History of Cincinnati, (Hamilton County) Ohio United States of America

CINCINNATI, the metropolis of Ohio, and capital of Hamilton county, on the right bank of the Ohio river, opposite the mouth of the Licking, and immediately above the mouth of Mill creek. It is distant by water 458 miles W. S. W. from Pittsburg, 138 miles N. E. from Louisville, 655 miles E. from St. Louis, and 500 from the month of the Ohio: by land, 115 miles S. W. from Columbus, 90 miles N. from Lexington, and about 500 from Washington. Lat. 39° 6´ 30´´ N., lon. 84° 26´ W. The upper part of the city is 540 feet above the level of the sea.

Cincinnati is the most populous city of the Western States, and the fifth in size and importance among all the cities of the Union. It is remarkable for its rapid growth, extensive trade, and productive industry. From its central position between Pittsburg and the mouth of the Ohio, it has become the principal gathering and distributing point in the valley of that river. The city is beautifully situated in a valley 3 miles in diameter, intersected from east to west by the Ohio, and environed by a range of hills, with a well-defined circular form, rising by gentle acclivities, about 400 feet above the river. From the summits of these the most beautiful views of Cincinnati are obtained. The greater part of the city is built on two terraces or plains, of which the first is 50, and the second 108 feet higher than low-water mark. The front margin of the latter, originally a steep bank, has been graded to a gentle declivity, so that the drainage of the city is effected by means of the streets directly into the river. The upper terrace slopes gradually toward the north, and, at the average distance of a mile, terminates at the base of the Mount Auburn range of limestone hills, adorned with country seats, vineyards, and gardens. The city extends more than three miles along the river, without including the suburban villages. The central portions are compactly and handsomely built with streets, about 66 feet wide, bordered with spacious warehouses and dwellings of brick and stone. Many of them are well paved, lined with shade-trees, and lighted with gas. Main street extends from the steamboat landing in a N. N. W. direction, and Broadway, Sycamore, Walnut, Vine, Race, Elm, and Plum streets are parallel with it. It is intersected at right angles by 14 principal streets, named Front, First, Second, Third, &c. Among the handsomest portions of the city are Broadway, Main, Pearl, and Fourth streets. At the foot of Main street is the public landing or levee, an open area of 10 acres, with 1000 feet front. The shore is paved with stone from low-water mark to the top of the first bank, and furnished with floating wharves, which accommodate themselves to the great variation in the height of the river. The mean annual range from low to high water is about 50 feet. The city is divided into 16 wards, and governed by a mayor and a board of trustees, consisting of three members from each ward, usually known by the name of the city council.

Among the most prominent and interesting public buildings may be mentioned the edifice of Cincinnati College, on Walnut street, occupied in part by the Chamber of Commerce and Mercantile Library; it is 140 feet long, by 100 feet wide, with a marble front, in the Doric style: the Roman Catholic cathedral, at the corner of 8th and Plum streets, one of the finest buildings in the West, with a spire 250 feet high; it is 200 feet long, and 80 wide, and cost about $100,000: the Episcopal church, at the corner of Seventh and Plum streets, recently erected, at a cost of about $80,000: the First Presbyterian church, at the corner of Main and Fourth streets: the new City Hall, on Plum street, between Eighth and Ninth: the Melodeon, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut streets, containing a public hall, 100 feet long, 60 wide, and 25 feet high: the Masonic Hall, at the corner of Third and Walnut streets, erected in the castellated style of Gothic architecture: the Burner House, at the corner of Third and Vine streets, one of the most spacious hotels in the United States; its dimensions, including the terrace, are 212 feet by 210; it is six stories in height, contains 342 apartments, and is surmounted by a dome which is 100 feet above the basement; the cost is estimated at $300,000: the Cincinnati Observatory, a fine stone edifice, situated on the top of an eminence, (Mount Adams,) which rises about 500 feet above low water, commanding a wide and varied prospect of the city and the "vine-clad hills." Through the centre of the main building rises a pier of masonry, rounded on the native rock, supporting the great equatorial telescope, which is one of the largest and most perfect in the world. The focal length is about 17 1/2 feet, and the diameter of the object glass 12 inches, with magnifying powers varying from 100 times up to 1400 times. In 1852 the city contained more than 90 churches, besides 4 synagogues; among which were 15 Methodist Episcopal, 11 Presbyterian, 7 Lutheran, 5 Episcopal, 7 Baptist, 4 Congregational, 4 Reformed Presbyterian, several German Reformed, and 10 or 12 Catholic.

Institutions: Cincinnati is distinguished for its literary and benevolent institutions, as well as for wealth and public spirit. It has three colleges, properly so called, namely, the Cincinnati College, which has a law school in operation, the other departments being suspended for the present; the Woodward College, rounded by a bequest of the late William Woodward; and the St. Xavier College, founded by the Roman Catholics, with ample buildings and accommodations: there are 3 medical colleges, devoted to the several systems of practice, besides the College of Dental Surgery. Lane Seminary, a theological school of high reputation, is situated on Walnut Hill, about two miles from the river. It is well endowed, and is under the direction of the Presbyterian Church (New School;) there are also theological seminaries, under the direction of the Old School Presbyterians, and of the Baptists. The public schools, which will compare favorably with those of any other city in the United States, occupy 13 three-storied brick buildings, each capable of accommodating over 500 pupils. Connected with these is the Central High School, in which the languages and higher branches of science are taught. The Mercantile Library Association have a collection Of about 13,000 volumes. At the Mechanics' Institute, fairs are held and lectures delivered, for the promotion of the mechanic arts. About 12 daily and above 20 weekly papers are published in Cincinnati, besides numerous monthly periodicals. In addition to the above, the offices of the daily journals each issue a weekly or tri-weekly publication. Four of the daily and four of the weekly journals are in the German language. The city has 6 or 7 chartered banks, besides numerous private banking companies, and 13 insurance companies. Among the benevolent institutions may be named the Commercial Hospital and Lunatic Asylum, 4 orphan asylums, the Widows' Home and Asylum for Indigent Females, the House of Refuge, and the Hotel for Invalids.

Commerce: Cincinnati carries on an extensive trade by the Ohio river, the Miami canal connecting it with Lake Erie and the Whitewater canal. Railway communications have been formed between this city and the ports of Lake Erie, the Atlantic seaports, and the chief towns of Indiana. The following lines are in course of construction: The Ohio and Mississippi, leading to St. Louis; the Cincinnati and Marietta; the Cincinnati and Parkersburg; and the Covington and Lexington, which forms part of a chain extending to Charleston and other seaports of the South. In 1852, there were 267 steamboats employed in the Commerce of Cincinnati, and the whole number of steamboat arrivals amounted to 3700. The shipping of the port, June 30th, 1852, amounted to an aggregate of 11,781 tons enrolled and licensed. During the year, 55 vessels, (45 of them steamers,) with an aggregate burthen of 13,137 tons, were admeasured. The chief article of export is pork, for which Cincinnati is the most extensive market in the Union. The trade of this city, during the year ending August 31, 1852, is stated as follows: There were received 410,000 hogs and 16,532,884 pounds of pork in bulk, besides 22,500 barrels and 10,330 hogsheads of bacon, amounting in value to $5,486,592. The value of the principal articles received, not including dry goods, hardware, queensware, and lumber, was estimated at $24,715,331, and that of the total imports at $56,861,731. No statement of the value of exports in that year appears to have been published.

Manufactures: Cincinnati is no less remarkable for the variety and importance of its manufactures than for its commerce. Perhaps there is no place in the whole country where fuel, food, and the raw materials of cotton, wool, and iron can be procured so cheaply. More than 200 steam-engines are employed in the manufactories of this city. The total value of manufactured productions in 1851, according to "Cist's Cincinnati," was about $55,000,000. There were 44 iron foundries, with machine shops, which produced $3,676,500; 5 rolling mills, which produced $1,050,000; 34 lard-oil and stearine factories, which produced $3,015,000; 14 flowering mills, which produced $1,690,000; 108 manufactories of clothing, which produced $1,947,500; 136 of furniture, which produced $1,660,000; 12 publishing establishments, which produced $1,246,000; 40 wine factories; 9 paper mills; 62 tobacco factories; 5 cotton factories; 2 type foundries; 12 bell and brass foundries; 40 manufactories of hats; 19 of edge-tools; 38 of soap and candles; 15 of trunks, and 7 boat-yards, besides many other establishments. In 1852, 27 steamboats and 6 barges were built, besides 10 boats which were still in the docks at the close of the year. The total capacity of these was estimated at 19,000 tons. This city is supplied with water raised from the Ohio river by steam power into a limestone reservoir, which holds 5,000,000 gallons. The average daily consumption in 1851 was 2,300,000 gallons, and the cost of the apparatus $796,000. The climate of Cincinnati is favorable to the cultivation of the grape. In 1852, the vineyards in this vicinity occupied about 1200 acres. Wine of good quality is made here from the native Catawba grape. The annual product of the vines in the neighborhood of the city is estimated at above 200,000 gallons; this branch of business is constantly and rapidly increasing.

Cincinnati was first settled in December 26, 1788, and was originally called Losanteville. It was incorporated as a city in 1819. In 1800, it contained 750 inhabitants; in 1820, 9602; in 1830, 24,830; in 1840, 46,338; in 1850, 115,438, and in 1853, 160,186.

Biographies:

Robert Frederick Blum, painter, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 9, 1857; son of Frederick and Mary (Haller) Blum, both of German birth. He was educated in the public schools of Cincinnati; was an apprentice in a lithographing establishment, 1873-'75, and attended the school of design, Cincinnati, Ohio, 1875-'76, and the Philadelphia academy of fine arts, 1876-'77. He was an illustrator for Scribner's Magazine, 1878, remaining with the publication until its name was changed to the Century. He traveled in Holland and Italy, 1884-'86, and visited Japan in 1890 to make studies to illustrate Sir Edwin Arnold's articles for Scribner's and to gather materials for pictures. He decorated Mendelssohn Hall (1894-'99); the music room of Mr. Borden's house in 1895, and painted decorations for the New Amsterdam theatre, New York, with A. B. Wenzell in 1903. He received medals from the American Art association, 1888; from Paris, 1889, and from Chicago, 1893. He was made a member of the National Academy of design in 1893. He died in New York city, June 8, 1903.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

George Ellis Pugh, senator, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Nov. 28, 1822. He was graduated at Miami university, A.B., 1840, A.M., 1843; practised law in Cincinnati, 1844-46; served in the Mexican war as captain in the 4th Ohio regiment and as aide to Gen. Joseph Lane; was a representative from Hamilton county in the Ohio legislature, 1848-49; city solicitor, 1850; attorney-general of the state, 1852-54; Democratic U.S. senator, 1855-61, defeating Salmon P. Chase, and while in the senate served on the committees on public lands and the judiciary. He was defeated for re-election in 1861 by Mr. Chase; was a delegate to the Democratic national convention of 1860, serving as chairman of the Ohio delegation and supporting the candidacy of Stephen A. Douglas; and made an effective reply to William L. Yancey on the question of slavery in the territories. He was counsel for Clement L. Vallandigham in 1863, and urged Iris release from imprisonment by military authority on the ground that the civil courts of Ohio were operative. He was the unsuccessful candidate for lieutenant-governor on the Democratic ticket with C. L. Vallandigham for governor in 1863, and for representative from the first district of Ohio in the 29th congress in 1864, and was elected a delegate to the state constitutional convention of 1872 but refused to serve. He died in Cincinnati, Ohio, July 19, 1876.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

John James Quinn, was born, June 5th, 1826, in Philadelphia, his parents being natives of the north of Ireland. At an early age he came with them to Cincinnati, and soon after entered St. Xavier's College, where he graduated with honor. After the completion of his collegiate course he commenced the study of medicine under the private preceptorship of the late Dr. I. P. Harrison, Professor of Materia Medica in the Medical College of Ohio. He attended regular courses for four years, fulfilled all the requirements of the Ohio Medical College in Cincinnati, and took his degree of M. D. at the age of twenty-two years. While studying in the office of Professor Harrison and attending medical lectures, he filled for two years and a half the chair of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy in St. Xavier's College. He has occupied the offices of City Physician, Jail Physician, Pest House Physician, Medical Superintendent of the Hamilton County Lunatic Asylum, and has been a member of the medical staff of both St. John's and St. Mary's Hospitals. He has enjoyed a very large and remunerative private practice, during the leisure moments of which he has written a number of articles on medical and literary topics for various journals throughout the country. He has always been prominent in the deliberations of the local medical societies. At a meeting of the regular medical profession, held at Mechanics' Institute, in 1853, he was appointed as one of the committee to look into the condition of the lunatics then in the old Commercial Hospital. His report, as chairman of this committee, led to the immediate establishment of a temporary county asylum at Lick Run, and subsequently to the erection of the permanent institution at Long View. He was for eight years one of the trustees of the Cincinnati Hospital; was also one of the commissioners selected to build the new hospital, and acted as the Secretary of the latter Board and as a member of its Building Committee. The records of this institution place him very high in the estimation of his associates. Twice was he commissioned by the county and city authorities to visit the humanitarian institutions of the Eastern States, to examine and report upon their sanitary advantages, with a view to their incorporation in the plans of Long View and the Cincinnati Hospital. In 1866, when the city was threatened with cholera, and no sanitary board or health officer was in existence to devise methods of protection, the trustees of the hospital, one of whom was Dr. Quinn, together with a Committee of the City Council, were constituted a Board of Health for the time. No physician exerted himself with greater zeal than he to prepare the city for the coming scourge and to mitigate its ravages. In the following year, by act of the Legislature, a permanent health department was established in that city, and the position of Health Officer created. Dr. Quinn became its second incumbent, and has recently been elected to his third term of service. He has perfected the department, and in all its essentials it compares most favorably with that of any other large city. In 1852 he was married to M. L. Slevin, of Cincinnati. He is in the prime of life, possesses an active temperament, and continues his researches in medical science.

From: The Biographical Encyclopedia of Ohio of the Nineteenth Century. Columbus, OH, USA: Galaxy Publishing Co., 1876.

Charles Henry Niehaus, sculptor, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Jan. 24, 1855; son of John Conrad and Sophia W. (Block) Niehaus, natives of Hanover, Germany, who came to the United States in childhood and settled in Cincinnati. Charles Henry Niehaus successfully engaged in wood engraving, casting and cutting marble, to which latter trade he was apprenticed. He studied art at the McMicken school of design at night and won the first prize in drawing and modeling. He studied at the Royal academy, Munich, 1877-80, where he was awarded a first prize diploma and medal in recognition of his group, "Fleeting Time," the first prize ever given to an American by a German academy. He traveled in Italy, France and England, 1880-81, and in 1881 executed a bust of Lord D'Israeli at Manchester, England. He established a studio in Villa Strohl-Fern, Rome, Italy, where he executed "The Scraper" and "The Pugilist," the former winning a fellowship in the Soci?t? della Artistica Internazienale di Roma, five medals and a special medal, Chicago, 1893. In 1885 he established his studio in New York city, where he was made a member of the council of the National Sculpture society, a member of the Architectural League of America, of the Municipal Art society, of the National Arts club, of the Society for the Preservation of Historic and Science Places, of the Ohio society and of the Players' club. He executed statues of Garfield and William Allen, placed in Statuary Hall, Washington, D.C., 1884; colossal statues of Gibbon, typifying history, and Moses, representing religion, for the Congressional library at Washington (1896); statues of Hooker and Davenport, and interpretative doors and tympanums for the capitol at Hartford, Conn. (1895); statue of Vice-President Tompkins for the senate chamber, Washington; statue of Governor Morton of Indiana for Statuary Hall, Washington (1900); the memorial Hahnemann monument at Washington, with a seated figure of Samuel Hahnemann and four illustrative panels (1900); the equestrian statues of Robert E. Lee and of William T. Sherman; the Astor bronze doors for Trinity church (1894); a statue of Andrew G. Curtin of Pennsylvania (1897); heroic statues of Abraham Lincoln and Admiral Farragut for Hackley Square, Muskegon, Mich. (1900); an immense pediment, "The Triumph of the Law," for the Appellate Court House in New York city (1900); two colossal groups representing mineral wealth, being "The Story of Light" and "The Story of Gold," Pan-American exposition (1901); the monument to General Forrest in Memphis, Tenn., from a design accepted June 6, 1901; a bust of President McKinley finished June, 1901, and an heroic seated figure of Lincoln for the Buffalo Historical society (1901).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Cincinnati, (Hamilton County) Ohio

Local History Notes:

Biographies: