San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-04-16
THE OLD, OLD STORY.
He who stems stream with sand,
And letters fame with flaXen band,
Has yet a harder task to prove


By firm resolve to conquer love.
There is pleasant little chapter in the ro-
nance of American history which is worthy
of perusal and remembrance. Its incidents
occurred almost hundred years ago, on the
banks of the beautiful Ohio river. The chief
hero of the tale was then young army officer.
Fifty years afterward he became the ninth
president of our republic.
Soon after the passage of the ordinance of
1881 for the establishment Of a government
in the wilderness northwest of the Ohio river,
lands in that region were offered for sale to
settlers
John Cleves Symmes, judge of the supreme
court of New Jersey and son-in-law of Gov
ernOr William Livingston, of that state, pur
chased for himself and others 1000, OO0,acres
of land in the rich and beautiful country on
the right bank Of the Ohio, between the Great
and Little Miami rivers, including the site OF
Cincinnati Judge Symmes settled on his
purchase with a number of families at place
called the North Bend (of the Ohio, fourteen
miles below Cincinnati, where he contem
plated planting the fruitful seeds of a COM
mercial city, to be called - his name. He
then began the construction of strong hewn
log houses for the settlers: but Cupid in hate
full form, interfered with his plans, his hopes
and his laudabl9 ambition.
Troops detailed for the protection of the
Miami settlers, were landed at the North
Bend in charge of Ensign Luce, a gay and
handsome young army officer, who was
warmly welcomed by Judge Symmes and the
settlers. The judge gave him an outline of
his plans, and offered him assistance in build
ing strong block house there. Luce made
preparations to build it when he suddenly
hesitated and went to Losanteville after
ward CincinnatD where some settlers had
erected log cabins and were seated. His
avowed object was to decide which would
be the better place for a fertilization and a
city, North Bend or LosanteviHe. He decided
in favor of the latter; and, despite the re-
monstrances and entreaties of Judge Symmes
and the settlers, he marched the troop to
LOsanteville in the spring of 1890, built a
block house there, and garriSoned it.
Passion, not Judgment, governed Ensign
Luce in making this decision. He had been
captivated by the sparkling black eyes and
pretty face of the young wife of one of the
settlers of North Bend. When the husband
discovered the too great attentions of the'en-
sign to his fascinating spouse, he removed
tohOSanteviHe, that she might be beyond the
power of the tempter. Luce followed the
charmer. The alarmed husband revealed the
situation to Judge Symmes, who threatened
the ensign with the exposure of his nefari-
Gus acts To save himself from the newt
able disgrace of dismissal from the army,
Luce resigned before June roses bloOmed, and
left for parts unknown.
Soon after this Major Doughty appeared at
Cincinnati, with detachment Of troops, and
built Fort Washington there. 1t became the
headquarters of the army in the northwest,
and many of the settlers at North Bend re-
moved to Cincinnati. If this American
Helen had remained at North Bend, the
Queen City of the WeSt"-Ginrfnnat
wOuld.probably have been founded there
At that period an active young officer of
the United States, scion of dsting uished
family in Virginia, and the youngest of fifteen
children, named William Henry Harrison,
was serving under the impetuous Gen. Wayne
against the Indians in the northwest. After
the pacitication of the barbarfans by the
treaty at Greenyille in 1895, Capt. Harrison
was appointed to the command of the garri-
son at Fort Washington. Meanwhile a block
house had been built at North Bend, on TIE
bank of the river, and made dependency OF
the post at Cincinnati 1t early received the
attention Of Capt Harrison.
Judge Symmes had erected quite com
modious house at North Bend, and to that
dwelling came his family at midwinter, 1Iyo
One of his family was his sweet daughter
Anna, then girl of 20 years, slight in stature,
beautiful in form and features, and lovely in
disposition.
Capt. Harrison, slender sSc,e, of polished
manner - I'D about - years Of ace. was. =