History of Hamilton County, Ohio

An earnest and very laborious effort has been made to compose this history in the spirit of Judge Burnet's remark. No source of information available to the writers has been left unsearched, nor any effort or expense spared to produce a work which should satisfy the reasonable expectations of a city and county which have waited nearly a century for the compilation and publication of their annals. The list of works consulted is too large for convenient citation here. It includes those of all the earlier writers — Burnet, Cist, the Drakes, Mans- field, and others — with a multitude of later volumes, and pamphlets, magazines, newspapers, and manuscripts innumerable. It has not been practicable in so many cases to secure formal permission for the use of books consulted or quoted; but it is trusted that due respect has been paid to all copyrights, and that no author whose writings have contributed to this volume will object to such use as has been made of them. Acknowledgments are also due to many persons, in all parts of the county and at several points elsewhere in the State, for their kind and helpful aid in the preparation of this book. Particular mention should be made in this connection of Miss E. H. Appleton, librarian of the Historical and Philosophical society; Mr. John M. Newton, of the Mercantile library; Chester W. Merrill, esq., of the Public library ; Colonel Sidney D. Maxwell, superintendent of the Chamber of Commerce; and Mr. H. A. Ratterman, secretary of the German-American Insurance company; all of Cincinnati — and to Louis W. Clason, mayor of Madisonville.

It may seem, in some cases, that public institutions or private interests of public importance have not received the notice that was due to them, or are, possibly, wholly unnoticed in these volumes. It may be concluded in such cases, with scarcely any exception, that the omission is the result of failure on the part of those possessing desired information to co-operate with the historian.

The compilers regret most sincerely that their inability to read some of the proofs has resulted in many errors of typography, and a few of statement. It is hoped, however, that all of any importance will be found corrected in the errata at the close of the respective volumes.

The special biographies and "notes of settlement" have been prepared, in nearly all cases in both volumes, by other hands than those of the compilers.

 

Table of Contents

HISTORICAL

GENERAL HISTORY
I. Description 9
II. Geology and Topography 12
III. The Aboriginal American 21
IV. The Ohio Indians 29
V. Titles to Ohio - The Miami Purchase 34
VI. The Miami Immigration 45
VII. The Miamese 50
VIII. The Miamese and the Indians 56
IX. Civil Jurisdiction - Erection of Hamilton County 65
X. Progress of Hamilton county 70
XI. Military History of Hamilton County 76
XII. The Morgan Raid through Ohio 193
XIII. The County Institutions 200
XIV. The County Associations 204
XV. Railroads 208
XVI. Canals 217
XVII. Roads 221
XVIII. Early Legislation and Legislators 225
XIX. Courts and Court Houses 230
XX. Civil List of Hamilton County 237
TOWNSHIPS
BIOGRAPHICAL

ILLUSTRATIONS

 

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Hamilton, the second county erected in the territory now covered by the State of Ohio, but, almost ever since, the first in the State in wealth, population, and general importance, is the southwesternraost subdivision of the Commonwealth. It is bounded on the south by the river Ohio, next beyond which are the counties of Campbell, Kenton, and Boone, in Kentucky; on the west by Dearborn county, Indiana, and at the southwestern corner by the Great Miami river; on the north by Butler and Warren counties, Ohio, formed from its own territory in 1808; on the east by Clermont county and the Little Miami river, beyond which, from the northeastern corner of the county, runs a narrow strip of Warren county. Upon no side of its territory is the boundary a direct line throughout. The tortuous windings of rivers supply great curves on the eastern and southern boundaries, and also break up the western line as it nears the southern extremity; and the northern line is considerably zigzagged by the irregularity of the early surveys in the Symmes (or Miami) Purchase.