Annals of the Early Settlers Association of Cuyahoga County, number I, Part 17

Author: Early Settlers Association of Cuyahoga County
Publication date: 1880-
Publisher: [S.l. : The Association
Number of Pages: 656


USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Annals of the Early Settlers Association of Cuyahoga County, number I > Part 17


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


During his administration the State enjoyed unusual peace and prosperity, and the gubernatorial chair was never filled more worthily. Always tempering justice with mercy, of great kind- ness of heart, one of the trials of the position was the constant appeals of convicts for pardon. The New Constitution, so called, went into effect in March, 1851, thus vaeating the office. Gov- ernor Wood was re-nominated by the Democracy, and re-elected in October, 1851, by a majority of 26,000 over Samuel F. Vin- ton, the Whig candidate, a majority at that time unheard of in the political annals of Ohio. His second term of office began in January, 1852.


At the assembling of the Democratic convention at Baltimore in June, 1852, that party was so strongly in the ascendant throughout the Union that a nomination was considered equiva-


38


ANNALS OF THE


lent to an election, and Governor Wood was spoken of as a prominent candidate. The strife between Lewis Cass and Ste- phen A. Douglass, the leading candidates, was a bitter one, last- ing for several days; finally, after forty or fifty ballots had been taken, the Virginia delegation sent a committee to the Ohio del- egation, offering to give the entire vote of Virginia in the con- vention to Governor Wood if Ohio would bring him out. Owing to the chairman of the Ohio delegation having personal feeling against the Governor, this proposition was declined. Then they made the offer to the New Hampshire delegation, who accepted it; Franklin Pierce was nominated and clected. Thus, personal jealousy and ingratitude prevented a nomination that would un- doubtedly have resulted in the election of Reuben Wood to the Presidency, a position his experience in legislation, in the. judi- ciary, and in the State government would have qualified him to fill with credit to himself and satisfaction to his countrymen.


Positions of public trust, such as Governor Wood had held during his long official life, while they are full of honor when occupied as he filled them, rarely are remunerative, especially when they take up the time that should be devoted to a profes- sion. Therefore, when in the spring of 1853 he was offered the consulate at Valparaiso, South America, then said to be one of the most valuable offices in the gift of the President, he accepted it, resigning the Governorship into the hands of the Lieutenant Governor, William Medill, and left Cleveland for that far dis- tant land on the 12th of July, 1853, accompanied by his family.


He issued an address to the people of Ohio, expressing his regret at leaving them, gratitude for their confidence in him du- ring all the years of his public life, and hopes for their continued happiness and prosperity.


His departure was accompanied by the regrets of thousands of friends. The press throughout the State expressed the live- liest interest in his welfare.


In the absence of the Envoy to Chili, he filled for a time, in addition to the consulate, the position of Plenipotentiary and Envoy Extraordinary to the Government of that Republic.


39


EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.


The consulate not proving as remunerative as had been rep- resented, he tendered his resignation and returned to the United States in July, 1854.


This was the last position he ever held, either by election or appointment.


For a time he practiced law in Cleveland, but at last with- drew entirely from the profession, and devoted himself during his remaining years to the cultivation of his farm, Evergreen Place, eight miles west of the city, where he had resided since 1833, and where he was wont to retire at intervals during his public life for relaxation. He had spent many years in beauti- fying and adorning this home, where he always dispensed a gen- erons hospitality, enlivened with reminiscence and anecdote, for which his conversational powers of the highest order well quali- fied him, and where he now lived like another Cincinnatus, sharing with his men the labors of his farm and field.


" The remnant of his days he safely passed, Nor found they flew too slow, nor flew too fast; He made his wish with his estate comply, Joyful to live, yet not afraid to die."


We have seen his devotion to the principles of liberty, and to the Union. He continued until the last to take great interest in public affairs; he foresaw the inevitable struggle with slavery and was strong in his support of the Government in the suppres- sion of the rebellion.


He had lived more than the allotted three score and ten. His hair had become silvered, and his vigorous frame bent and enfeebled, although his mind was still active and his wit keen as in youth. He visited the city on Thursday, and return- ed at night apparently in his usual health, but toward morn- ing was seized with an acute disease of which he died on the fol- lowing Saturday, October 1, 1864, at the age of 72. His remains rest in Woodland Cemetery, at Cleveland. A plain marble shaft inscribed with his name marks the spot.


40


ANNALS OF THE


ANNOUNCEMENT OF MEMBERS DECEASED WITHIN THE PAST YEAR.


BY REV. THOMAS CORLETT.


The following are the names of members of the Association who have died since our last annual meeting:


Age. Name.


Born. Came to the Western Reserve.


Died.


70 Levi Bauder,


N. Y., 1812,


1834,


Jan. 30, 1882


80 Mrs. Maria A. Crittenden, N. Y., 1802,


1837,


Jan. 9, 1882


72 Marshall Carson,


N. Y., 1810, 1834,


Jan. 1882


74 Thomas Hird,


Eng., 1808, 1830,


Mar. 31, 1882


80 Mrs. Deborah Crocker,


N. Y., 1796,


1801,


Nov. 18, 1881


66 Judge Jesse P. Bishop,


Vt., 1815,


1836,


Oct. 28, 1881


71 Jacob Lowman,


Md. 1810,


1832, Oct. 26, 1881


76 John Lloyd Slosson,


Mich., 1806,


1812,


Oct. 23, 1881


74 John H. Gorham,


Conn., 1807,


1838,


Dec. 18, 1881


76 Charles H. Norton,


N. Y., 1805,


1838,


Feb. 23, 1881


69 James W. Kingsbury,


Ohio, 1813,


1813,


Sept. 30, 1881


58 Ransom O'Connor,-


Ohio, 1824,


1824,


May 7, 1882


50 JAMES A. GARFIELD,


Ohio, 1831,


1831,


Sept. 19, 1881


Of each of these deceased members of our Association I would briefly say:


Mr. Levi Bauder was a business man, pursuing the trade of cabinet maker, and maintained through all the fluctuations of business the reputation of an honest and good man.


Mrs. Maria A. Crittenden, wife of the late N. E. Crittenden, showed her business ability in conducting successfully the large jewelry store which has been for many years such an ornament to our city.


Marshall Carson was a paper merchant, and kept the first paper store in Cleveland, and carried on painting.


Thomas Hird commenced life as a day laborer, and by thrift and economy became one of our most thriving farmers.


John Lloyd Slosson kept a boarding house.


John H. Gorham was an active business man, and with a heart and hand ready for every good work.


41


EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.


Charles H. Norton was a dealer in cattle, and kept a meat market for some years, with better impulses of heart than his rough manner might indicate.


Ransom O'Connor was a thriving farmer, and for many years an active member of the Disciple Church in Collamer.


James W. Kingsbury, the last member of Judge Kingsbury's family, lived on the old homestead, formerly in the township of Newburgh, but now the city of Cleveland. He was an interest- ing and well disposed citizen, leaving to his orphan children the legacy of a good name and a Christian character.


Mrs. Deborah ·Crocker was at the time of her death one of the oldest residents of this county; trained from early childhood in the school of pioneer life, and deeply impressed with the truths of religion, she developed into full grown Christian wom- anhood, and for many years her influence for good, strong and sustaining, did much good, and will long linger in the hearts and memory of those who knew her.


Jacob Lowman commenced working in this city at the age of twenty-two; after working a year for Mr. Elisha Peet, at the smithing department of carriage building, he bought out his employer and employed one wagon maker and one carriage builder, he himself doing the smithing. From this small be- ginning he steadily prospered nntil he became one of the most extensive and best known carriage manufacturers of the State. The sterling qualities of head and heart which marked his ear- lier years, were prominent throughout his whole life, and coupled as were those with the fear of God, he could be none other than what he was: a good citizen, a wise counselor, a. strong pillar in the Church of God, and a loving and judicious father.


Judge Jesse P. Bishop was at the time of his death .one of the vice-presidents of our Association, and a resident of Cleve- land forty-four years; and here I take the liberty of quoting from the notice in one of our city papers at the time of his death, of this good man: "As an incorruptible judge, an honest and laborious lawyer, a public spirited citizen, a zealous Christian,


42


ANNALS OF THE


an exemplary husband and father, and a friend to the poor and needy, he was a man among men, and the people of Cleveland of all professions, sects and parties among whom he lived and wrought for nearly half a century, feel a personal and irrepara- ble loss in his death, which is the strongest and most eloquent tribute that can be paid to the worth and memory of any one."


To the memory and worth of our deceased honorary mem- ber, James A. Garfield, who was at the time of his death Presi- dent of the United States, it would be presumption, with all that has been said and written about him, to add anything. A nation's grief and sorrow at his cruel and untimely death, and the warm sympathy of the whole civilized world, must be ac- cepted as a better tribute to his memory than any thing that can be said here.


CALL BY THE PRESIDENT FOR VOLUNTEER SPEECHES.


The next on the programme was a call from the president for volunteer speeches. A number of responses were made, and they were without exception witty and extertaining, and were heartily appreciated and applauded.


Judge Daniel R. Tilden was the first member called upon. He led off with a joke at his own expense, and then informed the assembly that last year at their meeting he was discouraged on seeing so many black heads, but this year the case had altered a little. The white head was the badge of pioneerism, he said. He concluded by showing how our advanced civilization was worked out by the strokes of these hardy men and women.


43


EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.


RESPONSE BY A. J. WILLIAMS, ESQ.


MR. PRESIDENT, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN :


I am admonished that time is of the essence of these off-hand speeches, and that each must fall within the limitation of ten minutes. I am further advised by a kind whisper from our hon- ored treasurer that the early history of Chagrin Falls should be my theme. If I am to be restricted to matters of interest in the early history of that enterprising little village, then the time al- lowed me is more than ample to compass its entire history.


I moved from Ontario county, N. Y., to Chagrin Falls, in 1840; about seven years after the woodman's axe was first sound- ed in the forest where the village now stands. The little village was then in three townships and two counties. The townships were Orange and Solon in Cuyahoga county, and Russell in Geauga. The township of Chagrin Falls was not organized until about 1845. The principal street running through the village was on the line dividing Cuyahoga and Geauga counties. In 1841, by an act of the Legislature, Cuyahoga county was en- larged by adding thereto that portion of the present township of Chagrin Falls that theretofore had been in Geauga. Prior to the organization of Chagrin Falls township, the few voters of the village cast their ballots. in the original three townships named.


That year, 1840, was distinguished for the peculiar argu- ments and methods adopted by the Whigs in the Harrison-Van Buren campaign. These arguments and methods consisted of a free nse of hard cider: making the air resonant with doggerel songs:


" Tippecanoe and Tyler too,


And with them we'll beat little Van," etc.,


and in the display in processions of coon-skins and miniature log


44


ANNALS OF THE


cabins. What could the poor locofocos say in answer to such logic? Simply, nothing.


The Whigs had an oracle at Chagrin, Dr. J. H. Vincent, then a candidate for the Legislature. He played the fife, was a good singer, and could make a speech. The Democrats had no oracle. They were characteristically meek and forbearing. They partook of the hard cider, enjoyed the songs, and admired the emblematic displays of their enemies with Christian fortitude; but when the Whigs improvised a cannon with which to disturb their early morning slumbers, it proved too much, and they de- termined that that thing should be suppressed. Sure enough, one bright morning the Whigs awoke to find their gun non est. The Democrats had borrowed that gun and buried it in a swamp near by, where it remained until 1844, when it was resurrected to celebrate the election of James K. Polk. To the discomfiture of the jubilant Democracy, however, that year the Whigs, in turn, quietly borrowed the gun and threw it over the falls, where it has since been buried in the waters of Chagrin River.


The hard-cider argument was a little more difficult for the Democrats to handle. There were so few of them that they found their capacity inadequate to dispose of it by the rules of Democratic logic, in such case made and provided. I remem- ber well, when, on a Saturday evening, our hilarious opponents laid in a barrel of hard cider preparatory to a campaign trip the next Monday. The barrel was rolled into the Whig store of Hillis & James. There was a double door to the store, only one of which was used. Through this door the barrel was taken, rolled around and left with one head about two feet from the other door. The Democrats were around, with their hands in their pockets, watching and whistling. One of their number, Ben Hull, who had an engineer's eye, took in the situation, and carefully measured the distance from the door to the barrel; keeping his own counsels, he at once procured an auger, took it to a forge, lengthened it as the necessities of the case required, and in the dead of that night, when all Whigs were slumbering,


45


EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.


bored through the store-door and into the barrel. On the next, Sunday, morning, the Whigs, one by one, came around to con- sult about the programme of the morrow, and to draw cheer and courage from the bung-hole of that barrel. Their consternation was beyond utterance, when, upon examination, they found that their logical beverage had gone beyond the reach of their straws, and the barrel was empty! The news of this Democratic ont- rage was soon communicated to all the faithful. It was Sun- day, but during that campaign Sunday was like any other day. Business and religion were alike suspended, and the "Smith Sunday Law" had not then been heard of. Another barrel of hard cider was readily procured and on hand for Monday's revelry.


In 1842, C. T. Blakeslee and Jehu Brainerd inaugurated a monthly journal at Chagrin Falls, entitled Farmers and Me- chanics' Journal. It was a pamphlet publication, copiously il- lustrated. Mr. Brainerd did all the engraving, and he and Blakeslee made the wooden press upon which the Journal was printed. I am informed that it was the first agricultural paper published in Ohio. In a short time Blakeslee sold out his in- terest to one H. C. Calkins, who, with Prof. Brainerd, contin- ned the publication of the Journal until 1844, when they sold the establishment to one H. G. Whipple. Whipple conceived that Chagrin Falls was a good field for missionary work. Mor- monism had flourished there; the Millerites had taken the place by storm in 1843; every phase of religious fanaticism had taken ready root there; and above all, Whiggery prevailed; and why was it not a good field for the missionary? Whipple thought so, and when he bought out Brainerd & Calkins he issued in Cha- grin Falls a red-hot Democratic newspaper. Think of it,-a Democratic newspaper printed in Chagrin Falls! I would as soon think of re-publishing the Standard of the Cross in the jungles of Central Africa, as to print a Democratic paper in Chagrin Falls. His missionary work went on thoroughly for about a month; perhaps a week or two longer. Whipple was


46


ANNALS OF THE


called away on important business. He entrusted his foreman, M. S. Barnes, with writing the editorial, and making up the inside of that week's edition. The outside had already been printed and was chuck full of Democracy. Barnes took the inside in hand, but he was a Whig. He could not write a Dem- ocratie editorial to save his life. The result was that the outside of that issue was furious for the annexation of the " Lone Star." ' for "Fifty-four-Forty or Fight." and all other Democratic measures of that campaign, while the inside antagonized all these measures; was purely Whig, and intensely hostile to every- thing that even looked Democratic. The only explanation given by Barnes was in a little editorial saying that Whipple was "rev- elling among the Tombes." What he meant by this I have never been able to find out. In a few days Whipple returned, discharged his foreman, issned two or three more numbers of his paper, and from that day to this, neither patriot nor hero has been found who cared to publish a Democratic newspaper in Cha- grin Falls.


In 1852 the good old Whig party expired. Strange and startling as it may seem, it received its death blow at Chagrin Falls, and at the hand of my distinguished friend Judge Tilden. It may be a sad reminiscence, but its importance entitles it to a place in recorded history.


The Western Reserve had been the stronghold of the Whig party in Ohio, but its anti-slavery convictions were stronger than its party ties. The National Convention of the party that year nominated General Scott for the Presidency, but in its platform it resolved against the further agitation of the slavery question. This was too much for the Whigs of the Reserve, and without them the State was sure to cast its electoral vote for the Demo- cratic candidate, Franklin Pierce-a result sure to follow if the Whigs of the Reserve supported the Free Soil candidate, John P. Hale.


Ben. Wade, then in Washington, took in the situation, inter- viewed General Scott, and received assurances from him that


47


EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.


rather than see slavery extended, he would sacrifice his right arm. Wade knew that that old hero meant just what he said, and that the result of this important interview should at once be made known to the anti-slavery Whigs of the Western Reserve. Knowing that on the Reserve there was no Whig more influen- tial, and no abolitionist more earnest than Judge Tilden, Wade at once wrote to him what General Scott had said. Tilden was satisfied, and then determined that he could best place the good news upon the breeze at Chagrin Falls. He went there, and in a vigorous Whig speech stated the substance of Wade's letter, and returned to his home in Cleveland.


In a few days a good friend in Chagrin Falls wrote him that his statement in regard to the Wade letter was doubted; there- upon he sent the original letter to the Chagrin friend. But there it met the omnipresent and irrepressible Plain Dealer re- porter, who took a copy of the letter and published it in the next issue of that paper. That was a good thing if the Plain Dealer had not circulated beyond the Western Reserve. But unfortunately it went into the Southern States, and the letter was largely copied in the Democratic papers in that section, and threatened the ruin of the Whig party throughout the entire South. The Southern Whigs in Washington called on Wade and asked, "Is this so?" As good fortune would have it, the Plain Dealer had misprinted one word; entirely immaterial, but nevertheless a misprint, enough to justify Wade in denying the anthorship of the letter. He did so with characteristic vehemence, and wrote to Tilden that the letter was raising hell with Scott in the South, and as the published copy was inaccurate, he had denied writing such a letter, and that he (Tilden) must destroy the original. I don't know whether Judge Tilden made another Whig speech on the Reserve or not; but faithful to his old friend Wade, and true to his party, he determined to consign the fatal letter to oblivion. With his true and tried friend S. I. Noble, and other Whigs, he took a steamer at Cleveland and sailed for the great Lundy's Lane Scott jollification. That letter weighed


48


ANNALS OF THE


heavily upon his mind. Consulting with Mr. Noble they con- cluded that there was no better time to dispose of the letter than when they were beyond the sight of land. Tying a weight to the dread paper, and calling Noble as a witness, with judicial gravity Judge Tilden consigned it to the depths of Lake Erie. Oh, what relief was then given to a troubled breast!


But it was too late; the die was cast; that letter had done its fatal work in the South, where Scott received the electoral vote of but two States, Kentucky and Tennessee, and Wade's denial had neutralized Scott's assurance on the Western Reserve, and Ohio cast her electoral vote for Pierce. The Whig party was dead. Who says Chagrin Falls has no place in history?


RESPONSE BY HON. R. P. RANNEY.


Judge R. P. Ranney was the next speaker, supplementing Judge Spalding's remarks with another version of the way in which the Western Reserve obtained its name, relating several facts and anecdotes of an amusing character. It is much to be regretted that a full report of his excellent speech has not been procured for publication in these pages.


RESPONSE BY HON. R. P. SPALDING.


MR. PRESIDENT, AND LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: If my honored friend, Judge Tilden, had propounded his question to me: " Did you ever know a man attempt to speak when he had nothing to say?" he knows well what the reply would have been.


Somewhere about fifty years ago that gentleman made his first effort to address a jury, as my associate in a cause on trial in the Common Pleas of Portage county. He arose with a good


49


EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.


deal of dignity and said, with emphasis: " Gentlemen of the Jury! ! ! " But beyond this it seemed impossible for him to get, until finally, after many repetitions, he said: “ Gentlemen of the jury, if you do not decide this case in favor of my client. you will-you will-" ("dampen my aspirations," I whispered in his ear) " You will dampen my aspirations, gentlemen!" When he said this in a commanding tone of voice, I caught up my hat and left the Court Honse. He soon followed, and I was obliged to sne for peace. Bnt badinage aside.


We have heard much about the " Western Reserve." its set- tlement and progress. It is about as good a country as the sun shines upon, but then what of its name? It is, properly speak- ing, the " Connecticut Western Reserve," and the name orig- inated in this wise:


In 1662 the charter of Charles II granted to the colony of Connecticut " all lands between the parallels of 41 and 42 de- grees North latitude, from the Atlantic to the Pacific ocean." After American independence was established. a compromise was effected whereby Congress secured to the State of Connecticut 3,800,000 acres of land in the northeastern part of what is now the State of Ohio, and Connecticut relinquished all further claim to the Western territory.


500,000 acres of this land, in the western part, was donated by Connecticut, in 1792, to certain sufferers by fire, in the war of the Revolution. The residne was sold to an association of gentlemen known as the "Connecticut Land Company," who sent ont Gen. Moses Cleaveland, in 1796, with a number of prac- tical surveyors to divide it into townships of five miles square. It was this body of men who, in the autumn of 1796, laid out the town of Cleveland and called it by the name of their leader. In February, 1823, when I first attended court in this county, Cleveland had a population of 400 souls. . At this time the enu- meration in the city runs up to 200,000, and it may not be ex- travagant to say that the child is already born that may see it teeming with a population of more than half a million.


4


50


ANNALS OF THE


In the spring of 1819 I was descending the Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, in a skiff, with some young traveling companions who, like myself, had become tired of the stage coach. It took us some ten days to reach the end of our route, as we could not proceed in the night season, but we became highly interested in the scenery upon the river bank in the day time.


I well recollect our visit to Backus' Island, a little below Marietta. where, in 1800, Harmon Blennerhassett and his accom- plished wife had made for themselves a palatial residence which continued to be the abode of peace and happiness until in an evil hour it was entered by Aaron Burr. who. like Satan in the Eden of old. visited this earthly paradise only to deceive and destroy. The place and the parties are made historical by the eloquence of William Wirt at the trial of Burr in Richmond.




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.