USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Annals of the Early Settlers Association of Cuyahoga County, number I > Part 27
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1807
1840
Morgan, I. A.
Connecticut,
1809
1811
....
Morgan, A. W.
Ohio,
1815
1815
Morgan, Mrs. A. W
Ohio,
1821
1821
Morgan, Mrs. N. G.
Ohio,
1815
1818
Morgan, H. L.
Ohio,
1832
1832
. . . .
Morgan, Sarah H.
Ohio,
1838
1838
. . . .
Morrill, Elisa
Vermont,
1811
1834
. . . .
Moses, Mary A.
Ohio,
1818
1818
Murphy, Wm.
Ireland,
1810
1830
Myer, Nicholas
Germany,
1809
1834
. . ..
Mygatt, George
Connecticut,
1797
1807
Neff, Melchor
Germany,
1826
1834
Newmark, S.
Bavaria,
1816
1839
..
Norton, C. H.
New York,
1805
1838
1881
Nott, C. C.
Connecticut,
1826
1835
....
O'Brien, O. D.
Ohio,
1819
1819
O'Brien, Delia R.
Vermont,
1813
1817
1882
O'Brien, Sylvia M.
Vermont,
1815
1835
... .
O'Connor, R.
Ohio,
1824
1824
. . . .
Ogram, J. W.
England,
1820
. . . .
Ogram, Mrs. J. W.
Ohio,
1825
1825
. ...
Paddock, T. S.
New York,
1814
1836
....
Paine, R. F.
New York.
1810
1815
. . . .
Palmer, Sophia
Ohio,
1818
1818
. .. .
Palmer, E. W.
New York,
1820
1841
....
Palmer, J. D.
Connecticut,
1831
1835
. . . .
Pankhurst, Mrs. Sarah
England,
1812
1835
... .
Pannell, James
New York,
1812
1832
. ...
Pannell, Mrs. James
Massachusetts,
1813
1835
. .. .
Parker, Mrs. L. E.
Ohio,
1809
1809
. . .
. . . .
. . . .
... .
. . . .
...
.. . .
. . . .
... .
. . ..
...
. .. .
. .. .
· · · ·
. .. .
. . . .
88
ANNALS OF THE
NAME.
WHERE BORN.
WHEN.
CAME TO RESERVE.
DIED.
Parker, M. C.
Connecticut,
1810
1839
... .
Parker, Henry
Ohio,
1824
1829
. . . .
Payne, H. B.
New York,
1810
1833
... .
Payne, Mrs. H. B.
Ohio,
1818
1818
. . ..
Payne, N. P.
Ohio,
1837
1837
. . . .
Pease, Samuel
Massachusetts,
1805
1828
... .
Pease, Charles
Ohio,
1811
1835
. . . .
Pease, Mary E.
Connectieut,
1816
1835
....
Pelton, F. W.
Connectieut,
1827
1835
. . . .
Penty, Thomas
England,
1808
1829
. . . .
Peterson, A. G.
Ohio,
1843
1843
.. . .
Phillips, Mrs. Emily
Ohio,
1809
1809
.. . .
Phillips, B. F.
Ohio,
1833
1833
. . . .
Pier, Mrs. L. J.
Ohio,
1823
1823
.
. .
Piper, A. J.
Vermont,
1814
1839
. .. .
Porter, L. G.
Massachusetts,
1806
1826
.. . .
Prescott, James
Massachusetts,
1826
1826
. . . .
Proudfoot, Jno.
Scotland,
1802
1842
. . . .
Proudfoot, D.
Seotland,
1809
1832
. . . .
Quayle, Thos.
Isle of Man,
.
.
. .. .
Quayle, Thos. E.
Ohio.
1836
1836
. .
. .
Quayle, W. H.
Ohio,
1838
1838
Quayle, G. L.
Ohio,
1842
1842
Quinn, Arthur
Ireland,
1810
1832
1883
Radcliff, Mary A.
Isle of Man,
1822
1826
. . . .
Ranney, Mrs. Anne
New York,
1811
1834
. . . .
Ranney, Rufus P.
Massachusetts,
1813
1824
... .
Ranney, W. S.
Ohio,
1835
1835
· . .
Redington, J. A.
New York,
1818
1839
. . . .
Redington, Mrs. C.
New York,
1821
1839
. . . .
Remington, S. G.
New York,
1828
1834
. . . .
Rice, Harvey
Massachusetts,
1800
1824
Rice, Mrs. Harvey
Vermont,
1812
1833
. . . .
Rice, P. W.
Ohio,
1829
1829
....
Robison, J. P.
New York,
1811
1832
. . . .
Rogers, C. C.
Ireland,
1813
1839
. . . .
Rose, Mrs. E. E.
Connecticut,
1810
1814
. . . .
Rouse, Rebecca E.
Massachusetts,
1799
1830
... .
Rouse, B. F.
Massachusetts,
1824
1830
. ...
Rowley, Luey A.
Connectieut,
1805
1827
. .. .
Rupel, S. D.
Ohio,
1808
1808
.. . .
Ruple, Mrs. Anna
Ohio,
1814
1814
. . . .
1827
...
. .
. . . .
1
EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.
CAME TO
NAME.
WHERE BORN.
WHEN.
RESERVE.
DJED.
Russell, C. L.
New York,
1810
1835
.. . .
Russell, George H.
New York,
1817
1834
Sabin, William
New York,
1817
1839
Sabin, Mrs. Wm.
New York,
1821
1838
Sacket, Alex.
Pennsylvania.
1814
1835
....
Sacket, Mrs. Alex.
Ohio,
1815
1815
. . . .
Sanford, Mrs. A. S.
Rhode Island,
1803
1825
... .
Sanford, A. S.
Connecticut,
1805
1829
. . . .
Sargent, John H.
New York,
1814
1818
. . . .
Saxton, J. C.
Vermont,
1812
1818
....
Saxton, Mrs. E. A.
Maine,
1821
1833
....
Schiely, Mrs. Anna
Germany,
.
1832
. . .
Ohio,
1800
1816
. . ..
Scovill, E. A.
Ohio,
1819
1819
Selden, N. D.
Connecticut,
1815
1831
Selden, Mrs. Elizabeth
Ohio,
1819
1819
Severance, S. L.
Ohio,
1834
1834
. . . .
Severance, Mrs. M. H.
Ohio,
......
......
. . . .
Sharp, Clayton
Ohio,
1811
1833
. . . .
Shelden, S. H.
New York,
1813
1835
Shelley, John
England,
1815
1835
Shepard, D. A.
Connecticut,
1810
1833
Shepard, Mrs. Wm.
Vermont,
1828
1835
Sherwin, Ahimaaz
Vermont,
1792
1818
1881
Sherwin, Mrs. S. M.
New York,
1809
1827
Short, Lewis
Connecticut,
1811
1827
Short, Helen
New Hampshire,
1811
1828
Short, David
Connecticut,
1818
1827
Shunk, Mrs. A. H.
Ohio,
1824
1824
Silberg, F.
Germany,
1804
1834
. . . .
Simmons, Isaac B.
1806
1836
Simmons, Thomas
Ohio,
1832
1832
Skedd, W. V.
England,
1816
1833
Skinner, O. B.
Ohio,
1831
1831
....
Slade, Samantha Doan
Ohio,
1817
1817
·
. .
Slade, Horatio.
England.
1827
1834
1882
Sławson, J. L.
Michigan,
1806
1812
Smith, Erastus
Connecticut,
1790
1832
1881
Smith, Erastus
Connecticut,
1802
1833
. .. .
Smith, W. T.
New York,
1811
1836
. . . .
Smith, Mrs. Wm.
1811
1836
. ...
. . . .
....
. . . .
Sexton, Jehiel
..
. . . .
. . ..
. .. .
. ...
. . . .
. . . .
... .
. . . .
. ...
. .. .
. ...
. . . .
89
. . . .
....
. . . .
Scovill, Mrs. J. Bixby
90
ANNALS OF THE
NAME.
WHERE BORN.
WHEN.
CAME TO RESERVE.
DIED.
Smith, Elijah
Connecticut,
1821
1832
.. . .
Smith, Mrs. F. L.
Connecticut,
1836
Sorter. C. N.
New York,
1812
1831
Sorter, Harry,
New York,
1820
1831
. . . .
Southworth, Mrs. E.
Connecticut,
1801
1819
. . . .
Southworth, W. P.
Connecticut,
1819
1836
. ...
Spalding. R. P.
Massachusetts.
1798
1820
. .
Spangler, Mrs. Elizabeth
Maryland, Ohio,
1790
1820
1880
Spangler, M. M.
Canada,
1820
1835
. . . .
Spayth, A.
Germany,
1800
1832
... .
Spencer, T. P.
Connecticut,
1811
1832
. . .
Spring, V.
Massachusetts,
1799
1817
.. . .
Stanley, G. A.
Connecticut,
1837
. . . .
Stephenson, Wn.
Pennsylvania,
1804
1833
. . .
Sterling, Dr. E.
Connecticut,
1825
1827
Stevens. C. C.
Maine,
1819
1833
Stewart, C. C.
Connecticut,
1817
1836
...
Steward, J. S.
Ohio,
1818
1818
. . . .
Stickney, Mrs. C. B.
Canada,
1836
1836
Stickney, Hamilton
New York,
1824
1830
. . . .
Stillman, W. H.
Connecticut,
1808
1833
...
Strickland. Mrs. H. W.
Ohio,
1834
. .
Strickland, B.
Vermont,
1810
1835
....
. Strong, Homer
Connecticut,
1811
1836
. . . .
Strong, Charles H.
Ohio,
1831
1831
..
Taylor, Harvey
Ohio,
1814
1814
1880
Taylor, Jas.
Ohio,
1814
1814
.
. .
Thomas, Jefferson
Ohio,
1809
1809
.
. .
Thompson, Thos.
England,
1814
1836
....
Thompson, H. V.
New York,
1816
1839
. . . .
Thompson, Mrs. H. V.
Vermont,
1823
1837
...
Tilden, D. R.
Connecticut.
1806
1828
. ..
Townsend. H. G.
New York,
1812
1834
. . . .
Truscott, Samuel
Canada,
1829
1838
.
. .
Turner, S. W.
Connecticut,
1813
1832
. .. .
Vincent, J. A.
Pennsylvania,
1807
1839
.
..
Wager, I. D.
Ohio.
1820
1820
. . . .
Walters, B. C.
New York.
1807
1837
. ...
Walters, John R.
New York,
1811
1834
. . . .
Walworth, John
Ohio,
1821
1821
....
Warner, W. J.
Vermont,
1808
1631
... .
.
Spangler, Mrs. M. M.
1813
1820
. . . .
. . . .
...
.
.
91
EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.
CAME TO
NAME.
WHERE BORN.
WHEN.
RESERVE.
DIED.
Warren, Moses
Connecticut,
1803
1815
...
Warren, Mrs. J. Y.
New York,
1816
1816
Warren, Mrs. Wm. H.
New York,
1819
1833
....
Watkins, George
Connectient,
1812
1818
....
Waterman, Wn.
Ohio,
1818
1818
...
Watterson, Jno. T.
Ohio,
1828
1828
...
Watterson, Mrs. M.
New York,
1828
1829
...
Weidenkopf, F.
Germany,
1819
1837
Weidenkopf, Mrs. O.
Alsace,
1819
1830
Weidenkopf, Jacob
Germany,
1828
1837
....
.....
Welch, John
New York,
1800
1825
...
Welch, Jas. S.
Ohio,
1821
1821
....
Wellstead, Joseph
England,
1817
1837
......
Wemple, Myndret,
New York,
1796
1818
Weston, George B.
Massachusetts,
1805
1826
...
...
Whitaker, Charles
New York,
1817
1831
White, Moses
Massachusetts.
1791
1816
1881
Whitelaw, George
Scotland,
1808
1832
Whittlesey, H. S.
Ohio,
1836
1836
Wick. C. C.
Ohio,
1813
1835
......
Wightman, D. L.
Ohio,
1817
1817
....
Wightman, S. H.
Ohio.
1819
1819
....
Wightman, Mrs. D. L.
Ohio,
1822
1822
.....
Williams, George,
Connecticut,
1799
1833
....
Williams, William
Connecticut,
1803
1836
Williams, Jno.
England,
1817
1832
Williams, A. J.
New York,
1829
1840
Williamson, Samuel
Pennsylvania,
1808
1810
....
Wilcox, Norman
Connecticut,
1793
1829
Willson, Mrs. H. V.
Michigan,
1802
1835
.....
Wilson, Fred.
New York,
1807
1832
.....
Wilson, William
Ohio,
1819
1819
Wilson, Jas. T.
Ohio,
1828
1840
......
Wineh, Thomas
New York,
1806
1832
.....
Winslow, E. N.
North Carolina,
1824
1830
......
Wood, H. B.
New York.
1813
1817
.....
Wood, Mrs. D. L.
Wood, Mrs. M. S.
Michigan,
1821
1840
......
Younglove, M. C.
New York,
......
1836
......
...
....
1817
Welch, O. F.
Wheller, Jane
England,
Wheller, B. S.
England,
1831
1836
....
......
..
92
ANNALS OF THE
SUMMARY.
Total number of members
535
Died,
35
Living,
500
HONORARY MEMBERS,
NAME.
WHERE BORN.
WHEN.
CAME TO RESERVE.
DIED.
Crosby, Chas.
Massachusetts,
1801
1832
.....
Garfield, Jas. A.
Ohio,
1831
1831
1881
(Late President of the United States.)
Garfield, Mrs. Lucretia R. Ohio,
1832
1832
......
(Wife of President Garfield.)
Garfield, Mrs. Eliza B. New Hampshire, 1801
1830
......
(Mother of President Garfield.)
Total
4
Died,
1
Living,
3
·
93
EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.
CONSTITUTION.
AS AMENDED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF 1883.
ARTICLE I.
This Association shall be known as the "EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY," and its members shall consist of such persons as have resided in the Western Reserve at least forty years, and are citizens of Cuyahoga County, and who shall sub- scribe to this Constitution and pay a membership fee of one dollar, but shall not be subject to further liability, except that after one year from the payment of such membership fee, a contribution of one dollar will be expected from each member, who is able to con- tribute to the same, to be paid to the Treasurer at every annual re-union of the Association, and applied in defraying necessary expenses.
ARTICLE II.
The officers of this Association shall consist of a President, two Vice Presidents, Secretary and Treasurer, with the addition of an Executive Committee of not less than five persons, all of which officers shall be members of the Association and hold their offices for one year, and until their successors are duly appointed and they accept their appointments.
ARTICLE III.
The object of the Association shall be to meet in convention on the 22d day of July, or the following day if the 22d fall on Sunday, each and every year, for the purpose of commemorating the day with appropriate public exercises, and bringing the members into more intimate social relations, and collecting all such facts, incidents, relics, and personal reminiscences respecting
94
ANNALS OF THE
the early history and settlement of the county and other parts of the Western Reserve, as may be regarded of permanent value, and transferring the same to the Western Reserve Historical Society for preservation ; and also for the further purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business of the Association as may be required.
ARTICLE IV.
It shall be the duty of the President to preside at public meetings of the Association, and in his absence the like duty shall devolve upon one of the Vice Presidents. The Secretary shall record in a book for the purpose the proceedings of the Association, the names of the members in alphabetical order, with the ages and time of residence at the date of becoming members, and conduct the necessary correspondence of the Association. He shall also be regarded as an additional member, ex-officio, of the Executive Committee, and may consult with them but have no vote. The Treasurer shall receive and pay out all the moneys belonging to the Association, but no moneys shall be paid out except on the joint order of the Chairman of the Executive Committee and Secretary of the Association. No debt shall be incurred against the Association by any officer or member beyond its ready means of payment.
ARTICLE V.
The Executive Committee shall have the general supervision and direction of the affairs of the Association, designate the hour and place of holding its annual meetings, and publish due notice thereof, with a programme of exercises. The committee shall also have power to fill vacancies that may occur in their own body or in any other office of the Association, until the Association at a regular meeting shall fill the same, and shall appoint such number of subordinate committees as they may deem expedient. It shall also be their duty to report to the Association at its regular annual meetings the condition of its affairs, its success and prospects, with such other matter as they may deem important. They shall
95
EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.
also see that the annual proceedings of the Association, including such other valuable information as they may have received, are properly prepared and published in pamphlet form, and gratuit- ously distributed to the members of the Association, as soon as practicable after each annual meeting.
ARTICLE VI.
At any annual or special meeting of the Association the presence of twenty members shall constitute a quorum. No special meetings shall be held, except for business purposes and on call of the Executive Committee. This Constitution may be altered or amended at any regular annual meeting of the Associa- tion on a three-fourthi's vote of all the members present, and shall take effect, as amended, from the date of its adoption.
ANNALS
OF THE
EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION
OF
CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
NUMBER V.
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
WESTERN RESERVE CLEVELAND, O. TY! HISTOR
CLEVELAND, O. PRINTED AT THE PUBLISHING HOUSE OF THE EV. ASSOCIATION. 1884.
ANNALS
OF THE
EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION
OF
CUYAHOGA COUNTY.
NUMBER V.
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
TESTERN . RESERVE CLEVELAND, O. HISTORICA S OC
IETY.
CLEVELAND, O. PRINTED AT THE PUBLISHING HOUSE OF THE EV. ASSOCIATION. 1884. 550
THENEW YORK PUBLICMEDRARY
ASTOR, LENOX AN TILDEN AOS DETIENE 1897.
OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION.
1884.
HON. HARVEY RICE, President. HON. JOHN W. ALLEN,
Vice-Presidents.
MRS. J. A. HARRIS, THOMAS JONES, JR., Secretary. SOLON BURGESS, Treasurer. REV. THOMAS CORLETT, Chaplain.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
GEORGE F. MARSHALL, R. T. LYON, DARIUS ADAMS, JOHN H. SARGENT, M. M. SPANGLER.
THE EARLY SETTLERS ANNIVERSARY,
JULY 22nd, 1884.
The Early Settlers' Association convened on the day of their Anniversary, July 22, at 11 o'clock A. M., at the Tabernacle, Ontario st., in the city of Cleveland. The weather was pleasant, and the attendance of members unusually large. It was delightful to witness the cordial manner in which old friends, as they entered the hall, recognized each other and exchanged congratulations.
The hall, or ground room of the tabernacle, is not only spacious, but somewhat imposing. The platform at the end of the hall had been decorated for the occasion with a profusion of flowers set in vases and draped overhead with muslins of varions colors. On the wall, in rear of the platform, hung a life size portrait of Gen- eral Moses Cleaveland.
After a goodly number of new memberships had been enrolled by the Secretary, the President of the Association, Hon. Harvey Rice, called the assemblage to order. and the session was opened with prayer by the Chaplain, Rev. Thomas Corlett. The President then introduced to the audience Mrs. Grace Perkins Lohmann, of Akron, who sang " Auld Lang Syne " in a style of rendition that was not only charming, but highly relished as an agreeable surprise. At the conclusion of the song the President delivered the following address :
ADDRESS.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
This is the fifth anniversary of our Association. We hail its recurrence with joy and with gratitude, for the reason that it brings with it so many cherished memories of the past, and affords us another opportunity to exchange heartfelt greetings with our early
6
ANNALS OF THE
friends. Not only this, but it enables us to recall and live over again the days of our youth, and at the same time contribute something of value to the unwritten history of pioneer-life in the Western Reserve.
In commemorating the 22nd of July as the anniversary of our Association we recognize a historical fact of permanent interest - the birthday of the City of Cleveland. It should be remembered that Gen. Moses Cleaveland and his staff of surveyors, who were sent out from Connecticut to survey the wild lands of the Western Reserve into townships and subdivisions, landed at Conneaut on the 4th of July, 1796, and celebrated the day in the patriotic style of the olden times. Soon after this event, the General with a detachment of his staff proceeded up the Lake coast in an open boat, and on the 22nd of July entered the mouth of the Cuyahoga river, and disembarking, ascended its eastern bank, where he beheld, for the first time, an elevated plain of rare beauty, and so suggestive of natural advantages, that he became at once enraptured with the scene, and predicted that here would arise at no distant day a great commercial city.
So impressed was he with this belief that he promptly ordered a survey of the locality into city lots. When the survey was completed, he attempted to select an appropriate name for the child of his brain, but could not hit upon a choice. His staff observing his embarrassment came to his relief, and baptized the infant city, and named it "Cleaveland " in honor of their chief. The General not less modestly than gracefully accepted the compliment. In 1830, the letter "a" in the first syllable of his name was dropped out by a newspaper publisher of the town, to bring the new heading of his paper within the breadth of his sheet. The public at once adopted the abbreviation.
The city may well be proud of her name, and of the character of her founder. She has so grown in importance as to acquire in less than a century since her birth a population of nearly two hundred and fifty thousand. Verily this modern Moses, of 1796, has proved himself a true prophet. Cleveland has indeed become a great commercial city - the "beautiful city on the Lake shore."
7
EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.
Gen. Moses Cleaveland was born on the 27th of January, 1754, at Canterbury, in the county of Windham, and state of Connecticut. He graduated in 1777, at Yale college. He adopted the legal profession, and practiced law for some years in his native town with marked success. Congress recognized his eminent abilities by appointing him, in 1779, captain of a company of sappers and miners in the Army of the United States. He was also elected a member of the Connecticut legislature, and appointed a Brigadier General of the State Militia - a position which at that day was regarded as one of distinguished honor. The masonic fraternity of his native State conferred upon him the office of Grand Master, and, in 1796, the Connecticut Land Company placed him in command of the surveyors whom they sent ont, in that year, to survey the lands of the Western Reserve, preparatory to putting them in market - a task which he satisfactorily accomplished. It was he and his staff, who led the advance of civilization into the wilds of the Western Reserve. He married an accomplished lady by the name of Esther Champion in 1794, by whom he had four children. He died at Canterbury, Nov. 17th, 1806, at the age of 52 years. His wife and three of his children survived him. She died in 1840.
Gen. Moses Cleaveland was no ordinary man. He descended from a parentage of unblemished character, and left to his posterity an unblemished character. He was emphatically a gentleman of fine acquirements, polished manners, and unquestioned integrity. He enjoyed the confidence of the public, because he was worthy of it. His morality was an outgrowth of puritanism, and was as rigid as it was pure. He was manly and dignified in his bearing, and so sedate and self-possessed that strangers often mistook him for a clergyman. In complexion, he was rather swarthy, so much so that the aborigines of the Reserve claimed him as akin to their own race. In the social circle he was always a welcome guest. If we may judge from his portrait, his expression of face indicated thought, firmness, and decision. He was a man of courage amid threatening dangers, and as shrewd in his tactics and management as he was courageous.
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ANNALS OF THE
In a word, whatever he undertook to do was well done. Like , Romulus, he founded a city, and gave it his name. Rome honored the memory of her founder by erecting to him not only a temple, but went so far as to deify him. The founder of the city of Cleveland, it must be conceded, attained to a mueh nobler manhood than the founder of Rome, and though the same elassie honors are not claimed for him, yet the time has come, as it seems to me, when our citizens generally, as well as the members of this Association, would rejoice to see a life-size statue of Gen. Moses Cleaveland grace the Central Park of our city in recognition of his memory not only as the founder of the city, but as a man, whose life and character are an honor to the age in which he lived.
The action already taken by this Association, in reference to this subject, seems to be approved by a generous public sentiment. It is believed that in the course of another year the requisite funds to meet the expense can be obtained. It is said that the city of Cleveland exeels in matters of artistie taste. In attempting to honor the memory of her founder, she should do it with such a degree of liberality, and in such a style of art, as to honor herself.
The success of our Association has hitherto been not less gratifying than unprecedented. The Association consisted of less than twenty members at its organization. It now has on its roll nearly six hundred memberships. Every citizen of the county, who has resided forty years or more in the Western Reserve, is eligible, and may become a member of the Association, with the assurance of being received into fellowship with a frank cordiality that is sincere. The roll of memberships is one of honor, and embraces many names of talented men and refined women, who are not only worthy of honors, but who have earned their honors as representatives of that grand phalanx of early pioneers whose enterprise, intelligence and foresight laid the broad foundations of the present prosperity of the Western Reserve.
There are many early settlers residing in other counties of the Reserve who sympathize with us in our labor of love. It has occurred to me that all such persons should be invited to attend our annual meetings, and that such of them as may furnish us
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EARLY SETTLERS' ASSOCIATION.
with valuable historical contributions should be made honorary members of our fraternity.
The good work that our Association has already accomplished is sufficiently evidenced by the series of " Annals " it has published. The value of these annals seems to be generally appreciated, if we may judge from the avidity with which they are sought and read. The trifle it costs to sustain our Association, from year to year, is amply compensated, as seems agreed, by the social enjoyment its annual festivities afford. In addition to this, each member receives a gratuitous copy of the "Annals." All that is now needed to strengthen the Association and increase its usefulness, is renewed effort in rescuing from oblivion such remaining traditions and relics as may serve to enrich as well as illustrate more fully the early history of this favored land of our choice.
It is from the dead past that the living present derives most of its knowledge. This knowledge we should so improve as to leave to our successors a still richer legacy. Thus it is that one age grows wiser than another, as the one follows the other in apostolic succession, as it were, ever proclaiming in the ear of time the gospel of the ages. And thus it is that civilization, as the ages come and go, is supposed to advance, and to grow still purer and nobler as it advances. Though a refined civilization may never reach perfection, it may so nearly approach it as to give to this earth-life of ours the happy characteristics of a heaven-life.
It is in the innocent phase of childhood, perhaps, that we recog- nize our highest ideal of human happiness. And hence we often re- call the days of our youth with unalloyed pleasure and satisfaction:
"When the years were as happy as long, And the hours danced to music and song."
And yet it is possible that we may find and enjoy a still higher order of pleasure and satisfaction in commingling the delightful reminiscences of our youthful days with the practical experiences of our maturer years, especially if we are sustained by a faith that we have not " lived in vain." Be this as it may :
" There is a slumbering good in all,
And we, perchance, may wake it;
Our hands contain the magic wand, This life is what we make it."
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ANNALS OF THE
Official business being next in order the following reports were read and approved :
REPORT OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
MR. PRESIDENT :-
Five years of increasing interest-of annual social intercourse of added local history, and prospects of more to come, are ample evidences of the "condition, success, and prospects" of the "Early Settlers' Association of Cuyahoga County." Nevertheless the Executive Committee are expected to say something more than that, if it be merely a repetition of what has heretofore been said.
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