USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 38
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H. KNOX, Secretary of War.
Territorial Marriage License.
Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Territory of the United States, North-west of the Ohio. To all persons who shall see these presents, greet- ing: Whereas it has signified to me that Ste- phen Wood and Catharine Freeman, are desi- rous to be joined together in wedlock, and have requested that the publication of the bans of matrimony by law required, may be dispensed with, and no reason appearing why their request should not be complied with, permission is hereby given, and I do authorize and empower any of the persons by law empowered, to per- form the marriage ceremony in cases where pub- lication of the bans has been made, to join to- gether as man and wife, the said Stephen Wood and Catharine Freeman, any want of publica- tion as aforesaid notwithstanding.
In witness whereof the said Governor has hereunto set his hand and seal at Cincinnati, the 24th February, A. D. 1796.
A. ST. CLAIR.
Portable Flour Mills.
A visit to Messrs. STEWART & KIMBALL's ma- chine shop on Second street west of Elm, has put me in possession of some statistics, of gener- al interest, as I suppose,
In this establishment is carried on a great va- .riety of business, and I should judge it to be a remarkable example of what may be accomplish ed.by the energies of twenty-two hands, the number employed within its enelosure. Mes- srs. Stewart & Kimball manufacture here,Carding, spinning, shearing and napping machines, Ful-
The expences incident to the march, such as straw, ferriages, and fuel, are to be paid for, and I ler's stoves and ecrews, Power looms, Portable
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Flour mills, Burton's patent pumps, pat niplane- ing machines, with a variety of articles of minor consequence. These 22 hands produce an an. nual manufactured valne of 29,700 dollars, of which the carding machines and portable mills form four fifths.
Every part of the establishment is worthy of inspection. But I propose to notice the Porta- ble millsonly, for the present.
This is an invention, equally simple and in- genious. It proposes to perform in a small com- pass, with less expense, greater safety and equal efficiency, the work of a merchant mill. If it does not accomplish all this, it is nevertheless a remarkable improvement.
The mill is a square frame with four stout pillars, on which the mill stones, which are of burr blocks, cemented as usual, rest. The whole apparatus forming a cube of about four feet. The upper mnill stone is enclosed in a cast iron case of suitable weight, which supercedes the usual iron bands, and gives all the power in an equable and steady motion, which is derived in the larger class of mill stones by extra thick- ness, or height thus rendering them top heavy and producing an inequality of pressure and mo- tion which is obviated here.
The mill stones are 2 to 2 1-2 inches diameter. Owing to the casing referred to, there is at once the proper degree of pressure, and at the same time, elasticity, which furnishes the perfection of grinding ; avoiding on the one hand, the ir- regular motion of a top heavy upper stone, and on the other, the evil of friction and want of spring which results from the old fashioned plan of fastening down the upper mill stone by screws in Portable mills, to say nothing of the greater liability of getting out of order. These mill stones can be run with greater velocity than the 'large ones, compatibly with safety, the 2 feet making 240, and the 2} feet 200 revolutions per minute .
The power necessary to drive one of these mills, is not more than that of three horses, or the equivalent water or steam power, with these they will grind 14 to 16 bushels per hour, which is as good a performance as a merchant mill; the quality of the flour being superfine, and passing inspection as such in our markets.
One of the mills is in operation across the Ohio, another at Woods' cotton mills, at Brook- ville, and a third has been put up lately at the saw mill just over Mill creek, being placed there to accommodate the Storrs and Delhi far- mers. These employ respectively, horse, wa- ter, and steam power. I cite these locations, because the great mass of these mills go to the west and south-west. Of this article alone, this establishment turns out 80 annually at from 125 to 150 dollars each .
How capricious are all measures of value. În the days when the early pioneers ground all their corn by hand, and were obliged to dis- pense with the luxury of wheat, from inability to reduce it to flour, one of these Portable mills, would even at its present low price, have bought all Cincinnati, from the canal North, and Syca- more street west.
CORRESPONDENCE.
Usury Laws, No. 2.
MR. CIST :-
Let us, for illustration, trace the prob- able effects of limiting the price of other things than money. Suppose that under pretence of moderating the profits of insurers, and prevent- ing people from paying too high premiums, it were decreed that one per cent. and no more, should be, demanded. In this case a large pro- portion of property would remain uninsured- the premium allowed not being sufficient to cov- er the risk. Now, the charge for insurance varies from ¿ to 6 per cent. or more. So, in lending money, one man may be perfectly safe, while the risk alone in lending to another, may amouut to more than ten per cent. Is it not fair and just that the lender should be paid for that risk ? Restrict the price of Eastern Ex- change by law to one per cent. and the moment it happens to be worth more in other markets, no exchange can be had.
Let it be assumed that four dollars per barrel is quite enough, under any circumstances, for flour; and that, as demanding a higher price is taking an undue advantage of the necessitous, let it be prohibited under the severest penal- ties.
Let the prices of other articles of prime ne- cessity be limited in like manner, and the mo- ment they happen to be worth a much higher price in other places, where free trade prevails, they will leave the country, and the poor will suffer for want of food.
Now; under the operation of usury laws, when money becomes scarce, and continues for a length of time to be worth much more than the legal rate, capitalists refuse to lend. They can make more profitable investments in the purchase of property. Money cannot be obtain- ed-commercial embarrassment begins-the Banks can do nothing-the pressure increases -gloom and despondency prevail-numerous failures follow in rapid succession, and a general feeling of distrust and alarm prevails through- out the whole community. Under these circum- stances, men cling to their money. They hug it close and will not let it go.
It is believed that under a system of free trade in money, these evils would be either prevented, or greatly mitigated. Money would fluctuate in
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price like other things; but like other things could always be had at its market price. A man wants to buy the use of money as he buys the use of a horse-paying the full price for it -and lending would no longer be considered an accommodation.
Why are Bank discounts at 6 per cent. called favors? Why is this selling of money at that price considered a great accommodation ? For this simple reason, that 6 per cent. is generally less than the market value, and the difference is a gratuity to the borrower. The merchant, on the contrary, in selling goods at their market value, considers himself the favored party, and the money-lender, unrestricted in price, would be placed on the same footing-and the borrow- er would be courted for his patronage. 0.
Col. Polk.
Much has been said of the avalanche of office seekers, which it was reported, had beset for of- fice the President, since his election. We have all heard statements that such had been the influx of visitors on this errand to Colum- bia, Tenn .; that they had eaten out the place and neighborhood, and that Col. P. had been obli- ged to take up lodgings in Nashville, to escape his besiegers. All this is untruc.
I have it from unquestionable authority, that since it has been ascertained that Mr. P. was elected President, the whole number of appli- cations for this purpose direct and indirect, did not exceed twelve. Of these, three occurred after his departure from Columbia. One at Nashville, one at Louisville, and one at Cincin- nati. This modesty on the part of political aspi- rants, is honorable equally to President Polk and themselves.
It is an act of justice to the two gentlemen, tlers of the Miamt Valley, and assisted in ina- who, as may have been noticed at the reception king the location and survey of Cincinnati. of Col. P. in this city, whispered something deeply interesting to themselves in the Presi- dent's ear, to say that neither of them is the ap- plicant from Cincinnati. Who can he be ?
OBITUARY.
Departed this life on Wednesday, the 29th of January, ult., Capt. ARCHIBALD WOODRUFF, in the 72d year of his age.
The deceased was born in Elizabethtown, N. Jersey, December 25th, 1773, being an immedi- ate descendant of those of the same name who MARRIAGES. were active patriots in the war of the Revolu- ON Sunday, Feb. 16th, by Isaac Jones, Esq., Mr. SAM. CEL C. TURNER. of Cincinnati, to MARY ANN. daughter tion, and assisted in converting the British colo-| of Gen. Stephen D. Williamson, of Anderson Township. nies into independent States. The same ardent On Monday, 18th inst, by the Rev. Dr. Brisbane, Mr. E. G. DYER to Miss MARGARET FERER, both of Columbus, O. attachment to liberty, and the same love of country which characterized ins ancestors, glow- DEATHS. ed as fervently in the bosom of the deceased. ON Wednesday. Feb. 19th, Dr. E. W. OLNEY.
His life was one of checquered fortune. He was by profession, a printer, and subsequently joint proprietor ond editor of one of the old- Major William Ruffin.
est daily newspapers in the city of New York. Afterwards, about the year 1810, he engaged extensively in the shipping business, from the port of Philadelphia, which afforded lim excel- lent opportunities for visiting most of the king- doms of Europe, as well as parts of Asia and Africa; and being curious to obtain an intimate knowledge of men and things, he treasured up, by the aid of a most retentive memory, a fund of information highly instructive and entertain- ing. After a prosperous course of business, hie was unlawfully captured by virtue of the famed "Milan Decrees" under the authority of Napo- leon Buonaparte, in the year 1813, and com- pelled, together with one of his sons, to nader- go the painful task of witnessing his valuable vessel and cargo consumed by fire on the higli seas, off the coast of France, and to suffer ille- gal imprisonment within the walls of her dun- geons. After an absence of three years from homo, and the expenditure of nearly half his fortune, he succeeded in obtaining indemnity from the French government for about 45 per cent. of his claim.
Subsequently he resided in Philadelphia, until the year 1819, when he removed, with his fam- ily to Cincinnati, where he has resided until his decease. He was endowed with an extraor- dinary constitution, having undergone greater exposure by sea and land than ordinarily falls to the lot of man. Whenever he had the means, he was liberal to a fault. His friend- ships were ardent. His enterprises often exceed- ed his ability to complete them, but were foun- ded upon sound and intelligent principles. Ho was a pleasant and interesting writer and some- times courted the Muses with effect. Some of his nearest relations were among the first set-
He became early impressed with the growing importance of this city, and had the satisfaction of witnessing its population increase from 8,000 to about 70,000, and the promise of her future greatness. He has left us in a ripe old age, re- spected by all who knew him.
Some wag says that the only borrowed article he ever returned promptly, was a kiss fron a pretty girl's lips. Of course he returned it on the spot.
On Thursday, 20th inst, MRS. SARAH CAMERON, Wife of Mr. Robert Cameron.
On Friday, 21si inst, OLIVER P. RUFFIN, son of the late
CINCINNATI MISCELLANY.
CINCINNATI, MARCH, 1845.
Indian Warfare -- Lewis Wetzel No. 4.
On his way down, Wetzel landed at Point Pleasant, and following his usual humor, when he had no work among Indians on the carpet, ranged the town for a few days with as much unconcern as if he were on his own farm. Lieu- tenant Kingsbury, attached to Harmar's own command, happened to be at the mouth of Kan- awha at the time, and scouting about, while ig- norant of Wetzel's presence, met him,-unex- pectedly to both parties. Lewis, being general- ly on the qui vire, saw Kingsbury first, and hal- ted with great firmness in the path, leaving to the Lieutenant to decide his own course of pro- cedure, feeling himself prepared and ready, whatever that might be. Kingsbury, a brave man himself, had too much good feeling toward such a gallant spirit as Wetzel, to attempt his injury, if it were even safe to do so. He con- tented himself with saying, " Get out of my sight, you Indian killer!" And Lewis, who was im- placable to the savage only, retired slowly and Judge Foster who gave me these last particu- watchfully, as a lion draws off, measuring his steps in the presence of the hunters, being as willing to avoid unnecessarily danger as to seek it, when duty called him to act. He regained his canoe and put off for Limestone, at which place, and Washington the county town, he es- tablished his head quarters for some time. Here he engaged on hunting parties, or went out with the scouts after Indians. When not actually en- gaged in such service, he filled up his leisure hours at shooting matches. foot racing, or wrest- ling with other hunters. Maj. Fowler who knew him well during this period, described him to me as a general favorite, no less from his personal qualities than for his services.
were more likely to rouse the settlers to flame than to intimidate them, and soon found the country around him in arms. The story of Wet- zel's captivity, captured and liable to punish- ment for shooting an Indian merely-spread through the settlements like wild fire, kindling the passions of the frontier men to a high pitch of fury. Petitions for the release of Wetzel came in to Gen. Harmar from all quarters, and all classes of society. To these at first, he paid little attention. At length the settlements along the Ohio, and some even of the back counties began to embody in military array to release the prisoner vi er armis. Representations were made to Judge Symmes, which induced him to issue a writ of habeas corpus in the case. John Claw- son and other hunters of Columbia, who had gone down to attend his trial, went security for Wetzel's good behaviour, and being discharged, he was escorted with great triumph to Colum- bia and treated at that place to his supper &c.
lars described him at this period-August 26th, 1789-as about 26 years of age, about 5 ft. 9 inches high. He was full breasted, very broad across the shoulders, his arms were large, skin darker than the other brothers, his face heavily pitted with the small pox-his hair of which he was very careful, reached when combed out, to the calves of the legs; his eyes remarkably black, and when excited, sparkling with such a vindictive glance as to indicate plainly it was hardly safe to provoke him to wrath. He was ta- citurn in mixed company, although the fiddle of the party among his social friends and acquain- tances. Ilis morals and habits compared with those of his general associates, and the tone of society in the west of that day, were quite ex- emplary.
While engaged in these occupations at Mays- ville, Lieutenant Lawler of the regular army, who was going down the Ohio to Fort Washing- One more of Lewis Wetzel's tragedies, and I am done. ton, in what was called a Kentucky boat, full of soldiers, landed at Maysville, and found He set off alone, (as was frequently his cus- tom) on an Indian hunt. It was late in the fall of the year, when the Indians were generally scattered in small parties on their hunting grounds. He proceeded somewhere on the wa . ters of the Muskingum river, and found a camp where four Indians had fixed their quarters for a winter hunt. The Indians, unsuspicious of any enemies prowling about them so late in the season, were completely off their guard, keep- ing neither watch nor sentinels. Wetzel at first hesitated about the propriety of attacking such overwhelming numbers. After some reflection. he concluded to trust to his usual good fortune, Wetzel sitting in one of the taverns. Return- ing to the boat, he ordered out a file of sold e s scized Wetzel and dragged him on board of the boat, and without a moment's, delay pushed off, and that same night delivered him to General HIarmar at Cincinnati, by whom the prisoner was again put into irons. preparatory to 29istri- al, and consequent condemnation, for what Lewis disdained to deny or conceal, the killing of the Indian at Marietta. But Harmar, like St. Clair, although acquainted with the routine of military service, was destitute of the prac- tical good sense, always indispensible in frontier settlements, in which such severe measures and began to meditate upon his plan of attack.
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He concluded their first sleep would be the fit- test time for him to commence the work of death. About midnight, he thought their sen- ses would be most profoundly wrapped in sleep. He determined to walk to the camp, with his rifle in one hand, and his tomahawk in the oth- er. If any of them should happen to be awake. he could shoot one, and then run off in the dark- ness of the night, and make his escape; should they be all asleep, he would make the onset with his trusty scalping-knife and tomahawk. Now, reader, imagine that you see him gliding through the darkness with the silent, noiseless motion of an unearthly spirit, seeking mischief, and the keen glance of the fabled Argus, and then you ean imagine to your mind Wetzel's silent and stealthy approach upon his sleeping victims .- With calm intrepidity he stood a moment, re- flecting on the best plan to make the desperate assault. He set his rifle against a tree, deter- mined to use only his knife and tomahawk; as these would not miss their aim, if properly han- dled with a well strung arm. What a thrilling, horrible sight! See him leaning forward, with cool self-possession, and eager vengeance, as if he had been the minister of death; he stands a moment, then wielding his towahawk, with the first blow leaves one of them in death's eternal sleep. As quick as lightning, and with tremen- dous yells, he applies the tomahawk to the sec- ond Indian's head, and sent him off, the land of spirits. As the third was rising, confounded and confused with the unexpected attack, attwo blows he fell lifeless to the ground. The fourth darted off, naked as he was, into the woods .- Wetzel pursued him some distance, but he fi- nally made his escape. This successful enter- prise places our hero, for "deeds of noble daring" without a rival. From the pursuit he return- ed to the camp, scalped the three Indians, and then returned home. What Ossian said of some of his heroes, might with -equal propriety be said of Wetzel-the western "clouds were hung around with ghosts." When he came home, he was asked what luck he had on his expedi- tion ? He replied, "Not very good ; that he had treed four Indians, and one got away from him; that he had taken but three scalps, after all his pains and fatigue."
Caricatures of the West.
One of the correspondents of the New York Evening Mirror, has presented that periodical with sketches of western customs and modes of life, worked up into a story put into the mouth of Judge Douglass of Illinois, as a specimen of his electioneering among his constituents in the Sucker State. It is just such a view of the West as we find given of the United States generally in the English magazines and journals. I was -
sorry to see it copied into the Cincinnati Gazetta without comment. I have both resided and tra- veled in Illinois and Missouri, and feel free to pronounce the whole statement, false, and I do not believe Judge D. ever gave it currency. No young lady in America, in the wildest part of the frontiers ever manifested the deficiency of re- spect due to her sex and herself, which that narrative implies. The picture has been drawn by some scribbler who knows nothing of the West.
Washington Fashions.
I do not know that I have told you the short hand way of visiting, people have here, and es- pecially the great people. When a new Con- gressman arrives, he will be. astonished at the number of cards he will find on the parler table for him during a day. The first thought is, well, I have had a great many calls to day. The next, I must have been in when some of them came, and why did not the servants call me? These thoughts will first suggest themselves to a stran- ger. But upon inquiring, he will find no man has been at his house at all. This is accounted for on the short hand principle of visiting, which is this: A man sits in his room writing a letter, as I now am; and, whilst he is at work at home, a negro bov is out leaving his cards to such as he pleases to send them. By and by the compli- ment is returned, and thus great men visit and are visited without losing time. When one vis- its another in person and finds him absent, he leaves his card with p. p. in one corner (proper person.) This leaves the inference that he called on business. But the social visits are all made by a negro boy with cards.
As a take off to this cold formality, the Wes- tern new members have carried the joke still further; and have large cards with the picture of a splendid dinner table, groaning under the weight of turkies, quails, oysters, pies, wines, &c. &c. engraved upon them . These they send about, and they take admirably well, and rumor says, in former days, this western fashion was introduced into the most fashionable circles of N. Y. Thus, if A sends B a card for a visit, B sends back his for a dinner. This, you see, is saving expense as well as time. Yesterday and to-day, some improvements have been made .- Night before last, at a large party, a lady of ex- cellent talent, worth and beauty, was heard to say she was fond of riding in cabs. So, up to this hour, honorable gentlemen are sending her their cards with the picture of a beautiful cab and horse upon it. To each she sends back her card, which is as much as to say, "I fancy my- self riding in a cab with you."
One mere observation of the fashions here .- By every man's plate is a glass bowl, about the size of those we eat pudding and milk out of when at home. In each of these, there is about a tumbler of water and a bit of lemon, about the size to make a good whiskey punch. Now what are these for ? For nothing but to wet your fingers and lips with, so as to keep them clean and give them a good flavor. Some of our plain republicans will say this is worse than the cards. Not long since, a gentleman, unacquainted with the custom, took his bowl and began to drink ; and, not finding it palatable, he called out, "Waiter, curse your lemonade, put some sugar in it." The negro laughed, his neighbors laugh- ed, and finally the whole table was in a roar, and he cleared for the bar-room.
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The proportion of New Englanders in the Le- gislature, though small, is larger than their pro- portion of countrymen among the constituents. New Englanders representing in all cases but one, the New England settled counties. and some five or six counties besides. The mem- bers of the Legislature, from other States of the Union, bear about the same proportion in that body, which the emigrants from those States bear respectively to the whole community. Cne member of German birth is no adequate repre- sentation of the large body of naturalized Ger- mans in Ohio. Still the Legislature is as fairly a representation of the various elements of soci- ety in this State, as they are of the community i other respects.
Monument of Dr. Webster.
A monument has been erected at New-Haven, to the memory of Dr. Webster. It consists of a lofty shaft of Quincy granite, and rests on a massive block of the same material. Its cost was 400 dollars. The only inscription on the column is "Webster."
One of the New Haven students, fearful the Lexicographer should be mistaken for the states- man, wrote in pencil after the name Webster- not the Godlike; him of the Ark, not him of the Lion's den.
Parlor Organs.
I have already referred to this delightful in- strument of music, and to the fact that they are manufactured by Mr. J. Koehnke of our city, in a style of unrivalled beauty and melody. There is one just finished at his establishment intended for THOMAS J. STRAIT, Esq., of Mount Auburn. which is a splendid specimen of the art, well worthy the inspection of those who have any relish for the "concord of sweet sounds." My examination of it a few days since, brings to my recollection what Mr Strait told me in conversation, some twelve months since :
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