Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 3

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

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DIRECTORY OF 1825.

The second directory of Cincinnati was issued in 1825 by the attorney, Harvey Hall, and printed at the Emporium office by Samuel J. Browne. It is said at present to be the rarest of the carly directories. In addition to the names of citizens, their occupations, places of residence

and the matter usually contained in works of this character, there are published the places of na- tivity of each person mentioned in the book.

The plan of the city prefixed to the directory is the one contained in the volume of 1819 with certain alterations adapted to the growth of the time; they were not many in number.

It is claimed by the editor that the names in- serted included practically all male citizens from 21 and of females who were at the head of fam- ilies. According to the table prefixed to the book the nativity of the inhabitants at that time was as follows : Pennsylvania 394, New Jersey 337, New York 233, Massachusetts 184, Maryland 170, Connecticut 143, Virginia 113, Ohio 52, Kentucky 42, Vermont 36, Delaware 32, New Hampshire 30, Maine 28, Rhode Island 20, Dis- trict of Columbia 11, South Carolina 10, North Carolina 7, Tennessee 3, Indiana 2, Michigan Territory 2, Georgia I,-a total of 850. The foreign born inhabitants were as follows: Eng- land 192, Ireland 173, Germany 62, Scotland 39. Wales 21, France 19, Switzerland 17, Prussia 2, Holland 2, Portugal 2, Austria 1, Denmark I, Poland 1, San Domingo I, Sweden 1,-a total of 534. Under the head of unknown were listed 43. This makes a grand total of names included in the directory of 2,427. The editor comments that a greater proportion of the females are na- tives of New Jersey and Pennsylvania than ap- pears from this table and consequently a greater proportion of the children and youth who are natives of this city arc descendants of emigrants from those States. This of course followed from the fact that more emigrants from Pennsylvania and New Jersey came with their families than from other States or from Europe. The table is interesting in other respects. But little over one- fifth of the adult population were foreign born and the greater proportion of these were English or Irish. The great German population of to- day was represented by but 64 names. Of the native born population over a half came from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York, which States supplied over twice as many citizens as the whole of New England. The estimate of population is given at the end of 1824 as 12,000 inhabitants as against 10,000 in 1819, 4,000 in 1813, 2,300 in 1810, 960 in 1805, 750 'in 1800 and 500 in 1795.

Of the 25 attorneys mentioned in the Direc- tory of 1819, the names of 11 do not appear six years later in a list of 39. A dozen of the phy- sicians mentioned in the first directory are not mentioned in this. The town, however, did not

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suffer for medical attention as a list of 27 doc- tors, licentiates and dentists is given.

This directory contains a list of the ministers of the Gospel in Cincinnati who were at that time as follows: Baptist,-John Boyd, Henderson, Henry Muggeridge, Alexander Den- nison ; Episcopalian, -- Samuel Johnston; Ger- man Lutheran,-Louis II. Myer; Methodist, -- Daniel Ashton, Truman Bishop, John Daulton, Demint, John P. Derben, Jesse B. Dor- man, David English, Abbot Goddard, John Haughton, William Lynes, Sacher Nelson, John Price, William H. Raper, Robert Richardson, Martin Ruter, Oliver M. Spencer, Samuel West and William Young; Wesleyan Methodist, -- William Burke, Robert Punshon and John Sef- ton ; New Jerusalem,-Adam Hurdus, Oliver Lovell and Daniel Roc; Presbyterian,-David Root, Elijah Slack and Joshua L. Wilson; Scotch Presbyterian,-William Arthurs and Charles B. McKee; Universalist,-George Red- ding. The Catholics were represented by the distinguished Bishop Edwin Fenwick, John A. Hill ( vicar general), Frederick Rice (German minister ) and Ganill.

We are informed in the statistical review of the city that "the greatest harmony exists be- tween the people of different nations and tongues (resident in the city ), all viewing each other as brothers drawn together by the natural conse- quence of cmigration" and that "such is the security and safety of the citizens that a night watch is thought unnecessary by the City Coun- cil." Fortunate city indeed !

The editor of this directory begins the cam- paign waged for so many years in behalf of Cin- cinanti as a summer resort with a statement of the healthfulness and pleasantness of the city which were such as to induce strangers from many parts to make it their residence during the warmer season. Articles of importation were nearly as cheap as in the East. The number of arrivals and departures of steamboats for five months beginning April 1, 1824, was 480. Dur- ing the previous year eight steamboats had been built in the place and the manufactures were fast improving ; some of them had doubled and trebled within the preceding five years. The type foundry, the only one west of the Alleghany Mountains, which furnished type for the prin- cipal part of the Western States, was especially mentioned. Ninety-nine houses, of which 68 were of brick, had been erected during the pre- ceding year and the new wharf was instanced as an evidence of the enterprise of the Council. Up-

wards of fifty mechanical trades were carried on, many promising a surplus for exportation.

The hydraulic water works are mentioned at some lengthi. They were erected in the upper part of the city in a building below the bank of the river on a rock foundation whose walls com- menced about 10 feet above low water mark and were eight feet thick at the bottom, lessening to five at the top, 35 feet above the rock. On this was erected a brick building three stories high, making the whole height of the building from the rock to the top. 90 feet. The upper apart- ment was occupied by a shot factory where shot were made when the river was low enough to permit of a sufficient fall. A well was cut into the rock so as to contain water running in through the canal from the main channel at the lowest stages of the river and the water from this well was pumped by two pumps into a cis- tern above high water mark. From this the water was forced through the rising main pipe to the reservoir on the Hill, about 158 feet above low water mark and not less than 30 feet above the highest part of the city, the hills excepted. The pipes to the reservoir were about one-half iron and one-half wood. The water was then conveyed from the reservoir to the compact part of the city by two lines of wooden pipes except where a few hundred feet of iron pipe were used in crossing Deer creek. One line entered Fifth street and the other crossed Deer creek lower down and entered Third street. Between five and six hundred families and several important manufacturing establishments were supplied from1 20,000 feet of pipe laid through the city. This plant it will be remembered was operated under the ordinance of May 31, 1817, granting to Samuel W. Davies and others the exclusive privilege of supplying water to the citizens of Cincinnati, which had been acquired by Davies himself.

The steam mill at this time was a pile of ruins, the result of the fire of November 3. 1823.

The number of inhabitants ( November, 1824) given according to sex and color by wards in- cludes 2, 119 families with 12,016 members. The Second Ward is the largest, containing 4.531 residents. This is followed by the First Ward with 3,157, the Fourth Ward with 2,540 and the Third Ward with 1.788. The total number of colored people was 246 males and 282 females, of which about one-half were in the First Ward, the smallest number being in the Second Ward. The total of white mnales was 5.940 as against 5.546 females. The only ward in which the

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CENTENNIAL HISTORY OF CINCINNATI

females predominated among the whites was the Second, 'the most populous ward.

The number of dwelling houses in Cinein- nati at this time was given as 1,668, of which 1,096 were of wood, 552 of brick and 20 of stone. Of these, far the greater number were in the Second Ward which contained 685 houses including 431 of wood, 252 of brick and two of stone; the First came next with seven stone, 94 brick and 144 wood houses ; then the Fourth with nine stone, 93 brick and 244 wood houses ; and last the Third with seven, 94 and 144, re- spectively.

The list of city officers contains some well known names. Isaac G. Burnet is still the mayor and the aldermen were Philander Allen, Benja- min Basset and Benjamin M. Piatt. The city marshal was William C. Anderson and the pro- secuting attorney, Bellamy Storer. The clerk of the City Court was John Gibson, Jr. Calvin Fletcher was the president of the City Council and Charles Tatem, recorder. The other mem- bers of the Council were Oliver Lovell, Pen- theus J. Holcomb, John Sherlock, Moses Coffin, Andrew Mack, Septimus Hazen, Alexander Gib- son and Joseph Walker. The city surveyor was the well known Joseph Gest and Richard L. Coleman was the treasurer, Richard Mulford, collector and James Chambers was still the clerk of the markets. The health officer was Jesse Churchill. The trustees of the township were Benjamin Mason, Benjamin Hopkins, and Will- iam Mills, and clerk, Thomas Tucker, and the constables included three names well known to those familiar with the old records,-David Jack- son, Jr., Richard Mulford and Zebulon Bying- ton. The sheriff of the county was William Ruffin; the clerk, Daniel Gano; recorder, Griffin Yeatman ; auditor, John T. Jones ; prosecuting at- torney, David Wade and president judge, George P. Torrence, all names held in high esteem among the residents of this neighborhood. The associate judges were Peter Bell, Patrick Smith and John Jolley.

The officers of the three Masonic lodges are given and also those of many of the societies enumerated in the previous. directory.

The fire department was given as including four engine companies, one hose company, one hook and ladder company, a bucket company and a protection society. The chief engineer was Thomas Tucker and his assistant, Jere- miah Kiersted.

Among the educational institutions was of course the Cincinnati College (the old Lancas-

ter Seminary), in which some 400 pupils were taught during the previous year by the Lancas- ter system and 60 in the collegiate department. Another educational institution was the Cincin- nati Female Academy which had been opened for more than two years. The principal of this was the well known Dr. John Locke and in- cluded among its board of visitors were many of the most prominent citizens. The Medical College of Ohio had just been reorganized and included in its faculty Drs. Jedediah Cobb, Elijah Slack, John Morehead and Jesse Smith. An- other public institution was the Commercial Hos- pital and Lunatic Asylum instituted in 1821 with the appropriation of $10,000 of depreci- ated paper. A four-story brick edifice had been built on the hospital lot of four acres and con- tained 18 wards and rooms, besides a large operating or clinical lecture room and cells for the confinement of lunatics. The First Dis- triet Medical Society of Ohio included phy- sicians of Hamilton and Clermont counties and was officered by John Selman, president ; Samuel Ramsay, vice-president; Jesse Smith, secretary and Ebenezer H. Pierson, treasurer. Every in- dividual not a fellow of this society who at- tempted to practice medicine or surgery was subject to a pecuniary penalty, besides being dis- abled by law from collecting anything for his services.

Mention is also made of Elam P. Langdon's Cincinnati Reading Room and the Apprentices' Library which latter contained about 1,150 vol- umes and loaned books to those brought up to any laborious occupation in the city. The So- ciety of Friends was composed of about 30 fam- ilies and 20 parts of families who held a regu- lar monthly meeting in the city. The Apollonian Society organized a year previous, for the cul- tivation of vocal and instrumental music, had 40 members.

The number of churches in the city of Cincin- nati was given as 12; two for Presbyterians, two for Methodists, one for Baptists, one for Episcopalians, one for Friends, one for Ger- man Lutherans, one; for Wesleyan Methodists, one for Catholics, one for the New Jerusalem Society and one for Africans. The Scotch Pres- byterians held worship in the chapel and Uni- versalists in the Court House. The Jews oc- cupied a part of a private dwelling for divine worship.

The directory is concluded with a pleasing statement that "there is no place perhaps on earth containing the same number of sects of

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divine worshippers where greater harmony ex- ists on account of religious principles than in Cincinnati."

In the appendix to the volume is the chrono- logical table of the important events of the Western States since their discovery by the Europeans. But few of the events mentioned bear directly on Cincinnati. These include the establishment of the city in 1789, of the first court in 1790, of the first school in 1792, the arrival of General Wayne in 1793 and the burn- ing of the steam mill at Cincinnati on Novem- ber 3, 1823.

The volume concludes with four advertise- ments, -- those of David Evans, tailor on Sec- ond street two doors east of Main; J. Oliphant, boot and shoe store on Front street one door east of the old Miami Bank; William North, tailor and ladies' habit maker at No. 20 Main street and John Coombs, hatter at No. 171 Main street. Mr. Evans, the tailor, who received the latest fashions from Philadelphia, guaranteed that his work should not be inferior to any in the city and offers coats at from $3.50 to $5.00, frock coats from $4.00 to $5.50, great coats at the same price, plaid coats at $3.50, pantaloons and vests at $1.00 each. An important indus- try of the country is indicated by the hatter's request for prime furs, for which he offers cash.

CINCINNATI IN 1826.

Another of the standard works concerning the history of Cincinnati was "Cincinnati in 1826," printed in February, 1827, by Morgan, Lodge and Fisher for B. Drake and E. D. Mansfield, the authors.

Benjamin Drake, the brother of Dr. Daniel Drake, came to Cincinnati in 1814 to join liis brother in the drug and general merchandise business. He had studied law and was admit- ted to the bar some years later. He gave much of his time however to literature and journal- ism. Not only was he associated with Mr. Mans- field in the publication of this well known book but he subsequently aided in the establishment of the Cincinnati Chronicle, of which he acted as editor until 1834 and again at a later time. Ile died in 1841 at the age of 46 years. He was anthor of a number of quasi historical books such as the "Tales of the Queen City" and "Lives of Black Hawk, Tecumseh and Others."

E. D. Mansfield, the son of Col. Jared Mansfield, was for many years one of the most conspicuous among the prominent men of Cin-

cinnati and his writings on the subject of the carly history are invaluable. He was born in New Haven, Connecticut, August 17, 1781, and moved with his father to the West at the time of the latter's appointment as surveyor general and lived with him at Ludlow's Station. He sub- sequently returned with his father to West Point and graduated at the United States Military Academy in June, 1819, at the age of 18 as lieu- tenant of engineers. He resigned from the army to take up literary work and graduated with high honors at Princeton in September, 1823. He sub- sequently studied law in the well known school of Judge Gould at Litchfield, Connecticut, for two years and returned to Cincinnati in 1825. He entered a partnership with Ormsby M. Mitchel, subsequently so well known as an as- tronomer. The charms of the law were not sufficient to engage the attention of these two young men and Mansfield soon took up other work. Not only did he in association with Drake prepare this description of the city but after- wards wrote many books, both critical and his- torical. His most interesting works to Cincin- natians were his "Memoir of Daniel Drake" pub- lished in 1855 and his "Personal Memories" published in 1879. He also wrote the lives of Gen. Winfield Scott and General Grant, the his- tory of the Mexican War and a number of con- troversial works. He was editor of the Cincin- nati Chronicle from 1836 to 1848 and of the Chronicle and Atlas from 1849 to 1852, of the Cincinnati Gasette during the year 1857 and of the Railroad Record from 1853 to 1871. He was a strong Whig in politics and when that party was succeeded by the Republican party he joined the latter. He held but one office during his life, that of State commissioner of statistics from 1857 to 1867. He received honorary de- grees from many institutions of learning and was beloved and esteemed by the public generally. He died in October, 1880, and was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery.

The work of Drake and Mansfield was to a certain extent an official publication. The Coun- cil appropriated from the city funds the sum of $75 for its preparation. It was subsequently in- cluded in its entirety in the Englishman Bul- lock's work on his travels in this country. The pamphlet, for such it was, was made up of 100 pages descriptive of the city and embellished by two illustrations, one the frontispiece represent- ing the Medical College of Ohio and another the Branch Bank of the United States. The book is very thoroughily and accurately compiled

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and a comparative view of the size of the city can be obtained from the statement that the authors assure the public that they spent two months in diligent inquiries and researches for this work. The introductory chapter related to the State generally. The only part of this that has special application to Cincinnati is the para- graph relating to canals. The subject of canals which had been discussed by Dr. Drake in 1815 was first officially noticed by Governor Brown in 1819. It was not until January, 1822, that any special action was taken upon the subject. At this time Micajah T. Williams presented an exhaustive report in favor of the establishment of a canal system. This resulted in the passing of a bill for expenses of survey. In 1825 the construction of two canals was authorized,-the Ohio Canal and the Miami Canal. The Miami Canal commenced at Dayton near the mouth of Mad River, descended the valley of the Miami, passing the villages of Miamisburg, Franklin, Middletown and Hamilton. At this point it left the Miami and took the course of Mill creek to the upper level of Cincinnati. It was intended to connect this level with the Ohio River by proper locks and other works. The length of the canal as then located was 67 miles. Work began in July, 1825, and at the time of the account the line was under contract from a point above Mid- dletown to Main street in Cincinnati. It was ex- pected to be opened for navigation in July, 1827.

The total number of buildings in the city is given as 2,495, of which over two-thirds were two-story houses and about two-thirds were of frame. Seventeen houses were four stories in height, all of brick. During 1826, 128 brick houses and 52 frame houses were erected. The public buildings are mentioned at length. Of the Court House comment is made that "it rep- resents neither in its internal economy nor ex- ternal architecture, a model of convenience or elegance. Its remoteness from the center of the city is justly a cause of complaint." De- spite the immense growth of Cincinnati the last sentence quoted is as true to-day as it was when written.

The banking house of the United States Bank which stood on the east side of Main between Third and Fourth is described as being built of freestone 40 feet wide exclusive of the wings which were of the same materials and to feet cach in width. It was two stories in height and ornamented with a cornice. "The front of the building presents one of the chastest specimens of architecture within the city."

Another important building, not so chaste how- ever, was tliat of the Medical College of Ohio, 54 by 36 feet and two stories high on the southi side of Sixth between Vine and Race at the site which the college occupied for almost three quarters of a century.

The jail, market houses, Commercial Hospital and the Cincinnati College edifice are also de- scribed in much the language employed in the previous descriptions of these structures.

The Cincinnati Theatre which was situated on the south side of Columbia (now Second street ) between Main and Sycamore, erected in 1819 by a company of 30 or 40 persons on leased ground, was sold in 1825 at public sale. "Since our citizens have recovered from their various em- barrassments the theatre has been more liberally attended; and the managers will doubtless soon be able to count upon sufficient patronage to jus- tify them in frequently alluring to the West the most distinguished actors of the seaboard."

The lot was 50 by 100 feet in size bounded by an alley over which a west wing was to be added for a saloon. The central portion was 40 by 100 feet with a Io-foot projecting wing in the rear and an lonic portico 12 by 40 fect in front. The interior which was tastefully finished was equally divided between the performers and the audience. It included a pit, two tiers of boxes and a gallery with commodious lobbies, punch room, etc., and was capable of accommodating 800 persons. (This theatre was burned to the ground April 4, 1834.)

The history of the Cincinnati Water Works up to that time is given a little more completely than in the preceding publications. The ordi- nance of 1817 granted to the Cincinnati Manu- facturing Company the exclusive privilege of supplying the city with water for a term of 99 years for the annual payment of $100 and the furnishing of water for fires which was to be accomplished by the placing of a fire plug on cach block and filling the cisterns and reservoirs owned by the corporation free of expense. The company transferred its right to Samuel W. Davies in 1820 and shortly afterwards water was introduced into the city. The undertaking was not profitable and Davies offered the whole of the establishment to the Council below cost. The proposition was submitted to the voters of the city who decided against accepting it and in 1826 an act incorporating the Cincinnati Water Company was obtained and that company was then in charge of the works. For protection against fires five cisterns had been erected, each

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containing 5,000 gallons of water and the fire department was maintained as described hereto- fore.

Wood we learn was still the chief article of fuel and coal was not used, except in manufac- turing establishments.

Another chapter describes the various religious edifices. The principal change of this character was in the building occupied by the Roman Catholics. The Roman Catholic Society had been organized in 1818 and in 1823 Edward Fenwick was appointed the first Bishop of Cincinnati. A frame structure was then erected on Sycamore above Sixth to which was added in 1826 a build- ing of brick. A theological seminary and col- lege was to be added within a short time. "Sev- eral intelligent ladies belonging to the religious order of the Poor Clares" had recently arrived from Europe and connected themselves with this congregation to open a school with a class of 60 pupils. "The Cathedral belonging to this con- gregation has a neat specimen of Gothic archi- tecture, the plan of which with some slight al- terations was furnished by Mr. Michael Scott of this city. The building is one hundred and ten feet in length; fifty in breadth; thirty from the base to the cornice and has five handsome win- dows on each side fifteen feet in height. There are eighty-eiglit pews on the first floor. The gallery is large and has the orchestra in the center, which is shortly to receive a splen- did organ. The Altar is arranged in good taste and ornamented with a large and beautiful paint- ing by Verschoot representing the investiture of a religious. There are several other valuable paint- ings hung around the walls. The interior of the church is handsomely finished, and presents a spacious and elegant room, capable of seat- ing about eight hundred persons. The edifice for the Literary College is to correspond in its ex- terior with the Cathedral, and be connected withi it in the rear by the frame church originally oc- cupied by the Society ; the whole will then form three sides of a square and when properly or- namented with a steeple will present a magnifi- cent appearance."

A new society was the Colonization Society, whose funds were to be appropriated for for- warding to Africa the free blacks of Cincinnati who might be found willing to be sent to that country.

The new lodge is noted, Lafayette No. 81, formed in 1825 in anticipation of the visit of General Lafayette who was admitted to its mem-

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Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 3

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