HAMILTON COUNTY OHIO - BIOS: PIATT Family (published 1888)
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Hello-
This is taken from a book in my posession called
"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

It is too often the case that the history of a place deals with the strife 
and wars which have torn it from time to time, and so we learn alone of such 
men as have been brave with sword or gun.  Though these should no means be 
left out, there are others who may not have wielded the sword, yet have done 
quite as much for our land, and have as much or even more claim on our love 
and respect.

Of these, those brave men and women who gave up home and friends in the 
east, and came here to plan and lay out towns in this wild spot, that those 
who came after them might enjoy the fruits of their work - theirs are the 
names we should keep bright in our history and our thoughs.

Near the year 1800, Benjamin M. Piatt, then a young man, came with his 
bride, a Virginian of high birth, to live in Cincinnati.  Mr. Piatt was a 
lawyer, and his sound sense and clear head soon made him the lead in public 
affairs.  In time he was made Judge; and with his law partner, Nicholas 
Longworth, Esq., did much for the city in its young days.  It is said that 
Mrs. Piatt had the first piano brought to Cincinnati.  She did not dream 
that her taste, and wish to have her children well taught in all the things 
she had learned in Virginia, would be the first step towards making 
Cincinnati the music centre of the land; yet such was the case.

In the year 1828, Judge Piatt bought a large farm on the small stream which 
the Indians called Macochee, and on the spot where the Indian village of 
that name once stood.

Mrs. Piatt, whose taste was not confined to music alone, had the grounds 
laid out with great care; a large tract being filled with roses and other 
fine flowers.  The place is still owned by Judge Piatt's sons.

The eighth of these, the well-known scholar and writer, Donn Piatt, was born 
in Cincinnati, January 29, 1819; he taught at the Athenaeum, now St. Xavier 
College, and later studied law.  While President Pierce ruled our land, Mr. 
Piatt went to Paris as secretary to Mr. Mason, who was Minister to France.  
As Mr. Mason soon became too ill to attend to his duties, the whole charge 
of affairs fell to Mr. Piatt, and for more than a year were left in his 
hands.  During this time, his wife, a bright lady, fair in face and mind, 
wrote under the name of "Belle Smith" letters to the "New Era" of 
Washington, then having for its head the well-known Gamaliel Baily.  In time 
Donn Piatt started a paper in Washington called the "Capital" of which he 
was the head for a long time.

The fine sturdy traits of the judge are seen in this son, who has ever been 
noted for his firm, free views in the politics of the country and those 
things which go to make up our everyday life.

At present, Mr. Piatt is the Editor of "Belford's Magazine", one of the 
leading powers in our land.  Like his father, he is fond of the peace and 
quiet which farm life gives;  and when tired and worn by hard brain work, he 
flees to his home on the Macochee;  where, among his friends, his books, and 
his farm work, he gives the rest and health which only Dame Nature can give.

Two years younger than Donn, is his brother, A. Sanders Piatt, one of the 
brave sons of Ohio.  He was taught at the same college as his brother, and, 
like him, had the best traits of both parents.  When his school life was 
done, he chose to live on the farm; and went back to his lands in the rich 
valley of the Macochee, where he wrote or tilled the soil as he liked.

When the war of the Rebellion broke out in our land, he was one of the first 
to obey his country's call.  On April 30, 1861, he was made Colonel of the 
Thirteenth Ohio Infantry.  Later he raised a regiment, and clothed and fed 
them for a month and six days with his own gold.  This was called the first 
Zouave Regiment, from the fact that the men wore a fine red-legged uniform, 
which they were soon forced to give up.

As General Piatt did not join the army with the thought of making it his 
life work, after much brave fighting, he left the field and went back to the 
Macochee, where a large family of motherless children needed his care.  Here 
he can still be found at work in his fields or in his pleasant study.

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.

Mr. John J. Piatt, a cousin of this family, though not born in the state, is 
claimed by Ohio people. His poems have made his name known through our land; 
while that of his wife, Sarah M. B. Piatt, is also known and loved by all 
who read our magazines."


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