USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > History of the city of Cleveland : its settlement, rise and progress > Part 8
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At the spring election of 1866, the highest officer chosen was commissioner of water-works. The Union Republican candidate was elected by 474 majority. In the fall, the Union majority for secretary of state was 807.
The Union Passenger depot, at the foot of Bank and Water streets, was opened November 11, 1866, with a banquet given by the different roads. These were the Cleveland & Columbus, the Cleveland & Pittsburgh, the Cleveland & Toledo, and the Cleveland, Painesville & Ash- tabula railroads. The depot at the time of its construction was the largest and the best appointed in the United States. It is built entirely of iron and stone, is six hundred and three feet in length and one hundred and eight feet in width.
During the year 1866 business in some trades was seri- ously affected by hard times, but in others there was a great increase. The quantity of petroleum received was six hundred thousand barrels, more than double that of the preceding year. There was a great increase in the quantity of the refined product exported, but a decline in
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prices of fully fifty per cent. Two large factories for sulphuric acid were constructed to supply the oil refineries. In lake commerce the old side-wheel steamers had almost entirely disappeared and propellers were taking their place.
The record for the year 1866 is darkened by two public executions. On Friday, February 9, the extreme penalty of the law was inflicted upon Dr. John W. Hughes for the murder of Miss Tanizen Parsons, in Bedford, on the ninth of the previous August. Hughes had forged a bill of di- vorce from his wife, and induced Miss Parsons to elope with him to Pittsburgh, where they were married. There he was arrested, tried and convicted for bigamy, and sen- tenced to the penitentiary, but soon pardoned through the efforts of Mrs. Hughes. Later he sought to renew his intimacy with Miss Parsons, but she rejected him. He became enraged, procured a revolver, went to Bedford, and finding his victim in the street before her father's house, deliberately fired two shots at her. The second penetrated her brain and caused instant death. He was arrested two hours afterwards, and his trial before Judge Coffinberry resulted in conviction. A petition by one thou- sand two hundred citizens asking for commutation of his. sentence to imprisonment for life was without avail, and the sentence was carried into effect by Sheriff F. Nicola.
The second person executed in that year was Alexander McConnell, for the murder of Mrs. Rosa Colvin. On the twenty-fourth of March he was detected by Mrs. Colvin in the act of stealing several articles of clothing from her house, near Olmstead Falls. In an altercation which fol- lowed, he struck her a death blow on the head with an
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ax. After concealing her body near the house, he fled and escaped to Canada. William Colvin, husband of the mur- dered woman, and a man named Miller were arrested on strong circumstantial evidence, and held for trial after a preliminary examination. But soon after this McConnell wasarrested in Canada through the efforts of Sheriff Nicola and John Odell. He was tried before Judge Foote and con- victed. Before his death he made a full confession. Efforts to secure executive clemency failed, and he was executed on the gallows.
The Cleveland Bethel Union, incorporated in 1867, aims to support and carry on missionary and Sabbath School work in the lower part of the city ; to establish and maintain a Christian Boarding Home for seamen and others, and to carry on the work of general benevolence, including lodg- ing, food and clothing, and other aid to the worthy poor not otherwise provided for. The history of this greatly beneficent institution is given in the department of "Churches and Charities," to be found elsewhere in this. work.
The Cleveland Library Association, whose charter dated from 1848, received in 1867 an endowment of twen- ty-five thousand dollars and a perpetual lease of the rooms on the second floor of the Case building, specially arranged for its accommodation by the donor, Mr. Leonard Case. These liberal advantages placed the library, which was until several years later the only public library in Cleveland, on a firm basis and gave it an assured prosper- ity instead of a dubious dependence upon fees and fines. A grand inauguration concert was given in Case Hall on
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September 10, 1867, the date of its first opening to the public, when several of the greatest Italian opera singers appeared for the first time before a Cleveland audience. In 1876 this entire building, valued at three hundred thou- sand dollars, was bestowed by deed of gift upon the Cleve- land Library Association. In 1880, to commemorate the repeated princely gifts which had thus connected the name of Case with the library, its name was changed to that by which the public had already learned to call it-Case Library. To-day its rapid growth and choice selection of books make its halls constantly sought by large numbers of readers and students.
The Western Reserve and Northern Ohio Historical soci- ety was organized in May, 1867, as an offshoot of the Cleveland Library Association, and to-day, though entirely independent in the management of its own affairs, yet in lieu of a special incorporation, its legal status depends upon a Board of Curators appointed by the parent organ- ization. Its purposes are to collect all books, pamphlets, or original manuscripts that relate in any manner to In- dian life, early settlement, geography, history, or antiqui- ties of any part of the West; also objects of interest for the museum, such as relics of Indian and pioneer life. It has the perpetual lease of the fire-proof rooms on the third floor of the Society for Savings building, and a permanent endowment of ten thousand dollars. The first officers elected were Charles Whittlesey, president; M. B. Scott, vice-president; J. C. Buell, secretary ; and A. K. Spencer, treasurer .*
* The original signers of the agreement for organization were M. B.
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The museum is made from single donations, and the collection of pamphlets and original manuscripts furnishes very important information upon early Western history.
In 1867 the mooted question of opening the Public Park came up for final decision before the courts. There had always been two opposing parties in Cleveland as to whether the Park should be cut across by Superior and Ontario streets or should be one "Grand Central Park." Down to 1857 the intersectionists were dominant, but in that year, upon petition of over two thousand citizens, and after heated discussions in public meetings and in the newspaper columns, the Council directed the street com- missioner to build a fence across the intersecting streets. This he did at dead of night, while the energetic opponents of the measure were harmless in sleep. After this step feel- ing ran high, and for ten years the park was discussed on the street and in the Council chamber. Municipal legisla- tion upon the fence had always been frequent "to improve and repair ; to prevent the depredation of cattle and swine;" "to keep boys and loafers from occupying it as a roosting place, to the annoyance of passers;" "to paint it;" "to close up all entrances except that leading to the court- house;" "to so improve it as to prevent boys from using the square as a ball ground;" "to replace the wooden fence with one of iron." The Perry monument was stationed
Scott, J. C. Buell, W. N. Hudson, J. H. A. Bone, Jos. Perkins, Jno. H. Sargeant, C. C. Baldwin, Sam'l. Starkweather, Peter Thatcher, E. W. Sackrider, Geo. Willey, E. R. Perkins, H. B. Tuttle, Geo. R. Tuttle, A. T. Goodman, Henry A. Smith, J. D. Cleveland, A. K. Spencer, W. P. Fogg, T. R. Chase, Chas. Whittlesey.
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in the center of the square and seemed to forbid further interference. But the rapid growth of the city and the in- terests of the property owners east of the park led to the presentation of a petition to the Council in 1867 against the further blockading of Superior street. Remonstrances immediately followed, and a special committee was ap- pointed to listen to arguments on both sides. The com- mittee failed to agree; a majority favored the re-opening, while the minority deemed that the legal questions involved could not be decided by the Council, and should be sub- mitted to the courts. The minority report was adopted and a case was made out for adjudication. Judge Prentiss, in rendering his decision, held that the original survey and sales made under the same was evidence of a declaration, and that Superior street was thereby dedicated as a con- tinuous street from Water to Eriestreets. He held further that the closing by the city was unconstitutional, inasmuch as no provision was made for compensation to property holders. He therefore ordered the city to remove the ob- structions. Notice of an appeal was given, but later the appeal bond was withdrawn and the Board of Improve- ments directed to remove the fence "in the day-time." On August 21 Superior street was opened. The following week petitions were presented asking for the opening of Ontario street. As no opposition was offered the entire fence was removed, the streets paved, and Cleveland's "Great Central Park" was no more.
The corporate limits of the city were extended in 1867 to include portions of Brooklyn and Newburg townships. The People's Gas Light company was incorporated the
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same year, and a city ordinance granted the privilege of the streets on condition that the company furnish gas to the city at a price not to exceed $2.25 per cubic foot, and to private citizens not to exceed $3.00. The company was to forfeit its rights in case of selling out to any other gas company.
The municipal election in the spring of 1867 resulted in a majority for the Democratic candidate for mayor, Stephen Buhrer, of 455 votes over Peter Thatcher, the Republican nominee. For the other offices Republican candidates were elected. In the fall Cleveland gave a Republican majority of 534 for R. B. Hayes, the candidate for governor.
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CHAPTER XIII.
THE FIREMEN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION -- BUILDING OF A NEW ORPHAN ASYLUM-THE FIRST IRON STEAMER-BESSEMER STEEL-A SEVERE STORM-THE FENIANS' CAMPAIGN AGAINST CANADA-BEGINNING OF THE WORKINGMEN'S WAR FOR WAGES-TWO DEATH SENTENCES FOR MURDER.
T T HE Cleveland Firemen's Relief Association was or- ganized in February, 1868, and in March of the same year the following officers were elected: president, Chief Engineer James Hill; vice-president, Engineer James W. Dickinson ; secretary, Engineer S. H. Brown; treasurer, Engineer E. Lindsley; trustees, Dwight Palmer, Amos Townsend, Joseph Sturgess. The constitution was signed by sixty members of the department. The dues are one dollar per month. The membership now numbers one hundred and fifty-seven, and the relief fund amounts to more than five thousand dollars. The association pays disabled firemen ten dollars per week during sickness. In case of death one hundred dollars is paid to his family. The officers for 1887 are: H. H. Rebbeck, president; J. D. Lewis, vice-president; C. T. Garrard, treasurer; C. G. Anderson, secretary. The present Firemen's Relief Associ- ation is successor to the old "Firemen's General Associa- tion," which was incorporated in 1845. The first officers
Stephen Buhner
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of the old association were J. B. Emmons, president; L. H. Cutler, secretary ; W. McGauphy, treasurer; Lewis R. Giles, J. J. Vinall, directors from engine company number one; John Gill, James B. Wilbur, from engine company number two; David L. Wood, James Barnett, from engine company number four; James Lloyd, David Whitehead, from engine company number five; James Proudfoot, Ed- ward Wall, from hook and ladder company number one; Aaron Lowentritt, Henry Hellemy, from hose company number one. This old association was dissolved in 1863 and the funds on hand were divided among the several fire companies. For the five years following, and until the organization of the present Relief Association, there was maintained a plan of accident insurance-a plan which proved very inefficient .*
The Cleveland firemen have also a Life Insurance Asso- ciation, organized in 1874, with John T. Gilson, president, and Charles D. Schwind, secretary. This association assesses five dollars on each member in case of the death of a member, to be paid to the family of the deceased. There are one hundred and twenty-five members. The present officers are Henry Harmond, president; Harry Orland, vice-president; and Charles T. Garrard, secretary and treasurer.
In addition to these two beneficiary associations con-
* Early in October, 1887, a defalcation was discovered in the accounts of the treasurer of the Firemen's Relief Association. The exact amount missing has not been ascertained, but it leaves the association with only sixteen hundred dollars in the treasury. The defaulting treasurer will, it is believed, make good his deficit .- [EDITOR.]
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ducted by the firemen themselves, the Legislature pro- vided in 1878 for a firemen's pension fund, to be secured from one-half the tax on all foreign insurance companies doing business in Cuyahoga county. From this fund, in accordance with amendments passed in 1886, every fireman totally disabled in the line of duty, having been a member of the department ten consecutive years, receives fifty dol- lars per month; in case of death his widow or dependent father or mother receives twenty dollars per month, and minor children six dollars each per month. Thus the firemen of Cleveland are doubly fortified against these dangers where life and health are risked for the whole community.
In May, 1868, the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railway Company entered into an agreement for consol- idation with the Bellefontaine Railway Company. The latter company had previously been formed by the consol- idation of the Indianapolis, Pittsburgh & Cleveland Rail- road Company, of Indiana, and the Bellefontaine & Indi- ana Railroad Company, of Ohio. The name of the new company became the Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati & Indianapolis Railway Company, with offices located at Cleveland. By this consolidation a through line was secured from Cleveland to Indianapolis.
On July 14, 1868, was inaugurated the Jewish Orphan Asylum of the second district of the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith (Sons of the Covenant). This district includes the western and southwestern states, and the fact that Cleveland was chosen for the location of their asylum is a high compliment to the advantages and character of the city. The asylum occupies grounds on Woodland avenue.
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The building is a brick structure, formerly used as a water- cure establishment, is three stories high, contains seventy rooms, and is admirably arranged and managed to secure the happiness and health of the children. Their education is conducted in the asylum until they are ready to enter the grammar grade of the public schools. At the present writing a new and spacious building is in process of erection, the old structure being found inadequate to the growing needs of the institution.
The people of Cleveland were greatly elated when in 1868 the first iron steamer was launched. The J. K. White, though a diminutive boat, was the first one built entirely of iron by Cleveland parties, and for fourteen years she had no successor. She was launched from Blaisdell's ship-yard. Mr. R. H. Gordon, Jr., superintended the construction of the iron hull. Messrs. Miller and Young modeled and laid down the steamer, and Joseph Sarver executed the black- smithing. She was owned by Joseph Greenhalgh, and was designed for a pleasure boat in summer and a wrecking boat in spring and fall.
The most important innovation in the manufacturing history of Cleveland took place on September 5, 1868, when the Cleveland Rolling Mill Company turned out their first product of Bessemer steel. At that time there were but two other Bessemer steel manufactories in the United States, and the advantages for Cleveland of introducing the process can be appreciated only by those who have seen the complete revolution wrought in the iron and steel industry during the last twenty years, and the position that the Cleveland Rolling Mill Company has taken at its
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head. Mr. Henry Chisholm, then the general superintend- ent of the works, and Mr. A. B. Stone, the company's pres- ident, had visited Europe to inspect the works in different places, and had secured designs for the plant and brought skilled workmen from Sheffield, England, to inaugurate the enterprise. The capacity of the first works was from fifty to sixty tons of steel ingots per day, and the first trial was the metamorphosing of four tons of iron into steel that quite met the hopes of the company. Soon after, new machinery and buildings for working up the steel into plates and other shapes, especially rails, was put in suc- cessful operation.
On September 16 occurred one of the most severe storms ever known on the lake. The schooner Echo, from Buffalo, with a cargo of coal, went ashore during the night about one-fourth of a mile east of the harbor, and before morn- ing was completely dashed in pieces. One sailor was drowned; the remainder of the crew escaped to the shore by swimming. Another schooner, the Clough, of Black river, went to pieces fifteen miles east of the city. Only one man was saved, who had lashed himself to the top- mast, where he remained thirty-six hours before succor reached him.
During the existence of the celebrated Fenian Brother- hood, great activity and enthusiasm was aroused amongst the members of that fraternity in Cleveland. They found here a large and influential body of sympathizers. The purpose of the organization, it is well known, was to free Ireland by force of arms from British thralldom. How this was to be accomplished was difficult to tell, but the
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hot-headed enthusiasm of the Brotherhood called first for a raid upon Canada. That province, when conquered, would furnish a base of supplies for further military move- ments. Cleveland was made the grand headquarters for Ohio and the South. Three local societies were organized, with a membership of over one thousand : the Tara Circle, headquarters at 144 Seneca street, over the present busi- ness place of Hower & Higbee; Wolfe Tone Circle, 99 Superior street ; and Emmet Circle, Van Tassell's Hall, on the West Side. Their efforts at raising funds were highly successful. The proceeds of fairs and picnics, together with private contributions, exceeded twenty thousand dollars. Public meetings were frequently held at the old Brainard's Hall, where the Wilshire block now stands. Fiery and eloquent speeches were made, denouncing Eng- land and stirring up volunteers for the movement on Canada. These were listened to and wildly cheered by immense crowds of people. Opportunity for fierce indig- nation was given when, on June 6, 1866, under instructions from the attorney-general of the United States, prominent Fenian officers were arrested by United States Marshal Earl Bill, on a charge of aiding and abetting violators of the neutrality laws of the United States, and the head- quarters of Tara Circle were seized. Papers, military orders, one box of knapsacks and a box containing four muskets were found. The officers arrested were Thomas Lavan, head centre State of Ohio; T. J. Quinlan, grand treasurer, and Philip O'Neil, head centre Tara Circle. They were afterwards released without coming to trial. But not to be discouraged, the Fenians organized, drilled and
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fully armed and equipped two military companies of one hundred men each. Company A, under command of Cap- tain Michael Joyce, succeeded in planting their standard on Canadian soil, where they joined in a skirmish with the Queen's Own, at Ridgeway. After a doubtful victory, they scattered and made their way back to Cleveland. Three or four of their number were captured, but shortly released. The second company was under arms and ready to move, when, at the news from Ridgeway, their orders were countermanded and the members sent home. At this inauspicious time, two companies from Kentucky and Vir- ginia arrived in Cleveland. They were cared for by the local societies until they could return to their homes. A great meeting shortly afterwards, at which Senator A. G. Thurman was the principal speaker, was held to intercede with the British government for the release of Allen, Larkin and O'Brien, the "Manchester Martyrs." Promi- nent organizers and officers of the Fenians were: P. K. Walsh, P. K. Monks, Hugh Blee, Phil. Hussey, John Martin, Thomas Manning, W. J. Gleason. The Land League of 1869 and the National League of 1883 are the direct descendants of the Fenian Brotherhood.
In the fall of 1867 occurred the first of Cleveland's labor troubles. At that time the whole commercial system was undergoing re-adjustment, and when the inexorable change reached the wages of labor, it brought hardships and mis- givings, which broke out in strikes. The day of inflated values was passing away. Gold was receding in value and the entire commercial and manufacturing system was com- ing down to the old-time specie basis. The profits of man-
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ufacturers, farmers and commercial men were being lopped off. Under such conditions the price paid for labor was also gradually reduced. Add to this that the scarcity of labor caused by the demands of war was now relieved by the transformation of a million soldiers into laborers, and the reduction of wages became inevitable. The first general rebellion against this tendency was organized by the Moulder's Union. A strike begun in 1867 against a. reduction of twenty per cent. in wages, lasted nine months and finally failed. This was the harbinger of similar dif- ficulties in other industries, nearly all of which resulted in the defeat of the strikers. A strike by the Coopers' Union in 1869 practically resulted in the substitution of machin- ery for hand labor. These losses led to great activity in the more thorough organization of laborers. In Sep- tember of 1868 a general movement was made to estab- lish a permanent association of workingmen. A Trades Assembly was organized by delegates from the different labor unions, with O. B. Dailey, president, W. J. Gleason, secretary, and Cornelius Coghlin, treasurer. After a two- years' existence, however, it drifted into politics and dis- appeared. The strength of the labor unions greatly in- creased with the increasing prosperity of the country that preceded the panic of 1873. The demand for labor was brisk, and the market not over supplied. A strike of the moulders in 1872 against a reduction in wages was success- ful, because labor was well employed. Other trades expe- rience in general similar fluctuations. Cleveland as a great manufacturing centre was made headquarters for the prin- cipal international unions.
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Probably no murder trial ever excited greater public interest, than did that of Sarah M. Victor in 1868, for poisoning her brother, William Parquette, a year previous. The murdered man's body had been buried for nearly one year, but was finally exhumed in order to make a chem- ical examination of the stomach. This revealed abundant evidences of arsenic. Mrs. Victor was arrested, convicted, and sentenced by Judge Foote to be hanged on August 20. On account of mental derangement, a reprieve of ninety days was granted by Governor Hayes. She showed no evidence of returning sanity and her sentence was com- muted to imprisonment for life. After serving eighteen years in the penitentiary, she was pardoned by Governor Foraker.
The fifth person to suffer the highest penalty of the law in Cuyahoga county was Lewis Davis, who was hanged on Thursday, February 4, 1869, for the murder of David P. Skinner, a milkman living near Newburg and well known in Cleveland. The murderer, with four accomplices, all armed, entered Mr. Skinner's house on Saturday even- ing, the twelfth of September, 1868, with the intention of intimidating the family and robbing the safe of twenty thousand dollars, which it was reported to contain. As Mr. Skinner, who was lying on a lounge, arose before the robbers, Davis fired upon him, the bullet killing him in- stantly. The party then fled and returned to Cleveland, but were all arrested on Monday morning with the excep- tion of one Folliott. Davis was tried before Judge Pren- tiss, and through the turning of State's evidence by one of his accomplices, McKanna, was convicted. On the night
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before his execution he made an unsuccessful attempt to commit suicide by cutting into his wrist with a piece of broken lamp chimney. While in jail he wrote out a long account of his career which is said to have revealed such heinous crime that his wife, for whom it had been written in the hope that its publication would realize something for her support, peremptorily refused all access to it. The death penalty was inflicted by Sheriff Frazee. His accom- plices were sentenced for different terms in the peniten- tiary.
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