed in getting of paper according to expectation, has obliged us to Print on so bad quality.
"We hope our subscribers will consider the great inconvenience that we labour under in pro- curing paper at so far a distance from where it is manufactured."
The scareity of paper was evidently not re- lieved for some weeks, for the next few issues are printed on a very small page.
The issue of. December 27th contains the fol- lowing :
"Mr. Maxwell,
"Be pleased to give the following a place in your paper-Dee. 24th, 1794 :
"The Secretary of this Territory announces the arrival of his Exeelleney Governour St. Clair at Marietta, in the county of Washington; au- thentic information of which and his resuming his official duties was not received, until the last evening-therefore your publication upon this subjeet in the paper of last Saturday was prema- ture-In all your communications Mr. Maxwell, where the interests of the Territory may be af- feeted, greatest precision is essential, to the faith- ful discharge of your duties to the public as well as to the reputation of the press.
"WINTHROP SARGENT."
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This announcement of the printer seems to have stirred up considerable feeling, for Mr. Sar- gent's letter is immediately followed by another which is unsigned, complaining that the publica- tion of a proclamation by the Secretary followed immediately by the announcement that Governor St. Clair "was then in the administration of his government within the Territory," virtually charged the Secretary with violating one or more of the penal statutes and obliquely dashed at the Governor himself, because he had not given official communication to his representative. The indignant correspondent also complains that Mr. Maxwell's informant, a Mr. Ormsby, denied that he had given any such information so that as "the governour's publie conduct is so generally marked with propriety, THAT DECEPTION grows in our view to an arrant falsehood, apparently eal- culated for very nefarious purposes." Mr. Max- well prints the letter with the comment that "why Governour St. Clair's being within the Territory and in the administration of his government should exeite surprise is in itself truely surpris- ing. Why this should be an oblique dash on the Governour is a matter of astonishment." He re- fers to the news that the Governor was at Mari- etta and intended to reside there during the win- ter, "which was a pleasure to every good citizen of the county which could only have been height- ened by his having chosen his residence within the county of Hamilton. Whether the Secretary had official notice of this and how far official notice was necessary let politicians determine."
On January 3, 1795, is noted the arrival of "John Cleves Symmes, Esq one of the territorial judges, with his Lady and daughter."
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The unfortunate announcement of the arrival of the Governor will not down "A Citizen" who complains of the ambiguous and unintelligible anonymous publication, of the week previous, which it is suggested was dictated by the "Hon- ourable Secretary" himself. Mr. Maxwell's de- signs in giving the public the information were approved of. "The Governour's arrival without doubt gives the most pleasant sensations to every breast that is friendly to the prosperity of this country, and that feels an interest in the happi- ness of its citizens. I can with assurance assert that none feel unhappy at the Governour's ad- ministration in person, but those who are ene- mies to our rising consequence, and would feel pleasure in cutting of from the general mass of the community, the avenues leading to wealth and happiness."
Aaron Cadwell one of the commissioners for granting licenses issues a proclamation warning citizens against opening stores, taverns and houses for retailing and vending and opposing for sale dry goods and groceries without be- ing duly authorized therefor.
That the Governor is at last in the Territory is made apparent from a proclamation forwarded by Sargent to the printer issued by the Governor, convening thic Legislature at the city of Marietta of March 10th next ensuing.
John Lee of Woodford County, Kentucky, ad- vertises for his mulatto slave John who was at- tired in "a dark snuff coloured coat with long skirts, and mettle buttons, linen overalls and shoes boots."
On January 10, 1795, it is announced that there are 20 Indian chiefs and five squaws come to Fort Wayne in order to hold a treaty.
Judge Symmes announces from North Bend that deeds will very soon be given to owners of scctions and fractions of land which have been paid for and notifies all claimants of forfeitures that they must "fence and clear in a proper man- ner, & plant with corn and duly cultivate two acres of land on a forfeiture in the course of the next season."
The arrival of a French trader at Fort Wayne with 25 horse loads of goods from Detroit in or- der to trade with the army is announced on Jan- uary 17th.
T. Goudy, the attorney, publishes a lengthy notice requiring debtors in the number of his clients to settle their accounts. He takes occa- . sion to inform his friends that some malicious in- sinuations that he has taken pleasure in arrest- ing officers of the United States Legion were
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not well founded as "no person would have taken more trouble to answer the purpose without even appeal to law than he has done." In all cases he had previously sent a note to the officers but his friendly notice was treated with disgust and contempt. "This has induced him to believe that all officers are not men of honour and that men of prostituted principles, do sometimes ob- tain a place in the army, who are a disgrace to that honourable profession."
On January 12th Judge Symmes publishes a notice to all persons having claims to lots in North Bend to present their claims before May first to receive their deeds.
Elijah Craig, Jr., announces for the benefit of the "gentlemen, merchants and emigrants of Kentucky, that he will be at the mouth of Ken- tucky River on the first day of February next with his sufficient number of boats to transport all goods &c. which they may think proper to intrust him with up the river." His charges were,-to Frankfort 50 cents per hundred, to Slukes' warehouse 75 cents, to Warwock 100 cents, and to Dyck's River 125 cents.
The controversy with relation to the arrival of the Governor in the Territory evidently reached Greenville for a volunteer writes from that place to the issue of January 24th that he conceives it to be the duty of the printer to announce the ar- rival of the territorial officers and other court men intelligibly. The correspondent was one of that class who hailed with satisfaction the Gov- ernor's return and who believed him to be a good and great man. He had been long enough in the Territory to learn that the "envenomed shafts of slander have been leveled at governours and judges and that but few officers herein have es- caped the lash of the unbridled .tongue of the calumniator."
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