USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > The pioneer families of Cleveland 1796-1840 Vol. I > Part 25
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Late in life, 1832, Judge Cowles married Miss Cornelia Whiting, a beautiful young woman of Lenox, Mass., many years his junior. Her parents were Gamaliel and Dismore Whiting, and she was a sister of William B. Whiting, later a resident of the city.
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1819
BURGESS
Mrs. Cornelia Cowles was tall and of graceful and dignified bearing. She was universally admired and esteemed by the society of the village soon destined to be a city. Judge and Mrs. Cowles made a very distin- guished-looking couple. They boarded at the Scovill Tavern until the completion of an elegant mansion which was being erected for them on the south side of Euclid Avenue, the present site of the Taylor store and Arcade.
Here Mrs. Cowles entertained most royally her own friends and the many distinguished associates of her husband. The couple were not blessed with children of their own, but their spacious home was made gay and attractive by young relatives of both. Mrs. Cowles' nephews and nieces, children of William Whiting, spent much of their time with her, and their presence in the household drew to it the younger element of the society of that day. Judge Cowles also had a very attractive young niece, Miss Helen Cowles, and some nephews, Samuel, Edwin, and Giles Cowles, all children of his half-sister Almira Foote, wife of Dr. E. W. Cowles, and they helped to make their uncle's house lively.
Judge Cowles died in 1837 and was buried in Erie Street Cemetery. His widow continued to occupy the homestead for some years, then sold it, in 1853, to a Roman Catholic sisterhood who established in it the Ursuline Convent and School. Not until 1893 was the building vacated and demolished. The lot upon which it stood was wide and extended back to Prospect Street. At his death Judge Cowles willed this end of the lot to his nephews.
After the sale of the Euclid residence Mrs. Cowles lived on the west side of Erie street near Superior. Meanwhile, she contracted an un- fortunate second marriage with a Dr. Williams whom she divorced, much to the gratification of all her friends.
Her niece Cornelia Whiting, a charming young woman, continued to live with her aunt and was her devoted companion until Mrs. Cowles' death in 1864. The latter left considerable property, part of which con- sisted of a business block, 226 Superior street near the Square.
One-fourth of this she willed to the First Methodist Episcopal Church, also $6,000 in money with which to build it, and other bequests to re- ligious and charitable societies. The residue of her estate was divided among her nephews and nieces.
Mrs. Cornelia Cowles was placed beside her husband and her mother in Erie Street Cemetery.
1819
BURGESS
Almon Burgess, son of Ebenezer and Hannah Gibbs Burgess of Sand- wich, Mass., in 1808 married Betsey Hill of Grafton, Vt. They came to Cleveland eleven years later, and their first home was a log-house on Lake Street near Water Street set in the woods. Tall forest trees or an undergrowth of oaks, with stumps in every direction, surrounded them.
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1819
BURGESS
A few years later a narrow, new street was cut between Bank and Water streets, which was given the name of Burgess Lane, which later was changed to Orange Alley, and finally to Johnson Street. Here the Burgess family moved, and here Mr. and Mrs. Burgess died.
Orange Alley was a favorite residence from the start, because it was so near the heart of the settlement. Every one who could, lived below the Public Square, and so, many families who afterward became very prominent in the social and commercial life of the hamlet, lived for many years on Orange Alley or Johnson Street.
Mrs. Burgess was a small, delicate woman, naturally pale, and gentle in her speech. She is remembered with enthusiasm by those now living who knew her in her childhood.
Mr. Dudley Baldwin once remarked that her boys, who developed into succesful business men, inherited their talent in that direction from their mother, who was capable and far-sighted. Mr. Burgess was a kind-hearted, honest, inteligent man, but not a money-maker; consequently, the fam- ily suffered hardship until the two sons were able to assist in its support. They were devoted to their mother through life, and could rarely speak of her without tears. She never failed to visit their bedside every night of their boyhood to bid them good-night, and to tuck in the bed-clothes. Mr. Burgess died in 1873, aged 88 years, and Mrs. Burgess in 1850, aged 72 years.
On the corner of Water and Johnson streets was a building in which a man named Lee was brought suffering with cholera in the fatal epidemic of 1832. No one was brave enough to care for the victim, and he doubt- less would have died there alone in his great suffering but for Mr. Burgess who attended to his wants with the greatest tenderness until the man recovered. In this same year, a steamboat landed some cholera- stricken sailors or passengers on the beach near the mouth of the river, which was then many rods west of where it now is, and abandoned the poor wretches to their fate, proceeding on its way to Detroit. Again Mr. Burgess responded to the call of humanity, and carried them to a place of shelter, nursed them night and day, and saw that those who died were buried with respect and decency.
His daughter, Almira Burgess, born 1810, married Ara Sprague, a man very much like his father-in-law, for when nearly the whole hamlet was ill with fever, every member of the Walworth family stricken, and not enough well ones to care for the sick, Mr. Ara Sprague nursed people night and day until worn out himself for want of rest and sleep. He removed to Huron, Erie Co. Almira Burgess Sprague died, and Ara Sprague married secondly Dinah Munger, an exceedingly bright woman, who, three years ago, was living in Chicago, nearly 100 years of age.
Ara and Almira Sprague's son, George Sprague, was a prominent commission merchant doing business on Merwin Street until after the Civil War. The second child of Almon and Betsey Burgess was Clarissa, a beautiful girl who died in her teens and was greatly mourned by her family and young companions. Cleveland men yet living recall her as a sweet personality.
Eliza Burgess married Dr. D. C. Branch, and also removed to Huron,
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but returned to the city in after years. She lived to be an old lady, leav- ing an unmarried daughter.
Solon Burgess, of the long well-known firm of S. & L. Burgess, whole- sale grocers, never married. He was much interested in all benevolent work of the city. He died aged 83 years.
Leonard Burgess, the only child born in Cleveland, married Renda Lyon, grandchild of the founder of Strongsville, Ohio. He died a few years since, aged 79. His widow died recently. A very interesting daugh- ter, Anna Burgess, survives her parents, and lives on Prospect Street, near Hayward. True to the traditions of her family, she cares little for society, and devotes much of her time and her income to benevolent enter- prises.
1819
BLAIR
It was in 1819, that John and Henry Blair, pioneers of Cleveland, left the Maryland home of their parents Samuel and Polly (Shields) Blair, journeyed across the Alleghenies, and came, at length, to the ham- let of Cleveland on Lake Erie.
They were farmer boys and poor. John was 26 years old and had just $3 in his wallet, yet his whole cash capital seemed a goodly sum in those days of virtually no money, barter and exchange being the only method of doing business.
He had a healthy, vigorous body, an active mind and a stout heart, and within a short time was making a good living for himself and family.
In July, 1820, his first child was born, showing that either he brought his wife with him or was married soon after his arrival in Cleveland. She was Elizabeth Holm, daughter of Abraham Holm of Wilkesburgh, Pa., and was 22 years old.
The young couple boarded for a time at the Carter Tavern, and then began housekeeping at No. 60 Bank street. Their lot was wide, extend- ing to the north-east corner of St. Clair street, and ran through to Acad- emy street, named for the school building erected on the corner of John Blair's home lot, and facing St. Clair street. It is now Fire Engine House No. 1.
The Blair residence was in the center of the lot, and the ground space to the south side of it was devoted to flowers, of which Mrs. Blair was passionately fond, spending many hours each day in caring for them. Her flower-garden was the admiration of the town, and its location on the corner of two principal streets made it conspicuous, and brought its beauty and fragrance in close touch with the passer-by.
Many a handful of her precious blossoms did kind Mrs. Blair hand over her picket-fence to children who on their way to the Academy paused with wistful eyes at the flowers in bloom. And we may be sure that many of her floral treasures found their way into the homes of neigh- bors or friends, to cheer the invalid or as a tribute to departed ones.
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BLAIR
It was in this garden-spot that the artist sat to sketch the well-known "View of St. Clair street looking east from Bank street in 1836."
John Blair was a very capable business man, quickly recognizing opportunities and availing himself of them. He built a warehouse on the river south of where St. Clair street begins. Like other warehouses of early days, it was painted red, and for long years was a landmark on the river-front.
He engaged in the forwarding and commission business, traded with Indians and farmers, and sent their furs and produce off on vessels flying between this port and others.
The opening of the canal helped him considerably, and he built the first boat, the one that in 1827 took the celebrated trip to Eight-mile Lock and return, bearing as passengers a distinguished company of citizens and out-of-town guests.
In 1836 John Blair erected a fine Colonial homestead on a large farm he had purchased on Euclid Ave. beyond Hudson street, renamed Sterling Ave., now E. 30th St.
Probably no house in Cleveland Township was more carefully or staunchly built. It was a facsimile of Mr. Blair's boyhood home in Mary- land.
It set far back from the south side of the road, so far that when Prospect street was extended eastward from Sterling Ave., it passed north of the house with the sidewalk but a few feet from its front door. The house had a two-storied veranda to the main part, and high wings flanked this on each side. The Blair lane that led from the house to Euclid Ave. then became "Fern street."
The Blairs maintained a lavish hospitality in this many-roomed man- sion. It seemed very far out of town in those days and many a string of carriages in summer, or bob-sleds in winter, bore crowds of town friends out to the hospitable home to be entertained at supper and to spend the evening.
Mrs. Blair's garden was transplanted from the old Bank street site, and greatly enlarged and enriched with rare floral treasures.
She died in 1860, at 63 years of age. Mr. Blair survived her 12 years. They were both laid at rest in Erie Street Cemetery.
The family consisted of six children, only one of whom married. They were:
Mary Jane Blair, died 1899, aged 79 years.
Eliza Ann Blair, died 1899, aged 77 years; m. George W. Slingluff.
Henry Blair, died 1826, aged 2 years.
Harriet Blair, died 1835, aged 8 years.
John H. Blair, died 1872, aged 42 years. Elizabeth Blair, died 1904, aged 72 years.
The Blair daughters were all fine women, all members of the Old Stone Church.
Elizabeth, the last one of the family, was the treasurer of the Wom- an's Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission, and was greatly interested in the preparation of these volumes. At her death the homestead was demolished.
234
1819
BROOKS
One of the early pioneers of Newburgh was David Brooks. He was of New England stock, having been born in Bristol, Vermont, in 1782. About the age of 31, he went to St. Lawrence County, New York, and there married Miss Mercy Holcomb, a young woman of sterling worth whose father had been an officer in the American Revolution; she also was born in Vermont, in the town of Panton.
In the year 1819, Mr. and Mrs. David Brooks came to Newburgh, set- tling temporarily in the western part of the township. Three years later, Mr. Brooks purchased 100 acres of land of John Hubbard, on the south- west corner of what is now Harvard street and Marcelline Ave., but which then were scarcely more than bridle-paths, and the immediate neighborhood an unbroken wilderness. He immediately erected a log- house on Harvard street, in which they lived many years, and after- wards he built a frame-house on Marcelline Ave., where he and his wife died.
Mr. Brooks and Mr. Greenleese, who bought adjoining land on the west, used to make yearly pilgrimages to Madison, Ohio, on horseback to make payments on their land to Mr. Hubbard, who lived in that place.
There were nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks. They were: Betsey Brooks, m. Franklin A. An- drus. She died in her 60th year.
Samuel Brooks, m. Caroline Rath- bun.
Freeman Brooks, m. Lydia Rath- bun.
Harriet Brooks, m. Henry L. Fer- ris. David Brooks, Jr., died at the age of 21. Charles Brooks, m. Sarah Ann Snell. Midas Brooks, m. Sarah Walpole.
Betsey Brooks Andrus often talked of her girlhood days, and one of her stories told to the younger generation she was compelled to repeat over and over. It seemed so incredible and so thrilling. One day, a huge black bear came lumbering across the road in front of the old log- house. One can imagine the scampering in-doors, the fright, and the anxiety as to what the creature would do. But he went steadily about his business, whatever that may have been, and passing west of the house, he disappeared down the big gully, yet in a state of primitive wilderness.
Harriet Brooks Ferris, the youngest daughter, who removed to Ham- mond, N. J., says that the women of the family grew tired of the limits and inconveniences of the log-cabin, and were all delighted when the new frame-house was ready for occupancy. And yet, in looking back upon the earlier home, she realized that they had lived happy, peaceful lives, that the expression "Log House Hospitality" indicated all that it meant to express, a never-failing one. Wayfarers asking for lodging and food were never turned away. Somehow, and in some way, some- times with much over-crowding and discomfort for the family, room was made, even for quite a party arriving hungry and worn out with travel.
Caroline, Malinda, and Lydia Rathbun, who married the Brooks boys, were the daughters of Edmund and Julia Rathbun.
Samuel Brooks died in his 47th year, and his wife survived him for many years.
Charles Brooks settled in South Bend, Ind.
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1819
BLAIR
Freeman Brooks removed to Madison, Ohio, and died there in his 69th year. His widow returned to Newburgh, and lived several years after her husband's death.
The members of the Brooks family who remained in Newburgh and held on to their property were well repaid, as in time it became of great value. The farms were cut into building lots, and are now the most populous part of that part of Cleveland. Several of the grandchildren have made much of their lives, and today are highly respected members of society.
1819
BLAIR
Henry Blair of Maryland was a brother of John Blair the merchant. Henry was a mason, and perhaps more necessary to the little town than his brother, for men with a trade were in much demand those days, while there seemed to be merchants in plenty. He never gained much wealth, but he married a member of a fine family, and raised children who were a credit to the community.
Mrs. Blair was Eliza Meech, daughter of Gurdon and Lucy Swan Meech of Bozrah, Conn., who came to the city in 1832. Her sisters were Mrs. O. M. Burke, Mrs. Jabez Gallup, and Mrs. Isham Morgan, all the finest of women.
The children of Henry and Eliza Meech Blair:
Hattie Blair, m. George Wyman. Lucy Blair, m. William Wallace
Nelly Blair, m. Henry Newbury, a Goodwin.
second wife. Minnie Blair, m. Harvey Rice, Jr.
The Henry Blairs lived No. 63 Ontario street.
1819
HUBBARD
Israel Hubbard and his wife Rhoda Hulbert, daughter of Timothy and Nabby Hulbert, moved from Broome, Schoraic County, N. Y., to Newburgh, in 1819. Mr. Hubbard's father had exchanged a farm in Broome for a large tract of unimproved timber land in Newburgh, now within the city limits.
With Mr. Israel Hubbard were his sister Cynthia Hubbard Titus, her husband Stephen Titus, and their three children. Mr. Hubbard com- menced a clearing, built a log-house, and with his wife and babe moved into it. This log-cabin stood on the north side of Woodland Ave., nearly
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1819
BLAIR
opposite Herald street. Later, Stephen Titus and family took up their residence there.
Wolves often howled around the house very unpleasantly. One even- ing, after the ground about the house had been cleared and corn growing, Mrs. Hubbard saw what she thought to be a black hog in the corn, and went to drive it away. It ran before her until it reached a fence, she following it closely, when, to her amazement, it climbed over. It was a black bear.
In 1822, the Hubbard and Titus families moved into new homes on what was afterward Kinsman street, but then dense woods. Mrs. Hub- bard died 30 years after coming here, aged 53 years.
The children :
Emmeline Hubbard, m. Mr. Warren. Aaron Hubbard. Ruth Hubbard. Jared Hubbard.
After Mrs. Rhoda Hubbard's death, Mr. Hubbard married Phebe Hotchkiss, born 1822. She had two sons and two daughters: William, Frank, Ada, and Mary Hubbard.
In the summer of 1820, Aaron Hubbard, father of Israel, his wife Esther Tibbals Hubbard, their daughter Ada, and their son Amos moved from Broome to the new home. They came in two covered wagons, one drawn by horses, the other by oxen, and brought with them one or more cows, which supplied them with milk on the three weeks' journey. They were accompanied by David Sheldon, wife and sisters, bound for Rich- field. When they reached Buffalo, Mr. Hubbard shipped the heaviest of his loads, and took passage on the steamer "Walk-in-the-Water," leaving his wife in charge of the company. She drove the horses all the way from Buffalo to Newburgh. They entered the State of Ohio on July Fourth. They came upon some boys celebrating Independence Day with a pine-log cannon, the leader of whom was considerate enough to warn her that they were about to fire, and to hold the horses with a tight rein.
The one log-house previously built on Woodland Ave. sheltered the three families for several weeks after their arrival, then another house was built. Mr. Hubbard had intended building a frame-house, at once, for his wife, and had brought nails and hardware with him for that pur- pose. But a barn for storing their crops was a necessity, and the nails went into it, and the more ambitious home was postponed for two years.
Mrs. Aaron Hubbard was a woman of good judgment, cheerful, in- telligent, fond of reading, and retained her mental faculties and excellent memory to the last of her long life. She was born in Durham, Conn., in 1771. The memories of her childhood included the Revolutionary War. One winter, when subsistence for the Continental Army was hard to be obtained, the troops were quartered at the homes of Connecticut peo- ple, one, two or more, in a place. Four were sent to her father's, Mr. Tibbal's home, and remained there all winter. When she was about eight years old, word came that Gen. Washington was expected to pass through the town, and her family all went out to the gate to salute him as he passed by.
Mrs. Hubbard not only lived to see great changes from the wilderness
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1819
MATHER
to cultivated fields and refined homes, but also the universal change from hand work to machine work. She survived her husband many years, an example of cheerful, unselfish, Christian, old age, being 88 years old at her death.
Israel Hubbard, m. Rhoda Hulbert. Cynthia Hubbard, m. Stephen Titus. Ada Hubbard, m. Richard Woolsey,
in 1821, and lived in Willoughby, 0.
Amos Hubbard, m. Doty Hand, sis- ter of Mrs. David Clement, in 1828. (He died in 1837, and his widow married John Healy, by
whom she had two sons, the well- known Healy brothers, merchants of Newburgh.)
John Hubbard, m. Rebecca Bergan; 2nd, Mrs. Jennie Hazen.
Esther Hubbard, m. Alvin B. Rath- bun.
Hemen Hubbard, m. Helen M. Knapp.
1819
MATHER
Cleveland had a very early citizen who was a lineal descendant and namesake of Cotton Mather the celebrated Massachusetts divine.
The Cleveland Cotton Mather was educated for the ministry, but health failing, he was sent by his parents into the wilds of Pennsylvania in the hope that he might there recruit his strength, and be enabled to return east and enter upon the career planned for him.
But Cupid, roaming the western forests, met up with Mr. Mather, and shot him with an arrow that diverted all life lines laid out into other channels. The young man met a Scotch lassie named Charlotte Dagget, the daughter of a farmer living in Greenfield, Pa., and straightway fell deeply in love.
Many and various were the protestations that poured in upon him from his family, but without avail. When the wedding took place has not been preserved, but one of their six children was born in 1810.
The family removed to Cleveland about 1819, and, evidently, Mr. Mather purchased one or more of the outlying ten-acre lots bordering on the hamlet, as one of the daughters, then nine years old, tended her father's sheep within walking distance of the Public Square. She was Maria M. Mather, eventually Mrs. Sprague Perkins, and with her husband became an early settler of Saginaw, Mich. Their son Sanford Perkins was a well-known citizen of that place, filling several important positions of public trust.
The Mather family remained in Cleveland for some years; how many cannot be learned, nor whether the parents died here or moved away. The little girl that tended sheep lived to be nearly 90 years of age, physically active and mentally bright until the last. She was grand- mother of Mrs. Ashley Ames, Jr., of Miles Ave.
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1820
POPULATION, 150*
TOWN OFFICERS
President, Horace Perry.
Trustees, Wileman White, Wal- worth, Irad Kelly. Postmaster, Irad Kelly. Recorder, Samuel Cowles.
Treasurer, A. W. Walworth. Marshal, Harvey Wellman. Collector of Customs, Ashbel Wal- worth.
COUNTY OFFICERS
Sheriff, Seth Doan.
Recorder, Horace Perry.
Prosecuting Attorney, Alfred Kelly. Surveyor, S. S. Baldwin.
Treasurer, Daniel Kelly.
+ More than doubled in past two years.
239
SOUTH
Irad Kelley.
Lane to river. Hayes' Store.
28
Hilliard
Superior Street.
Peter
Elijah Peet
0
0
Weddell
Post
Office
Abell's shop.
John Wills
Samuel Williamson
St. Clair Street.
John Blair 0
C. M. Giddings o
Grace Johnson 0 widow of Capt. Wm. Johnson
Deacon Hamlin o
Mrs. Southard 0
Bank Street.
Burgess Lane, later named Johnson Street
Burgess 0
J.Webb o
John Kirk
o Capt. Foster
Samuel Stark- weather o
Lake Street.
Map of Water and Bank Streets about 1825.
Some of these residents earlier than 1825, perhaps some later. Cannot tell exactly.
Alexander Johnson. NORTH
M. Barnett 0 Capt. Levi 0 Johnson
W. G. Taylor later Deacon Whitaker
Lake Shore bank. 240
Capt. Jonathan Johnson. Lighthouse kept by Stephen Wolverton
Alfred Kelley's brick cottage
EAST
o Philip Andrews Gun Store Philip Andrews' 0 Bank Street
o E. W. Andrews
0 Mrs. Norton
West 6th (rail fence)
O Parker's Stable
Circus Grounds
Water Street-West 9th.
Lane leading to river
John Coleman
Tavern
Silas Belden
Boughton's
Capt. Harpin 0 Johnson
WEST
Lumber yard.
Path to river.
N. Perry
Carter's.
1820
SPANGLER
Michael Spangler of York Co., Pennsylvania, married Elisabeth Mil- ler who was born in Maryland in the last decade of the eighteenth century.
They removed to Canton, Ohio, where they lived for a time and then, concluding to make another change of residence, in 1820 with their family of little children they started for Cleveland. They suffered many hard- ships in their travels through forests, and fording or riding on danger- ous rivers.
Mr. Spangler bought the tavern on the north side of Superior Street. formerly owned by George Wallace, and called the Commercial House. This they kept for many years. The Miller Block now occupies the site. He afterward purchased a farm of John Shenfelt, and left the tavern in order to live on and cultivate it. Here he died in 1836. The farm-house still stands on the corner of East Madison and Hough avenues, and is occupied by their grandson .*
Mr. and Mrs. Spangler were the first couple in Cleveland that could speak the German language, and that nationality has reason to be proud of the fact, for they were fine people in every way, greatly admired and thoroughly respected.
Mrs. Spangler was a helpmate in laying the foundation of their future prosperity. She was a capable manager, a skilled cook, and her cordial smile and warm welcome to the stranger, or frequent guest, made the small tavern a popular shelter for those who needed a transient home.
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