USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > History of the city of Cleveland : its settlement, rise and progress > Part 1
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Gc 977.102 C59ro 1441167
M. L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
GEN
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 02481 1074
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2016
https://archive.org/details/historyofcityofc00robi_0
20
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HISTORY /
OF THE
CITY OF CLEVELAND
ITS SETTLEMENT, RISE AND PROGRESS (, _
?
1
EDITED BY W. SCOTT ROBISON
ILLUSTRATED
CLEVELAND, OHIO: ROBISON & COCKETT-THE SUNDAY WORLD 1887
=
COPYRIGHT, 1887, BY F. D. LESLIE. All Rights Reserved.
THE WILLIAMS PUBLISHING COMPANY, PRINTERS.
1441167
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
9
Origin of the Name Cleaveland-General Moses Cleaveland-Mr. Kilbourn's Estimate - Connecticut's Claims in the Northwest -The Western Reserve-History of the Connecticut Land Com- pany-The Agent's Commission-The Founding of Cleveland.
CHAPTER II 14
Return of the Surveyors-The First Map of Cleveland- Difficulty with the Surveyors-A Winter's History-Arrival of the Kings- burys-Accident on the Grand River-The First Burial Ground- Major Lorenzo Carter-Completion of the Survey-The Enemy of the Swamps-The Founding of Newburg-The First Grist- Mill.
CHAPTER III.
20
The Erection of Trumbull County-Extent of Cleveland Township -The First Civil List-Rivalry with Newburg-The Bryants' Distillery-Trade with the Indians-Samuel Huntington-Local Autonomy-The First Town Meeting and Its Result-Organi- zation of Militia Districts-Settlement of Indian Claims-The Eve of War-General Hull's Surrender-Perry's Victory. i
I
ii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER IV
PAGE 26
The Village of Cleveland-Building and Improvement-Beginning of Cleveland Journalism-The Old Academy-Bits of Corporate Legislation-The First Fire Engine-The County-Seat Contro- versy-Preliminaries to the Canal-From Cleveland to Akron by Water-Government Appropriations for Harbor Improvements -Population in 1825-Land Speculation-Advantages of Cor- porate Organization.
CHAPTER V.
35
The Two Charters-Description of Cleveland-Versatile Men-First City Election-A Hopeful Outlook-Prosperity from the Canal- Early Methods of Transportation-Beginning of Railroad Enter- prise-The Various Schemes-Liberal Charters-Financial Dis- aster-Battle of the Bridge.
CHAPTER VI 44
Proceedings of the Council-First School Board-Temperance Reform -Inauguration of New Conditions-Mayor Dockstader's Address -Retrenchment of Municipal Expenditure-Common Schools- Organization of a Lyceum-Pro-Slavery Law of Ohio-The Inci- dent of 1841 - The Young Men's Literary Association-First High School.
CHAPTER VII. 51
Revival of Railroad Enterprise-The Various Lines-Incidents of Early Railroad History-The Grand Results-The Ohio State Bank and its Cleveland Branches-First Move for Annexation- Purchase of Woodland Cemetery-Various Improvements-Incep- tion and Building of the City Water-Works-Organization of the Board of Trade.
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111
CONTENTS.
PAGE 62
CHAPTER VIII
The United Cities-Comparison of Population-Sanitary Measures to Prevent Cholera-Improvement of the "Old River Bed " -- Opening of Trade with Lake Superior-First Meeting of the Joint Council - Serious Conflagration - Failure of the Canal Bank-Dedication of the New Council Hall-The Grays' New Armory-Rivalry in National Politics-The Public Square Con- troversy.
CHAPTER IX
73
Completion of the West Side Reservoir-A New Market House Built -Measures to Establish an Industrial School-Home Politics- The Hard Times of 1857-The Gubernatorial Contest Between Chase and Payne-Statement of Municipal Finances-The Anti- Lecompton Demonstration-The First Trans-Atlantic Telegram -Unveiling of Perry's Monument-Construction of the First Street Railroad.
CHAPTER X
84
The Irrepressible Conflict-Visit of Colonel Ellsworth's Zouaves- Rendition of the Fugitive Slave, Lucy-Visit of President-Elect Lincoln-Organization of Military Companies-The President's Call-Cleveland's Reply-Camp Taylor-Northern Ohio Militia Starts for the Front-The Conference of Governors at Cleveland -The Home Guards- Vallandigham and his Colleagues-Death of William Case-Creation of the Sinking Fund-Building of the West Side Street Railroad-Mass Meeting of Freemen in Cleve- land-Opening of the A. & G. W. Railroad-Obsequies of Colonels Creighton and Crane and Major Thayer-Return of the Seventh Regiment-The Old Baptist Church-The Ladies' Aid Society and its Good Work-Organization of the Pay Fire Department and the Introduction of the Telegraph System.
iv
CONTENTS.
PAGE 98
CHAPTER XI
Cleveland's Prosperity During the War-Fall of Richmond and Lee's Surrender-The Celebration of the Great Victory-The Assassina- tion of President Lincoln-The Laying in State of the Martyred President's Remains in Cleveland-A Review of the City's Indus- trial Development-Cleveland Becomes a Manufacturing City- The Growth of Public Institutions-Two Destructive Fires-The Provost-Marshal Convicted of Bribery - The Return of the Soldiers-Visits from the Famous Federal Generals-Sir Morton Peto-The Advent of the National Game of Base Ball-Mayor Chapin is Elected-The Equal Rights League-Establishment of the First Public Hospital.
CHAPTER XII 110
Active Efforts to Prevent Cholera- The Creation of a Health Board -Adoption of the Metropolitan Police System-President John- son in Cleveland-A Visit from Loyal Southerners-Opening of the Union Passenger Depot- Prosperity and Failure in Commerce - Two Executions for Murder-Incorporation of the Bethel Union -The Cleveland Library Association, now "Case Library"- Inception of the Local Historical Society-Opening of the Public Square.
CHAPTER XIII 120
The Firemen's Relief Association-Building of a New Orphan Asylum
-The First Iron Steamer-Bessemer Steel-A Severe Storm-The Fenians' Campaign Against Canada-Beginning of the Working- men's War for Wages-Two Death Sentences for Murder.
CHAPTER XIV. 130
Revival of Our Literary Spirit-Establishment of the City Public Library, the Kirtland Society of Natural Science and the Law Library Association-A Bit of Railroad History-City Elections - Cleveland Becomes the "City of National Conventions"- Incorporation of the Lake View Cemetery Association- Efforts to Secure Purer Water-Building of the Lake Tunnel-The Con- solidation of the Medical Colleges.
V
CONTENTS.
PAGE 138
CHAPTER XV
Cleveland's Growth-Increase in the Coal Trade= An Evolution in Iron - Petroleum and its Influence in the Commerce of Cleve- land-The Pressing Necessity for Better Transportation Facilities -History of Three Important Railroads-The Colorcd People's Celebration-Organization of the Northern Ohio Fair Association -Incidents of a Year.
CHAPTER XVI 149
The Work-House Separated from the Infirmary-The Necessity of a Re- form Farm-Celebration of Germany's Victory Over France- Creation of a Board of Park Commissioners-Purchase and Im- provement of Lake View Park-Visit of a Russian Duke-Annex- ation of East Cleveland Village-A Board of Fire Commissioners Created-The Fire Department Investigation.
CHAPTER XVII. 161
The Tax Relief League-Burning of the Newburg Insane Asylum- The Homoeopathic Hospital-Inventors' Exhibition - Relief to the Chicago Fire Sufferers- The Horse Epidemic of '72-Three Important Conventions- Annexation of Newburg-A Military Organization.
CHAPTER XVIII. 170
The Great Crash-The Women's Crusades-Labor Outbreaks- A National Sangerfest-The Lease of the Present City Hall-The Euclid Avenue Opera House-Establishment of the City Hospital -The Harbor of Refuge-Explosion of a Powder Mill.
CHAPTER XIX 183
Centennial Celebration-Incorporation of Riverside Cemetery - A Police Life and Health Fund-The Celebrated Invention of Charles F. Brush-Establishment in Cleveland of the Brush Electric Light Company - The Railroad Strike of 1877-The Cleveland Gatling Gun Battery and the First Cavalry Troop.
vi
CONTENTS.
PAGE 190
CHAPTER XX
A Grand Work of Charity-Completion of the Superior Street Viaduct -Donation to the City of Wade Park by J. H. Wade-Funeral of President Garfield.
CHAPTER XXI 201
Organization of the Early Settlers' Association-Building of Music Hall-Construction of the Fairmount Reservoir - The Smith Sunday Law-The New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad- The Case School of Applied Science - Building and Burning of the Park Theatre-The Freshet on the Flats-Introduction of a New Paving Material-Meeting in Cleveland of the American Medical Association -- Strike at the Cleveland Rolling Mills- The Cleveland & Canton Railway.
CHAPTER XXII 212
Strike of Telegraph Operators-Free School Supplies-The Great Conflagration on the Flats-Building of the City Fire-Boat -Labor Eruption at Newburg-General Grant Memorial Services -Rebuilding of the New Western Reserve Medical College-Re- districting the City-Construction of the New Central Viaduct- The Board of Industry-Fur Robbery-Reform in Elections- Table of Population-List of Mayors of Cleveland.
By F. T. Wallace, author of 'Men and Events of Half a Century,' P. W. Graham and John R. Commons.
Education in Cleveland. By B. A. Hinsdale. 227 Municipal Finances Statistics furnished by Thomas Jones. 264 Literature in Cleveland By Lizzie H. Neff. 304 Charities and Churches. 350
Biographical Sketches 391 Appendix.
PREFACE.
"S INCE our National Centennial," says a literary paragrapher in Harper's Magazine of last May, "especial attention has been given by many writers in different parts of the country to the development of local history." A glance through the catalogues of our prin- cipal libraries will confirm this statement. The impor- tance of our knowledge of history coming nearer home has just dawned upon the mind of the American people. The reason is, perhaps, the public realization of the fact that the historical period in the life of our large cities-the period of settlement and pioneer development-is past, and that the most favorable time for recording the events in a permanent form has arrived.
In bringing out the HISTORY OF THE CITY OF CLEVELAND, the publishers hope that an important contribution to the literature of Northern Ohio has been made. In endeavor- ing to profit by the experiences of the publishers of the histories of other cities, it was deemed most judicious to produce a book that could be sold at a price considerably less than that of the average local work of this kind. Voluminous and elaborate local histories, with their pro- portionately high cost, have not proved commercial suc-
ix
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PREFACE.
cesses. So large is the amount that one must read in these days to keep up with the times, that the majority of people find it necessary to select condensed treatments of subjects. They desire to become familiar with the general facts, but prefer not to go deeply into details. In carrying out the plan of this work, prolix statement of facts, long comments, expanded theories and tedious discussions have been avoided, and a clear, concise and direct style em- ployed, though the work is in no sense superficial. Many occurrences of interest at the time they transpired, but comparatively of no significance or importance in the history of the city, have been omitted. This book is a history of the city of Cleveland. It begins with the organization of the Connecticut Land Company and ends with the present year. The history of the Indian tribes which inhabited this region is not a part of the subject, and will be found in the works of historians of the aboriginal American races and of early missionary movements.
With these prefatory remarks the book is submitted to the public scrutiny, hoping that it will meet with popular favor.
Respectfully,
THE PUBLISHERS.
Cleveland, O., Dec. 5, 1887.
Colonel Charles Whittlesey.
original numbers of lots. From a drawing made by
Spafford's Map of Cleveland, from the first survey in 1796, showing
LAKE ERIE.
Bach St
191
19 2
193
1 : 2 3 : 4 : 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 17
13 : 14: 15: 16: 17 18: 19: 20 21:22:23;24
Lake
Street
122
181
.....
180
179
178
Federal Street
173 174175 1761177
172
202
Street
Alles
59.60 61:62
:70
169
168
Broad or Superior
Street.
73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82
87 88 89, 90 9/ 92 9 3 94 95 96 167
166
165
16 4
163
73 179 175 :76
77 78 179
207
208:
209'
2/0|
Huron Street
211
109; 110:1/1, 112; 13, 114;115:116
212
145:146;147;148 149,150;15/ 152;153
213
214
215
Ros- Miami St
+117: 118: 119 /20, 121: 22 /23 124
144
143
217
2/8
141
2.19
220
Ohin
Street
/39
125/26 /27/28||29 130:13/ 132:133
/38
198
Mandrakes
199
200
25 26 27 28 29 :30 31 32 33 34 35 36
37 38: 39 40 41 42 4344 45 46 47 48
Erů
203
204
63 64 65 66.67 68 69:70 7/ 72
205
49 50 5/152 53: 54: 55 56 57:58
186
185
187 188:18 9:190
184
183
194
195
196
197
Water
1796
201
Cuyahoga River,
206
83.84
85.86
Street
Vine yard
MALO
= Landen-
PUBLIC SQ.
Street
97 9999:100.10/1102/031041105106,10 7 108
154.155156:157/58:/59 160:161:162
21b
142
140
Ontario
CHAPTER I.
ORIGIN OF THE NAME CLEAVELAND-GENERAL MOSES CLEAVELAND-MR. KILBOURN'S ESTIMATE-CONNECTICUT'S CLAIMS IN THE NORTHWEST- THE WESTERN RESERVE-HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT LAND COM- PANY-THE AGENT'S COMMISSION-THE FOUNDING OF CLEVELAND.
"C LEFFLANDS" was, according to trustworthy au- thority, the name applied by the inhabitants of Yorkshire, England, about the tenth century, to a pictur- esque and cliffy district within their borders, whose rocks abounded in characteristic apertures or rivers, called in the Saxon nomenclature "Cleves." The dwellers in this section were denominated "Cleavelanders," particularly the most powerful family; and this name, originally assigned as a matter of convenience, has since adhered to the house.
This manner of accounting for the origin of a namenow familiar throughout the world as belonging to a large and important city of Northern Ohio is quite satisfactory. But whatever may have been its derivation, Moses Cleave- land was the name of a hardy Puritan who landed at Boston in 1635, and who was the progenitor of General Moses Cleaveland-the Moses who had the faith, courage and executive ability to lead the first colony into the wilds of the Western Reserve, and found a great city which will
10
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
ever be a grand and growing monument to perpetuate his memory .*
In the year 1829, one John Kilbourn, of Columbus, pub- lished a book, the purpose of which, as stated in the preface, was "to answer frequent inquiries made in the Atlantic States concerning this State, respecting its extent, soil, climate, navigableness of its rivers, relative fertility, pop- ulation," etc. This publication, after a careful balancing of prospects and situations, predicts with no small confi- dence that among the towns of the rising State, "Cleve- land, the seat of justice of Cuyahoga County, will in time become one of the most important." The basis for this prediction will appear in the following enumeration :
On the thirteenth ultimo the village (of Cleveland) contained one hun- dred and sixty-eight dwelling-houses, thirteen mercantile stores, fifteen warehouses, four drug stores, one book and stationery store, nine gro- ceries, six taverns, and about one thousand inhabitants.
1
Such was the city of Cleveland a third of a century after its first settlement, and nearly fifteen years from its incor- poration as a village-a modest showing for a Western town which had been strategically located, and started upon its career under the most favorable auspices and with the highest hopes.
The truth is that the history of the Cleveland of our day -the metropolis of Northern Ohio, and the centre of vast and varied industries-had scarcely begun when Mr. Kil- bourn put forth this modest description. The conditions brought in by the harbor improvements of 1828, and the
* See Biography of General Moses Cleaveland in the biographical chapter.
11
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
subsequent opening of the Ohio canal, introduced a new period, in which nearly all the great interests of our day had their inception and development. We shall, therefore, in this chapter trace somewhat briefly the events of the earlier years, indicating the main lines of development, and noting the events of chiefest interest.
The Western Reserve of Ohio derives its name from the circumstance that the State of Connecticut, at the general settlement of land-claims in 1786, reserved this section as State property. Connecticut had maintained large but somewhat ill-defined claims to lands situated in the North- western territory, deriving her title from a grant issued by Charles II. in 1662. The Puritan State certainly fared well in a settlement by which she acquired undisputed pos- session of nearly four million acres of fertile land, in ex- change for an altogether vague and incomprehensible title- deed, issued a century earlier by an authority which had since been superseded.
In 1792 Connecticut set apart five hundred thousand acres of the Reserve, afterward known as the Fire-lands, for the benefit of those among her citizens who had suffered by fire during the Revolution; and three years later (1795) a commission was formed to effect the sale of the remaining part. Forty-five wealthy citizens of the State, collectively known as the Connecticut Land company, purchased this remainder, subscribing therefor twelve hundred thousand dollars; the individual members receiving quit-claim deeds for fractional parts of the entire territory, corresponding to their share in the aggregate subscription. Preparation was immediately made by the company for the survey of
$/01 10570.0001 0
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
its newly acquired property. General Moses Cleaveland, one of the share-holders, was chosen to superintend the work, receiving the following commission on the twelfth of May, 1796 :
To Moses Cleaveland, Esq., of the county of Windham, and State of Connecticut, one of the directors of the Connecticut Land Company, Greeting :
We, the board of directors of said company, having appointed you to go on to said land as superintendent over the agents and men sent to survey and make locations on said land, and to enter into friendly nego- tiations with the natives who are on said land or contiguous thereto and may have any pretended claim to the same, and secure such friendly intercourse amongst them as will establish peace, quiet and safety to the survey and settlement of said lands not ceded by the natives under the authority of the United States.
You are hereby, for the foregoing purposes, fully authorized to act and transact the above business in as full a manner as we ourselves could do. And all agents and men by us employed to survey and settle said lands to be obedient to your orders and directions ; and you are to be accountable for all moneys by you received, conforming your conduct to such orders and directions as we may from time to time give you, and to do and act in all matters according to your best skill and judg- ment, which may tend to the best interest, etc., of said Connecticut Land company.
OLIVER PHELPS, HENRY CHAMPION, ROGER NEWBURY, SAMUEL MATHER, JR. Directors.
The first surveying party to the Western Reserve arrived at the mouth' of the Cuyahoga river in July, 1796. Here a cabin was built for the reception of stores, which were assigned to the charge of Mr. Job P. Stiles and his wife, Tabitha-theirs being the first home of Cleveland. It was
13
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
only after the preliminary survey into townships had been completed that the mouth of the Cuyahoga river was chosen as the site for a future great city, receiving the name of Cleaveland, in honor of the superintendent. The remaining work of the survey, the division of the new city into streets and lots, was soon completed, and the party made ready for their return.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
CHAPTER II.
RETURN OF THE SURVEYORS-THE FIRST MAP OF CLEVELAND-DIFFI- CULTY WITH THE SURVEYORS-A WINTER'S HISTORY -- ARRIVAL OF THE KINGSBURYS-ACCIDENT ON THE GRAND RIVER-THE FIRST BU- RIAL GROUND-MAJOR LORENZO CARTER-COMPLETION OF THE SURVEY -THE ENEMY OF THE SWAMPS-THE FOUNDING OF NEWBURGH-THE FIRST GRIST-MILL.
W HEN, in the month of December, 1796, the survey- ors of the Connecticut Land company returned to their homes in the east they left behind them, at the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, an ideal city, with its pub- lic square of ample proportions, its avenues and streets extending through the forest, and its numbered lots for private purchase. General Moses Cleaveland had selected the site with due deliberation. Nature had evidently pur- posed that at this spot should grow up the industrial and commercial centre of the vast region to the south and west, which must soon be opened to immigration. The future of the embryo city was assured, and those who were to share in it must pay for their privilege.
Accordingly, after certain lots bordering upon the public square had been reserved for public uses, the remainder- each lot containing two acres-were put up for sale, the condition of immediate settlement being imposed. The
15
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
price of these city lots was set at fifty dollars. Other sec- tions of ten, twenty and one hundred acres, respectively, were offered for three dollars, two dollars and a dollar and a half per acre, according to the distance from the city limits. These prices may seem somewhat exorbitant for the virgin soil of a wilderness. They certainly show that the members of the Connecticut Land company were fully alive to the expanding promise of the fast-opening west. If their reckoning did not include the immediate conditions of hardship and struggle, of arduous labor and small re- turns, it was chiefly owing to the very amplitude and pen- etration of their view, which grasped the result without foreseeing the process.
Six town lots were at once disposed of, the names of the purchasers being indicated on thesurveyor's map .* These men must not be commended-or reproached-for too much speculative hardihood. They took lots from the company as compensation for their services-and very poor compensation they doubtless regarded them. The contract which preceded the town survey and subsequent assignment of lots had grown out of a dispute the year previous between the employés and the officers of the company. Through all the multiplied difficulties and dangers of frontier life the men had held steadily to their appointed tasks of exploration and settlement. Rations were scarce and came in slowly. The clothing provided for them was ill-suited to the rough usage of forest life,
Following is a list of the purchasers, the first proprietors of Cleve- land: Richard M. Stoddard, Job P. Stiles, Joseph Landon, Mr. Baun, Wareham Shepherd, Nathan Chapman.
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HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
and soon left their naked sides exposed to the fierce at- tacks of ravenous mosquitoes that rose in swarms from the adjoining swamps. The discontent became so great that some definite settlement seemed imperative; and as soon as the surveys could be completed of the region adjacent to the mouth of the Cuyahoga, an apportionment was made of various lands, partly by way of compensation for ser- vice rendered, partly with a view to securing a nucleus for future settlement-but always upon condition of actual occupancy. The town lots above alluded to, as the sequel showed, except for their prospective value, were much less desirable than those more remote from the mouth of the river.
During the winter of 1796-7, the surveyors having returned to the east, there were but three white persons in the city. These were Mr. and Mrs. Stiles, for whom a cabin had been built on their town lot, and Edward Paine, subsequently the founder of Painesville, Ohio. It would be interesting to read the records of this winter's history -for history there doubtless was, and that of a very seri- ous sort to those immediately concerned. The records, however, are very meagre. Paine traded with the Indians, and maintained the best of understanding between the infant settlement and the neighboring tribes. But the time passed drearily enough in the secluded cabin, and the opening spring, we may well imagine, was not unwelcome, bringing with it a new settler and later on a fresh survey- ing party from the east.
James Kingsbury and wife, journeying through the melting snows from Conneaut, arrived at Cleveland in
17
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
April, 1797, though they did not finally settle in their new cabin on the present site of the Case block till the June following. The surveyors arrived in June, bearing with them the body of one of their number who had been drowned while crossing the Grand river. Rev. Seth Hart, agent of the company and superintendent for this year, conducted the funeral services, the first ever held in Cleve- land. At this time the site was chosen for a burial ground upon the east side of Ontario street and north of its pres- ent junction with Prospect.
This same month is further noticeable as marking the arrival in Cleveland of one of the most celebrated char- acters in pioneer history. Major Lorenzo Carter came with his family from Rutland, Vermont. He was a man of splendid physique, and of an aggressive and energetic temperament-the essential qualities of a leader in pioneer life. From his first arrival the major's influence was well- nigh supreme over the neighboring Indian tribes. The early traditions of the Western Reserve abound in inci- dents of his prowess and skill. On one occasion a dusky prowler was followed to an encampment in the woods, where the major discovered the fugitive, and was only prevented from hanging him by the solemn promise of his comrades that he should never after be allowed to visit the settlement. The red-skins firmly believed that the redoubtable woodsman was invulnerable to the ordin- ary weapons of savage warfare, and that to seek his destruction would be but a tempting of fate. Certain it is that the unconquerable energy of this brave man, how- ever uncouth at times were its manifestations, was a factor
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