History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 63

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

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The original plat of Cheviot extended from Harrison avenue to South street, and from Spring street to Beech street, with Pleasant street between Harrison and South

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

and Walnut between Spring and Beech. This plat was made in 1818, and the name was suggested by Burnet, Findlay & Harrison, whom Mr. Craig consulted in the matter. The principal additions to the original plat are those of Hershberg & Kaplan, Lupton & Ayres, and others.

The following is believed to be a correct and complete list of the residents of Cheviot sixty years ago: John Craig, Susan Hoffman, Charles Karber, Arthur Mullen, Samuel Carr, Mary Alter, Edward Mills, Jacob Fox, Israel Miller, Isaac Bush, Samuel Kellogg, and Ephraim Bush. The hotel was kept by Woelley & Wilmer. The first doctor in the village was Richard G. Kendall, M. D., from Salem county, N. J. He located here in 1827, and was the first resident physician in the territory now embraced in Green and Delhi townships. In 1843 he removed from Cheviot to a farm in Colerain township, and there he died July 3, 1849.

For many years Cheviot remained practically stationary. As a country village, situated in the midst of a fertile farming region, it enjoyed a fair degree of pros- perity, but with the improvement of roads leading to the city, its business impor- tance declined. Since the opening of the Westwood railroad it has received a large increase in population, much of which, however, is to be accredited to the village of Westwood, which corporation will doubtless absorb eventually that part of Cheviot still beyond its limits. Disregarding geographical boundary lines for the present, it may be said that what is popularly known as Cheviot comprises a population of about eight hundred, with three churches, several hotels, stores representing the var- ious lines of business, carpenter and smith shops, etc. A cigar box factory is oper- ated by Fred. Kenker, and constitutes the only manufacturing establishment of the place.

No event in the annual calendar of Cheviot possesses greater interest than the Har- vest Home Festival. On the 19th of July, 1860, a number of the citizens of Green, Colerain, Mill Creek, Delhi, Miami and other western townships, met at the " Seven Mile House" for the purpose of organizing a Harvest Home Association. The project was thoroughly discussed, and the following persons were appointed to draft a con- stitution: Robert Moore, William L. Carson, N. Gregory, W. M. Robb and R. H. Fenton. At a meeting on the 25th, the constitution was reported and adopted. It was, however, deemed advisable to confine the association to Green township, as a permanent location was thought necessary and would otherwise have been im- practicable. The following officers were elected for 1860-61: President, Hon. Rob- ert Moore; vice-president, Samuel W. Carson; treasurer, N. Gregory; directors, R. H. Fenton, James Danforth, Samuel Benn, Enoch W. Carson, and J. Wise. The first festival was held Angust 16, 1860, at Carson's Grove. President Moore pre- sided. The program included vocal and instrumental music, and addresses by Hon. William Johnston, Dr. J. A Warder, and Dr. Isaac J. Allen. The attendance was large, and the association was at once placed on a permanent basis. The annual fes- tivals are attended by thousands of people. Speakers of acknowledged ability, often of national reputation, are secured; these occasions are doubtless productive of highly beneficial results.

The Cheviot graveyard is the oldest in the township. Here the first church and schoolhouse were situated, and here many of the pioneers are buried; among them we note the following: John Craig, who died September 10, 1846, aged seventy- seven years; Peter Bray, who died October 23, 1838, aged seventy-one years; John Reddish, who died February 6, 1839, aged eighty years, three months, and twenty- seven days; John Cochran, who died January 18, 1827, aged seventy seven years; Joseph Claypoole, who died September 21, 1834, aged sixty-four years, one month and seven days; Abraham McClain, who died October 29, 1818, aged fifty-five years and seven months; George Hildreth, who died May 24, 1839, aged fifty-six years and eleven days; Jonathan Noble, who was born December 6, 1785, and died Janu- ary 23, 1840; Charles Moore, who died February 7, 1824, aged fifty-four years;

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Jacob Jones, who died January 19, 1847, aged sixty-six years, nine months, and five days.

Westwood is one of the most extensive incorporated villages in Hamilton county. The decree for its incorporation was issued September 14, 1868, and the succession of mayors has been as follows: John Gaines, C. H. Moore, F. H. Oehlman, Thomas Wills, F. H. Oehlman, Jr., Henry A. Faber, Louis Reemelin, and Alonzo Hildreth, present incumbent. Village clerks: Robert A. Armstrong, Joseph B. Boyd, Horace Hearn, and Ernst James, present incumbent. The Town Hall, a handsome and commodious brick building, was erected in 1888, under the administration of the following municipal authorities: Mayor, Louis Reemelin; clerk, Horace Hearn; treasurer, D. T. Stathem; marshal, Harris Davis; council, William Barlion, James N. Gamble, George H. Morris, Adam Frank, A. N. McFaddin, and George C. Witt.

Westwood is justly regarded as one of the most desirable suburbs of Cincinnati. It is not closely built, and possesses in this respect all the advantages of the country, while the municipal government confers its appropriate benefits. Frequent trains on the Cincinnati & Westwood railroad render it easily and conveniently accessible from the city, while an electric railway is under discussion and will probably be. constructed in the near future.

Among the best known of the early residents within the corporate limits of West- wood was Richard Gaines. A native of London, England, he migrated successively to Burlington, N. J., Philadelphia, Penn., and Cincinnati, locating in Green township while it was yet very sparsely settled. Finding his first location too far from the city, he sold it to a Mr. Getzendanner; here he dug the first well and cistern in the township. In 1820 he bought a farm of 160 acres on the west side of the Harrison pike in the western part of Westwood village. The site of his building is now occupied by the residence and grounds of James N. Gamble. In 1828 he established a tannery on the east side of the pike; the venture was not profitable, however, and he relinquished it several years later. Mr. Gaines organized the first Sunday-school in the township at his house on the Getzendanner farm, and was active in promoting its religious and educational interests throughout his entire life.

Dent is situated on the Harrison pike about three miles west of Cheviot. The first house at this point was the "Three Mile Hotel," of which a Mr. Patton was one of the earliest proprietors. Other early residents were David Griffith and Abraham Hart, farmers. The first store was opened by William Longstreet; other early mer- chants were Sheppard & Wood and William Scudder. The first name of the village was Challengeville, which was conferred in honor of the Rev. James Challenge, a minis- ter of the Disciple church. The present designation was given by Charles Reeme- lin. The village comprises a population of about one hundred; it has a Methodist church, a school building, the shops of several mechanics, and daily mail facilities.

Bridgetown is located very near the geographical center of Green township, on the Cleves pike, a mile west of its junction with the Harrison pike. Here a sawmill was operated on Muddy run, many years ago, by Ephraim Fithian, and this consti- tuted the beginning of the village. Joseph Claypoole was the first wagon maker, and the first blacksmith was a Mr. Boyer. The village has two churches, a handsome brick schoolhouse, a daily mail, and the usual industrial and mercantile features of a country hamlet.

Mack existed as a post-village under the name of Dry Ridge, some fifty years ago. Its first merchants were Huston, St. Clair, Winter, and Markland. The last named, William Markland, was in business here until his death in 1885, a period of nearly forty years. Ebenezer Methodist church is located at this village.

CHURCHES.

The first public religious exercises in Green township were held in the house of Enoch Carson in 1806, by Rev. Samuel McMillan, a Baptist minister. The first

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

church was erected in 1811, on the north side of the Harrison pike, opposite the old schoolhouse. The ground was given by Burnet, Findlay & Harrison, and the com- munity contributed its joint exertions to the building of this place of worship. It was constructed of logs, and surrounded by the forest. After some years of occu- pancy it was seriously damaged by a large tree falling upon it, and never rebuilt.

Bethel Baptist Church was organized May 19, 1821, as " The Baptist Society of Green Township," which designation was changed to its present style, June 5, 1821; on the following day Richard Gaines, Joseph Sexton, and Peter Bray were elected trustees, and David E. Stathem, clerk, all of whom were sworn into office by Will- iam J. Carson, justice of the peace. On the 11th of August, 1824, the articles of Confession of Faith and Order were subscribed to by Richard Gaines, Joseph Sex- ton, Peter Bray, David Sheppard, Sarah Bray, Mary H. Gaines, and Nabby T. Lewis, who, on the 3d of October following, were given the right hand of fellowship by Thatcher Lewis, William Bruce, and Henry Muggeridge, and thus the organiza- tion of the church was finally consummated. Elder George Hildreth was called as pastor, March 25, 1826, to preach two Sabbaths each month at $24 per year. Up to this time there had been no regular supply, although such men as Bruce, Lyon, Muggeridge, and others preached occasionally. Elder Hildreth continued as pastor until his death, May 24, 1839, in the fifty-seventh year of his age. The following is a list of pastors who have since served this church: Revs. George Catt, 1840; James Lyon, 1841; - Bryant, 1841; M. Jones, 1843-46; B. T. F. Cake, 1846- 47; Bruce and Lyon, 1847; Hawker and Drury, 1849; Drury and Lyon, 1851; L. Baily, 1853-57; D. Shepherdson, 1857-65; Asa Drury, 1865-66; J. A. Kirkpatrick, 1867: William Pratt, 1867-69; D. J. Griebel, 1869-71; William Roney, 1874-75; A. C. Wheaton, 1877-79; J. R. Baumes, 1880-88; E. W. Holt, 1888-91; W. S. Bayne, 1891, present incumbent.

The first place of worship was the house and barn of Richard Gaines; the next was the log church at Cheviot graveyard, upon the site of which the Baptists built a brick meeting-house in 1824. It was dedicated August 29 in that year. Here President Harrison once delivered a Fourth of July oration. The present church edifice, a two-story brick structure on South street, Cheviot, was dedicated April 28, 1850.

Ebenezer Methodist Episcopal Church at Mack included among its early member- ship some of the pioneers of the southwestern part of the township, and prominent among them may be mentioned Benjamin Markland, Tobias Miller, Eli Rofellty, Washington Markland, Ormond Mann, Rev. Samuel Lewis, and Jonathan Mark- land. The first church building was a log structure; the second was a brick build- ing erected in 1849, demolished by the tornado of 1866, and rebuilt immediately. This church forms part of North Bend circuit.

Westwood (Cheviot) Methodist Episcopal Church .- The Methodist class meet- ings at Cheviot were first held at the homes of Lawson Wedding and Dr. Kendall. William Woolley was one of the first leaders, and among the members in 1840 were Mr. and Mrs. Lawson Wedding, Mr. and Mrs. Dr. Kendall, and Mesdames Alter, Ashley, and Moore. Public worship was first conducted at private houses, and when the Presbyterian church was built in 1840 it was secured for preaching on Saturday nights. The present Methodist church, a frame structure at the southeast corner of Pleasant street and Cheviot avenne, was built in 1842. Dr. Richard Kendall, Samuel Lewis, I. C. Garrison, William Woolley, and Lawson Wedding constituted the building committee. Rev. George W. Maley was the first to preach here. The parsonage was erected in 1887. The church is a station, and the present pastor is Rev. A. U. Beall.

Asbury Methodist Episcopal Church is situated in the northern part of the town- ship on the Pleasant Ridge road. The building was originally erected and left in- complete by another denomination. So it remained for a number of years, until, sometime in the "forties," the Methodists bought it and finished it. It was demol-

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

ished by the tornado in 1866, and rebuilt the same year. Prominent among the early members of this organization was the Rev. William Biddle, a local preacher. This church is now united with the Groesbeck church of Colerain township in the forma -_ tion of the Groesbeck charge.

The Dent Methodist Episcopal Church forms part of North Bend circuit. The first place of worship was a log building, situated on the north side of the pike at. the site of Howard's blacksmith shop or on the adjoining premises of W. M. Frank- house. Subsequently the sides were roughly weather boarded and the front was painted. The present building is a frame edifice, 30x40. Its site was donated by John Parrott. The largest contributor was Benjamin Benn, in whose honor it received the name of Benn's Chapel.

St. Jacob's Catholic Church is the mother church for German Catholics in the western part of Hamilton county. The first entry in the baptismal register is by Rev. Joseph Ferneding, under date of August, 1844, and among those who officiated in the years immediately following were Revs. Karl Joseph Boeswald, Michael Heis, Bernard Elkmann and Bernard Hengehold. Rev. J. B. Emig officiated from 1846 to 1848, and Rev. Joseph Weber from 1848 to 1851. The last named was the first resident priest and virtual founder of the parish. His successors were Revs. Pabisch, 1851-56; J. J. Kraemer, 1856-75, and J. H. Shoefeld, 1875-the present incumbent. The first church was a log building, which served for a time as place of worship, school and teacher's residence. The present brick church was erected in 1849 by Rev. Joseph Weber; it was seriously damaged by the tornado of 1866, and rebuilt immediately. The present two-story brick schoolhouse was built in 1875. During Father Shoefeld's administration five acres have been added to the church property, the interior of the church has been remodeled, and the parish has been placed out of debt. The present numerical strength is 150 families. The churches at Cumminsville, Mt. Pleasant, Dry Ridge, Taylor's Creek and Bridge- town have been formed on the territory formerly embraced in this parish.

St. Aloysius Catholic Church, Bridgetown, is a parish of eighty families. The church property comprises nine acres. The church edifice is a brick structure, erected in 1867; the parochial residence was built in 1870. Revs. Veit, R. Felt- house and Bernard M. Muething have successively served as pastor.

First German Protestant Church in Green Township .- The constitution of this body is dated August 30, 1870. The first president of the congregation was F. H. Oehlman, and the first secretary was Henry Schmidt. The pastors have been Revs. Albert Schroeder. 1870-75; G. Baumstetter, 1876-82, and F. W. Rodenberg, 1882 -present incumbent. The congregation numbers 150 families. The church site and cemetery comprise four acres. The church building is a brick edifice, erected under the supervision of a building committee composed of Philip Steinman, Fred- erick Schaeper-Klaus and Rudolph Struebbe.

The Westwood German Presbyterian Church was organized April 10, 1871, with forty-three members, of whom Cord Seimer and John Rodler were elected elders, Rev. J. Lichtenstein presided on this occasion. The succession of pastors has been as follows: 1871-75, Rev. Nathaniel Ruetenik; 1875-88, C. W. Seaman; 1888-89, George C. Mueller; 1889-90, George A. Pflug; 1891, C. Becker. The congregation worships in a frame church building at the corner of Spring and South streets, built some years ago by an English Presbyterian church, and now owned by the Presbytery of Cincinnati.

The First Presbyterian Church of Westwood was organized in 1881 with twenty- six members. John M. Miller, William Powell, Charles B. Lewis and Erastus Burn- ham constituted the first session. The organization occurred in the German Pres- byterian Church, and here the congregation worshiped several years. The present. church edifice, situated at the corner of Cheviot and Fairview avenues, was dedi- cated September 1, 1889. Rev. Charles F. Mussey, D. D., has been pastor since the church was organized.

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

In this connection it is proper to revert to the Presbyterian church that existed at Cheviot some years ago. It was a brick building, with tower and bell, and stood at the northwest corner of Cheviot avenue and South street. John Craig gave the ground, and the church was built in 1840. Among the members were Robert Orr, Mrs. Doty, Thomas Kendall, Eli Fish, Mrs. Susan Hoffman, Mrs. Robert Hope, Peter Craig and Mrs. Moore. The organization became defunct about the beginning of the Civil war.

SCHOOLS.

The first school in Green township was taught by William J. Carson, the father of Enoch T. Carson, in a log schoolhouse built in 1807 at the cemetery west of Cheviot. Another early school was that of David E. Stathem; it was opened June 30, 1817, with the following patrons: Providence Ludlam, John Bacon, Robert Dare, James Smith, Samuel Anderson, Lewis Thornell, James Turner, Thomas Brown, John Craig, Roswell Fenton, Ephraim Stathem, Benjamin Benn, Daniel Conger, Achsah Carson, John Conger, Matthias Johnson, Mary Cain, Thomas Mar- shall, Nathaniel Ryan, Noah Smith, Jonathan R. Tucker, William Gain, Elisha Fay, Hugh Goudy, Abner Scudder, John Reddish, John Jones, Francis Holt, Elijah Brown, George Smith and John Miller. The first school at Dent was taught by Miss Amelia McLean, a sister of John R. McLean, proprietor of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The schoolhouse was a small frame structure that stood in front of the present residence of the Misses Sheppard.

The Westwood school building is a substantial and commodious brick structure, originally erected in 1870 and enlarged to its present proportions in 1890. It is surrounded by spacious grounds, bounded on three sides by Harrison, Beechwood and Fairview avenues. Since the incorporation of the village the principals have been G. A. Claus, Daniel Moak, H. J. Disque and S. T. Logan, the present incum- bent, who has held the position during the past ten years. Seven teachers are employed, and the average daily attendance during the past year was 230. The course of study is identical with that of the Cincinnati schools, and extends as far as the third year in the high school.

CHAPTER XXXI.

HARRISON TOWNSHIP.

ERECTION AND BOUNDARIES-FOUNDING, GROWTH, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIAL INTERESTS, AND MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT OF HARRISON-CHURCHES.

H ARRISON TOWNSHIP occupies the extreme northwestern part of Hamilton county, and was erected from territory formerly embraced in Whitewater and Crosby. The date of its organization is 1853. The township is one of the smaller subdivisions of the county, being six miles in length from north to south and three in breadth from east to west. The Whitewater river crosses its south- western corner diagonally, and the Dry Fork of that stream passes through its terri- tory on the east. The only other stream of any importance is Lee's creek.

HARRISON.

The village of Harrison is the most important town in the Whitewater valley within the territory to which this work relates. It is situated in the States of Ohio and Indiana, State street coinciding with the boundary line. The founder was Jonas Crane, and the original plat was surveyed in 1810. That part of the town situated

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HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

in Indiana was laid off by William Hand and a Mr. Allen, and antedated Crane's plat. Crane was a farmer, and resided half a mile south of the town site, which, at the time of the survey, was covered with forest. The first improvements were rude log cabins, built for temporary occupancy by frontiersmen, who vacated them and removed further west when civilization began to encroach upon this region. The oldest house now standing is on the northwest corner of State and Broadway; it was originally erected in 1812 and is partially incorporated in the present structure upon this site. The first frame building on the Ohio side was built by Thomas Breckenridge and William Pursel in 1816 as a hotel. These gentlemen were pro- prietors of a sawmill on Whitewater, the first in this locality. The first hotel keeper at this place was Isaac Morgan, who, in 1818, built a brick house diagonally opposite (at the site of Tebbs' store) and opened therein a dry-goods store, one of the first in the village. Mr. Morgan was father-in-law to Hendricks, vice- Presiden- tial candidate with Tilden.

Other early residents were James Wilson, who resided in a frame house on State street and was in the mercantile business prior to 1818; -- Jones, a gentleman of means, well advanced in years when he located here, whose principal business was buying and selling real estate, and whose residence was a frame building on State street; Henry Lincoln, a farmer who lived in Broadway; John D. Moore, a merchant on Market street, at the frame house still standing, in which Tunis' Bank was con- ducted in 1820-21, and where Uwehlan Fuller opened the first drug store in the vil- lage; Fritz Juerles, a baker on Broadway, where he occupied a brick house; William Hale, a saddler on Broadway ; Joseph Barben, a blacksmith opposite Juerles; -- Lockwood, who lived in a frame house adjoining the town-hall; William Keene, a shoemaker on Market street; Joseph Goff, a hatter on State street; John Moore, wagonmaker; Richard Penny, undertaker on State street; Jesse Dochterman, cigar- maker; Washington Ferris, farmer on Market street; George Waldorf, hotel and store keeper, site of "Central Hotel; " Harrison Seften, wagonmaker and subsequently sawmiller; Henry Wiles, hotel keeper on State street, now the corner of Water, at a frame building that was one of the first in the village; David Jarrett, a successor of Morgan at the Breckenridge and Pursel hotel; Hamilton Ashby, merchant on State street; Dr. Cruikshank, the first resident physician.

The growth of Harrison in population and business importance has been parallel with the agricultural development of the surrounding region and the opening of trade and transportation facilities. The turnpike from Harrison to Cincinnati was opened in 1836. This well-known thoroughfare passes through Miamitown and Cheviot, and is one of the most important in the county. The Whitewater canal was constructed in 1836-40. This was originally an Indiana enterprise; it was found impossible, however, to reach the Ohio river without entering the territory of Ohio, and the legislature of that State granted this privilege only upon condition that permission be granted to tap the canal and construct a branch to Cincinnati. This was reluctantly granted; its effect was to deflect traffic to Cincinnati almost to the utter exclusion of Lawrenceburg, the Indiana terminus. The canal was opened to Lawrenceburg in 1840 and to Cincinnati in 1842. A daily omnibus line to Cincinnati, and to North Bend, on the Ohio & Mississippi railroad, were among the conveniences of the place prior to the opening of the Whitewater Valley railroad, which occurred January 1, 1864.

The present industries of Harrison are located principally on the Indiana side, and include the following: The flourmills of R. G. Frederick and Dair Brothers; the Harrison Buggy Works, W. O. Winn, proprietor; the Harrison Fruit and Pack- ing Company; the Harrison Creamery, Thomas Bowles, proprietor; the Harrison Furniture Company, H. Ellis, proprietor; the American Furniture Company, Gale Brothers, proprietors; and Kosmos Frederick's Distillery. On the Ohio side are located the Pioneer Corn Drill Works, James Campbell, proprietor, established in

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1839 by James and Alexander Campbell. These works employ fifteen men locally, in addition to which a considerable part of the material entering into the product here is manufactured elsewhere. The Harrison Pottery, William Rupp, proprietor, was originally established in 1829. W. H. Biddinger manufactures picket fence. Luke Clark once undertook a brush factory of some local importance, but was obliged to discontinue it because of competition from goods manufactured by con- vict labor.

The first local paper at Harrison was the Advocate, established in 1870 by James Fairchild. Walter and William R. Hartpence founded the News in 1871; the latter withdrew several years later, and the paper has since been conducted by the former. It is a seven-column folio, independent in politics, and enjoys an extensive local circulation. The first issue of the Harrison Democrat appeared August 21, 1891. D. B. Sherwood is editor and proprietor. This journal supports the political prin- ciples indicated by its title, and has already attained a large measure of prosperity.

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 63

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