USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics, Volume I > Part 53
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This was near 70 miles below, and from Grave Creek to the Kanawha the river Ohio may be said to run S. W. but it is very crooked, turning to many points of the compass.
Tuesday 16th. Set out for the Little Kana- wha, and in the evening on Thursday the 18th, we arrived at the Kanawha; it comes from the east, and is near 150 yards wide at the mouth .- We went up this stream about 10 miles, and out on every side to view the land and to obtain provisions. My interpreter killed several deer, and a stately buffalo bull. The land is good, but not equal to the land nearer to Fort Pitt .-- It is not well watered about the Kanawha, and consequently not the most promising for health. Here we have pine hills, but they do not appear too poor to raise good wheat. Having satisfied ourselves with a view of this part of the coun.
*Supposed to be the present Steubenville! How great the change!
+In a previous part of the work, he says, "The proper Indian name of this river, is. Mehmonawonsgehelak, which signifies, falting-in-bank-river; as it is common for the river's bank's from the richness of the soil, 10 break and tumble down into the stream."
ĮCaapteenin is the present Captina.
SDavid Owens was his interpreter, whom he em- ployed at £5, per month.
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try, we set out for Caapteenin again, and arrived safe Tuesday, June 30th. Here an Indian was sent to me from the Delaware's Town, who in- formed me that all of their council were not at home, that they were considering the matter, and that I should soon hear from them. Had I known them as well then as I do now, I would have understood their answer better than I did then. Being rather unwell we moved up to Grave Creek, and then left our canoes and cross- ed the country to Ten-mile creek which empt- ies into the Monongahela. I suppose the way we travelled, it was between 50 and 60 miles before we came to the house of David Owens.
Tuesday. July 14. Set out for Fort Pitt on horseback in company with Mr . Clark, Mr. Hig- gins and Mr. Owens my interpreter; but as it was some time before the Indians could be at Fort Pitt, we took another tour down to Ohio across the waste wilderness, and on the Sabbath, 1 preached to about 15 white people, who met in a cabin near a creek called Wheeling.
Monday July 20. Set out for Fort Pitt. We had a small path called Catfish's road, which led us through the middle of the land between Ohio and Monongahela ; so that I had the pleasure of seeing a large extent of good land, but very few inhabitants. The land is uneven, but the great- er part can be settled. Wednesday, July 22d, came to Fort Pitt, and conversed with several principal Indians of different nations. I found that it was some time before I might expect any further knowledge of their minds respecting my visit ; therefore I wrote another letter to the Del- aware King and chiefs of the nation. This let- ter was interpreted to one of the chiefs of the Delawares, and with it I sent a belt of wampum, which, I was informed he delivered with care; but him I saw not in my second visit. Parted from my friends here and reached home the 20th day of August.
First Mill in Hamilton County.
The first settlers here suffered greatly for pro- visions before the crops of their second ycar pro- duced food in abundance, subsisting on short al- lowance of corn, which was pounded or ground into hommony in handmills. They were thank- ful in those days if they could only procure corn enough. Many of the families at Columbia subsisted on the roots of the bear grass. Mr. Jesse Coleman still surviving, and residing in this county, tells me that he has repeatedly had nothing more for three days subsistence than a pint of parched corn. He was then six years of age.
Mr. C. says the first mill in Hamilton county was constructed by his father, Mr. N. Coleman, at Columbia, who made fast two flat boats, side by side, the water wheel being put up between
both. The grindstones with the grain and flour were in the one boat, and the machinery in the other. Up to this time the grinding through the whole country was by handmills. The change in fifty years to' the grinding annu- ally in Hamilton county of 250,000 bbls. super- fine flour, to say nothing of the hundreds of thousands of bushels corn meal, ground in the same bounds, has no parallel even in the ex- travagant fictions of the Arabian Nights Enter- tainments.
Lotteries in Ohio.
I have been under the impression that Lotte- ries in every shape were prohibited by the laws of this State. The following advertisement -- one only of three or four of the same nature- which I condense and copy from the Wayne Co. (O.) Standard, would seem to indicate a mistake on this subject on my part. I publish it as traits of the times. As such is will be of value for future reference.
LOTTERY !!!
Grand distribution of real and personal prop- erty, by way of Lottery, to be drawn in Woos- ter on the 6th of June, 1845 .- Capital $6,816.
The subscriber, desirous of settling up his business preparatory to his anticipated removal to Oregon, offers his real and part of his personal property, to the public, by way of Lottery, as follows: The North West Quarter of Section 24, in Township 20, and Range 14.
GRAND SCHEME .- REAL ESTATE.
First prize, Dwelling-house and 20
acres of land, $1,200 00
2nd do. Saw Mill and 10 acres of land, 1,200 00
3d to 28th 5 acres of land in lots of $120 to $150 3,363 00
29thi to 32nd 12 acres, each at $50, 200 00
PERSONAL PROPERTY :
One prize-sorrel mare, $85 00
One do black filly, 60 00
One do a two horse wagon nearly new, 50 00
One do eight day brass clock, 40 00
One do large rotary cooking stove, 35 00
One do large black ox, 25 00
One do red ox, large and beautiful, 25 00
One do silver watch, 13 00
One do room-heater and pipe, 12 00
One do eight head of sheep at $1 50 each, 12 00
Que do box stove and pipe, 12 00
One do silver watch, 200
One do steer, 2 years old, black, (white face,) 10 00
One do steer, 1 year old, 6 00
One do wind-mill and cutting box, 6 00
One do plow, 7 00
One do harrow and double and single tree, 6 00
CASH :
Twenty-five cash prizes, $1, 25 00
Fifty do do 75 cents, 37 50
Seventy-five do do 50 .6
37 50
One hundred do do 87₺ 66
37 50
Twelve hundred do 25 300 00
1502 prizes.
$6,816 00
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The above property will be disposed of as in- dicated in the foregoing scheme, in 2272 chan- ces, at three dollars each. The personal prop- erty will be kept in good condition and deliver- ed to the drawers thereof on demand. A good and sufficient title for the landed property will be made to the holders of the fortunate chances in the above scheme, within two days from the drawing.
Possession of the house reserved until the first of October, 1845.
Grain in the ground reserved.
LAZARUS PLUMER. Chester tp. March 13, 1845.
Building Architects.
In that simplification of business which tends both to economy and efficiency, house building in Cincinnati is now generally bid for, in its va- rious departments of stone and brick masonry, carpenter work, plaistering and painting, a pro- fessional builder receiving the contracts and su- perintending their execution. The saving of money as well as of trouble in this mode, is so great that the charge of the superintendent would not probably equal one fourth its amount. But not only is economy consulted, but time gained, and nothing in the shape of money ex- penditure is left to conjecture. Accordingly, all buildings of any importance are now let in this mode.
A case or two of actual occurrence may illus- trate the system.
MR. SENECA PALMER, engaged as superinten- dent to the building of the Central Presbyte- rian Church, now putting up on Fifth street, made out his estimates for that edifice, amoun- ting in the aggregate to 7815,83cts. When the proposals, in case contraets were actually com- pleted at 7776, 65cts, varying only 29 dollars 18 cts, and falling so far short of the estimate.
But I have a still more striking example of the accuracy attainable in this mode.
Col. A. Dudley is building a dwelling house on Sixth street, under contract. The estimate of Mr. Palmer for the carpenter work, nails and lumber inclusive, was 1931 dollars 39 cts. The bids were as follows.
No. 1
2000
66 2 2000
3 1936
4 1881
5 1850
$9667 averaging 1931 dollars 40c. I have given these particulars because indi- viduals wise in their own conceit, say that actual expenditure always exceeds any estimate, and that you must add fifty per cent to estimates when you go to build. By estimates, they mean what I should call GUESSES. In cases like those I refer to, we have the actual cost when we com- plete the contract.
The Baltimore and Ohio Rail Road.
Ever since it has become manifest in our Eas- tern cities, that their internal rather than their foreign commerce, has been the main element of their growth and prosperity, there has been a constant rivalry in efforts between New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Baltimore to engross. the trade of the West.
Our shortest, and in many other respects, most desirable route to the Atlantic, leads to Balti- more, and a rail road, as is well known, has been constructed from that city as far west as Cum- berland, Md., fully one third of the distance to this city. This was intended to strike the Ohio river at Wheeling, and would have served to connect by water communication with us until a line of rail road should continue from the Ohio side through the State. But the State of Pennsylvania is unwilling to grant the right of way through her territory unless under very op- pressive exactions, if at all; the Legislature of that State having lately adjourned, after post- poning indefinitely, a measure relied on to ac- complish the object. The Baltimore and Ohio. rail road company in the progress of their ope- rations, discovered what they ought to have as- certained before they commenced them, that a direct road can be made from Cumberland to Parkersburg, 80 miles lower down on the Ohio than Wheeling, and only ten miles further from Cumberland than that place; and are now un- willing to make Wheeling the terminus, en- cumbered as they would be by the expense of a lateral road to Pittsburgh, and other oppres- sive impositions as the price of right of way through Pennsylvania.
In the meantime the Wheeling interest has succeeded in the Virginia Legislature to make its termination there, an absolute condition to the concurrence of Virginia, and in these com- plicated difficulties of the case, the enterprise stands still. Now there is no doubt that the com- pany are right in abandoning the Wheeling route, but they are wrong in waiting,-as it seems they are-on a change of sentiment in the Virginia Legislature to accomplish their objects. In the present position of the case, it will take at least two years to effect that change. Eas- tern Virginia will do nothing for Western Vir- ginia, the two sections being as much sepera- ted in interest and feeling as if they were sep- erate States, and the reason why Parkersburg should terminate the route, would probably be the very one to defeat the measure in the cap- itol at Richmond, namely, the building of the West into importance.
While this state of things exists, Boston with ber immense means, and vigorous enterprise, has been for the last two or three years prepar- ing to thrust her sickle into the great harvest.
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Her first move was to intersect the New York rail road at Albany, so as to give her a commu- nication with Buffalo. What next? She has just loaned 500,000 dollars for the completion of the Little Miami and Mad River rail road from Cincinnati to Sandusky. When that shall have been completed, and the present year will see i nearly done, what remains? A rail road along the lake shore, from Sandusky to Buffalo of less than 260 miles. This will not take long to com- plete, and where then will be Philadelphia and Baltimore, as far as regards western trade, the breath of life to those cities? I say Philadelphia and Baltimore, for owing to their proximity and facility of water communication, I consider their interest in this matter one and indivisible. As respects that trade they are now sleeping on a mine of gunpowder, ready to explode before they are awarc. If something be not done at once, Boston will distance them forever in the great commercial race. The increase of that city since 1840, merely in the anticipation of her Western trade has been greater than that of any other place of equal magnitude in the United States. What will it be when she actually ab- sorbs the trade of the great valleys of the lower Ohio and central Mississippi? In 1842, the num- ber of buildings put up in Boston was 776, in 1843, 1117; and in 1844, 2145! What will it be in 1845? What will it be in 1846 when rail roads shall have connected Cincinnati and Boston ?- Let Philadelphia and Baltimore look to it. Sta- tistics like these are surer omens of coming events than the flight of birds.
What resource or remedy is left? Does any exist? I think so, and shall point it out in my next.
Sagacity of the Horse.
Two or three years ago, a remarkable narrative of a horse named John, written by his owner in one of our western cities, Nashville I believe, went the rounds of the periodical press. It is too long for me to copy, and most of my rea- ders will recollect it when I extract two or three of its leading features.
"A few months since, I sent him from my house across the country to the Spring hill road, and up that road a distance of a mile to the house of a friend, although he had not been there for more than a year. I have often sent him such errands. I have only to go with him and show him a place and he never forgets it .- He is perfectly under command of my voice. I speak to him as to a servant, and that he un- derstands what I say is proved from the, fact that he obeys me."
The writer goes on to say, that having left his stable door open according to his usual prac- tice, the horse on one occasion camo to the kitch-
en door and made a loud knocking with the point of his hoofs. "From what I knew of the saga- city of the animal I judged he had not been fed, and calling up the servant, accused him of the neglect. He denied the charge. I did not believe him, but could say no more. The same thing happening several times, I as often called up the servant taxing him with neglecting the horse. He still asserted he had been fed. One day going by the kitchen door, I heard the old negro talking to the kitchen servants, laughing heartily and repeating, "John won't lie and master knows it," a laugh. "He believes John and won't believe me," another laugh. "I won't tell any more lies about feeding John."
These things and much more of the same char- acter are very remarkable, and leave us in doubt how far the faculty of instinct is developed or understood.
I have now to add a brief statement of what is within my own knowledge, or has fallen un- der my own notice.
iviany of my readers, who remember Phila- delphia thirty years ago, will recollect Cope the butcher, who kept a stall on Market just above Third street, and in his own case, finely illus- trated Dr. Johnson's mock heroic "Who slays fat oxen, should himself be fat." He resided in Spring-garden, and his slaughter house was on the same premises.
Cope had a horse remarkable for his intelli- gence. I have known the owner on reaching home with a large drove of bullocks, which he had driven to the gateway of the slaughter yard, to alight, secure the reins tight to the saddle, and after opening the gate to the house, leave it to the horse to drive the cattle in, which was always done as carefully and judiciously as if the rider had been present. On one occasion, I recollect, a large bullock broke away from a dozen, left under these circumstances at the gate. After running six or seven squares, pur- sued by the horse who was fast overtaking him, he sprang across the side walk over a board yard fence, where he was followed by the horse who succeeded in heading him at the opposite side of- the lot, turned him back and made him jump out where he sprang over, and followed him home to the slaughter yard, where he shut him up, the gate closing with a pully.
There is a horse belonging to a respectable butcher here, who can drive cattle home also, but whose most remarkable trait is antipathy to strange dogs, no one of which he will suffer to. remain on his master's premises, if within his reach, biting and chasing them away. His mas- ter can set him on a dog at any time by a cer- tain signal, which he readily understands.
Are these things the result of training, or are there instincts in the brute creation yet unde- veloped and unknown?
249
White Lead Factories.
It is but a few years since, that the Cincin- nati market was extensively supplied from Pitts- burgh, and still further East, with White Lead, Chrome Yellow, Chrome Green, Paris Green, &c. In these articles, however, as in many other manufactured in this place, the tide has turned, and we are now supplying home, and distant regular customers with white lead of pu- rity and tint which cannot be surpassed any- where-and we shall be prepared as our opera tions enlarge, to furnish this article, as we now do many others to advantage, in the markets whence we formerly derived our supplies. The magnitude of this interest in the home market may be inferred from the fact, that we are an- nually putting up twelve to fifteen hundred hous- es in this city, and its northern suburbs, whosc finishing must necessarily consume an immense amount of paint.
For the benefit of those" readers, numbering thousands in every community, who are ignor- ant not only of what this beautiful pigment, white lead, is made, but how it is made, it may be briefly stated that the raw material is piglead, which being run into thin and narrow sheets of about seven inches breadth, and two feet in length, are loosely rolled and placed in crocks so made for the purpose as to let the lead rest on projections onc third of the way up. These have been previously filled to that height with vinegar, and placed in squares upon horse-ma- nure in suitable honses, provided for that pur- pose.
Here the carbon developed under the process of heat combincs with the lead corroded by the action of the vinegar, and becomes carbonate of lead. It is then taken to be ground and washcd. In these processes it is seperated from impure parts, and foreign ingredients, pumped up and run into boxes on a drying floor, after which it is again ground with oil, which is the last prep- aration to render it fit for use. It is then pack- ed into kegs ordinarily of 25lbs. each, and brar .- ded l'or market. A small proportion is put up dry
The Emerald Green is a new article intended to supercede the Chrome Green, which has been so extensively used for shutters and blinds, but found to become dingy in the lapse of a few years. It is the arseniate of copper in chemis- try, applied to practical purposes.
old establishment, on the south side of Court street in which the individuals last alluded to were brought up to the business. Their factory which is of recent erection, and embracing all the modern improvements, is nearly opposite the old concern, being on the scite of Jesse Hunt's tan yard, the beginning of all things in that line in Cincinnati. These two establishments con- sume in their processes annually, 1,200,000 Ibs. lead, 600 barrels flaxseed oil, and 2500 bbls. vinegar, which last article is made on the prem- ises. They also manufacture their own kegs by machinery-employing some fifty hands in the various business departments. Superior Em- erald, Green and Chrome Yellow are also made here. There are two other important factories in Cincinnati besides, Messrs. McLenan & Co., and T. Hills & Co., also long and favorably known in the market, to whose operations doubtless many of these remarks apply with equal force.
These four establishments are prepared to sup ply any amount of white lead which may be needed in this market, and are actually making at present as follows :
R. Conkling & Co. per. week 900
E. & S. J. Conkling, do 600
B. McLenan & Co., do 300
T. Ilills & Co., do 600
2400 kegs.
In 1840 the manufacture of white lead here in three establishments was 900 kegs per week. This was increased in 1844 to 1500, and now to 2400 kegs weekly, being the largest manufac- ture of white lead in the West.
I referred to Hunt's tan yard as an antiquity, but we may go farther back here to the past .-- The original great Elm, a superb tree, at least an hundred and fifty years old, still canopies as it then did, the well known spring, at which the aborigines drank in their expeditions to Kcn- tucky, long before a white man was settled here.
Relics of the Past.
Capt. John Armstrong to Gen. James Wilkinson. DEAR SIR :
Bailey and Clawson left this on the night of the 7th, which was the evening of the day they arrived. They report two miles on the oth- er side the 17 Mile Creek, about half past 5 o'clock, P. M., they saw three Indians standing in the road with their faces towards St. Clair, and about 150 yards in their front-they took to the left of the road in order to make the fort for which they were bound; a foot from the road in crossing a branch, they saw two watching a lick-in running down the bank their belts
A few statistics on this subject will serve, how- ever, to give a better notion of the extent of this manufacture, than any general remarks .-- Some notes made not long since at the white lead factories of R. Conkling, & Co., and E. & S. J. Conkling on Court street, east of Broad- way, will serve as a basis to the statement which closes this article. Tho first named firm is an | broke, and they lost their packets-after which
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at a little distance, they saw two more Indians, who pursued them. They say they heard the sav- ages in pursuit until yesterday 10 o'clock, when they struck a creek, the centre of which they took, and kept it until they struck the river- I suppose ten miles.
Yours with great respect, JNO. ARMSTRONG. Ft . Hamilton, June 11 1792.
Fort Washington, June 11th, 1792. DEAR SIR :- I this morning received your let- jer of last evening, and regret the accident whch has befallen my last dispatches, though I think it is fifty to one, the enemy have not got them, for it is probable they were not in view when the papers were dropped, and if they were, their attention would have been too much en- gaged to regard the pacquet.
By this conveyance you will receive the Iron, Hemp, and two Scythes, & I have ordered Hodg- don to send out the Window Glass and every other article which has not been heretofore fur- nished, and to strengthen your Garrison, I send you the fragment of Pratt's co. at this place.
One half the Scythes fairly assorted, must be sent forwarded to Fort Jefferson, and I must flat- ter myself, that you will employ your utmost exertions to procure the largest quantity of Hay profitable, in your neighbourhood. This is in- deed an object of great magnitude. When the grass is finally secured, it is my purpose to throw a small quantity of salt ameng it, in order to render it palatable and nutritious. In this mo- mentous business, you shall command every re- quisite aid, and must duly notify me of every want.
The Lieutenants stationed with you and at St. Clair, are to accompany Lieut. Hartshorn to Fort Jefferson, where they are to continue for the security of the Bullock and Grass Guards at the Post. The regular transport of provisions which we are now about to commence will fur- nish frequent opportunities of writing, and as the Horse will make their Head Quarters with you, you can at any time employ a party to come on to this post. I expect one hundred mounted rifle-men from Kentucky in six or seven days, engaged for three months, to ply on the communication to Jefferson.
With much esteem, I am dear sir, yours sin- cerely .
JAS. WILKINSON, Brig. General.
N, B. You must consider the order restrain- ing the movements of the commanding officers of Posts, as dene away, and arc to exercise your discretion. The Cavalry is to receive your or- ders after they return from Jefferson.
J. W.
Enlistments and Discharges.
1 Arthur Conway do acknowledge myself to. be fairly and truly inlisted in the service of the United States of America, and in the first United States Regiment. To serve as a Soldier for the term of three years, unless sooner discharged ; and to be obedient to the orders of Congress and the officers set over me; agreable to the establishment of Congress, passed the thirteenth of April, 1789 -- as witness thereof I have set my hand, this 22d day of February 1794.
Witness ARTHUR CONWAY.
Adam Yohe.
Certificate.
This may certify that Casper Sheets, late a sol- dier in my Comp'y. was appointed Corporal 1st day of April, 1788, and was reduc'd the 17th of Sept. 1790.
D. STRONG, Capt. Ist U. S. Regt.
Fort Washington, May 13th, 1791.
By Josiah Harmar Esq. Brigadier Gener- al in the service of the United States of A- merica, and commanding the troops in the Western Department.
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