Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/608

 596 CINCINNATI African Methodist, 1 ; New Jerusalem, 1 ; .Presbyterian, 16 ; United Presbyterian, 3 ; Re- formed Presbyterian, 3; Protestant Episcopal, 11 ; Roman Catholic, 32, and 12 chapels ; Uni- ted Brethren in Christ, 3 ; Universalist, 1 ; Unitarian, 3 ; Union Bethel, 1. Cincinnati was first settled in 1788, by emigrants from New Jersey, on land purchased from the Uni- ted States government by John Cleves Symmes. Fort Washington was soon bnilt on the crest of the second plateau, between the present Lawrence and Ludlow, and Pearl and Fourth streets. The village was laid out early in 1789 by Col. Israel Ludlow, and was mainly built below the fort, on the river bank. For many years it was composed of frame and log houses. It is said that the name was suggested by Gen. .St. Clair, in honor of the Cincinnati society of officers of the revolutionary war, of which he was a member. In 1790 Hamilton county was organized by Gen. St. Clair, with Cincin- nati as the county seat. After the victory over the Indians by. Gen. Wayne, at the battle of Fallen Timbers, in 1795, which gave peace to the Miami country, immigration rapidly in- creased, and the growth of the village was steady. Emigrants descended the Ohio river from Fort Duquesno (now Pittsburgh) in flat boats or arks, the journey being attended with great peril from hostile Indians on either shore. In 1794 a line of two keel boats pushed by poles, with bullet-proof covers and port holes, provided with cannon and small arms, was es- tablished between Cincinnati and Pittsburgh, making the trip once in four weeks. The keel boat was the best and most comfortable boat for navigation on the Ohio, and this and the flat boat were the sole means of conveyance on the waters of the Ohio and Mississippi. In 1811 the first steamboat was launched in the west, and in 1816 the first steamboat was built in Cincinnati. The steamboat changed the whole kind and character of navigation on the Ohio. Cincinnati at once began to build steam- boats, and to trade with the most distant parts of the Mississippi valley. It was incorporated as a city in 1814, and became the mart of a vast commerce, and the point for the receipt, distribution, and transshipment of the immense surplus products of the great region to which she was a centre. Since 1816 the building of river boats has been extensively carried on. During the 25 years ending with December, 1872, 655 steamboats and barges were built, with an aggregate burden of 223,477 tons. The Miami canal was built in 1830, and in 1840 ^he Little Miami railroad was constructed. In September, 1862, martial law was for a brief period declared in the city, when an attack by confederate troops was expected. The terri- torial extent of the city, which was former- ly about 7 sq. m., has been recently much increased by the following annexations : Feb. 24, 1870, Storrs township, 3 sq. m. ; Mount Auburn and Corryville, 1 sq. m. ; and Walnut Hills, sq. m. ; May 9, Lick Run and Camp Washington, 5 sq. m. ; Pendleton and Spencer township, 2J sq. m. ; Feb. 1, 1873, Columbia village 1 sq. m. ; March 18, 1873, Cummins- ville, 2J sq. m. ; March 28, Woodburn, 1 sq. m. CINCINNATI, Society of the, an association founded by the officers of the American revo- lutionary army after the peace of 1783. Its object was to commemorate the success of the revolution, and to perpetuate sentiments of patriotism, benevolence, and brotherly love, and the memory of hardships experienced in common. The original draft of its constitution was made by Gen. Knox, and is still extant. The meeting for the organization of the soci- ety, held at the quarters of Baron Steuben in New York, on the Hudson river, was com- posed of the general officers in camp and regi- mental delegates from the respective lines, the baron presiding as senior officer. Appropriate badges and ornaments were devised, including the eagle and uniting the colors blue and white in compliment to the combined arms through which the revolution had been achieved. The honors of life membership were conferred upon a number of French officers. A fund was formed by the contribution of one month's pay for the relief of members in needy circumstances. The constitution adopt- ed in 1783 declared that the " officers of the American army " associated " themselves into one society of friends, to endure as long as they shall endure, or any of their eldest male posterity ; and in failure thereof, the collateral branches who may be judged worthy of becoming its supporters and members." Jealousy arose against the so- ciety, which was sup- posed thus to be es- tablishing a military order, with the ab- solute right of inher- itance on the princi- ple of the laws of pri- mogeniture. At the first general meeting of the society, held in Philadelphia in May, 1784, a propo- sition was made to amend the constitution, abolishing all suc- cession of membership, and confining the so- ciety to those who had served during the war of the revolution. The amendments then proposed were submitted to the several state societies, but failed to receive their assent, and the constitution as originally adopted remains in force. The right of succession is not absolute, but subject to the judgment of the society that the son, or next in order of de- scent to a deceased member, is " worthy of be- coming a supporter and member;" so that the Badge of the Society of the Cincinnati.