USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > The past and present of Mill Creek Valley, being a collection of historical and descriptive sketches of that part of Hamilton County, Ohio > Part 13
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" The author is an able, careful, and accurate law writer. His works are classed among the most popular of recent publications, and are able and thorough expositions of the laws upon which they treat."
This gentleman is a representative of Mill Creek Valley in a scholastic sense, while in him Glendale has a scholar, a lecturer, a lawyer, an author and a mayor.
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MR. THOMAS SPOONER.
MR. THOMAS SPOONER
Is a direct descendant of William Spooner, the founder of a wide-spread and reputable family, who lived about the year 1637.
Reed Spooner (the father of Thomas) was "a man of strong and positive will, self-pos- sessed, and commanded the high respect of all who knew him; was read in history and poetry, and was ambitious for the education of his children." He served with great credit to himself in the war of 1812.
Thomas Spooner was born January 17, 1817, in Cincinnati. His early days were spent in the city, but the greater part of his life was passed on his farm near Reading in this valley.
He has held many offices of trust, political and otherwise, and thus has contributed a con- siderable share to molding public character and forwarding public interests. He has the distinction of having been commissioned by President Lincoln Collector of Internal Rev- enue of the First District of Ohio, from 1862 to 1866. He may not have felled the forests and broken the stubborn glebe as a frontiersman, but he has rather been one of the many distinguished men of Hamilton County who pioneered educational, literary, and com-
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mercial enterprises, whose services, though not so arduous, are yet none the less essential to the final consummation of all things that pertain to making man complete as a physical, intellectual, and moral being.
Mr. Spooner is spending the closing days of his honorable life in a pleasant home on Sharon Avenue, formerly the residence of the late Samuel Fosdick.
DR. A. SHEPHERD'S
Residence is located in the very heart of the village, being near the intersection of Myrtle and Fountain avenues. The house was built by Oliver S. Lovell, Esq., and was for some time his home ; for a while it was occupied by the late Judge Miner and family, and subsequently was purchased by Dr. Shepherd, who con- verted it into his beautiful home by greatly enlarging and otherwise improving it.
To this lot belongs the distinction of having upon it the largest elm tree in the village. It measures sixteen feet around the trunk, which tapers as gracefully as an obelisk for fifty feet before a limb or a branch leaves it. It is prob- ably two centuries old. Lightning has struck it twice, shattering one of its branches, but its huge body remained unscathed.
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THE STONE MANSION.
The " sharp and sulphurous bolt" may split " the unwedgeable and gnarled oak," but not the trunk of this ancient, monumental elm.
The doctor has a fine library (about five hundred volumes), and is a representative man in his profession, and especially in the chosen branch of homoeopathy. He is, in fact, dis- tinctively the pioneer of that branch of medi- cine in this valley. The doctor secured two degrees from eastern medical colleges ; began the practice in Springdale in 1849, where he distinguished himself in treating cases of Asiatic cholera, and when he first introduced his specialty-homœopathic treatment. He re -. moved to Glendale in 1867, where he now re- sides actively engaged in his chosen profession, in partnership with one of his sons, Dr. W. F. Shepherd ; another son, Dr. A. L., being also a young practitioner in the city. Mrs. Dr. Shepherd has the distinction of being a grand- daughter of the founder of Springdale-Col. Wm. Chamberlain, one of the earliest pioneers of this valley.
THE STONE MANSION,
Standing on the site of the old Heffner Tavern, on Fountain Avenue, is the home of
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Mrs. S. B. Allen, widow of the late Samuel B. Allen, who was a son of Mr. Marston Allen, one of the most successful merchants in the early days of Cincinnati.
It is an imposing structure, and was seem- ingly built with regard to this sentiment found in Ruskin :
" The greatest glory in a building is not in its stones nor in its gold. Its glory is in its age, in that deep sense of voicefulness, of stern watching, of mysterious sympathy which we feel in walls that have long been washed by the waves of passing humanity."
Generations may come and go, but these walls will stand seemingly forever, at least until many a house within visual range of it shall have passed away or given place to others that shall rise upon their ruins.
THE FIRST LOT
Sold in Glendale, when the village was laid out, was bought by Dr. Henry Clark, for which he paid a premium of $500. The doc- tor soon after built the house which stands upon the lot at present, and is the home of his son, Mr. Albert G. Clark.
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A RIDE IN THE STAGE COACH.
FROM THE TOWER
Of the beautiful residence of Mr. John H. Porter, a wonderful view may be obtained. Six Indian mounds may be seen within a radius of one mile; the Hamilton and Cincin- nati pike almost to Chester Park, and from · thence Clifton Avenue, until it passes over the hill at the Bellevue House ; the two railroads in the valley, and the Cincinnati Northern, at times, on its way to Lebanon-a far, wide, wonderful view of the whole valley and all the clustered villages in the plains beneath.
A RIDE IN THE STAGE COACH,
Fifty years ago, by Mr. Richard W. Keys, should not go unmentioned. He left his father's house at daylight in the old stage, and journeyed over the old Wayne road, and, pass- ing through this locality, reached Hamilton at IO o'clock at night, on his way to Oxford. He recollects stopping at the old Heffner house.
His father was John F. Keys, Esq., one of the early day gentlemen of Cincinnati, whose old residence still stands next to the Cincinnati University.
Mr. Keys recollects seeing and shooting
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wild turkeys on the hills north of his father's house. He made maple sugar from the trees which stood round about the old homestead.
MR. BENJAMIN STERRETT,
Now eighty years of age, lives in the retire- ment which wealth may afford, in a pleasant house which he built on Fountain Avenue, in 1853. He was one of the first settlers in Glen- dale, probably the third.
He has had an active business career in Cincinnati, in New York, and in Manchester, England ; finally succeeding in amassing a for- tune, which enables him now to live a peaceful but not an altogether retired life, for his heart and hand are yet engaged in enterprises which have for their object the good of others.
THE HOME
Of JUSTICE AND MRS. STANLEY MATTHEWS is an object of interest to every visitor to Glen- dale.
The spacious, imposing house stands in the center of about three acres, with Fountain Avenue to the west and north, a cultivated lawn sloping eastward, with many old trees, deciduous and evergreen, and summer-houses
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on wandering paths, as a part of the pleasures of this home.
Is it true that personal characteristics are sometimes imparted to that which a man builds and in which he lives as a home?
The foundations of this house are deep, and broad, and high ; and he laid them just as he laid the foundations of his deep, and broad, and high character. The superstructure looks to all points of the compass, with almost the self- same equipose and outlines, as if, when the time would come, as it has, he would know no north, or south, or east, or west, in discharge of the lofty trust to which he is now called.
Above it towers a flag-staff. His attested patriotism is thus indexed by that silent shaft pointing ever to the unfaltering stars,
-" Argent, And on an azure field "-
The sight of which, during all " the pangs of transformation," suggested to the fathers of . the Republic the faultless fashion of that flag.
The most striking characteristic ( not to speak of many that may be seen in the selection of paintings and other interior decorations) is its library room, in which are gathered about 2,500
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volumes. Each of these books has contributed something to his scholarly attainments.
Upon the sides of that ever-rising, granitic pyramid of legal lore-the central structure of his vast and varied learning-the vines and flowers of literature climb and bloom, whose seeds were sown by a Shakspeare, a Dante, or a Goethe, and almost every other meritorious disseminator of thought-of every age, in every tongue.
" At hacc studia adolescentiam alunt, senec- tutem oblectant, secundas res ornant, adversis perfugium ac solacium pracbent; delectant domi, non impediunt foris, pernoctant nobis- cum, peregrinantur, rusticantur"-" These studies employ youth, delight old age, adorn prosperity, afford a refuge and a solace in ad- versity ; please at home, do not impede in the forum, go with us through the night, travel with us in the country.' "* Such are the pleas- ures of literature, portrayed by Cicero in his oration for the poet Archias.
We can not dwell upon any of the details of the brilliant career which led from a humble home in Cincinnati, where he was born July 21, 1824, to the bench of the Supreme Court
* Mansfield's " Personal Memories."
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THE HOME.
of the United States. But we may briefly say that his father was a Virginian and his mother the daughter of Colonel William Brown, one of the pioneers of this county. He, therefore, belongs to this valley, while he belongs to the Nation. Of him it has been said :- " For logi- cal power, profound and varied learning, rare abilities of argument and persuasion, and high personal character, his has for more than a generation been clarum et venerabile nomen."
The accomplished lady, whom he married- Miss Mary Black-has ever " swayed level in her husband's heart," since he began life as a young attorney in Tennessee until the present time ; and is now the central figure in the society of Washington, and whose absence from Glendale, even statedly, makes a social void none can fill.
This beautiful home is now occupied by MR. and MRS. MORTIMER MATTHEWS.
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CHAPTER XX.
THE GLENDALE FEMALE COLLEGE,
A S an institution of learning, is a very im- portant index to the growth of the valley, in this respect.
The building was designed for a hotel when. first erected, but it was to be a seat of learning, not a summer resort. So it changed hands, passing to the Rev. John Covert in September, 1854, and was named " The American Female College." Two years afterwards jt passed to Rev. J. G. Monfort, D.D., Rev. S. S. Potter, and Rev. L. D. Potter, who assumed manage- ment May 15, 1856.
That year the name was changed to the " Glendale Female College." Dr. Monfort was president nine years, leaving the institution after i successful administration, during which time it had become settled upon a secure basis with an enviable reputation. Thereupon Dr. Potter succeeded to the presidency, which position he has filled with distinction ever since.
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THE GLENDALE FEMALE COLLGE.
From an address delivered by Dr. Potter, June 12, 1879, we gather some facts which are of interest, illustrating the work this noble institution is doing :
" Of its graduates seventy-four have promi- nent places in churches and society ; seventy- three have been teachers ; thirteen have dis- tinguished themselves as authors and writers ; seven have married professors in our higher institutions ; and forty-six have married gen- tlemen in one of the learned professions. Sev- eral of those husbands (no doubt owing largely to the influence of their wives, as is usually the case) have risen to eminence in the army, in their professions, and in other positions ; one a justice of the United States Supreme Court, one a United States Minister to a foreign first- class mission, and others in places of influence in the churches; two have been members of Congress, and two are foreign missionaries."
This college is on a firm footing, doing a great and thorough work, having students from all the neighboring States.
Dr. Potter was born in New Jersey in 1823.
The blood of the Ludlows is in his veins. He graduated at Princeton College in 1841, and finally completed a theological course at the same college in 1846. For five years he
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was in charge of the Presbyterian church in Brookville, Indiana. He was three years principal of the Whitewater Presbyterian Aca- demy. Then moved to Glendale and became, as stated, connected with the management of this college, and subsequently its president.
Thus has he risen to this position. By hard study and continual experience as a teacher he became in every respect qualified for the trust. In 1844 the degree of M. A. was con- ferred upon him by old Princeton, and in 1872, that of D. D. by Hanover College, Indiana.
RELICS OF THE REVOLUTION.
During the war for our national indepen- dence, General Washington presented to Gen. Joseph Cilley, of New Hampshire, then serving upon his staff, a sword and a large, elegant silk sash, as a mark of personal esteem. At his death they passed to his son Jonathan, who emigrated to Ohio in 1803, and located a section of land in Colerain Township, where he died in 1807. The sash thereupon passed to his son Judge Jonathan Cilley, in whose possession it remained until his death, Decem- ber 29, 1874, in Glendale.
His widow, Mrs. Judge Cilley, living upon
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A LITERARY SOCIETY.
Sharon Avenue, is now the custodian of these interesting relics.
A LITERARY SOCIETY.
This village, on account of its many and ex- tensive libraries, its college, public schools, and general literary accomplishments, will bear a comparison with " Melrose Abbey as a seat of learning" as well as with reference to its natural surrounding scenery.
This society has been in successful operation so long that it has become an institution of the village, and a brief notice, therefore, is necessary. For the past seven years, Mr. Geo. W. Gallager has been its active and efficient president, and in the discharge of his duties has evinced the executive ability of a Nichols and the aptitude of a Mapleson.
Of this society its president was once heard to utter, substantially, the following classic words in speaking of its members :
Polonius, " The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, [tragi- cal-historical, tragical-comical-historical- pastoral,] scene individible, or poem unlimited : Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus too light."
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ST. GABRIEL'S CHURCH.
Was organized in 1858, and immediately afterwards a tasteful brick building was erect- ed upon ground donated for that purpose by Messrs. Gross and Dietrich, at a cost of about three thousand dollars. The Rev. Father O'- Donnell has pastoral care of the same. Over two hundred pupils attend its parochial schools, kept by the Sisters of Charity in a building near the church.
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church movement was initiated August 6, 1865, by Rev. J. B. Pratt.
The families that aided him in his efforts were represented by Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Fosdick, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Jones, Col. and Mrs. Crafts J. Wright, Judge and Mrs. John L. Miner, Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Shoe- maker, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. A. Proctor.
They at first worshipped in private houses ; then in the school house; then built a little chapel on Sharon Avenue, upon the east side of Mr. Fosdick's lot.
Four years after its beginning it had built and paid for this costly edifice, and on the 30th
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day of May, 1869, the same was consecrated. By the side of this beautiful stone structure stands a rectory, also a tasteful building, the whole representing an expenditure of about $25,000.
The Rev. Dr. Pise is now the minister in charge.
THE CHURCH OF THE NEW JERUSALEM (SWEDEN- BORGIAN).
Was built in 1860, costing about $7.000 The enterprise was first suggested by Mr. Charles H. Allen, who donated the ground upon which it stands.
Mr. Marston Allen contributed more liber- ally than any other person towards its con- struction.
It is a gothic structure, situated on Congress Avenue in the midst of old trees, whose over- hanging branches shadow to solemnity this forest sanctuary set up within this grove which was God's temple long
" Ere man learned to hew the shaft, Or lay the architrave."
The Rev. Frank Sewell, of Urbana, preaches here regularly once a month.
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THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Had its beginning in this immediate locality about seventy-five years ago, under the minis- trations of the Rev. Robert Warwick, as else- where stated.
The following account of its formal organi- zation in this village is from the pen of a gentleman who has been officially connected with it since that time :
At a meeting of a majority of the members of the First Presbyterian Church of Glendale, convened after due notice at the College chapel on Saturday evening, June 4, 1859, for the pur- pose of electing trustees and a clerk, and to become a body corporate under the laws of Ohio in such case provided, Samuel J. Thomp- son, Esq., was chosen chairman, and W. B. Probasco, Esq., was elected secretary.
On motion of Judge Matthews it was re- solved that for the purpose of becoming a body corporate, the meeting proceed to elect three trustees and a clerk, to serve for the term of one year and until their successors shall be elected. Whereupon, the following gen- tlemen were nominated for trustees, and elect- ed, viz: Richard W. Keys, Stanley Mat- thews, and W. B. Probasco ; Samuel J. Thomp- son was nominated and elected clerk.
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It was further resolved that the corporate name of said church be, "The First Presby- terian Church of Glendale."
W. B. PROBASCO. S. J. THOMPSON,
Secretary. Chairman.
Received and recorded June 8, 1859, in Church Records Vol. I page 223, Hamilton County, Ohio.
Soon after this three elders were chosen, viz : John F. Keys, Wm. B. Moores, and J. J. Packer. Mr. Keys had been an elder for many years in the First Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, and afterwards in the Seventh Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati. For several years the church occupied the chapel connected with the "Glendale Female Col- lege." For the first two years after its organi- zation the church had no pastor; but there was preaching regularly by Rev. J. G. Mon- fort, D.D. and Rev. S. S. Potter.
Previous to the organization of the church, Rev. Thomas Spencer, a professor in the Fe- male College, a man of eminent piety and scholarship, held religious services for a year or two in the chapel referred to, usually preach- ing himself; and at the same time established a Sunday School in the public school house. This was the beginning of the " Union Sab-
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bath school " connected with the church. The first church edifice was built in 1859 ; and Rev. H. A. Tracy was unanimously elected pastor of the church in August 1861. He resigned in April, 1867, and was succeeded by Rev. W. H. Babbitt, who served the church faith- fully for fourteen years, resigning his pastor- ate in October, 1881. The eldership from the beginning has embraced the following names : John F. Keys, J. J. Packer, W. B. Moores, W. B. Probasco, Stanley Matthews, Dr. Sam- uel Robbins, H. W. Hughes, Thomas J. Dun- can, Thomas J. Biggs, Samuel J. Thompson. Elders Keys, Probasco, Moores, and Robbins have been removed by death. Judge Matthews retired upon his appointment to a seat on the Bench of the Supreme Court of the United States, and his consequent removal to Wash- ington City. The others still remain in office.
In 1873 a new church edifice was erected at a cost of nearly $30,000, with a seating capacity of about 450; and the first building is now used as a chapel for prayer-meeting services and for the Sabbath school. The church mem- bership numbers about 200, and the Sabbath school about 150, with an average attendance of 115 to 120. Mr. S. J. Thompson was elect- ed superintendent of the school in January,
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1862, and has been continuously in office, by annual re-election ever since.
For many years Judge Matthews was assis- tant superintendent, and a teacher in the school, but resigned these positions upon his election, as U. S. Senator.
A VIEW OF GLENDALE.
The writer was kindly permitted to see Glen- dale from the tower of COL. AND MRS. R. G. HUESTON's stately residence.
The elevated ground upon which it stands, including adjoining farms to the east as far as the east branch of Mill creek, and to the south including Woodlawn and Beaumont Place, was, doubtless, an island in past ages when the great Miami was flowing through this valley.
Far as the eye can see to the north and east the ground rolls away, resembling a motion- less, measureless, blue sea, over whose bosom
" The sunshine, masterless as wind," ·
floats and sways like a golden veil, trailed by hands concealed in the empyrean.
Remnants of old forests may be seen ; cleared, cultivated fields ; comfortable homesteads,
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near and remote; immense barns, where no more may be heard
" The dull thunder of alternate flails."
But look westwardly to Glendale! Though swept by hurricanes and devastated by fire, still like a miniature Chicago rising resplen- dently out of its own ashes-as if thriving upon disaster. A beautiful vale has been cut out by vast physical forces between this sum- mit and that, sweeping eastwardly from the southern limits of Glendale until it joins and becomes a part of the valley formed by the east fork of Mill creek. The railroad may be seen winding its way from Woodlawn north- wardly along the base of the ridge until it is lost to view in the woodlands upon the Coch- ran farm. At stated times you can see the as- sembled equipages at the depot waiting for the homeward bound residents, from whose feet the dust of the city is nightly shaken. Then see them evanish in the winding avenues !
See that solemn church pile in the fore- ground, in whose every stone there is a ser- mon. Beyond that another-
" The gray spire molten now in driving mist, Now lulled with the incommunicable blue."
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AN ANTIQUARIAN.
There is the college whence a steady, pure, and noiseless stream of learning flows for the mental irrigation of the world. There are the clustered homes, half concealed and half dis- closed, amidst embowering trees and luxuriant shrubbery.
" Far through the memory shines a happy day, Cloudless of care, down-shod to every sense, And simply perfect from its own resource."
That was when the writer saw Glendale for the first time, some twenty years ago.
AN ANTIQUARIAN.
There is a gentleman in Glendale who was born in Philadelphia in 1817. His mother was Mrs. Sarah A. Durang, daughter of Dr. J. Durang. He was a surgeon in the French army during the Revolution of 1766, under Louis XV. Dr. Durang came to this coun- try in 1767, and located in Philadelphia. When Gen. LaFayette came to this country, he brought with other French regiments, the " Denalder," of which Dr. Durang was surgeon in France. The doctor thereupon joined his old regiment and served the young republic honorably and faithfully during the
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Revolution. After independence was achieved, and during the great procession through Phila- delphia, John Durang (son of the doctor) was dressed as Mercury, and stood on one of the printing presses and scattered odes to liberty.
His dress, cap, and wings were prepared by Mrs. Beach, a daughter of Dr. Benjamin Franklin, the old philosopher himself being in the room while he was being thus attired.
Ferdinand Durang, another son, was at Fort McHenry during the bombardment by the English, Sept. 13, 1814.
It was upon this occasion that Francis Scott Key, while a prisoner upon an English man-of- war, was inspired to write "The Star Spangled Banner," by the sight of it as it floated above the fort. The words of the poem thrilled the soldiers, and all Baltimore. But what should be the music to those inspiring words? The problem was solved by Mr. F. Durang, and the story is thus told in an ad- dress delivered by Mr. Nathan Appleton on " The Star Spangled Banner," June 14, 1877, in Boston, Mass :
.. ' Have you heard Francis Key's poem?'" said one of our men as we lay scattered over the green hill near the captain's marquee. It was a rude copy, and written in a scrawl,
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which Horace Greeley might have mistaken for his own. He read it aloud, once, twice, three times, until the entire division seemed electrified by its pathetic eloquence. An idea seized Ferdinand Durang. Hunting up a volume of old flute music which was in somebody's tent, he impatiently whistled snatches of tune after tune, just as they caught his quick eye. One called ' Anacreon in Heaven' struck his fancy, and invited his attention Note after note fell from his puckered lips, until, with a leap and a shout, he exclaimed, ' Boys, I've hit it,' and fitting the tune to the words, there rang out for the first time the song of ' The Star Spangled Banner.' How the men shouted and clapped, for never was there a wedding of poetry to music made under such inspiring influences. Getting a brief furlough, the brothers sang it on the stage of Holliday Street Theatre soon after. It was caught up in the camps, and sung around our bivouac fires, and whistled in the streets, and when peace was declared, and we scattered to our homes, carried to thousands of firesides, as the most precious relic of the war of 1812."
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