USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 35
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77
I have not space in the restricted limits of my columns to notice more than a few articles, whose number corresponds with the catalogue.
No. 2. An extremely ingenious, efficient and cheap apparatus for roasting coffee thoroughly and equally, and at the same time to preserve the aroma from escaping, as it always does when burnt in an open vessel.
7 and 26. A variety of locks from Glenn & McGregor, of unrivalled excellence in structure, accuracy and finish.
13 and 25. Bank note and fancy engravings, from Rawdon, Wright & Hatch, and Tappan, Carpenter & Co., rival establishments here, equal to any thing in the United States.
14. Cards of Hinges, and a great variety of building Hardware of malleable iron from Miles Greenwood. There is nothing in the city of greater importance, in the various aspects of the subject, than Greenwood's manufacturing opera- tions, and a minute examination there of these various articles can alone do justice to their merit and value.
In the early ages of a community, and before banks and the mint afford a currency for the people, not only is one description of goods bar- tered for another, but debts are contracted, pay- able in trade. Many amusing specimens of due 30. Various specimens of book binding, by Jacob Ernst, all of the best quality, and some bills and other contracts have fallen under my notice, which illustrate this state of things in the 'of them truly magnificent, especially a Doway
173
bible, ordered for the new Cathedral, and Mc- Kenney's Indian Biography and Portraits, intend- ed to be sent by Bishop Purcell to Rome, as a present to the Pope.
5, 38, and 119. Daguerreotypes, from E. C. Hawkins, Abel Shawk, Faris & Plumbe, all of great excellence. A very interesting case afford- ing the portraits of the early pioneers of Cincin- nati, attracted general notice.
44. Specimens of Parlor Grates and Fire Stands, from Horton & Baker, a variety of ele- gant patterns, beautifully executed.
46. Various specimens of dyeing by William Teasdale, who has this year not only maintained his usual excellence, but appears to have driven his competitors from the field.
49, 13. Specimens of Umbrellas and Parasols, from I. Sleeper. The travelling umbrellas are a great convenience, and of equal excellence; all well worthy of a fuller examination than this exhibition afforded time to makc.
50. Printing Ink, from Stearns & Co., of va- rious qualities, all equal to the corresponding ar- ticles from the East.
57. An improved Hose Reel, from I. & B. Bruce, a model of taste and beauty. The lamps, brass and plating work cannot be surpassed any where.
68. A large balance of 1500 lb. capacity, by P. Medearis, of such exquisite accuracy, that, notwithstanding its great size and weight, and its resting on a solid wall, the mere passing of the visiters over the floor kept it in constant vi- bration.
94. A lithograph of the steamboat Yorktown, by J. B. Rowse, an admirable engraving, by a young Cincinnati artist, of one of our most splen- did boats. This piece of work needs no eulogium of mine.
79, 102. Valise, Carpet-bag, and Ladies'-bag, saddle and harness. Of these it suffices to say that they are from the establishment of Isaac Young.
104. Fire Engine and Garden Hose, from Paddock & Campbell; abundant proof that these articles can be made as good and as cheap here as elsewhere.
There are a number of other articles to which I have not time to refer, particularly, as speci- mens of Hair Mattrass work, Marble Mantles, Lard Oil of Emery, Cheever, and others; Whips and Canes from C. Penrose; Baskets sent by Bal- lauf; Fancy Chairs from W. H. Ross, Hats from C. R. Camp; Japaned warc of Greenfield & Win- chell; Paddle Wheel for steamboats, by Chase & Cole; Flutes by J. D. Douglass; Glass paper from J. Van Amringe; Cotton Batting of J. A. Riclı- ardson, and a Patent Detector Bank Door Lock, by Glenn and McGregor, many of which are re-
markable for their ingenuity and taste, and oth . ers for their excellence in matcrials and work- manship.
Robert Elliott.
One of the few marble monuments in the Pres- byterian burying ground, on Twelfth street, has been erected to the memory of one of the early business men of this region, and in some sense, one of the pioneers of the west. I refer to Col. Robert Elliott, who, in connection with Col. Eli Williams, of Hagarstown, Md., was one of the several contractors of supplies for Wayne's Ar- my, on his march to the Indian country. Vari- ous incorrect accounts having been published of the circumstances attending his death, I put upon record the following from an authentic source, and which I believe is the truth in the premises.
Col. Elliott was a native of Pennsylvania; had settled in Hagarstown, and at the period to which I am to refer, 1794, was out west superin- tending the deliveries of his contracts. He left Fort Hamilton, accompanied by a waiter, taking what is now called the Winton road, to Cincin- nati. On reaching about four miles of his journey, he was fired on by the savages in am- bush and killed. He fell from his horse, which made his way back to Hamilton, followed by the servant upon the other horse. Elliott was an un- commonly large man, being both tall and heavy, and weighed nearly three hundred pounds. He wore a wig, which of course came off under the application of the scalping knifc, without exhibit- ing marks of blood, to the great surprise of the Indians, who viewed it as a great imposition, and spoke of it afterwards as " a d --- lie." The horse was a remarkable one-worth one hundred and twenty dollars in those days, when it requi- red a good horse to bring seventy-five dollars. He was a dark brown, but just where a pillion would have been fastened to the saddle, and ex- actly corresponding with it in size and shape, was a space entirely white. Elliott's body was boxed. up and put into his own wagon, and sent the next day to Cincinnati for burial, the waiter ac- companying it, and riding the Col's. horse. Near- ly, if not exactly where Elliott had been killed the day before, a ball from Indians in ambush killed the servant also, the horse cscaping as be- forc to Hamilton, and the wagoner flying for his life. The box was broken open by the savages in expectation of it containing something of valuc. It was left, on discovering the contents, only the wagon horses being carried off. A party was- then detached from the fort, which delivered the body at Fort Washington, and it was buried in thic usual burying ground, at the corner of Main and Fourth streets. Many years after, his son, Commodore Jesse D. Elliott, then on a visit to
174
this city, having ascertained the place of his in- terment, removed the body to the present burial ground of the First Presbyterian Society, erect- ing, as the table itself states, the monument to the memory of his father, Col. Elliott.
Steam Sash Factory.
There seems to exist a general conspiracy in Cincinnati, to put down the sales of eastern arti- cles to the south and west of the whole United States, and a systematic effort to introduce arti- cle by article into our manufacture here by ma- chinery of what lias heretofore been fabricated merely by hand, so as to command the supply of those markets at rates which defy competition in the Atlantic cities.
I have already referred to the bedsteads, bu- reaus, tables, &c., made by steam propelled ma- chinery. My present notice relates to the supply of window sash, which is now turned out under the same process.
Mr. S. Vanemmon, occupying the upper story of Bicknell & Jenkins' new planing machine, on Canal, between Race and Elm streets, has just put into operation an ingenious series of machine- ry, which takes the raw material of lumber in its roughest state, and, as its finishing touch, pre- sents window sash of every desired size, ready fitted for use, at a saving of labour, time and ex- pense of nearly fifty per cent. on the old system of manufacture.
The boards in their rough state are first cross cut to the necessary length by a circular saw; taken to the facing machine, where they are planed by the action of a wheel of great power and steadiness, having bitts which act successive- ly on the surface of the boards to reduce it to an uniform evenness and smoothness. The boards are then taken to a slitting machine, where they acquire the necessary breadth for their various purposes; and thence to an instrument which adds a delicate and perfect moulding to the vari- ous parts of the sash. Lastly, the sash rails are taken to a machine which forms the mortices and tenons with great exactness, as well as rapidi- ty, the whole operation of turning out the sash being by machinery, except the pinning together the entire frame. Some idea of the celerity of these operations may be formed by observing the movement of the slitting wheel, which performs twenty-five hundred revolutions in a minute, a degree of speed which mocks the power of the eye, to discern form or colour to the saw.
Most of the machinery is the invention of Mr. Vanemmon, and all of it is highly ingenious and efficient.
cheaper and of better quality than have hereto- fore been supplied to those markets.
Human Life.
It is melancholy to reflect how large a portion of life is lost or wasted before we learn its value. I do not know how it is with others; as to my- self, I rarely close a day without regretting that it is not three or four hours longer. Of course I llave little sympathy with those who kill time purposely and avowedly.
But take the case of a professedly industrious individual, and deduct lost and wasted time, and see even in a long life how little is left. Suppose our subject has reached his three score years and ten, a hale, vigorous old man. Deduct eight hours for sleep, and, on an average for each day, two hours for meals, between eating and waiting for them; and for dressing and undressing, wash- ing, shaving, and other kindred employments, two hours more. Here is half the life time, or thirty-five years spent to no result.
The ordinary maladies of childhood, the dis- eases and accidents of maturer years, will deduct at least one day to the week, or one-seventh of the residue, say five years. This brings the pe- riod down to thirty years.
Deduct from this, time idly wasted, especially in youth in unprofitable reading, and still more unprofitable company, and it will probably re- duce the residue to fifteen years, actively and profitably spent.
This calculation refers to, perhaps, the most favourable view that can be taken of the subject. What period of life can those be said to live who have left the world no better, richer, wiser or happier for their existence!
When a poor man gives, he begs.
There is a Spanish proverb, "A poor man who gives, begs," of which I have been forcibly re- minded by the contemptible practice which many Americans, unworthy of the name, indulge in forwarding presents to crowned heads, and men of authority and wealth, in various parts of the world. The latest case is that of Mr. Day, a two penny gumeleastic manufacturer in New York City, who lately exchanged with the Bey of Tu- nis a pair of Indian rubber boots and breeches, accompanied with an Indian rubber boat, for a gold snuff box set with diamonds, valued at $2,500. Allah Bismillah! no doubt exclaimed the barbarian, when he examined his costly elas- tic treasure.
I well remember many years ago, a series of plough inventors or improvers sent their plough patterns to the Emperor Alexander, the mighty Czar of Muscovy, as presents. They were all
It must be obvious from this statement that sash can thus be furnished for home, and es- pecially distant points in the west and south, graciously received and paid for like Mr. Day's
175
presens, in rings, snuff boxcs, &c. The ship- ment of ploughs increased to such an extent as to point his majesty out as the great patron of agriculture for the wide world. At last the em- peror's patience, or his rings, &c., began to give out. Accordingly, the receipt of the next plough that came was acknowledged by the present of its predecessor of the same kind, which effectu- ally stopped this species of speculation in the Russian market. I fear his Tunisian highness must send back his India rubbers in exchange for his next present, unless he is prepared to empty his treasury.
From the Wheeling Times.
History and Tradition.
We have heard some persons remark, on the strength of traditions, that onr account of M'Col- loch's leap, given some days since, was not strict- ly correct as relates to the circumstances attend- ing it. The facts we related are such as they appear in the most authentic records to which we have access. There are always variations in the traditions by which all incidents are handed down; but so long as they do not change the facts of the case, they are of but little import- ance. History will be made up of the earliest printed accounts of transactions, and thus, wlieth- er they are literally correct or not, they become established as facts.
In this sense we refer to incidents most inter- esting in the history of our town and surround- ing country. We do not profess any great knowledge of our early history; but we have of- ten referred to the productions of our former fel- low-townsman, Geo/S. M'Kiernan, who devoted much time to the examination of all the papers connected with the early history of this city and the surrounding country. We have not many of his pages at hand; but we have often perused them and others, and often reflected with regret that so few of us had taken the pains to make ourselves familiar with the history of the fron- tiersmen who settled on the ground we inhabit, when almost every leaf covered an arrow, and every tree shaded an Indian and a foe.
We do not know what may be the feelings of others; but we never pass a plain grave stone standing between Wheeling and Grave Creek, without a feeling of awe, and suffering our mind to wander back to the days of Indian warfarc, of blood and carnage, of war whoops, of Indians, scalping knifes, and tomahawks. That stone bears this inscription, " This humble stone is erected to the memory of Captain Forcman and twenty-one of his men, who were slain by a band of ruthless savages-the allies of a civilized na- tion of Europe-on the 25th of September, 1777.
So sleep the brave who sink to rest By all their country's wishes blest."
This stone stands in a retired spot about seven miles from Whecling, and just. where the hill ap- proaches the river to commence what is called the Grave Creck " narrows." So fine a place for ambush could scarcely be found elsewhere, and it is by no means surprising that the Indians suc- ceeded in cutting off nearly the whole force .- Grave Creek had then a fort, having been settled by Mr. Joseph Tomlinson, only one year after
the settlement of Wheeling by the Zanes, in 1770.
On the 25th of September, 1777, a smoke was seen from the Wheeling fort in the direction of Grave Creek. Apprehensions were entertained that the smoke was caused by the Indians burn- ing the fort at Grave Creek. Foreman, with forty-five men, marched down to Grave Crcek, and finding all safe there, started home. When they had reached the foot of the narrows, Mr. Lynn, an old Indian fighter, advised Capt. Fore- man to return by the ridge route and thus secure themselves against any attack by the Indians, whom he presumed saw them go down from the opposite side of the river, and intended attacking them on their return.
The captain did not rely sufficiently on the opinion of Lynn, and continued up the valley, while Lynn and some of the soldiers went over the ridge. The last were safc; but when Fore- man with his men had nearly reached the place where the stone now stands, they found some trifling Indian trinkct in the road before them. Their attention was attracted by it, and at the instant, half a dozen Indians stepped into the path before them, and as many in the rear, and then, as they attempted to meet their assailants, on every side, and from every bush, an Indian rose up. They were butchered without the re- motest hope of escape or successful defence.
A few reached the hill; some succeeded in climbing it; but the majority were shot as they went up, and either killed or lamed. Capt. Fore- man fought well, but was among thie first who fell. The number killed was twenty-two, and it is supposed that the Indian force was not less than three or four hundred. This was among the most bloody of the frontier skirmishes, and de- serves to be placed on record, not on account of any particular courage or skill, but as it shows the determined boldness of the savage foe with which our frontiersmen had to contend.
The Fuschia.
Mr. Shepherd, the accomplished conservator of the Botanical Gardens at Liverpool, is the au- thority for the following anecdote respecting the introduction of that elegant flower shrub, the Fuschia, into the green houses of Europe. Old Mr. Lee, a well known nurscry-man and florist, at Greenwich, near London, about fifty years ago, was one day showing his variegated treasures to a person who suddenly turned and said, "well, you have not in your whole collection so pretty a flower as one I saw to-day in a window at Wapping!" " Indeed, and what was this Phoenix like?" " Why, the plant was beautiful, and the flowers hung down like tasscls from the drooping branches, their colour was the deepest crimson, and in the centre a fold of rich purple."
Particular inquiries were made as to the exact whereabouts, and Mr. Lec posted off to the place, where he discovered the object of his pursuit, and immediately pronounced it a new plant. He saw and admired.
Entering the humble dwelling, he said, " my good woman, this is a nice plant of yours; I should like to buy it."
" Ah, sir! I could'nt sell it for no moncy, it was brought me from foreign parts by my hus- band, who has gone again, and I must keep it for his sakc."
" But I must have it."
" No, sir, I can't spare it."
" Here," emptying his pockets, " here is gold,
176
silver and copper," (his stock amounting to more than eight guineas.)
" Well a day, sure this is a power of money."
" 'T'is yours, and the plant is mine, my good woman. I'll give you one of the first young ones I rear, to keep for your husband's sake. I will, indeed."
The bargain was struck, a coach called, in which old Mr. Lee and his apparently dearly purchased flower was deposited. On returning home, his first work was to strip off and destroy every blossom and bud; the plant was divided into small cuttings which were forced into bark beds and hot beds, and again subdivided. Every effort was employed to multiply the plant. Mr. Lee became the delighted possessor of three hundred fuschias, all giving promise of fine blossom. The two which first expanded were placed in his window. A lady came in, " why, Mr. Lee, my dear Mr. Lee, where did you get this charming flower?"
" "Tis a new thing, my lady, pretty, is it not?"
" Pretty! 'tis lovely! its price?"
" A guinea, your ladyship," and one of the two plants that evening stood in beauty on her ladyship's table in her boudoir.
" My dear Charlotte! where did you get that elegant flower?"
" Oh, 'tis a new thing, I saw it at old Mr. Lee's; pretty, is it not?"
" Pretty! 'tis beautiful! what did it cost?"
" Only a guinea, and there was another left."
The visiter's horse trotted off to the suburb, and a third beauteous plant graced the spot from whence the first had been taken. The second guinea was paid, and the fuschia adorned another drawing-room of fashion. This scene was re- peated as new calls were made by persons attract- ed by the beauty of the plant. Two plants, grace- ful and bursting into flower, were constantly seen on the same spot. He gladdened the faithful sailor's wife with the promised flower, and before the season closed, nearly three hundred guineas jingled in his purse, the produce of the single shrub from the window at Wapping, as a reward for old Mr. Lee's taste, skill and decision.
Benefit of Advertising.
Our fellow citizen Isaac Young, whose taste in such matters is well known, got up, some time since, a neat lithograph business card, decorated with fancy trunks and other professional devices.
A friend of his on Lower Market, being about to visit England, Mr. Y. gave him some of the lithographs to be left at Birmingham, Manches- ter, Sheffield, &c., which was accordingly done.
On Saturday evening, a genteel stranger, evi- dently an Englishman, accosted Mr. Young at his saddler shop, "Mr. Young, I presume."- Young bowed assent. "I saw your card at Ib- botson & Sons, Sheffield,"-a heavy cutlery es- tablishment there-" and I made up my mind if I visited America to buy a trunk of you, and really, sir," added he, " I saw nothing in New York or Philadelphia in this line, like these Cin- cinnati articles." " They tell me,?' added the stranger, " that this place was a forest fifty years ago; can it be possible."
Mr. Young sold the Englishman several other articles besides the trunk, feeling as much grati- fication in finding Cincinnati and himself so well appreciated abroad, as in the profit he might have made by the sale.
Irish Ingenuity.
An intelligent traveller in Ireland recently re- marked one peculiarity of the people. He says " every peasant I met asked me the same ques- tion, namely-what time of day it was!" An Irish gentleman bet a dozen of claret with an English officer, that he would ride from Cork to Mallow on a market day without being once asked this question-and won, too-simply by putting the question himself before any other per- son could do so.
Anecdote.
Judge Dooly, of Georgia, was remarkable for his wit, as well as other talents. At one place where he attended Court, he was not pleased with his entertainment at the tavern. On the first day of the Court, a hog, under the name of a pig, had been cooked whole and laid on the ta- ble. No person attacked it. It was brought the next day, and the next, and treated with the same respect; and it was on the table on the day on which the Court adjourned. As the party fin- ished their dinner, Judge Dooly rose from the ta- ble, and in a solemn manner addressed the Clerk, " Mr. Clerk," said he, " dismiss that hog upon his recognizance until the first day of the next Court. He has attended so faithfully during the present term, that I don't think it will be neces- sary to take any security."
In a Predicament.
" Hallo, Jim, how are you," inquired a young man of a friend whom he had called upon, and found confined to his chamber.
" I'm not well!"
" Not well! what's the matter with you?"
" I'm in a predicament."
" In a predicament! How do you make that out?"
. " I have not paid my board these six weeks."
" Is that all? why my dear fellow you don't pretend to say that is the cause of your illness!"
" Yes, but I do ! They won't allow me to go away till I pay my board, and they won't allow 2
me to eat till I settle up."
IV
His friend picked up his hat and remarked he must begone.
-
177
St. Peter's Cathedral.
The new Roman Catholic Cathedral, on Plum 'street, after progressing nearly five years in its erection, has become so far advanced to its com- pletion as to admit of its consecration; and the re- ligious rites and ceremonies peculiar to that faith will therefore be celebrated for that purpose on Sabbath, the 2d November next, which is the day following that of All Saints Day in the cal- endar of that church.
As much interest is felt on this subject by a share of my readers, I have prepared some inter- esting statistics in reference to this edifice, which, when completed, will be the finest building in the west, and the most imposing in appearance of any of the Cathedrals in the United States be- longing to the Roman Catholic Church, the me- tropolitan edifice in Baltimore not excepted.
St. Peter's Cathedral is a parallelogram of two hundred feet in length, by eighty in breath. It is fifty-five feet from floor to ceiling. The roof is partly supported by the side walls, which as well as the front, average four fect in thickness, but principally upon eighteen free-stone pillars, nine on each side, which are of three and a half feet diameter and thirty-three feet in height. The ceiling is of stucco work of a rich and expen- sive character, which renders it equal in beauty to any cathedral in the world, as I am authorized to say by competent judges, although executed in this instance by Mr. Taylor, a Cincinnati artist, for a price less than one half of what it would have cost in Europe. The main walls are built of Dayton limestone, of which this building furn- ished the first example in Cincinnati. The base- ment is of the blue limestone of the Ohio river, and forms an appropriate contrast with the su- perstructure. The tower and steeple are not yet finished. It is contemplated to put up a chime of the usual number and range of bells. The ca- thedral will be finished with a centre aisle of six feet, and two aisles for processional purposes, eleven feet each, adjoining the side-walks. The residue of the space will form one hundred and forty pews ten feet in length. The roof is com- poscd of iron plates whose seams are coated with a composition of coal tar and sand, which ren- ders it impervious to water. The edifice was put up under the superintendence of Mr. Henry Walter, and has cost short of $90,000, with the addition of $24,000 for the half square which it occupies in part. Not a drop of ardent spirits was consumed in its erection, and notwithistand- ing the unmanageable shape and size of the materi- als, not an accident occurred in the whole progress of the work. Every man employed about it was paid off every Saturday night; and as the princi- pal part of the labour was performed at a season of the year when working hands are not usually 23
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.