USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > Early history of Cleveland, Ohio : including papers and other matter relating to the adjacent country : with biographical notices of the pioneers and surveyors > Part 22
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
411
PROGRESS OF THE SURVEY.
sure to cross our ranges. The Government surveyor did not commence running the south line until the 24th of June, at which time we had nearly finished our meridians.
"The south line of the Reserve, as surveyed in 1796 by SETH PEASE, measuring from the Pennsyl- vania line, ended at Tuscarawas river, a distance of fifty-six miles. A further distance of sixty-four miles was yet to be run, making the whole distance, to the south-west corner of the Reserve, one hundred and twenty miles. From the south-west corner a line was to be run to the lake, parallel to the west line of Pennsylvania. The running of these lines was to be done by a surveyor, under the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, at Washington. The surveyor selected by the Treasurer was SETH PEASE, then a principal clerk in the post office department at Washington, and who, ten years before, had run the eastern section of the south line, to the Tus- carawas."-(A. TAPPEN.)
The same process was gone through with to ob- tain a division west of the Cuyahoga as had been east of it. TAPPEN and his assistants, of whom Capt. HARPER was the principal one, completed their meridians and parallels during the season of 1806. An equalizing committee was out with the surveyors, whose track among the towns is shown upon a map now before me, by dotted lines. The parties in the woods suffered from want of water, there being an
412
THE FIRE LANDS TRACT.
unusual droughth that summer. On the 16th of June a total eclipse of the sun occurred, which for a short time, produced in the shady forest the darkness of night.
A commission, consisting of AMOS SPAFFORD, of Cleveland, and ALMON RUGGLES, of Huron, was or- ganized to establish the division line, between the Fire Lands and the Land Company. Their directions were, to lay off half a million of acres from the west end of the Reserve, using the meridian one hundred and twenty miles west of Pennsylvania, as the farther side, and the forty-first parallel as a base. Their measurements did not agree with those of Mr. PEASE, and the dividing line was not established until sometime in the winter of 1806-7.
This left an unsurveyed space on the margin of the Company's tract. These difficulties protracted the work of survey and of the final draft. The Govern- ment not being satisfied with the southern boundary, ordered it to be re-surveyed in 1808.
The committee on equalization reported to Judge KIRTLAND, and in February, 1807, he started for Hartford with the results. Only one whole town- ship was sub-divided into lots for the purpose of equalization, but several of the fractional ones on the lake shore, were. No person then lived on the tract, as Mr. TAPPEN expresses it "white, red or black."
In 1805 the Government concluded to have this coast open no longer to free trade with Canada, A
413
THE FIRST CUSTOM HOUSE.
collection district was established for the south shore of the lake, called the "District of Erie," and JOHN WALWORTH, of Painesville, was appointed collector. The mouth of the Cuyahoga was made a port of entry; and in 1806 Mr. WALWORTH became a resi- dent of Cleveland with his family. His first clear- ance was issued to the schooner "Good Intent," which was soon after lost on Long Point together with cargo and crew. Up to this time, the more healthy settlement at Painesville, had taken the lead of the sickly city of Cleveland. The mouth of Grand river presented a much better natural harbor than the Cuyahoga. A State road had been survey- ed from the forks of the Muskingum (near Coshoc- ton) to the lake, which terminated at Grand river. Cleveland had hitherto been on the verge of the settlements.
On the west bank of the Cuyahoga, within the cast of a stone from the houses under the hill, the Indian tribes had claimed the territory as their own, indefinitely westward, and the claim had been re- spected. They had the acknowledged right to es- tablish their lodges in any number, within half rifle range of the principal residents of Cleveland, from whence, at any time, they might instantly destroy the settlement, by a concerted discharge of their guns. This state of affairs was now ended, and the Indians were here only on sufferance and good be- havior.
414
T. D. WEBB'S STATEMENT.
The Cuyahoga had one advantage which Grand river had not. Its boatable waters approached those of the Tuscarawas, having a portage of only seven miles, to reach indefinite canoe navigation con- necting with the Ohio river. This route began again to be regarded as important, expecting through it to obtain commercial intercourse of much value. A scheme for improving the rivers and portages was already under discussion.
1807.
Nothing of special interest occurred at Cleveland in 1807, except the excitement caused by the mur- der of NICKSAU or NICKSHAW. The late THOMAS D. WEBB, of Warren came here in the fall, and thus describes the town and its society :
"I first saw Cleveland in October, 1807. I put up for a day or two with Major AMOS SPAFFORD, who kept a tavern. Having a letter of introduction to Governor HUNTINGTON, (then, however, a Judge,) I called at his house, and as he was absent on the circuit of the Supreme Court, I presented it to his wife and induced her to board me for a short time. I remained about three weeks, I think, and then left Cleveland. Gov. HUNTINGTON then lived in a log house, standing a little south of Superior street, not far from the site of the American House. He had a frame barn, in size thirty feet by forty, near by. In
415
A SOCIAL PARTY.
his barn-yard I saw wild turkies for the first time. At that time the family of Governor HUNTINGTON was composed of his wife, children, the number I do not recollect, and one female domestic, PATTY RYAN, who came with him from Connecticut, another, a Miss COBB, who also came with him, had returned. All the families on the city or ten acre lots, or the lands adjoining, at that time, that I recollect, and I think that I recollect all, were, AMOS SPAFFORD, - GIL- BERT, NATHAN PERRY, LORENZO CARTER, SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, JOHN WALWORTH, and an Irish family I have forgotten. SAMUEL DODGE had lived on a ten acre lot, but had at that time taken up his residence at Euclid ; other families had resided there also, but at the time I arrived, had removed. There were the remains of some two or three buildings along the bank of the river, one of which I was told had been occupied as a store by a Scotchman, by the name of ALEX. CAMPBELL.
"Those buildings were all occupied at that time. When I was at Gov. HUNTINGTON's, there was a social party at his house, so far as I recollect, all females, except myself. There were several married ladies, I recollect particularly but two, Mrs. WAL- WORTH and Mrs. HUNTINGTON. We had all, or near- ly all, the young ladies in the place. I think there could not have been more than one absent; those present were she that is now Mrs. LONG, Mrs. MATHEWS, of Painesville, and a daughter of Mr.
416
SENECA'S IDEAS OF JUSTICE.
CARTER, afterwards Mrs. MILES and subsequently Mrs. STRONG."
What transpired in reference to the demise of NICKSHAW, is well set forth in a letter from General ELIJAH WADSWORTH, dated at Canfield, February 5th, 1807, to Judge HUNTINGTON, and his reply.
"Judge HUNTINGTON, Cleveland,
"Dear Sir :- Since I last wrote you, we have had information from your quarter that NICKSHAW Was killed instead of JOHN MOHAWK. If this be true, as MOHAWK was the one who shot Mr. DIVER, ought not MOHAWK to be demanded of their chief, and de- livered up for trial ?"
ELIJAH WADSWORTH.
"CLEVELAND, February 10th, 1807.
" General ELIJAH WADSWORTH, Canfield,
"Dear Sir :- Yours of the 21st came to hand on Saturday last, and that of the 5th yesterday. I had, previous to the receipt of the first letter, seen SENECA and others of his tribe, also OGONTZ and fifteen of his people who came here at the request of SENECA.
"As the deceased was not one of OGONTZ' nation, he said he should not like to lead in obtaining re- dress, but would be satisfied with what SENECA agreed to.
"SENECA said all he wanted was that the same . measure of justice should be dealt out to Indians and white men. He said he was not content to see
417
HUDSON READY FOR WAR.
all the exertions of our civil authority, used against those who had shot the white man while we were asleep, as to the murder of an innocent Indian. He concluded by saying, he should be satisfied if both the Indian and the white agressors, could have a fair and equal trial.
"I gave him assurances that the law would be put in force equally against both, and persuaded him to wait peaceably until the Court should meet at War- ren. My expectation was, and still is, that the Court of Common Pleas would issue a Bench war- rant for the apprehension of DARROW and WILLIAMS.
"It is said the magistrates of Hudson have been deterred by threats, from taking measures to secure the offenders. I hope for the honor of Hudson, that the majority of the people do not countenance such atrocities, and that some of the civil authorities will have firmness enough to put the law in force.
" Mr. ALLEN GAYLORD told me, that the first man who attempted to arrest DARROW and WILLIAMS would be shot, and that the constables dare not ex- ecute a warrant against them, and that if the Indians wanted war they were ready for them. * *
" I had also called on Major CARTER, who agrees with me that the best way to give the Indians satis- faction is to do them justice, that since our talk with them, there was no immediate danger, and no necessity of a further conference as to what course would be pursued against our offenders, On the
418
HOW NICKSHAW WAS KILLED.
same day I saw SENECA again, who said he had been threatened by some Hudson people. He did not wish for war, and would engage to deliver JOHN MOHAWK when required to do it, voluntarily, when DARROW and WILLIAMS were secured for trial.
"He and Major CARTER and Mr. CAMPBELL agree in their story. They went up to the place where NICKSHAW was killed and buried him. There was no appearance on the snow, of a fight or scuffle and no club near. NICKSHAW appears to have been shot in the back as he was running, and fell dead in his tracks.
"SENECA observed that the Indians might lie and that white men might lie, but the snow could tell no lies. He is well convinced that it was an unneces- sary murder, and is willing it should be ascertained by trial. Under this conviction, justice demands, and our own interests require, that he should be gratified.
"In case it should be necessary to demand the de- livery of JOHN MOHAWK under the treaty, the regular course is to get affidavits to the necessary facts, transmit them to the Governor, and request him to make the demand. But I believe this to be un- necessary. I have no doubt that SENECA will freely deliver JOHN MOHAWK, when I assure him that legal steps have been taken against DAR- ROW and WILLIAMS. Meanwhile, I think that you may assure your friends, that for the present none of
419
DEATH OF SENECA.
the Seneca nation among us, will harm our citizens and their property.
"I am, sir, respectfully yours, SAM'L HUNTINGTON."
SENECA, who, according to Mr. CARTER's state- ment, was a brother of BIG SON, is well spoken of by all the early settlers. The late EDWARD PAINE, of Chardon, was the companion of the STILES fam- ily during the dreary and severe winter of 1796-7. After setting forth the conduct and character of the Indians who frequented the Cuyahoga, he says, "That they are capable of disinterested benevolence, and confer favors when none are expected, cannot be doubted by any one acquainted with SENECA, or as his tribe called him, "STIGWANISH." This in English means "Standing Stone." In him there was the dignity of the Roman, the honesty of Aristides, and the benevolence of PENN. He was never known to ask a donation, but would accept one as he ought, but not suffer it to rest here. An appropriate re- turn was soon to be made. He was so much of a tetotaler as to abjure ardent spirits, since in a drunken spree, he had aimed a blow at his wife with a tomahawk, and split the head of his child which was on her back." His home was in Seneca county, Ohio, from whom it was probably named. He also came to a violent death in 1816, at the hands of JACOB AMMOND, of Holmes county, Ohio. AMMOND claims that it was done in self-defence, SENECA hav- ing first fired upon him.
420
INTERNAL IMPROVEMENTS.
During this year the great scheme for opening communication between lake Erie and the Ohio river was put before the public. Resolutions had been offered by JOSHUA FORMAN in the New York Legislature, for a survey for a canal to connect Hud- son river with lake Erie.
The improvement of the Cuyahoga and Tuscara- was was then the great idea, of this part of the country and of Ohio.
It was thought if twelve thousand dollars could by some means be raised, the channels of those streams could be cleared of logs and trees, and the Portage path made passable for loaded wagons. Thus goods might ascend the Cuyahoga in boats to the Old Portage, be hauled seven miles to the Tus- carawas, near New Portage, and thence descend that stream in batteaux. This great object excited so much attention, that the Legislature authorized a lottery to raise the money. A copy of the scheme, and one of the tickets is here given.
Q
No. 11441.
CUYAHOGA AND MUSKINGUM NAVIGATION LOTTERY.
THIS ticket entitles the bearer to such Prize as shall be drawn against its number ( if called for within twelve months after the drawing is com- pleted,) subject to a deduction of 12} per cent.
No. 11441.
J. WALWORTH, ยง Agent for the Board of Commissioners,
421
THE SCHEME.
SCHEME OF A LOTTERY FOR IMPROVING THE NAVIGATION
BETWEEN LAKE ERIE AND THE RIVER OHIO, THROUGH THE
CUYAHOGA AND MUSKINGUM.
THE Legislature of the State of Ohio, having at their last Session, granted a Lottery to raise the sum of Twelve Thousand Dollars, for the above mention- ed purpose, and appointed the subscribers Commis- sioners to carry the same into effect-They offer the following SCHEME to the Public.
FIRST CLASS.
12,800 TICKETS AT $5 EACH,-
1 Prize of
$5,000 is
$64,000 $5,000
2
do.
2,500
5,000
5 do.
1,000
5,000
10 do.
500
5,000
50
do.
100
5,000
100
do.
50
5,000
3400
do.
1
1
10
34,000
3568
$64,000
Prizes subject to a deduction of twelve and a half per cent.
TITE drawing of the First Class will commence at Cleveland on the first Monday of January, 1808, or as soon as three-fourths of the Tickets shall be sold ; and the Prizes will be paid in sixty days after the drawing is completed.
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
422
INDUCEMENTS SET FORTH.
Holders of Tickets, drawing Prizes of Ten Dol- lars, may, at their election, receive the money, or two Tickets of Five Dollars each in the Second Class.
For the convenience of the owners of fortunate numbers, Persons will be appointed in Boston, Hart- ford, New York and Albany, to pay Prizes. Their names, together with a List of Prizes, will be pub- lished in some Newspaper printed in each of those places, and in three of the Newspapers printed in the State of Ohio. Persons will also be designated to pay Prizes in Zanesville and Steubenville.
The subscribers have taken the Oath and given the Bonds required by Law, for the faithful discharge of their trust, and they flatter themselves that an object of such extensive importance, will not fail to attract the attention and patronage of many, who are not allured by the advantageous prospects held out in the Scheme.
JOHN WALWORTH, Esq., of Cleveland, is appoint- ed Agent of the Commissioners, to sign the Tickets, and transact the business of the Board in their recess.
SAMUEL HUNTINGTON, ZACCHEUS A. BEATTY,
BEZALEEL WELLS, LORENZO CARTER,
JONATHAN CASS, JOHN SHORB,
SETH ADAMS, JAMES KINGSBURY,
AMOS SPAFFORD, TURHAND KIRTLAND,
JOHN WALWORTH, TIMOTHY DOANE,
Board of Commissioners.
CLEVELAND, May 23d, 1807.
CRAMER, PRINTER.
423
THE FOURTH DRAFT.
The drawing never came off. Those who had purchased tickets, many years afterwards received their money back without interest. LEONARD CASE remembered when he was the sole owner of one of those tickets.
From a receipt of STEPHEN OVIATT, of Hudson, it also appears that he possessed one, the price of which was $5.00. It reads thus:
HUDSON, 29th Jan'y, 1811.
Received of Heman Oviatt a Ticket of Cuyahoga and Muskingum Lottery, to account with him or the Man- agers, on or before the Drawing of said Lottery. No. 7775, Letter K.
$5,00.
STEPHEN OVIATT.
The paper on which the copy of Judge WAL- WORTH's letter is written, is of the old fashioned coarse brown sort, made by hand. It bears the name OHIO, C. B. &. B., in water lines, and was made within the State.
Judge HUNTINGTON was elected Governor of Ohio, succeeding EDWARD TIFFIN, who became a member of the United States Senate. Another large draft took place April 2d, 1807, including most of the Company's land west of the Cuyahoga.
1808.
"STEPHEN GILBERT, JOSEPH PLUMB, ADOLPHUS SPAFFORD, a son of AMos, and Mr. GILMORE, started early in the spring for Maumee river. They were
424
RESCUE OF MR. PLUMB.
in a Mackinaw boat, with provisions and goods which NATHAN PERRY, senior, was sending to his son NATHAN, at Black river. A young woman named MARY BILLINGER, was a passenger for Black river. Mr. WHITE, of Newburg, and two sons of Mr. PLUMB, were too late for the boat. They were to go by land along the Indian trail, to overtake the party at the river, where young PERRY had a store. When about half way there, they observed a wrecked boat on the beach, and hallooing as loud as they could, had a response from Mr. PLUMB the elder. He was on the beach, below a cliff sixty or seventy feet high, benumbed with cold and very much injured.
"They soon learned from him that a squall had struck their craft about a mile from shore, capsizing it, and that all but himself were drowned.
"They were unable to reach him, down the steep rocks. Mr. WHITE and one of his sons started off rapidly for Black river. The son who remained, getting out upon an ironwood sapling, bent it down with his weight, and dropping twenty feet or more, reached his father at the foot of the cliff. During the night Mr. WHITE returned with QUINTUS F. AT- KINS, and Mr. PERRY. They all managed to haul Mr. PLUMB up to the top of the bank. As he was a corpulent man, of two hundred to two hundred and fifty pounds weight, and quite helpless from ex- haustion, this was no small undertaking. It was done after midnight, by the light of torches. The
425
FATALITY BY DROWNING.
bodies of GILBERT, SPAFFORD and GILMORE, were near by, and were taken to Cleveland by Major PERRY, who came along there with his boat. They were all good swimmers, except Mr. PLUMB, who held fast to the boat after it upset, and was thus driven ashore. GILBERT told his fellows to rid them- selves of their clothing, and thus they swam towards the shore.".
" Had the weather and water been warm, they would probably have reached it. The corpse of the hired girl MARY, was found afterwards on the shore west of the wreck, and was buried at Black river.
" Of eighteen deaths which had occurred within this settlement, during the twelve years of its ex- istence, eleven were by drowning. There had been no physicians nearer than Hudson and Austinburg up to this time."-(BARR.)
1809.
"This year JOEL THORP built a small schooner of five or six tons, and called her the 'Sally,' and ALEX. SIMPSON built one of about the same size, christened the 'Dove.' LEVI JOHNSON (now living, 1866,) and his brothers, SAMUEL and JONATHAN be- came residents of the place. AMOS SPAFFORD Was elected Representative in the Lower House from this place, then embraced in the County of Geauga. He was soon after appointed collector of the new
28
426
STANLEY GRISWOLD.
port of entry, established at Maumee, and in the spring of 1810 removed to Perrysburg. The county of Cuyahoga being organized, NATHAN PERRY, Sr., AUGUSTUS E. GILBERT and NATHANIEL DOAN were elected Associate Judges, all residents of Cleveland Township, as it then was."-(BARR.)
Although the project of connecting the lakes and the Ohio river with the sum of twelve thousand dollars had failed, Cleveland was attracting atten- tion. STANLEY GRISWOLD, of Connecticut, had been appointed Secretary for the territory of Michigan in 1805, under Governor HULL, and Collector of the port of Detroit. On account of official difficulties he resigned, and took up his abode in this township, at Doan's Corners. A vacancy occurred in the Senate by the unexpected resignation of Mr. TIFFIN. Governor HUNTINGTON appointed his friend GRIS- WOLD to the vacancy, and on his way to Washington he addressed a letter to Judge JAMES WITHERELL, of the District Court of Michigan, in which he sets forth the condition and prospects of Cleveland.
" SOMERSET, PA., May 28th, 1809.
Hon. JAMES WITHERELL, now at Fair Haven, Vt.
Dear Sir :- Passing in the stage to the Federal City, I improve a little leisure to acknowledge your letter from Jefferson, Ohio, of the 16th instant. In reference to your inquiry (for a place for Doctor ELIJAH COLEMAN,) I have consulted the principal
427
PROSPECTS FOR A PHYSICIAN.
characters, particularly Judge WALWORTH, who con- curs with me, that Cleveland would be an excellent place for a young physician, and cannot long remain unoccupied. This is based more on what the place is expected to be, than what it is. Even now a physician of eminence would command great prac- tice, from being called to ride over a large country, say fifty miles each way. There is now none of eminent or ordinary character in that extent. But settlements are scattered, and roads new and bad, which would make it a painful practice. Within a few weeks Cleveland has been fixed upon by a com- mittee of the Legislature as the seat of justice for Cuyahoga county. Several respectable characters will remove to that town. The country around bids fair to increase rapidly in population. A young physician of the qualifications described by you, will be certain to succeed, but for a short time, if without means, must keep school, for which there is a good chance in winter, till a piece of ground, bring on a few goods, (for which it is a good stand,) or do something else in connection with his practice. I should be happy to see your friend. I am on my way to the Federal City, to take a seat in the Senate in place of Mr. TIFFIN, who has recently resigned.
Very truly your obedient servant,
STANLEY GRISWOLD."
According to Collector WALWORTH's report to the Treasury Department, the amount of goods, wares
428
JOHN HARMON.
and merchandise exported to foreign countries, (Can- ada) from April to October, 1809, was fifty dollars.
At the fourth draft of April 2d, 1807, SAMUEL P. LORD and others drew the township of Brooklyn, No. 7, in Range 13. It was surveyed under their direction by EZEKIEL HOVER, in 1809, the interior lines of which were ran with a variation of two de- grees east. The fifth and final division of the Land Company's property took place at Hartford, on the 5th of January of this year, at which the un- sold lots in Cleveland were included.
LETTER FROM JOHN HARMON.
RAVENNA, June 11, 1860.
CHARLES WHITTLESY, Esq., Cleveland,
Dear Sir :- I thank you for your kind invitation to attend the pioneer meeting at Newburg on the 13th.
You suggest if I could not attend, that I should put something on paper for the occasion. I fear I can scarcely add anything of interest to what I some time since wrote you. I first visited Cleveland, that part now called Newburg, in August, 1806, a boy of sixteen and a half years, and spent some ten days, perhaps more, in the family of W. W. WILLIAMS. During my stay there, I formed some acquaintance with those of the neighborhood, especially with those young men or youths of my age, among whom were the WILLIAMS', the HAMILTONS, the PLUMBS
429
SETTLEMENT AT NEWBURG.
and KINGSBURYS, the BURKS and the GUNS. The MILES' had not then arrived. We attended meetings in a log barn at Doan's Corners once or twice, to hear the announcement of a new sect, by one DAN- IEL PARKER, who preached what he called Halcyon- ism-since, I believe, it has become extinct. We bathed together under the fall of Mill Creek, gather- ed cranberries in the marshes westward of the EDWARD's place, and danced to the music of Major SAMUEL JONES' violin at his house, afterwards the residence of my old friend, Captain ALLEN GAYLORD, Judge HUNTINGTON, afterwards Governor, lived then, I believe, at the place afterwards occupied by DEX- TER or ERASTUS MILES. Newburg street was opened previously, from the mill north to Doan's Corners, and was then lined with cultivated fields on both sides, nearly the whole distance from Judge KINGS- BURY's to the mill. But much dead timber remained on the fields. There were some orchards of apple trees on some of the farms, and Judge KINGSBURY's orchard bore a few apples that season, which was probably the first season of bearing. The Judge had a small nursery of apple trees, and there was a larger nursery of smaller trees on Mr. WILLIAMS' place.
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.