USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Annals of the Early Settlers Association of Cuyahoga County, number I > Part 3
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Stark county, in this State, in 1802, and was married to Michael Spangler in 1807. In 1810 she recrossed the Allegheny Mountains to her native State on horseback. She moved to Cleveland in 1820 with a family of five children, four of whom are still alive. Her husband kept the hotel known as the Commercial House on Superior street, where the Miller's block now stands. She was of German parentage, and her's was the first family speaking the German language in the city of Cleveland. She drew a pension to the time of her death for services rendered by her husband to his country during the war of 1812. Her husband died August 29, 1836, at the age of fifty-two. She died in this city March 5, 1880. in the ninety-first year of her age.
Thus, within the brief period of the existence of this association, about a half year, three of our most venerable and esteemed ones have passed from this stage of action, where they have performed their work well, to that better one, we trust, where they shall realize the full fruition of their labor, and of their hopes and efforts.
11 .- Call for volunteer speeches.
The President said: "The next exercise in order is a call for volunteer speeches. I notice there are quite a number of gentlemen here from whom we would all feel greatly interested in hearing a few remarks. We shall have for the want of
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time, however, to ask them to limit themselves to from five to ten minutes, that we may hear as many as we can. I would here remark the fact that in this association we regard women as possessed of their equal rights; and if there are any of the ladies of our association who would be willing to make some remarks or addresses, we shall be happy to hear them, and they will be at liberty to speak as long as they please, for we know they always are interesting. [ Applause. ] I will call upon Hon. R. P. Spalding to open the way, and I trust, he will favor us with a few remarks."
Judge Spalding arose in his seat and spoke as follows: "MR. PRESIDENT:
Although I have not the honor to be enrolled among the members of this association, the term of my actual residence in the city, falling short of that prescribed by the constitution, very few can boast of a more familiar acquain- tance with Cleveland and its early history, than myself.
General Moses Cleaveland lived in the town of Canter- bury, in Windham County, Connecticut. His mansion house was but a quarter of a mile distant from that of my maternal grand father, David Paine, who lived in the same town. The two families were nearly related and lived on terms of the closest intimacy.
Among the earliest recollections of my childhood is the following anecdote, told me by my mother:
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She said that late, in the autumn of the year 1796, General Cleaveland spent an evening at her father's house, and in the course of conversation said to her mother:
"Mrs. Paine :- While I was in New Connectient, I laid out " a town, on the bank of Lake Erie, which was called by my " name, and I believe, the child is now born that may live to " see that place as large as 'old Windham.'"
Old Windham was then the seat of Justice of Windham County and its population, I think, never exceeded fifteen hundred. I was born about eighteen months after the General uttered this prediction, and may be supposed to know some- thing of the comparative growth of "Old Windham" and the "new town on the bank of Lake Erie," as I studied my pro- fession in the former place and have practiced it for nearly thirty years in the latter, which is now said to contain a population of 170,000.
"The town was called by my name," said the General, and so it was, C-1-e-a-v-e-l-a-n-d; and that was the way in which the name was spelled, written and printed, until an "act of piracy" was committed on the word by the publisher of a newspaper, something over forty years ago, who, in pro- curing a new "head-piece" for his paper, found it convenient to increase the capacity of his iron frame by reducing the number of letters in the name of the city: Hence the CLEVE-
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LAND ADVERTISER, and not "Moses Cleaveland," settled the Orthography of the Forest City's name for all time to come.
At a term of the Supreme Court, held in Trumbull County in October 1821, I was admitted to the practice of the law. The examination, I well recollect, was held in a large hall in Town's Hotel. The two justices of the court, Calvin Pease and John McLean, and all the lawyers, including with others whose names are not recollected. Elisha Whittlesey, Thos. D. Webb, Homer Hine, Jonathan Sloane, James D. Wheeler. Ralph Granger and Joshua R. Giddings, were present, The side-board, at one end of the room was according to the enstom of that day, plentifully supplied for the benefit of those who might choose to partake, after the examination should be closed.
In the course of the questioning I was asked by Mr. Granger, who was not very much of a "total abstinence" man. -"What is proof?"
"Tell him," said Chief Justice Pease, who sat a short distance from me, and who could not always control his fond- ness for witticism, "tell him it is that which "bears a bead."-
In the month of March, 1823, I first saw Cleveland. I came from Warren, in Trumbull County, where I then lived, in the company of Hon. George Tod, who was then President Judge of the 3d Judicial Circuit, which embraced, if I mistake not, the whole Western Reserve. We made the journey on
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horse-back, and were nearly two days in accomplishing it. 1 recolleet the judge, instead of an overcoat, wore an Indian blanket drawn over his head by means of a hole ent in the center. We came to attend court, and put up at the house of Mr. Merwin, where we met quite a number of lawyers from adjacent counties. At this time the village of Warren, where I lived, was considered as altogether ahead of Cleveland in importance; indeed, there was very little of Cleveland at that day, east and south east of the Public Square, or, as it is now called, Monumental Park. The population was estimated at FOUR HUNDRED souls. The earliest burying-ground was at the present intersection of Prospect and Ontario streets, the north-east corner covered by the Herriek Block. Some years afterwards, in riding away from Cleveland, in the stage coach. I passed the Erie Street Cemetery, just then laid out. I re- collect it excited my surprise that a site for a burying ground should be selected so far out of town.
The court that I attended on my first visit, was held in the old court house that stood on the north-west quarter of the Public Square, nearly opposite the Wick Bloek.
The presiding judge was the Hon. George Tod, a well read lawyer and a most courteous gentleman, the father of our late patriotic governor, David Tod. His kindness of heart was proverbial, and sometimes the lawyers would presume upon it- I recollect being present at his court in Portage County;
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on one occasion. when he was subjected to some little embar- rassment by the wit of his friend JJohn W. Willey, of Cleve- land. Mr. Willey was charged with the defence of a person who stood indicted for some petty misdemeanor, and though a very astute lawyer, he found it difficult to clear his client without a single witness in his favor. There had been, the night before the case was called, a fire in Ravenna, and a small house had been burned to the ground, which excited much commotion in the village.
When the case was reached for trial, on the call of the doeket, Mr. Willey rose, and with great gravity asked the court to continne that cause until the next term.
"For what reason, Mr. Willey?" said the benignant judge.
"May it please your Honor," said our facetious friend. "one "of our principal witnesses was burned up in that fire last "night, and we want time to supply the loss."
"Judge Tod was almost convulsed in endeavoring to restrain his laughter, but finally was enabled to say, "your "motion must be granted, Mr. Willey. The cause stands con- "tinned."
The Associate Judges of the Common Pleas were, at the time of which I speak, Hon. Thos. Card and Hon. Samuel Williamson. Horace Perry was clerk, and Jas. S. Clarke. sheriff. The lawyers attending court were Alfred Kelley, then acting Prosecuting Attorney for the county, Leonard
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Case, Sam'l Cowles, Reuben Wood and John W. Willey, of Cleveland, Saml. W. Phelps and Sam'l Wheeler of Geanga, Jonathan Sloane of Portage, Elisha Whittlesey, Thos. W. Webb and R. P. Spalding of Trumbull County. John Blair was Foreman of the Grand Jury.
No one of them all, except myself, is alive to-day. I very much doubt if a solitary individual who attended that court in 1823, whether judge, juror, attorney or witness, is left to greet you here to-day, other than myself.
And so with almost the whole of my Companions at the commencement of life's journey: They are gone.
"I feel like one "Who treads alone
"Some banquet-hall deserted,
"Whose lights are fled.
"Whose garlands dead,
"And all but he departed." (Applause.)
The Rev. A. S. Hayden, of Collamer, formerly President of Hiram College, was called upon to address the meeting, and responded as follows:
REMARKS OF MR. HAYDEN.
My remarks, as I am called at the instant, will be very brief, and chiefly for two reasons: The approaching lateness of the hour, which some may feel, and the other fact that,
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though not amongst the youngest men, I am perhaps the youngest born member of the association, and it does not become young children to talk long in the presence of age. But I take pleasure, for a reason or two that I will try to mention, in standing before you and with you in this relation, and as a member of this association. I was in this community long enough ago to know quite a number of its earliest mem- bers-far enough back to have had a very intimate acquaint- ance with Judge Samuel Starkweather, whom your whole city delighted to honor; in like manner, an acquaintance with the lamented and recently departed Judge Andrews, whose name amongst you will be cherished green as long as your memory continues. I do not forget, either, in a farther back period, my acquaintance with one of the first and most efficient sheriff's of your county. I mean David L. Wightman, who for quite a period carried the key of authority for the whole county; and still farther, I was here long enough ago to be acquainted with that distinguished physician, Dr. David Long, who passed away in early days, and was not known perhaps, even to a large number of the older persons be- fore me.
I merely say, in addition to these reasons for gratification for standing amongst you, and being reckoned amongst the early settlers, this: To congratulate the community on the formation of such a society as this. It cannot but be that
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the memories and the experiences of the older men of the community carry within them treasures of too vast importance to be forgotten; and the formation of this society will form a storehouse, a reservoir, where these early experiences and memories will be gathered together, and where they will be sifted and used, unquestionably, for profitable ends in years that are yet to come.
I merely take your time a little further to say that, whilst feeling very greatly the advantages likely to arise from this society in the way just now alluded to, there is another con- sideration which with equal hope inspires my heart. I venture it as a prophecy, if prophecy you may regard it, that many an instance of grand virtue, hid away behind the curtains, secluded, not wrought out upon the historic page, will in this society find mention and a memorial. Why is it that the sturdier virtues and the stronger powers of man are celebrated and the grander and finer elements of womanly character have been so long left in the shade? Why is it that our discerning and intelligent press of this city, whilst doing all it may to honor a citizen whom the whole, town and the country are de- lighting to honor-I refer to him who has made so magnificent a bequest to the city, Leonard Case, Esq.,-why, in bringing out all his history, and the history of the toil and ability of his honored father, has his mother found no mention what- ever? So far as my own observation has gone that quiet
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excellent woman has not been referred to. I have eaten bread more than once at her table, and her bread was not the bread of idleness, nor was it ever salted with the salt of hypocrisy. Of noble virtues, but quiet, serene, contemplative, she filled well her measure and has passed away honorably. And how comes it that no mention of her has been made? In that group which we shall form in honor of the family, I would assign to her a conspicuous and honored place. And in like manner would I those excellent pioneer women who accompanied their husbands. and who became the founders by their virtue of the strong good sense and virtue which rules and pervades society here.
Hon. John W. Allen: Mr. President, I want to call upon the most popular man in Cleveland, a man who knows about three-quarters of all the men in Cleveland, and abont all the women-Judge Tilden.
JUDGE TILDEN SPEAKS.
MR. PRESIDENT AND FRIENDS :
It was the last business that I expected to attend to, to be called in here to-day to make a speech. I came here for the purpose of witnessing the proceedings, at the earnest request of a particular friend of mine, and I am very much disinclined to talk. There is nothing that embarrasses me so much as to get up before an intelligent audience like this, and after I have said one word, don't know what to say next. (Laughter. )
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That is precisely my condition to-day. I do not know that I am able to utter a single sentence here that will be worth your listening to. There is one thing, however, I wish to state dis- tinctly, that I am a pioneer in the veriest sense of that word. And yet I am told that I have no right to associate with the pioneers that are assembled here to-day. I have been told that I was a kind of an outside barbarian.
I have been here, however, fifty years. I was in the country as early as 1830, and can say a few things in relation to life as it existed here at that time. It was the most interesting period of my life. I had nothing, and was not looking for any- thing in this world, and have not been very much disappointed in that respect (laughter), but there was a life there that was interesting to me. I was in Portage county, and it seems to me that I have rarely in my later experience seen a better order of men than those that inhabited the then wilderness of that country. There was no money. I recollect when wheat sold for three shillings a bushel. There were certain articles that they could buy by paying barter. Muskrat skins! skunk skins! yes, probably skunk skins were currency at that time (laughter), but when it came to tea and leather, I recollect that we had to scrape around and get the money for those things. (Laughter.)
There never was a more accomodating, kind-hearted set of men and women in the world than inhabited the country at 4
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that time. and I am rejoiced that we are having this kind of associations as a kind of souvenir and a remembrancer of that class of men and women to whom this Western Reserve is so largely indebted for that refined and cultivated civilization it enjoys to-day. There were very few privileges. Everything was plain. If a neighbor was in trouble, wanted a barn raised, they would come five and ten miles to help him. If there was to be a logging, to gather together the logs, why, all the neigh- borhood would turn out and cheerfully assist a neighbor in performing his work. It enltivated a spirit of kindness, prob- ably springing from the fact that every man felt that he was dependent upon his neighbor for a living. All was simple. I recollect how they used to kindle fires. They had no loco-foco matches in those days. I recollect I went to see an unele of mine, and he started a fire in the morning-I guess that is a little ahead, maybe, of you pioneers who had a village here to start with. We hitched the old mare on the log; there were two doors in the log cabin, and the fire-place extended across the cabin; the old mare drew on the back log; then the fore- stick was drawn and put on the fire, and a fire was built that lasted for three or four days.
Well, we had religion then. I think I was more pious in those days than I have been since. (Laughter.) I know that those old Methodist preachers, who came round with their
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leggings all covered with mud. used to meet at the school- house, and there was a kind of earnestness about them, a force and incisiveness in their talk that made a very deep and power ful impression upon my young mind at that time, more so than since. (Laughter). There was no ostentation, no display; everything plain and straightforward. I recollect that there was a period during that early history when religion was the main topic of conversation. Every old farmer who was in- terested in religious matters, had a rusty old book in his pocket, and there was a controversy between my Brother Hayden's sect, called Campbellites at that time, and the Ortho- dox, and many a long, tedious struggle have I heard between them. Every man was gifted upon that subject. They would quote the text of scripture, fire and fire back, and it was en- tertaining and instructive, and cultivated a very high moral feeling in all classes of the community. Well, that was one time. We had no particular excitements. There were plenty of deer and plenty of bears and plenty of wolves. I think I never shall forget while I live when I came in from Connecti- cut, and from the civilized portion of the world, to stay with my grandfather. I recollect one night of hearing the wolves howl, and I would have given the whole United States if I could have gotten out of Ohio. (Laughter. ) It was the most heart-sinking sound that I ever heard in my life. Now you will see, my friends, that I am a pioneer, and I don't under-
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stand, my friend Rice. why I should be shut out from this society of yours.
I recollect that first time I came to Cleveland. It looked about as large to me, coming out of the woods, as it does to- day. Judge Spaulding was with me, and I will tell the story for the purpose mainly of illustrating how hard it was to have a little money in one's pocket, in those days. The Judge came along to me and said he, "I wish you would come to Cleveland with me." I sprang at once at the offer to see Cleveland. We journeyed along all day and finally reached Cleveland late in the evening. I think we stayed one night. Said the Judge to me: "Don't you want some oysters?" "Why, ves." I had not seen an oyster since I was a small boy. (Laughter. ) Said I, "Yes, I will be glad of it." I took it that he had plenty of means. So we went over, I think, to a man by the name of Cozzens who kept a sort of saloon, and asked him if he had oysters. He said he had. He gave each of us a dish of oysters. and we ate them. and by that time I began to feel very well. (Laughter. ) He came around and said he, "Won't you have some more?" Said I: "Yes, I will have some more." (Laughter.) I looked across the table to the Judge, and I saw that his head fell, and I took the hint in a moment that the funds were out. ( Laughter. ) Said I: " No, I think I have had enough. I won't take any more." (Laughter.) After- wards I inquired of the Judge what it was that made his
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countenance fall as it did. "Why," said he, "I had made my calculations and had paid the bill, and had got just exactly enough to get those two dishes of oysters and get home, and I hadn't a cent left, and when you called for another dish of oysters I was broke." (Laughter.)
I recollect the hardships which the farmers had to endure. There were no carriages-in fact, no roads. I have seen in those days a man load his family on a stone-boat, and when it came Sunday start off to the school-house. They would hitch the horses on to the stone-boat. You know what that is: they used to call them drags in Connecticut. The whole family, on account of the mud. would get on to that stone-boat and ride to church. 6 That is one of the hardships they had to endure at that time.
Well, now, gentlemen, I am not going to talk here any longer. I can see and feel myself that I am not getting ahead much. (Laughter. ) But I can assure you of one thing: That there is no organization that has interested me more than this one that you are here to-day for the purpose of strenghtening and perpetnating. These old pioneers should be remembered. We are as much indebted to them as to any class of men that have lived upon the face of the earth, and I rejoice with you that there is a spirit at last awakening by which their memory is to be preserved and perpetnated. Thanking you for your patience, I leave you.
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MR. WILLIAMSON'S REMINISCENCES.
Mr. S. Williamson was called on next. He said : MR. PRESIDENT:
I suppose you will not expect an address at this time from me, and all that I shall attempt to do in the five minutes al lowed to me will be to refresh some of your recollections about the early condition of Cleveland. Probably most of you. like myself, cannot very well remember Cleveland in connection with your childhood so that you can fix upon a thing as hav- ing ocenrred at this or that or the other time. But I will give you some of my recollections of Cleveland, and will occupy but a brief time. I will say that at my earliest recollection Water street had been opened; that is, the timber had been cut out and a wagon road was run down through the center of the street from Superior street to Bank street, so called. It had grown up, however, with elder bushes, thick all the way along. There were occasional trees and some houses upon it. The house nearest the lake was that of Alfred Kelley, who has been referred to here, and was the first brick house built in this city. It stood upon the corner of Water and Bank streets, so-called. Mr. Kelley, as you well know, was also the first lawyer here. I may also mention that the first bank, known as the Old Commercial Bank of Lake Erie, was or ganized by him. The next house was a small one-story wooden house occupied by Dr. Long, the first physician here,
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standing upon Water street where the light-house now stands. Two or three houses, amongst them one occupied by my father. at that time, according to my earliest recollections, were all there were upon Water street. There was a clearing on each side of Water street from Superior street to the lake; on the west side of Water street to the river, and on the east side to about where Bank street is, and the lower part of it from St. Clair street-there being no St. Clair street there then-to the lake was occupied by Mr. Carter as a farm. One year, I remember, he had it covered with rye from Water street up to about Bank street. There was one log house standing upon Lake street, a little east of Water street. The only house
there was upon those premises. Under the hill there were several log houses, warehouses, etc., and one or two dwelling houses. Commencing at Superior street and going down toward the lake, when you got down below what was Mandrake street there were woods, and from that down under the hill it was mostly swamp or wet land.
Perhaps I might say here, the first brewery built in this city was built under the hill on the Lighthouse street lot. and I remember after I came here the first fire in this city was at that brewery, which was destroyed.
On Superior street it was cleared of timber, so far as l remember, up to the Public Square, and the Public Square partly. The old court house stood on the northwest corner of
ยท
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the square. The street was full of large stumps, but otherwise than that it was clear. There were upon that quite a number of houses. Amongst the rest was one kept by Mr. Wallace, and afterwards by Mr. Merwin, and there were some others on the other side. Mr. Newberry kept the store on the corner of Water and Superior streets and occupied the land from Water street up to about Bank street. When I say he occu- pied it, I mean there was a fence around it, and he had planted some fruit trees, peaches mostly, and it was a suitable place for pasturing cows, and it was a good place for picking straw- berries. As you came up this way the only clearing was a field right opposite where we are now, but there was a wagon track from the square. Going south of Ontario street there was a wagon track until you reached where Mr. Walworth owned. There was an opening there extending down the hill, and that was the only clearing there was there for some dis- tance in that direction.
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