USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > The founder of the city of Cleveland, and other sketches > Part 10
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Fernando De Soto was a man .of destiny. He won honor as well as fame in running a career of disappointed ambition. He possessed . a sanguine temperament, and yielded to the influences of an insatiate love of power, and of gold as the basis of power. This selfish and
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sordid trait of his character was matured, if not engendered, by the impressions he received while engaged with Pizarro in the conquest of Peru. He desired to outrival Pizarro in the acquisition of wealth and fame. He believed in more worlds to conquer. He accepted the governorship of Cuba as a stepping-stone to the governorship of Florida, whose extent of territory was at that time unknown. In fact, Florida was to him the dreamland of golden treasures. His search for gold cost him his life. ITis character was a mosaic of vice and virtue, and yet he was a man of broad views and lofty aspirations, and as stern in command as he was decisive in action. He never dreamed of defeat, bat was sadly defeated in solving the great problem of his life.
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MAJOR LORENZO CARTER
MAJOR LORENZO CARTER
HI ISTORY is indebted to biography for the greater part of its interest and value. It is not so much what a man thinks or believes as what he does, that gives him character. It was physical strength and a fearless spirit that distinguished the brave and the bold in the heroic age of the Greeks. It was these traits of character that gave Lorenzo Carter his renown as a valiant pioneer in the early settlement of the Western Reserve.
Lorenzo Carter, familiarly known as Major Carter, was born at Rutland, Vt., in 1767. He received but a limited education, but was en- dowed by nature with sound sense and a ready mother wit. At the age of twenty-two he mar- ried Miss Rebecca Fuller, a worthy young lady of his native town. The marriage took place on the 28th of January, 1789. Within a few years after the marriage the happy pair con- ceived the idea of making themselves still happier by removing to the "far West " - the mystic land of golden promise. In accordance with this resolution, young Carter and family,
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accompanied by Ezekiel Hawley, bade adieu to Rutland, in the fall of the year 1796, with a view to a permanent settlement at some eli- gible point in the unbroken wilderness of the Western . Reserve. When they reached Lake Erie they crossed over with their families and spent the winter in Canada. Hawley was the brother-in-law of Carter, and both were desir- ous of selecting permanent homes near each other.
In the spring of 1797 both Carter and Hawley, with their families, recrossed the lake, and arrived in Cleveland on the second day of May. They were highly pleased with the appearance of the country, and especially with the beautiful valley of the Cuyahoga River. Hawley and family settled on the ele- vated land bordering this river, and about a mile from the lake. Carter preferred the east- ern hillside, near the mouth of the river, where he erected a log cabin, which was located a little north of the present viaduet or bridge at the terminus of Superior Street. Here he and his family commenced their career in the wilds of the Western Reserve, amid wild beasts and still wilder men. The Indians at this time were numerous in the region of the Cuyahoga. "Its valley was, in fact, the "Indians' paradise." The river that winds so gracefully along the
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vale abounded with fish, ducks, and geese, while the adjoining forests afforded countless numbers of deer, bears, wild turkeys, and other game, all of which were regarded by the Indians as their natural inheritance, and hence they viewed the encroachment of white men with suspicion.
The Cuyahoga originally ran through what is now called the old river bed, and discharged its waters into the lake at a point west of the new breakwater. At that early day there stood a huge Indian mound near the mouth of the river where it now runs, which, it is said, must have had originally a diameter at the base of one hundred feet and an elevation of fifty feet. When the river left its old bed, it ploughed a new channel in a direct line to the lake, and ran so near the east side of the mound that it soon undermined it and swept it away. The existence of the mound was well known to the early settlers. Several large trees, of a hun- dred years' growth or more, were standing on the top of the mound in 1796, but the natives of the forest who were found here at that date knew nothing of the origin of the mound, or of the race who built it. In all probability it was built by the ancient Eries, who occupied the southern shore of the lake east of the Cuyahoga, in an age that has no written record. The time has been, doubtless, when the lake shore at
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Cleveland extended several miles into the lake north of its present boundary. It is well known that the lake has eneroached on the land, at Cleveland, nearly half a mile within the last eighty years. The mound was doubtless the sepulchre of some acknowledged chief who, in the lost ages, was the sovereign of the beauti- ful Valley of the Cuyahoga.
In the fall of 1796 the original site of the city of Cleveland was surveyed into town lots by Moses Cleaveland and staff. The surveyors erected at that time two or three log cabins for their own accommodation. These cabins con- stituted the nucleus of what has now become a great and beautiful city. The cabin built by Carter in the following year was much more pretentious in its size and style of architecture than the humble cabins erected by the surveyors. It had two apartments on the ground floor, and a spacious garret for lodgers. Near the cabin flowed a spring of pure water, cool and clear as a crystal. ·
Thus provided with a rustic but happy home for himself and family, Carter felt that he must engage in some employment that would afford him a livelihood. The first thing he did was to build a boat and establish a ferry across the river at the foot of Superior Street for the ac- commodation of public travel. In connection
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with this he kept in his house a small stock of goods adapted to the Indian trade, including whiskey. When a boy he became an expert hunter, and knew that he could rely on his rifle in an emergency, and hence he devoted more or less of his time to hunting for the purpose of obtaining valuable furs and peltries, and secur- ing a supply of wild meat for his family. He
soon distinguished himself as a successful hunter in all the region round about him. The Indians found in him an overmatch as a marksman, and a superior in physical strength. He had the muscular power of a giant, and not only knew his strength but knew when and how to use it. He stood six feet in his boots, and was evi- dently born to command. His complexion was somewhat swarthy, and his hair long and black. He wore it cut square on the forehead, and allowed it to flow behind nearly to the shoul- ders. He had a Roman nose, and the courage of a Roman. Yet he was as amiable in spirit and temper as he was brave. He dressed to suit himself and as occasion required. In times of danger he always found in his rifle a reliable friend. He not only enjoyed life in the wilder- ness, but soon became master of the situation. He loved adventures, and encountered dangers without fear.
On one occasion, as tradition says, he re-
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turned from a hunting excursion and found that the Indians had broken into his warehouse, knocked in the head of a barrel of whiskey, and imbibed so freely as to become drunk and dan- gerously belligerent. He marched in among them, drove them out, kicked and cuffed them about in every direction, and rolled several of them, who were too drunk to keep their legs, into the marshy brink of the river. The Indians did not relish this kind of treatment, and, med- itating revenge, held a council the next day and decided to exterminate Carter. They selected two of their best marksmen and di- rected them to follow his footprints the next time he entered the woodlands to hunt, and shoot him at the first favorable opportunity. This the delegated assassins attempted to do, and, thinking to make sure work of it, both fired at him at the same time, but failed to hit him. In an instant Carter turned on his heel and shot one of them, who fell dead in his
tracks; the other uttered a terrific war-whoop and fled out of sight. This dire result over- awed the Indians. From that time no further attempts were made to take Carter's life. His ritle was the law of the land. The Indians became subservient to his will, and were con- firmed in the belief that he was the favorite of the Great Spirit and could not be killed. It
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was in this way that Carter obtained an un- bounded influence over the Indians. He always treated them, when they behaved as they should, with kindness and generosity, and when they quarrelled among themselves, as they often did, he intervened and settled their difficulties.
Not long after Carter had located at the mouth of the Cuyahoga, David Bryant estab- lished a distillery near his cabin at the foot of the hill. This distillery soon became the favor- ite resort of both white men and Indians. In a drunken frolic which occurred on the hillside one sunny afternoon among the Indians, the chief, Big Son, charged Menompsy, the medi- . cine man, with having killed his squaw by administering witchcraft medicine, and threat- ened to kill him. Menompsy, knowing that he, as medicine man, priest, and prophet, was regarded as invulnerable, replied, "Me no 'fraid," and when he, at nightfall, was passing down Union Lane on his return to the west side of the river, where his tribe was encamped, he was met by Big Son, who, with professions of friendship, saluted him, and then drew a knife and killed him on the spot. The friends of Menompsy, on hearing of the murder, came over from the west side with the intention of killing Big Son, who secreted himself and could not be found. The "war-whoop " was sounded,
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and a demand made for the surrender of the murderer. The Indians occupying the east and west sides of the river were hereditary enemies, and the danger became imminent that, unless Big Son was surrendered, a bloody fight would ensue between them. At this juncture Carter appeared and negotiated a compromise by which the friends of Big Son agreed to give the friends of Menompsy a gallon of whiskey. But. as it happened, no whiskey could be obtained, and the "war-whoop " was renewed. Carter then effected a second negotiation by agreeing upon two gallons of whiskey to be forthcoming on the next day. Bryant put his distillery into operation at once, and the two gallons of whis- key were furnished as agreed. The friends of Menompsy then returned to their camp on the west side of the river and indulged in a drunken jollification that entirely allayed their thirst for revenge.
At the August term of the territorial court, held at Warren, in 1801, Carter was granted a license to keep a tavern at Cleveland on paying into the county treasury the sum of four dollars. The entire Reserve was then included within the limits of Trumbull County, and the county- Seat established at Warren. The State consti- tution was adopted in 1802. At the first State court, held at Warren, after the adoption of the
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constitution, Lorenzo Carter of Cleveland, as it appears of record, was indicted for assault and battery. He was greatly astonished when the officer arrested him and said he must take him to Warren for trial. The friends of Carter were still more astonished than he was, and resolved that he should not be taken to Warren, and proposed to resist the sheriff, asserting that Carter was and always had been an upright and -
peaceable citizen. The sheriff was obliged to summon aid, and finally succeeded in producing him bodily in court. It was known at Warren that Carter enjoyed the reputation of being a brave, bold, and daring frontiersman, and it was supposed by the citizens of Warren that he must therefore be a dangerous fellow. But when arraigned before the court his quiet and manly appearance created a favorable impres- sion. The charge made against him proved to be as frivolous as it was revengeful in spirit. It grew out of a dispute between him and one of his Cleveland neighbors who owned a favor- ite dog. Carter had discovered that the dog was in the habit of stealing into his milk- house, at the spring, and lapping up the cream from the pans. He finally caught the dog in the act, and chastised the brute. The owner declared his dog innocent. Carter declared the dog guilty. The owner then pronounced Carter
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a liar. Carter instantly returned the compli- ment by slapping his aceuser in the face. Carter frankly pleaded "guilty " to the indictment. The court readily comprehended the character of the quarrel, and ordered him to pay a fine of six cents and costs. This he did forthwith. He was received on his return home by his many friends with such open demonstration of joy and triumph as to convince his accuser that the sooner he removed from Cleveland the better it would be for his personal safety.
The name of Lorenzo Carter had now become well known throughout the Reserve. He was highly respected as a worthy eitizen, and was, in fact, the famous pioneer of the Cuyahoga Valley. He not only had the confidence of white men, but acquired an unbounded influ- ence over the Indians. When Carter first came to Cleveland, in 1797, there were but seven persons residing in the town. Its population increased but slowly during the next ten or twelve years. It was Carter's enterprise that built the first frame house in Cleveland. He also built the first warehouse. During the early part of his career at Cleveland, his spa- cious log cabin on the hillside was regarded as headquarters. It served as a hotel for strang- ers, and as a variety shop of hunting supplies. It was also a place of popular resort, where the
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denizens of the town and surrounding country held their social festivities.
The first social dance or ball that occurred at Cleveland took place at Carter's renowned log cabin, July 4, 1801. The party consisted of fifteen or sixteen couples. They came from town and country, some on foot and some on horseback, and were dressed in all sorts of styles. They occupied the front room, or parlor . of the cabin. It had a puncheon floor, and its walls were decorated with deer-horns, powder- horns, rifles, and shotguns. The dance began at an early hour. Mr. Jones was the violinist, who, after attuning his instrument, struek up " Hi, Betty Martin," the favorite air of that day. The mazy dance was executed with marvellous agility, and with a still more mar- vellous variety of steps. The refreshments were substantial in their character, consisting mainly of baked pork and beans, plum cake, and whiskey, and were partaken of with' a keen relish and in liberal quantities. The dance was continued until daylight the next morn- ing, when the party dispersed, and returned in merry mood to their rustic homes. It was doubtless the fruitful result of this public ball which brought with it, on the next Fourth of July, the first wedding that occurred in Cleve- land. The nuptials were celebrated at Carter's
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cabin, in the same decorated parlor in which the first dance had transpired. The happy twain whose "hearts beat as one," and who wished to become one, were William Clement of Canada and Cloe Inches, the hired girl in Carter's family, whom he had brought with him from Canada to Cleveland.
The preparations were by no means elaborate or expensive. The bride was dressed in colored cotton, and the bridegroom in domestic sheep's gray. No cards were issued, nor were any costly gifts presented. When the guests had assembled, and the hour arrived, the affianced couple simply arose and "took the pledge " in the exacting language of the Puritanie formula of New England. Rev. Seth Hart officiated. He was from Connecticut, and was in the em- ploy of the land company, and the only clergy- man who could be found to officiate on that occasion. Whether he was the first one who, in accordance with modern practice, saluted the bride with a "holy kiss " at the close of the ceremony, does not appear in the traditionary lore of the times.
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At a special election held in August, 1804, at the house of James Kingsbury, Carter was elected to the office of major in the State mili- tia, and from that date was always spoken of as " Major Carter." This advancement to one
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of the enviable honors of his time not only increased his popularity, but enlarged his busi- ness prospects. In 1803 he built the first vessel constructed at Cleveland, named the Zephyr, thirty tons burden, and designed for the lake trade.
The county of Cuyahoga was organized in 1809, and Cleveland made the county-seat. The population of the town at that time was but forty-seven. Nearly three years elapsed before the county erected a court-house and jail. In the mean time a small room in a pri- vate dwelling, located on the north side of Superior Street, was used as a court-room, and the garret of Major Carter's log cabin as a jail. The Indian, John O'Mick, who murdered two white men in the year 1812, was incarcerated in this garret, where he remained chained to a rafter for several months previous to his trial. The major assumed the responsibilities of jailer and deputy-sheriff. The Indian was tried for his crime at the April term of the court, found "guilty," and sentenced to be hung on the 26th of June following.
When the day arrived on which the execution was to take place, a one-horse lumber wagon, containing a coffin made of rough boards, ap- . peared at the door of the major's cabin, ready to receive the convict and transport him to the
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gallows on the Public Square, where he was to be executed. O'Mick had frequently, after his conviction, said to the major that he would show the white men how bravely an Indian could die, and that the executioner need not tie his hands, but simply adjust the rope, and he would leap from the scaffold and hang him- self. He decorated himself with paint and war plumes, and when led from the garret, sprang nimbly into the wagon and sat down on his coffin with an air of stolid indifference. He was then taken under a military escort that marched to the music of fife and muffled drum to the Public Square, where a large crowd of . citizens had gathered to witness the execution. Soon as the convict arrived he was taken by Sheriff Baldwin, who, with the aid of Carter, foreed him to ascend the ladder to the scaffold, where the rope was adjusted about his neck and an appropriate prayer offered by Rev. Mr. Darrow. At the close of the prayer and at the moment the sheriff proceeded to let fall the fatal trap, O'Mick sprang and seized a side post of the gallows with an iron grasp the sher- iff could not disengage. Carter, who spoke the Indian language with ease, reminded O'Miek of his professed bravery and tried to persuade him to let go the post, and finally succeeded in compromising the matter with him by giving
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him a pint of whiskey. O'Mick drank the whiskey, and said he was ready to swing. The sheriff attempted to proceed when O'Mick played the same trick a second time, and again compromised for another pint of whiskey, which was given him, and while he was swallowing it the trap was let go, and down went the "poor Indian " with a jerk that broke his neck and the rope, and left him on the ground writhing in the apparent agonies of death. At this fear- ful moment a terrific thunder-storm, attended with violent wind and rain, burst overhead and compelled the crowd to disperse in haste. In the mean time the remains of O'Mick, whether dead or alive, were hastily buried beneath the gallows by direction of the sheriff. On exam- ination the next morning the body could not be found. Some thought that O'Mick had resur- rected himself and fled .. Others thought the medical profession had secured the prize. At any rate, his skeleton was some thirty years afterwards known to be in the possession of the late Dr. Town of Hudson. What has since '. become of it is not known.
Major Lorenzo Carter was the right man in the right place for the times in which he lived. No man perhaps could have accomplished more or executed his life's work better than he did under the same circumstances. He accumu-
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lated a handsome property, and in the latter part of his life purchased a large farm which he improved, and which lay on the west side of the Cuyahoga River, nearly opposite the termi- nation of Superior Street. This farm, after his death, became the property of his son, Alonzo Carter, who occupied it for many years, when it was sold to the Buffalo Land Company and cut up into city lots. It has now become an important business part of the city of Cleve- land. The major died February 7, 1814, at forty-seven years of age. He was the father of nine children,- three sons, Alonzo, Henry, and Lorenzo, and six daughters, Laura, Rebecca, Polly, Rebecca (2d), Mercy, and Betsey. Lo- renzo and both Rebeccas died in infancy. Henry was drowned when but ten years old in the Cuyahoga River. The other children at- tained maturity and led exemplary lives. His wife died October 19, 1827. The descendants of the major are numerous, and are not only worthy but highly respected citizens. His grandsons, Henry, Lorenzo, Charles, and Ed- ward Carter reside in the city of Cleveland, and others of his descendants reside in the vicinity, or at no great distance, and are con- nected by marriage with prominent families - the Rathburns and Northrops of Olmstead Falls, the Akins of Brooklyn, the Ables of Rockport,
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the Cathans of Chagrin Falls, the Rathburns of Newburgh, the Peets of Ridgeville, Mrs. Crow of Newburgh, and others. Major Carter and his wife Rebecca were consigned to their final resting-place in the Erie-street cemetery, near its western entrance. Two marble headstones mark the spot, and also bear upon their face a brief record that is worthy of a reverent remem- brance.
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THE GLACIAL THEORY
THE GLACIAL THEORY
THE theory of a glacial period, or ice age,
has been accepted by many of our modern . . geologists. But it does not follow that the theory has been verified or that geologists are infallible in their conclusions.
The glacial theory is a child of the nine- teenth century. It was born about the year 1840, at the foot of the Alps. Its godfathers were men of renown in matters of science, who assumed to interpret the language of Nature, as spoken in her ice domains, and to reveal the methods of her work. In a word, they were emulous of making new discoveries in science.
The idea of a glacial period was suggested by the discovery that the glaciers of the Alps are constantly sliding by slow degrees from their sublime heights down into the adjacent valleys, where they melt and deposit what are called "moraines," which are but the debris left by melted glaciers. In many instances glaciers carry with them huge rocks or bowlders, which they disrupt from the mountains as they descend into the valleys. In connection with rock they
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often detach and precipitate extensive masses of earth to a lower level, thus changing the natural aspects of the land in the vicinity.
From this state of facts and the stretch of a vivid imagination the advocates of the glacial · theory infer that there was, at some time in the remote past, a "glacial period " of many thou- sand years' duration, when the greater part of both the northern and southern hemispheres of. the globe was covered with snow and ice from one to eight miles or more in depth, as esti- mated by glacial rules, and that these immense fields of snow and ice slid inch by inch from the polar regions towards the equator, a dis- tance of about two thousand miles, ploughing their way over the highest mountains and deep- est valleys, in spite of the law of gravity and a globular upgrade, and that they, in their course, excavated the basins of most of our great as well as small lakes, rivers, and valleys, striated the rocks, transported bowlders, distributed the drift or soil which has given to the earth its fertility, and finally expired in the temperate zones, where they melted and marked the spot of their decease with a line of gravestones or "terminal moraines."
This hypothesis seems as incredible as it is inconsistent with the imperative law of gravity which would hold the glaciers as solidly in
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place as it holds the Rocky Mountains in place. The glaciers would not only have to slide in opposition to the law of gravity, but in opposi- tion to a globular upgrade caused by the earth's equatorial axis being twenty-seven miles longer than its polar axis.
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