USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of the city of Cleveland: its settlement, rise and progress, 1796-1896 > Part 11
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Marietta, on the Ohio, built by the descendants of the Puritans of Massachusetts, had hardly been set fairly un- der way before Daniel Story was at work in his combined office of minister and schoolmaster. As early as 1790, Bethesda Rouse conducted a school for boys and girls in Belpre; down on the Ohio, at Columbia, Frances Dun- levy opened a school near the close of 1792; in 1802, a. school was established in Harpersfield, and soon enjoyed a noted reputation, under the able direction of Abraham Tappan.
The subject of education was frequently discussed in the territorial legislatures, and although little or nothing was done, there was enough said to show that the matter was counted of no small importance. In the first consti- tution of the State, it was made an imperative duty that schools and the means of education should be carefully looked after; while in another section the interests of the poor in this regard were carefully guarded. It was re- quired in the ordinance of 1787, that schools and the means of education should be encouraged, while the new constitution pointed out how this end could be secured. " From 1802 to 1821," to quote from an able article along this line of thought,83 "the acts of the Legislature re- garding education, under the power conferred by the constitution, were confined to the passage of bills author- izing the incorporation of seminaries, religious and edu- cational societies, and providing for the lease of school land. Nothing was done toward the establishment of schools by means of local or general taxation. . .
It must not be understood that there were none to ยท
83 " Early Education in Ohio."-Magazine of Western History, Vol. III., p. 219.
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lift up a voice to advocate a system of common schools. During the first twenty years of Ohio's existence, the men holding office were earnest in their endeavor to obtain a wise legislation on the part of the General Assembly. Pri- vate citizens were not lacking who tried to show the Legis- lature the importance of the trust confided to their keeping, and who were swift to denounce the power of abuse over the common school lands, by which the children of the next generation would be deprived of their just rights."
The schools within reach of all classes prior to the pas- sage of the Ohio common school law were such as were provided by private means. In the days when Miss Doan and Miss Spafford taught the youngsters of Cleveland and " the Ridge," only the rudest surroundings and the humblest appliances were within their reach. One of the earliest school-houses has been thus described : A log- cabin with a rough stone chimney; a foot or two cut here and there to admit the light, with greased paper over the openings; a large fire-place; puncheon floor; a few benches made of split logs with the flat side up, and a well developed birch rod over the master's seat. A teacher who, as late as 1813, received ten dollars a month, payable in produce, was looked upon as receiving good wages. We are told of an ambitious young man of Lorain County, who desired higher instruction than the neighborhood afforded, and rode over one hundred miles before he could find a Latin dictionary. Even books of the commonest character were not to be had in abun- dance, and in one of the schools the letters of the alphabet were pasted on one side of a small wooden paddle, and the multiplication table on the other. It was passed from hand to hand for the purpose of study, and often, when not in use as an educational factor, was converted into an instrument for the enforcement of obedience.
" If a family possessed a Webster's Spelling Book," says one of the pioneers,84 in writing of a little later
84 " Incidents in the career of the Morgan Family," by Isham A. Mor- gan, " Annals of the Early Settlers' Association," No. 5, p. 28.
NORTH-WEST SECTION OF THE PUBLIC SQUARE, 1839.
ITIT
1
1
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time, "an American Preceptor, or a Columbian Orator, or a Dwight's Geography, which were used for reading books, a Daboll's or Adams's Arithmetic, and a slate and pencil for ciphering, and paper, ink and goose quills for writing, and possibly a Murray's Grammar for such as wished to study grammar; with these it was supposed that the youths were fully armed and equipped for school exercise. Taking the dinner basket filled with the noon repast, they put out for the log school-house, perhaps from one to three miles distant, and the greater part of the way through the woods. And on their arrival there, spent their hours with their teacher in acquiring a knowl- edge of what was called a common school education." Judge Dickman, in the address already quoted, tells of three Western Reserve boys of the early day who left home for Connecticut to get their education, with fifteen
dollars among them, and so frugally did they fare, and so economically did they travel, that on their arrival East they still had twelve dollars; while another young man, who went to New England for an education " bought him a cow, and trudging at her heels with his book, lived on her milk and what he got in exchange for it, and sold her at an advance when he reached his point of destination."
If the records show us but little concerning the schools kept by Miss Spafford and Miss Doan, the same cannot be said of a more ambitious endeavor that came but a few years later. Asael Adams, who was born on July 9th, 1786, at Canterbury, Conn., was brought by his father to Liberty township, Trumbull County, O., in 1802. (He became a brother-in-law of Camden Cleaveland, who was a brother of Moses Cleaveland.) When but twenty years of age, young Adams came to Cleveland, where he opened a school-the first of the kind of any pretension of which I have found trace. His salary was ten dol- lars per month and board, and among his patrons were Samuel Huntington, James Kingsbury, W. W. Williams, George Kilbourne, Susannah Hammil, Elijah Gun, and David Kellogg. Governor Huntington sent four children
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to the school, George Kilbourne three, James Hamilton two. James Kingsbury five, David Kellogg three, and W. W. Williams four. "This log school-house," says the son of this teacher, from whom this information was obtained, " stood near the foot of Superior street. This school was the simple expression of the will of a sturdy community to give its boys and girls as good a chance as the community could then afford to pay for." The agreement made in October, 1806, under which Mr. Adams taught, was as follows:
" Articles of agreement made and entered into between Asael Adams on the one part and the undersigned on the other, witnesseth, that we, the undersigned, do agree to hire the said Adams for the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00) a month, to be paid in money or wheat at the market price, whenever such time may be that the school doth end, and to make said house comfortable for the school to be taught in, and to furnish benches and fire-wood sufficient. And I, the said Adams, do agree to keep six hours in each day, and to keep good order in said school."
The year 180386 is introduced by one of our earlier local historians, as characterized by three blessings: Good health for the people; an increase in emigration, and the organization of the State of Ohio.
The two first-named had a direct bearing upon the fortunes of Cleveland. The third may not have been so early in its effects, but of course the formation of a stable State government had in the long run an influence for good upon the growth and development of all the territory with- in its borders.
55 The author is under obligations to Whittlesey Adams, of Warren, Ohio, for this original information concerning this school. Mr. Adams is the possessor of the original contract quoted above, and also of two con- tracts for carrying mail, between Asael Adams and the Government, re- ference to which is made at a later point. Asael Adams was the father of Comfort A. Adams, Asael E. Adams, Fitch Adams and Alfred Adams, of Cleveland, and George Adams and Whittlesey Adams, of Warren.
86 It is in this year that Harris's "Journal of a Tour " (p. 120), speaks of Cleveland as " a pleasant little town, favorably situated on the borders of Lake Erie, at the mouth of Cuyahoga River."
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The election of Edward Paine to the Territorial Legisla- ture has already been recorded. He found that body di- vided into factions, and with much heat discussing the question whether Ohio should continue in her present condition, or form a State Government. There was no small opposition to Governor St. Clair, and in 1801 Thomas Worthington was sent to Congress by those op- posed, and largely through his efforts a law was passed authorizing a State Convention for the purpose of consid- ering the expediency of a State Government, and to form a Constitution if the people so wished.
In accordance with this act, the first Constitutional Convention met at Chillicothe, on November Ist, 1802. As already stated, Samuel Huntington represented Trum- bull County. The duty entrusted to that great body was soon performed. The organic law, expressed in the document there carefully prepared, was sound and prac- tical, and the people of Ohio lived under its restrictions and safeguards for over fifty years. It was never submit- ted to the people, but adopted directly by the body in which it was formed. By an act of Congress it was ap- proved on February, 1803, and Ohio proudly took her position as the seventeenth State in the Union.
Under the provisions of the Constitution, State officers were elected, and on March Ist, 1803, the first State Leg- islature met at Chillicothe. Courts were created, and election laws passed; new counties organized, and State officers appointed-Samuel Huntington taking his seat as one of the first judges of the Ohio Supreme Court.
In Cleveland, the town election of 1803 was held very much in the same manner as that of the year before under St. Clair and the Territorial Government, and at the same place-the residence of James Kingsbury. The record of this gathering is tersely given in the ancient township book among the archives of Cleveland's city clerk, from which quotation has already been made. The record is illegible in several places, but enough remains to show that in this spring of 1803 " the inhabitants of the Town
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of Cleaveland met at the house of James Kingsbury, Esq., for a township meeting, and proceed and chose,
" Amos Spafford, Esq., Chairman.
" Nath1. Doan, Town Clerk.
" Amos Spafford, Esq., James Kingsbury, Esq., and Timothy Doan, Trustees.
" James Kingsbury, Esq., and James Hamilton, Over- seers of the Poor.
" Rodolphus Edwards and Ezekiel Hawley and Amos Spafford, Esq., Fence Viewers.
" Elijah Gun and Samuel Huntington, Esq., Apprais- ers of Houses.
" James Kingsbury, Esq., Lister.
" Wm. Elivin, James Kingsbury, Esq., and Timothy Doan, Supervisors of Highways.
" Rodolphus Edwards, Constable."
In the June following, the electors again met at the res- idence of James Kingsbury, for the purpose of choosing two justices of the peace. Samuel Jones acted as chair- man; Amos Spafford and Timothy Doan were elected to the offices named. The next entry upon this record is as follows:
" The qualified voters of the township of Cleaveland met at the house of James Kingsbury, Esq., the eleventh day of October, one thousand eight hundred and three, to elect one senator and two representatives to the Assem- bly. When met, proceeded and appointed James Kings- bury, Esq., Timothy Doan, Esq., and Nath. Doan judges, and Rodolphus Edwards and Stephen Gilbert clerks of the election, and after being qualified received the votes, and by examining them found that Benjamin Tappan had seventy-one votes for senator. David Abbott seventy- two for representative to the Assembly; Ephraim Quim- by nineteen votes for representative to the Assembly, Amos Spafford one vote for senator and one for repre- sentative to the Assembly, and David Hudson one vote for representative to the Assembly, which may appear by the Poll Book in this office."
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There was an accession to the commercial interests of the city in 1804, when Oliver Culver, who had been here previously as a surveyor, arrived with a boat-load of dry goods, groceries, liquors, etc., and opened a store. He had loaded at Black Rock, and had paid three dollars per barrel for transportation. For some reason his stay was brief, and the next year saw him settled upon a farm in New York. The main business interests of the settle- ment had been for some time in the hands of David Bry- ant, whose commodity was of a liquid nature; David Clark and Elisha Norton, who carried on trade with the In- dians; and Alexander Campbell, a Scotchman who built a trading house and devoted himself to the same line of business. " This little cluster of cabins around the dis- tillery," says one authority,87 "under the hill, formeda con- stant attraction for both Indians and squaws, especially at the time of their annual return from their hunting ex- peditions up the river. The squaws bought the gaudiest calicos they could find, and scarfs of the brightest hues, and were not averse while trading to exchanging glances with the traders, who were great men because they had so much calico. The warriors, more simple in their de- sires, bought whisky." These Indian neighbors, upon the whole, seemed to have been moderately well behaved, there being but little upon the record which shows the contrary. The killing of Menompsy, already noted, and the crime for which O'Mic was executed at a later day, were so exceptional in their character as to stand out as marked exceptions.
In those days, when the danger of Indian attack was always present, and the relations of the United States with the British neighbor across the lakes were not always of an amicable nature, it was natural that military affairs should receive some attention. In 1804, a serious attempt was made to properly organize the militia, and on April 6th Major General Wadsworth issued an order dividing his district into two brigade districts, the second of which
87 " History of Cuyahoga County," compiled by Crisfield Johnson, p. 49.
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embraced Trumbull County. This was subdivided into two regimental districts, in one of which was found all of the present Cuyahoga County east of the river, and other adjacent territory; containing eight company districts, the fourth of which comprised the civil township of Cleveland.
In the same order the companies were directed to hold elections on the second day of the May following, when each was to choose its own officers. In accordance there- with," the qualified electors of the fourth company dis- trict, in the second brigade, of the fourth division of the Ohio Militia," met " at the house-of James Kingsbury," of course; the people about Cleveland had come to look upon that hospitable cabin as headquarters for all such gatherings.
There was trouble on this occasion. The redoubtable Lorenzo Carter was elected captain ; Nathaniel Doan, lieu- tenant, and Samuel Jones, ensign, all of which is duly attested in a report88 to General Wadsworth, by James Kingsbury, Nathaniel Doan and Benjamin Gold, judges of election. The opposition expressed themselves in a somewhat formidable document, addressed to the same high military authority. There were eight signers, among whom we find our old acquaintances, Messrs. Spaf- ford, Edwards, Williams and Hamilton. They declare that the proceedings were illegal and improper, in that persons under the age of eighteen were permitted to vote; that some not liable to military duty were also allowed to vote; in admitting others who did not " belong to the town;" by not comparing the votes with the poll book at the close of the election. Then comes the most surpris- ing charge of all: " We also consider the man who is re- turned as chosen captain ineligible to the office. Firstly. By giving spirituous liquors to the voters previous to the election. Secondly. On account of having frequently threat-
88 The writer of this document, whoever he may have been, was more certain of his facts than of his orthography. We learn that " Loranzo " Carter was elected, a choice was " maid " of three judges, and that all this occurred in Cleveland, " Trumble " County.
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ened to set the savages against the inhabitants. All which charges we consider proveable, and able to be substan- tiated by good and sufficient witnesses. We, therefore, beg leave to request that. the appointment of officers in the township of Cleveland may be set aside, and the said company led to a new choice.
(Signed)
" Thadeus Lacey. William W. Williams.
" Rodolphus Edwards.
Amos Spafford.
" Joel Thorp.
Robert Carr.
" James Hamilton. Abner Cochran."
General Wadsworth may have investigated these charges, but there is nothing to show that he did. There was certainly nothing done toward a new election, and Captain Carter held the command to which he had been elected until the succeeding August, when he was elected to the office of major in the State militia. Viewing the charges against him in the calm light of this later day, and from what is known of the man, we must set down the second charge as the hasty and ill-considered action of disappointed men. That Major Carter may have been a little free among the electors with the products of the still across the way-he was an ambitious man, and those were convivial days-we do not doubt; if the objectors had drank and voted upon the same side that day, we should have heard nothing upon that point. But that Lorenzo Carter ever, for a moment, held an idea of acting the part of Simon Girty-of inciting the red man to deeds of violence against the white, we cannot for a moment believe. Just what action or ill-considered word may have laid the foundation for this charge, is not known; that it was more than a misunderstanding, those who have followed the career of Carter will not for a moment believe.
In the town meeting of April, 1804,-still referring to that early book of record-it is noted that a " town tax " of ten dollars was ordered; and under date of April 14th occurs this entry : " The trustees of the township of Cleve- land met at Nath1. Doan's and divided the township into
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districts for the several supervisors, in the following man- ner: To Lorenzo Carter the road leading from the City of Cleveland to Hudson, to Daniel Ruker's; and the road leading from sd. city to Euclid to the bridge near [illeg- ible] Tillotson; and to Timothy Doan the road from Isaac Tillotson's to the east line of the town of Euclid; and to James Kingsbury the road leading from Nathl. Doan's to Williams' Mills; and to Thadeus Lacy the road from Daniel Ruker's leading to Hudson, to the south line of the Town of Cleaveland."
CHAPTER VI.
THE COUNTY OF CUYAHOGA.
It had become recognized, even before this time, by those holding titles to lands in the Reserve west of the Cuyahoga, that a time had come for the formal and final extinguishment of the remaining Indian claims. The holdings of the Connecticut Land Company and of those owning the Fire Lands were alike in this respect. Nego- tiations looking to the desired end were opened, and an agreement made that a council should be held in Cleve- land. The Indians to the west of the river were not only asked to be present, but also those in New York, who still claimed rights under old agree- ments.
These latter sent a deputa- tion of some thirty braves, who duly reached Cleveland in June, 1805, accompanied by Jasper Parish, their interpreter. The negotiations were to be conducted under the friendly su- pervision of the general Govern- ment, which was represented by Col. Charles Jewet, while JUDGE JOHN BARR. Gen. Henry Champion looked after the interests of the Con- necticut Land Company, and I. Mills those of the Fire Lands Company. All hands were prompt in their attend- ance, except the western Indians, who failed to put in an appearance. This action is said to have been due to the in- fluence of certain parties at Detroit and elsewhere, who had been endeavoring to obtain rights to the lands in question.89
NORMAL JORDAN
89 Burton's " A Chapter in the History of Cleveland," p. 21.
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As in the case of Mahomet and the mountain, the com- missioners decided to forego any question of dignity, and go to the Indians who would not come to them. After a day or so of waiting in Cleveland, all parties took up their march to the westward. The council was formally opened, some say at the Ogontz place, near Sandusky, others at Fort Industry on the Maumee. Among the tribes rep- resented were the Wyandots, Ottawas, Chippewas, Mun- After sees, Delawares, Shawnees, and Pottawattomies. some negotiation, the Indians, on July 4th, surrendered all title to lands on the Reserve. A writer of that day says: " It is said by those who attended this treaty, that the Indians in parting with and making sale of the above lands to the whites did so with much reluctance, and after the treaty was signed, many of them wept. On the day that the treaty was brought to a close, the specie, in payment of the purchase money, arrived on the treaty ground. The specie came from Pittsburg, and was con- veyed by the way of Warren, Cleveland and the lake shore to the place where wanted. The treasure was en- trusted to the care of Lyman Potter, Esq., of Warren, who was attended by the following persons as an escort: Josiah W. Brown, John Lane, James Staunton, Jonathan Church, Lorenzo Carter, and another person by the name of Clark,
all resolute men and well armed. The money, and other property, as presents to the Indians, was distributed to them the next day after the signing of the treaty. The evening of the last day of the treaty, a barrel of whisky was dealt out to the Indians. The consequent results of such a proceeding were all experienced at that time."90
This attempt at holding the council in Cleveland gave occasion for yet another prophecy concerning the city that has been fulfilled. Prof. Kirtland, in a lecture de- livered at the opening of a term in the Cleveland Medical College some years since, related the following incident,
90 These facts are taken from the statement of Abraham Tappen, of Unionville, Ashtabula County, Ohio .- Whittlesey's "Early History of Cleveland," p. 403.
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which occurred before the movement towards the actual council grounds was commenced: "While waiting their tardy movements, the company collected one afternoon on the bank of the lake, near the present location of the light- house, and were observing the descent of the sun, into the broad expanse of waters at the west. The gorgeous dis- plays of light and shade, heightened by the brilliant reflec- tions from the lake, unsurpassed by the brightest scenes ever exhibited by Italy's boasted skies, served, in connec- tion with concurring circumstances, to add interest to the occasion. One of the company, the Hon. Gideon Granger [postmaster-general of the United States], distin- guished for talents, enterprise and forethought, uttered, to his astonished associates, this bold, and what was then deemed, extraordinary prediction : 'Within fifty years, an extensive city will occupy these grounds, and vessels will sail directly from this port into the Atlantic Ocean. '91 A prophecy so specific and decided, coming from such a source, though received with a share of skepticism on the part of some, made a deep impression on the great body of his hearers."
A letter dated " On board the sloop 'Contractor,' near Black River, July 7, 1805," directed to "The Hon'1. Sam'1. Huntington, at the mills near Cleaveland," and signed by Wm. Dean, throws some light on the treaty, as follows: " On the 4th instant, we closed a treaty with the Indians, for the unextinguished part of the Connecticut Reserve, and on account of the United States: for all the lands south of it, to the west line. Mr. Phelps and myself pay about $7,000 in cash, and about $12,000 in six yearly payments, of $2,000 each. The government pays $13,760, that is the annual interest, to the Wyandots, Delawares, Mun-
91 Near the middle of the present century, when Cleveland was at the semi-centennial mark, a schooner called the " Dean," built by Quayle & Martin, of Cleveland, was loaded at Chicago, and sent straight into the Atlantic by way of the lakes, the Welland Canal, and the St. Lawrence River. It reached Liverpool in safety, and was there sold. In 1858, a fleet was sent from Cleveland, loaded with staves and lumber. Six ves- sels returned in good shape, with cargoes of iron, salt and crockery ware.
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sees, and to those Senecas on the land forever. The ex- pense of the treaty will be about $5,000, including rum, tobacco, bread, meat, presents, expenses of the seraglio, the commissioners, agents and contractors."
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