USA > Connecticut > Incidents of pioneer life in the early settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve > Part 3
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In the course of the ensuing winter, it was dis- covered by Edwards and Zeisberger, that the Indians of the vicinity had become hostile, and that their chief had threatened to exterminate every man, woman and child belonging to the mission. This alarming threat induced the spir- itual leaders of the mission to remove as soon as practicable with their converts to Black River, about twenty miles west from the Cuyahoga. This occurred early in the spring of the next year after they had located at "Pilgrim's Rest," where they had ploughed and sowed, expecting to reap, but did not reap; and where they had sought rest, but found none.
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They had remained at Black River but three days, when the Indian chief, who was the poten- tate of that region, ordered them to depart with- out delay. Feeling that they had not "where to lay their heads," these Christian pilgrims of the forest took their departure, and returned to their former location on Huron River. Here they found that a change had come over their "dreams" of security. This induced them to continue their wanderings into the friendly dominions of Canada, where they were received with kindness and with true Christian sympathy. .
If we may judge from the efforts which have from time to time been made to civilize and Christianize the aborigines of our great western wilderness, it would seem that all such efforts have hitherto failed to produce favorable results of a permanent character. « The truth is, the Indian was born of the forest and for the forest. He therefore loves his native freedom with an in- stinctive love, which admits of no artificial restraint. He cannot comprehend the subtilties of a Christian theology. He believes in the pro- tection and guidance of the Great Spirit whose infinite power he sees displayed in the works of Nature, and whom he worships at the altars of Nature. He regards the Great Spirit as his divine Father, who will safely conduct him, when he dies, into the happy hunting grounds which
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, lie far away beyond the golden boundaries of the setting sun.
" His soul proud science never taught to stray Far as the solar walk or milky way;
Yet simple nature to his hope has given, Behind the cloud-topt hill, an humbler heaven."
CHAPTER VI.
Surveyors arrive at Conneaut, July 4th, 1796-Celebrate the day -Stowe's Castle-Indian Council-Reply of Gen. Moses Cleaveland-Pipe of Peace-Mutual Gifts-The surveys allowed.
THE wilds of the Western Reserve, and in fact the entire western frontier, had been penetrated at different points by English and French traders, and other bold adventurers, a good number of years, previous to the arrival of the surveyors. They were a class of men not only fond of adven- ture, but men stimulated by a "love of lucre," and therefore sought to monopolize the Indian traffic. In doing this, they unconsciously pre- pared the way for the ingress of a Christian civil- ization.
The State of Connecticut, sold her Western Reserve lands, in 1795, to a company of her own citizens, known as the Connecticut Land Company, for one million and two hundred thousand dollars. This Company consisted of
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forty-eight of her most wealthy and reliable citizens. The avails arising from the sale were placed in the State treasury and made a per- manent school fund, the interest of which is annu- . ally appropriated to the support of her public schools, and is said to be sufficient to sustain them withont aid from taxation. This disposition of the lands has resulted in educational benefits which cannot be over estimated.
The Connecticut Land Company, soon after their purchase, sent to the Western Reserve an organized party of surveyors, with a view to allot the lands and place them in the market. The party consisted of Moses Cleaveland, general agent of the Land Company; Augustus Porter, princi- pal surveyor; Seth Pease, astronomer and sur- veyor ; Moses Warren, Amos Spofford, Milton Hawley and Richard M. Stoddard, assistant sur- veyors ; Joseph Stowe, commissary ; Theodore Shepard, physician, and Joseph Tinker, principal boatman. The surveyors were accompanied by some forty individuals, who came as immigrants with a view to settlement. There were but two married men who brought with them their wives, and these were the only women belonging to the party. They all came by way of the lakes in open boats, and landed on the eastern bank of Conneaut Creek, in Ashtabula County, on the fourth of July, 1796, and named it " Port Independence."
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They arrived at an early hour, moored their boats, thanked God for his paternal care, and then resolved to "celebrate the day." As it hap- . pened the day was remarkably pleasant, and the air bracing. They proceeded at once to extem- porize the necessary preparations for the celebra- tion, and appointed Gen. Moses Cleaveland president of the day. A rustic table was soon constructed, and made to groan with the "luxuries of the season," consisting of bread, pork and beans, with a sufficiency of the "ardent" to pre- vent injury from indiscreet "potations " of cold water.
They partook of the feast with a keen relish, and when they had relieved the table of its burden, they announced the toasts, and called for speeches, in due order. The standing toasts were arranged as follows : 1st. " The President of the United States." 2nd. "The State of New Connec- ticut." 3d. "The Connecticut Land Company." 4th. "May Port Independance and the fifty sons and daughters who have entered it this day, be successful and prosperous." 5th. " May these sons and daughters multiply in sixteen years, sixteen times fifty." 6th. " May every person have his bowsprit trimmed and ready to enter every port that opens."
The punch-bowl consisted of a large bucket filled to the brim with lemon punch adapted to
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the taste, and strong enough to excite not only a due degree of hilarity, but to inspire the speeches with a felicitous style of eloquence. Of course the speeches in response to the standing toasts were loudly applauded, and honored at the close with the discharge of a volley of musketry. The punch-bowl, as may well be supposed, was re- plenished several times during the exercises, which were continued till sunset, when the party retired for the night to their boats in good order and in good "spirits," feeling that they had had "glory enough for one day." This was unques- tionably the first 4th of July celebration which took place within the limits of the Western Reserve.
The next day after the celebration, the party united in cutting timber and in erecting a huge elephantine log-structure for their own temporary accommodation, and named it "Stowe's Castle," in honor of Joshua Stowe, who was their commis- sary. It was built of unhewn logs and covered with a thatched roof composed of brush, wild grass and sod. Its style of architecture was entirely unique, and its uncouth appearance such as to provoke the laughter of the builders and the ridi- cule of the Indians.
In the course of a few days after the completion of the castle, "Moses," as Gen. Cleaveland was familiarly called, because he had, like Moses of
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old, led his followers into the wilderness, divided his company of surveyors into small parties and sent them to different parts of the Reserve to com- mence their official labors. This movement excited the suspicions of the Indians, who at once manifested a disposition to interfere and prevent the execution of the work. But, instead of tak- ing hostile steps in the first instance, the principal Chief, Piqua, dispatched a message to the intru- ders on his domains and desired to know by what authority they had taken possession, and requested them to meet him in council with a- view to effect an amicable understanding of the matter. The party at once agreed that a formal council should be held the next day, after the re- ceipt of the message, and appointed the hour and place.
The chief and his attendants, bedecked with paint and plumes, appeared at the hour ap- pointed, and seating themselves in a circle beneath the shadow of the castle invited "Moses" to take a seat in the center. The council then commenced proceedings by first smoking gravely the pipe of peace. This ceremony was then fol- lowed by a speech from Cato, the son of the old chief Piqua, who had instructed his son as to what he should say. Cato prefaced his speech by saying that he thanked the Great Spirit for giving the council a pleasant day and for bring-
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ing the white men into the country of the Indians, and then desired to know what was the object of the visit, and what the white men intended to do with the Indians, urging that the Great Spirit had given them the wilderness for their permanent home, and supplied its rivers with fish and its forests with game for their support. He then con- cluded his speech with the expression of a desire that peace and friendship might be maintained between the Indians and their white visitors.
Gen. Cleaveland, who was in fact, as well as in name, the "Moses" that had led the white adventurers into the wilderness, then arose and replied to the young orator, stating that the white men were the friends and brothers of the Indians, and that the Indians need have no fears of being disturbed in the enjoyment of their just rights, and that both white men and Indians should live together in peace and in the bonds of friendship, and should endeavor to promote the true interests and welfare of both races.
This kind and conciliatory reply so pleased the Indians, that they with one accord presented "Moses" with the "pipe of peace" and with silver trinkets and other gifts of considerable value, all of which he accepted in the most gra- cious manner. He then returned all the gifts accompanied with a keg of whisky and some glass beads for the squaws to the Indians, who
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were not only surprised, but highly delighted with such an act of noble generosity. The Indians then consented that the surveys might proceed, and declared that they would not inter- fere to prevent the progress of the work. The object of the survey was to lay out the entire Reserve into townships of five miles square, and the townships into one hundred acre lots, prepar- atory to placing the lands in market.
CHAPTER VII.
Gen. Cleaveland with a detachment of surveyors leaves Couneaut -Discovers a river-Names it "Chagrin"-Arrives at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, July 22-Selects the spot for a city-His Staff names it Cleaveland-First Settlers -- Pease's Hotel-First live stock-Indian Sports-The Bear-Spafford's Map-Price of Lots-Lorenzo Carter- James Kingsbury's Trip and Experiences-Commerce- Indian Assassinated-Dog Feast-Bicknell's sad fate.
IN less than three weeks after landing at Con- neaut, a division of the surveying party with Gen. Cleaveland at its head, embarked in an open boat, and coasted westward along the Lake Shore, bound for the Cuyahoga River; but finding an intervening river not traced on the chart, and supposing it to be the Cuyahoga, they entered it, and after considerable delay discovered their mistake. They felt so chagrined about it, that they named the river " Chagrin, " a designation which it still retains.
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The party now continued their voyage along the coast, until they reached the veritable Cuya- hoga, which they entered on the 22d of July, and after advancing a short distance in its channel, attempted to land, but in their efforts to do so, ran their boat into the marshy growth of wild vegetation which skirted the easterly bank of the river, and stranded her. Here "Moses," like his ancient name's sake, found himself cradled in the bulrushes. This occurred near the foot of Union Lane, which was at that time the termination of an Indian trail. This second "Moses" however, was no infant, but was in fact, equal to any emer- gency. The party soon succeeded in effecting a safe landing. They then ascended the precipi- tous bluff which overlooked the valley of the river, and were astonished to find a broad and beautiful plain of woodland stretching far away to the east, west and south of them, and lying at an eleva- tion of some eighty feet above the dark blue waters of Lake Erie. The entire party became enamored of the scene.
"Moses" with the eye of a prophet foresaw that a great commercial city was here destined to spring into existence at no distant day, and ac- cordingly directed a survey to be made into town lots of so much of the land as was included within the angle formed by the Lake and easterly side of the river, and as far southeasterly as
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seemed requisite for the location of the predicted city. When the survey was completed, he felt the importance of selecting a suitable name for the new city, but was perplexed in coming to a satisfactory decision and requested his associates to favor him with their suggestions. They at once baptized the infant city and gave it the name of "Cleaveland," in honor of their superior in authority. "Moses" was taken by surprise, blushed and gracefully acknowledged the com- pliment. The letter "a" in the first syllable of his name, was subsequently dropped out by a resident editor of the town, because he could not include it in the head-line of his newspaper for want of sufficient space. The public adopted the editor's orthography which has ever since been retained.
. Gen. Moses Cleaveland was no ordinary man. He was a native of Canterbury, Conn., and gradu- ated at Yale College in 1777. He afterwards studied law and practiced his profession with success in his native town, and in the course of a few years acquired an enviable reputation ; was elected a member of the State Legislature, and subsequently advanced to the position of Brigadier General of the Militia, which at that day was re- garded as a distinguished honor. He was a gentleman of polished manners and unquestioned integrity, and enjoyed the entire confidence of the
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public. In personal appearance he was of medium height, compact and swarthy in complex- ion, so swarthy that the Indians were inclined to regard him as one of their race. He was cool, deliberate, and always self-possessed, as well as brave and courageous amid threatening dangers, and especially popular with his associates. He was a man of few words and of profound thought. He foresaw, in the future, what time has verified. The City of Cleveland may well refer with pride to her inheritance of his name.
The surveyors very soon after landing at Cleve- land erected within its original limits a log-store- house and several log-cabins for their own accommodation and that of a few immigrants, who had followed them with the design of settling or finding employment, in the region of the Cuyahoga. One of these cabins was called "Pease's Hotel," and was doubtless occupied as a boarding house. The most of the cabins were located between Union Lane and the river, a little north of the present viaduct or elevated bridge, where existed at that time a large open spring of excellent water. John P. Stiles and wife took charge of "Pease's Hotel" at Cleveland, while Elijah Gun and wife remained at Conneaut in charge of "Stowe's Castle," during the first winter. The wives of these men were the only women who came into the country with the sur- veying party in 1796.
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The entire live-stock which the company brought with them consisted of thirteen horses, two yoke of oxen, and three or four milch cows, for their own use. That division of the party remaining at Conneaut, during the first winter, suffered intensely for the want of a sufficient sup- ply of provisions, and many of them must have perished from hunger, except for the kindness of the Indians. At that time the natives, composed of various original tribes, who occupied the lands of the Reserve, had become quite numerous, especially in the vicinity of both Conneaut and Cleveland. They took great delight in observing their own ancient customs and recreations.
It had become a common practice with most of them, after completing their autumnal hunt, to encamp for the winter on the westerly bluff, at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, in considerable numbers. They seemed to have selected this locality with a view to trade with the white men whom they called "Sagamosh," and at the same time to while away the winter, as they best could, by indulging in a variety of rude sports. Seneca was one of their distinguished chiefs, who, with 'his tribe, preferred to encamp on the easterly side of the river. He was not only a true friend of the white man, but a noble specimen of true man- hood. For the most part both the red and white races preserved amicable relations, and were
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much benefited by a reciprocal interchange of commodities. £ Cleveland at this time was re- garded as simply a trading post.
While some of the surveyors were encamped at Cleveland, they became straitened for meat. Seeing a bear swimming across the river from the west to the east side, they turned out and sur- rounded him at the landing; but the bear reversed his direction amid shots and shouts, and escaped. The party, however, on their return, captured a huge rattlesnake. This they cooked and ate with a keen relish, and thought it a rare delicacy.
The first map which was made of Cleveland, after completing the survey, bears date Oct. 1st, 1796. It was constructed of several sheets of fools-cap paper pasted together so as to afford the extension of surface required, and is known as "Spafford's Map." Subsequently other maps were made, one of which is designated as " Pease's Map." There is but little difference between the two, while both are regarded as authorative. On Spafford's map Superior street was designated as "Broad street," and Miami street as "Deer street." The latter was so named from the cir- cumstance that while the survey of it was pro- gressing a deer approached and gazed at the sur- veyors for some minutes, with a seeming desire to ascertain what this kind of a strange proceeding
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meant, and then bounded away into the depths of the forest. Seneca street has the honor of deriv- ing its name from the good old Indian chief Seneca, who befriended the surveyors and early pioneers.
Soon after the completion of the surveys appli- cations began to be made for the purchase of lots. The prices were fixed by a committee both of city lots and adjoining ten acre lots. The price of a city lot was fifty dollars, and that of a ten acre lot thirty dollars. Outside of these came twenty acre lots at forty dollars, and then hundred acre lots at one hundred dollars. It was required of purchasers to pay twenty per cent. of the pur- chase money in hand, and the balance in three annual instalments with annual interest. The purchasers were also required to settle on their respective lots within the ensuing year, 1797. But few lots, however, were sold on these terms during 1796. In the course of the next two years a goodly number of immigrants arrived, who purchased lots and built cabins, at various points, in the city and in its vicinity.
The prevalence of fever and ague, at Cleveland, induced several families to settle on the ridge, or elevated lands bordering on what is now known as the Woodland Hills Avenue. Among those who selected the ridge, as a place of residence, were James Kingsbury, Rhodolphus Edwards
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and James Hamilton, while others settled at points more directly east and south from Cleve- land. Among those who located at Cleveland, at this early period, was Lorenzo Carter. He was an eccentric character, an expert hunter, and soon acquired almost an unbounded influence and con- trol over the Indians, who came to regard his word as law, and who well knew if they dis- obeyed him that his rifle was sure to enforce obedience. He built his cabin on the declivity of the hill, a little distance north of the viaduct and near the line of Union Lane. It was a staunch log structure, and built with a view to security against attacks which might be made by the In- dians.
Mrs. James Kingsbury was the mother of the first white child born on the Western Reserve. The child was born at Conneaut in December, 1796, where the family were domiciled for the win- ter, in a rickety log cabin which the surveyors had abandoned early in the fall of that year. Mr. Kingsbury returned to his native State of New Hampshire on important business, and was so long delayed by sickness while there, that he did not, on his return trip, reach Conneaut until Christmas eve, when he found his wife, who had recently given birth to a child, apparently in a dying condition from exhaustion and want of proper food. The child had died and the mother
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had been compelled to bury it. This she did as best she could beneath the drifted snow and for- est leaves near the cabin, and then betook herself to her comfortless bed with the expectation that she too must soon die. On the very first night after burying her child, while in this helpless and despairing condition, she heard a footstep and then a rap at her cabin door; she was startled, but unable to rise or answer. She then heard a voice which she recognized as that of her husband. The moment he opened the door she sprang. wild with delight, from her bed to meet him, and then fell to the floor from exhaustion. This sudden revelation of her pitiful and destitute condition nearly unmanned her heroic husband. He saw the necessity of effort to restore his wife, and made every effort in his power. He acted the
part of a nurse with success. He baked bread, shot wild game and prepared for her a nourishing diet. She soon so far recovered as to be able to care for herself and her household. His bread- stuffs had now become exhausted. He managed to procure a bushel of wheat and drew it to mill on a hand sled, some forty miles, to Erie, Pa., and returned on the third day with the flour to Conneaut.
In the spring of 1797 Mr. Kingsbury with his family removed from Conneaut to Cleveland, where he planted and raised a field of corn the
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same year, on a patch of land which the Indians had cleared, and which embraced within its limits the ground on which the City Hall and Catholic cathedral now stand. In the fall, after harvesting his corn, he retired to the ridge, where he pur- chased a farm and continued to reside during the remainder of his life.
Cleveland commenced her career in 1796, with a population of but four persons. In 1797 her population increased to fifteen, and in the course of the next three years was reduced to seven per- sons. The unhealthfulness of the locality had in- duced a removal to more elevated lands in the vicinity. But few, if any, except the family of Lorenzo Carter remained. Year after year now elapsed, with but slight accessions to the popula- tion of Cleveland. Numbers of her most enter- prising citizens removed to Newburgh, where ex- isted an excellent water power, and where the atmosphere, as they believed, was more salubri- ous. These advantages induced them to think that Newburgh, instead of Cleveland, was destined to become the great metropolis of the Reserve.
The only highways which existed in the country at this time were narrow paths, designated by blazed trees and a few old Indian trails. The . trails were well beaten paths, which had existed from time immemorial, leading from one distant point of the country to another. One led from
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Buffalo along the lake shore to Detroit. Another from the Ohio river by way of the "Portage, " as it was called, to the mouth of the Cuyahoga river. They concentrated at Cleveland, where the river was crossed by a ferry, established by the Indians. In this way the principal trading posts erected by the French and English, were made accessible, and furnished the early pioneers with the facilities of securing an important com- mercial intercourse with those distant points of trade. The goods and provisions needed were transported on pack-horses. While Cleveland was the central point on the lake shore, Newburgh took the lead in respect to population. Hence Cleveland acquired the reputation of being a "'small village six miles from Newburgh."
David Bryant's distillery, under the hill, was the "center of attraction" in the youthful days of Cleveland. It was here that the largest " so- ciables" were held on holidays, Sundays and nearly every other day in the week. It was for a long time the only fashionable resort on Sunday, and though the Gospel was sometimes preached on that day in the school-room of the town, yet the distillery maintained its ascendency, and "with a long pull and a strong pull " drew many souls the " other way. "
It was here that both white men and Indians delighted to assemble and vie with each other in
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partaking of "fire water, " as the Indians very properly designated the products of the distillery. Here they played at cards, and also amused themselves with foot-racing, shooting at coppers with bows and arrows, and paid their bets in the current coin of " fire water. "
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