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. Boot and Shoe makers of an earlier day. It seems that always there were tanyards north of Main Street and around the lower end of Boudinot in Rossville, Butler County, Ohio. This was near the best business section and also a good residential district, and there was frequent complaint about the unsightliness of these tanyards. Previous to 1819, John Sutherland and William Irwin owned a tanyard at Main Street and the River . When they wished to sell, they advertised that there were 46 vats, a bark house and shed and 300 cords of bark. They also wished to sell the good dwelling house near by. This had its own well, right at the door, and the garden had a paling fence.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 2,January 6,1940 & December 27,1943. Boot and Shoe makers of an earlier day. It seems that always there were tanyards north of Main Street and around the lower end of Boudinot. This was near the best business section and also a good residential district,and there was frequent complaint about the unsightliness of these tanyards. Previous to 1819,John Sutherland and William Irwin owned a tanyard at Main Street and the River . When they wished to sell,they advertised that there were 46 vats,a bark house and shed and 300 cords of bark. They also wished to sell the good dwelling house near by. This had its own well,right at the door,and the garden had a paling fence.

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. 3, January 1, 1944 & December 18, 1947. First Tanyard. Rossville, Butler County, Ohio first tanyard of which mention is found was owned by John Sutherland and William Irwin, prior to 1820.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 3,January 1,1944 & December 18,1947. First Tanyard. Rossville,Butler County,Ohio first tanyard of which mention is found was owned by John Sutherland and William Irwin,prior to 1820.

The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 3, January 1, 1944 & December 18, 1947. Prominent men, as optimistic as they were, were perfectly willing to go their security only to find themselves involved in financial problems. Some of these were Major William Ruffin, one of the first proprietors of Rossville, Butler County, Ohio, William Irwin who in the teens of the 1800’s had a tannery at the river end of Rossville’s Main Street in partnership with John Sutherland, and Joseph Hough, a contemporary pioneer merchant and nephew of J.N.C. Schenck, the Warren County, financier. The original Nicholas Longworth, and the young attorney, Salmon P. Chase, were interested in several of the judgments against Mr. John Sutherland.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 3,January 1,1944 & December 18,1947. Prominent men,as optimistic as they were,were perfectly willing to go their security only to find themselves involved in financial problems. Some of these were Major William Ruffin,one of the first proprietors of Rossville,Butler County,Ohio,William Irwin who in the teens of the 1800’s had a tannery at the river end of Rossville’s Main Street in partnership with John Sutherland,and Joseph Hough,a contemporary pioneer merchant and nephew of J.N.C. Schenck,the Warren County,financier. The original Nicholas Longworth,and the young attorney,Salmon P. Chase,were interested in several of the judgments against Mr. John Sutherland.

The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 5, January 2, 1952 & December 29, 1955. When Hamilton, Rossville, Darrtown, Oxford and Fairhaven Turnpike Company constructed a turnpike in Butler County, Ohio many land owners asked for damages done to their property. John Irwin asked for damages in claim for $10.00, because of harm done by “waggoning through” his property and gravel taken for the construction of the turnpike. He was paid $4.00.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 5,January 2,1952 & December 29,1955. When Hamilton,Rossville,Darrtown,Oxford and Fairhaven Turnpike Company constructed a turnpike in Butler County,Ohio many land owners asked for damages done to their property. John Irwin asked for damages in claim for $10.00,because of harm done by “waggoning through” his property and gravel taken for the construction of the turnpike. He was paid $4.00.

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. 7, January 1960 & December 19, 1963. On 3 August 1819. William Irwin and John Sutherland offered for sale a well-improved tan yard on Main St. in Rossville, Butler County Ohio at the river. There were 46 vats, bark house and shed and about 300 cords of bark. There was a good house with well at the door and planted garden.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 6,Jan. 5,1956 & Dec. 31,1959. On 3 August 1819,William Irwin and John Sutherland offered for sale a well-improved tan yard on Main St. in Rossville,Butler County Ohio at the river. There were 46 vats,bark house and shed and about 300 cords of bark. There was a good house with well at the door and planted garden.

The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 6. January 5, 1956 & 31 December 1959. John Sutherland and Henry Brown were the proprietors of Rossville, Butler County, Ohio, 1810-1812. They had a tavern and started the lower ferry. From 1810-1820, Mrs. Sutherland’s brother, James Ramsey, was Mr. Sutherland’s partner in the merchandise business. Irwin and Sutherland were tanners, 1819 and 1820, and then it became Sutherland and Porter.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 6. January 5,1956 & 31 December 1959. John Sutherland and Henry Brown were the proprietors of Rossville,Butler County,Ohio,1810-1812. They had a tavern and started the lower ferry. From 1810-1820,Mrs. Sutherland’s brother,James Ramsey,was Mr. Sutherland’s partner in the merchandise business. Irwin and Sutherland were tanners,1819 and 1820,and then it became Sutherland and Porter.

The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 6. January 5, 1956 & 31 December 1959. Rossville Proprietor, Captain Azariah Thorn was in Rossville, Butler County, Ohio in 1807. James McBride said that he lived on Lot #9, which is on the East side of Second St., in the lower half of the block below Sycamore. James McBride and Nancy Thompson were married in 1810 by James Mill, a Justice of the Peace. James and Nancy McBride’s daughter, Mary McBride married John Irwin. John and Mary Irwin were James McBride’s heirs in 1832.

Technorati Tags: The Alta Heiser Collection Index Vol. 6. January 5,1956 & 31 December 1959. Rossville Proprietor,Captain Azariah Thorn was in Rossville,Butler County,Ohio in 1807. James McBride said that he lived on Lot #9,which is on the East side of Second St.,in the lower half of the block below Sycamore. James McBride and Nancy Thompson were married in 1810 by James Mill,a Justice of the Peace. James and Nancy McBride’s daughter,Mary McBride married John Irwin. John and Mary Irwin were James McBride’s heirs in 1832.