428 - HISTORY OF CINCINNATI AND HAMILTON COUNTY.

CHAPTER XXXIV.

SPENCER TOWNSHIP.

GEOGRAPHY - EARLY HISTORY- LENWOOD - CHURCHES.

SPENCER TOWNSHIP is situated between the city of Cincinnati and the Little Miami river, bounded on the north by Columbia township and on the south by the Ohio river. It was formerly embraced in Columbia township, which derived its name from the old town of Columbia, the first settlement in the Miami valley; and although the township with which we are now concerned is comparatively small in area, its historic associations are highly interesting. Columbia is now within the city limits, but when Major Stites and his party descended the Ohio in 1788 they landed, not at the present site of Columbia, but some distance farther up the river, upon the territory now embraced in Spencer township. Of the history of Columbia, however, it is not pertinent to speak further in this connection.

LINWOOD.

Linwood is one of the most extensive villages in the county. The Little Miami railroad and Wooster pike pass through it, affording convenient access to the city. The first survey of a townplat here was made by D. Lasham, June 15, 1848, for J. Wilson, trustee for Louisa Ann Chapman. The tract surveyed is referred to in the official record as " Linwood Farm," the name of which was probably conferred by its owners as a matter of personal preference, and then transferred to the town. It is also said that in 1856 William S. Chapman made a subdivision of 130 acres north of the present location of the town hall, and called it Linwood Heights. Subsequent subdivisions have been made by J. N. Russell, The Linwood Land Company, and J. J. Hooker, and at Red Bank Station. Within the limits of the corporation the land along the pike was originally owned by the Langdon and Ferris families.

While Linwood is principally a place of suburban residence, it has also local manufacturing interests of importance. The Ferris Hame Company's works were originally established in 1841 by S. M. Ferris, and conducted by him individually until 1866. John and William Ferris and J. A. DeArmond were then admitted to partnership, and in 1884 the present company was organized with J. A. DeArmond as president and treasurer, and Albert DeArmond as secretary. The Linwood Furniture Company manufactures wardrobes, bookcases, secretaries, sideboards, china closets, cupboards, and safes. J. B. Hall is president, R. P. Hove vice-president, B. M. Smith secretary, and George H. Schwartz treasurer.

The village was incorporated January 16, 1874, and John P. Langdon was its first mayor.

CHURCHES.

The Linwood Baptist Church was constituted in 1883, and the first deacons were S. M. Ferris and J. A. DeArmond. The frame church edifice was erected in 1884--85. Revs. B. F. Harmon, S. W. Hills, and G. R. Richards have served as pastors.

The Linwood Presbyterian Church was organized in 1886 as a mission of the Sixth Presbyterian Church of Cincinnati, and sustained this relation for a year or more; Rev. W. A. Mayor, who had served as supply, was then called as pastor, and continued in this capacity until June, 1893. The first elders were Dr. J. G. Blair and Robert A. Milligan. The church was built in 1888.

The Red Bank Methodist Episcopal Church was built in 1875. Rev. Randolph Smith organized the society, which forms part f the Red Bank and Mt. Washing. ton charge.