USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cumminsville > History of Cumminsville, Ohio, 1792-1914 > Part 5
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A record of the first graduation and commencement exercises of this school has been preserved for us by its principal, Professor M. S. Turrill, which will interest those who would recall the names of teachers and scholars on that occasion and show what manner of edu- eational culture was wrought in our midst in the middle of the last eentury.
"Sixty years ago the First Annual Exhibition, as it was called, of the Cumminsville Union School was held at the Presbyterian Church, Langland and Lingo Streets, on Friday evening, June 23, 1854. Mr. M. S. Turrill, who still resides on Hamilton Avenue, was principal of the school, with the Misses Ann Jane Moore, Mary A. Smith, and Ann M. Wright as assistants.
"The exercises opened with a song, 'Seneca Lake,' the stanzas of which were printed on the program. This was followed by an address, 'Our Union,' by John F. Myers, now a popular mail carrier. If we eould reproduce this talk, delivered six years before the first intimation of a split in the Union, it would indeed prove interesting. Next came an address, 'Our Country,' by H. G. Hunnewell; a dialogue, 'Uncharitableness,' by Charlotte Coons and Anna A. Myers; an address, 'Bonaparte,' by Franklin Hill; an address, 'Battle of Waterloo,' by Wm. N. Thomson; a solo, 'Madelin,' by Lydia Wilson; an address, 'The Land of Our Birth,' by Henry Hayward; a dialogue, 'Going to School,' by Lydia Hunter and Augusta Tozzer; an address, 'The Wind in a Frolic,' by Alonzo Burgoyne ; a dialogue, 'About Laughter,' by Jannette Thomson, Lydia Wilson, Emily Wright, and Angelina Tozzer. This is about three times as much as it takes to put most of our citizens to sleep at an ordinary high school commencement, but this is only a third of what our good forefathers could endure.
"Those who took part in the rest of the program were Alonzo Myers, John Carson, Alonzo Butler, Mary Donahue, Ellen Burgoyne, Josephine Williams, Ann Hayward, Hiram Powers, Thomas Donahue, Harrison Coons, Wm. Wright, Sarah Williams, and the class valedic- torian, Alonzo Myers. Every one of these pupils recited alone at least once. The program ended with a song, 'Vacation Glee :'
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
"Merry-hearted children we As any in the nation, For now the time of year has come That brings a long vacation.
"We love our teachers and our friends, And love to stay at school, too, But when vacation season comes, We love to be away, too.
"And when the holidays are past And frolic's had its measure, We'll gladly hie to school again And learn with double pleasure.
Rev. A. J. Reynolds pronounced the benediction."
"OLD" KIRBY ROAD SCHOOL Photo by Panl Mueller.
KIRBY ROAD SCHOOL .- Kirby Road School, formerly frequently called the Hanfield Street School House, or the Intermediate School, was built in 1869 upon a slight knoll on Kirby Way, just below the present Chase Avenue, on a lot 205x155 feet. The lot cost $3,726, and the building, consisting of four rooms and a basement, cost $7,800. An addition of four rooms was made in 1878, at a cost of $5,702.
Complete, the eight rooms were capable of comfortably seating 400 pupils. This building was vacated in 1910, when the magnificent new building on Kirby and Bruce Avenues was finished, and was demolished in 1912 to make room for residence sites. The splendid part this school played in the growth of Cumminsville in culture and education need only be alluded to. Its teaching force has ever been of the highest efficiency, and thousands of pupils look back upon "Old Kirby" with pardonable pride and love. Isaac H. Turrill was the first principal, and Mary E. Dunnaway, Kate Smedley. and Amanda Roller; and later Edward Peaslee and John C. Heywood, and Mary Hill and Hattie E. Taylor were among its earliest teachers.
Industries .- The rise and progress of industries in Cumminsville may be epitomized as follows:
The first business venture outside of the keeping of taverns
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THE OLD LUDLOW AVENUE BRIDGE Photo by Krogman
was the tanning of leather by David Cummins. Then followed the temporary project of building the mile of the Miami Canal in 1825-27 by Ephraim Knowlton. About the same time the latter opened a general country store and became engaged in all sorts of building ventures-erecting dwellings and a pork-packing establishment, which was subsequently changed to a pottery and lastly to a grist mill. hu
souvenir "History of Cumminsville "
1832 John MeMakin opened a dry goods store here, was a justice of the peace, and dabbled in real estate. He subsequently became a brigadier general of the Ohio militia, and representative from this district in the State Legislature. Erastus M. Burgoyne, a teacher and also a justice of the peace, was engaged here early in the carpen- ter's trade. William Staddon, an Englishman, came as early as 1839 and established a tailor shop. He was long the pioneer in that vocation. John Smith was one of the earliest blacksmiths, and moving from here in 1852 to Indiana, became a man of considerable im- portance in the affairs of that State. In 1842 Marmaduke Dodsworth came, and soon afterward began the distilling of ardent spirits. William Tozzer and Joseph F. Lakeman opened a general wagon- making shop in the early 40's, turning out army wagons for the Government for service in the Mexican War in 1846. They were succeeded by Frederic Dhonau, a general blacksmith, who, in partner- ship first with Philip Jung, then John Moerlein, and lastly with Louis Usinger, established a smithy and wagon shop in 1852. Ten years later, 1862, Mr. Usinger withdrew and established his own shops on Spring Grove Avenue. Both firms, under the management of sons of these pioneers, are still in active operation. At a later period a smithy was established by a Mr. Williams about where the Cummins-
PRESENT LUDLOW AVENUE BRIDGE Photo by Krogman.
Photo by H. W. Felter, M. D.
THE OLD BRICK YARD ON HANFIELD STREET (J. H. Herbert's)
ville German Bank is now located. This was subsequently removed to Vandalia Avenue, and owned by the Schnieders. Frederic Spaeth engaged in the feed and grain business in 1856, and later opened "Poplar Grove," a roadhouse and German garden. Very early William Marsh did a flourishing business as a saddler, at Hays corner, now the Grueninger Block. In 1859 Caleb Lingo began the manu- facture of sash, doors, and blinds, at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Lingo Street. The old planing mill was destroyed by fire in the 90's. The Lingo brothers (Caleb and Josiah) had previously owned and operated a general saw mill on a run in Glen Airy, in the settle- ment of Hamel Town and near the West Fork Road. At the corner of Colerain Avenue and Hoffner Street William Powers kept a tailor shop, and was succeeded, in 1855, by Andrew Streng, who for many years clothed the male citizens of Cumminsville. J. W. Streng engaged in the butchering business in 1853. In 1859 Frederic Becker established a tailoring business on Blue Rock and Cherry Streets, and Christopher Keller, a Mexican War veteran, returned here in 1848 and some time thereafter opened a bakery in a frame building near the present Keller House, which he erected in 1859 and operated as the "Farmers Hotel." Near to Keller's, Michael
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
RY CLUXTON. DRY GOODS.
GOOD
NOTIONS -AND - MILLINERY
HATS
C
STROHETIS
STORE
HAMILTON AVENUE, LOOKING SOUTH Photo by Krogman.
Poppe had a bakery and grocery. During the Civil War period three enterprises still existing! were founded-George Grueninger, hardware, in 1863; Henry Dickmeier, feed store and elevator, 1864; and the brewery of Fred and John C. Bruckmann, in 1864; common beer being first made, and lager beer in 1869. John Bouvy, an established boot and shoe maker, built his store on Colerain Avenue in 1866, and in 1869 John and Joseph Cope began the horseshoeing business, continued by the latter to the present time. In 1861 there came to Cumminsville one who became renowned as a landscape gardener and florist, Herman Haerlein. In 1865 he had under roof thirteen hot-houses, and in his later years he laid out many private places and parks in various sections of the United States.' Others who were carly in business here were Henry Rabe Sr., the distiller, and Joel Strong, a pioneer in the flour, feed, and grain trade, where Weber's establishment now is. In an old frame building at Spring Grove and Colerain Avenues Isaac Roll kept the post office in the "days before the war." The shoe factory of Joseph Tarrant was established in 1871. The earliest drug- gist, Victor Schwegeler, a man of learning, often employed to examine the German teachers, was "Deutsche Apotheker," where Dr. Mente's office now is. Leonard L. Armstrong was the next in line, and his clerk, Charles Bristle, later opened for business in Dodsworth Hall.
The latter's son. Harry Bristle, still carries on the store. Heinrich Bernhard Dornseifer was a pioneer watchmaker and jeweler. an ex- aminer in German, and excellent flute player.
A glance at the following list will show some of the business interests in operation in 1869, four years before the incorporated village became a part of the city of Cincinnati:
E. Knowlton & Son (corner Hamilton Pike and Spring Grove Avenue), groceries, crockery, boots and shoes. hats. caps. etc .: A. K. Klinkinbeard & Co. (corner Hamilton Pike and Hoffner Street). groceries and provisions; Gabriel Dirr (Hamilton Pike). constable. and dealer in groceries and provisions; Joseph Paffe & Co. (corner Cole- rain Pike and Hoffner Street). bakers and grocers; A. B. Wilson & Bro. (Spring Grove Avenue), confectioners, toys, ice cream. soda water, etc. ; Fred Dormann (corner Hamilton Pike and Kirby St .. now Dorman Street), real estate agent and saloon: F. Reichrath ( Hamilton Pike, near Bridge), Reichrath's Hall, saloon attached: Samuel R. Miller (Colerain Pike, near R. R.), saloon: B. Theiring (Colerain Pike), groceries, candies, and family provisions: John Lutz (corner Colerain Pike and Harrison Street. now Dhonau Street). groceries and liquors; John Focks, groceries and liquors; also (at Colerain Pike and Jo Williams Streets), feed store: Barney Reisanberg
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HAMILTON AVENUE, LOOKING NORTH Photo by Kiogman.
souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
(Spring Grove Avenue), feed store; John H. Meyer (Spring Grove Avenue ), groceries and liquors; A. M. Streng (corner Spring Grove Avenue and Cooper Street), merchant tailor, dry goods, hats, caps. notions ; Joseph Glins (Spring Grove Avenue), dry goods, groceries; J' W. Becker (corner Blue Rock and Cherry Streets), merchant tailor, hats, caps; Charles Krogmann (Spring Grove Avenue), photography and fancy goods; Charles W. Whitely, township clerk and manufacturer of children's shoes; William Tozzer. car- penter and builder; Frank Eversull, carpenter and builder; Henry Molloy, carpenter and builder; I. M. Anderson, builder and contractor ; Joseph Croft, carpenter and builder; Louis Hebel, proprietor of Mill- creek House; Christopher Keller (Hoffner Street and Colerain Ave- nue), proprietor of Farmers Hotel ; Bunker & Kemphues (near R. R.), Millcreek Valley Mills, grain, flour, and feed; M. H. Spillard (at R. R. depot), postmaster, express and railroad agent, and dealer in
POPLAR GROTTE. FRD. STILT.
POPLAR GROVE
coal, lime, cement and plasterers' materials; C. Dodsworth, distiller; S. Levi, distiller; J. C. & F. Bruckmann, proprietors of Cumminsville Brewery; George Grueninger (near Mill Creek Bridge), hardware, stoves, cutlery ; J. Cope & Bro. (near Mill Creek Bridge), horse- shoers; John George Thiel (Colerain Pike, near Elmore), blacksmith; Fred Dhonau (corner Colerain Pike and Harrison Street, now Dhonau Street), wagon maker; Caleb Lingo & Co. (Hamilton Pike, north of R. R.), proprietors of planing mills; John Shott (Colerain Pike, oppo- site Wesleyan Cemetery), manufacturer and dealer in collars, harness,
saddles, etc; Callahan Bros. (opposite Spring Grove Cemetery), Spring Grove Marble Works; J. S. Fine (at College Hill Gate No. 1, Hamilton Pike), real estate agent and collector; Philip Weber (Spring Grove Avenue), cigar manufacturer. Near town were the vegetable gardens of Edward Morris, Thomas Cope, William Hockstead, and H. H. Fricke, and the dairy of Wellen Campbell. E. N. Clopper was a professional school teacher; Rev. W. H. Martin was pastor of the Christian Church ; Professor M. S. Turrill was principal of the Public Schools, and recorder, notary public and conveyancer; August Mueller was principal of the Catholic Schools; Armand DeSerisy, ex-Mayor, was Deputy U. S. Internal Revenue Collector; A. and D. P. Smedley and L. Mente were physicians; and L. L. Armstrong was "druggist, dealer in medicine, perfumery, etc."
Photo by H. W. Felter, M. D.
GARDENS AND STOCK PENS AT FOOT OF MT. STORM
The War Record .- The war record of Cumminsville is one of quick response and national devotion. When Governor Arthur St. Clair came to Fort Washington in 1791 he formed four companies of soldiers, constituting the First Regiment of Ohio Militia, and appointed Israel Ludlow, of Ludlow Station, captain of one of them.
THE WAR OF 1812 .- In Wayne's army was a drummer boy- Rudolph by name-who resided in our midst until removed by death
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
at a ripe old age. In the War of 1812 served Thomas Hamel of Hamel Town, and James McMillan, living to the northeast of Cumminsville. When Governor Meigs called out the First Division of Ohio Militia, at the breaking out of the contest, it was rendezvoused at Hutchinson's Tavern. E. D. Mansfield (Memories), whose brother was a captain of mounted infantry, describing these volunteers, says: "They presented a motley appearance, dressed as they were in a great variety of ap- parel, some with hunting shirts, some with butternut jackets, and others in more fantastic costumes. Many of the men had rifles or other arms, but most of them drilled with sticks and cornstalks in place of firelocks."
MEXICAN WAR, 1846-48 .- Never a popular conflict, the Ohio records, after the sending out of the first troops, are singularly silent as to the Mexican War of 1846-48. During it Tozzer and Lakeman built army wagons here for the Government service. At one time a
MAJOR GEN. H. B. BANNING
BRIG. GEN. JOHN MeMAKIN
company of cavalry encamped at the old Mill Creek House, and Chris- topher Keller, taken sick in the army of invasion, returned to Cum- minsville in 1848 to engage in the bakery business and build the Farmers Hotel (Keller House). General JJohn MeMakin, who served as brigadier general of the First Brigade of the Ohio Militia for twenty years, and a legislator during the war period, was active in recruiting and drilling soldiers for service in this war.
WAR OF THE REBELLION, 1861-65 .- It was in the great Civil War of the Rebellion, however, that Cumminsville responded patriotically and generously. Considering her population, her quota was large and often included all the male members of a family. The old, the middle- aged, and especially the youth, full of the promise of life and dreaming dreams of greatness-all offered themselves upon the altar of their
country's honor. Miss Eleanor Adams, editor of "The Story of the Fourth Regiment," has so aptly described and beautifully immortal- ized the youthful patriot that we quote her words in full :
"The typical soldiers of our Civil War were youths, who, when their country needed them, laid aside the yardstick, left the clerk's stool in the dingy office, or exchanged work on the farm for the work of marching, foraging, fighting. The lad who a short time before was busied with the acute angles of a geometry proposition, concentrated his attention on the cleaning, loading, and firing of a gun at any and all angles. The boy who a year before was dog-earing his schoolbooks or poring over a Latin exercise, spent his evenings writing letters or in his diary, with a box and a candle stump for equipment.
"At first the novelty of camp life, of bright uniforms. of military drill, excited him to dreams of future greatness; he knew that the at- tention of the whole world was focused on him personally; he heard much of a soldier's duty, and of praise for his progress in military tactics from the general orders of his commanding officer. So he swaggered a bit-was eager for dress parade, and intensely interested in the impression his regiment made.
"Gradually he evolved into the seasoned soldier, and as the work grew more exhausting, dangerous, and life grew grimmer. he found himself too close to and too vitally concerned with the big issues to comment much on them. It was not his business to talk. but to work, and where history gives us glowing and stirring narratives of great battles, the common soldier has left a few laconic lines in his diary, and tells of the trivial things in his letters home. After the lapse of years these few lines galvanize his memory-he lives over again stirring events, has time now to feel, where in the stress of battle he must conserve all his energies for action. He reealls now that he was just a strong young fellow, with youth's appetite for food, pleasure and adventure, often homesick for the comforts and companionship of his little home town, but willing to endure his new life because he was a good American citizen, born with a sense of liberty. equality, and justice ; willing to fight for their maintenance.
"It was the enthusiasm and endurance of the American boy from seventeen to twenty-two years of age which really sustained the Union." Such were the youths, with those of other sections of the state, who responded to the call of General John C. Fremont in the summer of 1861, and were organized within the present bounds of Cummins- ville by Colonel John Kennett as the Fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Their camping and drilling ground was on the west side of Cumminsville. on the bluff above the creek, long afterwards a vege- table garden and now intersected by Runnemede Avenne. This was Camp Gurley, named in honor of the Hon. John A. Gurley, one of
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
the members of Congress from Cincinnati. Company E, Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, was organized by Capt. George A. Gotwald, a prominent physician of Cumminsville.
Another company, in which were many of the Cumminsville boys, with those from Clifton and Carthage, was the "Valley Guards," recruited by Capt. Flamen Ball Jr .. of Clifton, with Ferd Cook as second lieutenant. Not being needed for the first call, the quota being full, it was transferred to Company E, Second Kentucky Infantry, and Kentucky reaped the honors justly belonging to Ohio for the splendid service of these men.
For the following list of those from Cumminsville who entered the service, I am indebted to John F. Myers, himself one of the number :
Israel Ludlow, 6th O. V. I. ; Benj. C. Ludlow, aide to Gen. Butler, Army of the James; James Thomson, Co. E, 4th O. V. Cav. : Alex. L. Thomson, Co. E, 4th O. V. Cav. ; Wm. N. Thomson, Co. D, 4th O. V. Cav. ; John Thomson, 4th Batallion, O. V. Cav. ; John F. Myers, Co. E, 4th O. V. Cav .; Jacob E. Wentzel, Co. E, 4th O. V. Cav .; Wm. Douthwait. Co. D, 4th O. V. Cav. ; Erhard Blum, Co. E, 4th O. V. Cav. ; Anton Smaltz, Co. E, 4th O. V. Cav .: Fred Hertzberger, Co. E, 4th O. V. Cav .; Jarvis Blum, 2d Ky. Reg. Inf .; Wm. H. Johnson, 39th Ohio Inf. ; Josiah S. Lingo. 39th Ohio Inf .; Joseph Strickland, 39th Ohio Inf .: Alonzo Myers, 5th Ohio Inf .; Wm. Anderson, 5th Ohio Inf .; Henry R. Hayward, 5th Ohio Inf .; Henry Rudolph, 5th Ohio Inf., drummer; Joseph Rudolph, 5th Ohio Inf .; John Quinn, 6th Ohio Inf. ; Alonzo Burgoyne, 6th Ohio Inf .; John M. Carson, 75th Ohio Inf .; Chas W. Whiteley, 5th Ohio Cav .; Gasler Rudolph, 5th Ohio Inf. ; Charles H. Wentzel, 181st O. V. I .; Edward N. Clopper, 83d Ohio Inf .; Samuel Caldwell, 4th Ohio Cav .; Edgar Tozzer, 4th Ohio Cav.
Among those who gave up their lives in the Civil War were Alonzo Myers (killed), William Anderson (killed), and Edgar Tozzer (illness).
John Wentzel was the hero of three wars-the Napoleonic cam- paign, the Seminole, and the Mexican War-and at an advanced age wanted to engage in the Civil War. His son, Charles H. Wentzel, became a drummer at eleven years of age:
Floods .- The great flood of 1832 extended from beyond Mill Creek Bridge to Hamel Town, an almost unbroken sheet of water, and came up Hamilton Pike as far as Jacob Hoffner's stone steps. The high water mark was 62 feet 11 inches. In 1847 the high water mark reached 62 feet and 3 inches, washing the stone step at the doorway of Knowlton's stone store, then under construction.
Incorporation and Annexation .- Up to the close of the Civil War Cumminsville had been a postoffice village in Millcreek Township. On November 29, 1865, the village was incorporated and granted a village government, consisting of a mayor, five councilmen and one policeman or marshal. The first mayor was Armand DeSerisy, who served until 1869. Joseph F. Lakeman was mayor from 1869 to 1871, and Gabriel Dirr in 1872.
ARMAND DE SERISY Loaned by Janet DeSerisy
JOSEPH F. LAKEMAN Loaned by H. W. Felter
GABRIEL DIRR
Previous to 1869 the city of Cincinnati was confined to a restricted area of seven square miles, peopled by approximately 200,000 persons, and was one of the most densely populated cities in the Union. The growth of the city now became rapid, and large outlying territory was brought in by various methods of annexation. In 1870 Mayor Torrance argued in favor of organizing the county of Hamilton into a single municipality-the city of Cincinnati. To- gether with other suburbs. the village of Cumminsville came up for annexation at the election of April 16, 1869. The vote of all the suburbs together was close-1,125 against 1,082. The matter went into the courts, "which declared the enabling act unconstitutional as being a special act conferring corporate powers." The next attempt was more successful, for by virtue of an ordinance of September 6, 1872, and a popular vote of the two municipalities in October of that year, and the acceptance of the conditions of annexation, on March 12, 1873, Cumminsville eeased to be a corporate village and became the twenty-fifth ward of the city of Cincinnati. Cumminsville, at the time of annexation, embraced an area of two and three-eighths square miles, and had a population of about 4,400.
Souvenir "History of Cumminsville"
The Doctors .- The doctors who toiled through the day and the darksome nights to alleviate the ills of the villagers, and who had to do their work under primitive conditions, deserve a passing mention. Probably the first was Dr. Richard Allison, who came out from Fort Washington to attend the Ludlow family. Dr. Allison attained the highest rank in the army medical service, corresponding to the present position of Surgeon General of the Army of the United States. He was also probably the first resident physician of Cincinnati. Though he never resided here in life, his remains now rest in Wesleyan Ceme- tery, where so many of Cumminsville's dead "sleep the sleep that knows no earthly awakening." Dr. William Mount and his son-in-law, Dr. J. Q. Oliver, were conspicuous physicians in their day. Dr. Mount, who enjoyed more than village prominence, was one of the founders of the Cincinnati Hospital, lived here many years, built the Mount resi- dence in 1834, and died as the result of an accident. His reputation as a physician still lingers, and he was regarded as a leader in his profession. Other names remembered are those of Drs. James Richard- son, Simeon F. Randolph, L. L. Lefevre, Louis Mente, Isaac Miller, George A. Gotwald, A. Smedley, D. W. Smedley, Conrad Soellheim, O. W. Lounsbury, Daniel Badgely (who practiced but one year, though a life-long resident of a somewhat hermit type), - Laufer, and Frank H. Rowe, the oldest physician now residing here and still in practice. Dr. Rowe served St. Joseph's Orphan Asylum for 41 years, only recently and reluctantly laying down the burden.
Cemeteries-BADGELY BURYING GROUND .- Upon the crest of the hill west of the present Virginia Avenue and north of Washburn was the old Badgely graveyard-one acre in extent. The Badgely settlement was once quite a community, and centered along Badgely Road (now Kirby) and Badgely Run, where the Badgely log cabin was built about 1795. In this early burying ground were laid many of the old families, and during the cholera invasions was largely utilized for interment. Many bodies buried here were subsequently removed to Wesleyan Cemetery by John S. Baldwin, who acquired the Badgely acre as pay for his services.
QUAKER BURYING GROUND .- To the west of Garfield School was an old Quaker burying ground, from which bodies buried for over a half century were removed in 1904 and reinterred in Spring Grove Ceme- tery. The object of removal was the splendid underlying bed of sand that has since entered into the construction of many buildings and walks of Cumminsville and vicinity.
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