Early Pioneer Settlement Forts of Ohio

Hamilton County:

Anderson's Station (1) (1790), Andersons Ferry.

Beasley's Station (1792), undetermined location.

James Carpenter's Station (1793), undetermined location.

Cincinnati Blockhouse (2) (1784), Cincinnati.

Clement's Station (1789), Terrace Park. Also known as Round Bottom Station.

Cleves Stockade (1789), Cleves. (same as below ?)

Cleves Station (1790), Cleves. A blockhouse was later built for added protection.

Coleman's Mill Station (1791), undetermined location.

Columbia Station (1) (1788), near the mouth of the Little Miami River. Built by Benjamin Stites. Completely flooded in January 1789.

Abram Covalt's Station (1790), Newtown or Bethany Town. A 20-man detachment from Fort Washington was garrisoned here in 1791.

Cunningham's Station (1) (1790), undetermined location.

Daraugh's Station (1792), undetermined location.

John Dunlap's Station (1790), Dunlap. Also known as Coleraine Station. Held off an Indian attack in December 1790.

Dunn's Blockhouse (2) (1793), undetermined location.

Dunn's Station (1) (1793), undetermined location.

William Flinn's Blockhouse (1785 ?), Linwood at Turkey Bottom on the road between Miami Fort (5) and Whickerham's Station. Stockaded in 1791. Also spelled Flynn.

Frazee's Station (1793), undetermined location.

William Gerard's Station (1790 - 1820's), near Terrace Park, on the east bank of the Little Miami River. The main house was later rebuilt with stone, and had served as a private residence until 1902.

David Griffin's Station (1792), near Carthage, located near or in Caldwell Park on the east bank of Mill Creek.

Hayes' Station (1791), undetermined location.

Howell's Blockhouse (1790), undetermined location. A hexagonal blockhouse.

Keen's Station (1795), undetermined location.

Kemper's Station (1793), undetermined location.

Losantiville Station (1788 - 1795 ?), Cincinnati, located at the present-day site of the Great American Ball Park's main parking lot. Built by Daniel, John, William, and Zachariah Hole, all brothers. The brothers later relocated to Miamisburg after 1795.

Luce's Blockhouse (1789), North Bend.

Israel Ludlow's Station (1790), Cumminsville. Located on the west bank of Mill Creek, it was an important post on the military road connecting Forts Hamilton and Washington. It was used in General St. Clair's failed campaign of 1791. Monument located at Knowlton and Mad Anthony Streets.

McFarland's Station (1794), Pleasant Ridge area of Cincinnati.

McHenry's Station (1790), Cumminsville.

Mercer's Station (1792), Newtown.

Miami Fort (3) (1788), a settlers' stockade located on the Little Miami River above Columbia Station (1).

Mill Creek Blockhouse (1) (1790), Cumminsville. (same as Ludlow's Station listed above ?)

Nelson's Station (1792), Madisonville.

North Bend Station (1789), North Bend.

Pleasant Valley Stockade (1794), Woodlawn.

Red Bank Station (1791), Madisonville.

Runyon's Station (1792), north of Sharonville.

Sixteen Corner Blockhouse (1790), undetermined location.

South Bend Station (1790), located between North Bend and Andersons Ferry.

Sugar Camp Station (1789), Shawnee Lookout.

John Symmes' Station (1789), North Bend.

Tucker's Stockade (1792), Woodlawn.

Turkey Bottom Blockhouse (1791), Linwood. (same as Flinn's Blockhouse listed above ?)

Vanvorhee's Stockade (1794), Reading.

Whickerham's Station (1790), Mt. Washington.

Capt. Jacob White's Station (1789), Carthage, a stockade built on an old Indian trail that led to the mouth of the Little Miami River. Attacked by Indians in August 1793, but held.

http://www.northamericanforts.com/East/oh-sw.html#hamilton

Spooner - Back-Woodsmen...

Spooner, Walter Whipple, principle author, with an introduction by Florus B. Plimpton.

The Back-woodsmen, Or, Tales of the Borders : a Collection of Historical and Authentic Accounts of Early Adventure Among the Indians. Cincinnati : Jones Bros., c1883. 608 p. : ill.

Note: "'Girty, the renegade', 'The doomed Wyandot', and 'Sketch of a pioneer', by William D. Gallagher and Otway Curry, respectively, are taken from 'The Hesperian, or Western monthly magazine'."--Pref.

---

"22 

... signs of any, during their progress. Passing by Pittsburgh, Wheeling, Marietta, Kanawha, Gallipolis, Maysville, and a few other intermediate settlements, they arrived safely at Columbia, their future home, in December, 1790. 

   This town, like all others in the neighborhood of Cincinnati, was at that time in its primitive state. It had been laid out by Major Benjamin Stites, its original proprietor, into blocks,—each containing eight lots of half an acre apiece, bounded by streets

Spencer's Captivity 23

intersecting at right angles,—and was expected by him and others to become some day a large city, the capital of the great West.

   It was in a small log hut in this village that the Spencer family took up their residence. The doors were of thick oak plank, turning on stout wooden hinges, and secured with strong bars braced with timber from the floor, thus forming a safe barrier to the entrance below; while above, on every side, were port holes or small embrasures, from which the inmates might see and fire upon the enemy. Of windows, there were but two, containing only four panes of glass each, in openings so small that any attempt to enter them by force must have proved fatal to the intruder.

   The new habitation had been occupied about a month,—during which time its accommodations had been greatly increased,—before any event occurred to disturb the peace or happiness of the family. Indeed, they had begun to submit to the inconveniences, privations, hardships, and dangers common to the pioneers of the West, without much repining; and, having heard of no recent disturbances by Indians in their immediate neighborhood, had begun to give over their apprehension of danger. Their fears were, however, suddenly aroused by the news of an attack made by several hundred Indians on Dunlap's Station (now Colerain); fifteen or twenty miles north-west of Cincinnati, then garrisoned by a few inhabitants, and thirty or forty soldiers, under the command of Lieutenant Kingsbury.  This intelli-

24 The Back-woodsmen

gence was brought by Mr. John S. Wallace (afterward Colonel Wallace), who, at the risk of his life. left the garrison at night. passed unperceived through the enemy, and reached Cincinnati the same night. Of the volunteers. who marched immediately to relieve the garrison. one company was from Columbia. All were well mounted. and armed with rifles. knives, and some even with tomahawks. and dressed in hunting shirts; and, thus prepared. they moved off in single file. Arriving at Colerain too late to encounter the enemy, who a few hours before had raised the siege. they. after a short pursuit, returned home. The apprehensions of the citizens were by no means allayed by their fearful accounts of Indian warfare and barbarity; and the story of the burning of Mr. Abner Hunt, whom the savages had taken prisoner a few hours before their attack on the garrison, shocked them beyond measure. It is much easier to conceive than to describe the feelings of the garrison. when. after being urged and entreated by the wretched man to purchase their own safety, and, above all, his life, by surrendering to the enemy. they saw him led off. and witnessed the fearful preparations for torture; or the heart-sickening anguish of hope suddenly extinguished. and the mute despair of the prisoner, as he heard the decided though reluctant refusal of the garrison to save his life at the certain loss of their own. The Indians had tied their prisoner to a sapling within sight of the garrison. by whom his screams were distinctly heard, and built a large fire so near as to scorch him, inflicting the most

27

acute pain; then, as his flesh. from the action of the fire. and the frequent application of live coals. beanie less sensible, making deep incisions in his limbs. as if to renew his susceptibility of pain; answering his cries for water. to allay the extreme thirst caused by buming, by fresh tortures; and finally when, exhausted and fainting. death seemed approaching to release the wretched prisoner. terminating his sufferings by applying flaming brands to his naked bowels. ln this siege, which lasted two days, the Indians suffered severely in killed and wounded, without inflicting any serious personal injury on the garrison. whose principal loss was in cattle. destroyed or driven out by the enemy.

   The attack on Dunlap's Station was followed by successive depredations and murders by the Indians. In the ensuing spring. they attacked several boats, killed many persons. and took some prisoners on the Ohio. Men were killed. or made prisoners, even on the outskirts of Cincinnati. and near the mouth of Deer Creek. and many were the hair-breadth escapes from captivity or death..."

Harmer re: Kingsbury

[The Celebration of the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the Primitive… page 85-86]

"Fort Washington, 14th January, 1791.
Extract of General Orders:
The general is highly pleased with the cool and spirited conduct displayed by Lieutanent Kingsbury in repulsing a body of about 300 savages, who surrounded Dunlap's Station on Monday morning last and besieged it, endeavoring to set it on fire with their arrows, and keeping up a heavy fire against his small party for the space of 25 hours.

...…
This spirited defence made by Lieut. Kingsbury, with so small a force is 35 men total, old and young, sick and well, and in such bad works, reflects the greatest credit upon him and his party.

The general returns his thanks to him, and directs that the Adjutant transmit a copy of these orders by the first conveyance.
JOS. HARMAR, Brig General."

*WASHINGTON'S note?!!! American museum, or Universal magazine

[Draft... ]

The American museum, or Universal magazine : containing essays on agriculture, commerce, manufactures, politics, morals and manners: sketches of national characters, natural and civil history, and biography: law information, public papers, intelligence: moral tales, ancient and modern poetry

Author: Carey, Mathew, 1760-1839; Adams, John, 1735-1826, former owner. MB (BRL); John Adams Library (Boston Public Library) MB (BRL)
Volume: 2
Publisher: Philadelphia : Printed by Mathew Carey
Possible copyright status: NOT_IN_COPYRIGHT
Language: English
Call number: 39999046675771
Digitizing sponsor: Internet Archive
Book contributor: John Adams Library at the Boston Public Library
Collection: johnadamsBPL; bostonpubliclibrary; americana
Notes: Gutter Shown and text cut off due to tight margins.
Scanfactors: 130
Full catalog record: MARCXML
https://archive.org/details/americanmuseumor02care

"Carlisle, Feb. 23. We are informed from good authority, that a party of 70 Indians lately presented themselves before Dunlap's station, (a small stockade, not far from general Harmar's head-quarters) garrisoned by about 30 regulars and about twenty inhabitants of the vicinity, under the command of lieutenant Kingsborough. The Indians had previously taken a Mr. Hunt prisoner, with two or three others, whom they hoisted on their shoulders before the fort, directing them to inform the commanding officer, that their party consisted of three hundred. They then demanded a surrender of the garrison. The lieutenant answered, that if they were three hundred devils, he would not surrender; and immediately fired on the Indians, twelve of whom were killed. The remainder, after having quartered Mr. Hunt, in the view of the fort, made a rapid retreat: none of the garrison were either killed or wounded."

Burnet's Notes...

[Draft. Exerpt transcribed for Fair Use only. Emphasis added.]

See Also Burnet's letter in McBride, Appendix A?

Cone quoted Judge Burnet: 

"Each party erected a strong blockhouse, near to which their cabins were put up, and the whole was enclosed by strong log pickets. This being done they commenced clearing their lands and preparing for planting their crops. During the day, while they were at work, one person was placed as sentinel to warn them of their approaching danger. At sunset they retired to the blockhouse and their cabins, taking everything of value within the pickets. In this manner they proceeded from day to day and from week to week, till their improvements were sufficiently extensive to support their families.

During this time they depended for subsistence on wild game obtained at some hazard, more than on the scant supplies which they were able to procure from the settlement on the river. In a short time these stations gave protection and food to a large number of destitute families. After they were established the Indians became less annoying to the settlements on the Ohio, as part of their time was employed in watching the stations. They viewed these stations with great jealousy, as they had the appearance of permanent military establishments intended to retain possession of the country. In that they were correct, and it was fortunate for the country that the Indians wanted either the skill or the means to demolish them." (page 93)

Accounts differ as to how word was received at Fort Washington of the attack. One account, that given by Judge Burnet, states that 

"John S. Wallace, who had made his escape from the Indians on the eighth, was still in the fort. It is said that at ten o'clock at night during the attack of the Indians he made an effort to pass through the Indian lines and go to Cincinnati for the purpose of obtaining re-enforcements from General Harmar, at Fort Washington, but finding the Indians encompassing him on every side, he was obliged to return. Fortunately the night happened to be very dark, and at three in the morning Wallace, accompanied by a soldier named William Wiseman, got into a canoe on the side of the fort next to the water's edge, and silently paddled across and landed on the opposite bank, from whence they took to the bushes, and made their way down the river and took the woods for Cincinnati. When about five or six miles out from that place they met a party of soldiers, under General John S. Gano, from Columbia, and returned with them to the station."