following details upon the history of the place is extracted from Howe's Hist. Collections of Ohio.

Soon as the settlers of Cincinnati landed, they commenced erecting three or four cabins, the first of which was built on Front, east of and near Mainstreet. The lower table of land was then covered with sycamore and maple trees, and the upper with beech and oak. Through this dense forest the streets were laid out, their corners being marked upon the trees. This survey extended from Eastern Row, now Broadway, to Western Row, now Centralavenue, and from the river as far north as Northern Row, now Seventh street. In January, 1790, Gen. Arthur St. Clair, then governor of the north-west territory, arrived at Cincinnati to organize the county of Hamilton. In the succeeding fall, Gen. Harmar marched from Fort Washington on his expedition against the Indians of the north-west. In the following year (1791), the unfortunate army of St. Clair marched from the same place. On his return, St. Clair gave Major Zeigler the command of Fort Washington and repaired to Philadelphia. Soon after, the latter was succeeded by Col. Wilkinson. This year, Cincinnati had little increase in its population. About one half of the inhabitants were attached to the army of St. Clair, and many killed in the defeat.

In 1792, about fifty persons were added by emigration to the population of Cincinnati, and a house of worship erected. In the spring following, the troops which had been recruited for Wayne's army landed at Cincinnati and encamped on the bank of the river between the village of Cincinnati and Mill-creek. To that encampment Wayne gave the name of "Hobson's choice," it being the only suitable place for that object. Here he remained several months, constantly drilling his troops, and then moved on to a spot now in Darke county, where he erected Fort Greenville. In the fall, after the army had left, the small-pox broke out in the garrison at Fort Washington, and spread with so much malignity that nearly one third of the soldiers and citizens fell victims. In July, 1794, the army left Fort Greenville, and on the 20th of August defeated the enemy at the battle of the "Fallen Timbers," in what is now Lucas county, a few miles above Toledo. Judge Burnet thus describes Cincinnati at about this period:

Prior to the treaty of Greenville, which established a permanent peace between the United States and the Indians, but few improvements had been made of any description, and scarcely one of a permanent character. In Cincinnati, Fort Washington was the most remarkable object. That rude, but highly interesting structure stood between Third and Fourth streets, produced east of Eastern Row, now Broadway, which was then a two pole alley, and was the eastern boundary of the town, as originally laid out. It was composed of a number of strongly built, hewed log cabins, a story and a half high, calculated for soldiers' barracks. Some of them, more conveniently arranged, and better finished, were intended for officers' quarters. They were so placed as to form a hollow square of about an acre of ground, with a strong block-house at each angle. It was built of large logs, cut from the ground on which it stood, which was a tract of fifteen acres, reserved by congress in the law of 1792, for the accommodation of the garrison.

The artificers' yard was an appendage to the fort, and stood on the bank of the river, immediately in front. It contained about two acres of ground, inclosed by small contiguous buildings, occupied as work-shops and quarters for laborers. Within the inclosure; there was a large two story frame house, familiarly called the "yellow house," built for the accommodation of the quartermaster general, which was the most commodious and best finished edifice in Cincinnati.

On the north side of Fourth-street, immediately behind the fort, Col. Sargeant, secretary of the territory, had a convenient frame house, and a spacious garden, cultivated with care and taste. On the east side of the fort, Dr. Allison, the sur

It was

geon general of the army, had a plain frame dwelling, in the center of a large lot, cultivated as a garden and fruitery, which was called Peach Grove. The Presbyterian Church, an interesting edifice, stood on Main-street, in front of the spacious brick building now occupied by the First Presbyterian congregation. a substantial frame building, about 40 feet by 30, inclosed with clapboards, but neither lathed, plastered nor ceiled. The floor was of boat plank, resting on wooden blocks. In that humble edifice the pioneers and their families assembled, statedly, for public worship; and, during the continuance of the war, they always attended with loaded rifles by their sides. That building was afterward neatly finished, and some years subsequently (1814) was sold and removed to Vine-street. On the north side of Fourth-street, opposite where St. Paul's Church now stands, there stood a frame school-house, inclosed, but unfinished, in which the children of the village were instructed. On the north side of the public square, there was a strong log building, erected and occupied as a jail. A room in the tavern of George Avery, near the frog-pond, at the corner of Main and Fifth-streets, had

been rented for the accommodation of the courts; and as the penitentiary system had not been adopted, and Cincinnati was a seat of justice, it was ornamented with a pillory, stocks and whipping post, and occasionally with a gallows. These were all the structures of a public character then in the place. Add to these the cabins and other temporary buildings for the shelter of the inhabitants, and it will complete the schedule of the improvements of Cincinnati at the time of the treaty of Greenville.

It may assist the reader in forming something like a correct idea of the appearance of Cincinnati, and of what it actually was at that time, to know that at the

The engraving represents the First Presbyterian Church, as it appeared in February, 1847, and is engraved from a drawing then taken by Mr. Howe for his "Historical Collections of Ohio." It stood on the west side of Vine, just north of Fourth-street, on the spot now occupied by the Summer Garden. Its original site was on the spot now occupied by the First Presbyterian Church, on Fourth-street. In the following spring, it was taken down, and the materials used for the construction of several dwellings in the part of Cincinati called Texas. The greater proportion of the timber was found to be perfectly sound. In 1791, a number of the inhabitants formed themselves into a company, to escort the Rev. James Kemper from beyond the Kentucky River to Cincinnati; and after his arrival, a subscription was set on foot to build this church, which was erected in 1792. This subscription paper is still in existence, and bears date January 16, 1792. Among its signers were Gen. Wilkinson, Captains Ford, Peters and Shaylor, of the regular service, Dr. Allison, surgeon to St. Clair and Wayne, Winthrop Sargeant, Capt. Robert Elliott and others, principally citizens, to the number of 106, not one of whom survive.

intersection of Main and Fifth-streets there was a pond of water, full of alder bushes, from which the frogs serenaded the neighborhood during the summer and fall, and which rendered it necessary to construct a causeway of logs, to pass it. That morass remained in its natural state, with its alders and its frogs, several years after Mr. B. became a resident of the place, the population of which, includ ing the garrison and followers of the army, was about six hundred. The fort was then commanded by William H. Harrison, a captain in the army, but afterward president of the United States. In 1797, Gen. Wilkinson, the commander-in-chief of the army, made it his head-quarters for a few months, but did not, apparently, interfere with the command of Capt. Harrison, which continued till his resignation

in 1798.

During the period now spoken of, the settlements of the territory, including Cincinnati, contained but few individuals, and still fewer families, who had been accustomed to mingle in the circles of polished society. That fact put it in the power of the military to give character to the manners and customs of the people. Such

The engraving is from a drawing made by Wm. Bucknall, Esq., now of London, England. The principal part of the village was upon the landing. Fort Washington (shown by the flag) was the most conspicuous object then in Cincinnati. Its site was on the south side of Third-street, just west of Broadway, or, as it was early called, Eastern Row.

a school, it must be admitted, was by no means calculated to make the most favorable impression on the morals and sobriety of any community, as was abundantly proven by the result.

Idleness, drinking and gambling prevailed in the army to a greater extent than it has done to any subsequent period. This may be attributed to the fact that they had been several years in the wilderness, cut off from all society but their own, with but few comforts or conveniences at hand, and no amusements but such as their own ingenuity could invent. Libraries were not to be found-men of literary minds, or polished manners, were rarely met with; and they had long been deprived of the advantage of modest, accomplished female society, which always produces a salutary influence on the feelings and moral habits of men. Thus situated, the officers were urged, by an irresistible impulse, to tax their wits for expedients to fill up the chasms of leisure which were left on their hands, after a full discharge of their miltary duties; and, as is too frequently the case, in such circumstances, the bottle, the dice-box and the card-table were among the expedients resorted to, because they were the nearest at hand, and the most easily procured.

It is a distressing fact that a very large proportion of the officers under General Wayne, and subsequently under Gen. Wilkinson, were hard drinkers. Harrison, Clark, Shomberg, Ford, Strong, and a few others, were the only exceptions. Such were the habits of the army when they began to associate with the inhabitants of Cincinnati, and of the western settlements generally, and to give tone to public sentiment. As a natural consequence, the citizens indulged in the same practices

and formed the same habits. As a proof of this, it may be stated that when Mr. Burnet came to the bar, there were nine resident lawyers engaged in the practice, of whom he is and has been for many years the only survivor. They all became confirmed sots, and descended to premature graves, excepting his brother, who was a young man of high promise, but whose life was terminated by a rapid consumption, in the summer of 1801. He expired under the shade of a tree, by the side of the road, on the banks of Paint creek, a few miles from Chillicothe.

On the 9th of November, 1793, Wm. Maxwell established, at Cincinnati, "the Centinel of the North-Western Territory," with the motto, "open to all partiesinfluenced by none." It was on a half sheet, royal quarto size, and was the first newspaper printed north of the Ohio River. In 1796, Edward Freeman became the owner of the paper, which he changed to "Freeman's Journal," which he continued until the beginning of 1800, when he removed to Chillicothe. On the 28th of May, 1799, Joseph Carpenter issued the first number of a weekly paper, entitled the "Western Spy and Hamilton Gazette." On the 11th of January, 1794, two keel boats sailed from Cincinnati to Pittsburgh, each making a trip once in four weeks. Each boat was so covered as to be protected against rifle and musket balls, and had port holes to fire out at, and was provided with six pieces, carrying pound balls, a number of muskets and ammunition, as a protection against the Indians on the banks of the Ohio. In 1801, the first sea vessel equipped for sea, of 100 tuns, built at Marietta, passed down the Ohio, carrying produce; and the banks of the river at Cincinnati were crowded with spectators to witness this novel event. Dec. 19, 1801, the territorial legislature passed a bill removing the seat of gov ernment from Chillicothe to Cincinnati.

January 2, 1802, the territorial legislature incorporated the town of Cincinnati, and the following officers were appointed: David Zeigler, president; Jacob Burnet, recorder; Wm. Ramsay, David E. Wade, Chas. Avery, John Reily, Wm. Stanley, Samuel Dick, and Wm. Ruffner, trustees; Jo. Prince, assessor; Abram Cary, collector; and James Smith, town marshal. In 1795, the town contained 94 cabins, 10 frame houses, and about 500 inhabitants.

Cincinnati is situated in a beautiful valley of about 12 miles in circumference, surrounded by hills, which rise to the hight of about 500 feet. This valley is divided nearly in the center by the Ohio River. On the Kentucky side of the Ohio, the towns of Covington and Newport are situated in it, and it is there pierced by the smaller valley of the Licking River, running southerly. On the Ohio side the valley is also pierced, below the settled part of Cincinnati, by the valley of Mill creek, running northerly. Cincinnati is laid out with considerable regard to regularity; the streets in the center of the city being broad, and intersecting each other at right angles. Many of the hills surrounding the city are adorned by stately and elegant mansions, with ornamental grounds attached; while some of them are yet covered with groves of ancient forest trees.

The greater part of the city is built on two terraces, or plains, sometimes called "bottoms," of which the first is about 50, and the second 108 feet above low water mark. These elevations, in grading, have been reduced more nearly to a gradual ascent of from 5 to 10 degrees from the river. The city extends more than three miles along the river. The central portions are compactly and handsomely built, with streets about 66 feet wide, bordered with spacious warehouses, stores, etc., many of which are magnificent structures, of beautiful brown freestone, rising to the hight of 6 stories, and with fronts of elaborate architecture. Main-street extends from the steamboat landing, in a northerly direction, and Broadway, Sycamore, Walnut, Vine, Race, Elm, and Plum-streets, are parallel to it. It is intersected at right angles by 14 principal streets, named Water, First, Second, Third, An open area upon the bank of the river, with about 1,000 feet front, east

etc.

from the foot of Main-street, embracing some 10 acres, is reserved for the landing, and usually presents a scene of great activity. The shore is paved with stone from low water mark to the top of the first bank, and furnished with

The first building on the left is the iron front clothing store of Sprague & Co. The Post Office and Custom House are in the structure with the Grecian front. Mitchell & Rammelsburg's Furniture Warerooms, Shillito's Dry Goods' establishment, and tower of the Unitarian Church, appear beyond.

floating wharves, which accommodate themselves to the great variation in the hight of the river. From 60 to 80 steamboats are often seen here at once, presenting a scene of animation and business life.

The Ohio River, at Cincinnati, is 1,800 feet, or about one third of a mile,