USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 21
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On Tuesday evening, 11th inst., at the residence of Alex. Stewart, Esq., by the Rev. Mr. Perkins, Mr. A. C. L. HARTWELL, merchant of N. Orleans, to Miss ANN E. CHIALONER, Jate of Philadelphia.
On Tuesday evening. the 10th inst., by the Rev. T. O. Prescott, E. HENRY CARTER, to EMMA, youngest daugh- ter of Samuel Stokes, all of this city.
DIED,
Tuesday night, the 10th, Mrs. Lucy, wife of Rev. Sam' !. Robinson.
Wednesday, the 11th inst., Mrs. MARY, wife of Rich- ard STANFORD, aged 50 years.
Friday, Dec. 13tn, JAMES, second son of Andrew M'Math, Esq., aged 4 years.
CINCINNATI MISCELLANY.
CINCINNATI, JANUARY, 1845.
The Fifth Ward.
My enumeration of this Ward is as follows Public buildings 13; Pork and ware houses, dwellings, offices, work shops, mills, &c., 1552, of which there are bricks 825, frames 727.
Of these buildings there were at the close of
1842
Bricks 649
Frames 663
Total 1312.
Built in '43 #
85
..
35
120.
'44 4
125
51
176.
859
749
1608.
The public buildings in the Fifth Ward are, one of the Public Schools on Ninth street; a school for German Catholic children, Talbott's school room, and the Methodist Female Semina- ry, the last three of which are new buildings .- The German Methodist, on Race street, the Ninth street Baptist, St. Mary's church-Ro- man Catholic, St. John, Zion and Northern German Lutheran churches, one on Bremen st. one on Sixth street, and the last on Walnut street, the German Reformed, corner Walnut and Thirteenth, and the True Wesleyan on Ninth street. The Methodist Book Rooms, and an Engine House.
Of these Zion and the True Wesleyan are erections of 1844. Three fourths of the build- ings put up this year in this ward are in the sec- tion south fof the canal. The reverse was the case last year. Much of the building from 1840 to 1842 inclusive was put up by persons, of lim- ited resources, or built as a means of employment, under the great depression of business during those years. But the buildings of later date not only in this ward, but throughout the city have been built for capitalists asinvestments, or for men of resources, for their own occupaney, and the buildings of this year are, therefore, of a higher order, in size and expensive finish.
An additional foundry put up by Miles Green- wood, and a new one by Davis & Ball; a new brewery by Fortman & Co ; three valuable blocks at the corner of Walnut and Eighth sts. various fine store houses on Main street, and a number of handsome private dwellings, inter- spersed throughout the ward, enter into this year's improvements. Three fourths of this ward is built up entirely.
English Refinement.
It is the fashion for English travelers to speak of the barbarisms of the United States, especial- ly of the West. National character every where has its shades, and there are blemishes, doubt- less, on the escutcheon of American manners. If there be however, a feature in the national character of my country peculiar to itself, it is respect to woman kind. A woman among stran-
gers any where in this country, is secure of kindness, attention and respect from all classes of society, however poor or friendless she may be : and I hazard nothing in asserting, that in no part of the United States, would the CHALLENGE below, which is copied from an English news- paper, have been offered, accepted, or permitted to take place.
CHALLENGE.
I, Elizabeth Wilkinson, of Clerkenwell, having had some words with Hannah Hyfield, and re- quiring satisfaction, do invite her to meet me on the stage, and box me for 3 guineas; each wo- man holding half a crown in each hand, and the first woman that drops the money to losc the battle. She shall have Rare sport.
ACCEPTANCE.
I, Hannah Hyfield, of Newgate-Market, hear- ing of the resoluteness of Elizabeth Wilkinson, will not fail, God willing. to give her more blows. and show her no favor; she may expect a good thumping.
CHRISTMAS ANTHEM.
BY LEWIS J. CIST. I. When Christ the Prince of Peace was born, Glad hymns of praise the blest employ;
And Bethlehem's plains, that hallowed morn, Were vocal with the notes of joy: Through highest Heaven, a lofty strain Of blest hosannas, loudly rang; While down to earth, an Angel-train The tidings bore, as thus they sang :- "Glory to God on high be given ! On earth is born the Lord of Heaven; Good will to men, and heavenly peace To day begin, and never cease ! "
II The Shepherd bands, their flocks who watch On blest Judea's plains by night,
The sacred anthem hear, and catch The heavenly numbers with delight; With holy awe, as floats above The tide of song o'er Bethlehem's plain, They list to catch the notes of leve, And echo back the sacred strain :- "Glory lo God on high be given ! On earth is born the Lord of Heaven; Good will to men, and heavenly peace To-day begin, and never cease !"
III. On Bethlehem's hallowed plain, no more Judea's Shepherds keep their walch,
Or wake from slumber, as of yore, Angelic harmonies to catch;
Yet still, with joy and holy mirth, On this glad day the faithful bring Their offerings at a Saviour's birth, And still the sacred Anthem sing :- " Glory to God on high be given ! Ou earth is born the Lord of Heaven; Good will to men, and heavenly peace To-day begin, and never cease !" CHRISTMAS DAY, 1844.
98
. Coleman and his Eolian Attachment.
It is interesting and instructive to trace the buffetings with fortune, which in their earlier career so many ingenious men have maintained for years, sometimes for half their lives, and few coming off victorious so early in the battle as the subject of this notice.
Coleman's first appearance in public was at Albany and Troy, in which places he played on the accordion, then but lately introduced into notice. He had been from childhood remarka- ble for musical talent, and as far as it favored his musical taste, for mechanical ingenuity also. While thus engaged, he devoted his leisure hours to the construction of an Automaton ac- cordion player, in which he met with signal suc- cess, and his exhibitions were well attended in both those cities. He then proceeded to New York with the Automaton, but on hoisting the package in which it was boxed up, out of the hold of the vessel, by some act of carelessness in the boat hands, it fell, and the mechanism was so much injured as to discourage Mr. Cole- man from any attempt to repair it. It is prob- able that having tested what could be done in this line, he needed some new stimulus to his mechanical ingenuity. At this period he is de- scribed by my informant, as a young man of good sense, and rather modest, if not diffident in his deportment, and at no one stage of this part of his life earning more than a mere subsis- tence.
He resumed his Accordion on which heplay- ed with uncommon taste, as a means of support, and appears to have been experimenting during the time he could spare from his regular business, upon what in a more perfect shape, and at a la- ter date became his EOLIAN ATTACHMENT. For this. when it was finished he secured letters pa- tent, and Gilbert a piano manufacturer of Bos- ton, who had been long and in vain endeavor- ing to drive Chickering's Pianos out of the mar- ket, gave him 25,000 dollars for the right of ma- king and vending in Massachusetts alone. From Boston Coleman proceeded to New York, where Nunns and Clark offered him for the same right to the residue of the United States 25,000 dol- lars in cash, and 50,000 dollars payable in in- stalments out of every piano which they should make on this principle, or for every instance in which the Eolian Attachment should be added
· to any Piano in use. This offer was accepted. As the invention came from the hands of Cole- man, it bore about the same relation to what the professional taste and skill of Nunns and Clark moulded it into, as Fulton's first steamboat probably did to the last effort of Cincinnati boat building-tho YORKTOWN. The principle and the music wero there to their hands, the full adaptation to the piano for convenience and or.
nament they had to adjust and create.
As soon as Messrs. Nunns & Clark had com- pleted a piano on this principle, Coleman put off to London with the instrument, and opened rooms for its exhibition. He became instantly all the rage. Nobility and gentry, the wealthy, the fashionable, the world of musical taste, ar- tists and dilletanti all rushed to hear and to admire, for these were here synonimous. Even Royalty and its inseperable shadow in the per- sons of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert gave largely of their gracious presence at his levee.
The last tidings of Mr. Coleman are, that in conversation with my informant, he said he had no earthly doubt of making a million of dollars in London out of his "Attachment." If he should be disappointed in this, which is not probable, with the 100,000 dollars he has receiv- ed and is yet to get in the United States, he will nevertheless not be leftin absolute poverty. He in- tends visiting the continent as soon as he has gathered in his London harvest.
Here isa man ten years ago, who probably could not have commanded credit for twenty dol- lars, and if he lives a few years, can draw his checks by the hundred thousand dollars at a time. His Eolian Attachment will be in his hands what Dr. Johnson described Thrale's brewery to be, the potentiality of growing rich beyond the dreams of avarice.
It will be news to some of my readers, that at Mr. T. B. Mason's ware rooms, Fourth street,. east of Main, they can hear this delightful instru- ment, -- and when they hear they will no longer wonder that the lucky hit made by Coleman, when he invented his Eolian attachment, is lead- ing him to fame and fortune.
He that is born to be hung will never be shot.
There are few of the citizens of Philadelphia whose recollections extend as far back as 1807 or 8, but will remember George Helmbold,of that city, who edited at that period, the TICKLER, and after the close of the war of 1812 -- 15, the INDE- PENDENT BALANCE. In these publications, es_ pecially the first, with much wit, was mingied great scurrility and personal abuse, which kept the editor, as might be expected, in perpetual difficulties and brawls. Helmbold was a large man, of great strength and firm nerve, and unless worsted by numbers. generally came out of these scrapes with flying colors. But going of- ten to the well breaks the pitcher at last, and the editor, as might be expected in such a case, finally broke down. He enlisted in 1812, as a private soldier, went on to the Canada lines, and applying himself to his duty strictly, was soon promoted to the post of sergeant, in which ca- pacity, he signalized himself on every occasion which called him out.
99
At the battle of Brownstown in 1813, the company commanded by Captain Baker, was placed in the front of that severe engagement and after all the commissioned officers and near- ly half the men were either killed or wounded the command devolved on Helmbold, then or- derly sergeant to the corps. The shot from the English in their entrenchments, and from the Indians in ambush, was so galling as to com- pel the American commander to charge bayon- ets on the enemy, and Helmbold at this critical juncture filled with more than his usual ardor, invigorated every part of the line, within reach of his Stentorian voice, by exclaiming, " Rush on! Rush on! the gallows will claim its rights!"
The effect was electrical! this unprecedented battle cry was passed along the line-the march became a quick step-the quick step a run, and the enemy broke in all directions, without at- tempting to cross bayonets with the assailants.
For less signal, cool, and determined bravery, than this, Junot was raised from being a drum- mer to a General's command,and finally became Duke of Abrantes, and one of the Marshals of Napoleon's empire.
Store Dealings in Early Days.
The following bills of goods sold by Francis Willson, the earliest storekeeper at Columbia in this county. serve to show what it cost the pio- neer settlers for whiskey and tobacco. These are the first wants in the early stage of frontier life, and they make accordingly the first items in Mr. Laird's purchase. Whiskey at 25 cents per quart, and tobacco at 40 cts per lb, were heavy taxes on the industry as well as health and correct habits of the pioneers. They may both be bought now at one fourth those prices, or even less.
Laird's bill is a striking proof how large a share of our wants are artificial. It may be classified thus. Playing cards, 73 cts; whiskey, 25 cts .; tobacco, 20 cts .- useless and pernicious. Hair ribbon, 60 cts .- useless simply. White flannel, 120 cts .- useful. Irish linen and cam- bric, 5 dollars 75 cts .- luxuries merely.
In part payment of this bill, Laird who seems to have been a tailor, makes an entire suit of clothes, for which he is allowed three dollars .- Truly, to buy cheap and sell dear seems to be some people's only idea of making money.
Serns, who appears by the credits to have been a farmer, gets nearer the worth of his mon- ey. Sugar even at 33 cts, and chocolate at the same price, although high in price, were prob- ably seldom used, or only when company visited the cabin. Shawls and handkerchiefs must be worn; and fuatian, a durable though homely ar- ticle was not too costly at 60 cts. per yard. The tins, that is tin cups, were indispensable to house keeping and at a fair price, 124 cts.
COLUMBIA, December 11th, 1792.
ROBERT LEARD :
To Francis Willson, Dr.
1 quart of whiskey, LO, 1s, 10d.
14th. 1-2 a pound of Tobacco, 0, 1, 6.
22d. 6} y'ds Irish linen, at 6s pr y'd 1, 19, 0. 1-2 yard of Cambric, at 12 pr y'd 0, 4, 2. 2 y'ds white flannel, al 4s6d pr y'd 0, 9, 0. 1 pack of playing cards at 0, 3, 0.
June. 1793.
25th. 3 y'ds of hair ribband, at 1s6d y'd 0, 4, 6. 29th. 1 pack of playing cards, at 0, 2, 6.
Total, 3,5,6₺.
By making a suit of clothes, at 1, 2, 6.
Remainder, 2, 3, 04.
COLUMBIA, Jan. 1st, 1793.
Joshua Serns,
Dr.
To Francis Willson,
1 pound of Sugar at £2 6
1 do Chocolate at
2 6
3 Tins at 11d. 2 9
24th 1 Colton Shawl at 10 0
1 do Handkerchief at 4 0
10th 4 yds. Fustian at 4s. 6d. 18 0
7 buttons at 2d,
1 2
1 skain of sewing silk, at
10
2 11 11
By Butter,
£4 3
By Cash,
4 8
By Corn,
1 6
10 5
10 5
Remains due,
£1 11 6
Ladies' Fair at the College Hall.
The ladies of the Central Presbyterian Church, commenced last evening a FAIR, for the sale of useful and ornamental articles of their own manufacture, with a view to aid the various benevolent operations of that Society. They are provided, I observe, with the usual attrac- tions of hot coffee and bright eyes, glee in the cheeks and glees on the lips, which make up the assort- ment in such cases.
My present objeet is-as a dealer in sta- tistics-to refer to the establishment for the oc- casion, of a new periodical "THE CHRISTMAS GUEST,"' Mrs. R. S. Nichols, Editor; of which No. 1 made its appearance on last evening, as No. 2 will upon this. It is a neat sheet and well filled by the editor and her numerous con- tributors, with appropriate articles. many of them of marked ability. Indeed, I have never read any publication, got up on so short a notice, of higher merit. Twoor three of these articles are copied to-day into my columns na speci- mens.
Among the various articles exhibited at this Fair, are certain Essence bags, &c., ornamented with engraved fancy designs printed on silk and satin, from the Engraving rooms of W. F. Harrison, at the corner of Main and Fourth
100
streets. The delicacy and beauty of these va- ( preparations. Few families had milk, and still rious devices attract general admiration and fewer bacon, for a season or two. notice.
I trust that this Ladies' Fair will be adequate- ly sustained. Its objects are such as appeal to our best sympathies, and a tithe of one or two days profits in the ordinary business of life, could not be spent by the visitors at this sea- son of hilarity and enjoyment, more judiciously than at these tables.
From the Christmas Guest, Pioneer Hardships.
Those who are now in the enjoyment of the plenty which pours in by wagons, railroads, and canals, cannot realize the destitution of the first settlers before they had got the farms cleared, and the cleared land under fence and cultiva. tion.
The first improvements made in Columbia were the means of supplying Cincinnati and the gar rison at Fort Washington with sustenance for some time, perhaps for two seasons, 1789 and 1790, before crops were raised within the city limits.
TURKEY BOTTOM, one and a half mile above the mouth of the Little Miami, was a clearing of 640 acres made ready to the hands of the whites when they commenced the settlement of the country. The Indians had cultivated it for a length of years up to the period of Major Stites' settlement, although part of this exten- sive field had been suffered to grow up by neg- lect in honey and black locust, which became literally, as well as figuratively, "thorns in the sides," to the early settlers. This ground was leased by Stites to six of the settlers for five years and with a clearing of Elijah Stites and other settlers of six acres more, furnished the entire supply of corn for that settlement and Cincin- nati for that season. Nothing could surpass the fertility of the soil, which was as mellow as an ash heap. Benjamin Randolph planted an acre, which he had no time to hoe, being obliged to leave the settlement for New Jersey. When he returned he found an hnudred bushels of corn ready for husking.
Seed corn, and even corn for hommony, and in the form of meal was brought out of the Ken tucky settlements, down the Licking, and occa- sionally from a distance as great as Lexington.
While those who were best off were thus straitened. it may readily be supposed that oth- ers must have suffered still greater privations .-. The women and their children came from Co- lumbia to Turkey Bottom to scratch up the bul- bous roots of the bear-grass. These they boiled, washed, dried on smooth boards, and finally pounded into a species of flour, which served as a tolerable substitute for making various baking
In 1789,Gen. Harmar sent Captains Strong and Kearsay to Columbia, to procure corn for their soldiers. They applied to James Flinn, under- standing he had 500 bushels for sale. Flinn refused to sell to the army, having the previous year, when he resided at Balleville, below Ma- rietta, not been able to get his pay for a supply he had furnished the troops at Fort Harmar, in consequence of the removal to some other sta- tion of the officer who made the purchase. Strong remarked, if we can't get corn we shall have to retreat on starvation. While they were talking and with great earnestness, Luke Foster, since Judge of the Hamilton Court of Common Pleas, came up and inquired the difficulty. Captain Strong replied the difficulty is, that the troops have been for nine days on half rations, and the half rations are nearly out, and we are starving for corn. Foster agreed then to lend the garii- son one hundred bushels, to be returned the next season. How badly off they were the next season. may be judged by the fact, that Mr .~ Foster had to ride down to Cincinnati six times to get nineteen bushels of it!
Judge Foster Egave me the following history of the crop, which enabled him to supply the wants at Fort Washington. He had run out of seed corn, and the only one of the neighbors, who could supply him with the quantity he wanted- -- less than a peck --- happened also to be out of corn meal. As Foster had a small quan- tity of this last, an exchange was promptly made of thirteen pint cups full, pint for pint. The corn was planted, three grains in a hill, this supply serving to seed two and a half acres. The crop had not been put in early,and it was a dry season, but such was the character of the soil, and the condition it was in, that barely turning up the earth to the hills served to keep it in moisture. What a lively idea does it give of the progress of Cincinnati, with its 70,000 inhabitants that the individual is yet living and in the enjoy- ment of vigor and health, who planted the first crop of corn, which served to supply the wants of a whole community , here. C. C.
The Christmas Guest.
Room, courteous Readers, room in your hearts, and among your Christmas festivities, for a stran- ger Guest. Plain and unpretending, unherald- ed and uninvited, the Unknown appears before you. If the calls of courtesy and hospitality are unheeded, we know that you will listen ea- gerly to the spurring dictates of curiosity, and extend a welcome to our little Guest. You know, oh kindest reader, that this uncalled vis- iter has a Fairy Budget, that has never been ex- posed to the public eye. Whether the pack
101
consists of real gems, or only the false glitter ) abroad, and raising the price on purchasers .-- of the tinsel. shall be left for your decision .- I only want to get the facts authenticated, and the names of parties, that I may exhibit these paper hucksters and forestallers in their true colors. I am promised these facts in a few days. Should the Guest, however, repay its generous entertainers, by contributing to their entertain- ment at this happy season, one object of its er- rand will have been fulfilled. Should its silent voice lead one erring or desponding soul to the Customs of Society Fifty Years Since. God of light, and life, and hope, it will have ac- complished a glorious mission. We ask, then, a welcoming hand, and a corner of your heart, kind friends, for the stranger Guest.
LChristmas Guest.
From the Christmas Guest. SONG FOR THE SABBATH.
.
WRITTEN DURING ILLNESS.
Worship, worship, heart of mine, All thy lowly incense offer,
Though before no sacred shrine, Still the grateful incense proffer:
Flowing from a contrite heart, Stealing from the world apart,
Praising though oppressed by pain, ONE who heals the fevered vein.
Worship! worship, spirit mine, Though thy trembling accents falter,
God shall strengthen thee with wine, From the sacrificial attar;
Praise him for his mercies all-
On the faithful Saviour call,
3 Dinners and club 7s 6d,
1 26
3 Dinners and club 3s 6d. 10 6
3 Pints wine.
12 0
2 Half pints brandy,
50
4 do. P. brandy,
60
Washing,
7 6
Paper,
1 6
For keeping horses,
3 12 0
1 Venison ham,
20
Bread,
4 0
Logings,
3 6
¿ bushel oats,
60
19 p brandy,
3 6
24 lbs. cheese,
2 3
Victuals &c.
3 0
Good night, it is a simple phrase,
But sweeter than the minstrel's lays,
Or pleasant sounding words of praise, ,
To me it seems,
When breathed by one whose cheerful voice,
Is like old music rare and choice,
He whispers low, "good night, rejoice
In pleasant dreams."
Good night, ah then I feel alone,
And seek to wake again the tone.
Paid Lincoln
$32 74₫
" Thomson
4 50
" Salt Works
1 50
" For corn
19
" Grimes
3 50
" Ferriage
50
" Heddlestones
1 60
" Jeremiah Hunt
7 37
3) 52 20}
17 40
Rec'd. of Jacob
18 Dolls.
Rec'd . of St. Clair
1 50 cents.
Rec'd. of St. Clair
16 00 at Cincinnati.
-
The following tavern bill incurred by Gen. St. Clair and two other persons, sheds light on the past. The bill it seems was a club, that is, to be divided between three, and it appears to have been settled by St. Clair, the residue after Lin- coln'a receipt, being the General's notes. Jacob - appears to have been one of the three, St. Clair of course another, and the third, alas! is lost forever to the record. It seems the other two paid up their share. The account is made in Pennsylvania currency 7s 6d to the dollar. The items in the bill will remind a reader who has read Shakspeare, of Falstaff. 'Oh monstrous, four' shillings, "worth of bread to all thia" eating and drinking. But St. Clair compared with Harmar and others was a perfectly temperate man, and probably the "illustrious missing" drank the brandy, &c.
Mr. ST. CLAIR, Co. Dr.
To Joseph Lincoln,
21 Meals at 1s 6d, £1 11 6
Knowing, though oppressed by pain, He can cool the fevered vein.
Worship! worship, body mine,
If thy earthly strength's decaying,
Thou shalt not in darkness pine, Faith a fair foundation's laying
For thy mansion in the skies- Upward then direct thine eyes,
Showing the oppressed by pain,
God can heal the fevered vein.
R. S. N.
From the Christmas Guest.
GOOD NIGHT.
£9 12 1
D. C.
32 12
Brandy &c,
624
32 74}
Received payment, 21 st Oct, 1798, at Mariet- JOSEPH LINCOLN.
ta.
As if my heart had jealous grown,
Of slumbers light.
Lest they exclude me from the breast
On which I now confiding rest,
And murmur back the words so blest-
Good night, good night !
R. S. N.
Paper Huckstering.
There are certain paper establishments which profess to supply the public with their own manufacture, and are at the same time busily engaged in buying up paper from establishments
102
Cincinnati Wood Company.
I have been deeply interested in an enterprise lately started up, for the two-fold purpose of supplying the poor and persons in straitened circumstances, with wood and temporary em- ployment. This is the CINCINNATI WOOD COM- PANY, whose contemplated operations, I referred to, two or three weeks since, and which has since procured a lot on the White Water Canal, below Smith street. enclosed it, with a sub- stantial fence, and nearly filled it with wood .- This lot-170 feet by 100-has been leased for three years, from Nicholas Longworth, at $200 per annum. Four hundred cords of wood are already laid in, and laboring hands destitute of employment elsewhere, find it here in assorting sawing, splitting and piling the wood into ranks for customers.
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