The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 1, November 29, 1935 & December 30, 1939. First bridge to span Great Miami. The first bridge to connect the little town of Hamilton and Rossville in Butler County, Ohio was a toll bridge through out its entire existence. It was called the Miami Bridge, and connected Hamilton and Rossville at about the site of the present bridge at High Street and Main Street. Not only was this Hamilton’s first bridge, but it was also the first to span the waters of the Great Miami and the first large bridge in this part of the country. The one over the Scioto at Chillicothe, which town was Ohio’s first capital, was the only one of any size in the state in 1815, when the citizens of Hamilton and Rossville came to feel that the service afforded by the ferries was inadequate. Charter members of The Miami Bridge company was Robert Irwin.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 1,November 29,1935 & December 30,1939. First bridge to span Great Miami. The first bridge to connect the little town of Hamilton and Rossville in Butler County,Ohio was a toll bridge through out its entire existence. It was called the Miami Bridge,and connected Hamilton and Rossville at about the site of the present bridge at High Street and Main Street. Not only was this Hamilton’s first bridge,but it was also the first to span the waters of the Great Miami and the first large bridge in this part of the country. The one over the Scioto at Chillicothe,which town was Ohio’s first capital,was the only one of any size in the state in 1815,when the citizens of Hamilton and Rossville came to feel that the service afforded by the ferries was inadequate. Charter members of The Miami Bridge company was Robert Irwin.

The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 2, January 6, 1940 & December 27, 1943. Importance of Tanners in Early Hamilton, Butler County, Ohio. Among the very early local occupations was that of the tanner. The shoemaker came first, and the tanners mad a living by supply them with leather. The tanner, shoemaker and saddlers were closely allied, but their trades depended upon the earliest of all pioneer–the woodcutters. Trees were felled ruthlessly for log cabins. After sawmills were established, the best of lumber was used for framed houses. Forest oak were sacrificed to make room for tillable soil, but the uncleared land was raided for its most valuable trees. The connection between the woodcutters and tanners is that oak bark is rich in tannic acid used in turning raw hides into leather. Very little is known about Hamilton tanneries earlier than 1814 when Captain John Caldwell, Joseph F. Randolph and James Wiedner are found. Andrew Stewart was an 1815 tanner. John Sutherland and William Irwin undoubtedly started their tannery soon after Rossville, Butler County, Ohio was laid out in 1804. Both families came in the 1790’s. All that is definitely known about the tanyard is that it was offered for sale in 1819. It was on the river “at Main Street”. There was a good dwelling house with a well at the door and a paled garden; also a bark house, shed, 46 vats and 300 cords of bark. In 1820, Sutherland and Porter were carrying on, and by 1825 Mr. Sutherland was alone.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 2,January 6,1940 & December 27,1943. Importance of Tanners in Early Hamilton,Butler County,Ohio. Among the very early local occupations was that of the tanner. The shoemaker came first,and the tanners mad a living by supply them with leather. The tanner,shoemaker and saddlers were closely allied,but their trades depended upon the earliest of all pioneer–the woodcutters. Trees were felled ruthlessly for log cabins. After sawmills were established,the best of lumber was used for framed houses. Forest oak were sacrificed to make room for tillable soil,but the uncleared land was raided for its most valuable trees. The connection between the woodcutters and tanners is that oak bark is rich in tannic acid used in turning raw hides into leather. Very little is known about Hamilton tanneries earlier than 1814 when Captain John Caldwell,Joseph F. Randolph and James Wiedner are found. Andrew Stewart was an 1815 tanner. John Sutherland and William Irwin undoubtedly started their tannery soon after Rossville,Ohio was laid out in 1804. Both families came in the 1790’s. All that is definitely known about the tanyard is that it was offered for sale in 1819. It was on the river “at Main Street”. There was a good dwelling house with a well at the door and a paled garden,also a bark house,shed,46 vats and 300 cords of bark. In 1820,Sutherland and Porter were carrying on,and by 1825 Mr. Sutherland was alone.

The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 4, January 1, 1948 & December 26, 1951. Thomas Irwin served as president of the Board of Trustees of Miami University during it’s early years. Thomas Irwin was on the original board, serving from 1809 till 1815. He came to Cincinnati, Ohio from Washington, Pennsylvania in 1789, and helped build the first hewn log house. This was at Main and Front Street. Clair’s Army, camped with others in Sycamore grove while Fort Hamilton was being built, marched on with the troops and was in the terrible defeat of 1791. He made a good Army record, and was a Major in the War of 1812. Between wars, he married and settled on a farm near Blue Ball, Butler County, Ohio. He was an outstanding man of the community and served twelve years in the state senate. His death occurred in 1847.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 4,January 1,1948 & December 26,1951. Thomas Irwin served as president of the Board of Trustees of Miami University during it’s early years. Thomas Irwin was on the original board,serving from 1809 till 1815. He came to Cincinnati,Ohio from Washington,Pennsylvania in 1789,and helped build the first hewn log house. This was at Main and Front Street. Clair’s Army,camped with others in Sycamore grove while Fort Hamilton was being built,marched on with the troops and was in the terrible defeat of 1791. He made a good Army record,and was a Major in the War of 1812. Between wars,he married and settled on a farm near Blue Ball,Butler County,Ohio. He was an outstanding man of the community and served twelve years in the state senate. His death occurred in 1847.

The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 5, January 2, 1952 & December 29, 1955. In 1796, Solomon Line decided to have a mill and bought four acres at the junction of a small run in the river in Butler County, Ohio. The following year, Joel Williams sold his land to William Bigham and Robert Irwin. In 1802, Solomon Line sold the four acres, “all that Mill Seat and grist and saw mills erected thereon” to Thomas McCullough for $2,000. Thomas’s father, Samuel McCullough, was a millwright, and some have guessed he built the mills. One guess is as fair as another, and ours would be that Joel Williams built them for Solomon Line several years before the McCullough came into the picture. Also Joel Williams sold land to William Bigham and Robert Irwin in 1797. In 1803, William Bigham and Robert Irwin made a division so each would have his own part. In 1813, Thomas McCullough sold his mill to William Bigham. Mr. Bigham died in 1815, but they were long operated as the Bigham Mills.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 5,January 2,1952 & December 29,1955. In 1796,Solomon Line decided to have a mill and bought four acres at the junction of a small run in the river in Butler County,Ohio. The following year,Joel Williams sold his land to William Bigham and Robert Irwin. In 1802,Solomon Line sold the four acres,“all that Mill Seat and grist and saw mills erected thereon” to Thomas McCullough for $2,000. Thomas’s father,Samuel McCullough,was a millwright,and some have guessed he built the mills. One guess is as fair as another,and ours would be that Joel Williams built them for Solomon Line several years before the McCullough came into the picture. Also Joel Williams sold land to William Bigham and Robert Irwin in 1797. In 1803,William Bigham and Robert Irwin made a division so each would have his own part. In 1813,Thomas McCullough sold his mill to William Bigham. Mr. Bigham died in 1815,but they were long operated as the Bigham Mills.

The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 5, January 2, 1952 & December 29, 1955. In 1815, Morton Irwin and other residing in the Western part of Butler County, Ohio called attention to the fact that there was no public house on the road from Rossville to North White Water (Salisborough), “40-60 miles”, and recommended Calvin Pitman as a suitable person to start one at his home.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 5,January 2,1952 & December 29,1955. In 1815,Morton Irwin and other residing in the Western part of Butler County,Ohio called attention to the fact that there was no public house on the road from Rossville to North White Water (Salisborough),“40-60 miles”,and recommended Calvin Pitman as a suitable person to start one at his home.

The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 6. January 5, 1956 & 31 December 1959. 1815 December Term of court, in Butler County, Ohio, 15 freeholders of Milford Township petitioned for Calvin Pitman to conduct a tavern on the road from “Rossville to Salsboray” on the upper part of White Water. They said there were not a tavern within 40 to 60 miles of this location, which was a great inconvenience to the inhabitants as well as travelers. Among the signers was Morton Irwin. Also in 1818 April Term of Butler County, Ohio 14 petitioner among them was John C. Irwin to have Samuel McCullough granted a license to keep a tavern in Oxford, Butler County, Ohio.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 6. January 5,1956 & 31 December 1959. 1815 December Term of court,in Butler County,Ohio,15 freeholders of Milford Township petitioned for Calvin Pitman to conduct a tavern on the road from “Rossville to Salsboray” on the upper part of White Water. They said there were not a tavern within 40 to 60 miles of this location,which was a great inconvenience to the inhabitants as well as travelers. Among the signers was Morton Irwin.

The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 6. January 5, 1956 & 31 December 1959. Original Stockholders in Butler County, Ohio in 1815 was Robert Irwin.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 6. January 5,1956 & 31 December 1959. Original Stockholders in Butler County,Ohio in 1815 was Robert Irwin.