USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Cincinnati in 1841 : its early annals and future prospects > Part 13
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A sub-treasurer of olden times. "BE CAUTIOUS .- Our late post-rider has taken a number of due bills, &c. in our names, which he has disposed of ; all persons are forewarned from paying any money to the assigns, &c.
CARPENTER & FINDLAY."
Obituary .- " Died on Saturday the 25th October, at his father's on Beaver creek, Mad river settlement, Mr. Edmund Freeman, printer, formerly of this place." Mr. F. was the earliest printer in Cincinnati.
Wm. M'Millan of Cincinnati, chosen by the territorial leg- islature delegate to congress, for the residue of the term of William H. Harrison, and Paul Fearing for the term of two years next succeeding.
Nov. 19 .- Town of Williamsburg, in Clermont county, and its first seat of justice, laid out.
Andrew Dunseth, the first gun-smith here, opens his shop at captain Vance's, on Market street.
Wm. Henry Harrison appointed governor of the territory of Indiana.
The territorial legislature, sitting at Chillicothe, addresses governor St. Clair, whose reply is also published. Of the names which appear to these documents, I notice but one sur- vivor, John Reily, Esq. of Hamilton, who still remains in the full vigor of intellect, and, at a green old age, a resident of Hamilton, Butler county, Ohio. He was clerk to the first legislature of Ohio.
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" To Country Subscribers .- The printers want some tur- nips and potatoes, for which a reasonable price will be al- lowed."
" John C. Winans, lately arrived from Elizabethtown, New Jersey, with a general assortment of medicines, offers his ser- vices, &c. He may be found at the Rev. Mr. Kemper's, Tur- tle Creek," &c.
A Dun, of James Conn .- " For those who have ears to hear. Whereas, we did give the SPY notice," &c.
Dec. 27 .- Act of the territorial legislature designating the place of holding the general assembly in rotation, at Marietta, Cincinnati, and Chillicothe; the offices of the treasurer, au- ditor of accounts, &c. to be kept at the town of Cincinnati. Lost on final reading. Ayes-8; nays-10.
" Those gentlemen and ladies who feel disposed to patron- ize a SINGING SCHOOL, will please to convene at the Court house, to-morrow evening, at candle light. As it is proposed to have singing, they will please bring their books with them." What precious music must have been made, with the various collections that were then in existence, com- posed, as they doubtless were, of the varieties of "Musical Harmonies," that may be found in all new countries, and no half dozen alike.
Notice of meetings for Nova Cæsarea Lodge, No. 10, William Stanley, Secretary. This lodge is still in existence.
" A detachment of near 600 federal troops, under the com- mand of lieutenant colonel DAVID STRONG, passed by this place, on Thursday morning last, and put in above the mouth of Mill creek. On Monday, they proceeded for their des- tination, between Massac and the mouth of the Ohio."
Such a notice seems to mark distinctly the progress of our improvements, which embrace the whole front on the river to Mill creek, not merely as within the limits, but forming the built-up extent of the city.
Dec. 19 .- Uriah Gates advertises his wife Rebecca.
Dec. 24 .- Governor St. Clair in controversy with Judges
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R. J. Meigs and Joseph Gilman, on the extent of his powers and authority ; also, with the territorial legislature, on the same subject.
Dec. 21 .- It appears, by an advertisement for a deserter from Fort Washington, that lieutenant Peter Shiras comman- ded the garrison there at that time.
Governor St. Clair, in the exercise of that authority which seems to have known no limits in its exercise but his own pleasure, and found nothing too high for its grasp or too mi- nute to escape its notice, erects the county of Clermont, and fixes the courts of justice at Williamsburg, on the east fork of the Little Miami; and the county of Fairfield, of which he constitutes Lancaster, upon the Hockhocking, the seat of justice.
Sir John Sinclair, well known as one of general Wash- ington's correspondents in England on agricultural subjects, writes to general St. Clair, the letter making its appearance in the SPY, January 14th, 1801, in which he proposes to pub- lish fac simile copies of Washington's letters, for the purpose of erecting a monument to his memory from the proceeds. Solicits general St. Clair's co-operation in the enterprise, and transmits some specimens, &c.
Captain Vance at the recruiting rendezvous, Fort Washing- ton, advertises for soldiers : " an abundant supply of WHISKEY, FOOD and CLOTHING of the best quality-TWELVE DOLLARS BOUNTY, and TEN DOLLARS per month, with comfortable quar- ters and a LIFE OF EASE," are among the temptations he of- fers.
Dun .- " The second part of AN OLD FARCE. Notwith- standing the frequent notices I have given through the medi- um of the SPY, for those indebted to me," &c.
" Notice-That we have just arrived from the state of Ken- tucky, and commenced making Earthen ware, at the house of Wm. M'Farland, where people may be supplied with WARE of the best quality, and on the easiest terms," &c.
" Feb. 4th. JAMES AND ROBERT CALDWELL."
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More Swartwouting. Feb 11 .- " Nothing wonderful ! Mr. Adams, our post-rider, has ran away and left us destitute of one. We hope to supply his place," &c.
Satisfactory explanation and gentlemanly acknowledgment : " To all whom it may concern. Be it remembered that I, Richard Downes, having reported that John Smith, of Colum- bia, did, in the course of last summer, pass a number of bank notes, with an intention of deception, and fraud. These are to certify, that as I never heard any thing alleged to the dis- advantage of Mr. Smith's character, by others, in the above affair, and as I never knew any thing myself of it, or discov- ered any thing in the conduct of Mr. Smith to justify the ca- lumny-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." John Smith appears every where and all times a perfect scape-goat, as respects character.
Feb. 18 .- " Prices current at Natchez, December 13. Cot- ton, 22 to 24 dollars per 100. Tobacco, 3 to 4 dolls. ditto. Castings, 10 cts. lb. Bar iron, 10 to 12}. Bacon, 10 to 11. Pork, per bbl. 12 to 14 dolls. Flour, 12 dolls. Whiskey, per gall. 62 cts. Lime, per bushel, 50 cts. Unshelled corn, 50 cts per bushel." Intelligence from Natchez in seventy days, appears, as considered the latest advices. The subject of building large vessels to take the produce of the country to New Orleans, much agitated here at this time.
At last the community begins to complain of mail failures.
" There has been repeated failures of the mail of late, by which every source of information was dried up. It is thought this neglect is owing to some of the riders between Pittsburg and Muskingum. Wherever it is, it is unsufferable and ought to be looked into."
Many years ago, I kept the post-office at a village in Penn- sylvania on one of the great routes. A cross-route connected several other country places with the main thoroughfare,
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which it intersected at my office. I observed that the mail- rider, a chap of perhaps fourteen, was very irregular in his hours of getting in from the upper route, varying as much as six hours in a route of sixty-six miles. One morning I asked him : "What brings you in so early from Newcastle ?"- Newcastle was considerably off the direct course, in the line of the cross-route .- " I yankeed them," was his reply, with a knowing grin. " What do you mean?" said I, sharply. " Why, I skipped them, sir. It takes too long to call there every time, and I ginerally yankees them once a month, and they stand that like lambs !"
So long as our ancestors were not yankeed more than once a month, they appear, also, to have stood it like lambs ; and it seems, that it was only after being without mails for succes- sive weeks, they could be provoked into complaint.
The following appears to be, in 1801, the list of townships in the county of Hamilton: Columbia, Cincinnati, South- bend, Miami, Anderson, Colerain, Fairfield, Springfield, Dayton, Franklin, Ohio, Deerfield and St. Clair. South- bend was probably the present Delhi and Storrs. I have no means of identifying the others-some of them have probably been set off into new counties.
General St. Clair reappointed by president Adams, gover- nor of the north-western territory.
" Advertisement. Much wanted by the subscriber. Good cows, proof whiskey, well cured bacon, and wheat, &c. No time is to be lost. March 4, 1801.
" JOHN CLEVES SYMMES."
We have now the subject of steam-boats on the western waters, first brought before the community here.
"PUBLIC UTILITY. A COMPANY of persons hav- ing, at considerable expense of time and trouble, recently in- vented a machine capable of propelling a boat against stream with considerable velocity, by the power of steam or elastic vapor, and entertaining the opinion, that if reduced to prac- tice, great advantages must flow from it to the country, as it
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will afford a regular and easy conveyance, for property down the various navigable rivers, and a safe and speedy return, ei- ther 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 mechanical 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 Friday 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 is a very remarkable document, and serves to shew, that ten or twelve years before Fulton directed his views to the navigation of the Ohio and Mississipi by steam-boats, the whole project was already a familiar one to the citizens of Cincinnati, and if not carried into effect, was no doubt owing to the want of capital, a want which, in every stage of our improvement, has been felt, and to which alone it is owing, among other things, that this place has not been-years since -the largest manufacturing point in the United States.
Contract advertised for a new court-house, of brick or stone. The old one was of logs, on the west side of Main, near Fifth, receding about twenty feet from the line of Main street.
" NOTICE. As the subscriber intends leaving this place for Natchez very soon, he requests all those who have had deeds recorded in his office, to call on Mr. Yeatman, and pay the recorder's fees. Mr. Yeatman will transact the business of the recorder's office in future. O. M. SPENCER."
What a prophetic spirit was displayed in this notice. For- ty years have since passed away and Griffin Yeatman is still at his post, and may yet for years " in future, transact the bu- siness of the recorder's office. Of those who have held office,
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few men have discharged its obligations and duties with as much fidelity and ability.
Letters from William M'Millan, delegate in congress from the north-west territory, to his constituents. There can be no doubt that Mr. M'Millan was the master-spirit of the place, at that day, and a man who would have been a distinguished member of society any where. It is impossible to contem- plate his career and character, without being deeply impres- sed with his great superiority over every one around him, even of the influential men of the day, and there were men of as high character and abilities in Cincinnati, in those days, as at present. He was lost to the community at the age of forty-four-just in the meridian of his course-and left vacant an orbit of usefulness and influence here in the community, in which no one since has been found worthy to move.
The republicans met on the 20th March, at Mr. Menessier's hotel, to celebrate the election to the presidency of Mr. Jef- ferson. " Citizen John Cleves Symmes" in the chair. Of the proceedings, I have only room for a brief extract.
5th toast. " The late Mr. Washington. May his memory and time prove co-eval. (The company wept and wiped their eyes.) Air, dead march."
Among other goods advertised, I notice muslinets, japaned muslins, princes' rib, lappets, thicksets, corduroy, paper hats, durants, moreens, calimancos, chittabully baftas, humhums, pullicats, seersuckers, madrapores, and other curiosities.
Steam-boat navigation once more.
"TO THE PUBLIC. We, the subscribers, Samuel Heighway and John Pool, at the request of a number of gen- tlemen, who have expressed a wish for the bringing into ef- fect a mechanical project, constructed for the propelling of boats against the stream of rivers, tides and currents, by the power of STEAM, or ELASTIC VAPOR, of which we are proprietors, propose bringing 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.
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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 possi- bly be done for, by the tedious method at present pursued. The excellency of the construction is such, that it will very little incommode the stowage of the vessel, as it will not oc- cupy more than one tenth part thereof, and may be purchased by traders in general, at the moderate sum of about seven hundred dollars. It is equally applicable to mills in dry sea- sons, when the water is insufficient, by supplying it. Antici- pating the many advantages which the western country will derive from the discovery, if reduced to practice, it is particu- larly recommended by several gentlemen, as above, to the at- tention of the public, to give it that sanction and support which they think it merits.
" We are willing to bring the invention into complete effect, at our own expense and risque, provided it meets with due encouragement.
" ----- , is appointed a trustee, in whose hands the sub- scription papers for -will be lodged, to become paya- ble only on our invention succeeding, and the boat actually performing a voyage from New Orleans to Cincinnati-on failure, the subscriptions to be void.
SAMUEL HEIGHWAY. JOHN POOL."
April 15 .- " No mail again for two weeks, &c."; great dis- satisfaction, and with good cause.
A few pages back we had " nothing wonderful ;" we have now by way of contrast-
" SOMETHING WONDERFUL .- This is to give no- tice that my wife ELIZABETH HILDERBRAND, hath eloped from my bed and board, and hath taken up with a certain JACOB GRIMM. Therefore I forewarn all persons, &c.
LAURENCE HILDERBRAND."
"FOR SALE-a good chunk of a plough horse, price 25 dollars." Bigger, I suppose, than the celebrated piece of chalk.
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The first sea vessel from above Cincinnati passed down, April 27th, 1801. "Anchored off this place on Monday af- ternoon, the brig St. Clair, commodore Whipple commander, of one hundred 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 car- go is the produce of the country-she is bound for some of the West India 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 descend- ed the Ohio equipped for sea."
May 6th .- No mails for two weeks.
Census of Hamilton county-embracing the country from the river Ohio to the northern boundary line of the state, then territory; and from the Scioto to the Indiana territorial line :
Males.
Females.
Whites under ten years .
3,273
3,090
from ten to sixteen
1,335
1,165
from sixteen to twenty-six .
1,502
1,297
from twenty-six to forty-five
1,251
954
from forty-five and upwards
480
344
Whole population
14,691.
"Number of inhabitants in the town of Lexington, agreea- bly to the late census :- Whites, 1,333; free colored, 23; slaves, 439. Total, 1795." Nearly four times the then po- pulation of Cincinnati.
William McMillan, delegate for the new territory, returns to his constituents. A public dinner given, in testimony of respect for his character and services.
Violent storm of hail. May 27th.
" On Monday last, this town and neighborhood was visited with a dreadful hail-storm, accompanied by a heavy torrent of rain. Many of the lumps of ice, which were found after the rain had subsided, and, of course, must have lost considera- Q
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bly from the time they fell, weighed upwards of an ounce. We have not heard from the country, whether any or what damage has been done to the grain in the ground; but in town the gardens are considerably injured, and 1,924 panes of glass have been broke."
Ship-building was not confined to the enterprising citizens of Marietta, as may be seen by the following extract :
"Elizabethtown, Allegheny county, Penn'a .- Was safely launched at this ship-yard, yesterday, April 23d, the schooner MONONGAHELA FARMER, burthen upwards of 90 tons. She is built of the best materials-white oak and black wal- nut, strong, and of elegant construction ; her bottom plank large two-inch oak, and her deck two-inch yellow pine. She is now riding in the stream, opposite this town, where she takes in a cargo of superfine flour, with which, in a few days, she will drop down to Pittsburg, and from thence proceed to New Orleans, where she will be completely rigged and fitted for sea, having on board all the necessary blocks, and a com- plete suit of sails, together with two extra lofty sails, two an- chors, and two cables. It is probable that the owners might be induced to sell the vessel and cargo at New Orleans, if a generous price should be offered, before her rigging is set up. Any who would wish to purchase, would do well to apply to John Walker, supercargo, on board."
"NOTICE .- Will be offered for sale on Saturday, the 23d instant, at four o'clock, at Griffin Yeatman's tavern, THE BUILDING OF A MARKET-HOUSE, in the town of CIN- CINNATI; the under story to be built of stone and lime, and the upper story to be built of wood, and will be sold sepa- rate," &c.
July 1 .- No SPY published for the last three weeks, for want of paper. The hail-storm-already noticed, May 27th- extended to Lexington, Ky. in which neighborhood the hail fell the size of goose eggs, and, as may be supposed, did great damage.
Advertisements are continually appearing for schoolmas-
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ters, to go into the interior-to Deerfield, Great Miami, Day- ton, &c.
A printer's celebration of the 4th of July, by himself, for want of company. I extract the 9th and 12th toasts :
9th .- " My ninety-five subscribers, who withdrew their subscriptions, because I dared to think not exactly as they thought. May they remember that "every difference of opinion is not a difference in principle."
12th .- "MYSELF,-may the man who takes my paper, and won't pay me for it, never have money to buy a paper, nor a friend to lend him one; may he remain as ignorant as that man down yonder, on Bennet's creek, who never knew there was an Indian war."
A correspondent complains, May 20th, of women bringing children to church, and neglecting to carry them out when they cry. "Nothing," he remarks, " 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 fry- ing-pans, during divine service."
The second census of the United States taken. The po- pulation of the north-western territory ascertained to be 45,028 whites, 337 free colored-total, 45,365 souls.
Charles Faran advertises for cooper-stuff. " Whiskey-bar- rel staves to be 32 inches long, 5 inches in breadth, clear of tap, ¿ inch on the heart side; heading 19 inches long, 9} inches broad, clear of tap, 1} inch on the tap side. READY MONEY given for the above, at 4 shillings and 8 pence-62} cents-per hundred of five-score and twelve .- July 1, 1801."
Competition, it seems, brings down the price of well water, as in the case of other things. June 2-appear two rival ad- vertisements of well-water, for four dollars per annum to sub- scribers, payable quarterly, in advance.
" Nothing strange or new .- I have again commenced the BUTCHERING business, at the corner of Sycamore and Second
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street, where I expect to keep a constant supply of FRESH MEAT, throughout the season. N. HUNT."
The Fourth of July celebrated by one party at Yeatman's, and by another, in republican simplicity, at a spring, on the bank of the Ohio, just above Deer creek bridge-a broad rock serving as a table. Citizen John Cleves Symmes, being cho- sen president, and citizen doctor William Goforth, vice presi- dent of the day.
9th toast .- " Reformation to backsliding whigs, and humil- ity to aristocrats."
16th .- " The PRESS and its martyr, Duane. May some angel, in Jefferson's form, knock off his fetters, and open his prison doors."
" A new road to Chelicotha .- The public is informed, that a new road is laid out and opened, twelve to fifteen feet wide, from Deerfield to Chelicotha; those who have travelled it, gave a very favorable account of it, as being on good ground, no swamps, and but few hills. The distance is about forty miles from Deerfield to Greenfield, and twenty-seven miles from Greenfield to Chelicotha; there is several settlements on the road, that travellers may be accommodated."
" The honorable brigadier general WILKINSON arrived at Fort Washington, on Sunday last, from Pittsburg; and, on Monday, proceeded down the river."
" The president of the United States has been pleased to appoint general James Findlay, of Cincinnati, marshal of and for the district of Ohio; and William McMillan, Esq. attorney for the United States, in the same district." These were the first incumbents to those offices in this state-then territory.
A Dun. " The Last Request .- All persons indebted to the subscriber are once more requested, &c. Those indebted for a longer period than three months, need not apply for further credit, &c .- Cincinnati, July 18th. D. CONNER & Co."
"A CAUTION .- Whereas, my wife Margaret Payne has separated herself from me, and has wholly denied ever living
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with me, without any reason or provocation, but by the ad- vice of malicious persons, as I expect, I do, therefore, fore- warn, &c. LARKIN PAYNE."
" Now in the press, and for sale at this office, to-morrow, price 25 cents, a pamphlet, entitled, The Little Book: The Arcanum Opened, containing the fundamentals of the pure and most ancient theology-The Urim, or Halcyon Cabala, containing the platform of the spiritual tabernacle rebuilt, composed of one grand substantive-and Seven excellent Topics, in opposition to spurious Christianity. A liberal deduction will be made to those who take a quantity. * No trust. August 19."
It appears singular, that the first book published in Cincin- nati, should be law, and the second divinity.
" Wanted, at the SPY office, a few fresh cucumbers."
Henry Furry advertises a large quantity of excellent rye whiskey and peach brandy, which will be bartered for hor- ses, &c.
About this time, our great staple-the hog-enters into ad- vertisements.
" For sale-a quantity of GOOD BACON. Inquire at the office."
A correspondence, published in the SPY, August 26th, be- tween Elijah H. Backus, of Marietta, and the celebrated Dr. Timothy Dwight, on the subject of a copper coin, found on the bank of the Little Miami river, at the depth of four feet from the surface of the earth. Dr. Dwight is " satisfied that the characters thereon are of the Zend or old Persian writ- ing." These letters are interesting to the general reader, as well as the antiquarian, but are entirely too long for these pages.
August 26 .- " A very remarkable fish, and without scales, taken on the Licking, and brought over to Cincinnati."
Obituary of General Benedict Arnold, September 2.
September 19 .- " Important discovery. American cantha- rides. Dr. Shelton has discovered a species of bug, which
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abound in potato-patches, having all the virtues of the Span- ish, which cost twenty dollars per pound, while more of these American cantharides may be obtained, than will be wanted for domestic use, with no expense and little trouble."
I doubt these bugs were all hum-bugs.
Cincinnati, it seems, was not alone in its early estimate of the importance of steam-boats to the navigation of the west.
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