The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II, Part 37

Author: Cist, Charles, 1792-1868
Publication date: 1845
Publisher: Cincinnati : C. Clark, printer
Number of Pages: 370


USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > The Cincinnati miscellany, or, Antiquities of the West, and pioneer history and general and local statistics. Volume II > Part 37


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


A sign which gave the schoolboys another reading exercise was Speakman &. Say, apotheca- ries, at the corner of Market and Second streets. To this they gave, as commentators with a fa- vourite author-a new reading, Speak, Man, and Say.


At Fairchild's corner, some years ago, Dr. D., one of our most respectable physicians, had on the Main street face, " Dr. D-, around the corner." On the Front street side was another sign, " Dr. D-, up stairs." It was no fault of the boys who passed the corner, if the whole community did not know the contents of these signs.


A German by the name of Brandt, a turner by trade, who lived back of one of our streets, put up his shingle to read thus-" Turning I around the corner. Half the passers by, seem going to his shop!


4


413


Frame. 395


812


Built in 1843,


0


45


14


59


1844,


0


75


44


119


1845,


0


56


35


91


4 589


488 1081


A very valuable description of buildings have been put up both this year and the last. Blocks of permaneht store houses, spacious and conve- nient, adorn the intersections of Walnut and Front, and Walnut and Second streets. Resor & Co. have put up two fine warerooms at the lower end of Pearl street. Three or four fine new ware rooms and factory buildings have been put up on Columbia or Second street; besides various other scattered improvements in differ-


We had a barber on Front street, years ago, as black as the ace of clubs, named London Porter, whose sign was placed conspicuously over the ent sections of the ward. This ward is one


The canal connecting those two great rivers of | door. There were no coffee houses, hardly, in those days, and it was a constant jest among steamboat characters to send thirsty souls off the boats to London's to wet their whistle. Porter usually told them he could shave them; but if they wished to be half shaved they must go up on the hill.


There is a firm in Hudson, New York, of Ketchum & Cheatham, which the boys read off, Catchem & Cheatem. The friends of the firm, that it might have its true reading, proposed that the Christian name of the parties, Isaac and Uriah, should be added, which was assented to. But the artist, not being able to crowd the whole upon the board, abbreviated the names to their initials, and the sign reads-not in bad keeping for business men-" I. Ketchum &. U. Cheatham !"


A man, still a resident in this state, named Death, kept a store on Main street, nearly oppo- site our old friend Jonathan Pancoast. Over the door was the sign, " Rectified Whisky," and di- rectly underneath, the name Absalom Death. An old lady from the country, had been in to market with her son, who drove the wagon, and was going up Main street on her way home, when the sign caught her eye-" Stop! Rectified Whisky-Absolute Death. That's a fact, John- ny. Let me get out, there is one honest man in Cincinnati, I want to see what he looks like."


Fourth Ward -- Cincinnati.


The public buildings of this ward are six in number. The Chio Life Insurance and Trust Company, an Engine House, one of the Public School Houses, Disciples' Church, on Third st., and the German Reformed Church, on Second, late the Third Presbyterian Church edifice, and Cincinnati Museum. Dwelling houses, offices, workshops and store houses 1081. Of these four are of stone, of brick 589, and 488 are frames.


Of these buildings there were at the close of the year 1842-


Stone.


Brick.


Total.


183


of the oldest improved parts of Cincinnati, and is now built up to three-fourths of its capacity. It must eventually become the seat of trade and manufactures to a much larger extent than it even now is.


Massy Herbeson's Escape from Indians.


With the heroine of the following narrative I was well acquainted in 1815. She then resided in Butler county, Pennsylvania, was a woman of great energy of character, nicknamed Bona- parte by the neighbourhood, and able to fight her way through any crowd, male or female. The child with whom she was encumbered at the time, grew to be a man in years; and at the period to which I refer above, sued his mother for a piece of land in the Butler County Court. This · created great indignation among the people, and if Judge Lynch had only been present to give impulse to popular feeling the young man would probably have been tarred and feathered. He lost his case, probably as much through popular prejudice as any thing else.


An account of the sufferings of Massy Herbeson and her family, who were taken prisoners by a party of Indi- ans .- Given on oath, before John Wilkins, Esq., one of the Justices of the Peace for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.


Massy Herbeson, on her oath, according to law, being taken before John Wilkins, Esq., one of the commonwealth's justices of the peace in and for the county of Allegheny, deposeth and saith, that on the 22d day of this instant, she was taken from her own house, within two hundred yards of Reed's block-house, which is called twenty-five miles from Pittsburgh; her husband, being one of the spies, was from home; two of the scouts had lodged with her that night, but had left her house about sunrise, in order to go to the block-house. and had left the door standing wide open. Shortly after the two scouts went away, a number of Indians camc into the house, and drew her out of bed by the fect; the two eldest children, who also lay in another bed were drawn out in the same manner; a younger child, about one year old, slept with the deponent. The In- dians then serambled about the articles in the house; whilst they were at this work, the depo- nent went out of the house and halloocd to the people in the block-house; one of the Indians ran up and stopped her mouth, another ran up with his tomahawk drawn, and a third ran and seized the tomahawk and called her his squaw; the last Indian claimed her as his, and continued by her; about fifteen of the Indians then ran down to- ward the block-house and fired their guns at the block and store-house, in consequence of which one soldier was killed and another wounded, one having been at the spring, and the other in coming or looking out of the store-house. This deponent telling the Indians there were about forty men in the block-house, and eaclı man had two guns, the Indians went to them that were firing at the block-house, and brought them back. They then began to drive the deponent and her children away; but a boy, about three years old, being unwilling to leave the house, they took it by the heels, and dashed it against the house, then stabbed and scalped it. They then took


[ the deponent and the two other children to the top of the hill, where they stopped until they tied up the plunder they had got. While they were busy about this, the deponent connted them, and the number amounted to thirty-two, ineluding two white men that were with them, painted like the Indians.


That several of the Indians could speak Eng- lish, and that she knew three or four of them very well, having often seen them go up and down the Allegheny river; two of them she knew to be Senecas, and two Muncies, who had got their guus mended by her husband about two years ago. That they sent two Indians with her, and the others took their course towards Puekety. That she, the children, and two Indi- ans had not gone above two hundred yards, when the Indians caught two of her uncle's horses, put her and the younger child on one, and one of the Indians and the other child on the other. That the two Indians then took her and the children to the Allegheny river, and took them over in bark canoes, as they could not get the horses to swim the river. After they had erossed the river, the oldest child, a boy of about five years of age, began to mourn for his brother, when one of the Indians tomahawked and scalp- ed him. That they traveled all day very hard, and that night arrived at a large camp covered with bark, which, by appearance, might hold fifty men; that night they took her about three hundred yards from the camp, into a large dark bottom, bound hier arms, gave her some bed clothes, and lay down, one on each side of her. That the next morning they took her into a thieket on the hill side, and one remained with hier till the middle of the day, while the other went to watch the path, lest some white people should follow them. They then exchanged places during the remainder of the day; she got a piece of dry venison, about the bulk of an egg, that day, and a piece about the same size the day they were marching; that evening, (Wednesday, tlic 23d) they moved her to a new place, and sceured her as the night before: during the day of the 23d, she made several attempts to get the Indi- an's gun or tomahawk, that was guarding her, and, had she succeeded, she would have put him to deathı. She was nearly detected in trying to get the tomahawk from his belt.


The next morning (Thursday) one of the In- dians went out, as on the day before, to watch the path. The other lay down and fell asleep. When she found he was sleeping, slie stole her short gown, handkerchief, a child's frock, and then made her eseape ;- the sun was then about half an hour high-that she took lier course from the Allegheny, in order to deceive the Indians, as they would naturally pursue her that way; that day she travelled along Conoquenessing creek. The next day she altered her course, and, as she believes, fell upon the waters of Pine Creek, which empties into the waters of Allegheny. Thinking this not her best course, she took over some dividing ridges,-lay on a dividing ridge on Friday night, and on Saturday came to Squaw run-continued down the run until an Indian, or some other person, shot a deer; she saw the per- son about one hundred and fifty yards from her -the deer running and the dog pursuing it, which from the appearance, she supposed to be an Indian dog.


She then altered her course, but again came to the same run, and continued down it until she got so tired that she was obliged to lie down, it


184


having rained on her all that day and the night before; she lay there that night; it rained con- stantly; on Sunday morning she proceeded down the run until she came to the Allegheny river, and continued down the river till she came oppo- site to Carter's house, on the inhabited side, where she made a noise, and James Closicr brought her over the river to Carter's house.


Sworn before me, at Pittsburgh, this 28th day of May, 1792. JOHN WILKINS.


Dr. Bailey.


A letter from Dayton was shown me on Satur- day, in which I observe the following flattering notice:


" Abby Kelley is here on her way down to your city, with her friend Foster. Abby says that Dr. Bailey is an arrant hypocrite, and she mcans to prove him so. He need not think to soap her down with his deprecatory remarks."


Those who like to see their fellow-beings rasped down,-and there is this feature of human nature in most of us-will have rare sport when this lady, who holding to the largest liberty of tongue, gives herself great liberty of speech, makes her curtsey to Cincinnati. I anticipate a crowded house at the Tabernacle.


Progress of Cincinnati.


As late as 1809, Cincinnati was not able to sustain more than one newspaper, and at a period ten years later-1819-there were but three in existence. As late as 1832, we had only fifteen periodicals; three daily, two semi-weekly, seven weekly, one monthly and one quarterly publica- tion. There are now published here twelve daily, fourteen weekly, and fourteen monthly periodicals; besides directories and almanacs of various descriptions. Ten of these dailies issue weeklies, and three of them tri-weeklies also.


Our progress in moral influence otherwise, is equally remarkable. As late as 1811, I believe there was but one house of worship in Cincinnati. As late as 1827, there were but twelve; in 1832, twenty-five. There are now sixty-nine.


This synopsis affords an evidence of rapid and extensive growth, which it may be safely assert- ed, finds no parallel in any other part of the Uni- ted States, not to say in the world. It is an epi- tome of the progress of the great west.


Mind your Business.


Grant Thorburn, in one of his rambling re- minisences, gives the following illustration of a principle which is the foundation of success in business:


" Never leave your shop except on business. Horse, foot, or hurdle races, fishing, fowling and sailing parties will never pay your rent. When you are out on business, hurry back to your shop as soon as possible. Don't stand in the streets, talking politics, news or anything, except may be something wherein your interest is concerned. Forty years ago, when I first commenced tra-


ding, my wife was my storekceper, my book, my housekeeper, my cook; my everything. One morning returning from the old Fly Market, foot of Maiden Lane, I met at the corner of William and Liberty streets, with a friend. At that time Bonaparte was in the full tide of man- slaughter, killing at the rate of half a million per annum; that morning an arrival had brought news of his progress. We stopped probably ten minutes rehearsing the matter. When I got to my store, I inquired of my wife if any one had asked for me. ' Yes,' she replied, ' Mr. C -- n called to pay his bill, but wished to see yourself.' That night he cleared for Texas. Thus I lost thirty dollars by standing in the streets, when I might have been in my storc. Ever after when a friend wished mc to stop in the street, ' Not here,' says I, ' but go to my store; and you may there talk all day if you please.' "


Adopting a White Man.


The chicfs of the Seneca Indians, at a late council, adopted Philip E. Thomas, of Balti- more, a benevolent Friend, a member of the Seneca tribe. After raising to his feet the Qua- kcr gentleman, who was sitting by a table in the council, and laying his hand three times on his shoulder, the chief addressed him as follows in the Indian language:


" By this ceremony we do at this time adopt into the Seneca nation this our friend, Philip E. Thomas, by which he becomes a member of the tribe and a brother of the Swan family, and is en- titled to the name of a Seneca Indian, and to all the rights and immunities of the nation. We now give him the name of Sagouan, (Benevolent Giver, or Bountiful,) by which we express our sense of his character, and under which he will hereafter be recognized among us, and we have appointed George Deer to be his cousin."


This must have been an interesting ceremony. I wonder what Friend Thomas thought, felt, of said, when he was painted over, the calumet put in his mouth, rings in his nose and cars, and the war club, tomahawk and scalping knife placed in his hands.


Corrections.


It seems almost impossible to correct popular errors, after they have once taken root, and mis- taken efforts to do so render the matter worse.


There is a variety of apples well known in our market, which is generally called the Peenick, and which others, who desire to give it the cor- rect name, term the Phoenix, from which appila- tion they suppose the other corrupted. The ap- ple is an çastern variety like many others, and is named after the Pennock family of Chester coun- ty, Pa., who first raised it.


Another vulgarism which I frequently find, even in city advertisements, is Meshannick poťa- toes. This should be Neshanock, the name of a creek in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, on whose banks this excellent variety originated.


CINCINNATI MISCELLANY.


CINCINNATI, NOVEMBER, 1845.


Journal of John G. Jungmann .-- No. 2.


" I removed to Bethlehem in 1742, and incor- porated myself fully into the church; and having · in 1745, married the widowed sister Bittner, we were sent to the missionary station at Faulkner's Swamp, and took charge of the nursery of Indian children there; were, however, soon rccalled to Bethlehem, whence I was sent with Spangenberg to Gnadenhutten in 1746. Here I was employed building a grist and saw mill, which togetlier with the tavern were placed under my superin- tendence. In 1751 we opened a school for reli- gious instruction among the Indians, which was productive by the blessing of God of the best ef- fects in bring the savages to a knowledge and re- ception of the truth. We cleared a sufficiency of land to keep the Indians employed farming; and taught them various mechanical employments. After labouring among thesc dear people seven years, we were recalled in 1753 to Bethlehem, whencc we were sent in 1755 to Bachgolgock, one of our Indian stations in New England."


I must condense his narrative at this point, so as to get more rapidly forward. He works with the same spirit and energy, both in his secular and religious employments among the Indians, until the French war in 1757, suspended mis- sionary operations there by carrying off the na- tives into the army: he returns to Bethlehem, whence the same year he visits Bachgotgock. Hcre he remains a year, when he is relieved and returns to Bethlehem,-is sent to Christians- brunn, Pa., and subsequently made superinten- dent of the mission at Wyalusing, in the same Statc. I regret that the space, as well as the char- acter of the Advertiser, forbids my copying the wholc narrative, which, for its incidents, as well as the ardent and active piety of the writer, which without the least display, runs like a thread through the journal, reminds me con- tinually of the record of Paul's labours in the Acts of the Apostles. In journeyings, fastings, sufferings, and persccutions most abundant, and continually rejoicing in every opportunity of la- bouring in his master's cause.


eys; and after traveling twenty days, reached his destination Oct. 28th, 1770. He was now more than four hundred miles from home, a howling wilderness occupying the whole, intervening space. The missionary labours here appear to have been eminently successful. " The Indians sang and prayed, day and night without ceas- ing," he observes in his journal. In 1772, he removes to Schoenbrunn, one hundred miles further into the wilderness, where a missionary station had been maintained for several years in great prosperity. " Here," says he, " we were received with much affection."


" We saw with great gratification, our Indian brethren and sisters, industriously raising their huts for winter, and fell to work to rear our own. Sheenbrunn was a pretty, prosperous little vil- lage, having been founded only four years-hav- ing forty houses, besides the huts-three hundred Indian residents, who were all true Martyrs and Disciples of Jesus Christ and his cause ;- two hundred acres of land cleared, producing excel- lent fruits, grains, &c. In the fifth year the un- fortunate Indian war broke out-the place given up. After a happy residence of four and a half ycars, in April, 1776, with heavy hearts, we were compelled to start for Lichtenau. A coun- cil of consultation determined to give up the Mo- ravian stations, until peace should be restored. We glorified God-sang praises for his manifold blessings and protection. We started for Bethle- hem, August 6th, arriving safely on the 19th August. We remained three years with our son John at the Lehigh ferry. July, 1780, we were appointed, with our brothers Reichel and Zeis- berger, to remove back to our dear Indian brethren and sisters in the Ohio stations, which we safely accomplished, July 28, 1781, having no idea of being compelled to leave so shortly again. September 2d, we were visited by a Captain of the Hurons, with six warriors, friend- ly shaking hands. I was making a red cedar milk bucket, which, fancying, they were deter- mined to have; but I refused on account of its immediate wants. They then examined all my implements, and I explaincd their use; at which they were very much surprised. They left me in my workshop, and walkcd into my house- my wife absent-examining every thing there; at last left us in a friendly manner, and went their way on to Gnadenhutten. Next morning


After a variety of adventures, in 1770, lie is sent out to the Mission among the Indians in Ohio to a station called Langundodaning, proba- bly just over the Pennsylvania line. Here the Moravian brethren, David and Senseman, had been already labouring. Jungmann set out with his wife, who accompanied him in all his journ- | I received a very gloomy letter from brother


24


186


Zeisberger-September 3, 1781 -- stating that he could not see how matters and things relative to the welfare of our Missionary stations would turn out; it appears as if the very air were filled with every evil spirit; our only hope is in our Dear Saviour, and await the upshot. September 3, 1781, in the evening, brother Ignatius came run- ning, out of breath, to inform us that our breth- ren at Gnadenhutten were taken prisoners, and that a similar fate might befall us; of which three runners came to inform us of its contemplation. I repaired at once to the brethren and sisters, to communicate to thein, and while there, three ri- ders came by, stopping at my house, and entered it. I started to meet them; found one of them to be the captain who had visited me the day pre- vious, with his sister and a runner. The captain took me by the hand in a friendly manner, seat- ing me beside him. The runner drew a pistol and held it to my breast, at the same time hold- ing a rifle in his left hand. The captain told me he had come to take us, and all we had, under his protection: if we would not resist, he would keep all harmless; but if we resisted him, he would send for his warriors to eut us to picees, and destroy our effects, to which I replied-" Use your pleasure." In this instance, our Blessed Saviour Jesus was nigh unto us; and instead of fear and dismay, courage and consolation came to our heart's fill, that not a hair of our heads should perish. Our interpreter was the captain's sister, who spoke good English. They took our effects, cut open our beds, scattering the feathers to the winds; the rest, they carried to the canoes. After clearing the house, they broke open our chests, emptying them. They went to brother Zeisberger's; conducted themselves in the same way. We were taken in the canoes, with the privilege of several of our brethren to go with us. The night was dreadfully cold-with but little clothing-nearly frozen to death. After coming half way, we were permitted to stop, inake a fire, and warm ourselves; then proceeding, in sight of Gnadenhutten, next morning, they ex- amined all our things, searching for silver ware, &c .- found none; detaining us in the cold; and then proceeded into town, marching and singing the war song. We were kept eight days in a small house, where they divided our effects among themselves. They permitted us to visit brother Schebosh ; after which we were taken to Salem. We now began to feel the calamity which had befallen our three unfortunate missionary stations, which we were compelled to abandon. We reflected, and deeply meditated, whether, perhaps, we had not caused God's just anger to come down upon ns. In deep humility we sup- plicated God's aid, and with compunction ac- knowledgel our manifold sins and transgres-


sions; fell at the feet of our dear Jesus. Here now before separating, we partook of the Holy Sacrament, and leave to each a rejoicing heart. From here we were taken down the Muskingum; up the Walhunding, partly by land, partly by water; and joined by brother Joshua and his con- rades in Christ, from Gogoschin-passing on to Walhunding, carrying the " Minister's Mann- scripts;" but they were taken from us, and des- troyed. In a few days we removed further; the runners gave me a very wild colt to ride, expect- their plans failed: It moved off with me as quiet ing it to run off and dash out my brains; but as a lamb. We arrived at Upper Sandusky, one hundred miles from our locations, in an entire dense forest --- ten miles from the nearest Indian village; and told, here make your homes, and get along the best way you can. Our consolation was, Jesus will not suffer a sparrow to fall to the ground, and here too, our God will not desert ns. Almost immediately, an Indian trader, hearing of us, came to our suecour: he sent us corn, which we parched; and we brought-first, a thanks offering to Almighty God, to evinee our gratitude, for his great merey, and the fulfillment of his promises to his followers, showing that -" When need is greatest, God is nearest;" and " Where have ye been in want?" We could truly answer-" Nowhere hast thou withheld thy blessing, dear Saviour." As winter ap- proached, we built huts. Brother David and I built one twelve feet square, with a kitchen and chimney; where we dwelt happy in the Lord.


A Legend of the War of 1812.


The Kentucky troops who bore their share, and more than their share, in the invasion of Canada during our last war with England, had among their numbers, a band of volunteers who rendesvoused at Harrodsburg, Mercer county, and formed the nucleus of the whole corps which gathered from every side, and at every day's march, in their progress towards the river Ohio, fresh accessions of forces. On leaving Harrodsburg, a mile or two out, they passed two pigs fighting, and delayed their march long enough to witness the result. After marching forward, it was observed that the victor pig was following in the route, and at night when they encamped, the animal hunted itself also a shelter and lay by too, for the night. In the morning when they put forward they were accompanied by the pig as on the day before, and thus night and morning in their progress to the river, the animal halted where they rested, and started on- wards when they resumed their journey. When they came opposite Cincinnati, to which place they erossed in a ferry boat; the pig, on getting to the water's edge. promptly plunged in, wait-




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.