USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 16
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JOSEPH VANCE, Aid-de camp.
HEADQUARTERS, O. M. L. Sandusky, Nov. 27th, 1813. DEAR GENERAL :
I received your letter from Buffa- lo on the 20th inst. Crandall that you ordered released, I am informed was released shortly af- ter you left this place. The three Delaware Indi- ans, and one Potawotomee, I have sent to Up- per Sandusky, with directions to Mr. Stickney to deliver them as you directed. They appear- ed much pleased, and made very fair promises. I have been much engaged in forwarding pro- visions and cloathing to Detroit, sending escorts with prisoners to Chillicothe, giving orders to the different posts, and erecting a small fort at Portage, and a store and block house at the landing at the crossing place of the peninsula from this river. The weather has been so very bad I am afraid they will not be completed
Chillicothe, Jan. 29th, 1814.
until spring. I will use every exertion to ac- complish it. There have been several droves of cattle sent on to Detroit, and I presure they are well supplied as to beef. The inilitia have been sickly at every post, and as must be expected, some have dicd. I shall get the men into quar- ters this day, and will soon have them comfort- able-they have had much fatigue and exposure, but I presume not to be compared to that of your immediate command.
My militia have been near three months in service, and have not received a cent of pay .- An idea has occured, which I think proper to communicate for your consideration, that is, as soon as a company, or a subaltern command is recruited of regulars, that they should be sent out to some of those posts under proper officers, relieve the militia and do garrison duty. It would bring them into a state of subordination and dis- cipline by the time the spring campaign opens, it would in some measure inure them to a sol- dier's life, and prepare them much better than raw troops for the field, and be a saving to the United States. These observations have not arisen from sinister motives, therefore you will excuse the liberty I have taken. I have made this place my headquarters, in consequence of the large quantity of public property that was at this post, but it is now principally sent off, and as soon as the works at portage that I have laid off are in a state of forwardness that I can leave this, I wish to visit the posts, and spend some time at Urbana, where I can communicate to the left and centre line with more facility, and if permitted would make a short visit to my troops at Detroit, though I will at all times strictly conform to your orders, and do my du- ty, and have, and will exact it from those under my command, which has convinced them 1 am not seeking popularity. I have appointed as I before informed you, Major J. Lawrence Lewis my brigade Major and Inspector, from whom I have received essential service in the discipline and arrangement of my troops, and as I find Judge Huntington alias pay master and Hunt very scrupulous in their duty. I wish him or some regular officer appointed by you to mus- ter and inspect the troops at the different posts under my command, and if it is necessary, to forward to your adjutant general my monthly reports.
I am extremely anxious to hear from you, and the lower army:
Accept Sir, the assurance of my esteem, and respect and sincere wishes for your success and happiness.
JOHN S. GANO.
Maj. Gen. WM . H. HARRISON.
DEAR GENERAL:
I received yours of the 16th. Gen. Har- rison has authority to arm ; supply and employ all the Indians against the enemy. He is at Cincinnati. Gen. Howard goes to Detroit. Col. Campbell will in a few days send on to L. San- dusky about two companies of recruits. By di- rection of war department, I have ordered a de- tail of 1450, to be organized and held in readi- ness to march at a moments warning. All this will be too late to aid if the British attempt De- troit or Put in Bay. If you have no name for the new fort, and have no objections, as it was erected by you and Ohioans, and laid out by you, you may by my order call it "Fort Gano."
I shall return to Marietta on my way to Hull's trial, having been summoned; unless the Court Marshall will admit of my deposition as I have proposed. I much wish I could see you, and hope to, in the spring.
I am with much esteem,
your ob't servant,
R. J. MEIGS,
Major Gen. GANO.
HEADQUARTERS, Cincinnati, Jan. 16th 1814. DEAR SIR :
I have directed Major Todd Ass't. In- spector General, to proceed immediately to you to muster your whole command. Give him such directions as you may deem proper, and send in your paymasters immediately with their esti- mates, to receive money for their pay which shall be ready for them.
It is possible that the enemy may make an at- tempt to recover Detroit. We must be in readi- ness to fly to its relief. You will therefore bc pleased to concentrate your whole force at Low- er Sandusky and Fort Meigs excepting an offi- cer and 12 or 15 men in each of the other forts, and have every thing in readiness for a forward move. Gov. Meigs will hold in readiness an ad- ditional number of militia.
If Capt. Oliver as Deputy Quarter Master Gen- eral is near you, give him the necessary orders for any provision you may want. Ascertain what supplies of ammunition you have, and direct any deficiency of cartridges to be supplied. I believe there are materials some where near you.
Let me hear from you as soon as possible upon every subject connected with your command.
Conciliate the Indians as much as possible. The government have determined to employ them extensively against the enemy.
Yours with great respect, WM. HENRY HARRISON,
Major Gen. GANO, Com'g. the O. Militia in service.
Perseverance.
"The most extraordinary and the best attested instance of enthusiasin existing in conjunction with perseverance, is related of the founder of the Foley family. This man, who was a fiddler, living near Stourbridge, was often witness of the immense labor and loss of time caused by dividing the rods of iron necessary in the pro- cess of making nails. The discovery of the pro- cess called splitting, in works called splitting mills, was first made in Sweden, and the conse- quences of this advance in art were most disas- trous to the manufactures of iron about Stour- bridge. Foley the fiddler was often missed from his accustomed rounds, and was not again seen for many years. He had mentally resolved to ascertain by what means the process ot splitting of bars of iron was accomplished ; and, without communicating his intention to a single human being, he proceeded to Hull, and thence, with- out funds, worked his passage to the Swedish iron-port. Arrived in Sweden, he begged and fiddled his way to the iron-foundries, where, af- ter a time he became a universal favorite with the workmen; and, from the apparent entire absence of intelligence or any thing like ulti- mate object, he was received into the works, to every part of which he had access. He took the advantage thus offered, and having stored his memory with observations and all the com- binations, he disappeared from among his kind friends, as he had appeared. no one knew whence or whither.
"'On his return to England he communicated his voyage and its resulis to Mr. Knight and an- other person in the neighborhood, with whom he was associated, and by whom the necessary buildings were erected and machinery provided. When at length every thing was prepared, it was found that the machinery would not act, -at all events, it did not answer the sole end of its erection-it would not split the bar of iron.
"Foley disappeared again, and it was conclu- ded that shame and mortification at his failure had driven him away forever. Not so: again, though somewhat more speedily, he found his way to the Swedish iron-works. where he was received most joyfully, and, to make sure of their fiddler, he was lodged in the splitting mill itself. Here was the very aim and end of his life attained beyond his utmost hope. He examined the works, and very soon discovered the cause of his failure. He now made drawings or rude tracings and, having abided an ample time to verify his observations, and to impress them clearly and vividly on his mind, he made his way to the port, and once more returned to England. This time he was completely success- ful, and by the results of his experience enrich- ed himself and benefited the country. I hold this to be the most extraordinary instance of full and resolute purpose on record ."
Raising the Wind.
Wind is an element necessary to vitality .--- While it is thus an indispensible agent of na- ture, art and the progressive intelligence of the times have adapted it to innumerable valuable purposes. The difficulty, in many cases, is to "raise the wind," which, in a great measure, and in many instances, depends on the operator .-- The last means resorted to for this purpose of which wo have heard, is the following:
A fellow disguised as a gentleman, so far as good dress and address favored the personation, rode up a few days since on a high-blooded and well conditioned charger, to the door of one of those accommodating gentlemen who are al- ways willing to lend money on deposit, and wlio look on laws against usury as being first among the superfluities of legislation. The equestrian alighted and addressed the comparatively ob- scure Rothschild in the most familiar terms, calling him by name. and briefly and frankly telling him he came to borrow money from him -a small sum -- just fifty dollars, which he wanted for immediate use, and which he could not otherwise procure, the bank in which he deposited not being yet opened. He would pay it in the course of the day, and give ten dollars as a bonus, and five dollars a day so long as it might remain unpaid.
"All very fair," said Discount, " but what se- curity !""
"My watch,', said the man in search of mo- ney.
".It won't do," said Discount.
"Well, then, take my riding mare for the time being," said the individual who was hard up -- "I suppose that will satisfy you ?"
"I can accommodate you," said Discount ; "but mind you, I shall put the mare to livery till you settle up, and you will be in for the ex- penses."
"Very well," said the other -- "it can't be much even if they charge by the hour; because, as I have said already, I'll be in funds when the bank opens."
The terms of the transaction were drawn up and mutually signed, the fifty dollars were paid over to this modern Jeremy Diddler, and Dis- count took his pledge to the livery stable.
"Hallo, there," said he on reaching the stable dour.
"'Hallo," said the master of the horse.
"Have you got room in your stable for this mare ?" said Discount.
"We'll endeavor to accommodate her, said the other coolly ."'
"Well, give her the very best in vour stable," said Discount, "and charge your price, I like to pay well and be paid well : "live and let live is my motto."
"You are extremely liberal and disinterested." was the remark in reply ; "but, prav, give your- self no uneasiness about the mare. She is mine ; and I trust I shall never treat her in a manner that will draw on me the displeasure of the So- ciety for the Prevention of Cruelty to Anim- als."
"Yours!" said Discount, his lip quivering with surprise and astonishment.
"Mine -- yes, mine!" said the dealer in horse flesh. "I gave her to a gentleman to ride not more than half an hour ago, and like a good customer, he paid me five dollars in advance."
"I have got an idea," said Discount.
"So have I," said the other-"I have got an idea that some person has been fooling you."
"Fooling me, sir," said Discount -- "I should'nt care about being fooled ; but to be diddled-donc clean out of $50-d -- me, sir, it's too. bad; but I'll offer a reward of $50 more to find the fellow, and if I catch him he goes to Baton Rouge, where the State will furnish hin board and lodging free gratis' for seven years. But never mind: when I take a deposito in live
stock again, I'll be sued for usury, that's all." Our readers by this time will see that the sharper hired the mare to make the raise, and that Dis- count, who had been himself for years shaving, was, for the first time in his life, shaved.
N. O. Picayune.
Rise of Eminent Men.
The following extracts are taken from an in- teresting article, to be found in the Edinburgh Review for January land, upon Twiss's Life of Lord ELDON.
INFLUENCE OF ACCIDENT ON GREAT MEN .- "It is a curious coincidence that the two greatest Chancery Lawyers of their day should both have been forced into the profession by incidental circumstances. Romilly says that what princi- pally influenced his decision was, the being thus enabled to leave his small fortune in his fa- ther's hands, instead of buying a sworn clerk's seat.with it. At a later period of my life, after a success at the bar which my wildest and most sanguine dreams had never painted to me - when I was gaining an income of $8,000 or $9,- 000 a year-I have often reflected how all that prosperity had arisen out of the pecuniary diffi. culties and confined circumstances of my fa- ther.'
"Wedderburn (Lord Loughborough) began as an advocate of the Scotch bar. In the course of an altercation with the Lord President. he was provoked to tell his lordship that he had said as a judge what he could not justify as a gentleman. Being ordered to make an apology, he refused, and left the Scotch for the English bar. What every one thought his ruin, turned out the best thing that could happen to him :
" "There's a divinity that shapes, our ends, Rough hew them how we may."
"Lord Tenterden's early destination was changed by a disappointment. When he and Mr. Justice Richards were going the Home Cir- cuit, they visited the cathedral at Canterbury together. Richards commended the voice of a singing man in the choir. 'Ah,' said Lord Ten- terden, 'that is the only man I ever envied !- When at school in this town we were candid- ates for a chorister's place, and he obtained it .'
"It is now well known that the Duke of Wel- lington, when a subaltern, was anxious to re- tire from the army, and actually applied to Lord Camden (then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland) for a commissionership of customs! It is not al- ways true, then, that men destined to play con- spicuous parts in the world have a conscious- ness of their coming greatness, or patience to bide their time. Their hopes grow as their ca- pacity expands with circumstances; honore on honors arise, like Alps on Alps; in ascending one they catch a glimpse of another, till the last and highest, which was veiled in mist when they started, stands out in bold relief against the sky."
Human Nature.
One of these weaknesses of humanity which seems almost universally prevalent, is a dread of acknowledging ones age. It is not confined to the female sex or the single lite, although most abundant in these relations of society.
Mr. Alexander, our worthy city collector, called the other day on Mr. - -, a mer- chant on Pearl street, for' his capitation tax .- The merchant was busy in the warehouse cel- lar, and being called up, presented a head near- ly bald, and a remnant of hair white as snow. with other personal appearances which satisfied the collector that the subject was over sixty years years of age, and of course exempt from further taxes. He therefore apologised for dis- turbing him, alleging that he had obtained his address from his lady, and had inferred him from the age of the wife to be a younger person. "Who says Iam sixty ?": exclaimed the merchant with great veliemence, "I calculate to pay that tax for fifteen years to come!"
Another of his domiciliary visits was paid to Mr. Jacob W- --- , one of our old and res . pectable citizens. ""What do you want with me ?" said Jacob to the collector, "I am beyond your limits : I am over sixty !" "There !" said his wife, to whom he had been married only a few weeks. "Mr. W- --- , what did you mean by telling me not two months ago, that you were not fifty ?
I remember, in taking the census of 1840, I obtained the necessary statistics of one family of high respectability, from the lady. She gave me the column, "between 20 and 30" for her husband, and the same on the female side for herself. She leaned over my shoulder while I put the figures down, and not understanding my method of entry, observed, "you are not put- ting me down older than my husband." "No madam, [ put you down both simply between 20 and 30." "But I want you to put him down older than me." I took some pains to explain that this was out of my power, every column giving its range of ten years. I left her less than half satisfied, and on asking a mutual acquain- tance for the explanation, was told "She is oldr than her husband, and was afraid you would put her down so.
DEATHS.
DIED-On the 22nd inst., after a protracted and pain- ful illness, MARY ANN, infant daugliter of Rev. Samuel and Frances W. Lynn, of Boone County, Ky. aged one year, five months, and fifteen days.
Thou hast fled, dear Spirit-to the world of repose- Thy crown to inherit, where the Tree of Life grows; Where the weary find rest-where the captives go free; Where the Martyrs are blest, and thou, Jesus shalt see. Fare thee well, dear Spirit! we remain here with those Who, no crown inherit, where no Tree of Life grows- Where the weary rest not, nor the captives go free -- Till with Mary Ann, blest-their Redeemer they'll see. L.
On Thursday, the 24th inst., Rufus C. son of Robert C. and Emeline Florer, aged 3 years and 5 months.
On Sunday the 20th inst., George M. Bryarly.
CINCINNATI MISCELLANY
CINCINNATI, AUGUST, 1845.
The Changes of human life.
Not long since I made a visit to an old friend who resides about three miles out of town, on one of those beautiful farms of high rich lands, which in almost every direction surround the city. The road for some distance lies along the line of the Whitewater canal, immediately upon the banks of the Ohio river, and from the number of steamboats, canal boats, car- riages, &c. constantly passing and repassing, a person mnight almost fancy himself in the vicinity of London or Dublin, or some of the oldest cities of Europe.
On passing out of the city I observed an old man whom I recognized as a soldier of the re- volution. I had met with him several years ago in the " far West." He returned to Cin- cinnati about four years since, and has resided with his son. He is eighty-four years of age, enjoys good health, and seems very happy .- These men of the revolution, whether poor or rich, always appear cheerful and happy -- neither unduly elated nor depressed by circumstances, they seem to enjoy that independent, peaceful state of mind, which the world can neither give nor take away.
My friend in the country, though not a sol- dier of the revolution, was one of the early pi- oneers of the West -- a race of men who suffered great privations and hardships, in the first set- tlement of Kentucky and Ohio. Mr. T. re- moved with his father and the family, from Vir- ginia to Kentucky in 1779. He was then very young, but remembers how greatly the first settlers were harassed and perplexed, and many of them butchered by the Indians. He has seen as many as three hundred of these savages make an unsuccessful attack upon a station de- fended by only six men. He was in Gen. St. Clair's defeat, where nine hundred of his fellow soldiers were left dead upon the ground. He is now upwards of three score years and ten, has resided in this county for more than half a cen- tury, and witnessed the growth of Cincinnati from its very infancy. He owns a large and valuable tract of land, which twelve years ago
years have passed away, and where are all the members of that large and interesting house- hold, and those who sojourned with them? -_ Only two remain. Six have descended to the narrow house. Some have removed from the United States, and all are scattered like the leaves in autumn.
It is a singular coincidence, that another nu- merous and interesting family, with whom a few years previously, I and my family had spent a very pleasant summer in the city -- have all passed away but two. The father and the sons are all numbered with the dead. Mr. B --- was my early and constant friend, and one of the best of men-benevolent, kind and hospita- ble-a worthy, good citizen, and a man of ex- cellent taste and judgment. His old family re- sidence, with its recent improvements by the present worthy proprietor, is one of the most splendid and beautiful mansions in this or any other city. But the men of that day will soon all have passed away, and with them much that is intimately connected with the early pros- perity and history of Cincinnati. The friends who loved them, will soon follow them. It is of very little consequence where men pass their days-whether in town or country-in log- cabins or in splendid palaces. This world is not our rest. Our days are as a shadow that passeth away. Without the hope of the gospel, this would be a dark world indeed. But this blessed hope we have; it shines upon the tomb of our friends, and casts a heavenly light over the darkness of the grave.
" Hope springs exulting on triumphant wing, That we shall meet again in future days : There ever bask in uncreated rays,
No more to sigh or shed the bitter tear. Together hymning our Redeemer's praise, In such society, yet still more dear ; While circling time moves round in an eternal sphere."
Our North-West Territory.
There is nothing in Cincinnati exhibits a growth as vigorous as the north-western part of our city, popularly called Texas .-- What constituted ori- was supposed to be worth about fifty dollars an ginally the Seventh Ward was, only seven years acre : now it is worth two hundred, and some ago, interspersed here and there with dwellings, but consisted principally of brick yards, cattle pastures and vegetable gardens, for the supply of our markets. Such was the unimproved con- dition of this region, that nearly two hundred and fifty acres occupied as pasturage, were own- portions of it, desirable building scites, would command from three hundred to five hundred dollars per acre. I spent the summer of 1832 with my family, at this delightful place. Every thing was changed since then. Oh what chan- ges time and death can make! Only a few'ed by four or five individuals alone. Two han-
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dred and fifty acres of pasturage in a city, and |dilapidate, which renders it impassable in will- that city as thriving as Cincinnati ! The whole ter, and unpleasant at all times. number of dwellings, at that period, within the bounds of that Ward, were short of three lun- What good one man may do. dred andfifty, and its whole population could not The following remarkable statement forms the basis of a petition to the Massachusetts Le- gislature. Why may not good in this depart- ment be as extensively done here. have reached to twenty-five hundred souls, and these the buildings and inhabitants of a sec- tion of Cincinnati more than a mile square!
Now, what a change! Eleven hundred new buildings, most of them of a character for beau- ty, permanence, and value equal to the average of the main body of our city improvements .- The streets graded and paved to a great extent, churches and public school houses going up in its midst, and well paved sidewalks, adding to the general finish and convenience. With all these improvements, too, space has been left at the sides and in the fronts of the buildings, for that free introduction of shrubbery and flow- ers, which render our city so attractive to stran- gers, and 80 airy and pleasant to ourselves Itis, in short, completely rus in urbe, abounding in spots which combine the comfort of a country villa, with the convenience and advantages of a city residence.
It may serve to give a striking view of the magnitude and extent of the improvements in this region, to state that London street has been graded from Fulton or Mound st. west, which extent, some 1,200 feet in length, is now dug down from five to ten feet, to fill up 1,000 feet farther west and the entire width-sixty feet- of the street. The stupendous character of the work may be inferred from the volume of earth filled in, which, at the intersection of Baymil- ler street, measures sixteen feet in depth. The greater part of this is also paved, and progress- ing as fast in paving as is prudent, the graded ground being covered with stone as fast as it Bettles to its permanent bed. This must be- come one of the finest entrances to our city .- The population of this section of Cincinnati is now, doubtless, eleven thousand, the inhabi- tants having quintupled since 1838.
A new and important avenue to trade and marketing has been opened through this part of the city, by extending Freeman street to the Hamilton road. The effect of this will be to di- rect a large share of the travelling to the city, to the intersection of Fifth and Front streets, and to bring the pork wagons into direct com- munication with the pork-houses which must be put up on the line of the Whitewater Canal.
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