USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > A history of the city of Cleveland: its settlement, rise and progress, 1796-1896 > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47
8 F. T. Wallace in " The Bench and Bar of Cleveland," Cleveland, 1889, p. 21.
151
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
against one Daniel Miner, for " not having obtained such license or permit as the law directs to keep a tavern, or to sell, barter or deliver, for money or other article of value, any wine, rum, brandy, whisky, spirits or strong drink by less quantity less than one quart, did, with intent to defraud the revenue of the county, on the 25th of October last past, sell, barter and deliver at Cleveland aforesaid, wine, rum, brandy, whisky and spirits by less quantity than one quart, to-wit, one gill of whisky for the sum of six cents in money, contrary to the statute, etc." To this a plea of guilty was entered, and was followed by a fine of twenty-five cents. Another indictment against the same person was to the effect that with " men and horses, with force and arms, ferry over Rocky River," without a license, and for this offense he was fined five dollars and a bill for costs.
In like manner this early court, during its first years of existence, saw Ambrose Hecox charged with selling " one- half yard of cotton cambric, six yards of Indian cotton cloth, one-half pound Hyson skin tea, without license, contrary to the statute law regulating ferries, taverns, stores, etc; " Erastus Miles prosecuted for selling liquor to the Indians; Thomas McIlrath for trading one quart of whisky for three raccoon skins; and John S. Reede and Banks Finch for engaging in a "fight and box at fisti- cuffs." The indictment declared in solemn form that " John S. Reede, of Black River, and Banks Finch, of Huron township, in said county, on the Ist day of Febru- ary, 1812, with force and arms, in the peace of God and the State, then and there being, did, then and there with each other agree, and in and upon each other did then and there assault and with each other did then and there wilfully fight and box at fisticuffs, and each other did then and there strike, kick, cuff, bite, bruise, wound and ill-treat, against the statute and the peace and dig- nity of the State of Ohio."
From May, 1810, to May, 1814, one hundred and nine civil suits were entered, the greater number of them be-
152
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
ing petitions for partition of lands, generally of non-resi- dent heirs, living in Connecticut. In 1814, there was a conviction for theft, and the offender was sentenced " to be taken to the public whipping-post in Cleveland, and that he be whipped fifteen stripes on the naked back, and be imprisoned in jail ten days and pay a fine of one hundred dollars." There is nothing upon the record to show that this sentence was carried out. The memories of the oldest settlers, some of whom have been recently ques- tioned upon this subject, fail to furnish the least light upon the question whether or not early Cleveland was disgraced by the presence of this remnant of bar- barism.9
There appears one case against a father for decoying his son away before the expiration of his term of appren- ticeship; a suit for slander in 1812 ; and the first application for divorce in 1816. From 1820 to 1835, but thirty suits of this character were commenced, and in a large number of cases the differences were composed before the cause was called in court. The only lawyers who appear of record during the first four years are Thomas D. Webb, Alfred Kelley, Robert B. Parkman, Samuel W. Phelps, Peter Hitchcock, John S. Edwards and D. Redick.
There was an annual session of the Supreme Court of Ohio in the several counties, under the early judicial sys- tem, and the first session in Cuyahoga was held in August, 1810, when William W. Irwin and Ethan A. Brown organ- ized the Court, and appointed John Walworth clerk. Al-
9 " But for the judicial record, the ancient colonial institution would have had no ' standing ' in court. It does not seem to have developed into the dignity of a fascinating legend, or the gravity of a classic myth. It is possible, however, that some forehanded individual, whose remote ancestors delighted in whipping-posts for witches, who had made his fortune as a sutler in the then late war, erected a 'post ' somewhere near the log court-house in the Public Square, and donated it to the public, as elaborate and artistic drinking fountains are erected and do- nated in modern times by benevolent millionaires, whom the public thanks and blesses, but never partakes of the beverage."-F. T. Wallace in " The Bench and Bar of Cleveland," p. 24.
153
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
fred Kelley was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court.
The year 1811 was one of rather humdrum quiet, the little town on the Cuyahoga going on with few changes or events worthy of record. A pen-picture of Cleveland, as it appeared toward the end of that year or the early part of 1812, has been drawn by a careful observer10 who was here at that time, and as it takes the combined form of a verbal map and a census, space may be well em- ployed for its reproduction. "The following, to the best of my recollection," said he, " are the names of men who lived in what was then Cleveland, in the fall of 1811 and spring of 1812. Possibly a few names may be missing. I will begin north of the Kingsbury creek, on Broadway : The first was Maj. Samuel Jones, on the hill near the turn of the road; farther down came Judge John Wal- worth, then postmaster, and his oldest son, A. W. Wal- worth, and son-in-law, Dr. David Long. Then, on the corner where the Forest City House now stands, was a Mr. Morey. The next was near the now American House, where the little post-office then stood, occupied by Mr. Hanchet, who had just started a little store. Close by was a tavern, kept by Mr. George Wallace. On the top of the hill, north of Main street, Lorenzo Carter and son, Lo- renzo, Jr., who kept tavern also. The only house below on Water street was owned by Judge Samuel William- son, with his family and his brother Matthew, who had a tannery on the side hill below. On the corner of Water and Superior streets was Nathan Perry's store, and his brother, Horace Perry, lived near by. Levi Johnson began in Cleveland about that time, likewise two brothers of his, who came on soon after; Benjamin, a one-legged man; and I think the other's name was John. The first and last were lake captains for a time. Abraham Hickox, the old blacksmith; Alfred Kelley, Esq., who boarded with 'Squire Walworth at that time; then a Mr. Bailey, also Elias and Harvey Murray, and perhaps a very few others
10 " Names of Early Settlers Whom I Knew," by Y. L. Morgan .- " Annals of Early Settlers' Association," No. 3, p. 67.
154
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
in town not named. On what is now Euclid avenue, from Monumental Square through the woods to East Cleve- land, was but one man, Nathan Chapman, who lived in a small shanty, with a small clearing around him, and near the present Euclid Station. He died soon after. Then at what was called Doan's Corners lived two families only, Nathaniel, the older, and Maj. Seth Doan. Then on the south, now Woodland Hills avenue, first came Richard Blin, Rodolphus Edwards, and Mr. Stephens, a school teacher; Mr. Honey, James Kingsbury, David Burras, Eben Hosmer, John Wightman, William W. Williams, and three sons, Frederick, William W., Jr., and Joseph. Next, on the Carter place, Philomen Bald- win, and four sons, Philomen, Jr., Amos, Caleb and Runa. Next, James Hamilton; then Samuel Hamilton (who was drowned in the lake), his widow, and three sons, Chester, Justice and Samuel, Jr., in what was called New- burg and now Cleveland. Six by the name of Miles- Erastus, Theodore, Charles, Samuel, Thompson, and Daniel. Widow White with five sons, John, William, Solomon, Samuel, and Lyman. A Mr. Barnes, Henry Edwards, Allen Gaylord, and father and mother. In the spring of 1812, came Noble Bates, Ephraim and Jedediah Hubbel, with their aged father and mother (the latter soon after died); in each family were several sons; Stephen Gilbert, Sylvester Burk, with six sons, B. B. Burk, Gaius, Erectus, etc .; Abner Cochran, on what is now called ÆEtna street. Samuel S. Baldwin, Esq., was. sheriff and county surveyor, and hung the noted Indian, John O'Mic, in 1812. Next, Y. L. Morgan, with three sons, Y. L., Jr., Caleb, and Isham A. The next, on the present Broadway, Dyer Sherman, Christopher Gunn, Elijah, Charles, and Elijah Gunn, Jr; Robert Fulton, Robert Carr, Samuel Dille, Ira Ensign, Ezekiel Holly, and two sons, Lorin and Alphonso, Widow Clark and four sons, Mason, Martin, Jarvis, and Rufus."
Isham A. Morgan, who, also, saw Cleveland for the first time in 1811, has added some points of detail to the
155
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
above.11 " Then what now is a grand and growing city, could hardly be called a village. A few houses of the primitive order located along Superior street between the river and the Public Square, with here and there a tem- porary dwelling in the bushy vicinity, gave but a slight indication that it was the beginning of a future large city. I remember when there was no court house in Cleveland, nor a church building in Cuyahoga County, nor a bridge across the river from the outlet to Cuyahoga Falls. The outlet of the river, at that time, was some 120 yards west of where it is now (1881), and was sometimes completely barred across with sand by storms, so that men having on low shoes have walked across without wetting their feet. A ferry at the foot of Superior street, consisting of one flat-boat and a skiff, answered the purpose to convey over the river all who desired, for quite a number of years. The first water supply for extinguishing fires in Cleveland was a public well eight feet across, with a wheel and two buckets, situated on Bank street, near Su- perior. In those days nearly every family had a well at their back door, of good water for every purpose except washing. To supply water for washing, when rain water failed, Benhu Johnson, a soldier of the war of 1812-14 (who lost a leg in the campaign and substituted a wooden one), with his pony and wagon, supplied as many as needed, from the lake at twenty-five cents a load of two barrels; and Jabez Kelley furnished the soap at a shilling a gallon, made at his log soap and candle factory, located on Superior street, near the river. Where Prospect street is now, next to Ontario, was the old cemetery, surrounded by bushes and blackberry briars. Outside of the cemetery, west, south and east, the forest stood in its native grandeur. On Ontario street, a little south of the old cemetery, was a large mound, supposed to be the work of the Mound Builders of prehistoric times. It stood several years after we came,
11 "What I Recollect," by I. A. Morgan .- "Annals of the Early Settlers' Association," No. 2, p. 59; No. 7, p. 14; No. II, P. 408.
156
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
before it was made level with the surrounding earth."
The year 1812 was in marked contrast to the one pre- ceding it, as the shadow of the second great war with England fell across the threshold of Cleveland, and there was no lack of stir, turmoil, apprehension, and danger. Although actual hostilities never touched the city, and no force of the enemy appeared at its gates, the center of the war upon the lakes and in the west was near enough to keep it in hourly fear, and to make the port of Cuyahoga an important base for supplies, and a point for the gather- ing and moving of troops.
Congress, on the 18th of June, declared war, and on June 28th a swift-riding expressman came galloping into Cleveland, with the announcement of that important fact. Ten days of the most rapid work of which horse-flesh, with frequent relays, was possible, had been consumed in carrying the news from the Potomac to the Cuyahoga.
This news meant much to all this thinly-settled and un- defended portion of the west. The fear of England was a secondary consideration; but England had fostered the friendship of the Indians, and there was no telling what fear- ful havoc might be wrought by these savage allies of the for- eign foe. The hope of regain- ing her lost colonies had never been relinquished by England; GEN. W. H. HARRISON. and the secret endeavors of her diplomats to foment disturbances upon the western frontiers of the United States, and open the way for an Indian uprising, that should destroy the power of our government in these sections, had much to do with the action of the United States in declaring war.
During this war, Cleveland became one of the important
------
157
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
military stations of the lake country. It was the place of gathering for the militia of this section, whose services were made use of by the government. Fort Huntington, a small stockade, was erected on the shore of the lake near the foot of Seneca street, and named after Ohio's recent governor. Major Jessup, of the United States Army, was in command; and the fort was largely used as a guard-house for soldiers who were under arrest.
The declaration of war did not come as a surprise, as such action had been expected for some time. The people were therefore prepared for action when the messenger rode in with his news, and such measures for defense as were possible were taken. Arms and ammunition were issued, and the militia were drilled in a manner that sug- gested service, rather than muster-day. There was naturally great anxiety, as no one could tell at what mo- ment a British war-ship might anchor off the harbor and knock the little town to pieces, or a band of Indians creep in by night and give the settlement to fire and death.
The hope of the settlers pointed in two directions. They depended upon General Van Rensselaer, on the Niagara, to defend them toward the east, and General Hull, at Detroit, to guard them upon the west. It was further believed that the forces under these two leaders would be able at an early day to conquer that portion of Canada north of Lake Erie, and thus remove the main danger in that direction. That hope was somewhat damp- ened, when a messenger brought the news that Hull had advanced into Canada, been driven back, and was now endeavoring to hold his own upon the American side of the Detroit River.
Worse news was to follow, and along in August came the dire intelligence that Hull had surrendered his entire force, and that the British and their Indian allies were al- ready in possession of one of the most important military and civil posts in the west.
No one could tell at what hour the successful foe might
158
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
come sweeping along the south shore of Lake Erie, upon a work of devastation and death. The excitement in Cleveland was naturally at fever heat. Messengers were quickly mounted and sent in all directions to carry the warning, and ask for aid. One was sent directly to General Wadsworth,12 at Canfield, asking him to lend such aid as the militia under his command could give. The manner in which the people received the news has been described by eye-witnesses, whom it is my privilege to quote direct. Alfred Kelley 13 says: "Information was received at Cleveland, through a scout from Huron, that a large num- ber of British troops and Indians were seen from the shore, in boats, proceeding down the lake, and that they would probably reach Cleveland in the course of the en- suing night. This information spread rapidly through the surrounding settlements. A large proportion of the families in Cleveland, Newburg (then part of Cleve- land), and Euclid, immediately on the receipt of this news, took such necessary articles of food, clothing and utensils as they could carry, and started for the more populous and less exposed parts of the interior. About thirty men only remained, determined to meet the enemy if they should come, and, if possible, prevent their landing. They de- termined at least to do all in their power to allay the panic, and prevent the depopulation of the country. Several ladies of Cleveland, among whom were Mrs. George Wal- lace, Mrs. John Walworth and Mrs. Dr. Long, resolved not to desert their husbands and friends. When Mrs. Long was told that she could not fight or forcibly oppose
12 " The news (of Hull's surrender) reached General Wadsworth, at Canfield, on the 22nd of August, who, without authority from Governor Meigs or the general Government, issued an order on the same day for the entire division to rendezvous at this place." The "Trump of Fame" (of Warren), in its issue of September 2nd, said: "As soon as the news of the fall of Detroit was confirmed, every man ran to arms; old and young, without distinction of politics, repaired to the post of danger. None waited for the formality of orders, but every one, whether exempt from military duty or not, put on his armor."-Western Reserve Historical So- .ciety's Tract No. 51, p. 116.
13 Whittlesey's " Early History of Cleveland," pp. 450-451.
159
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
the enemy, she replied that she 'could nurse the sick- wounded-encourage and comfort those who could fight; at any rate she would not, by her example, encourage dis- graceful flight.'"
Isham A. Morgan 14 adds some details of interest : " One day the people at the mouth of Huron River dis- covered parties. coming in boats; they were a good deal alarmed, as they supposed them to be British and Indians to be let loose on the almost defenseless settlers. A courier was immediately sent to Cleveland to give the alarm there. Major Samuel Jones, of Cleveland, got on his horse and scoured the country round, telling the people to go to Doan's Corners, and there ; would be a guard to protect them as best they could. My brother yoked and hitched the oxen to the wagon, as we then had but one horse. After putting a few necessary articles into the wagon and burying a few others, all went to Doan's Corners-East Cleveland, where most of the people in Cleve- land and vicinity assembled. My father had been ill with a fever, and was scarcely able to be about; he took the gun, which had been brought along, HORNALIQUAN and handed it to my brother, COMMODORE O. H. PERRY. Y. L. Morgan, who was a good shot, and said to him, ' If the Indians come, you see that there is one less to go away!' That night was spent in expectation not the pleas- antest. A few men had stayed in Cleveland, to watch de- velopments there. In the morning, Captain Allen Gaylord was seen approaching the encampment, waving his sword, and saying, 'To your tents, oh Israel! General Hull has surrendered to the British general, and our men, instead of Indians, were seen off Huron. They are returning to their
14 " Incidents in the Career of the Morgan Family," by Isham A. Mor- gan .- "Annals of the Early Settlers' Association," No. 5, p. 26.
160
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
homes.' Thankful were all that it turned out with them to be nothing worse than the inconvenience of fleeing from their homes on short notice under unpleasant circumstances."
While the refugees were gathering out at Doan's Cor- ners, a little band of men were down at Cleveland, deter- mined to meet the foe with such resistance as they could offer. When night came on they posted sentinels along the water front, and lay down to rest, but were soon awakened by an alarm that a vessel was approaching.
The men sprang to their arms, and lined up along the landing-place, ready to answer the first sign of an attack. A challenge was shouted from the shore, and back came the response, " We are paroled prisoners of Hull's army!"
The army of defense became a committee of welcome, and the troops were brought ashore, and cared for. Some of them were suffering from wounds, and were car- ried up to the still vacant Murray store on Superior street, which was turned into a temporary hospital.
Two companies of militia were ready for service within the present limits of the city, one hailing from Cleveland and one from Newburg. The Clevelanders mustered about fifty men, each being uniformed in his citizen's suit, and armed with his own rifle or shotgun, whatever the make. In a few months the company disbanded, sub- ject to call. The full company roll is here given :
Captain : Harvey Murray.
Lieutenant : Lewis Dille.
Ensign : Alfred Kelley.
Sergeants : Ebenezer Green, Simeon Moss, Thomas Hamilton, Seth Doan.
Corporals : James Root, John Lauterman, Asa Dille, Martin G. Shelhouse.
Drummer : David S. Tyler.
Fifer : Rodolphus Carlton.
Privates : Aretus Burk, Allen Burk, Charles Brandon, John Bishop, Moses Bradley, Silas Burk, Sylvester Beacher, James S. Bills, John Carlton, Mason Clark, An- thony Doyle, Luther Dille, Samuel Dille, Samuel Dodge,
161
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
Moses Eldred, Samuel Evarts, Ebenezer Fish, Zebulon R. S. Freeman, Robert Harberson, Daniel S. Judd, Jack- son James, John James, Stephen King, Guy Lee, Jacob Mingus, Thomas McIlrath, William McConkey, Samuel Noyes, David Reed, John Sweeney, Parker Shadrick, Luther Sterns, Bazaleel Thorp, John Taylor, Thomas Thomas, Hartman VanDuzen, Joseph Williams, Matthew Williamson, John Wrightman, William White, Joseph Burk, Robert Prentice, Benjamin Ogden.
A somewhat similar company was organized in New- burg, under the command of Captain Allen Gaylord, whose Scriptural admonition to the fugitives at Doan's Corners has been noted already.
General Wadsworth 15 made immediate response to the request for help that frightened Cleveland had sent him. He ordered all the militia of his division into the field, and on August 23rd left Canfield for the lake shore, escorted by a company of horsemen. He came by way of Hudson, Bedford and Newburg, and reached Cleveland on the afternoon of the 24th, receiving a most hearty welcome.
With him came Elisha Whittlesey, who so long repre- sented one of the districts of the Reserve in Congress, and also Benjamin Tappen, another prominent man of his day, both of whom were Wadsworth's aids. Col. Lewis Cass reached Cleveland from Detroit on the same even- ing, and his denunciation of Hull's surrender was expressed in terms of the most vehement anger. He was then en route to Washington, and was accom- panied upon his journey by Ex-Governor Huntington, who had ridden over from his home in Painesville, and met these other distinguished gentlemen in Cleveland.
15 Elijah Wadsworth was born at Hartford, Conn., on November 4th, 1747. He served in the Revolutionary War with honor, coming out with the title of captain. In 1802, he removed to Canfield, Ohio, where he owned considerable land. In 1804, he was made major-general of the Fourth Divis- ion Ohio Militia, embracing the northeastern part of the State. He rendered loyal service to his country in the War of 1812, and died at Canfield on December 30th, 1817. General Wadsworth built the first frame house in Canfield. At Litchfield, Conn., he built the house in which Dr. Lyman Beecher afterwards lived, and in which Henry Ward Beecher was born.
162
THE HISTORY OF CLEVELAND.
Mr. Huntington carried to the war department a letter from General Wadsworth, in which he described the situ- ation in this section, and set forth his needs. He in- formed the Secretary of War that he had called out three thousand men; was in need of arms, equipments, ammu- nition and rations, and asked for immediate aid; but, like the prompt man he was, did not sit idle and wait for a response. He appointed three commissioners, whose business it was to purchase food and forage from the people, giving certificates in return, which were based upon the future good faith of the government.
Toward the end of August, an accession of force came in the person of General Simon Perkins,16 who was ac- companied by quite a body of militia. He was sent to the Huron River, with a thousand men, with orders to protect the people, and build block-houses where needed. Gen- eral R. Beall was also dispatched in the same direction, with another body of troops; while Wadsworth soon fol- lowed with the greater part of his remaining force.
When General William Henry Harrison took com- .
mand in the northwest, General Perkins, at the head of some five hundred men, was stationed near the mouth of the Huron River, and before long came in conflict with a force of British and Indians, and fought the engagement known in Ohio history as the " Battle of the Peninsula." Soldiers from the Cuyahoga were engaged, and one member of the Cleveland company-James S. Hills, was killed, and two others wounded.
Only a small guard was on duty at Cleveland during the quiet that accompanied the winter of 1812-13. With
16 Simon Perkins was a prominent figure in the early history of the Re- serve, and his sons have been in later years counted among the best and most useful citizens of this quarter of Ohio. He was born on September 17th, 1771, at Lisbon, Conn., of one of the best known Puritan families of New Eng- land. He was a surveyor by profession, and in 1798 came to Ohio in the interests of the Connecticut Land Company, and remained as its agent at Warren until the final winding up of its affairs in 1831. He filled many offices of trust, and gave good service as a general of the Ohio Militia in the War of 1812. He died in November, 1844. He was the father of Joseph Perkins, of Cleveland, and of Jacob and Henry B. Perkins, of Warren.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.