USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > The founder of the city of Cleveland, and other sketches > Part 5
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This was so fair a proposition that I readily obtained a class of thirty pupils at the close of
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my lecture. A vacant schoolroom was assigned mne, and in the afternoon of the next day I met my class and commenced instruction. The only book allowed was the English reader. I began by explaining the interjection in a familiar way, and then required the class to open the reader and point out the interjections on a certain number of pages. This they readily did. I then proceeded to explain the . noun, which was recognized by the class almost as readily as the interjection. In this way I proceeded with the other parts of speech until they were understood.
I then commenced analyzing sentences and applying the rules of syntax, and at the end of six weeks found, to my surprise, that the class had acquired not only a very good but a some- what critical knowledge of English grammar. I invited a public examination of the class. The fathers and mothers of the pupils and the clergymen, lawyers, and doctors of the town attended. The examination was decidedly exhaustive, yet very few mistakes were made. The result was pronounced satisfactory, and my charge for tuition was cheerfully paid. This success relieved me of pecuniary pressure. I have ventured to speak of this incident some- what in detail, because I believe it to be the true method of teaching English grammar.
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From Gallipolis I returned to Cleveland and was admitted to the bar. I commeneed the practice of law in partnership with my friend Reuben Wood, Esq., who afterwards became chief-justice, and then governor of the State. In the course of a few months I married, and paid the poor clergyman who officiated five dollars, all the money I had. This left me penniless again; but I thought a wife at that price cheap enough. She proved to be a jewel above price. Soon after my marriage I was employed by a gentleman, who had tired of the "silken tie " that bound him, to obtain for him a divorce. If I succeeded, he agreed to pay me a hundred dollars. I did succeed, and in the evening of the same day the divoree was granted he married another woman. The fee I received enabled me to commence housekeeping.
In 1830 I drifted into politics, and was elected a representative to the legislature. Near the close of the session I was appointed agent by that honorable body to sell the Western Reserve school lands, some fifty thousand acres, located in Holmes and Tusca- rawas Counties .. I opened a land office at Millersburgh in Holmes County. The law allowed me three per cent on cash receipts for my services. In the first five days I received from sales at public auction fifty thousand
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dollars, and my percentage amounted to fifteen hundred dollars. This sudden windfall made me, as I then thought, almost a millionnaire. It was my first pecuniary success in life, and the first time after a lapse of eight years that I became able to pay my college tuition, for which I had given my promissory note.
In 1833 I returned to Cleveland, and was appointed clerk of the county courts, a position which I held for seven years. In the mean time I was twice nominated for Congress, and in the race made a narrow escape from falling into the moral dangers that beset the footsteps of congressmen.
In 1851 I was elected to the State senate, and was made chairman of the committee on schools. Among other things pertaining to legislation I prepared and introduced the bill reorganizing the common school system of the State, which became a law and gave to our pub- lie schools a high character for efficiency. It still remains substantially in force. I also in- troduced the Reform Farm Bill, providing for the care, education, and moral training of young criminals. This bill was, for want of time, postponed to a subsequent session. In the mean time my term as senator expired. My political friends induced me to become a candidate for re-election. My opponent was personally one
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of my best friends. The issue in the campaign was the "temperance question.".
My opponent was known as a rigid temper- ance man, and though I had voted for the most stringent temperance law ever enacted in the State, it got noised abroad that my opponent was the better temperance man because he would not allow his wife to put brandy in her mince-pies, while I, it was said, not only allowed my wife to put brandy in her mince- pies, but in her pickles, too. This turned the scale against me, and my opponent was elected. He made a good senator, and took up my. Reform Farm Bill where I had left it, and was largely instrumental in securing its passage and locating the Reform Farm School at Lan- caster, where it has proved to be one of the most successful reformatory schools in the United States. .
Notwithstanding this crucial test in my political experience, and the seeming reason that caused it, I was subsequently: honored with several important official positions which I accepted, but did not seek. In the various public positions in which I have been placed it has ever been my aim to discharge my duties . with fidelity and without regard to selfish inter- ests. If I have done anything that benefits my fellow-men, I shall feel that I have not lived
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in vain. In the field of literature four volumes of books on different subjeets have been pub- lished over my signature, whether wisely or unwisely is not for me to say.
Some people have reason to be proud of their ancestry, while others have not, perhaps for the best of reasons. In regard to myself, I have only to say that my earliest American ancestor was Edmund Rice, who emigrated- from Barnhamstead, Hertfordshire, England, to America in 1638, and settled at Sudbury, Mass. His family accompanied him, consisting of a wife and seven children.
Barnhamstead is one of the oldest towns in England. It is located about twenty miles from London, and was founded by the Romans and occupied for centuries by a mixed popula- tion of Romans, Britons, and Saxons. Hence a transfusion of blood may be inferred, and per- haps a drop or two of Roman blood coursed in the veins of my worthy ancestor. If so, his descendants may inherit a tincture of it - my- self among the rest - who knows?
Be this as it may, I am what I am, and claim to be nothing more. I have lived to an advanced age, have been twice married, and am now left where I began - alone in the world save descendants.
Williams College, in 1871, conferred on me
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the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws -a compliment which I appreciate, though not vaiu of titles. I have no use for them. I look at the bright side of things, and am content with my lot. I have acquired enough of this world's goods to supply my physical wants, and leave to my surviving children a pittance sufficient to equip them for the battle of life.
I have endeavored to live uprightly, guided by reason and "temperance in all things." The church to which I belong is the church of all mankind. My creed is short: "Lead a pure life, and do as you would be done by." If this is not sufficient, then I am willing to be called an agnostic. In truth, life is a mystery, and longevity but a brevity. The gate stands ajar through which all must pass into the unexplored hereafter. Yet we have the assur- ance that the passage is neither dark nor peril- ous when cheered by the "star" which the wise men of old saw in the East. This assur- ance is an inspiration, and may be accepted as the utterance of a divine philosophy. Whoever attempts to fathom the "unknowable, " has yet to learn that the finite cannot comprehend the infinite. Nevertheless, we are all born of the infinite, and must ever remain a part of it. Yet we all have a life that is not only im- mortal, but forever progressive.
FOOTPRINTS OF PURITANISM
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FOOTPRINTS OF PURITANISM
ITHE civilization of the Western Reserve, though comparatively of modern origin, is characterized by peculiarities that have been inherited from a renowned ancestry. It is a civilization scarcely less peculiar in its ele- ments than progressive in its instincts. It aims high, and has already achieved high aims. It began its career a little less than a century ago by conquering the rude forces of nature and securing for itself a land of beauty, of wealth, and of social refinement.
The spirit of enterprise that transformed an unbroken wilderness into a land of refined civ- ilization must have been not only invincible, but a spirit that has rarely, if ever, been excelled in the annals of human advancement. This can only be accounted for on the basis of inherited traits of character. The civilized life of the Western Reserve has Puritanic blood in its veins, or, in other words, has a New Eng- land parentage. One age not only modifies another, but differs from another in its thought 101
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and in its aspirations, as one star differs from another in its brilliancy and in its magnitude.
Puritanism is of English origin. It was born of fanaticism -a fanaticism that believed in the right of free thought and of free action. The Puritan soon came to be a stubborn con- troversialist, and would neither submit to oppression nor brook persecution. The very name of "Puritanism " is significant. It was bestowed in derision by intolerant persecutors. Hence Puritanism in the land of its nativity found its environment unendurable, and, as a last resort, expatriated itself. Its subsequent footprints denote its eivil and religious aims, its moral influence, and the wide diffusion of its principles.
The first colony of Puritans who expatriated themselves and came to the New World was the Plymouth colony, the veritable "Pilgrim Fathers " of New England. They sailed from England in the ship Mayflower, one hundred and one souls, seventy of whom were women, children, and servants. They were cradled on the deep amid storms and tempests for eight long, weary weeks; yet, led by the "star of empire," they safely reached the "land of promise" in the bleak month of December, 1620, and cast anchor in the harbor of Cape Cod. This entire coast was, at that date,
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ineluded in what was then known as Northern Virginia. Before disembarking all the voy- agers who were qualified to exercise political rights held a consultation, agreed upon and subscribed their names to the following com- pact: -
In the name of God, amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the loyal subjects of our dread Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of Great Britain, France and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c., having undertaken, for the glory of God and the advancement of the Christian faith and honor of our king and country, a voyage to plant the first colony in the northern part of Virginia, do, by these presents, solemnly and mutually, in the presence of God and one another. covenant and combine ourselves together in a civil body politie, for our better ordering and preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue herecf, do enact, constitute and frame such just and equal laws and ordinances, acts, constitutions, and offices from time to time, as shall be thought most meet and con- venient for the general good of the colony, unto which we promise all due subjection and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names. at Cape Cod, the 11th day of November (old style), in the year of our Sovereign Lord, King James, of England, France and Ireland the eighteenth, and of Scotland the fifty-fourth, Anno Domini, 1620.
This compact embraces in its elementary prin- ciples the true ideal of a pure democracy. It was this ocean-born utteranee that subsequently inspired the declaration of American indepen- dence. After signing the compact the small
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boat was lowered, when as many of the voy- agers as could be received sprang into it, eager to reach the land. The question now arose as to which of them should have the honor of being the first to step on shore. The sterner sex - stern as they were - manifested their instinctive reverence for woman by according to Mary Chilton that honor. She was a bright, fascinating young lady, and the moment the boat reached the shore was the first to step on Plymouth Rock -
" The rock that's firmly planted by the sea,
Prescribing bounds where proudest waves are stayed; The landmark which was set to liberty
When earth's foundations broad and deep were laid."
If the maiden did not leave her footprint upon the rock, she has certainly left it in his- tory. ·
The Pilgrim Fathers were, in fact, the sons of destiny, who did not comprehend the moral · grandeur of their destiny. On the basis of their compact they constructed a civil govern- ment for themselves, and recognized the right of the majority to rule by electing one of their deacons. John Carver, for governor, and Miles Standish to serve as captain of their fighting force. They selected a high ground facing the bay for a town site, and divided the entire
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colony into nineteen families, composed of about five persons each. And though a vast continent lay before them, they were so eco- nomical of land as to allow each family a town lot, containing for each person in the family but half a pole in breadth and three poles in length, which was deemed sufficient for a house and garden. They first erected what they called a common house, and then private dwellings. On the hillside overlooking the infant town, in the direction of the bay, they planted a cannon for self-defence against the Indians. During the first winter fifty-five of the one hundred and one died for want of suffi- cient supplies, or from the effects of climate. But the remaining few, plucky in extremities, did not despair. They believed in God, in the efficacy of prayer, and especially in themselves. Their numbers were soon strengthened by im- migration from their native land. They fought Indians and Indians fought them. Captain Miles Standish proved himself a valiant com- mander, and Plymouth colony proved a success. This led to the introduction of other Puritan colonies into the wilderness of New England, whose territory in the course of the next three or four decades was sprinkled with flourishing towns and settlements. All the colonies were founded upon a similar basis. In support of
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free principles they inaugurated free churches, free schools, and free government. Yet they had some crochets in their heads, peculiarities of creed and of opinion, which were the out- growth of an elementary education obtained in England; hence they could not divest them- selves of what was a part of themselves. And though they saw the light as "from above," yet at times they saw it as "through a glass, darkly."
There was not a village in all England, two or three centuries ago, that did not have a ghost in it. The churchyards were all haunted, and almost everybody believed in ghosts, fairies, and witcheraft. Hundreds were convicted of witchcraft and executed. With such a prelim- inary education, it is not surprising that the l'uritans of New England believed in witch- craft as well as in the purification of church and state. But instead of adhering to a form of civil government purely democratic, as pro- jected in their original compact, they unwit- tingly accepted a theocracy. The civil law was interpreted with reference to the divine law, and the elergy, of course, became its recognized expounders. It was for this reason that the colonies were controlled by ecclesiastical influ- ences in matters of state as well as in matters of faith. In effect, church and state were
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united; the only difference was that the church controlled the state. No man was a freeman or citizen who had not united with the church, nor could he vote or hold office until he had proved his sincerity as a Christian by what was called in those days, "a godly walk and con- versation." This over-righteous morality of the Puritans was characterized by a frosty rigidity that would be regarded as quite too chilling to be endured in these modern days of relaxed discipline and liberality of thought.
But still it must be conceded that the Puri- tans were sincere in their aspirations and phil- anthropic in many of their endeavors. They sought to Christianize the Indians, and to inaugurate among them a system of civil gov- ernment. There were twenty small tribes located within the limits of the Plymouth colony. These tribes all spoke the same lan- guage. Rev. John Eliot took the lead in attempting their reclamation by establishing schools and churches in their midst, and trans- lating the Bible into their tongue.
The following is the title which he prefixed to his Indian Bible: "Mamusse Wunneetupa- natamwe Up Biblum God Naneeswe Nukkone Testament Kah Wonk Wusku Testament." He was master of the language, and said he wrote the translation with one pen. He after-
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wards wrote an Indian grammar and other Indian school books, and translated "Baxter's Last Call" into the same language. This Indian Bible was a ponderous folio, and the first Bible ever printed in America. It was printed at Boston in 1685, at a cost for the edi- tion of £900 sterling. A copy of it is still pre- served at Plymouth. It is regarded as a great curiosity. There is not now a living Indian or white man who can read it. The language in which it was written is literally dead. Rev. John Eliot was the first Protestant elergyman in America who devoted his life to missionary labor. He is deservedly known in history as the "Indian Apostle." He insisted that the Indians were descendants of the Jews. He was born in England in 1603, was liberally educated, arrived at Boston in 1631. officiated at Roxbury for a brief period as minister of the gospel, and then devoted the remaining part of his life to Indian missionary work. He died in 1690.
These Christianized Indians at baptism re- ceived English names. many of which were names of distinguished Englishmen. This pleased the Indians and elevated them, in their own estimation, to the grade of white men. In fact, they were regarded by the Puritans not only as brethren of the same faith, but as citi-
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zens entitled to share the same equal rights and privileges. In the administration of eivil gov- ernment these Indians excelled the white men in brevity and prompt execution, if not in originality, as will be readily seen in the lan- guage of the following "warrant," issued and directed by an Indian magistrate to an Indian constable : -
I, Hihoudi, you, Peter Waterman, Jeremy Wicket, quick you take him, straight you bring him before me. HIHOUDI.
The Puritans were the friends of the Indians in times of peace, but in times of war were evidently actuated by a vindictive spirit. Such of the Indians as they could not Christianize they did not hesitate to exterminate, especially when they assumed a hostile attitude toward the colonies. In the course of the first century after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, thou- sands upon thousands of the original proprie- tors of the soil of New England fell in battle array against their relentless Christian invaders. Whether one race is justified in.exterminating another for no better reason than that of acquir- ing a broader domain, is a great moral question, which must be submitted to the arbitrament of theology for solution.
In tracing the footprints of the Puritans, we
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cannot escape the conviction that they were as conscientious as they were absurd in many of their theories. They believed in witcheraft, and resolved to exterminate it, nor would they tolerate a religious faith that was not in accord with their own. They seem to have been as sincere as they were fanatical. The darkest spot in their history is the persecution of Quakers and the execution of innocent persons for witchcraft. Cotton Mather, a doctor of divinity, was one of the principal instigators. But when the fanatical spirit of the times became so intrusive as to accuse and execute Rev. George Burroughs, who was a worthy and devoted member of the clerical profession, Mather and other dignitaries of the church began to fear and tremble lest they might be accused and share the same fate. Anxious to avoid personal danger, they now discouraged further executions, when the tragic drama, soon closed.
The Puritans seemed to think that they were divinely commissioned to exterminate not only heresies, but all kinds of frivolities and immor- alities, and to establish in the New World a saintly government based on the principles of a pure theocracy. This ideal of theirs is suffi- ciently illustrated in a few examples taken from the early records of the colonial courts: -
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GENERAL COURT OF MASSACHUSETTS.
1639. Ordered that no garments shall be made with short sleeves, and such as have garments with short sleeves shall not wear the same, unless they cover the arms to the wrist; and hereafter no person whatever shall make any garment for women with sleeves more than an ell wide.
COURT HELD AT PLYMOUTH.
163S. It is ordered that if any man make a motion of marriage to any man's daughter or maid withont first obtain- ing leave of her parents or master, he shall be punished, according to the nature of the offence, by a fine not exceed- ing five pounds, or corporal punishment, or both, at the discretion of the bench.
Ordered that profane swearing shall be punished by sit- ting in the stocks three hours, or by imprisonment; and that telling lies shall be punished by a fine of ten shillings, or the stocks for two hours for each offence.
Ordered that any person denying the Scriptures to be a rule of life shall suffer corporal punishment at the discre- tion of the magistrates, so it shall not extend to life or limb.
1640. Ordered that John Barnes pay a fine of thirty shil- lings for Sabbath breaking and sit one hour in the stocks; that Thomas Clarke pay a fine of thirty shillings for selling a pair of boots and spurs for fifteen shillings, which only cost him but ten shillings; and that William Abbey be severely whipped at the post for working on Sunday.
COURT HIELD AT NEW HAVEN.
1639. It is ordered thatt every one thatt beares arms shall be compleatly furnished with armes, (viz) a mnskett, a sword, vandaleers, a rest. a pound of powder, 20 bullets fitted to their muskett, or 4 pound of pistoll shott, or swan shott. at least. and be ready to show them in the market place on Monday the 6th of this moneth, before Captaine Turner and
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Lieutenant Seeley, under 20s. fine for every default or ab- sence.
1643. Andrew Low, jun. for breaking into Mr. Lang's house, where he brake open a cupboard and took from thence some strong water, and Gd. in money, and ransackt the house from roome to roome, and left open doors, for which fact being committed to prison brake forth and escaped, and still remains horrible obstinate and rebellious against his parents, and incorrigible under all the means that have been used to reclaim him. Whereupon it was ordered that he shall be as severely whipt as the rule will bare, and work with his father as a prisoner with a lock upon his leg so that he may not escape.
John Lawrence and Valentine, servants to Mr. Malbon, for Imbezilling their master's Goods, and keeping disorderly night Meetings with Will Harding, a Lewd and disorderly person, plotting with him to carry their masters' daughters to the farmes in the night, concealing divers unseemly dalli- ances, all of which they confessed and was whipt.
1660. Jacob M. Murline and Sarah Tuttle appeared, con- . cerning whom the Governor declared, that the business for which they were warned to this court he had heard in pri- vate at his house, which he related to stand thus: -
On the day that John Potter was married Sarah Tuttle went to Mistress Murline's house for some thredd. Mistress Murline bid her go to her daughters in the other roome, where they felle into speeche of John Potter and his wife, that they were both lame, upon which Sarah Tuttle said that she wondered what they would do at night. Where- upon Jacob came in, and tooke up or tooke away her gloves. Sarth desired him to give her the gloves, to which he an- swered he would do so if she would give him a kysse, upon which they sat down together, his arme being about her waiste, and her arme upon his shoulder or about his neeke, and he kyssed her and she kyssed him, or they kyssed one another. continuing in this posture about half an hour, as Marian and Susan testified, which Marian, now in court,
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affirmed to be so. Mistress Murline, now in court, said that she heard Sarah say she wondered what they would do at night, and she replied they must sleep; but it was matter of sorrow and shame unto her.
Jacob was asked what he had to say to these things, to which he answered that he was in the other roome, and when be heard Sarah speak those words, he went in, and when she having let fall her gloves he tooke them up and she asked him for them, he told her he would if she would kysse him. Further said he tooke her by the hand, and they both sat down upon a chest, but whether his arme were about her waiste, and her arme upon his shoulder or about . his necke, he knows not, for he never thought of it since, till Mr. Raymond told him of it at Manatos for which he was blamed and told he layde it to heart as he ought. But Sarah Tuttle replied that she did not kysse him. Mr. Tuttle replied that Marian denied it, and he doth not looke upon her as a competent witness. Thomas Tuttle said that he asked Marian if his sister kyssed Jacob, and she said not. Moses Mansfield testified that he told Jacob Murline that he heard Sarah kyssed him, but he denied it. But Jacob graunted not what Moses testified.
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