USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > The pioneer families of Cleveland 1796-1840 Vol. I > Part 35
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After the death of O. B. Skinner in the summer of 1835, Dr. Mills rented the Skinner cottage on Commercial street, corner of Ontario, where his family lived many years afterward. That same year brought great grief to Dr. and Mrs. Mills, and doubtless to the childless home of the Willeys as well. Their little Harriet, eight years of age, and John Willey Mills, the idolized son, two years old, both died of scarlet fever within a few days' time.
Meanwhile Sylvester Norton and his sister Minerva were growing to manhood and womanhood. The former became a lieutenant in the U. S. Navy. He was a fine, handsome lad, beloved by his parents and relatives, and gave promise of a brilliant future. He was lost off the Steamer Atlantic in Long Island Sound in 1846. He was 25 years old at the time of his death.
Minerva Norton was a beautiful girl and famous belle. She had many admirers, but her choice fell upon Lieut .- afterwards Colonel-Larabee, U. S. A. The match was not favored by Mr. Mills-no reason is given- and when her daughter died in California in 1873 at the age of 50 years, Mrs. Mills erected a stone in Erie street cemetery upon which is in- scribed, "Sacred to the memory of Minerva Norton, adopted daughter of the late Dr. Joshua Mills."
Mrs. Larabee left one child, Minnie Larabee, who married Lieut. Thomas A. Pearce, U. S. A.
Before Dr. Mills' last term of mayoralty had expired, he was seized with symptoms of tuberculosis, of which disease John W. Willey had re- cently died, and he succumbed to its ravages in 1843, aged 46 years. The Cleveland Herald in an eulogy on his life, said:
"His eminence as a physician, his usefulness as a citizen, his character as a man, have secured to him an enviable reputation, while the frank- ness, the generosity, the nobleness of his heart, have won the lasting love of all who knew him."
After the death of her husband, the tragic loss of her son, and the marriage of her daughter, Mrs. Mills was left alone in the city. She
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spent much of her time thenceforth at the beautiful home of a brother in a suburb of Chillicothe called "Higby Station," but frequently visited her many society friends in Cleveland. She was a charming, high-bred woman whom every one loved to meet. She died at an advanced age, and was buried in Woodland cemetery.
In her will, dated 1882, at Cleveland, she mentions her brother Sylvester Higby, and her great-granddaughter Minerva Norton Burton, daughter of George H. and Minnie Burton of the U. S. Army.
Mrs. Mills joined the Old Stone Church in 1827, her sister Mrs. John Willey in 1829.
1827 BEARDSLEY
David Hamlin Beardsley was one of the unique characters of Cleve- land, and for 23 years perhaps the best known man in the city, for his public position as Collector of the Ohio Canal brought him into daily con- tact not only with the merchants of the town but with business men the whole length of the state. He was the son of Squire and Hannah Hamlin Beardsley of New Preston, Conn., and was 37 years old when he came here in 1826.
School-teaching, his first occupation, took him to Baltimore, Md., where he assumed charge of a select school and incidentally met Miss Cassandra Hersh, sister of David Hersh, who became a Cleveland pio- neer. The following year, 1817, they were married.
His next venture was at Sandusky, Ohio, where he bought 315 acres of land, became an associate judge, and was elected a state senator. To become auditor and recorder of Cuyahoga County would seem like a retrograde of honors, but probably Mr. Beardsley had other things to take into consideration when he accepted the office. He worked in the old log-courthouse on the Public Square, and his beautiful penmanship is preserved in the early records of the city. When the Ohio canal was opened as far as Akron, his integrity and accuracy were recognized, and he was made collector of it, and for 23 years, through all administrations, he held his position, beginning at a salary of $300, and ending with one of $1200. He was a man of simple tastes and sterling qualities, and best known for scrupulous honesty even to the value of a cent. It is claimed that in all the years he served as collector of the canal, during which time he had handled over a million dollars, he could account to a cent of all money passing through his hands. Many amusing stories have been told of his exactness regarding small change. Judge James Cleve- land quaintly refers to this trait in an address before the Old Settlers' Association in 1896:
"The canal collector, D. H. Beardsley, regarded the statutes and canal regulations as the laws of the Medes and Persians, and sometimes re- minded a canal-boat master that he owed the state of Ohio a half cent on tolls, and should remember it at the next settlement. Whereupon the
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canal-captain would, with great anger and profanity, chop a copper cent in two with the cook's axe, on the canal-lock scale, and tender it to the old collector. Then the captain would be fined $5 for his violation of the law which forbade the axe on the state's property, and he didn't think the joke was much on the collector when he saw his face darken like the face of Jove, and knew that fine must be paid before he or his canal-boat could leave the port.
"Collector Beardsley was the very type of integrity, honesty, and honor, and under his official mask there dwelt a gentle and scholarly nature that loved his fellow-men and was loved by all who esteem purity, justice, and the gentle ways of wisdom and peace."
Mr. Beardsley died at the age of 82, and was buried in Erie street cemetery.
Mrs. David Beardsley was an invalid for many years. She had three sisters, all charming women who resided near her, on the south side of St. Clair street between Seneca and Ontario, and their mother, a dear old lady, always quaintly and beautifully dressed, lived with them. They were all born house and home-keepers, and though they lived simply and in small houses, as all Cleveland people did in that day, they were very popular, and their society much sought for by the cultured element of the town. Their brother, John Hersh, was then a bachelor. In after years he removed to Chillicothe. Sarah Hersh was the second wife of Thomas Brown. He was the editor of the Ohio Farmer. Julia Hersh married Mr. Bolles. All three sisters were fine-looking, had dark eyes and dark brown hair.
Mrs. Beardsley died when her children were young. They were:
Elisabeth Beardsley, m. William Sarah Beardsley, m. Thomas Brown,
Bingham. widower of her aunt Sarah Hersh.
Mary Hamlin Beardsley, m. Aaron John Beardsley. Remained a bach- elor.
Clark. She died aged 24 .
Mary Beardsley Clark died, and her husband, Aaron Clark, married Caroline Bingham, sister of Edward and William Bingham, who came to Cleveland from Andover, Conn.
Thomas Brown removed to New York, and died there, leaving three young sons, and his widow Sarah Beardsley returned to Ohio and settled in Gambier, O., in order to educate them.
The Beardsleys, Clarks, and part of the Bingham family lie in Erie street cemeterv.
1827
GRAVES
Dickson Graves, born 1805, was the son of Erastus Graves. He mar- ried Lydia E. Ripley and removed to Newburgh, the year not ascer- tained. Here he died in 1831 in his 27th year. In 1835 his administra- tor, Seth Henderson, advertised his land in Newburgh for sale, because
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CATHER
the personal property was insufficient to pay the debts. He describes the land as "next to Allen Gaylord's and east of Moses Jewett's."
The children of Dickson and Lydia Graves:
Horatio, Rufus, Matilda, Martha, and Edwin Graves.
The family returned east and Mrs. Graves died there in 1848.
1828
CATHER
Robert Cather's native town was near Philadelphia, Pa. In 1828 he was living in Cleveland, and was married by the Rev. Mr. Bradstreet, the Presbyterian clergyman of the town, to Lucy Norton, daughter of Elisha and Margaret Clark Norton. The wedding was solemnized at the residence of the widow Norton, 42 Bank street, now W. 6th. This site was afterward the one upon which stood the old Academy of Music, the first local theater. The young couple settled in a dwelling north of and adjacent to Mrs. Norton's town-lot.
Robert Cather's business-advertisement reads :
"TIN, SHEET IRON, AND COPPER SMITH, 91 SUPERIOR ST."
according to the tax-duplicate of 1841. Mr. Cather also owned 60 feet front on Water street, lot 203. After the sale of his Bank street prop- erty, the family lived on the corner of St. Clair and Seneca streets. In later years Mr. Cather bought or built a house on the south side of Euclid Ave. near Dodge street, and Benj. Harrington moved into their St. Clair street house.
Although so early a pioneer, and so long a prominent citizen of Cleve- land, nothing can be secured regarding the personality of Robert Cather.
Mrs. Lucy Norton Cather was a bright, capable woman. She died in 1855 of consumption while on a visit to her sister Mrs. Wetmore, who was living in Cincinnati. The family burial lot is in Erie street cemetery.
The children of Robert and Lucy Cather :
Robert H and Margaret E., died young.
Solon Cather, unmarried. Lived in Galveston, Texas.
Martha Clark Cather, m. Bollivar Butts.
Lucy Cather, m. Gregory of Galveston, Texas.
Josephine Cather. At the death of her parents, was legally adopted by Mr. and Mrs. Bollivar Butts. She is still a resident of the city, and the only surviving member of the family.
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1828
CAMP
Charles L. Camp was the son of Isaac and Elisabeth Nash Camp of Norwalk, Conn. He was one of the earliest dry-goods merchants in the city. His store was number 115 Superior street, and associated with him in business was a relative, Albert Clark. "Camp & Clark" was a firm long familiar to old residents.
In 1830 Mr. Camp married Clarissa Blakeslee, daughter of Gad and Anna Latin Blakeslee of Hartford, Conn., who were pioneers of Medina, 0. In 1818 Gad Blakeslee, who had several young sons, became anxious to get them out of a city and on to a farm. At the same time he caught the western emigration fever and took a trip to Ohio to look about for a suitable place in which to settle.
Upon reaching Cleveland he was so pleased with its beautiful location that he began to negotiate for a small farm on what is now Lake street, below East 9th. But before closing the bargain he visited relatives for a week or two in Ashtabula Co. Upon his return the agent for the prop- erty met him with congratulations upon his choice of location.
"You were wise in settling upon this town and this particular spot for a future home," he exclaimed. "A party of eastern men have been here for several days, and they predict that Cleveland will be a city with- in twenty years, and perhaps a sea-port."
"Then this bargain is all off," replied Mr. Blakeslee. "I have no de- sire to move from one city into another one. I want to bring up my boys on a farm in the country."
And thus Medina, O., gained a valuable pioneer. Mrs. Blakeslee thought a Connecticut farm good enough for the purpose, but her husband had had some experience on one in that state and declared that he was tired of knocking his shins against stones. After Mrs. Blakeslee was well settled in Medina, she retorted with the remark that evidently he was bound to have his shins knocked, this time on stumps, which covered the ground in every direction.
Susannah Camp, wife of James Kellogg, Jr., was the sister of C. L. Camp, and he had several other relatives and family connections living in the city.
The home of the latter was on Lake street, and almost in a direct line back of the old Academy, now Engine House No. 1, and here he died, and was buried in Erie street cemetery. Later the family removed to Pros- pect Ave., now number 2515.
The children of C. L. and Clarissa Camp:
Elisabeth Ann Camp, b. 1834; died unmarried in 1892.
Mary Ella Camp, b. 1836; unmar- ried.
Emily Catherine Camp, m. John F.
Hutchinson of Oswego, N. Y. Re- sided in this city.
Eliza Jane Camp, m. E. N. Thomp-
son. Harriet Loretta Camp, m. David P. Foster.
Two aged daughters of this family, Mary and Harriet, are living on Guthrie Ave., West Side.
Mr. and Mrs. Camp adopted a niece, Mary Palmer Camp of Wayne,
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O. She married Col. William Avery and removed to Woodstock, Ill. This niece was associated indirectly with a terrible lake disaster that occurred in 1841. At the death of her mother in Wayne, O., little Mary Camp was brought to the home of her uncle, C. L. Camp. Meanwhile, another uncle, David Camp of New York state, sent word to the Ohio relatives that he wished to adopt the child and would come for her at once.
He took passage at Buffalo on the steamer Erie, which burned a few hours later, and David Camp was one of the one hundred passen- gers who lost their lives. The city of Cleveland was vitally affected by this disaster, as many of its citizens had relatives or friends on the ill- fated steamer. Occurring as it did, so early in the history of Lake Erie navigation, it seems fitting to give the sad event more than mere mention. Through the courtesy of Captain Alfred Mitchell, well known in the marine circles of the city, it has been possible to do so.
"The most appalling calamity occurring during the season of 1841 was the burning of the steamboat 'Erie' on the night of August 9, off Silver Creek, Lake Erie, and in the same waters where the steamer 'Washington 2nd' had burned in 1838. The 'Erie' had come out in that year, was of 497 tons burden, and was commanded by Captain T. J. Titus up to the time of her loss. She had been in ordinary at Buffalo for a few days to receive fresh painting, and started out about four o'clock in the evening for Chicago; although the wind was blowing fresh, everything promised a pleasant and prosperous voyage. When about 33 miles from Buf- falo, off Silver Creek, a slight explosion was heard, and almost imme- diately the whole vessel was enveloped in flames. Some cans of turpen- tine, it was conjectured, had ignited.
Captain Titus, who was in command, rushed from the upper deck to the cabin where the life-preservers were kept, but flames hindered his progress, and he quickly gave orders to the engineer to stop the boat. The passengers, driven by the flames, madly plunged into the water, catch- ing at anything which might lend assistance in floating. Many went down immediately and were seen no more.
The steamer 'Dewitt Clinton,' 20 miles astern, discovered the fire and came up, reaching the 'Erie' at about 10 p. m. She was instrumental in saving many lives, but in spite of all efforts over one hundred persons were drowned.
The steamer 'Lady' from Dunkirk, and the steamer 'Chautauqua' also came up soon after, and together they towed the burned hull of the 'Erie' to within four miles of the shore where she sank in eleven fathoms of water.
The loss of property was heavy. She had on board the first large invoice of merchandise of the season, amounting to 30 tons, worth at least $20,000. Immigrants on board had about $180,000 of specie, and the boat cost over $75,000; making in all a loss of nearly $300,000. The 'Erie' was owned by C. M. Reed of Erie, and was one of the finest steam- ers afloat on the northern lakes."
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1828
SKINNER
Orville Bird Skinner was an early merchant of the village, and auditor of the county for several years. He married Martha St. John of Buffalo, a daughter of Madam St. John and sister of Dr. Orson, and John R. St. John, who became well known residents of this city.
Orville B. Skinner was a man of fine mind. He possessed a large library for those days, and was a close student. But he was frail physi- cally, and suffered from a nervous affliction, and one July day of insuffer- able heat in 1834, the town was shocked to hear that in a moment of mental stress he had ended his life.
He was universally admired and respected, and his sudden death was widely mourned. He was but 36 years of age, and left a young widow and three children. His estate, at first, was deemed insolvent, probably one cause of his melancholy, but John R. St. John, with characteristic energy, gave it his time and close attention. Everything was settled satisfactorily, so that a fine property was secured for the family.
Previous to his death, the family occupied a roomy brick cottage on the south-west corner of Ontario and Champlain streets. It faced the north. But in her widowhood, Mrs. Skinner removed to another house on Champlain street, and rented the larger one to Dr. Joshua Mills who occu- pied it until his death. Mrs. Skinner was laid beside her husband in Erie street cemetery in 1850, aged 47 years.
Children of Orville and Martha St. John Skinner:
Frances Skinner, m. Rev. Alexan- Orville Bird Skinner, m. Helen
der Rogers. She died after the Campbell of Ravenna, Ohio.
birth of her first child. Orson St. John Skinner, born after his father's death; m. Ellen Allee.
The sons, O. B. and O. S. Skinner, were life-long citizens of Cleve- land. They inherited the St. John business ability, their father's love for books, and the brains of both families. They were both connected with railroad interests, and members of Trinity church. Orville B. was a 32nd degree Mason. Orson S. traveled extensively after his retirement from business, and died in Nice, France, in 1905. His widow, a most interesting woman, survived him but four years. Each of the brothers left two sons and a daughter. Those of the elder were O. C., Helen C., and John D. Skinner. The children of the younger brother were Orville B., Orson S., and Cornelia Skinner.
1828
COIT
Col. Henry H. Coit was the son of Daniel Lathrop Coit of Norwich, Conn., who invested in several thousands of acres of land in the West- ern Reserve, part of which was located in East Cleveland.
In 1828, when about thirty-six years of age, Col. Henry Coit settled on this land, where he lived many years. He cleared off a large farm
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1828
LUCAS
and by his love of trees and flowers and his taste in growing them made it the admiration of the surrounding country. He also made himself a benefactor of the community by introducing and raising the best fruits and vegetables of all kinds.
His wife was a Miss Mary Breed, and it is said of her that she was a woman of rare intelligence, warm-hearted and devoted to her family and her friends. She was a Christian, and the members of the church to which she belonged cherished her memory, after her death, with grateful affection.
She lived in her charming home on the Coit Road until 1856, when, at the age of sixty, she left her husband and children for "the better land."
Col. Coit died in 1870, aged eighty.
The children of Col. and Mary Coit:
Charles Breed Coit.
Maria Coit, married Samuel H. Kir-
William H. Coit, married Harriet by.
Fairfield.
Mary Coit, married Rufus C.
Elisabeth Coit, married Samuel H. Holmes of Connecticut.
Kirby.
Charles and William were educated in Norwich, Conn.
1828
LUCAS
William B. and Abigail Reed Lucas came in 1828 from New York state. The name was one well known in New England, and this branch of the family probably originated there.
Mr. and Mrs. Lucas settled in East Cleveland. They brought with them four little daughters, and three more girls and a son were added to the family in the course of time.
The children of William and Abigail Lucas:
Sarah Lucas, m. Peter Thorp. Beulah Lucas, b. 1832.
Elisabeth Lucas, m. Asa Scoville.
Harriet Lucas, b. 1834; m. May removed to Detroit,
Abigail Lucas, m. Henry Hayes. Mary Lucas, m. Wells Judson.
Adeline Lucas, b. 1830; m. Gilbert Stone.
Mich. Harrison Lucas, b. 1834; m. Dolly A. Plum.
Jabez Kelley died this year aged 52 and was buried at the west end of the Daniel Kelley lot in Erie street cemetery, and probably was a rela- tive of that family.
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1828
TINKER
Jabez Kelley has been described as a small man of active temperament, and quite eccentric in manner.
1828
TINKER
Not every Cleveland pioneer resided continuously in town following his arrival here. Several of its best known citizens, Elisha Taylor, for instance, only remained a few years, sold out their local business and re- turned east only to remove again to Cleveland to spend the remainder of their days.
John Tinker was identified with the village in its infancy, but lived here intermittently, leaving when business dictated, yet always returning later on.
He had several occupations, each one of which seems to have been lucrative. He was a farmer, first of all, then a hotel-keeper, and some- times a merchant. The first glimpse of him, and only a glimpse, is in 1828, at which time he was in the salt business. Years later he was landlord of the Burnett House, and afterward of the Prospect House on Ontario street.
Naturally, his town residence was frequently changed through these various flittings. We find the family living on Cheshire, Granger, and lastly on Eagle street.
Mr. Tinker owned a large town-lot in Bedford, O., upon which he resided at intervals, also a farm outside of that village. While located there, he was a justice of the peace. All these various activities made him well known in Cuyahoga County as well as in Cleveland.
Mr. Tinker bore the Christian name of his American ancestor, John Tinker of Boston, Mass., 1635. His parents were Almerin and Leafa Stowell Tinker of Guilford, Vt. His grandfather, Nehemiah Tinker of Windham, Conn., was a Revolutionary soldier who had married into the famous Huntington family of Connecticut.
This branch of the Tinker family acquired the pioneer habit. At the close of the Revolutionary War it removed from Connecticut to Vermont, and the next generation was prompt in joining the exodus from the lat- ter state to the wilds of western New York.
Almerin Tinker and his family settled in Columbus, Chenango County. To this place John Tinker returned in 1828, a Cleveland, O., pioneer, to claim his bride, Marilla Holt, daughter of Elijah, and granddaughter of Jeremiah Holt, both soldiers of the Revolution. Her maternal grand- father, James Dickey, was also a veteran of that war.
The wives of tavern-keepers were closely identified in those early days with their husbands' business, and, doubtless, Marilla Holt Tinker, like Mrs. Spangler, Mrs. Scovil, Mrs. Harrington, and other well-known Cleveland women, was more responsible for the efficiency and popularity of the Tnker hotels and taverns than was John Tinker himself.
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Little else can be secured concerning her save that her "crown of glory" was an abundance of beautiful brown hair, and that she was a skillful and generous cook. She died while the family were living in Bedford.
John Tinker was tall and dark. In the late years of his life he wore always a high silk hat, and, as the two usually went together, he probably carried a cane. He was a money-maker, and a money-spender. While engaged in active business he gave his family of children unusual oppor- tunities for education. The sons attended private schools and academies ; the daughters were sent away to boarding-schools. In his old age, Mr. Tinker lavished affection upon his grandchildren. On one occasion, while on a trip to New York, he shipped an Indian pony and a basket-phaeton to a little granddaughter, now Mrs. May C. Whitaker of this city.
He died on Prospect street at the residence of his daughter, Mrs. John D. Sholes, aged 69 years.
Children of John and Marilla Holt Tinker:
Mary H. Tinker, b. 1829; m. Lev- Adelia J. Tinker, m. John D. Sholes erett Tarbell of Bedford, O. of Cleveland.
Herbert Tinker, m. Mrs. Eliza Top- ping.
Wilford H. Tinker, m. Fanny
Edson A. Tinker, m. Mercy Hep- burn.
Edgar Coe Tinker, unmarried. Volney D. Tinker, unmarried. Fred D. Tinker, m. Morath.
Leverett Tarbell was long a prominent citizen of Cuyahoga County. One of his sons was for many years an East End merchant and yet re- sides in that locality. His only daughter, formerly a member of the Cleveland Board of Education, is a prominent club woman of this city and a writer.
Children of Leverett and Mary Tinker Tarbell :
Linn Parke Tarbell, m. S. Jenny May Tarbell, m. 1st, Grove G. Can- Roy. non; 2nd, Alfred Whitaker. John Dwight Tarbell.
1828
RUGGLES
Cyrenus Ruggles and his wife came to Newburgh in 1828. They were well along in years, and brought with them eleven children. There was yet another one married and living in Milford, their former Connecticut home. Mrs. Ruggles, before her marriage, was Anna Stilson, daughter of Philo and Anna Bennet Stilson. When her youngest child was but eight years old, Mr. Ruggles died, and she was left to struggle along on
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a partly cleared farm, and to raise her seven sons and four daughters. That indicates the story of her life in succeeding years. She was a won- derful woman. Only the period in which she lived could produce her type.
One of her children, Dr. Philo Ruggles, became a physician. He was about the only one in Newburgh for many years, and therefore made him- self a blessing to the community. His fee for services was a secondary consideration with him. He was far from strong himself, but went about year after year, carrying help and hope to poor patients who had nothing to return save love and blessings.
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