History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 98

Author: Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Number of Pages: 716

USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio > Part 98

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).

But the departure was to be made, and, having no reliance but upon his ax, he chopped cord-wood for a merchant to pay for a Latin dictionary, a Virgil and a razor-this being an implement his age began to de- mand, while the others, he was told, were necessary to commence a literary carcer. Thus prepared, he com- menced study with Dr. Bassett, of Nelson, who taught an academy part of the year and gave private instruction the residue. After staying a considera- ble time with him and contracting a very strong attachment for him, he pursued his studies at the Western Reserve College, supporting himself during this period by frequent intervals of manual labor, and by teaching two terms, the first in a district in Hiram, where Mormonism first broke ont in the West, and the last in the academy building in Nelson formerly occupied by Dr. Bassett. At the end of this term, in the spring of 1834, when he was pre- paring to return to Hudson, a mere accident, with- out previous thought or calculation, ended his plan of completing a classical education, determined his profession and settled the course of his whole life.

Accidentally meeting an old college friend who was designed for the bar, and who had been a year with Joshua R. Giddings and Benjamin F. Wade (who have since acquired such marked distinction) his friend advised him to give up the college, and go back with him to Ashtabula county and read law. ITe re- ceived the proposal with the utmost astonishment, knowing absolutely nothing of courts, law or lawyers; but having a vague idea that a college graduation was indispensable to such an undertaking. His friend knew how to correct this impression, and so effectu- ally to remove other objections that a single night's reflection decided him to go to what then seemed a distant point, where he had never been, and where he knew no one, having until the day before never heard even the names of the lawyers whose office he proposed to enter. His reception and treatment were, however, such as to make the two and a half years ensuing the most enjoyable aud profitable of his life, and resulted in the formation of personal friendships between him and his instructors and fellow students which no sub- sequent events ever impaired.

The study of jurisprudence as a science was so ex- actly suited to his tastes that a constant incentive existed to master its fundamental principles, which he accomplished so thoroughly as to account for the case and readiness with which he has ever used them.

In the fall of 1836 he was admitted to the bar of the supreme court, and soon after located at Warren, in the then large county of Trumbull, where he com- menced practice alone. But in the course of the en- sning winter, the firm of Giddings & Wade being dissolved and Mr. Giddings elected to Congress, at the earnest request of his oldl preceptor, Mr. Wade, he returned to Jefferson and formed with him the

partnership of Wade & Ranney, which lasted for ten years, and until Mr. Wade was elected a judge of the court of common pleas.

During this period he married a daughter of Judge Jonathan Warner, and in 1845 he took up his resi- dence again in Warren. The firm of Wade & Ranney was rather noted for the extent of its business than for the gains from it, and at its conclusion, such was the confidence of the partners in each other, its affairs were settled by simply passing mutual receipts. In addition to the heavy labor which their practice im- posed, neither of the partners neglected the interests of the political party to which they respectively be- longed. The junior, from his majority, was an ar- dent Democrat of the Jefferson and Jackson school, and without a thought for his personal interests or prospects he cast his lot with the small minority then comprising the party in this part of the State, and at once became one of the leading advocates of its doctrines. Without any hope of local preferment, it was nevertheless a settled principle with the leaders that in aid of the general State ticket the best local nominations should be made, and that those who urged others to stand by the cause should, without a murmur, take such positions as their associates as- signed them.

In accordance with this idea, Mr. Ranney was first nominated for the State senate, but was obliged to decline because he was not of an age to be constitu- tionally eligible. He was three times a candidate for Congress; once in 1842 in the Ashtabula district, then including this county and Geauga; and in 1846 and 1848 in the Trumbull district, which embraced also the counties of Portage and Summit. But his exer- tions were not limited to law and politics. Conscious of the deficiency of his general education, he resolved to supply it so far as possible by individual exertion. While he was yet a student, availing himself of the aid of a French scholar and his books, he had com- meneed the study of that language, and from that day to this has constantly read a French newspaper, and the solid literary and scientific prodnetions of French authors, including the Code Napoleon and the commentaries upon it, in the language in which they were composed.

After the dissolution of the firm of Wade & Ranney he continued the practice alone until 1850, and in the spring of that year, in connection with the late Judge Peter Hitchcock and Jacob Perkins, he was elected. by a large majority, a member from the counties of Trumbull and Geauga of the convention called to revise the constitution of the State. In that conven- tion, comprising, as is well known, a very able body of men, he served upon the judiciary committee, and was chairman of the committee on revision, to which the phraseology and arrangement of the whole instru- ment was committed. Ile took a very active part in the debates upon most of the important questions considered, and may be said to have done as much as any one to impress upon the instrument those popu-

399

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

lar features which have ever since made it acceptable to the people of the State.

Immediately after the adjournment of the conven- tion, in the spring of 1851, when he had just returned to his neglected practice, and without any previous knowledge on his part that a vacancy existed, he learned of his election, by the legislature then in sex- sion, as a judge of the supreme court of the State, at the same joint session at which his old preceptor and partner was first elected to the United States Senate.

The new constitution being afterwards adopted by the people, he was elected to the same position, in the fall of the same year, by a majority of over forty thousand votes, and continued to discharge its duties. both in the district and supreme courts, until shortly before the expiration of his term, in the winter of 1856, when he resigned. Ile soon after associated himself with F. T. Backns and C. W. Noble in the practice of law in Cleveland, and about the same time was appointed, by the President, United States attor- ney for this district; but as the appointment, which had been wholly unsolicited, proved to be too much in the way of his more important civil business and not suited to his tastes, he resigned it a few months after- ward.

Nothing further occurred to interfere with the large and increasing business of his firm until 1859, when the State convention of his party unanimously and very unexpectedly placed him in nomination for governor. The canvass was a very spirited one, and was attended with the unusual feature of a joint discussion between him and his competitor at many of the important points in the State; but the Re- publiean party retained its ascendancy, and he was defeated.

On the breaking out of the civil war, which he did everything in his power to avert, he became sat- isfied that arms must settle the conflict, and that the preservation of the Union depended upon making it as short and decisive as possible; and to this end, in the spring of 1862, he readily accepted the invitation of Governor Tod, and, in connection with Hon. Thomas Ewing and Samuel Galloway, addressed the people at several points in the middle and southern portions of the State, to encourage enlistments.

In the same year he and his partner, Mr. Backus, were nominated as opposing candidates for the supreme bench. Not desiring the place, and having a very high opinion of the qualifications of Mr. Backus for it, he declined the nomination, but his party not aequiescing his name was kept upon the ticket, and in the fall he found himself again elected to the position. He took his seat and remained two years, when, convinced that duty to his family re- quired it, he very reluctantly resigned, resolved to devote himself exclusively to his profession, to which resolution he has steadily adhered; holding no pub- lie position in the time, except that of president of the State board of Centennial managers, for the Phil- adelphia exposition. The result has been that, in addition to his large practice in the courts of his own State, his engagements in important cases have ex- tended into several other States, and into all the courts, State and Federal, where such cases are dis- posed of ; and, while he is very far from having amassed a fortune, he has so far succeeded, without ever embarking in any speculation, and from the avails of his labor alone, as to have acquired a compe- teney, which with his disregard of all show, and his economical habits, places him in a position of com- plete independence.

Of one so well known as he is, but little need be added. That he has discharged the duties of every position in which he has been placed with distin- guished ability and strict integrity, no one that has ever known him well will deny. As an advocate and jurist he has had very few if any superiors among his contemporaries, while his recorded judicial opinions upon many great questions that arose during his ser- vice upon the bench are conceded to be models of clearness, learning and force, and especially distin- guished for the broad and comprehensive principles upon which his reasoning is generally founded. In the very best sense of the words, he is a speci- men of a self-made man; and his history furnishes additional evidence that integrity of purpose, when coupled with perseverance and assidnous labor, will overcome all the difficulties which may beset the path of the young American, and enable him to fully fit himself for honorable and useful positions in society.

HISTORY OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

PART THIRD: THE TOWNSHIPS.

THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

CHAPTER LAIX.

BEDFORD.

Location-Surface - Soil -Tinker's Creek Picturesque Scenery The Pioneers-The First Settlers-Rapid House-building-Parker's Tav- ern-A Mighty Hunter-The First Child First Settler in the North- west Getting Plenty of Food First Permanent Resident at the Center-Other Settlers before 1-23-Householders in 1×30-Civil Gov- erninent First Officers -List of Officers-Cemetery- Town Hall-The Village Location and Appearance The Beginning The Laying Out -The Incorporation Officers since 1900 Post Office- Stores Hotels Physicians-Bedford Intellingencer Early Mills-Woolen Factory- l'ail Factory -Tannery- Foundry -The Rolling Mill Machine Shop Chair Factories Schools Union School-Church of Christ First Baptist Church -Methodist Church Episcopal Church -Masonic Lodge.

This township lies on the Summit county line, cast of Independence and south of Warrensville. On the east it is bounded by the township of Solon. It is known in the survey as township number six in range eleven. When it was organized for civil pur- poses, in 1823, it received its present name at the suggestion of Daniel Benediet, in compliment to the place of his nativity-Bedford, Connecticut.

Along the streams the surface of the township is somewhat broken, but in other parts it is generally level. Being also quite elevated, Bedford is a very healthy township. Heavy forests originally covered the ground, but these have been generally removed, although the appearance of the country is yet pleas- antly diversified by bodies of timber which have been allowed to remain in their primitive beauty. The soil is variable, but is usually a light loam. It is generally free from stones, and may be cultivated with ease. It is fertile, and yields the ordinary pro- duets of this part of the State, but dairying has, to a large extent, become the chief industrial pursuit of the inhabitants.

Tinker's Creek is the principal stream .* It flows from Solon in a westerly course, south of the center of Bedford, to the Cuyahoga, into which it empties in the township of Independence. Its channel is very deep and rugged, forming in places chasms several hundred feet deep, which have almost perpendicular banks of shale or sand rock, and present a grand and picturesque appearance. Along a part of its course through the township, the scenery for varied and at- tractive beanty is seldom surpassed. The volume of

the stream is not so great as formerly, but it yet af- fords good water power, which has been well utilized. The other streams of the township are small brooks, which flow into this creek from the north.

PIONEER SETTLERS.

About 1810 the township was surveyed into one hundred lots, numbered from the northwest, but no speedy attempt at settlement followed. In 1813 Elijah Nobles settled on Tinker's creek near the line of Independence, and was probably the first pioneer of Bedford. lle was a man of loose business habits, and soon found himself reduced to extreme poverty with a very heavy incumbranee on his land. As it did not seem possible for him to retain his home there, one of the lIndsons, of Hudson, who was related to him, offered him a part of lot forty-six (at the center), if he would make certain improvements on it. With this purpose he moved to what is now the vil- lage of Bedford, in November, 1815, and was the first man who lived there. Ilis neighbors in Independence turned out to the number of eighteen, and in a single day built him a cabin from the trees growing on the spot, leaving the family there at night nearly three miles from any other occupied honse. Nobles re- mained all winter at the center, but the following spring he returned to his old place on the ereek, and not long after removed to another part of the State. A part of his property on Tinker's creek passed into the hands of Adams & Starr, who built there the first mills in the township, and another part became the home of Cardee Parker who opened the first tavern, (although Nobles may have entertained oc- casional travelers.) Parker's tavern became quite famous in its way, and after his death, was continned by his widow, who was widely known as Mother Parker. After the canal was built she removed to Independence, and opened a public house there.

Several months after the settlement of Nobles at the center, Benjamin Fitch, who came to Independ- ence in 1813, squatted on a piece of land in that lo- cality, but after Nobles had left he, too, beeame dis- couraged and moved back to the creek. Ile sold his " betterments" to Wetherby Nye, but the land ulti- mately became the property of Joseph Goodale, who purchased it of the proprietors. In the course of

* For the origin of this name, see page 43.

(403)

404

THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.

the year Fitch returned to the center and built a new cabin on the eastern part of the site of the vil- lage, where he lived a number of years, but finally made a permanent settlement on lot fifteen. Ile was probably the greatest hunter that ever lived in the township, being so uniformly successful that some of his less fortunate neighbors used to " change works " with him-they clearing his land for him while he provided them with game. He was also well known as a maker of splint-bottom chairs, and some of these useful articles made by him, over sixty years ago, are yet in existence in the township. In the latter part of his life he moved to Indiana, where he died. He had three sons, named Joseph, George C., and Andrew G. The latter was born at the center in 1818, being the first child born in that locality. His two daughters yet live in Bedford, Harriet being the wife of W. O. Taylor.

Benoni Brown settled in the southwestern part of the township about 1815, but removed in the course of ten years. At the old mill, in the Tinker's creek settlement, Timothy Washburne lived at a very early day, but did not remain long. He was the first blacksmith in Bedford. In this locality also Stephen Comstock settled in 1814, and a daughter, Sarah, born soon after, was the first child born in the town- ship. The family also comprised two other daugh- ters, and two sons named Charles and Stephen. Stephen Comstock, Sr., was probably the first settler of Bedford who retained a permanent residence. A

little later James Orr made some improvements in the same locality, but also removed before 1830. About 1818 Moses Gleeson likewise settled there. lle was an enterprising citizen, and reared seven sons, named Edwin, Elias, Charles, William, Moses, Sar- dis and Lafayette, and three daughters.

In April, 1819, Samuel Barnes, of Vermont, came from Newburg, where he had settled in 1817, and located in the northwest part of Bedford, but after- wards settled at the village. lle died in November, 1842, but Mrs. Barnes is yet living, and is the earliest surviving settler of the township. They reared a son, Orville, and two daughters. One of them, Cordelia, was born in June 1819, hers being one of the first births in the township.

The following year and the year after, Moses Bar- num, Abijah S. Barnum and Prentice B. Ross set- tled on the Newburg road, but at least two of them moved away at an early date. In 1820 Jason Shep- ard located on lot two, where he lived until after 1830, when he removed to Newburg. It is related of him that while he was out hunting he shot a black bear which was helping himself to the wild honey from a " bee tree," which also became the prize of the hunter; and, returning home, shot a deer and some wild turkeys near his house, which was certain- ly obtaining a pretty good supply of food for one day. II had a son, Elias, who is yet a citizen of Newburg.

John Dunham settled in the northwestern part of the township about 1821, and died there in 1850,

leaving seven sons, named Ambrose, Chester, Alonzo, John, Asa, Jemnel and Lorenzo. Of these, Asa, who resides on Dunham street, is the only one living in the township. Wetherby Nye became a resident of Bedford about the same time, and after living in va- rions places finally located in the western part of the township, where he died in 1877. Nathaniel K. Joy lived in the same neighborhood as early as 1822, but soon moved away. On lot four Solomon White was an early settler, locating on the present Libbey farm. Samuel Morton lived in the same neighborhood in 1822, but after a few years moved to Canada.

In 1822 Stephen Robinson located on the present Comstock place, on lot twelve, where he died in 1832. He had eight sons, named Daniel, Nathan, Isaac, Ebenezer, Ezra, Nathaniel, John and Newman. The latter is the only one remaining in the township; John lives in West Cleveland; and Ezra in Brooklyn. John White was a neighbor of the Robinsons before 1823, and died in that locality. He reared two sons, named William G. and Charles.

Daniel Benedict settled at the village of Bedford in 1821, and was the first permanent resident there. llis family consisted of eight sons: Darius, Ralph, Julius, Silloek, Judson, James, Rodolphus, Phinam- ber and Allison. Phinamber is the only one living in the county, he being yet a resident of the village. A little later Moses ligby settled in the southwestern part of the township, where he remained until his death.

Others living in the township before 1823 were Jared Barnes, Barzilla Burk, William Dunshee, La- ban Ingersoll, John Johnson, John Marvin and Peter Comstock. Within a few years came Philo Barnes, Justus Remington, George M. Payne, Luther and Ziba Willis, Daniel Gould, Hiram Spofford, Barney Cobb, Enoch Allen and Nathaniel C. Hains.

In 1830 the householders of the township were as follows:

John Libbey, Noah Sawyer, Alfred Dunham, Jason Shepard, Charles Goodrich, Enos Hollister, A. S. Barnum, John Dunham, Wetherby Nye, Eli Burke, Alvah Hollister. Iliram Ostrander, Stephen Robinson, James Titns, Julius S. Benedict, Oliver B. Robinson. Daniel Gould, Luther Willis, Darius Warner, William Dunshee, Ralph R. Benediet, Samuel Barnes, Abra- ham Turner, Joseph Skinner, Joseph Goodale, John White, Justus Remington, Nathaniel C. Haines, George M. Payne, Enoch Allen, James Griffith, Bar- ney Cobb, Daniel Benedict, Hiram Spafford, Benja- min Fitch, Erastus Ives, Jared Skinner, Ziba Willis, Daniel Mora, Moses Kirby, Lyman Eldred, Curtis Wells, Daniel Chase, John L. Willard, Alvin Davis, Danforth Chamberlain, Aaron Warner, John Hill, Mary Ann Parker, Silas Lindsley, Moses Gleason, Peter MeAArthur, John Schooley, Nathaniel H. Joy, Stephen Comstock, James Hughes, Wm. Currier, Isaac Leach, Isaac D. Leach.

After 1830 the immigration was very large, and the township, although yet new, was soon quite

405

BEDFORD.

densely populated. In 1847 Bedford had three hun- dred and twenty voters.

CIVIL GOVERNMENT.

Agreeably to an order of the commissioners of Cuyahoga county, the inhabitants of the present township of Bedford assembled at the house of Pren- tice B. Ross, April 1, 1823, to elect township officers. John Dunham, Daniel Benedict and Aaron Shepard were appointed judges; Laban Ingersoll and 1. S. Barnum, clerks. The officers elected were as fol- lows: Trustees, Daniel Benedict, James Orr, Laban Ingersoll; clerk, Abijah S. Barnum; treasurer, John Dunham; constables and listers, Peter Comstock, Darius R. Benediet; fenee viewers, Prentice B. Ross, Wetherby Nye; overseers of the poor, Barzilla B. Burk, Stephen Comstock; road supervisors, Daniel Benedict, James Orr, Barzilla B. Burk. Jonathan Fisher, a justice of the peace of the county, qualitied the clerk to perform the duties of his othec.

A meeting to elect a justice of the peace for Bed- ford was held July 19. 1823. when John Dunham received seventeen votes; Daniel Benedict, eleven: and A. Shepard, one. Dunham declined to serve, and on the 9th of August another election was held which resulted in the choice of James Orr; he having received twenty-five votes. The justices in 1879 are A. M. Whitaker and E. II. Hammond. It is impos- sible to compile even a reasonably full list of those who have served as justices in the intermediate period; even as to other officers it is very difficult, some of the records having been destroyed or mislaid. As near as can be ascertained they have been as follows:

1823. Trustees, Daniel Benedict, James Orr, Laban Ingersoll: clerk, Abijah S. Barnum; treasurer, John Dunham.

1821. Trustees, Daniel Benedict, John Dunham, Stephen Comstock. clerk, Benjamin Fitch: treasurer, John Dunham.

1825. Trustees, Jason Shepard, Philo Barnes, Stephen Comstock : clerk, Daniel Benedict : treasurer, James Orr.

1826. Trustees, Jason Shepard, Philo Barnes, Stephen Comstock : clerk, A. S. Barnum; treasurer. James Orr.

1827 aud 1828 records missing.

1829. Trustees, Enoch Allen, George M. Payne, Justus Remington. clerk, A. S. Barnum: treasurer, Luther Willis.

1830. Trustees, James Titus, Alvin Davis, Justus Remington: clerk,

A. S. Barnum: treasurer, Enox Hollister.

1831. Trustees, Thomas Marble, Hiram Spafford, Curtis Wells; clerk, John F. Willard; treasurer, Enos Hollister,

1832. Trustees, Dauiel Brooks, William IJamilton, James Titus: clerk, A. S. Barnum: treasurer, Enos Hollister.

1833. Trustees, Luther Willis, Augustine Collins, Abial Newton; clerk, A. S. Barnumı: treasurer, David B. Dunham.

1834. Trustees, George M. Payne, Augustine Collins, Rufus Libby ; clerk, A. S. Barnum; treasurer, David B. Dunham.

1835. Trustees, Otis Button, Augustine Collins, Rufus Libby; clerk, Enoch Allen; treasurer. David B. Dunham.

1836. Trustees, Otis Button, Augustine Collins, Amos Belding: clerk, Geo. M. Payne; treasurer, David B. Dunham.

1×37. Trustees, Daniel Gould, John Culver. Amos Belding: clerk, Just.s Remington: treasurer, Geo. MI. Payne.

1-38. Trustees, Daniel Gould, Matthew Drening, Amos Belding: clerk, Justus Remington ; treasurer, Geo. M. Payne.

1839. Trustees, Daniel Gould, Wm. Morse, Matthew Drening: clerk, John P. Robinson: treasurer, N. C. Hains.

1840, Trustees, Rufus Libby, Julius S. Benedict, Matthew Drening; clerk, B. M. Hutchinson: treasurer, N. C. Hains.

1841. Trustees, Justus Remington, Sidney Smith, J. S. Benedict : clerk, B. M. Hutchinson: treasurer, N. C. Hains.

1842. Trustees, Justus Remington, A. Collins, S. Pease: clerk, B. M. Hutchinson; treasurer, N. Hamlin.

1843. Trustees, J. Montgomery. A. Collins, John Libby ; clerk, B. M. Hutchinson; treasurer, N. P. Benedict.

1844. Trustees, Theron Skeels, Rufus Libby, N. Hamlin; clerk, Lee Lord; treasurer, W. B. Hillman.

1845. Trustees, Theron Skeels, Rufus Libby, N. Hamlin: clerk, Lee Lord: treasurer, F. H. Cannon.

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.

History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 98

Author: Johnson, Crisfield Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co. Number of Pages: 716

Author: Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Number of Pages: 716