Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 11

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1048

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On January 1, 1822, was opened the Cincin- nati Asylum for the Deaf and Dumb. This was under the instruction of James Chute of the American Asylum of Hartford. Among the officers of this institution were J. L. Wilson, president ; I. G. Burnet and William Stecle, vice- presidents; Thomas Tucker, treasurer; Martin Ruter and F. Keyes, secretaries ; and among the trustees were O. M. Spencer, David Root, Will- iam Burke and Samuel Johnson.

Despite the efforts to keep up the value of the bank paper, specie still remained at a high prem- ium. In April, 1822, by resolution of the Coun- cil, it was determined that specie for two-thirds of the amount should be received in full pay- ment of taxes due the city. In June at the "Bank Note Exchange" of John and G. R. Gil- more, the paper of the Bank of Cincinnati was quoted at 70 and that of the Miami Exporting Company at 6212 to 65.

The subject of the canal excited renewed in- terest during this year. Micajah T. Williams had made his report on the subject of the canal from Lake Erie to the Ohio, which was pub- lished in the papers of January of this year. On June 8th a town meeting was held at the Cin- cinnati Hotel at which the general subject of a canal was discussed at length. Judge Burnet presided and Peyton S. Symmes acted as sec- retary. These with S. W. Davies, Nathan Guil- ford and Ethan Stone were appointed a com- mittee of correspondence to take up the general subject of a survey for a canal from Mad River to the Ohio River.

Another public dinner was given at the Cin- cinnati Hotel (called in the notices "The Hotel") on Wednesday, August 28, 1822, in honor of Henry Clay and Gen. Thomas S. Jessup as a testimony of respect for their public services. General Harrison presided, assisted by Judge Torrence, and many toasts were offered by Nich- olas Longworth, Mr. Hayward, Dr. Drake, Dr. Godman, Moses Brooks, Peyton S. Symmes, William S. Hatch, William Greene and W. H. Harrison, Jr.

This too was the year of the bitter contest for congress between James W. Gazlay and Gen- eral Harrison.

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EARLY POLITICS.

That the politics of the time were of an un- usually spicy character can be inferred from a glance over the few columns of the Indepen- dent 'Press preserved to us. This paper, by far the liveliest of the carly publications, seems to have been in hot water from the very first day of its publication, which was July 4, 1822. Its editor was Solomon S. Smith, and there seems to have been nothing which he regarded as re- served from discussion. His first article was the Declaration of Independence, which was fol- lowed by several paragraphs indicating the thor- ough independence of the sheet. In the second number communications complain of the water works and demand a cleansing of the reservoir, discuss the markets, which were called the two great stables of the city, where had accumu- lated the filth of 30 years, and also a recent meet- ing of citizens at the Court House. A corre- spondent seems to think it very droll to hear Dr. Drake making such remarks "as would in- (luce a stranger to think he was the most peace- able citizen in town and to say that he was ever engaged in a street battle would be profane." The events of the Fourth of July seem to have been as extravagant as they are at present and the editor promises that if the persons who made such beasts of themselves are caught in such a scrape again that they will get a closer pressing than they had already received. Another letter shows that the celebration at the Cincinnati Hotel was so exuberant as to require Colonel Mack to remove the liquors from the bar. An- other party, among whom can be easily distin- guished from the disguised names Griffin Ycat- man, Judge Peter Bell, Judge Torrence and Major Ruffin, celebrated "a real Blow Out" at the reestablished hotel near the Hill market. The correspondent complains that had a meet- ing of this kind been held by the lower classes it would have met with very serious disappro- bration.

On July 18th, we are told under the headline "Daring Outrage," that "early on Tuesday . morning last James W. Gazlay, while peaceably on his way to the market, was personally at- tacked by a ruffian named William 11. Lytle, who was armed with a cudgel and pistol. Mr. G. while slowly retreating defended himself manfully and consequently received but little hurt. We understand that three or four strip- lings of the same stamp were in company with Lytle, two of whom, Lytle having made his es-

cape, were on examination before the mayor bound over for trial. Much excitement is mani- fested in the public mind on the occasion. In a community like this comment is considered unnecessary." This little episode is further dis- cussed in later issues of the paper, although the statement is made that no other paper referred to it for the reason "that the principal person concerned in the business is the son of a general ; and that all his accomplices are persons of qual- ity." The paper is full of references to this little battle. One calls attention to the fact that the best weapon of defense . ever discovered is a basket, another is an advertisement for a quan- tity of good tough elastic hickory timber, an- other for a quantity of maple suitable for pistol stocks and dirk handles.

An advertisement offers to supply doctors, lawyers and dandies with the "most improved knock-em-down canes." Another advertisement offers one cent reward for "a long lank sided flesh colored Puppey who in conjunction with three or four other puppies committed some dep- redations on a gentleman's market basket as he was on his way to market on Tuesday evening last ; for this doggish conduct the gentleman gave him a sound caning, for which he ran off mad."

Another notice advertised for "thirty or forty additional baby faced Dandies to stand at the doors of the Stone Methodist Meeting House and stare the ladies out of countenance as they go in and out. Those without whiskers would be preferred."

WV. 11. Harrison also calls for constant ridi- cule.

The controversy between Lytle and Gazlay resulted in the arrest of General Lytle for send- ing a challenge to fight a duel to Gazlay. The editor calls attention to the fact that the punish- ment for this was confinement in the penitentiary for not more than ten or less than three years. The campaign against General Harrison and his friends was evidently one of the greatest viru- lence. The paper is full of communications, edi- torials, alleged advertisements and notices of the most scurrilous character. A regular depart- ment is an imitation of Tristram Shandy, while another one purports to be a series of articles from the pen of a Philadelphian on a tour through the Western country. These are made the means of attacking the Harrison party in a style by no means without wit. Another depart ment was written in the style of the Bible but pretends to give a narrative of events of the

ـالسيئة فيوعهـ سكان جهديب

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CINCINNATI

town. There is no offense against morals whether public or private which is not charged against the distinguished citizen of North Bend. As a result of the clection Mr. Gazlay succeeded in defeating Harrison, carrying the township by a majority of 493 and the county by a majority of 703. As soon as that election was over, the editor returns with renewed rigor to the attack on Judge Torrence, and "Uncle Toby" and "Corporal Trim" and the traveling "Philadel- phian" and all the correspondents hurl their missiles at his head.

Increased activity in politics is shown at this time by the number of meetings held with re- lation to the nomination of presidential candi- dates. These began with a meeting held on De- cember 7, 1822, at McFarland's Hotel. This was presided over by Isaac G. Burnet, the mayor, with John P. Foote as secretary. De Witt Clinton was endorsed for the presidency and a committee of correspondence consisting of E. P. Langdon, S. W. Davics, Isaac G. Burnet and B. E. Bliss was selected to present his name to the public generally. Another meeting of a sim- ilar character was held about a year later, where again by a vote of 450 to 330 Clinton was cn- dorsed for the presidency and Jackson for the vice-presidency.

Among the deaths noted for the year 1822 was that of the pioneer John S. Gano who dicd on the first day of the year in Covington. An- other prominent man, John H. Piatt, died on February 11, 1822, in the city of Washington.

Anotlier `episode which was sufficiently im- . portant to creep into the scanty news columns of the day was the accident, which almost ter- minated fatally, that happened to a son of Sam- uel Beresford. The boy fell into the river and was taken out for drowned. Fortunately a phy- sician was in the neighborhood and his efforts to resuscitate him were successful. This was made the occasion for an elaborate discussion of the proper treatment of persons supposed to be drowned.

The bridge built by Ethan Stone over Mill creek was carried away by the freshet of Scp- tember, 1822, the most violent known for many years in this vicinity. Mill creek had been swollen by heavy rains at the lead waters and in the course of one night the effect of the freshet was so great as to double the creek in size and wipe out of existence the bridge and the immense pile of masonry in the shape of abutments at its mouth. Two huge sycamore trees in the neighborhood were torn out by their

roots. The effect of the freshet was particularly marked by reason of the fact that the Ohio was quite low at the time. This bridge, although five or six years old, had not been accepted by the county commissioners and as a result the entire loss, more than $10,000, fell upon Mr. Stone and almost ruined him. He was a man of great determination, however, and began the work over again, determined to carry out his obligations under his contract. He put up an- other bridge of very much more elaborate char- acter with stone arches. This was purchased by the county and made a free bridge. The wooden part of the structure was carried away by. the flood of 1832 and floated in company with the Methodist Church, which had come from Marietta, down the Ohio to an island just above Louisville. After some efforts to tow it back it was taken apart and carried back to the city in a flat-boat and reerected. Some years later it was burned.

Possibly the most important events of 1823 were the organization of a volunteer city watch and the Board of Commerce and the burning of the steam mill. The numerous fires which were thought to be of incendiary origin and the bur- glaries which had become quite frequent made the citizens despair of the efforts of the public officials to protect them against crime. As a result of this dissatisfaction a volunteer city watch was organized and included in its num- bers many of the most prominent citizens of the city. According to its arrangement, 13 persons were detached in alphabetical order to go on duty each night. How long this arrangement continued is not known, but for a time at least . its benefits were marked.

On February 14, 1823, appears in the papers of the day a notice to the effect that "the mer- chants of Cincinnati who feel disposed to aid in the establishment of a board of commerce for the purpose of regulating the mercantile trans- actions of the place and to take into considera- tion the propriety of establishing a place of deposit and exchange as a medium through which to transact their business are requested to meet at the Washington Hall on Monday evening next at half past six o'clock." Subsequently a so-called exchange office was established at No. 30 Main street by J. and G. R. Gilmore, brokers.

The most serious calamity that happened to the city in the way of a fire occurred on No- vember 3rd. This was the burning of the great steam mill at that time owned by Oliver Orms- by. At first the volunteer fire department at-

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tempted to cope with the flames but their efforts were without avail and the building was prac- tically destroyed, with an estimated loss of over $100,000. This was regarded as a very serious matter, as this institution was one of the centers of the manufacturing interests of the town. Much complaint was made with reference to the fact that the general body of onlookers made no effort to assist the fire department in the work of putting down the flames. Citizens were re- minded that in other towns fire wardens were armed with swords which they used mercilessly to drive all bystanders into the ranks. This fire resulted in the establishment of the Cincin- nati Steam Mill Lottery, under the superinten- dence of Samuel Patterson and James Reynolds, commissioners appointed by the Court of Com- mon Pleas of Hamilton County. This lottery offered $80,000 in prizes and its advertisements read very much as do those of the present day.

In 1824 the city was much exercised in behalf of the Grecks. A number of enteratinments were given for the benefit of the patriot cause and public meetings in their behalf were quite numerous. The Thespian Corps once more ap- peared in a play and the Euterpian Society gave a concert. W. H. Harrison delivered orations and Peyton S. Symmes wrote poems and the most prominent citizens figured in .committees of correspondence.

Another performance of the Thespian Corps assisted by the Thespian Corps of Newport and several by the professional actors of the theatre was given on the 25th of March for the benefit of the John Cleves Symmes polar expedition.

At a meeting held this year (1824) by the Jackson adherents, Judge Bell presided and Will- iam Barr acted as secretary. Col. William Piatt was nominated as the Jackson clector. A little later a public meeting was held by the friends of the Adamses, which selected Elisha Hotch- kiss as the candidate for elector. Benjamin Basset presided at this meeting and D. C. Wal- lace as secretary. Mr. Clay's friends also held a meeting at which Ethan Stone and Daniel Roc officiated and it was determined to support such elector as should be selected by the proper com- mittee. At the presidential election held this fall, the voting was for the first time by wards. Previous to that time the whole city had voted at the mayor's office on Third street.

An ordinance passed November 17, 1824, in- dicates the reverence in which the Sabbath day, commonly called Sunday, was held. Its first provision made it unlawful for any minor or

other person to play at marbles, pitch quoits, or to engage in any other game or sport on that day. The second section was even more com- prehensive. It provided that it should be un- lawful to fly any kite in the city .or to kick any football, roll any hoop, play at the game com- monly called shinny or engage in any other play or sport. Fortunately the boys of the day did not have to go very far to get outside the town limits.

The year 1825 was noteworthy for the break- ing of ground of the Miami Canal at Middle- town. Almost 31 miles of this canal from Main street to the Middletown dam were nearly fin- ished during the following year.

The Longworth place, afterwards the Sinton residence, now occupied by Charles P. Taft, for so many years known as the Martin Baum house, was erected in 1825. Baum, however, lived in it but a short time. The financial distress of the time overwhelmed him, as he had placed all his confidence in the United States Bank. On Sep- tember 18, 1826, he deeded the place to the bank. It was afterwards occupied as a young ladies' school and finally purchased from the bank in 1828 by Nicholas Longworth, who lived there until his death in 1863. His son Joseph lived in the house until 1869, when it was sold to Mr. Sinton. Pitts Burt describes the style of the house as "later colonial, or rather of a transition period, from the square house without the door porch to the pseudo-classic, when the facade was in evolution, before the stucco Greek temple was used to mark an ordinary two-storied dwelling, square windows, balconies, and all. That is, between the rare Carneal house in Lud- low and the Williamson house on Third street. The special changes are readily noted. The main portion, or center, has grown half a story, lighted by two oval openings on cach side of the facade, and the roof has lost some of its pitch. It has pushed out two long, low wings on the front line, usually to be found reaching to the rear. Then the whole house has risen from the ground somewhat, disclosing windows. The cel- lar has become a basement. The approach has widened by the force of the door porch, which is led up to by nine stone steps. Two wooden columns, close together on each side at the cor- ners, support the pediment which crowns the portico. The door, where the character of a house is so strongly told, has suffered a base 'alteration' and no longer holds the half-wheeled transoms that once must have been the greatest ornament of the house. This change belongs

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to a late period. Otherwise, in the main, the house is intact. The length of the body, with the two fine arms it stretches out, is 120 feet, and height in good proportion. The building is made of wood, put on smooth and painted white. The pose and dignity are its best feature and effect. An air hangs about the broad founda- tion and wide halls of rest and recreation, and beauty of fitness.'

TIIE VISIT OF LAFAYETTE.

The most notable event of the year 1825 was the visit to the city on the 19th of May of General the Marquis de Lafayette, accompanied by his son. The distinguished foreigners were making a tour of the country and approached the city from Lexington, Kentucky, where they had stopped to visit Henry Clay. A deputation of citizens was appointed to meet them on the other side of the river and escort them to Cincin- nati. The river was crossed in an elaborately decorated barge rowed by six prominent citi- zens. Strange to say the party arrived on this side in safety. It was met and welcomed at the landing by Governor Morrow and General Har- rison in company with the officials of the city, including a special committee of the Council,- Calvin Fletcher, Lewis Howell and Oliver Lov- ell: The occasion had brought thousands of people here from the country and all within a circuit of one hundred miles seemed to be on hand. The whole Publie Landing between Main street and Broadway and Front street and the river was densely crowded with men, women and children and the windows, balconies and roofs of the buildings fronting the river were alive with people waving their welcome. As the party landed the band played "Hail to the Chief" and the crowd cheered vociferously. Governor Morrow delivered an address welcom- ing him to the city and State after which he entered a fine open phaeton owned by Maj. Dan- iel Gano and drawn by six magnificent bay horses. This was the only equipage of such magnificence in the city and it preceded a vast procession including Captain Brinkerhoff's Ar- tillery, Captain Avery's Infantry, Captain Harri- son's Lafayette Greys, Captain Emerson's Guards and companies from other points to the corner of Front and Broadway. Here had been erected a platform from which General Harri- son delivered an address of welcome to which Lafayette responded with much feeling. Another address of the day was that of Joseph S. Benham, at that time distinguished as an orator.

He had been selected to represent the people iu welcoming the great Frenchman and delivered a great oration upon the "Old Court House " grounds before a most numerous concourse of people, which was pronounced by the multitude as a great effort, entitling Benham to be en- rolled among the chief orators of the land.

Benham was a Kentuckian, a large and portly man, standing almost six feet five inches high with large head and dark auburn flowing hair, broad shoulders and capacious and "unbounded" stomach, covered by a large buff vest and brown broadcloth frock coat. He had a graceful and casy delivery and his voice was extremely deep but melodious, and according to a narrator the occasion was a most impressive one. (Carter's "Old Court House.")

In the evening Major Gano's orchard was utilized for a public reception and afterwards a ball was given at the Cincinnati Hotel and at- tended by people of the city prominent in social, business and professional life. One of the in- vitations to this ball preserved by the Ohio His- torical and Philosophical Society reads as fol- lows :

LAFAYETTE BALL.

The Honor of Miss Salina Morris' Company is requested. Cincinnati May 1825.

MANAGERS.

Hon. J. Burnet, C. C. Febiger,

Gen. W. H .. Harrison, D. K. Este,

Gen. J. Findlay, W. C. Rogers,

Gen. W. Lytle, E. Woodruff,

Col. M. Piatt, A. Irwin,

Col. S. Macfarland, W. R. Foster,

Maj. W. Oliver, W. S. Hatch,

M. Neville, J. G. Worthington,

D. Kilgour, J. S. Lytle,

P. S. Symmes, C. Macalister.

A special feature of the visit was the organi- zation of a new lodge of Free Masons called Lafayette No. I, of which the distinguished Frenchnan was elected an honorary member. Upon the occasion of his death to years later his obsequies were publicly celebrated by this or- ganization.

Lafayette remained until midnight of the fol- lowing day, when he departed by the river. Mr. L'Hommedien tells us that "the day of his ar- rival, as well as that which followed, and his departure at midnight, will be remembered, by those who witnessed the scenes, as long as their memories last. All was grand; but the closing scene, at twelve o'clock at night, with the illu-

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mination on both sides of the river, the crowd of many thousands of our people on the landing, the beautiful display made by all the steamboats in port, the procession of military companies, the firing of cannon from our landing, from the boats, and from the arsenal at Newport, with the martial music, seems to me, after the lapse of fifty years, the most brilliant sight of my life." (L'Hommedieu's Pioneer Address, Cincinnati Pioncer, No. III, p. 15.)

An amusing bit of gossip connected with this visit vouched for by a citizen of our neighbor across the river, Covington, is that that munici- pality was anxious too to be honored by a visit from Lafayette and as a result appointed a com- mittce of distinguishicd citizens to cross the Ohio and tender him an invitation to return to their hospitable shore for a formal reception. Un- fortunately the committee was handicapcd by the fact that its most distinguished members were unable to present themselves in Ohio for fear of being served with legal processes by the offi- cials charged with the collection of debts.

The visit of Lafayette resulted in a painting by Hervieu which for a long time was on ex- hibition in the art gallery of Mrs. Trollope's bazaar. This painting is described by Timothy Flint as follows: "Its dimensions are sixteen fect by twelve. The popular group is composed of Lafayette and the superior officers who crossed the river with him, and who are ad- vancing to mcet Mr. Morrow, Governor of Ohio. Amiability sits embodied in the countenance of this man, who is affectionately grasping his hand. Among the persons of his suite arc Gen- crals Harrison, Lytle, and Desha, Governor of Kentucky. Near them are the Hon. Judge Bur- net and Messrs. Greene and Fletcher, Esqrs., persons deputed by the city to tender its wel- come. By them is Major Larrabce, an officer who distinguished himself at Tippecanoe, and who lost an arm in the service. Ncar him are the late lamented Mr. Madeira and J. Lytle, captain of the llussars. A little below, in the second group, are the Governor's two aides-de- camp, the Colonels Pendleton and King, and with them Major Ruffin, the sheriff. The young gentleman in the military costume of West Point was introduced with a view to perpetuate the recollections of the nation's guest, who could never forget the reception given him by the

pupils of that military school. In the same group arc Messrs. Foster, Dorfcuille, Footc, P'. Symmes, a inan of letters, Rev. Oliver Spencer, and Dr. Drake. Two veterans of the Revolution, the first the late Mr. Wycth, formerly men- tioned in this journal as one who aided in throwing the tea overboard in Boston harbor, venerable by his age, his mild countenance, his gray hairs, and the recollections associated with his person ; and the other an old negro servant in livery, who belonged to the suite of General Washington, arc striking figures in the crowd. This group terminates with H. Powers, a young sculptor of the city, of the highest promise. Ile has given a strikingly faithful bust of the painter, and the latter has signalizcd his gratitude, and friendship, and respect for his talent by giving the sculptor a conspicuous place in his painting. The circumstance, along with the introduction of Mr. Flint and Rev. Mr. Pierpont, who were not actually present at the landing, may, perhaps. suggest the objection of anachronism, and vio- lation of historical fidelity. The most formidable difficulty of the artist was this cramping limita- tion to fact. One of the gentlemen, by his re- cent visit to this city, in which he received such a cordial welcome, had in some sense identified himself with us; and as he is well and generally known in the Atlantic country, where this picture will be seen, it seems to us a fitting compliment to him. We imagine, that any objection in re- gard to the presence of the other two, will be generally put to the account of hypercriticism. We allow unlimited range to poetry. Surely the sister art may have some indulgence to episode ; especially if any connection exists between it and the leading idea.

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Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 11

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn Publication date: 1904 Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1048

Author: Greve, Charles Theodore, b. 1863. cn
Publication date: 1904
Publisher: Chicago : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1048