History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 62

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592

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Delhi was platted in 1866. The proprietor and projector of the town was Peter Zinn, a lawyer by profession, who attained a national reputation by his connection with the litigation over the ownership of the Kentucky Central railroad. Unlike its neighbor on the east, Delhi has had no industrial aspirations. The beauty of the location has attracted a suburban population, however, and in this respect the village ranks with the most desirable communities in the vicinity of Cincinnati. By the census of 1890 the population was 531.

Delhi was incorporated as a hamlet July 29, 1885. Its first trustees were James S. Wise, president; M. L. Andrew, clerk, and W. J. Applegate, elected November 12, 1885. The hamlet extended from the present western boundary of the village to a line a short distance east of the railroad station. In 1890 village government was adopted, when the first officers under the new regime were as follows: Mayor, John Wentzel; clerk, Walter Stone; council, Peter Cross, John H. Carson, Robert Ritter, John Maloney, Nicholas Fliehman; treasurer, L. H. Green; marshal, John Poff. In 1892 O. F. Moore was elected mayor, and F. D. Saunders, clerk.

Home City. - The site of this village was once owned, wholly or in part, by a Mr. Taylor and a Mr. Gano. The last named conducted here an establishment for the boarding of fine horses. From him, in all probability, it passed to a Mr. Mackey, a Scotchman by birth, who amassed a fortune in the West Indies and subsequently

John Stontzel

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

engaged in business in New York City. He located here in 1834, and during his residence (perhaps also before) the establishment was known as " The Home Farm." The Mackey mansion house stood at the east corner of Commercial avenue and Washington street. It was a brick building, and one of the most pretentious country residences in the vicinity of Cincinnati. The barn and other outbuildings were also of brick. Mr. Mackey was not a practical farmer, and while en ronte to Cincinnati he met Robert McFarland, whom he induced to undertake the management of his farm. He also brought with him from New York City George T. McIntyre, who, by litigation subsequent to Mr. Mackey's death, secured one hundred acres of the Home Farm.

By agreement dated September 13, 1847, George T. McIntyre agreed to sell Maxon & Reddington sixty-two acres of "The Home Farm." This tract was sub- divided, platted and dedicated by Maxon & Reddington November 3, 1849, although this deed from McIntyre was not made until December 27, 1850, prior to which date he had sold twenty-five lots to various persons. The firm of Maxon & Reddington was composed of Stephen Maxon and David Reddington. The former resided at Home City for a time, but the latter was a practicing physician at Cincinnati, where his office was located at the corner of Sixth street and Central avenue. Their real- estate operations were not successful; and having become involved, they sold the Home City plat to Abraham Longenecker. This plat is bounded by Main street on the east, and extends westward to a line between Mound and Laurel streets. It is situated between the river and a line corresponding to an extension of Harrison avenue.

That part of the village bounded by the corporation line on the east, Main street on the west, the river on the south, and Harrison avenue on the north, was platted by the Cincinnati Building Association. The land was purchased from Mr. Taylor. This plat was made about the same time as that of Maxon & Reddington. The principal additions to the original plats are those of Reese B. Price, the Delhi Land and Building Association, Foley & Clark, John R. Gottschalk, Mrs. Ann Park, E. D. McIntyre, and the heirs of F. Wrampelmeier.

The square bounded by Main, Park, Independence, and Liberty streets was dedicated by Maxon & Reddington to the village corporation, whensoever established; various conditions were attached to this, among others the erection of a public build- ing for occupancy as a town hall, mayor's office, public library, etc. It is needless. to say that these conditions were never complied with; the park reverted to the owners: of the adjacent lots, and the village corporation acquired absolute title thereto by, quit-claim deeds from them.

For some years the growth of the village was slow. The lots were sold at public: sale, but many of the purchasers never acquired title, and of those who did many allowed their lots to be sold for taxes. The number who constructed improvements was comparatively small. In 1852 the residents were Gerre T. McIntyre, Peter McIntyre, Stephen Maxon, William Sherwood, Charles Truesdale, Thomas Dean,. Joseph Selhorst, George Enos, Edward Kirkup, James Bonacum, Martin Shannon, Messrs. Belknap, Miller and Brown, and possibly a few others. In this year the- first store was opened in the village by Claus Drucker, in the house now the residence. and store of his daughter, Mrs. Joseph F. Barmann. Local business interests have. never been extensive, as many of the residents are engaged in business in the city and do their trading there. The population is almost exclusively of this suburban character, and hence the growth of the village practically dates from the opening of the railroads.

Home City was incorporated as a village May 10, 1879. The first village organ- ization consisted of Nelson Sayler, mayor; W. L. Stevenson, clerk; and J. D. Parker, Alexander Slater, Milton H. Cook, James Hirst, Henry Niemann, and C. W. Magness, council. Mr. Sayler held the mayoralty ten years, and was succeeded by George L.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Barringer, who resigned before the expiration of his first term, which was filled out by S. L. Barrett. He was succeeded by the present mayor, Thomas Lee. Mr. Stev- enson was clerk but a short time; his successors have been S. W. Cullom, L. D. Stapp,_ Dr. John Campbell, W. H. Berkshire, and John O. Falkinberg, who has held this office since 1886. The first village treasurer was John W. Christy, who resigned several months after his election, and was succeeded by C. W. Magness, the present treasurer. The present marshal is James E. Kinsella.

Regarding village improvement, the present clerk of the village writes as fol- lows: "It would be difficult to find a village of equal extent whose inhabitants are more harmonious in all matters pertaining to public improvement than are those of Home City. Of the sidewalks the citizens are especially proud, on account of their width and beauty: almost all of them are six feet wide, and we claim the credit of being the only village in Hamilton county whose walks have an almost uniform width of that extent. Arrangements have been made and contracts let for further improvements, and it is almost certain that, by the close of 1893, all the principal streets of the village, and many of the minor ones, will be improved in like manner.

"One of the most remarkable and gratifying points to be noted is, that under the wise financial management of our municipal affairs, all this has been accom- plished, while an actual reduction in taxation has been made. In 1892 the taxes of the village were almost twenty per cent. less than in the preceding year. Of the thirty-two towns or villages in Hamilton county, twenty-eight have a higher rate of taxation."

It is worthy of mention that, since the incorporation of the village, there has not been a single trial before the mayor, nor as many as half a dozen arrests for breach of the peace. A prohibition ordinance was passed October 4, 1887, and has since been in force.

Warsaw is situated upon the pike of that name in the northeastern part of the township. It is virtually a continuation of Price Hill, which it adjoins on the east. At Warsaw is located Mt. St. Vincent Academy.

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS.

The first Baptist Church in the western part of the county was located on Rapid run, Delhi township. April 17, 1803, Enos Terry, George Cullum, David Terry, Robert Terry, William Worrel, Ruth McLehany, Chloe Terry, Amelia Worrel, and Rhoda Cullum, were constituted the South Bend Baptist church, which name was subsequently changed to Stony Creek, and then to Hopewell. This organization disbanded October 3, 1835.

Shiloh Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1831, and is a brick building. Among the early members were Charles Green, Peter Williams, John Shaw, John M. Wilson, Andrew Myers, James P. Williams, and David Poplin. Prior to the erection of the church, the residences of Peter Williams and John Shaw were the places of worship.

Maria zum Siege Catholic Church .- In 1834 Rev. Father Henni organized the "Catholic Congregation of Delhi Township," which met for worship at private houses. In 1841 Adam Emge gave a half-acre of ground, and a log church and school were erected thereon; the church was called St. Stephen's, and was incorpo- rated in 1844. Its location was inconvenient, however, and in 1852 it was removed to a tract of three acres given by John Gerteisen and Blasius Schweizer. Here the present brick church was erected in 1853 under the leadership of Rev. Engelbert Stehle. The corner-stone was laid on the 10th of July, and the dedication occurred December 4, 1853. At this time its name was changed to "Maria zum Siege." The old church was used for school purposes until 1869, when the present brick schoolhouse was built. The teachers' residence was erected in 1865. The follow- ing is a list of pastors: Revs. Nicholas Wachter, 1854-56; W. Sommer, 1856-58;

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

Bern. Brüning, 1858-64; G. H. Kuhr, 1864-68; H. Thien, 1868-71; Fl. Karge, 1871-75; G. H. Schuhmacher, 1875-81; H. Johanning, 1881; F. Mesmer, 1881-82; R. Broring, 1882-87; J. Stoeppelman, 1887; F. Mesmer, 1887-present incumbent. St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Delhi .- The first church was built in 1873, and dedicated June 29 in that year. Rev. Edward Hecht, of Mt. St. Mary's Seminary, was the first pastor in charge. The first resident pastor was Rev. J. Stoeppelman, · 1876-78, followed by Francis Kessing, 1878-81; F. C. Mallon, 1882-83; Joseph Benning, 1883; J. W. B. Miggeel, 1883-85; and William Scholl, the present incumbent, who assumed charge in June, 1885. The present church is a brick struct- ure, 105x51; the corner-stone was laid May 28, 1888. and the dedication occurred October 28, 1888. Rev. J. A. Albrink officiated on the former occasion, and Arch- bishop Elder on the latter. A school was started in 1860 by Catholic laymen, who erected a one-story brick building opposite the present church. This has been enlarged, and is now the residence of the teachers. In 1890 the old church was adapted for school purposes.

St. John's Evangelical Protestant Church was founded in 1850, and has had the following pastors: Revs. John Mueller, Julius Albert Spangenberg, George Wiehe, Henry Schrader, William Eckermyer, J. C. Mosebach, Henry Haefner, Edward Dickhoff, Heberle, and John Moeller. The church edifice was built in 1863; the materials used in its construction originally constituted a Presbyterian church in Cincinnati, which was removed and successfully rebuilt at Warsaw and at St. John's. The pastoral residence was built in 1892. Many of the early members of this church were formerly connected with St. Paul's Lutheran church at Delhi. This is a small brick building, and was erected in 1850. It has not been occupied for worship for some years, and St. John's is regarded as a continuation of the organi- zation.

The First Presbyterian Church of Delhi is situated at the east corner of Inde- pendence and Center streets in the village of Home City. The following is a list of pastors: Revs. E. M. Cravath, Irwin L. Caton, John Wiseman, Irwin L. Caton, A. P. Bissell. E. L. Lord, C. K. Lehman, N. R. Walker, and W. H. Humphrey, who assumed charge in 1893. The first elder of this church was Rev. J. M. MaKenzie, with whom O. F. Moore was soon afterward associated. The number of constituent members was seven. Peter Zinn donated the church site; the first church building is the frame structure still situated thereon and now used for Sun- day-school and similar purposes. The brick church edifice was completed in 1884; George N. Leighton, S. P. Peabody, N. R. Adriance, C. W. Magness, and D. H. Hall constituted the building committee.

Church of the Atonement .- A meeting of those favorable to the organization of a Protestant Episcopal church at Riverside was held at the residence of Thomas Henry Yeatman March 27, 1869. It was decided to organize, and a committee was appointed to obtain subscriptions. At a meeting held May 18, 1869, articles of asso- ciation were signed by seventeen persons, of whom the following were elected as the first vestry: Abram Brower, senior warden; W. R. Halsted, junior warden; S. S. L'Hommedieu, T. H. Yeatman, Thomas I. Peters, N. Lord, Jr., and Henry Whate- ley, vestrymen. The church edifice is a dark limestone structure with ornamental slate roof, cost $11,000, and was first occupied for worship on Trinity Sunday, 1870. The succession of rectors has been as follows: Revs. Builer, 1870; Pindar, 1870-72; Walsh, 1872-75; C. M. Sturges, 1875-79; Arthur Powell. 1879-82; S. H. Boyer, 1882-83; E. L. Norton, 1883-84; Mc Williams, 1884-89; A. B Howard, 1889-91; H. Von Glehn, 1891; E. L. Norton, 1891-92; I. Haight, 1892-93. The church was consecrated by the Rt .- Rev. Thomas A. Jagger, May 26, 1875. In 1884 and 1887 it was remodelled and improved at an expense of $2,400.

Delhi Methodist Episcopal Church. - The first Methodist services at Delhi were held in the old Masonic hall by Rev. John W. Sutherland. The organization

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. HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

occurred at the residence of D. M. Steward in Home City, and the number of con- stituent members was five. Public worship was conducted in the Masonic hall for one year, and then the present frame church was erected. The following is a list of pastors: Revs. John W. Sutherland, 1877; Henry Tuckley, 1878-80; C. W. Rishell, 1880-83; B. D. Hypes, 1883-85; C. H. Haines, 1885-90; Sylvester Weeks, D.D., 1890-92, and L. F. Young, 1892, present incumbent.

The Riverside Congregational Church was organized March 6, 1885, with a mem- bership of twenty-five. Its history began with the organization of the Riverside Sunday-school February 20, 1881, and the Riverside Religious Society in the autumn of the same year. Dr. C. B. Boynton preached the first sermon to the Sunday-school, March 6, 1881. The church property consists of a neat frame build- ing, which, with the ground on which it stands, cost $3,000. Rev. Arthur Burt was installed. as first pastor July 9, 1886. The trustees at that time were E. L. De- Camp, H. C. Fithian, J. P. Cummins, C. B. De Camp, and J. Taft.

The Riverside Methodist Episcopal Church was organized at the home of Misses. Emmeline and Hannah Atkins January 6, 1886. Noah Page and Elijah Gregory were the first class-leaders. The home of the Misses Atkins was the place of wor- ship for five years. The present frame church building was dedicated March 15, 1891, by Bishop I. W. Joyce.

The Colored Baptist Church at Home City was built in 1890.

Delhi township is the location of two well-known Catholic institutions, the Mother House of the Sisters of Mercy and St. Aloysius' Orphan Asylum on Mt. Alverno. The Order of Sisters of Mercy was introduced into the United States in 1808, when the institution at Emmittsburg, Md., was established. In 1852 a novi- tiate was opened in Cincinnati at St. Peter's Orphan's Home, corner Plum and Third streets. Seven Sisters originally composed the society. Its course has been uni- formly prosperous. The property in Delhi township is extensive and valuable, and the institution is represented in a large number of schools, hospitals, etc. The insti- tution at Norwood, in this county, is under its immediate control.

St. Aloysius' Orphans' Home was established in 1837, and was conducted at Cin- cinnati for some years. It comprises a valuable tract of ground, and extensive and substantial buildings. The management is conducted by Brothers of the Order of St. Francis.

CHAPTER XXX.

GREEN TOWNSHIP.

TOPOGRAPHY-PRINCIPAL HIGHWAYS-EARLY HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION-VILLAGES- CHURCHES.

G REEN TOWNSHIP is bounded on the north by Colerain, on the east by Mill Creek and Cincinnati, on the south by Delhi, and on the west by Miami. In form it is a perfect square, comprising an area of thirty-six square miles. The principal streams are Taylor's creek, whichi drains the northwestern part of the town- ship and empties into the Great Miami; Muddy creek, which flows into the Ohio river and drains the southern part of the township; Lick run and several other affluents of Mill creek, which drain the eastern part of its area. The surface par- takes of the general character of this part of the county; it presents rapid alterna- tions of hill and valley, marked by a prevailing softness of contour, and from the- more elevated localities the prospect of the surrounding region is extensive and beautiful.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

The main thoroughfare of the township is the Harrison pike, which crosses its territory diagonally from southeast to northwest. At the " Seven-Mile House," a mile west of Cheviot, the Cleves pike diverges from the Harrison pike. Pleasant Ridge road is about two miles northeast of the Harrison pike and nearly parallel with it. Among other important roads may be mentioned the Lick Run road, the Crookshank road, the Warsaw road, the Johnson road, the Reemelin road, and the Muddy creek road.

EARLY HISTORY AND ORGANIZATION.

On the 12th of March, 1788, John Cleves Syinmes entered into a contract with Dr. Elias Boudinot, of New Jersey, for the sale to him of a moiety in the territory that now comprises Green township. He had originally designed it as a personal reservation, in remuneration for his expenses and trouble in securing and disposing of the Miami Purchase. Subsequently he desired to appropriate it as a college township. Had the purchase amounted to two million acres, as originally designed, a grant of college lands would have been made with it, in accordance with the term of the ordinance under which the public lands were sold; and as Symmes contem- plated a purchase of that extent, he advertised in his "Terms of Sale and Settle- ment " that a college township had been granted. But it was forfeited when he reduced the amount of his purchase, although by Act of Congress, in 1792, the President was authorized to convey to Symmes and his associates one entire town- ship for the establishment of an institution of learning. No entire township remained to be appropriated for this purpose, however, as portions of every one had already been disposed of. In 1799 Symmes offered to the governor of the territory the second township of the second fractional range (Green township) for college purposes, but the governor refused to receive it, as a suit was then pending before the United States court by Dr. Boudinot to compel Symmes to complete the transfer of a moiety in the township named in accordance with the terms of his agreement made in 1787. Portions of the township had also been sold to other persons. The Territorial Legislature, the State Legislature, and finally the National Congress were applied to, but each in turn declined to receive it, and thus Symmes' design regarding the township were never realized. It would be tedious to pursue the fur- ther transactions regarding it; suffice it to say that the township, or a large part of it, ultimately came into possession of Burnet, Findlay & Harrison, from whom the first settlers derived their titles.

In an address at the Green Township Harvest Home Festival some twenty years ago the late Alexander Long gave the following account of the early settlement of Green township: "Although settlements were commenced in Columbia, Cincinnati, Miami, Mill Creek, Whitewater and other townships in 1788 and 1796, no settlement was made in Green township until some thirteen years thereafter. James Goudy, a farmer and a native of Pennsylvania, settled in the northwest quarter of Section 8 in the year 1802, and by those who knew him and subsequently settled in the town- ship he was always known and recognized as the first settler. Subsequently and during this same year, Cornelius Johnson, a native of New Jersey, settled in the northwest quarter of the adjoining section (No. 9), opposite the town of Cheviot. Those two, Goudy and Johnson, with their families, were the only settlers in the township until 1804. During this year, John Miller, a German and a soldier of the Revolutionary war, settled on the northeast quarter of Section 28. Peter Crowel, a native of North Carolina, his son John, and his son-in-law William Cox, settled each on different parts of the southwest quarter of Section 28. Henry Scudder, a native of New Jersey, settled on the southeast quarter of Section 34. John Hunt, of New Jersey, settled on the northwest quarter of Section 2, and Moses Conger, of New Jersey, settled on the northeast quarter of the same section. These constituted the whole number of settlers up to 1805, and during that year three additions were

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

made, to-wit: Enoch Carson, a native of New Jersey, who settled on the northeast quarter of Section 15; David Fulton, a native of Georgia, who settled on the north- west quarter of Section 10, and Barnabas Golden, a native of Ireland, who also set- tled on the northwest quarter of Section 10. During the year 1806 a number of additional settlers were added to the list, among whom were Charles Moore, Michael Isgrig, James Jones, Burrlard Moore, James Kirby, Michael Scott, Jacob Hay, Dennis Dusky, Michael Rybolt, Thomas Markland and Rev. J. Clark, a Methodist minister.

Enoch Carson was from Hightstown, New Jersey. He crossed the Alleghany Mountains by wagon to Pittsburgh; here he procured a flatboat and sent his family and household effects down the river, while he himself made the journey overland with his horses. He reached Cincinnati before they did, and met them at the land- ing of that town December 24, 1804. In the spring of the following year he located in Green township on the farm where the annual Harvest Home Festivals are cele- brated. Here Enoch W. Carson was born June 29, 1805, the youngest of his father's family, and the first white male child born in the township, wherein he resided until a few years before his death, which occurred October 27, 1882, at Sharon, Hamilton county.

Isaac Applegate, from New Jersey, came to Warsaw, Delhi township, in 1807, and removed to the southwestern part of Green township in 1809. In 1811 he was followed by his brother, Henry Applegate, who located on the south branch of Tay- lor's creek. An uncle of these brothers, Henry Applegate, came about the same time and settled on the Cleves pike a mile and a half west of Mack.

The following is a list of early families in various parts of the township: Paisley, Gideon, Stoughton, Griffith, Schwartz, Richardson, Fenton, Vail, Hutchison, Fergu- son, Hart, Posey, Reed, Miller, Wood, Anderson, Noble, Orr, Holliday, Bogart, Hearn, Rybolt, Markland, Sexton, Jackson, Edwards, Powner and Bray.

The date of the erection of Green township has not been ascertained with cer- tainty, but its organization seems to have occurred within the first decade after its settlement. Among the justices of the peace have been Enoch Carson, William Benson, Mahlon Brown, Adam Moore, John Martin, James Eppley, John Gaines and Thomas Wills.

VILLAGES.

Cheviot is one of the oldest villages in Hamilton county. Its founder was John Craig, a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, whence he immigrated to New York City and embarked in a mercantile business, the main feature of which was the importation of goods from the ancient Scotch capital. The war of 1812 was disastrous to his for- tunes; he left New York, and ultimately found his way to Green township, of which he was one of the pioneers. Here he engaged in farming, an avocation with which he was entirely unfamiliar. In the early summer after their arrival, his family was sadly bereaved by the death of two sons, Archibald and Thomas. They were assist- ing a hired man to plant corn, and took refuge under a tree during a thunder storm; both were struck by lightning and instantly killed. This tragic event occurred May 14, 1814. Their names were Archibald and Thomas. The former was born in 1797

and the latter in 1799. Their sister, Jane, who was two years younger than Thomas, was with them in the field; she would have shared their shelter and probably their

fate, but was wearing a new sun bonnet that she had just made, and fearing it might get wet, she went to the house when the storm approached. She lived to old age, and always gave the sun bonnet the credit of having saved her life. John Craig's house stood at the spring on the premises of Strong's hotel. He became a success- ful farmer and continued in that pursuit to the close of his life.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 62

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1592

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592