USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 89
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INCIDENTS OF EARLY HISTORY.
Among the names which appear frequently in the his- tory of the Miami purchase, and upon the land records of Hamilton county, is that of Ludlow. The brothers, Israel and John Ludlow, were prominent men in their day. Israel Ludlow became surveyor, and a joint pro- prietor, in place of the unfortunate Filson, with Denman and Patterson, in laying out the village of Losantiville. He was captain of the Cincinnati militia in 1790-1, and his descendants are widely and reputably known. John Ludlow and family came from Buffalo to Cincinnati in November, 1789, occupying first a double-roomed log cabin on the northwest corner of Front and Main streets. The following year he became the first sheriff of the county, and in 1798 was elected to the first territorial legistature. The first execution was done by Sheriff Ludlow, James
Mays being the condemned man, and costs were allowed him by the commissioners, for "gallows, coffin, and grave- digging, fifteen pounds, eight shillings and nine pence." William D. Ludlow, son of Sheriff John Ludlow, com- municated to the writer of this, two or three incidents of early life, which are here given:
I came to Cincinnati in 1789, when a boy five years old, and soon became used to the hardships, the frights, the incursions of savages, and the tramp of soldiers, who were either drilling, going to, or return- ing from war. All persons were obliged in those days to be indus- trions, and I learned to work when quite a little boy. Sometimes I went to school, and the first master I knew was an Irishman by the name of Lloyd. His school-honse was on the river bank, now the Pub- lic landing, near Main street. We children were sent to school on the safest side of the village. One day in the spring of 1791 the Indians came over the hill-tops right down in sight of the fort, and fired away, killing Henry Hahn, a Pennsylvanian, who was clearing a lot. My uncle Israel gave chase with his militia company but did not overtake them. Harmar's expedition did not intimidate the Indians, but made them worse; and while I was a boy in Cincinnati I saw arined men and soldiers every day, and heard Indian stories every night.
When there was service in the village church I went with my parents, and every man was obliged to have his gun by his side. I remember once my father's colored man was sent np over the hills to look for our black mare, which had strayed away. The Indians had taken her from the ontlot, and got away with her as far as where Lndlow grove now is. The thieving fellows had taken the bell from her neck to decoy those who should be sent after the mare. The darkey was led on and on by the tinkling bell, for he was one whom they would rather capture than kill. Feeling sure of him, they put the bell on the mare's neck, tethered her and secreted themselves. Just as he walked up the Indians jumped out after him, and the race began. The darkey was a good runner, and kept ahead of them to the top of Vine street hill, where the Indians gave up the pursuit. The darkey, however, improved his chances un- til he reached our house, where, pale with fright and gasping for breath, he shouted, "De black mare gone, gone ! Massa John, yon neber see dat black mare any more, snah ! De Injuns got her !"
I do not remember St. Clair's start on his campaign in 1791, but re- member the return, the arrival of the wounded, and the funeral of Cap- tain Darke, who died of his wounds in Isaac Martin's house, next to my father's. The turnout of the soldiers, the black pall, the coffin, the slow pace of those who carried his body, and the dead march sadly and solemnly affected me.
The Indians were continually hanging around, watching along the Miamis, stealing from cabins and horse-lots, from Columbia to North Bend, and back in the country from the river, wherever any one had ventured to fix a stopping place. Once our horses were missing from the wood-lot. Pursuit was given at once by four men, John and James Spencer, John Adams, and Peter Cox. These were known as the "northwestern spies." Cox had a new rifle, and as they started Cox called out to my father: "'Squire John, the Indians shall never get this rifle unless they kill me at the first fire." These men found the horses and Indians just north of Spring Grove cemetery, near Platt Evans' house, and fired into them, killing two. The Indians returned the fire, disabling Cox. Knowing he could not escape from the twenty or more who came after him with a yell, Cox told his companions to go and save themselves. The last seen of Cox was with the muzzle of that new rifle in hand smashing it to flinders against a tree, as the savages closed upon him. In my school-boy days I used to pass that sugar tree and look upon the mutilated bark, where poor Cox had smashed the stock and lock of his gun the moment before the tomahawk fell upon him. While General Wayne was drilling his troops at "Hohson's Choice," preparatory to his campaign against the Indians, I was a frequent wit- ness of camp and field proceedings under the iron-countenanced old general, and on Sundays I used to perch myself in the top of a beech tree and look down upon the sham battles below.
General Wilkinson nsnally commanded the riflemen, who, as whoop- ing Indians, filled the woods, while Wayne directed our soldiers. These sham battles were often exciting, and I shall never forget old Wayne's appearance, his warlike manner, and his stentorian profanity, which could be heard above the noise whenever anything displeased him. This year (1794) Wayne's army left the town, going up Main street, over the hill and np the Mill Creek valley, the footmen and horsemen crossing the central parts of Mill Creek and Springfield townships, the left wing passing over the present sites of Cumminsville, Spring Grove, Carthage, and Springdale.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
Soon after the army left, my father moved his family out to the coun- try, at what is now known as Ludlow Grove, where my brother John so long resided. The ford here became known as Ludlow's ford, or the " Second Crossing of Mill Creek," as Wayne's army crossed here on the route to the " Third Crossing," at White's station, in northern Carthage. I was ten years old when we came to Ludlow's place, and soon learned that we were in an Indian country. Captain Jacob White, Thomas Gandy, Sarah Freeman, Abby Cochrane, riding horseback, and several wagons came with us from town. These pushed on to- wards White's station, two miles above. In less than an hour we heard the cry, "Indians! Indians !! " and soon came those on horseback, to- gether with some running on foot. Thomas Gaudy, the lawyer, and the ladies mentioned, rode on by to. Cincinnati, but Captain White swung his hat, hurrahed for White's station, and left with a fighting party to attack the Indians. They reached the station, however, with- out seeing anything of the savages. In this affair two of our men were killed at the first fire, the Indians shooting from behind some burr oaks which stood on the west side of the road, close to a run, not many feet from the brick school-house which stands there now. The two men were buried just south of the stream, near Allen Huffman's present residence, and my father called the stream "Bloody Run,' which name it bears to this day." The Indians were only stragglers who did not care to meet General Wayne. Like other guerilla parties, they preferred to straggle about and steal, watch the roads to the mills, fire into a sta- tion from safe distance, kill men, women, or children, pick up what the armies might have lost or thrown away, and make themselves trouble- some generally without getting killed or hurt. At one time they came to my father's house in the middle of the night, and tried to force an entrance. Our seven men inside stood ready,“ with weapons in hand to receive them; our dogs ontside attacked them, dividing their attention and skill. After failing to pry open the doors, they left.
Shortly after this they stole our only good horse and five broken-down pack-horses. One afternoon the men had been rolling up log- heaps for burning, which my father and I fired in the evening. After the men had gone up the ladder to bed in the loft they saw seven Indians about the log-heaps, but a rifle-shot among them sent them off in a hurry.
Notwithstanding Wayne's victory in Angst, 1794, these depreda- tions continued for months afterwards. A party attacked White's sta- tion and were repulsed, leaving several of their dead in sight of the station. I saw some of their swollen bodies on the north side of Mill creek, soon after the fight. They lay in the bottom land west of the Miami aqueduct, near the ford, and were partially covered with stalks, weeds, and earth. One lay with his head pillowed on the root of a tree ; by his side was a new rifle, and on his bosom was tipped up a piece of looking-glass, reflecting his dead face. Few persons of to-day can form any just conception of our constant apprehension,.our con- stant sense of danger in those days. My father made it a rule for each of his men to have his rifle loaded and in hand on going ont in the morning, and the supply of ammunition was to be constantly attended to. The plowman carried his gun on his back ; the man with the hoe placed his gun from time to time against the first tree ahead, and when engaged rolling or raising logs, sentinels were placed in the outskirts to prevent surprises.
The narrator of the foregoing was one of the best men that ever lived-truthful, honest, kind and obliging. In early life he was united in marriage with an estimable woman, Charlotte Hand, by whom he had twelve chil- dren, but few of whom are now alive. His wife dying in 1846, he was afterwards married to Mrs. Abigail Bonnell, one of the pioneer women who came to Columbia in early days. With Abigail he lived happily during the re- mainder of his life. William D. Ludlow was industrious until the infirmities of age forbade longer labor. His last years were devotedly given to work in the Christian church at Carthage, where, by pastoral work, by prayer and exhortation, he endeared himself not only to the congregation, but to all who knew him. He fell dead on a street of Carthage in 1863, aged seventy-nine years. His last words were spoken to Mrs. Elizabeth Bonnell, a moment before he fell. "Good morning, Sister Eliza-
beth," said he; "I'm just taking a morning walk-never felt better, and enjoy the sunshine. My work for life is about done; my house is in order, and I am ready to go whenever the Master shall call." A moment after, he fell dead. His remains lie in the cemetery at Reading, close to the grave of his friend and Christian brother, James Dill. They had previously chosen their last resting- places, and now sleep together.
Among the earliest to break the forest in Mill Creek township were the Columbia schoolmaster, John Reily, and his companions. He bought his tract of land, com- prising part of the present site of Carthage, in 1791, but did not associate himself with Pryor and others for im- provements in this region until 1793. The short story of their attempt in the wilderness is thus told in the sketch of the life of Mr. Reily, in McBride's Pioneer Biography:
Their land being entirely in timber, they spent the first week in mak- ing a small clearing and building a rough shanty, and the second in digging a well. They then continned clearing their land. Their horses were stolen by the Indians, but, not discouraged, they procured others and continued their improvements. After some time Mr. Pryor, in company with two other men, engaged to make a trip from Fort Wash- ington to Fort Hamilton, with provisions, on pack-horses, the usual mode of transportation in those days. On their way they encamped on a branch of Pleasant run, four miles south of Hamilton. . . . In the morning they were attacked by the Indians, and Mr. Prior was killed.
Mr. Reily was so discouraged by the death of his as- sociate that he stopped his improvements and returned to teaching in Columbia, removing afterwards to Cincin- nati, and finally to Hamilton, where he died. We shall hear more of the Pryor family when the history of Spring- field township comes to be related.
A belief in witchcraft, singularly strong and persistent, prevailed in parts of the Mill creek to a comparatively recent day. About the year 1814 a wealthy and respect- able family resided on the creek and owned a number of fine horses, some of which died of a strange and unac- countable distemper. No remedy for it could be found, and the conclusion was arrived at that they were killed by witchcraft. A sharp lookout was consequently kept for sorcerers or fortune-tellers, and means were taken to punish them, if any there were, by boiling certain herbs and other ingredients over a hot fire in a cauldron, with pins and needles, which were believed to prick the witch or wizard, at however great a distance. While a mess of this disinfection was boiling furiously at the residence aforesaid, the head of the household happened to take a view from a door which overlooked a large part of the farm, and saw his daughter-in-law at the moment hasten- ing from her cabin, about a quarter of a mile from the house, to a spring, for a bucket of water. His excited imagination at once connected her movements with his calamities and incantations, and he ordered his son to remove his family from the farm. He suspected an old and feeble woman named Garrison, residing eight or ten miles from his place, to be the author of all his troubles ; and, having been advised to shoot a silver bullet into the next distempered horse he had, which would kill the witch and cure the animal, he prepared one and shot it presently into a very fine brood mare which was affected with the disease. Contrary to his expectations, the shot
"In later years, while making improvements here, two skeletons, supposed to be those of the murdered men, were exhumed by the workmen.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
killed the beast; but, as Mrs. Garrison also died soon after, it was finally believed by some that his silver bullet had brought her to her death.
EARLY INDUSTRIES.
Thomas Goudy, esq., the Cincinnati lawyer mentioned in the Indian story, had a flouring mill on the creek, whose capabilities and facilities for work he set forth in a long advertisement in the Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette for May 15, 1799, closing as follows:
As to disposition of business, I need say no more than that Mr. Jessup had three and one-half bushels ground on her [sic] in precisely eight minutes. I hope to gain a general custom, but she is absolutely idle for want of work at present.
From the same region, forty years afterwards, as Mr. Cist notes, a surplus of three hundred thousand barrels of flour was sent annually to New Orleans.
Some time before 1826, Duvall's paper mills, owned in Cincinnati, were in operation at Mill Grove, presumably in the Mill Creek territory.
JUSTICES OF THE PEACE.
James Sisson, Robert Menie, Abraham Wilson, James Lyon, Joseph McDowell, 1819; Robert Menie, John Ludlow, Bela Morgan, Jacob Stewart, 1825; Jacob Stew- art, John Ludlow, John Burgoyne, Nathaniel Williams, 1829; Enoch Jacobs, William Bowman, E. P. Joseph, 1865; Bowman, Joseph, John A. Rudel, 1866; Joseph, Rudel, Henry Erchel, 1867-8; Joseph, Erchel, J. C. Cross, 1869-70; Joseph, 1871-2; Samuel Kemper, 1873-5; A. C. Kaylor, Elon Strong, 1876-8; Kaylor, J. N. Skell- man, 1879; Kaylor, Solomon Tice, 1880.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
After the erection of the First Presbyterian church in Cincinnati (1792), religious services at or near the out- posts were only such as fathers or mothers conducted in their families, or when, upon appointment, a few would meet at the rude home of a neighbor to listen to a wan- dering preacher, who, with Bible, hymn-book, and rifle, was going through the forest wilds to gather together the Lord's people. Previous to the year 1800 very many had never listened to a sermon by a regular preacher, except at a funeral. When peace was practically acknowl- edged after Wayne's treaty, the preachers rode or walked ftom post to post, from cabin to cabin; and meetings began to be held once a month, or once in three months with something of regularity. The early preachers made themselves known at the country weddings, at the bed- sides of the sick and dying, at the solemnities of the grave, and at the "big meetings" which were held for days at a time, and in the woods, when the weather per- mitted. Some of these preachers are remembered by the children of those who first attended the services in Hamilton county, and a few of the names here given have deservedly found their places in the ecclesiastical annals of the country. Among these were the Rev. Messrs. Rice, Kemper, Smith, Burke, Wilson, Robinson, Root, Simonton, Stone, Lyon, Graves, Cavender, Wetherby, Challen, O'Kane, Scott, Dudley, Worley, and Runseler.
In connection with Mill Creek township, which was a part of Cincinnati township until 1810, it may be said
that the membership of the different denominations in that year was less than one hundred. Fifteen years later -that is, in 1825-the following representation was made by the several agents at the distribution of the ministerial fund :
MEMBERS.
Methodist Episcopal church, William D. Lndlow, 73
Presbyterian church, James Lyon, . 62
Christian church, William Snodgrass, 22
Baptist church, Thomas Cooper, . 14
in all one hundred and seventy-one members, to whom was allowed from the fund fifty-one dollars and thirty cents, or thirty cents a member.
In 1835 distribution of the fund was made as follows to the church agents:
MEMBERS.
Methodist church, A. L. Cook, 24
Lane seminary, Presbyterian, James Lyon, 26
Christian church, John Ludlow, 99
Walnut Hills Presbyterian church, E. G. Kemper, 14
Baptist church, John H. Davis, I5
Methodist church, Elijah Wood, 125
in all three hundred and three members, to whom was allowed one hundred and fifty dollars and fifty cents.
In 1850-I the church lists showed the following :
MEMBERS.
Methodist Episcopal church, Fulton, E. H. Filmore, 246
Christian church, Fulton, A. D. Filmore, 46
Walnut Hills Presbyterian church, F. A. Kember, 37
Asbury Methodist Episcopal, Cincinnati, John C. Nye, IO
Walnut Hills Methodist Episcopal church, W. H. Wheeler, I7
Baptist church, Lockland, David McFarland, . 7
Christian Church, Carthage, John H. Sheehan, 6I
Presbyterian church, Mt. Healthy, William Cary, 77
Christian church, West Fork, William T. Roller, . 50
Methodist Episcopal church, Cumminsville, J. G. Smith, 44
Reformed Presbyterian church, Archibald Burns, 6
Presbyterian church, Cincinnati, J. C. Clopper, 23 Presbyterian church, Reading, A. Ruffner, 9
Methodist Episcopal church, Carthage, A. L. Cook. 3I
in all seven hundred and seventy-five members. This number shows very nearly the total of professed religion- ists in the township, being less than the real number, in- asmuch as there were some others who, not having organ- ized churches, did not apply for the ministerial aid.
As before stated, the first services were conducted in private dwellings, in barns, in school-houses, and often in the woods. The beautiful groves at Carthage, its easy approaches by the old beaten roads, its accommodations and hospitalities, made it the great rallying place for the Methodists, the Campbellites, as they were called, the Millerites, and some others; and, from the earliest times to late years, Carthage was known for its religious gather- ings, as well as for its political meetings, horse races, fairs, and militia musters.
Soon after Alexander Campbell became known as a leader, some of his adherents found their way to Mill Creek township, and about 1830 the Rev. Messrs. Camp- bell, Stone, Challen, and others began to visit and preach throughout the neighborhood. Meetings were held in the Carthage school-house, in Solomon Rogers' barn, in Smalley's woods (now Schmucker's), and in 1832 a band of fourteen enrolled themselves under the leadership of Walter Scott, a colaborer with Campbell in the work of tearing down human creeds and building up churches on
H. ATTEMEYER.
Henry Attemeyer was born in Horstl, Prussia, in the year 1806. Having a desire to see the New World, he left his native place and sailed for New York, where he landed, after an uneventful voyage, in the year 1837. From New York city Mr. Atte- meyer went to Michigan, where he remained for nearly two years. In 1842 he came to Cincinnati, and commenced work as a stone-mason, in the cel- lars of the buildings on Pearl street. At this time he was moneyless ; but cheer- ed by the encourag- ing words of an excel- lent wife he went to work on low wages, and soon became known for his intel- ligence, industry, and correct business. From day-labor and small wages, Mr. Atte- meyer soon turned his abilities to contracts, big buildings and the gains which, by hon- esty and persevering industry, make a man rich.
In the year 1845 he contracted for the material and stone- work of St. John's church, on Green street, and this job being soon satisfactorily disposed of, Mr. At- temeyer increased his facilities for larger opera- tions, and became at once a reputable contractor, builder and manager. Among other buildings, too numerous to be mentioned here, reference must be made to the sub-structures of the Carlisle buildings, Burnet house, Jewish synagogue, numerous build- ings on Pearl and other streets, and the house of
refuge at Camp Washington. The latter is one of the most magnificent stone structures, and in sub- stantiality and finish is comparable with the best known edifices in the State. Having done his work well, established a splendid reputation, and accumu- lated a hundred thousand dollars, Mr. Attemeyer retired from business. To St. Bernard, north of Cincinnati, he removed some sixteen years ago where, with his aged wife and children, he is now resting in the enjoyment of the good things of earth. A Democrat on State and National con- troversies, Mr. Atte- meyer cares not for party restrictions or prejudices in local af- fairs, and in the town- ship, county and corporation elections, always votes for the best man.
In religion, as in politics, he is always liberal with those who do not entirely agree with him; and devot- edly attached to the Catholic church, he is a defender of that faith with a kindly re- gard for the opinions of his neighbors, and is perfectly willing for any person to go to Heaven who wants to go-and can get there. With no enemies, but many friends, Mr. Attemeyer's fine residence and improved grounds, his genial man- ners and generous hospitalities are attractions which make this suburban house the resort of many friends and place of pleasant visits by many from abroad.
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HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
the New Testament. Walter Scott was a scholar, editor, and impassioned speaker; he was industrious and coura- geous, and proclaiming a new order of things, and haling men and women from the centre to the four quarters of Mill Creek township, he threw the denominational camps into consternation. Without requiring anything of can- didates beyond confession of faith in Jesus and a promise of good behavior, he proceeded by day and night to baptize his converts in Mill creek or the Miami canal. Mr. Scott preached incessantly, printed the Evangelist, and in 1832 had a comfortable brick meeting-house built, a corps of capable church officers, and a large congrega- tion. Among the first who joined hands with Walter Scott, may be mentioned a few names which appear else- where in the county's history: Solomon Rogers, the first bishop, and Mrs. Rogers; William Myers and Richard Dillino, first deacons, with their wives; Adaline Hubbell, and Emeline Ross; Thomas Wright and wife; Elijah Brady and wife; Mr. Stephens and wife; Hezekiah Woods and wife; John Ludlow and wife. After these came, as officers, bishops, deacons, and teachers, Robert Richardson, Harvey Fairchild, James and Samuel Dill, William Thomas, James McCash, Solomon Niles, John McCammon, Benjamin Watkins, Isaac Bruin, Daniel Riggs, John Sheehan, William and Louis Pinkerton; also, to assist in church work, sisters Abigail Bonnell, E. Swift, Mary McCammon, Sarah Rodgers, Sarah Scott, and Hettie Ludlow.
In the words of the church scribe (Robert Richardson, afterwards a professor at Bethamy college, Virginia), "as the word of the Lord prevailed, many were added to the church." The words of the historian were true; the congregation prospered, and remains to this day, in faith and practice, with the children of the pioneers. In this old church the Millerites proclaimed the end of the world, and in 1842 pitched their tents in the adjacent grounds and, posting their proclamations and pictures on the trees and rocks, awaited the fulfilment of their vain expecta- tions.
This place lies in two townships, having the larger part, one hundred and fifty-five acres in Mill Creek and Car- thage, but fifty-eight (two hundred and thirteen in all) in Springfield township. It had one thousand and seven inhabitants by the census of 1880. In 1818 Edward White, sometimes called Edward III, laid out the village of Carthage, on the "forfeit corner" of section twelve, in the northeast part of Mill Creek township. The re- corded plat is dated December 23, 1815. In the previ- ous year Levi Frazee had sold the east forty-six acres of the forfeit corner to Captain Jacob White for six hundred and fifty dollars, who immediately disposed of it to Ed- ward for the same sum, six hundred and fifty dollars. The next year the town was laid out and the lots ad- vertised for sale. It was then bounded east by Dayton street, south by Deerfield and west by the Hamilton road, which then bore a little east of north, on the beaten track of St. Clair's and Wayne's armies, which passed north from Fort Washington in the years 1791 and 1793. The north boundary of the town plat was the east and west line between the townships of Mill
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