USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > History of Hamilton County, Ohio, with illustrations and biographical sketches > Part 90
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116
Creek and Springfield, established in 1809-10. Previ- ous to 1815 White's mill, on Mill creek, just above the town, and Griffin's Station, on the west near by, were as well known in the early days as Columbia or North Bend. These mills and stations were the principal places for safety and supplies between the Miamis north of Cincinnati. A wagon road connected Whites Station with Columbia, crossing Harmar's trace one mile south- . east of the present village; another led east to Covalt's Station, on the Little Miami; and another road, on the old Indian trail, passed near Griffin's (Caldwell's Mill), westward to the Great Miami, and on to North Bend. This road connected almost directly with Dunlap's or Colerain Station on the Great Miami. Between White's and Griffin's Stations (in upper Carthage), passed the great road from Fort Hamilton, southward to Ludlow's Station (North Cumminsville), and thence to Cincinnati.
Limited space prevents, in this place, a digression up- on the natural advantages of the Mill Creek valley around White's and Griffin's; and the names of those who first fought the red men here, who first cleared the forest away, must also be passed reluctantly over. The names of the greater landholders will, however, lead to important dates. The present corporate limits of the town enclose the corners of four sections, six and twelve in Mill Creek township, and one and seven in Spring- field. Section seven, the northwest corner of the pres- ent corporation, was entered by warrant in 1792, by David Griffin, and in the same year Griffin also entered section one, in behalf of Jacob White. Section six, (Mill Creek), was entered in 1789 by Samuel Bonnell, Moses Pryor locating on the "forfeit corner" of said sec- tion. The same year David Tuttle recorded his warrant for section twelve (Mill Creek); and soon after we find Richard S. Clark vacating the "forfeit corner" of said section twelve because of a debt which he owed to John Vance, who established his claim thereupon.
In close relation to the four mentioned, Daniel Grif- fin, Jacob White, Samuel Bonnell and David Tuttle, ap- pear the names of James Henry, Joseph John Henry, Israel Shreve, Moses and Luther Kitchel, Henry Run- yan, James Mott, Silas Condit, Robert Harper, Darius C. Orcutt, John Brazier, Daniel Cooper, Samuel Martin, Moses Pryor, Samnel Dunn, Stephen Flinn, Caleb Camp, James Flinn, Richard Hawkins, Zebulon Foster, Jacob Dungan, Edward and Amos White, James Caldwell, Wil- liam Ludlow, Benjamin Ludlow, Robert and Richard Dill, Samuel Williams, Silas Halsey, John Wallace, Andrew Goble, James Winans, James Cunningham, and some others, who, though not crowded uncomfortably close, were neighbors and frequenters of White's and Caldwell's Mills. These men were mostly land owners, holding en- tire sections, halves, or quarters, on "forfeit corners." The Whites were a numerous family, as were also the Flinns, while the Ludlows had located claims through- out the Symmes purchase. Many of the names above are no longer continued on the county records, and have vanished from the memory of the living.
There were one hundred and fifty-two lots sold to fifty eight different purchasers. Many of these purchasers
43
338
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
never resided in the village, and, as some disappeared before the town was much improved, only a few names are given of those who bought lots, remained, and built up the place.
Archibald Burns took thirty-eight lots, put up a fine residence, and built a factory and machine shop.
John Brecount bought four lots, and built and kept the first public house, known as the Mansion house.
John Evans took several lots, and was known as the first resident bricklayer in Carthage.
Sidney and Ephraim Knowlton were early pork mer- chants and storekeepers, and were afterwards in the canal business. Their boat, the first one here, was "The Han- nibal, of Carthage."
Benjamin Irwin, property holder and first storekeeper, at the corner of Fourth and Main streets.
Leicester Nichols and James Hefferman, were the first carpenters.
John Shanklin was the first wagonmaker. He died in a few years, and was followed in the same business, in 1829, by Richard Rancevaw, who still resides in the vil- lage.
The Millers -- Isaac, Thomas, and Adam-were early residents, owned property, and had a saddler-shop on Hamilton street.
Rev. Isaac Ferris was the preacher from Duck creek; and Solomon Rogers, a retired, wealthy steamboat cap- tain, was also ever engaged in good works. Mr. Rogers established a silk cocoonery, and endeavored to develop the silk business, but failed in the enterprise. He im- proved his property, however, and did much for the vil- lage.
Andrew Smalley owned thirty-five lots, kept the Clifton house (afterwards Belser's tavern), was the first postmas- ter, encouraged the county fairs, and delighted in horse racing.
Joel Tucker and Nathaniel Williams were blacksmiths on Main street. Their successors in iron working were Messrs. Burns, Castner, and Tucker.
The Townsends-James, John, and Pernal-were coopers and carpenters.
The Williams family-Nathaniel, Miles and Martha ---- were lot owners.
In 1821 Thomas McCammon & Sons, from Cincin- nati, came to the neighborhood, and are remembered as the first cabinetmakers.
At this time (1821), there were only a dozen houses in White's Carthage, and but five or six in sight west of the village. These were the houses of Major James Caldwell, Richard Dill, Abram Wilson, and Thomas Mc- Cammon, and the Bull's Head tavern, south of Wilson's, on the Hamilton road.
In 1826 Samuel Caldwell made an addition of seventy lots, on the west side of Hamilton road, opposite old Carthage, the same year that the Miami canal was cut through the east side of the village. Many strangers came to the place, some bought lots, many new houses were put up, and the town began to present an appear- ance of thrift and prosperity. The children, who had been attending an old time school far below the village,
in what is now South Elmwood, were better accommo- dated in a comfortable brick school-house, east of the canal, at the corner of Second and Mill streets. This was one of the first three brick buildings at that time in the neighborhood, and remained standing until recently, when modern demands put it away for the more preten- tious school edifices which are now conspicuous in Carthage.
For a while church services were occasionally held at private residences, or in the school-houses, or groves; but in 1832 the Christian church, organized by Walter Scott, built a brick meeting-house on the corner of Jack- son and Fourth streets, whereon the new edifice, erected in 1878, now stands. The first officers of this church, co- workers with Alexander Campbell and Walter Scott, were Solomon Rogers, William Myers, Richard Dillino, Heze- kiah Wood, Elijah Brady, and John Ludlow. Dr. Rich- ardson, later a professor at Bethany college, was clerk of the church. In connection with this church a Lord's Day school was established; and the names of the first verse reciters-children then, old men and women now- who memorized and recited twelve thousand three hun- dred and ten verses, are here given, as worthy a place in the history of Carthage and its neighborhood :
Noah Wright, Stephen Dillino, Boyd Thomas, William Evans, James Harvey, Boyd Dillino, John Scott, Isaac Chase, William Hefferman, Thomas Wright, David Pigg, Nelson Derby, Ephraim Knowlton, Jonathan, John, and Benjamin Bonnell, William Scott, Isabella McCammon, Ansenith Harvey, Mary Thomas, Elizabeth and Emeline Dill, Emily Scott, Charlotte Myers, Elizabeth Wright, Lucinda Chase, Joanna Bonnell, Isabella Felter, Louisa Mayhew, Sarah Flinn, Elizabeth Pigg, Caroline Riggs, and Emily Baldrick.
Many of them are still alive, though widely separated. Their parents and grandparents were among those who landed at Columbia, Cincinnati, or North Bend, in the earlier days. One of those named, Jonathan Bonnell, is now leader of the choir in the village church, a place he has filled almost continuously for forty-five years.
The instruction of the common .school was supple- mented in private schools by that of the academic, wherein mathematics, philosophy, Latin, Greek, painting, and music, were taught, and good students made.
Walter Scott edited and published a paper in the vil- lage, and, being a notable orator in things divine, classes were formed in theology, under his direction, and at least a respectable number of professional writers and speakers of to-day date the beginnings of scholarship and goodness to the classical and religious instruction received in Car- thage fifty years ago.
Among the early teachers were Messrs. Armitage, Mat- thews, Wheelock, Wood, Wiley, Jehial Woodworth, Isaac Goodwin, William Pinkerton, Providence White, Mrs. Sophia Wright, Mrs. Hayes, Mrs. Eliza McFarland, Elizabeth J. Dill, and Flavius Josephus Hough-all pre- vious to 1850. Of all these the longest and best known of the village teachers was Mrs. Eliza McFarland, who, in a long experience of thirty-five years, taught two gen- erations-the childrens' children-and, in 1877, at the
e
339
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
age of seventy-five, closed life's labors beloved by all who knew her.
Going back to the days of the first school-house (1830) wherein occasional church services were held, it appears that Anthony Cook and wife were industrious workers in behalf of early Methodism in the place. They conducted a little Sunday-school, entertained itinerant preachers, labored for the establishment of their church, and are re- membered as pioneer Methodists in Carthage-only re- membered, the writer is obliged to say, for the most industrious inquiry fails to obtain anything of recorded facts. The cause, however, for which the first Method- ists labored, did not fail, although the church never numbered more than a few, and the services have not always been continuous to the present day. About the year 1850 a neat meeting-house was erected on East Second street, opposite the old brick school-house, and herein was formed the little society of the Methodist Episcopal church in Carthage. The building of the house was largely the work of John K. Green, esq., who, with his family, regularly attended for years, taking an active part in the Sunday-schools and in the revivals which occurred from time to time. Mr. Cook and Mr. Green were wealthy, and contributed freely to the sup- port of the church. With their names are associated Godfrey Peters and family, William Gibson and wife, Henderson Warner and wife Rosanna, Caleb Thayer and wife, Mr. and Mrs. Stephens, Mrs. Ludlum, John Sweeney and wife, Miss Hannah Radcliffe, Mrs. Maria Wilson, Henry Hart and family, and a few others. Death and removal have taken away nearly all of these, so that not one of the early Methodists remains a worshipper in the congregation. At present the Rev. Mr. White conducts Sunday night services, and a Sunday-school in the morn- ing is well attended. It is much regretted that no records of this church can be found.
In 1869 the Catholics, by Archbishop John B. Purcell, purchased the block on the northeast corner of Fourth and Lebanon streets, and put up a neat church edifice, with rooms for a school. The total cost of lots and house was ten thousand dollars. The trustees were Ed- mund Oberle, John Bickers, and Henry Lammers. The church was formally opened and dedicated in 1869 by the archbishop and numerous assistants, after which Father John Allbrinck was installed as the local priest. After him came priests Henry Recken, Benjamin Broer- ing, and Henry Brinkmeier, the last in 1879. Father Brinkmeier recently took charge of the convent west of the village, and the church and school of St. Borromeo are now under the control of the Franciscan Fathers. The communicants number about sixty, the day school thirty, the latter being managed by two of the Sisters.
In 1871 John W. Sprung and John H. Eggers donated the lots on the northeast corner of Sixth and Lockland avenue to the society of German Protestants, and a church building and a pastor's residence have been fin- ished thereon. The congregation numbers forty, and the Sunday-school fifty. The Rev. Mr. Baum is now the resident minister.
Previous to the establishment of schools and churches
the people entertained themselves much with shooting- matches; firing at turkeys at sixty and one hundred yards, county fairs, and horse races also commanded full atten- tion. The first race track was on the township line, east and west, between Springfield and Mill creek, from western Carthage, near Dill's, to the hill on the east, where the grounds join Morris' grove. This was a line well known, and still not known, to numerous lawyers and surveyors, who almost yearly measure, calculate, and wrangle over the property rights on both sides of the line. The Miami canal cut this track in two in 1826, when another was laid out from Knowlton's corner, at the Second street bridge, northward to White's station on Mill creek. After this Smalley's track, on what is now Major Caldwell's farm, became a noted place for races and militia musters. On these first tracks, in early times, the boys coming to Caldwell's and White's mills, used to speed their "quarter nags," furnishing a good deal of amusement and occasional opportunity for "chances" and "odds," with money attached.
Here racers and riders became famous; the political conventions and fairs drew large crowds, and the place acquired a wide reputation for good displays, hospitable entertainments, and horse races. "Old Smalley" was a noted equine practitioner; so, also, were Hamer, Hutch- inson, Coffeen, Stubbs, and Wade. Among the riders, "Jockey" Pryor and Shep Smalley were up in reputa- tion, and when a youngster got a "whip-around" on Kenton, Yankee Tom, or Deacon Wade's horse, Orphan Boy, he gained an enviable notoriety. While many per- sons came to see the governors of Ohio, Indiana, Ken- tucky, and Illinois, who were often here, and to listen to the speeches of Colonel Dick Johnson, General Harri- son, Henry Clay, Bellamy Storer, Tom Corwin, Duncan, and other celebrities, it was plain that excitements on the track and discussions on blooded stock had much to do in persuading attendance.
In Smalley's stables, and for many years later in Bel- ser's and Vankirk's, good horses were kept the year round, and when Kentuckians chanced across to talk about speed and put up the money on their horses, they were generally accommodated, and the nags put upon the track.
As an index to the crowds who came to the first Car- thage entertainments, it may be stated that the stables at Belser's and Vankirk's were always ready for the accom- modation of a thousand horses, and the tavern tables, in order the year round, were ready on short notice for as many horsemen or hungry politicians. These races and old-time fairs continued up to 1850-4, when they gave place to the modern expositions and trotting races on the Hamilton County fair grounds, in northern Carthage. The later fairs commenced in 1854-5 by the purchase of extensive grounds and the erection of expensive amphi- theatres. They are fully set forth in the printed reports of the County Agricutural society.
The more tragic history of Carthage begins with the killing of Moses Pryor and his two children, by the In- dians, in 1792-3, and the murder of the pack-horsemen at Bloody run, just south of the present village, in 1793.
340
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
Edward White, the founder of the place, was killed at Galena, Illinois, while acting as an arbitrator, about 1840. His decision was adverse to one Dr. Stoddard, who drew a pistol and shot him dead.
Lewis Bonnell was killed by the fall of a tree in 1831. Two boys, named Swift and Robinson, skating on the canal, were drowned in 1831, helow Second street.
An unknown man, taking shelter in a hollow tree was killed by lightning in 1845.
In 1846 the stage was overturned in Mill creek, and one child was drowned.
Charles Hughes, while swimming in the creek, west of Third street, was drowned in 1847.
In 1853 a stranger stopped over night at Mr. Fowler's, upper Main street, and was found sitting on the front stove plate in the morning, dead.
James ---- , also an unknown man, drowned his sister and horse accidently at the ford above the village in 1854.
A fast woman and fast horse were drowned by a care- less driver at the Hamilton Street bridge, in 1854.
Mr. Huber was drowned in the creek near by, in 1855.
In the same year two men, a fireman and section hand, were killed by the cars on the Cincinnati, Hamil- ton & Dayton railroad, one at the depot the other below.
Mr. Chumley, an old man tired of life, put himself on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton track, and was killed, in 1858.
A brakeman on the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad was killed at the bridge above the depot, in 1861.
About 1853-58 four men, all unknown, were drowned, on as many different Sundays, in the same place where the woman and horse lost their lives in 1854.
William D. Ludlow, the pioneer, dropped dead near Jackson and Third streets in 1862. Mr. Ludlow was at this time the second husband of Abigail Ludlow, whose first husband, Lewis Bonnell, was killed by a falling tree in 1831.
A driver of a mule team, from the camp in upper Carthage, was killed by being run over by a wagon in front of Southwell's blacksmith shop in 1863.
In the same year Mrs. Susan Ramsdale fell dead near Third and Lebanon streets.
In 1863, when Mrs. Dugan (mother of Susan Rams- dale, just mentioned) saw the young man killed in front of Southwell's shop, she said: "Let my death be just as sudden." A few days afterwards she was thrown from her wagon and instantly killed.
An unknown man, hit with a stone, was killed near the corner of Third and Lebanon streets. It was done by a man now in the penitentiary, whose name is not remembered.
In 1864, Mrs. Mary Eliza Ewing, but recently married then, was thrown from her carriage at the corner of Fifth and Jackson streets, and instantly killed.
Oscar Musser, engaged in the camp here in 1864, was kicked by a horse and died immediately after.
Mrs. Mary Dill, widow of Richard Dill, an early set- tler, was found dead in her bed in 1863. Aged ninety years.
Miles Riggs, while engaged in pleasant conversation, died instantly, in 1868.
Caleb Thayer was found dead in his own cistern in 1868, a supposed suicide.
Hiram Sloop was tired of life and hanged himself in his own room, at the corner of Jackson and Anthony streets, in 1869.
Mrs. Ann Vankirk was found in the canal, near Centre street, in 1870; also a supposed suicide.
Mrs. Philip Foltz, standing at her front gate with her baby in her arms, engaged in conversation with a neigh- bor, fell instantly dead, in 1873.
A boy named Norton was drowned in Mill creek, near Centre street, in 1876.
Rachel Carrico dropped dead at the depot, on West Second street, in 1876.
A child, parents unknown, was found dead on the tow- path side of the Miami aqueduct, in 1878.
John Nutts was found dead in a sandbank, at the corner of Fifth street and the canal, in 1879.
Adolphus Dill was killed by the cars on the Dayton Short Line railroad, in 1879.
James Fitzpatrick, a school boy, was drowned near Sixth street and the canal, in an ice-pond, in 1879.
Benjamin Tegeder, in trying to recover his brother from under the ice, was himself drowned, near the Cin- cinnati, Hamilton & Dayton bridge, on Sunday, Decem- ber 12, 1880.
The foregoing narrative is exclusive of the casualties within or connected with the numerous public institu- tions around Carthage.
The soldiers from Carthage who volunteered in the late war were:
Alcorn, Fielding, in the cavalry, a prisoner four months.
Bonnell, Warren, cavalry.
Bowen, Putnam, cavalry.
Calden, Jerry, infantry, wounded at Rich Mountain.
Castner, Peter, gunboat service.
Castner, Jonathan, gunboat service.
Curtis, James, cavalry.
Curtis, Morton, gunboat service.
Dooley, William, infantry, wounded at Perryville, Kentucky.
Dillano, Samuel, infantry, taken prisoner at Stone River.
Dorman, John, wounded at Vicksburgh on the gunboat Carondelet.
Flinn, Jesse, infantry, wounded.
Flinn, Edward, infantry, killed at Atlanta.
Ferris, Henry, cavalry.
Fowler, William, cavalry, prisoner in Salisbury.
Folz, Philip, cavalry, wounded in action.
Hauck, Harry, infantry, died in hospital.
Kellerman, Henry, gunboat service.
Kroeger, Fred., gunboat service.
Musser, Jerry, cavalry.
Musser, Albert, cavalry.
Morris, Clarence, artillery.
McLean, Jesse, infantry, wounded at Mission Ridge.
McLean, Edwin, infantry and musician.
McClellin, James, infantry.
Phillips, George, infantry.
Riggs, Philip D., infantry and cavalry.
Robinson, Frank, infantry, starved to death at Salisbury.
Rictner, William, gunboat service.
Southwell, George, cavalry.
Smedley, Daniel, surgeon.
Snyder, John, infantry, killed at Fort Blakely.
Schmucker, Jacob, infantry.
Wilson, William, cavalry.
341
HISTORY OF HAMILTON COUNTY, OHIO.
Winder, John, infantry.
Kaylon, George, infantry. Shackles, Noah, cavalry.
Since the platting of Carthage in 1815 there have been several additions : By Samuel Caldwell, in 1826; James N. Caldwell, in 1848; Lee, Wilson & Bullock, in 1850; Caldwell & Paddack, in 1850: Samuel Greenham, in 1858; Theophilus French, in 1868; Jacob Schmucker, in 1869; Eggers & Sprung, in 1875; and by T. Colling, the same year.
The village was incorporated September 22, 1868. Its first mayor was Jonathan R. Bonnell; the second, Rich- ard A. Morton, who served from 1869 to 1874, inclusive ; third, Richard Phillips; fourth, Smith Stimmell, the pres- ent incumbent.
Since its incorporation the streets have been properly widened and graded; expensive gas works were put up, and the streets are well lighted. There are four churches, with graded public schools, both German and English, and a parochial school attached to St. Borromeo's Cath- olic church. The hotels are well kept. There are four public halls, of which Coke hall, on North Main street, is accounted the finest in Hamilton county, outside of Cincinnati.
The Miami canal passes Carthage on the east, and the Short Line railroad on the same side ; the Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton railroad on the west side, both roads giving sixty trains a day to and from Cincinnati. Mill creek is the extreme northern and western boundary of the village. About fifty of the residents do business in Cincinnati. It had a population of one hundred and forty-eight in 1830, and two thousand four hundred and nineteen half a century afterwards, by the census of 1880.
In the State Gazetteer of 1841 Carthage is noticed as then containing two hundred and eighty-three inhabi- tants, with fifty-five dwellings, ten mechanics' shops, three stores, two taverns, two groceries, one meeting- house, and one school-house. The Gazetteer adds : "This town is situated on a sandy soil, which gives it a pleasing appearance. Its location being in the centre of the county makes it a noted place for large gatherings. The annual fair of the Hamilton County Agricultural society is held there. It has two mails per day."
The old Caldwell graveyard, near where Griffin's sta- tion stood, in western Carthage, is now nearly plowed over, and not a single stone remains to tell the name of the dead beneath. The last to disappear was that of Richard Dill, who put up the first brick house in Cin- cinnati, his assistant on that work being James Dugan, who later was in Hull's surrender, and died a few years since in Carthage. The grave of James Caldwell is now no longer to be distinguished, even by the writer, who was at the burial (in 1843), and who, in boyhood, used to "play horse," riding the old sword-scabbard which Wayne presented to Caldwell with a major's commission when out in the campaign of 1793-4. The old White graveyard lies on the brow of a low hill, a half mile east of Caldwell's and close to where the station stood. When old Providence White last visited this last resting
place of the pioneers, thirty years ago, he walked mourn- fully around, read over the inscriptions on the fallen stones, and to some curious listeners who knew nothing of the tender emotions in his bosom, recounted the events of his earlier days. By his request James Dill replaced the stones as they were in the long ago. But modern school boys, with little knowledge of pioneer history, and less respect for the graves of the once brave dead who lie in them, have overthrown the walls and broken and scattered the stones so that but few are left to mark the place. When the writer visited this old cemetery in 1878, he counted sixty sunken graves, but there were many more before the Miami canal, cutting through in 1826, obliterated all trace of them. On one mutilated stone appears the following :
Mary, wife of Amos White. On another this:
1834, in the 50th year of his age.
Consider, friend, as you pass by, As you are now, so once was I, As I am now, soon you shall be, Prepare for death and follow me.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.