Jacob and Martha had the following known descendants:
The family appeared as follows on the 1850 census of Ward 9, Cincinnati, Hamilton Co, Ohio:
We glean much information from "A History of Ohio in Words of One Syllable"
written in 1888 by Annie Cole Cady, pages 137-141
A Noted Pioneer and His Sons
[Info on Benjamin and Elizabeth listed on their page; Elizabeth, 'a Virginian of high birth', seemed to lead a very refined household and wished to have her children well taught in all the things she had learned in Virginia. I'm sure Jacob W Piatt was instructed in music and other pursuits of a gentlemanly nature. He lived on a lovely estate with a beautiful garden laid out by his mother.] "J. Wykoff Piatt, the first son of Benjamin, was one of the noted men of Cincinnati, and many years ago did a good deed for that city. As in most towns, when "fire" was cried, men and boys from all points rushed to the scene of the fire, and oft-times, by their wild yells and free use of water and the axe, did more harm than good. Mr. Piatt saw this, and tried long to have the men who were to put out fires ever ready at a call, and paid well for their work. But the old style had kind of Fourth-of-July fun and frolic in it which most of the young folks did not like to give up. Though Mr. Piatt lost many friends by this course, he at last gained his way; and now his worst foes, if they still live, would not go back to the old style if they could.
Also, in HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS OF OHIO By Henry Howe, LL.D., 1898
HAMILTON COUNTY - part 33
From Mr. Henry B. Teetor's "Past and Present of Mill Creek Valley,"
we quote: "Mr. Piatt [John H Piatt] entered with great energy and intrepidity indeed upon business enterprises..... The PIATTS are all descended from John Piatt, a French Huguenot, who settled in New Jersey about 1740. Four of his five sons were soldiers of the American revolution. One, Captain William Piatt, was killed at St. Clair's defeat; two others emigrated with Judge Symmes to North Bend. The family were numerous and of high intellectual reputation.
JACOB WYKOFF PIATT -This noted citizen of Cincinnati was born in Kentucky in 1801. Brought to Cincinnati when quite young, he grew to man's estate in the home of his father, Benjamin M. Piatt, elder brother of the more famous John H. Piatt. Jacob Wykoff became a successful lawyer, and accumulated quite a fortune in his practice, and successful operations in real estate. The one event in his life was his success in establishing a paid fire department, that is now known in every city of the civilized world. The old volunteer fire system, once the pride of the citizens, had fallen into disrepute. The better class had either neglected the companies to which they belonged, or had been shouldered out by the worse elements of a prosperous town. This evil was not confined to Cincinnati. Every city in the Union suffered from the same cause. The Mose of New York, the brazen-cheeked, red-shirted ruffian was duplicated in every municipality that possessed a fire department. Mr. Piatt returned to the city council at a time when the most reputable citizens considered it an honor to be a councilman, opened war on the volunteers, by introducing an ordinance providing for the selection of, and paying the firemen for their services. There was scarcely a member of council that did not privately admit the necessity for such a reform, and yet when the vote was taken, in a chamber crowded by roughs, whose noisy demonstrations left no doubt as to their opposition, but one man was found brave enough to vote with Mr. Piatt in favor of this measure. This gentleman was Judge Timothy Walker, the well-known author and jurist.
Nothing daunted Mr. Piatt continued his efforts. At every assembly
of a new council his ordinance was offered to be again voted down. But the
minority grew slowly in spite of the brutal opposition. Mr. Piatt was wont
to defy the crowd in the debate that preceded defeat, and the feeling got
so intense, that it was dangerous for the bold reformer to go to and from
the chamber. As it was a volunteer guard of Irish constituents accompanied
their representative. One night after a heated debate a mob assembled in
front of Mr. Piatt's residence and amid groans, hisses, howls and yells, he
was burned in effigy. This contest continued for years. A happy event, however, came to end it. This was the invention and building of the Latta fire engine. After being tested by a commission of experts, the engine was accepted. What to do with it was the question, turn it over to the volunteers was to insure its immediate destruction. It was resolved, at length to organize a paid company to use and protect the machine. A committee was appointed having on it Messrs. Piatt, Walker, Kessler and Loder to organize a company. To the amusement of his associates Mr. Piatt nominated Miles Greenwood as the captain of the new company. Judge Walker remonstrated. It was, he said, putting the new engine in the hands of the enemy, for Miles Greenwood was the pet of the volunteers, and had been loud in his denunciation of what he called the degradation of the paid system. Mr. Piatt persisted and asserted that Greenwood was the only man in the city who would make the new machine a success. "Well try him," was the response, "he wont accept." Greenwood was sent for. He was startled at the offer but immediately accepted, provided that he could select the men. The machine will be attacked at the first fire, and I want to know
whom I am to rely on. The first alarm of the fire that brought out the new engine proved the correctness of Greenwood's prophecy. The fire was a serious one on Sycamore street above Fourth. The general alarm brought all the engines to the fire and among the rest the new steam machine. Drawn by huge horses at a gallop, driven by Miles himself, a noble figure in his brass helmet, red shirt and speaking trumpet swung to his side, the impression made on the swiftly gathering crowds was impressive. Miles had about him the newly made firemen in their splendid uniforms. He had in addition all the men of his great foundry and workshops; and hurrying to the front of his first and only flight came Jacob Wykoff Piatt, followed by two hundred and fifty bold Irishmen from the old Thirteenth. The volunteers were prompt to a redemption of their word. They attacked the new fire company. The fight was fierce, bloody and brief. Miles Greenwood led the van. His tall figure, bright helmet and trumpet-toned voice, made him a leader to follow and a man to fear. The engagement lasted about thirty minutes. A few bloody heads, and damaged countenances, and the tumult ended in the volunteer companies striving to put the steam "squirt as they called the new engine out of public favor, through their own superior management and work. It was all in vain. The new device won, and in less than a month all the fire companies were clamoring for the new invention, organization and pay.
Sources:
Back to Home
To Benjamin and Elizabeth Barnett Piatt Page
