Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 36

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

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The Marietta & Cincinnati Railroad Company was originally chartered as the Belpre & Cincin- nati Railroad Company March 8, 1845. In 1851 this company was consolidated with the Frank- lin & Ohio River Railroad Company and at the same time it was anthorized to build a railroad from a point opposite Parkersburg or from Har- mar opposite Marietta to Cincinnati. The main line was completed to the Little Miami at Love- land April 15, 1857. From time to time a num- ber of other roads were absorbed by the Marietta & Cincinnati Company which finally was reor- ganized in February, 1883, as the Cincinnati, Washington & Baltmore road. In 1889 was formed the Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern Com- pany. The Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Company became the owner of the common stock of the company and guaranteed the principal and in- terest of its first mortgage bonds. The so-called "Bee line" (the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincin- nati & Indianapolis Railway) was chartered March 12, 1845. The original line, 138 miles,

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was completed February 22, 1851. In 1861 it acquired 'the stretch of road between Delaware and Springfield. The Cincinnati & Springfield Company was organized to build an extension into Cincinnati of the "Bee Line." This extension known as the "Dayton Short Line," was com- pleted July 1, 1872. The entire system has since been absorbed by the so-called "Big Four."

THE FLOOD OF 1847.

The year 1847 was a great flood year, the water reaching its greatest height on the 17th of December, at which time it stood at 63 feet seven inches, but eight inches below the flood of 1832. The river never came within five feet · of this height again until the floods of 1883 and 1884. The high water of 1847 was naturally accompanied with much suffering but the flood of 1832 had been a warning which had been re- garded by many and the city was not so seriously affected as before. Many of the business houses had moved to higher ground in the meantime.

Other noteworthy events of this year were the arrival of Levi Coffin in April and the receipt on August 21st by the local press of the first public telegraphic dispatch sent to the city.

THE RIOT OF 1848.

A riot marred the record of Cincinnati for the year 1848. Two volunteer soldiers who had received their honorable discharge from the ser- vice in the war with Mexico returned to this city in the hope of establishing themselves in hon- orable employment. As they were Germans they naturally drifted to the German quarter of the city and finally obtained board in the house of a German family who lived near the Brighton House while they secured employment in one of the factories down town. Unfortunately they had in their possession land warrants which they had received for their service to their country and this information came to the German and his wife with whom they were living and aroused their cupidity. Their landlord used every effort in the way of persuasion to induce them to bar- ter their warrants away or to assign them to him even temporarily. This he did in the hope that if he got the warrants into his possession he would be able to cook up some sort of a story which would enable him to use them for his own purposes. The soldiers however insisted upon retaining their property and thereupon this Ger- man and his wife devised a most diabolical scheme of revenge. One morning the whole population of the city was shocked with the in-

formation that these two discharged Mexican soldiers had been guilty of a most horrible as- sault upon the young daughter of their land- lord. A warrant was sworn out by the father before Squire Eri Brooks and the soldiers were arrested and taken to the magistrate's office on the south side of Court between Main and Wal- nuit streets for preliminary examination.

News of the terrible crime had spread through- out the city and the story told with most hor- rible details aroused the populace to a spirit of righteous indignation. The crowd in attend- ance at the hearing was so great that the justice was obliged to adjourn the examination to the old court room in the Court House. It was vacation time and there was no court in session. As the examination continued, the gathering crowd filled the court room, the galleries, the whole building and the Court House yard and finally thousands of citizens packed the streets of the neighborhood. The testimony of the parents and of the little girl and the exhibits that were made left no doubt as to the guilt of the accused and the two soldiers were committed to jail without bail. The officers of the court had great diffi- culty in protecting their prisoners from the crowd on the way out Court street and up Syca- more to the place of confinement and were obliged to call upon a large posse to assist them. The crowd gathered around the officers and the prisoners and hurled missiles of all characters at them but finally they were landed safely in the custody of the sheriff, Thomas S. Weaver.

This was late in the afternoon as the exam- ination had consumed practically all the day. The crowd hung around the jail and from time to time demanded the prisoners whom they desired to lynch. Sheriff Weaver. however, was a strik- ing exception to most officers in his position. Ile was a man of courage and fully conscious of the responsibilities placed upon him. He called upon the two military companies of the city, the Citizens Guard and the Greys, and they undertook the guarding of the jail. As mien throughout the city knocked off their work at the end of the day they drifted toward the crowd at the jail until Sycamore and Hunt streets were packed tight with an excited mob. The sheriff addressed the crowd a number of times and tried to keep them moving. He warned them not to violate the law and to keep the city's name free from the charge of riot and assured them if the prisoners were guilty they would undoubt- edly be punished. He also notified them that he would protect his prisoners to the end and that

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if any attempt was made to take them from him he would repel attack with force and if neces- sary would shoot down those who opposed the peaceable operation of the law. After reading the riot act he retired within the jail expressing the hope that the disorder would cease.

As the crowd became more worked up how- ever they made a rush for the jail. The sol- diers fired with blank cartridges but this made no impression upon the angry mob. After this the sheriff at the risk of his life went out before the mob and begged them to retire to avoid the shedding of blood. He warned them that the next fire would be with fatal purpose. The crowd simply shouted at him. The fences were torn down, the pavements ripped from their fasten- ings and these missiles were used in the attack. The ringleaders became more persistent and finally the onset was so fierce that some of the mob got within the front doors of the jail and thereupon the sheriff ordered the soldiers to fire. The order was immediately obeyed and II per- sons in the crowd were shot dead. This settled the riot and the frightened crowd scattered to their homes. The usual thing happened; among the dead were found a number who were entirely innocent of any participation in the riot. A woman working in her house across the street was killed. A workman named Carnahan on his way home from work had stopped for a mo- ment to inquire the reason of the crowd and was struck lifeless by a bullet.

The whole city was in mourning and the burial of the dead was participated in by thousands of people. Intense indignation was felt at the actions of the sheriff and soldiers but eventually they were justified by public opinion.

The sequel showed that however unfortunate was the result of the performance of his duty by the sheriff any weakness on his part would have been followed by an even more terrible misfor- tune. The two men whose lives were sought by the mob and who at that time would have been strung up without a moment's delay were found upon further investigation to be the victims of a horrible conspiracy. By the time their case was called before the grand jury sufficient evi- dence had accumulated to show that the little girl had been coached by her parents and that her testimony had been committed to memory. She was made to repeat over and over again the words that she was to use in describing the affair and finally admitted that there was absolutely not a word of truth in the charge. The father was

overheard to tell the prisoners in jail that if they would give up their land warrants to him he would go away and not appear against them and when they refused he berated them with the statement that if they had given up the war- rants beforehand he would not have put up this story on them. The testimony of more than twenty physicians the most prominent in the city was offered and showed that the crime charged was an impossible one. As a result, of course, the two unfortunate soldiers were released, after having suffered one of the most infamous charges and having been in constant expectation of death from the moment of their arrest.

Naturally public indignation .was turned against the instigators of the charge but when they were sought for by the infuriated citizens fortunately they could not be found. Father, mother and child had practically disappeared off the face of this earth as far as the city was con- cerned and another riot which would have been justified, if anything can justify lynch law, was averted.

THE YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION.

Cincinnati has the distinction of being the home of the pioneer Young Men's Christian As- sociation in America. This organization dates from October 8, 1848, at which time a meeting of the male teachers of the first mission Sabbath- school of the Central Christian Church was held "for the purpose of taking into consideration the formation of a society for mutual improve- ment in grace and religious knowledge." The organization was at a little later time known under the name of "The Young Men's Society of Inquiry." This afterwards was changed to "The Cincinnati Society of Religious Inquiry." The first president of the organization was P. Garret Rice. The first mission school was estab- lished in April, 1849, on Cherry street near Plum and in August of the same year the second school was organized. In 1851 a library was formed in a suite of rooms leased in the upper story of a building at No. 130 Walnut street which were the first rooms used for such purposes in the United States. The society changed its name again in 1853 to "The Cincinnati Society of Re- ligious Inquiry and Young Men's Christian Union." The first half of this name was dropped in 1858 and it was not until five years later that the name "Young Men's Christian Association" was adopted.

The United Jewish Cemetery on Walnut Hills,

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at Montgomery street and the old Duck creek road, was laid out in 1849. The new part was added in 1860.

THE OHIO MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

An important event of the year 1848 occurred on Independence Day. This was the laying of the corner-stone of the building of the Ohio Me- chanics' Institute on the newly purchased lot at the southwest corner of Sixth and Vine. This institution which had been organized in . 1828 had passed through many vicissitudes and in fact at times the effort to continue it almost reached the point of abandonment. Its renewed activity at this time was almost entirely due to the ef- forts of Miles Greenwood and Marston Allen, assisted by John P. Foote. The building was completed in time for the tenth annual affair which was held in it in 1850. The arrange- ment entered into with the Public School Library in 1857 finally assured its continued life and from that date to the present it has been one of the most prominent and valuable institutions of the city.

Marston Allen was born at Barnstable, Massa- chusetts, May 11, 1789. His family name was originally spelled Allyn and he was of Welsh descent. In his early life he lived in Boston, where he worked in a hardware store and after- wards as a salesman in a paperhanger's store. By 1812 he and a fellow workman entered the paperhanging business on their own account. Six years later he removed to Cincinnati where in addition to his regular business he took up dry goods, pork packing and nail making. He finally embarked in the drug business in 1824 and lost his all in the fire of 1826. He subse- quently rebuilt his warehouse and in 1840 he took sole charge of a drug store at Fifth and Main streets. He was one of the originators of the Ohio Mechanics' Institute and with Miles Green- wood gave it its first large donation. He died August 12, 1868, at. Glendale where he had lived for a number of years.

A most picturesque fire occurred during a heavy fall of snow on the night of January 8, 1848. As a result of this Shires' Theatre, built upon the western part of the old Burnet place, was burned to the ground. After Judge Burnet's removal to his "farm" at Seventh and Elm the old Burnet residence on the lower part of the square bounded by Third, Vine and Walnut was utilized as a restaurant and hotel. Shires' Gar- den was a well known place of resort. Subse- quently a theatre was built to the west of the

house, a frame structure about 50 by 100 feet in dimensions and here for a time was conducted a very successful theatre.

TIIE CHOLERA OF 1849.

In 1849 the terrible scourge, cholera, returned and devastated the city to a much greater extent than ever before. In September, 1849, the Board of Health of the city reported the deaths for four months preceding September Ist as 6,459, of which 4,114 were from cholera. Mr. Mansfield estimates the deaths from the middle of April to the middle of October as 7,000, of which 4,600 were from cholera. The mortality for the year was about 8,500, which counting the population as 116,000, was one in 14. He further estimates that the deathis among the Germans and Irish were almost fourfold the number of deaths among the Americans. Of the 4,114 above mentioned, 2,896 were Germans, Irish and Hebrews, while but 1,218 represented the other nationalities who formed 60 per cent of the population.

"During the prevalence of this pestilence, a deep gloom and solemn fear pervaded the city. Many plans and suggestions were made to miti- gate the disease. The greatest mortality was in the hot month of July, yet great fires were made in some streets, with the idea of driving off the poison ; but the disease went on with its fearful fatality, and the 'long funerals blackened all the way.'" ( Mansfield's Memories, pp. 258-261.)

The cholera returned again the following year and in 1851 and 1852. The panic which followed its recurrence in 1850 threatened for a time al- most to depopulate the city and did materially affect the census then taken.

THE LITERARY CLUB OF CINCINNATI.

On October 20, 1849, 12 gentlemen met to- gether for the purpose of organizing a club for debates and the reading of papers. These gen- tlemen were Robert Buchanan, I. C. Collins, Nelson Cross, Stanley Matthews, Martin L. Sheldon, A. R. Spofford, Reuben H. Stephen- son, Algernon S. Sullivan, H. G. Wade, M. Hazen White, Peyton C. Wyeth and John C. Zachos. At this meeting, which was the result of a preliminary meeting at the rooms of Mr. Spofford, was formed what has since been known as the Literary Club. This to the present day has held a leading position among the social and literary organizations of the city and has achieved a national reputation both by reason of the character of its membership and the suc- cess with which it has maintained its position

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during the period of over a half a century. It is said to be the oldest club of its character at present in the United States and from it have developed similar organizations in a number of other cities, notably Chicago and Indianapolis. It met first in the rooms at the southwest corner of Vine and Longworth and in its long career has occupied about a dozen different quarters ; it is at present located at No. 25 East Eighth street in a building erected by the club.

A famous visitor of 1849 was Lady Emmeline Stuart Wortley who by reason of the crowds at the hotels staid but a day. She thought the city a handsome one with a fine situation. An- other visitor was President-elect Taylor.

Another event of this year was the opening of the Little Miami road to Springfield.

THE YEAR OF MURDERS.

As if the horrors of the cholera were not suf- ficient, the year 1849 has passed into history as

the year of murders. The so-called Howard tragedy and trial came this year. The latter excited the attention of the public who were in profound sympathy with the injured wife who had slain the woman who stole her name and husband. Her acquittal was received with gen- eral satisfaction. In May of this year John Brasher, police officer, was slain by the burglar Jones who received a life sentence for the crime.

The attempted wholesale poisoning of the Summons family by a worthless son occurred in July. The young man was convicted of mur- der in the first degree and sentenced to hang, but his conviction was set aside by the Supreme Court upon a technical error and when the time came for a retrial the most important witness for the State could not be found, having un- doubtedly been spirited away. Summons finally escaped with a penitentiary sentence.

The murder of one Harrison by McCabe oc- curred in April of this year.

CHAPTER XXXIX.

FROM THE SEMI-CENTENNIAL TO THE WAR-IV.

NOTABLE EVENTS OF THE "FIFTIES."

EVENTS OF 1850 -- THE FARRER POISONING CASE -THE VISIT OF KOSSUTH -THE CITY INFIRMARY- 1 THE BEDINI RIOTS -- THE KISSANE CASE -THE YOUNG MEN'S GYMNASIUM ASSOCIATION-THE ARRISON INFERNAL MACHINE-THE KNOW NOTHING RIOTS-MEETING OF LINCOLN AND STAN- TON -THE FILIBUSTERS CASE -THE CINCINNATI PIONEER ASSOCIATION -THE CONVENTION OF 1856-THE PUBLIC LIBRARY-THE WINTER OF 1856-57-THE OHIO & MISSISSIPPI RAILROAD- THE OHIO LIFE INSURANCE & TRUST COMPANY FAILURE-EMERSON, SCOTT AND JENNY LIND- PIKE'S OPERA HOUSE - LINCOLN AND DOUGLAS - LAST MAN SOCIETY -THE STREET RAIL- ROADS-THE FOURTH STREET PROTEST-SOUTHERN LEGISLATORS IN CINCINNATI -- THE TORNADO OF 1860-THE PRINCE OF WALES-THE UNITED STATES FAIR-POLITICAL EVENTS OF 1860.

EVENTS OF 1850.

The Cincinnati House of Refuge was opened for the reception of inmates on October 7, 1850. It stood in Mill creek valley, about four miles from the Post Office, on Colerain avenue on a tract of 10 acres bought from Joseph R. Riddle. The building which is a castellated edifice of rough blue limestone trimmed with white Day- ton stone has a frontage of 270 feet and cost about $150,000. At the time of its construction it was regarded as the most convenient build- ing for the purpose in the United States. Its first superintendent was Rufus Hubbard.

On May 3rd of this year the opening of the new Burnet House was officially celebrated by a grand ball and house warming. This hotel, erected by a stock company, was regarded at the time of its erection as possessing the finest hotel building in the country and possibly in the world. It soon became famous through- out the West and it was claimed that the posses-

sion of such excellent accommodations for the traveling public contributed largely to the growth of the business of the city. Its proprietor at that time was A. B. Coleman. Mr. Cist said of it in 1851 that it was "central to river and canal; and when the railroad communications in progress here shall be completed, will be so to all the traveling public landings and depots." The Little Miami depot was completed this year.

A murder of this year was the result of over- officiousness on the part of an officer, Davison, who lost his life on June 18, 1850, at the hands of one John C. Walker, a student at the Med- ical College of Ohio and a stranger in the city. Van Amburg's circus was exhibiting on the square bounded by Vine, Race, 12th and 13th streets. Walker, who had come carly and ob- tained a front seat, was ordered by Davison and another officer to vacate it for some ladies who had come late. He refused, whereupon the offi- cers attempted to eject him by force and one

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struck him on the head with a "billy." Walker drew a bowie-knife, and stabbed both officers, killing Davison. Walker narrowly escaped lynching at the time, but upon his trial he was acquitted upon the ground of self-defense. The verdict was generally approved, as in those days the unjust cry of "end seat hog" had not been heard of and the first comer was accorded his fair rights.

The American Association for the Advance- ment of Science met for the first time in Cincin- nati in 1851. In the course of an address Pro- fessor Henry of the Smithsonian Institute spoke of his surprise at the appearance of the city. He "expected to see a boundless, magnificent forest world, with the scattered clearings and log cabins and energetic New England-descended inhabitants ; he thought to find Cincinnati a thriv- ing frontier town exhibiting views of neat wood houses with white fronts, green doors and brass knockers; but instead of this he found himself in a city of palaces reared as if by magic and rivaling in appearance any city of the Eastern States or of Europe." He spoke particularly of the Ohio Mechanics' Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Young Men's Mercantile Li- brary Association and the Young Men's Lyceum of Natural History.

Another visitor of the year was Lord Morpeth, Earl of Carlisle, who said that Cincinnati seemed to him the part of the Union where if obliged to make his choice he should like best to fix his abode. It had "a great share of the civilization and appliances of the old-settled States of the East with the richer soil, the softer climate, the fresher spring of life which distinguish the West."

The well known banker, Wesley Smead, was the principal influence in the organization of the Widows' Home and Asylum for Aged and In- digent Females, whose building, located on a lot in Mount Auburn bounded by Bellevue, Stetson, Highland and Market streets, was erected in 1851. The property was given by Messrs. Bur- net, McLean, Shillito and Reeder and the build- ing was erected from funds secured by Mr. Smead and others.

THE FARRER POISONING CASE.

One of the most remarkable criminal trials that ever took place in the city of Cincinnati was that of Nancy, Farrer, who was indicted for murder in the first degree. Her attorney was Rutherford B. Hayes, at that time a young law- yer of fine social position but small practice.

Nancy was a serving maid of extraordinarily repulsive appearance. She had an enormous mouth running almost from car to car, which was so hideously shaped as to have called from Judge Johnson the appellation of "catfish mouth.' Her eyes were very small, set very far back in her head and fully four inches apart. Above them were very shaggy and bushy eyebrows, which gave her almost a fiendish expression. Her nose was the most remarkable feature of her face, resembling, it is said, two noses most distinctly 'marked with the lower one flattened out like that of a negro. In spite of her hideous appearance she was fond of children and they were very fond of her.

In August, 1851, she was acting as an assist- ant nurse in the family of a Mrs. Greene. The chief nurse was an Italian woman, Mrs. Brazilli. Mrs. Greene died quite suddenly but at the time this fact excited no suspicion of any criminality. After her death, Nancy went to live at the house of Elisha Forrest, a merchant in Fulton. This family consisted of five members,-Mr. and Mrs. Forrest and three children. Nancy became a great favorite and the children were much at- tached to her. Shortly after her arrival, the mother, Mrs. Forrest, suddenly became quite sick and died in horrible agony. A few days later a son, the youngest, was attacked with the same symptoms as those of his mother and soon died. On November 30th another son, James Wesley Forrest, became violently ill with the same symp- toms and suffered the fate of brother and inother. Mr. Forrest and the only remaining child shortly afterwards showed the same symptoms but for- tunately the physicians were able to save their lives. Naturally such extraordinary occurrences excited the comment of the public and but one explanation seemed possible, that of poisoning. Mr. Forrest could not think of any person who had a motive to commit so horrible a crinic, but as Nancy was the only person who had the liberty of the house suspicion naturally fell on her. From this time Mr. Forrest constituted himself a detective and watched her very care- fully. At length he found a piece of brown paper on the back stairs leading to her room on which was a label indicating that the con- tents of the package had been arsenic, which had been purchased from Thomas Salter, the drug- gist at No. Go Broadway. Inquiry at the drug store disclosed the fact that the arsenic had been sold to Nancy, who had purchased it, she said, for the purpose of poisoning rats. Thereupon a post-mortem examination was made of the

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Centennial history of Cincinnati and representative citizens, Vol. I, Pt. 2, Part 36

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