THE township of Symmes
occupies the extreme northeastern part of Hamilton
county, of which it is one of the smaller subdivisions.
IT adjoins Sycamore township on the west and Columbia on
the south; the Little Miami river separates it from
Clermont county, and on the north the adjacent county is
Warren. The township was originally included in
Sycamore, and its separate organization occurred about
he year 1825. Its extreme length from north to
south, seven miles, is attained along the western
boundary; the extreme width is four miles, along the
northern boundary.
VILLAGES.
Camp
Dennison is one of the most historic points in the
valley of the Little Miami. It was originally
selected by Gen. Scott as the location of an army
hospital, and at the outbreak of the war of the
Rebellion its survey as a military camp was done under
the supervision of Gen. Rosecrans. The camp
extended from the river to the hills, and from the
Miamiville bridge to a point a mile below the present
southern limit of the village. The camp was
regularly laid out; it had a system of water
distribution, comprising a pumping engine, reservoir,
and service mains; since the abandonment of the camp the
lead pipe that composed these mains has been excavated
in many places.
The first settlement here was a hamlet called Germany,
situated in the southeastern part of the village.
It comprised grist, paper, and saw mills, a distillery,
a large general store, shoemaker and blacksmith shops,
all owned and operated by Matthias Kugler.
Operations were suspended prior to the outbreak of the
war, during which the engines of this establishment were
utilized in pumping water for the camp reservoir.
The entire site of the village before the war was
comprised in a farm of 160 acres owned by Nimrod
Price. That part of the plat between the
railroad and the river was subdivided by Elijah
Campbell, and subsequent subdivision have been made
by Hermann & Browneyes, William Beard and
Nimrod Price. The village began its history
under the most gratifying auspices; lots were eagerly
purchased at high prices, and a place of some size and
importance seemed immediately assured. These
expectations, however, have not as yet been realized.
Camp Dennison is a village of about three hundred
inhabitants, with two stores and one church, Methodist
Episcopal. The post office designation was once
changed to Grand Valley, but the change was never
recognized by the railroad authorities. It is
certainly appropriate that a name of such historic
interest should continue to apply to the locality to
which it naturally belongs.
West
Loveland, by the census of 1890, had a
population of 392. It is incorporated with the
village of Loveland, which enjoys the unique distinction
of being situated in three counties - Clermont, Warren,
and Hamilton. That part west of the Little Miami
river was originally embraced in the Ferguson farm,
forty-six acres of which were purchased in 1872 by
Dr. N. W. Bishop. He was once subdivided the
entire tract, and offered the lots at public sale April
28, 1872. The bridge across the river was then
approaching completion, and the property was regarded
with great favor. About half of the property has
been improved. It is purely a place of residence.
There are two churches, African Methodist and Baptist.
Loveland is at the limit of suburban travel on the
Little Miami and Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern
railroads, enjoying this respect exceptional facilities.
Symmes was well
known for many years before the opening of the railroad
as the location of the company mills. These
comprised grist, saw, and carding mills, and were
largely patronized by the inhabitants of an extensive
territory. The village was platted by James
Pollock in 1817 and received as its first
designation at derived abbreviation of the founder's
name - Polktown. "The Company Mill," however was
much more frequently applied to it.
Remington, a place
of some local business importance, is situated on the
Baltimore & Ohio Southwestern railroad, twenty miles
from Cincinnati. It is the location of a Christian
Church.
Sixteen Mile Stand,
as its name indicates, is a hamlet on the Montgomery
pike sixteen miles from Cincinnati. A German
Lutheran church is situated in the vicinity.
CHURCHES.
Sycamore
United Presbyterian Church - Members of
the Associated Reformed church were among the early
settlers of the Miami valleys. Jeremiah Morrow
came to this country in 1795, and, probably at his
suggestion, the synod was requested to furnish them with
preaching. Rev. Matthew Henderson was sent
in 1797, Rev. David Proudfit in 1798, and Rev.
Robert Warwick in 1799. Under Mr. Warwick's
leadership a church, called Mill Creek, was organized.
Jeremiah Morrow and James Burns were the
first elders, and Joseph McKnight, and John
Becket were added to the session soon after the
organization. A church edifice was built near
Glendale. About 1800 a division occurred, and
those adhering to the Associate Reformed faith moved the
place of worship to a point on Sycamore creek, fourteen
miles east of Cincinnati. The present church
edifice was built in 1847. The pastors have been
Revs. Robert Warwick 1799 - ; David Risk,
1807-16; John Graham, 1830-34; Peter Monfort,
1836-45; Henry Allen, 1846-55; R. K.
Campbell, 1856-65; H. Y. Lieper, 1867-69;
James H. Elliott, 1870-80; S. A. Buck, 1880-83;
R. S. McClanahan,1887-90, and A. S. Bailey,
1893 -. Sycamore United Presbyterian church is a
landmark in the religious history of this locality.
The Remington Christian Church was
originally a stone building, subsequently converted into
a mill and now occupied as a dwelling. The present
church edifice was erected under the pastorate of
Rev. Ullery. <
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