The Original Good Guys

When you walk the streets of Cincinnati, enjoying the blend of old and new that makes this city so unique, it's easy to forget that 228 years ago, this bustling river town was nothing but untamed wilderness. Behind the modern-day skyscrapers and historic neighborhoods lies a tale of grit, ambition, and six men whose vision shaped Cincinnati’s landscape. These six pioneers—Capt. Benjamin Stites, John Cleves Symmes, Matthias Denman, Robert Patterson, John Filson, and Israel Ludlow—deserve to be recognized as the original "Good Guys" of Cincinnati.

Each one left an indelible mark on the Queen City, and their stories, while filled with triumphs, are also laced with the trials and tribulations of frontier life. Let's take a look at how these early trailblazers laid the groundwork for the city we love today.

Benjamin Stites: A Tenacious Pioneer

Benjamin Stites was a man with grit. A Revolutionary War veteran, he sailed down the Ohio River in 1788 with a group of brave souls and settled in what became Columbia, Cincinnati's first settlement. Stites, who hailed from New Jersey, was known for his tenacity, though his personal life wasn’t without scandal. Despite rumors of dubious morals and marital strife, Stites’ contributions to Cincinnati’s early growth were invaluable.

He established Columbia near the Little Miami River, a bustling hub that quickly became the region’s granary. Under Stites' leadership, the village saw the creation of the first school, church, and graveyard in the region. Though the settlement was ultimately forced to move due to flooding, Stites’ pioneering spirit helped sow the seeds of community in the area.

John Cleves Symmes: The Land Baron Visionary

If there’s one man who saw the potential of Cincinnati’s location, it was John Cleves Symmes. A visionary land baron, Symmes purchased two million acres between the Great and Little Miami rivers. While his grand plan to establish North Bend as a river trade center didn’t quite pan out, Symmes' contribution to the settlement of the Ohio River Valley was monumental.

Symmes, a former school teacher and Revolutionary War officer, had a knack for deal-making. He sold large parcels of land (sometimes more than once), and though financial trouble followed him throughout his life, his land dealings helped establish the foundations of modern-day Cincinnati. Symmes’ family legacy even extends to the White House, as his daughter Anna married William Henry Harrison, making him the father-in-law and great-grandfather to U.S. Presidents William and Benjamin Harrison.

Matthias Denman: The Quiet Partner

The least known of Cincinnati’s founding fathers, Matthias Denman, played a quieter but no less significant role in the city's birth. Born in New Jersey, Denman initially made his living selling buckskin britches. But it was his eye for land that truly left a lasting mark. In 1788, Denman purchased 800 acres of fertile river basin land, which would eventually become the heart of Cincinnati.

While Denman didn’t stick around long after the settlement began to grow, his early efforts to recruit settlers were crucial. Alongside Robert Patterson, he placed advertisements highlighting the advantages of the site on the Ohio River. Though Denman moved back to rural Ohio and New Jersey, his foresight helped shape the early development of Cincinnati.

Robert Patterson: Soldier, Settler, Survivor

If ever there was a man who embodied the pioneering spirit, it was Robert Patterson. Born in Pennsylvania, Patterson fought in the Revolutionary War and the Indian Wars, fighting alongside legends like Daniel Boone and George Rogers Clark. His military service gave him a deep understanding of the frontier, and it was this knowledge that led him to partner with Denman and John Filson in the founding of Cincinnati.

Patterson played a hands-on role in the city’s early days, bringing supplies and settlers to the area. After his time in Cincinnati, he went on to establish Dayton, Ohio, and his legacy continued through his grandson, John H. Patterson, founder of the National Cash Register Company. The Patterson family name still resonates in Ohio, especially with Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, a testament to his influence.

John Filson: The Dreamer Who Vanished

John Filson’s contribution to Cincinnati came in both words and maps. The Pennsylvania-born teacher and surveyor was responsible for coining the city’s original name—Losantiville—before it was changed to Cincinnati by Gen. Arthur St. Clair. But Filson’s legacy goes far beyond names. He was also the first to map Kentucky and write a book about its history, capturing the imagination of settlers and land speculators alike.

Tragically, Filson’s life came to an abrupt and mysterious end. In 1788, while surveying the area around Cincinnati, he disappeared. His body was never found, though it is believed he was killed by Native Americans. Despite his untimely death, Filson’s vision for the city and his role as a founding partner secured his place in Cincinnati’s story.

Israel Ludlow: The Man with the Plan

The youngest of the founding fathers, Israel Ludlow, was a 23-year-old surveyor when he took over after Filson’s disappearance. Ludlow’s work in plotting Cincinnati’s streets laid the framework for the modern city. He designed a north-south grid that mimicked the layout of Philadelphia, helping to organize the early settlement into a functional community.

Ludlow’s skills weren’t just limited to city planning. He played a crucial role in surveying the boundaries for the Treaty of Greenville in 1795, which brought an end to much of the conflict between Native Americans and the U.S. Army in the region. Ludlow’s influence also extended to Hamilton and Dayton, making him a key figure in the shaping of Ohio as we know it today.

While they may have faced incredible challenges—conflict with Native Americans, floods, financial woes, and personal struggles—these six men had the vision and determination to lay the foundations for what would become one of the most important cities in the Midwest. Each man brought something different to the table: Stites’ tenacity, Symmes’ ambition, Denman’s quiet foresight, Patterson’s bravery, Filson’s imagination, and Ludlow’s meticulous planning.

Together, these "original good guys" helped shape Cincinnati’s landscape, leaving a legacy that continues to influence the city today. When you walk through the neighborhoods they helped settle or gaze out at the Ohio River, remember the men who saw potential in this land long before it became the Queen City of the West. Their stories are Cincinnati’s story, and they laid the groundwork for everything that came after.