Esther Kennedy
The oldest resident of Hamilton, at this date, is Mrs. Ester Kennedy. Her husband was a noted builder in his day, and came here to put up a house on the west side of the river, on the Seven-Mile Pike, near the corporation limits, known as the Rhea house. This was in 1812. While doing this, he boarded with William Murray, father of the late William Murray, who kept a tavern. Soon after this they built the house now standing on High Street, one door west of Fye's grocery. At this time, all business was done near the river, and chiefly on Front Street. The Sutherland corner, now occupied by Rothenbush & Ratliff and Dr. S.H. Millikin, was building, and was plastered by Mr. Kennedy. Going up the street, there were no buildings until the present house of L.D. Campbell was reached. John Reily had put up a part of the house three years before, and it was used as his dwelling and office. From that to Third Street was a pasture field, fenced in, in which Mr. Reily pastured his horses and cattle. The third and last house from the river was that built by Mr. Kennedy for his own use. The woods had been cut down, and a clearing made from this site to the river. On the west side of Third Street was a clearing running down to the burying-ground of the town, near the Fourth Ward Park, while on the other side the forest commenced and extended eastward.
On Fye's corner stood a large, magnificent elm, beneath whose spreading branches divine service was held on Sunday. Half-way down the river, on the west side, was the old jail. The lower part of this was used as a jail, while justice was dealt out in the room above. Preaching was held in this building on the Lord's-day. Part of the palisades of the fort were still standing, near the river. There was no bridge there then. The stream must be crossed by ferries.
At the time of the war of 1812 Mr. Kennedy was engaged in building the Hamilton House; that for many years, was the great resort for travelers. He was drafted into the service for six months, but secured a substitute, and finished the building. For nearly two years after their house had been completed, Mrs. Kennedy carried water from Mr. Reily's well. There was then no resident lawyer except David K. Este, afterwards of Cincinnati. Mr. Kennedy died in 1830. In 1813 Isaac Paxton, a veteran of Wayne's wars, set up a shop in Hamilton as a silversmith. In 1814 Pierson Sayre settled on Lot 120, on Front Street, between Dayton and Stable Streets.
From A History and Biographical Cyclopædia of Butler County Ohio, With Illustrations and Sketches of its Representative Men and Pioneers, Western Biographical Publishing Company, Cincinnati Ohio, 1882.