USA > Connecticut > Incidents of pioneer life in the early settlement of the Connecticut Western Reserve > Part 6
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and requested him to send up a bottle of his best "brand" to the gentleman's parlor, when all united in exhausting its contents and indulging in merriment, interspersed with roars of laughter, until a late hour, when Willey was allowed to return, unquestioned, to the bridal chamber.
Notwithstanding their "quips, cranks, and wanton wiles," Wood and Willey ever remained fast friends. They were both men of remarkable talent, who enjoyed the public confidence, and who were especially popular with the masses. In the midst of a brilliant professional career they were both elected at about the same time to the General Assembly of the State-Wood to the Senate and Willey to the House. Subse- quently both were elevated to the Bench, Wood to the Judgeship of the Supreme Court and Wil- ley to the Judgeship of the Court of Common Pleas. Both became eminent as Judges. After a service of some years on the Supreme Bench, Wood was twice elected Governor of the State, and in both instances by large majorities: They were both self-made men, and have left a noble record behind them. Willey died in June, 1841, and Wood in October, 1864.
In her early career, Cleveland remained for many years essentially stationary. Nothing con- tributed so much to her advancement in popula- tion and wealth as the introduction of steam
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navigation on Lake Erie. It was the steamboat "Walk-in-the-Water" that inaugurated a new era for Cleveland. The village of Brooklyn, located on the opposite side of the river, partook largely of the commercial advantages and gen- eral prosperity which had advanced Cleveland, and for similar reasons.
This manifest indication of prosperity rapidly increased from year to year, until it induced the landed aristocracy of both Cleveland and Brook- lyn to believe that the lands which they re- spectively owned would become of immense value, and finally make them and their heirs " millionaires," if the question could be settled as to which of the two rival villages should in the future become the great commercial city of the Lake. The rival aristocracies attempted to settle the question by negotiation, but could only "agree to disagree." Both parties then resorted to a strategetic system of local improvements on their respective sides of the river for the purpose of securing material advantages in regard to pub- lic travel and harbor facilities.
James S. Clark, who owned lands on the Cleve- land side of the river, situated on Prospect, Ontario and Champlain streets, and also lands extending along Columbus street, and south of the bridge and river, erected the first bridge across the river, known as the Columbus street
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bridge, with a view to divert the public travel from Brooklyn in a more direct route to Cleve- land. The opening of this new route had the desired effect. In retaliation the west side land speculators purchased the Carter farm, which in- cluded the old river bed near the mouth of the river, and cut a ship-canal connecting the river with its old channel and the Lake, at a consid- erable distance west of its present entrance into the Lake. This was done to take from Cleveland the harbor and transfer it to Brooklyn.
As might be expected a belligerent spirit was aroused between the rival villages, which, like "Banquo's ghost," would not be put down. With a view to secure additional advantages, warehouses and other improvements were con- structed on both sides of the river. Determined to acquire a superior " name and fame," Cleveland obtained from the Legislature, early in the ses- sion of 1836, a city charter, and elected John W. Willey her first mayor. Her population at that time was five thousand. But Brooklyn was not to be outdone. She applied for a city char- ter, and before the session of 1836 closed, suc- ceeded in obtaining a city charter, by which it as- sumed the ponderous name of "Ohio City." Josiah Barber was elected Mayor. The popula- tion did not much exceed fifteen hundred.
The effect of these hasty measures was to ad-
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vance the value of city lots to fabulous prices, and to generate a spirit of public improvements, and thus increase the burdens of taxation. The fact that both cities adjoined each other and were only separated by the central line of the Cuya- hoga river, soon led to perplexing difficulties, involving questions of municipal jurisdiction. The land speculators continued to exercise un- due influences in controlling the legislation of the respective City Councils.
One of the most sagacious and active land spec- ulators of Cleveland was James S. Clarke. He built and owned the Columbus street bridge. He was not only an intelligent gentleman, but a shrewd tactician. He foresaw that a collision be- tween the two corporations, in respect to the rightful jurisdiction of the bridge, must soon oc- cur, and, therefore, made a donation of it to the city of Cleveland, which was accepted. Though the dividing line between the two cities was the center of the river, Cleveland claimed to be legally invested with the entire title to the bridge. Ohio City claimed exclusive jurisdiction over the south half of it, and insisted on its abatement, because it diverted public travel from that city to Cleveland. The citizens of both cities became excited.
The west siders "declared war" on the bridge, and proceeded with all the "pomp and circum-
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stance of war" to destroy it. The force was armed with axes, saws and crow-bars, and marched to the battle-field, bearing aloft the "stars and stripes," and keeping step to the music. The east siders beheld the demonstration, and, rallying an opposing force, led by several city officials, planted a swivel, heavily charged with musket ball, on the Cleveland side, so di- rected as to rake the entire line of the bridge, with a gunner about to apply the match, when the west siders, who had already destroyed the draw of the bridge and partially blown up two of its abutments, made a furious charge on the swivel and spiked it. The battle then became general between the contending belligerents, who fonght without regard to commands or military tactics. pell-mell, with crow-bars, axes, clubs and pistols, while the blood flowed copiously from many a gash and bruise. A good number on both sides would have been killed outright, had not the sheriff of the county and the city mar- shal of Cleveland, appeared with additional forces and taken possession of the bridge. They then arrested the ring-leaders of the west side rioters and lodged them in jail. Both parties, however,
claimed the victory. The courts finally settled the bridge question. Yet the rivalry and jeal- ousy of the two cities continued to a greater or less extent for the next eighteen years, when a
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more genial and friendly spirit prevailed, result- ing in a matrimonial union of the two cities, which was consummated in the love-inspiring month of June, in the year 1855. Since that the hearts of both " have beat as one."
In consequence of this union of name and of interests, Cleveland has become a large and pop- ulous city. She has extended her borders, and now includes within the limits of her domain nearly thirty square miles, or about twenty thous- and acres, with a population of one hundred and seventy thousand. What her future is to be, or what will be the aggregate of her population in fifty years more, who can predict? Yet we know she has already achieved the enviable reputation of being the gem of American cities-
" The beautiful city on the Lake Shore."
CHAPTER XII.
Warren and its First Settlers-Capt. Quimby and his Log Cabin -The "Old Man of the Woods "-Salt Springs. and Price of Salt-Depredations of Wild Animals-Slaughter of the Snakes-The first Dry Goods Store-A Periodical Boat on the Mahoning-First 4th of July Celebration at Warren.
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When Gov. St. Clair, in the year 1800, erected the Western Reserve into a single county and gave it the name of Trumbull. he fixed the county seat at Warren. The town plat contained at that time a territory of but a mile square. It was surveyed into town lots with streets crossing at right angles by Ephraim Quimby, who was the original proprietor. He gave the town the name of Warren as a compliment to Moses Warren, a worthy friend of his, who resided at Lime, in the State of Connecticut. Quimby was therefore considered the father of the town, and was gen- erally spoken of as "the Captain." He was ap- pointed by the Governor as one of the county Judges, yet his acquaintances continued to call him "Captain" instead of Judge.
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The first house, or rather log cabin, which was erected at Warren, was built by William Fenton, in 1798; and the second by Quimby in 1799, who, anticipating the needs of the future, constructed his cabin on a much larger scale than Fenton, and so arranged it as to contain three spacious apartments, a kitchen, dormitory and jail, so that all classes of people, who might " happen that way," whether honest travelers or rogues, could be accommodated with suitable lodgings. It was well understood that immigrants in those days, who came into the Reserve from the East- ern States, were quite as likely to prove fugitives from justice as honest men. Hence the necessity of a jail. It was not long after the jail was built before it was occupied. The name of the individual, who enjoyed the reputation of being its first occupant, was Perger Sheley. He was arrested on the charge of threatening to kill Judge Young. At this time the town contained but sixteen settlers, one of whom was William Tucker, who had served as a spy in sundry ex- peditions, commanded by the famous Captain Brady.
The early settlements in the vicinity of Warren commenced for the most part in 179S; though a few adventurers, it is said, had penetrated this region at an earlier period, Among these was an "old man of the woods," who was seen but oc-
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casionally, and who was known by the name of "Merryman." He was a merry, jolly old chap, whose place of lodgement in the "vast wilder- ness" was unknown; yet whenever he appeared in the settlements he always seemed the happiest man alive, especially after exchanging his furs for ammunition of two kinds-powder and ball for his gun, and a few gallons of whisky for his "inner man." He came to be revered by the set- tlers as a mysterious person, possessed of mir- aculous powers in the healing art. He claimed to be able to cure "all manner of diseases" by administering a decoction of certain herbs known only to himself. He loved solitude, but hated civilization. He was supposed to be nearly sev- enty years of age, yet refused to give any ac- count of his life. He disappeared suddenly from the vicinity of Warren, and whither he went was never known.
It is quite probable that the Salt Spring tract, located in the township of Weathersfield near the Mahoning river, was known to white men as early as 1755. This may or may not be true. Augus- tus Porter, one of the surveying party, alludes to it as being an open ground of two or three acres where salt had evidently been manufactured for an indefinite series of years by the aborigines, and possibly by white men. He found the salt works in a state of general dilapidation. Among
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the evidences of their former occupation he dis- covered partly buried beneath the soil several plank vats, iron kettles, and other articles, which had been at one time employed in salt making by persons possessed of more skill and intelligence than the natives. He also found, at the time of his visit, an Indian and squaw engaged in boil- ing the saline waters to the consistency of salt in a very slow and primitive way. They sold the salt thus made to the white settlers who were glad to obtain it, though obliged to pay for it at the rate of sixteen dollars a bushel.
In connection with their embarrassments at this early period the settlers were constantly annoyed in the vicinity of Warren by the depredations of ferocious animals, such as wolves, bears and wild cats. These marauders of the forest would ap- proach the cabins of the settlers almost every night, seize and devour their poultry, pigs, calves, and even yearlings, and sometimes carried off hogs weighing a hundred and fifty pounds or more. They often set upon the grown horned cat- tle, surrounded them, and fought pitched battles with them, which generally resulted in a grand stampede of the cattle to "parts unknown." This gave the owners a great deal of trouble in searching for their oxen and cows, and in recov- ering them.
In addition to this annoyance from wild beasts,
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the country in certain localities was infested with myriads of rattlesnakes and blacksnakes, and many of them of huge proportions. In the town- ship of Braceville, not far from Warren, an ex- tensive colony of these reptiles occupied an ele- vated range of land with ledges of rocks cropping out in which were open crevices leading down in- to spacious caves where snakes burrowed in com- mon, and enjoyed a safe and amicable lodgement. There was a fine open spring of water near the foot of the hill to which the snakes resorted for drink. In fair weather thousands of them con- gregated on the slope of the hill to bask in the genial sunlight, especially in the vernal months of the year. In fact they monopolized the terri- tory of the hill and its vicinity, and nobody dared venture within the circle of their dread domains.
This state of things induced a gallant company of youngerly men from Warren, in time of peace, to " prepare for war." They armed themselves with clubs, spears, pitchforks and shot-guns, placed themselves under command of Captain Oviatt, and, selecting a warm May morning, quietly yet bravely marched to the sunny slope of the hissing territory. In ascending the hill the tramp of the invaders alarmed the coiled enemy, who lay encamped by thousands on the hillside. Thus startled they rallied, took a fight-
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ing attitude by facing their invaders with lifted heads, flashing eyes and darting tongues, when Captain Oviatt, waving his spear and leading the van, ordered a simultaneous attack and bade his men strike ----
"Strike till the last armed foe expires, Strike for your altars and your fires,"
and they did strike, blow after blow, thick and fast, until they exterminated a large share of the embattled host, while the survivors, hissing ven- geance, retreated to their dens in the rocks and left their slain still weltering in blood and quiver- ing in death-
" And the red fleld was won-"
nor did the victors lose a man or suffer harm. Captain Oviatt surveyed the wide-spread car- narge and laughed. His brave men caught the infection ---
" When loudly rang the proud hurrah."
They then proceeded to gather the dead, and extinguish the lives of the wounded which were so disabled that they could not retreat, when they found that they had slain 486, some of them more than five feet long, and as large around as a man's ankle.
Not satisfied with this, one of the men under- took to assail the snakes in their den, and leaping with a spear in his hand upon the trunk of a small
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tree that lay prostrate across a yawning chasm or fissure in the rocks into which the enemy had glided for safety, commenced an indiscriminate slaughter of the snakes, coiling in their den and maddened into a wild frenzy, when he slipped and fell from the trunk of the tree on which he was standing into the mouth of the chasm, but as luck would have it, caught a firm hold on a shrub projecting from the side of the chasm, be- fore reaching the snakes below, and while scream . ing in distress, was rescued from his perilous sit- uation by his companions, and thus saved from a terrible death. The snakes, though diminished, were not exterminated until many years after- wards.
The first merchant who attempted to supply Warren and its vicinity with dry goods was James E. Cadwell. He kept his stock of mer- chandise on a boat, or canoe, which he propelled up and down the Mahoning River by paddles and a setting pole, blowing his horn as he came in sight of the town or neared a settlement, and landing at eligible points invited trade from the settlers. He was liberally patronized, and always received with a kindly welcome. He was accus- tomed to visit Warren every two weeks, and always conducted trade on board his boat, which he readily converted into a mercantile shop by extending a rough board across it for a counter,
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on which he displayed his merchandise in a way so attractive as to delight the eyes of his cus- tomers, and especially the eyes of the ladies, who admired the gay colors of his English calicoes.
The ladies of those days generally dressed in homespun and checked aprons. The few who could afford to dress in English calicoes were re- garded as belonging to the aristocracy of the country. The marriageable girls, though attrac- tive in homespun, aspired to calicoes, but never dreamed of silks and satins. The young men, in selecting wives, had the sense to see that a beautiful girl and a beautiful dress are two very different things. In a word, it was true hearts and willing hands that characterized the times.
The first public celebration of the Fourth of July, with the exception of the informal observ- ance of that day at Conneaut by the surveying party in 1796, came off at Warren in 1800. The early settlers from far and near attended. Among the more distinguished guests were John Young, Calvin Austin, and others from Youngstown, and Gen. Edward Paine and Judge Eliphalet Austin from the Lake Shore, with a goodly number of other prominent pioneers from the surrounding country.
. When assembled it was found that neither a musical band, nor musical instruments, had been
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provided to enliven the occasion. As it hap- pened, however, there were two musicians pres- ent, the one a fifer and the other a drummer. They resolved on supplying the desired music. The lifer soon manufactured for himself a fife cut from the stem of an elder-bush, while the drum- mer cut down a hollow pepperidge tree, and from a section of its trunk constructed a drum cylinder, and supplied it with heads cut from a fawn skin, using plow-lines for cords to stretch the heads to the proper tension. He then carved with a penknife a pair of drum-sticks, suspended the extemporized drum to his neck, and, falling into line with the fifer, furnished the waiting assembly with a satiety of patriotic music, by their skillful rendition of such pieces as "Yankee Doodle" and "Hail Columbia."
After the assembly had marched to the grove and heard an extemporaneous oration full of fire and patriotism, they proceeded to the rustic din- ner table and partook liberally of the "best the country afforded." Then came toasts and patriotic speeches, interluded by the firing of an old musket, and crowned with hurrahs and unmeasured potations of whisky. The exercises, as they progressed, became more and more ex- citing and hilarious, and were continued with "one accord" until the whisky was exhausted, when the assembly dispersed in as orderly a
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manner as became the occasion, every man to his home, feeling that he had had a "good time."
The whisky of those days was a pure article, used only as a social beverage or tonic, and, unlike the poisonous whisky of modern manu- facture, did not kill a man at "forty rods," nor induce him to elevate his footsteps lest the rising ground should smite him in the face. While "temperance in all things" should be regarded as not only a divine precept, but as obligatory on all men, yet we know that Saint Paul approved of a little wine for the " stomach's sake." There is no reason to believe, however, that any of the early pioneers were habitual drunkards; and yet they doubtless concurred in opinion with the apostle, and in the absence of wine substituted whisky, which they distilled from grain they themselves had raised, and which they regarded as but the "staff of life" presented in a liquid form. They were acute in their logical deduc- tions. At that time the "temperance question" was unknown. Had it been known they doubt- less would have remained of the " same opinion still." Yet theirs was a moral standard which has by no means been excelled in these "latter days" of social refinement.
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CHAPTER XIII.
The. Whisky Debauch at Salt Springs-Two Indian Chiefs Killed by White Men-Consequent Alarm among White Settlers- Arrest of McMahon for Murder-His Trial and Acquit- tal-Indians Reconciled-Burial of their Dead-First Territorial Court held at Warren, between two Corn Cribs -Trials of Daniel Shehy and Lorenzo Carter-First Post Route-Simon Perkins, Postmaster-Storer Escapes.
IT was but a short time after the late celebra- tion of the Fourth of July, at Warren, that an unhappy occurrence took place at the Salt Springs, between the Indians and three white men, who were engaged in manufacturing salt. A considerable number of Indians were encamped near the springs, several of whom had been to Youngstown, and but recently returned with a liberal supply of whisky. Whether specially invited, or not, the white men entered the Indian camp and were permitted to unite with the Indians in talting copious potations of the whisky and in having a general jolification.
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While indulging in this drunken frolic, the In- dians became quarrelsome, and compelled the white men to retreat into the forest for safety. The white men feeling that their lives were in danger succeeded in reaching Warren, where they rallied to their assistance eight or ten addi- tional men, and returned the next day to the Springs with a view to chastise the Indians for their insolence. They found the Indians still in camp at the springs, sitting on the ground in idle groups, and taking it easy after the previous day's debauch. Joseph McMahon. the foreman of the white men, who were manufacturing salt, boldly entered the circle and accosted the chief in the Indian language. The chief, whose name was Tuscarawa George, sprang to his feet, seized his hatchet and struck at McMahon, with the evident design to kill him, but failed in the attempt. McMahon having his rifle in hand then shot the chief, who fell dead on the spot. The chief, though possessed of an impulsive temperament, was much beloved and venerated by his tribe. He was tenacious of his rights, and suspicious of the ultimate intentions of the incursive white population, and often boasted that he had slain in his lifetime, with his own hand, more than a hundred white men.
This sudden and inglorious fall of their chief threw the Indians into confusion and a wild state
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of excitement, in the midst of which Richard Storer, from Warren, a friend of McMahon, shot another Indian, known as "Spotted John," who had assumed a threatening attitude, and was standing partially hidden behind a tree with his squaw and her two pappooses, one of which was strapped on her back and the other clasped in her arms. The bullet fired by Storer struck the In- dian in the hip, sped on and unluckily broke the arm of one pappoose, the leg of the other and wonuded his squaw in the neck, though not seriously.
The news of this disastrous and unexpected oc- currence, created a panic among the inoffensive settlers at Warren, who felt that the Indians would take summary vengeance by massacreing the entire population of the town. They, there- fore, took the precaution to barricade themselves every night for two weeks, or more, in the staunch-built and capacious log-cabin of Capt. Quimby. But no attack, if contemplated, was made; yet the settlers thought it advisable to take speedy steps to appease the Indians.
They, therefore, caused McMahon to be ar- rested and taken to jail at Pittsburgh, where he remained for a short time, when he was returned to Youngstown and put on his trial for the crime of murder. The jury was composed of white men with several Indians who were the friends of
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. the defunct chief. McMahon plead not guilty, and claimed that he killed the chief in self de- fense. Both the Indians and white men were examined as witnesses, and after a full hearing and charge from the judge, the prisoner was ac- quitted by the verdict of the jury. The Indians generally concurred in the justice of the ver- dict. :
An attempt was made to arrest Storer for kill- ing "Spotted John," but he managed to escape. The Indians said they did not care to have Storer tried, for the reason that they well knew " Spot- ted John" to be a base fellow and did not much lament his death. It is said that several other Indians were killed in this quarrel at Salt Springs, or subsequent encounters growing out of it. How this may be is not satisfactorily known. It is evident, however, that the Indians, after the trial of McMahon, became reconciled, and that peaceable relations between the belliger- ent parties were restored.
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