USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 1 > Part 71
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"He teaches particularly, the Minuet Cotillion, : Cotillion, French and English Sets, in all their various and ornamental branches-Exclusive of which, he teaches the most fashionable Country
Dances and the City Cotillion, taught in New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore .- His terms are three dollars entrance, and five at the ex- piration of their quarter.
"N. B. Mr. Haughton also teaches some fa- vorite Scottish Reels."
The dancing school was to commence every morning at ten o'clock and in the evening from seven to nine he taught gentlemen who could not attend in the day.
The issue of January 7, 1800, announces as follows :
"SETH CUTTER" "Tavernkeeper"
"Through the channel of the SPY begs leave to inform the friend and the public, that he has returned to his house on Main street, where every nerve shall be exerted to accommodate and give satisfaction to all who may please to honor him with their custom.
"CINCINNATI, January 7, 1800."
The following is an advertisement asking for recruits: "ATTENTION-Come unto me all ye who labor, and I will give you rest. A RE- CRUITING RENDEZVOUS is established at FORT WASHINGTON, under the direction of Captain Vance, where all those who are am- bitious to serve their country in the HONOR- ABLE CHARACTER of SOLDIERS, may have an opportunity of being gratified, provided they bring with them good characters as citizens, and SOUND CONSTITUTIONS, unimpaired by vicious habits.
"An abundant supply of WHISKEY, FOOD and . CLOTHING, of the best quality- TWELVE DOLLARS BOUNTY, and from FIVE to TEN DOLLARS per month-com- fortable quarters, and a life of case, certainly ouglit not to be sneezed at.
"FORT WASHINGTON, January 10, 1800.
"N. B. Punishment is to be expected where vicious conduct may render that disagreeable measure necessary."
An item significant of the habits of the day long before gambling on elections had been dig- nified by the newspapers appeared in the issue of April 9, 1800: "Notice! Refrain from gambling ! The vice and immorality bill goes in force on the first of May next !"
On June 25th is published the following : "A child of James Walker, born blind and only five years old, is visited by crowds of people for his great sagacity and foresight. He foretold
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the yellow fever in New York and Philadelphia last season, and also the present scarcity of bread in Europe. He says that before the year 1808, the jacobins are to swarin into our country, to overthrow the present government and to put to death the clergy and the religious of both sexes ; that having effected this revolution they will then fall out for the supremacy, and finally de- stroy each other with the sword; after which the present government will be restored and the country flourish for one hundred years."
On July 16, 1800, is recorded the finding of a blacksmith's anvil "which was taken up floating on the Ohio on Saturday last !".
At the same time those desiring to join a vol- unteer light infantry company are requested to meet at Mr. Yeatman's tavern.
A notice of December 27th is as follows : "Those gentlemen and ladies who feel disposed to patronize a SINGING SCHOOL, will please to convene at the Court house, to-morrow even- ing, at candle light. As it is proposed to have singing, they will please bring their books with them."
John Smith of Columbia seems to have suf- fered much from attacks as indicated by the following notice, which appeared February 1Ith : "To all it may concern. Be it remembered that I, Richard Downes, having reported that John Smith, of Columbia, did, in the course of last summer, pass a number of bank notes, with an in- tention of deception and fraud. These are to certify, that as I never heard any thing alleged to the disadvantage of Mr. Smith's character, by others, in the above affair, and as I never knew any thing myself of it, or discovered any thing in the conduct of Mr. Smith to justify the calumny-that slanderous report is unfounded and unjust, and which I foolishly published at the instance of one of Mr. Smith's inveterate enemies, as I am willing to declare on oath whenever I am called on. Witness my hand, this first day of February, 1801."
A very remarkable advertisement appears at a little later time :
"PUBLIC UTILITY. A COMPANY of persons having, at considerable expense of time and trouble, recently invented a machine capable of propelling a boat against stream with consid- erable velocity, by the power of steam or elastic vapor, and entertaining the opinion, that if re- duced to practice, great advantage must flow from it to the country, as it will afford a regular and easy conveyance, for property down the vari-
ous navigable rivers, and a safe and speedy return, either in specie, or the produce of the country below ; take the liberty of soliciting the aid of the public, the better to enable them to carry into effect an invention which promises to be of so general utility.
"Nor is the invention confined to boats alone ; it is equally applicable to mills, and other me- chanical works. It is the wish of many of the respectable inhabitants of the county, that those persons who feel a disposition to patronize' the above undertaking, will please to meet on Fri- day evening, the 26th inst., at Mr. Yeatman's in this place, at 6 o'clock, P. M. They will then have an opportunity to judge of the propriety of the undertaking, and to offer to it that aid which it may be found to merit."
This same subject is referred to in an adver- tisement at a little later time as follows :
"TO THE PUBLIC. We, the subseribers, Samuel Heighway and John Pool, at the request of a number of gentlemen, who have expressed a wish for the bringing into effect a mechanical project, constructed for the propelling of boats against the stream of rivers, tides and currents, by the power of STEAM, or ELASTIC VA- POR, of which we are proprietors, propose bring- ing it into immediate use, by the aid of voluntary subscriptions, from those public spirited persons who may feel disposed to patronize so important a discovery. From every probable calculation, the commodities of trade may be conveyed to and from any place of inland situation, at one third of the expense which the same service can pos- sibly be done for, by the tedious method at pres- ent pursued. The excellency of the construction is such that it will very little incommode the stowage of the vessel, as it will not occupy more than one-tenth part thereof, and may be pur- chased by traders in general, at the moderate suni of about seven hundred dollars. It is equally applicable to mills in dry seasons, when the water is insufficient, by supplying it. Anticipating the many advantages which the Western country will derive from the discovery, if reduced to prac- tice, it is particularly recommended by several gentlemen, as above, to the attention of the pub- lic, to give it that sanction and support which they think it merits."
At a meeting of Republicans held on March 20th at Mr. Menessier's hotel to celebrate the election of Mr. Jefferson to the presidency, Citi- zen John Cleves Symmes presided. One of the toasts was the following: "The late Mr. Washı-
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4II
ington. May his memory and time prove co- eval. (The company roept and wiped their eyes.) Air, dead march."
The passing of the first sea vessel on April 27, 1801, is recorded as follows: "Anchored off this place on Monday afternoon, the brig St. Clair, commodore Whipple commander, of one hun- dred tons burthen. She was built at Marietta, and is allowed by good judges to be well built, and a handsome vessel. She is completely rigged and ready for sea-her cargo is the produce of the country-she is bound for some of the West Indian islands.
"On her arrival the banks were crowded with people, all eager to view this pleasing presage of the future greatness of our infant country. This is the first vessel which has descended the Ohio equipped for sea."
A curious complaint is made by a correspond- ent on May 20th, about women bringing their children to church and not carrying them out when they cry. "Nothing, is more disagreeable, to either speaker or hearer, than the bawling of children ; but some persons will hear the sermon, even though it should be at the expense of every other person present. It would be well, also, if persons were to leave off hammering on frying- pans, during divine service."
The Fourth of July was celebrated this year by one party at Yeatman's and another at a spring on the bank of the Ohio just above Deer creek bridge. A broad rock served as a table. Citizen John Cleves Symmes acted as president and Citizen Dr. William Goforth, as vice-presi- dent of the day. The meetings have all been re- ferred to in an earlier chapter.
A town meeting was called September 30th, "to take into consideration the propriety of hav- ing the town incorporated, at Mr. Yeatman's tavern, this evening."
A new kind of dun was in the following lan- guage: "To subscribers .- Wanted immediately, A QUANTITY OF CASH, for which receipts will be given, and credits entered at the highest price. Enquire of Carpenter & Findlay, Spy office. October 10, 1801."
On September 23rd, Levi McLean once more "advertises his singing school, one dollar for thirteen nights, or two dollars per quarter ; sub- scribers to find their own wood and candles."
On December 19th, the Cincinnati Theatre which had been announced in the issue of Septem- ber 30, 1801, published an appeal to subscribers to advance the sum of 25 cents on each ticket,
and offers to sell single tickets for that night only for 50 cents each.
The same number contains a call for a public meeting to take measures for procuring a fire en- gine. This was in consequence of the many fires which were thought to be of incendiary origin.
The first library, an account of which is given elsewhere, is noted on March 6, 1802. Louis Kerr acted as the librarian.
The death of Martha Washington, April 26, 1802, was the subject of a half column of the Spy printed in mourning on May 22, 1802.
Andrew. Jackson offers $50 reward for his negro slave George who had escaped from his plantation on the Cumberland River.
The opening of a school for young ladies is announced as follows: "Mrs. Williams begs leave to inform the inhabitants of Cincinnati, that she intends opening a school in the house of Mr. Newman, saddler, for young ladies, on the following terms: reading, 250 cents; reading and sewing, $3; reading, sewing, and writing, 350 cents per quarter."
Andrew Brannon having published that the partnership existing between him and his wife Alice had been dissolved by mutual consent and warning the public not to trust her receives a reply in the next issue as follows :
"The other side of the story .- Whereas, All- drew Brannon has advertised the public not to credit me on his account, it becomes my duty to state, that I have never yet stood in need of his credit. When I married him, it was in hopes of a home for my old age, which is fast approach- ing; but how have I been disappointed ! He has lived off my means, refused to contribute to my expenses, and treated me with great unkindness. I leave this fellow to his own reflections, con- fident, if he is not lost to every sense of feeling, they will be a sufficient punishment for his con- duct to me.
"ALICE GLEN."
Another item of the paper gives the descrip- tion of a peach tree in the garden of Col. John Armstrong of Columbia, which bore fruit nearly as big as a half bushel and which weighed from 20 to 25 pounds. It is evident from this that there has been a deterioration of the peach trees in the neighborhood in the past century.
Notice is given to the public that "Martin Baum & Company declined business in Cincin- nati on the 6th day of October last."
On September 18, 1801, are announced the Cincinnati races where "will be run for on the
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first Tuesday of October next, over a hand- some course near this place, a purse of one hun- dred dollars." It is also stated that a purse of $50 would be run for on the next day and on Thursday there would be a sweepstake.
An idea of the prices of food products at the beginning of the century can be obtained from the advertising columns and market reports which appear from time to time.
On August 27, 1800, William and M. Jones announce that "as flower is getting very cheap, they have enlarged their loaf to four pounds, which is sold at one-eighth of a dollar per loaf, or flour pound for pound, payable every three months." In October we are informed that Im- perial or Gunpowder tea was $3 per pound, Hy- son, $2.25, Hyson-skin, $1.50, and Bohea, $1; loaf sugar, 44 cents, pepper, 75 and allspice, 50. The Natchez and New Orleans markets con- trolled the prices of many articles. In Decem,
ber at Natchez, cotton was $22 to $24 per cwt .; tobacco, $3 to $4 per cwt .; castings, 10 cents per lb., and bar iron, 10 to 1212 cents ; bacon, 10 to II cents per lb .; pork $12 to $14 per bbl .; flour, $12; whiskey, 62 cents per gallon ; lime, 50 cents per bushel ; unshelled corn, 50 cents per bushel.
In September of the following year we learn that salt was worth $2 per bushel ; saltpetre, 371/2 cents per lb. ; powder, 75 cents; lard, 1212; and tar, 50 cents per gallon. Natchez prices of about the same time gave cotton at $21 ; salt pork, $13 per bbl .; flour, $8; whiskey, 75 cents per gallon ; corn, $1 per bushel ; lime, 75 cents ; bacon, 121/2 cents per lb; and nails, 25 cents, castings, 12 cents, and bar iron 141/2 cents per lb.
New Orleans prices in January, 1802, gave sugar at 7 to 8 cents per lb .; indigo, $1.75 per 1b .; flour, $4 ; fine blue, black, brown and mixed cloths, $1.50 to $2 per yard.
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CHAPTER XXV.
THE TOWN OF CINCINNATI (1802-1819.)-I. CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTS.
CINCINNATI IN 1802 -THE TOWN IN 1804 -MANSFIELD-HILDRETH -ASHE-SCHULTZ - CUMING- CUTLER'S PICTURE, "CINCINNATI IN 1809 "-L'HOMMEDIEU-DRAKE'S "NOTICES CONCERNING CINCINNATI "- MELISH -CINCINNATI IN 1812 -STREETS IN 1814-DRAKE'S "CINCINNATI IN 1815 "-FLINT - THOMAS -CINCINNATI IN 1817 - BIRKBECK - PALMER - REMINISCENCES OF "OLD MAN."
The first period of Cincinnati's history as a municipal corporation is that from 1802 to 1819. During this period of time the settlement re- joiced in the dignity of a town. The township organization was continued for the purposes us- ually incident to such a political subdivision but all administrative authority over the town was taken from the township officials and from the courts. At this time the history of Cincinnati as a self-governing community may be said to begin.
CINCINNATI IN 1802.
The town was incorporated by the act of Janu- ary I, 1802, and corporate power was vested in a president, recorder and seven trustees who formed the Select Council. By the act itself David Ziegler was appointed the first president and Jacob Burnet the recorder. Ziegler's ap- pointment was ratified by the people and he served the full terni.
It is very fortunate that we have a sketch of the town made in the first year of its corporate existence which gives some idea as to its phy- sical appearance. This sketch gives a view of the settlement extending from the residence of the postmaster, William Ruffin, at the foot of Lawrence street to a point about opposite the end
of Vine street, which was then not cut through to the river. Immediately west of Major Ruffin's residence was the large enclosure known as the ar- tificers' yard which must have been about on the eastern boundary of the present Public Landing. Back of Ruffin's house are shown the houses of Judge Daniel Symmes (mayor, 1808-09), Mr. Prince ( mayor, 1804) and Mr. Wade. They are on the bluff above the pond just back of the artificers' yard. The house at the northwest corner of Front and Broadway was that of Charles Vattier where the first store was kept by Captain Bartle. Next west came the houses of James Smith, first sheriff, Gen. James Findlay (mayor, 1805-06 and 1810-11), Dr. Selman and Connor's store, afterwards Mr. Greene's dwell- ing, the residence and store of David Ziegler (mayor 1803-04) and adjoining it on the north- east corner of Front and Sycamore was Griffin Yeatman's tavern on lot 27. In a room of this tavern already described by Judge Burnet was later an exhibition of wax figures. At the time of Burr's visit to Cincinnati, there were figure's of Burr and Hamilton in the duel scene. In front of the large indentation known as Yeat- man's Cove, the landing place of the first set- tlers, was moored the market house. According to Ludlow's plat, this cove ran almost entirely
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across the landing. In the cove itself and at the head of it was a little hut built by a quiet, resolute young fellow named Smith who after- wards married a Miss Folger. ( Reminiscences of Jonathan Lyon.)
The first house at the northwest corner of Front and Sycamore was Martin Baum's and a little west came that of Samuel Stitt; here a year later was the Miami Exporting Company's bank building. Then came a double house occu- pied on the east by Rev. John W. Browne and on the west by Jesse Hunt's store and then, adjoin- ing, Jesse Hunt's residence. On the northeast corner of Front and Main was Colonel Gibson's large house, subsequently used by Major Stan- ley's store and on the Public Landing south was the store of Weaver, in the little structure built by Williams on the landing and after used as the Town House for the meetings of the Select Coun- cil. Between it and the river is one and at the cove the other of the two great sycamores. The latter tree gave its name to the street at whose foot it stood. On the bank of the river south of Water street was Riddle's blacksmith shop. On the north side of Water near Main was a large barn and stable owned by Joel Williams and just west on the same street was Joel Williams' tavern, where the Democrats then called the "Sons of Saint Tammany" held their annual festival on May Day. On the northwest corner of Front and Main called Kidd's Corner was Israel Ludlow's house, the first frame; then came the houses of Dr. Stall and Dr. Ramsey and then the Green Tree Hotel with the figures "1796" on the side; with the green tree which gave it its name in front. On the northeast cor- ner of Front and Walnut was the house of Mr. Dick and on the northwest corner, that of Sam- nel Best, the watchmaker. West on Front was the Avery house and still farther the Anderson house. A little up on Main street on the upper level just over the top of the Green Tree Hotel is shown the first Presbyterian Church at the corner of Fourth and Main streets. Fort Wash- ington is placed altogether too far back from the river and as a result the picturesque appearance . of which so many writers speak is entirely lost. It should stand just over the residences of Vat- tier and Smith, directly on the bank beyond the frog pond shown in the picture, almost directly west of the houses of Symmes, Prince and Wade. Dr. Allison's residence was of the site now occu- pied by the Foster home on Ludlow street and in all probability, if the fort had been placed in its proper position in the picture, would have
been invisible from the point of view from which the picture is taken.
The Court House with the market place in front and the jail and village school house can by a considerable stretch of the imagination be selected from the little structures in the back- ground placed without much regard to the street lines. Menessier's vineyard, however, is omitted as is also the market house built over the cove. In the extreme background at the right is shown a little house just beyond the fort which is prob- ably intended for Sargent's residence. The woods, however, are all too far back and the houses which were in the main built of logs have too modern an appearance. The second bank is not indicated with sufficient distinctness west of Vine street. This bank extended west to Elm where one ridge turned almost due west and the other southwest. On the north side of Third running west of Plum, the original bank can still be seen.
The lack of any knowledge of perspective on the part of the artist detracts somewhat from the accuracy of the picture. Of course, as Mr. Ford well says, there are not enough buildings to accommodate the nine hundred inhabitants (more or less) in the town at that time but the general effect of the picture showing the different levels of the city and the hills in the background is very striking.
An effort has been made to correct the inac- curacies of the picture in a painting recently made for this work by the artist, Rudolph Tschudi. This painting, the property of James Wilson Bullock, has been reproduced for the benefit of the readers of this work. It has been submitted to Robert Ralston Jones for criticism and suggestion as to its ac- curacy and it is confidently believed that the picture not only has an artistic merit above that usually found in works of this character but that it is as accurate a representation of Cincin- nati as it appeared from the river in the year 1802 as it is possible to present at this late date. That there were other houses in the village than those shown on the picture goes without saying and their exact location can of course never be known. The houses that are depicted, however, certainly were in the approximate positions shown and the general appearance of the landscape is thonglit to be reproduced with fidelity to the de- scriptions handed down to ns. In fact it is prob- able that although the settlement, which began to increase considerably after 1805, possessed many more houses than those shown and extend-
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ed much more to the west and a little more to the north, the .general appearance of the river front was not very much changed for quite a number of years after the date assigned to Mr. Tschudi's picture.
The descriptions given by the early residents and by visitors agree in the main with each other. They are of interest to-day as throwing light upon the gradual development of the town.
THE TOWN IN 1804.
In an address delivered in the council cham- ber in honor of the 87th anniversary of the Mar- ietta settlement day, which was. celebrated April 7, 1875, A. H. Dunlevy, a pioncer by birth, hav- ing been born in Columbia, December 21, 1793, gave his impressions of Cincinnati at the time he first saw it in 1804 at which time he came with his father, the late President Judge Francis Dunlevy (Dunlavy), to make a visit. He said : "Cincinnati was then a very small place. The hotel where I put up was near the northeast cor- ner of Main and Fifth streets and was kept by one James Conn or rather by his wife who was the most efficient of the family. Here for some years, I was accustomed to stop during the sit- tings of the court, and here I always met, with others, those judges of the Court of Common Pleas not residing in the city. Among these early judges, besides my father, then the pre- siding judge, were Luke Foster, James Silvers, I think, and Dr. Stephen Wood. Judge Goforth also was on the bench, but lived in the city. Here too I frequently met Judge John Cleves Symmes. In the early part of court he was always thronged with purchasers of his lands, and I have seen him, while supping his tea, of which he was ex- cessively fond. writing deeds or contracts and talking with his friends and those who had busi- ness with him all at the same time.
"From the customers of this hotel, I think it was considered the best then in Cincinnati. But at this time the forest trees stood on the south, east, and north of this hotel property. Directly south, across Fifth street, Tom Dugan, an old bachelor who left a large property in Cin- cinnati, had a rough-iron store; and there were very few buildings of any size south along Main street, until the corner of Main and Fourth, where, on the north side, James Ferguson had the best store, I think, then in Cincinnati. The only access to the Ohio where wagons could descend was at the foot of Main street; and this consisted simply of a wide road cut
diagonally down the steep bank of the river. In high water there was no other levee than this road. In low water, however, there was a wide beach; but this could only be reached by this road. It may be there was a similar ap- proach to the river at the foot of Broadway ; but if so, I did not see it. All north of Fifth street, with the exception of one or two houses, was in woods or inclosed lots, without other improve- ments. In coming to Cincinnati from Lebanon, miles of the route were in the woods, out of sight of any improvements; and from Cumminsville, then only a tavern, kept by one Cummins (John, I think), there were but two residences on the road until you came near to Conn's hotel. One of these was the residence of Mr. Cary-I think father of General Samuel Cary, of Hamilton County, so well known." (Cincinnati Pioncer, No. IV, p. 30. )
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