USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > The pioneer families of Cleveland 1796-1840 Vol. I > Part 9
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Prudency Taylor, wife of Brazilla B. Burk, and daughter of Philo and Zerviah Devenport Taylor, was born in Lowville, N. Y., in 1802. Her parents came to Cleveland in 1806, and left her with grandparents till 1815, when she came on West with Irad Kelley and family. Although Mrs. Kelly was kindness itself, the bashful child entrusted to the care of strangers on such a long journey, full of difficulties and inconveniences, was too timid to ask for all she wanted to eat, and so shy and self- effacing was she, that sometimes she was overlooked, and went hungry.
In 1816, she was married, and in the old homestead where she at once went to housekeeping-on Jones Avenue-was the scene of her golden wedding. The house is still standing. She spun, wove, and made all the clothing and bedding of her large family, doing all the housework, and sending the children to school.
Her daughter, Mrs. Emery, still has the old red chest which her mother used to fill with mince pies, sixty being the number required. And many of these in course of time went into the children's lunch baskets.
As her husband was "Uncle Zeal" to man, woman, and child, so was she "Aunt Dency." A typical pioneer, always hospitable, always helpful to all who tarried beneath her roof. Many yet live who carry pleasant memories of happy days passed under the roof and in the good care of Aunt Dency.
The children of B. B. and Prudency Burk :
Mary Burk, m. Jacob Baum. Ann Burk, m. William H. Hanson. Antoinette Burk, m. C. F. Emery. Edwin Burk.
Zerviah Burk, m. Ashbel W. Mor- gan.
John Burk, m. Mary Jewett, daugh- Esther Burk, unmarried.
ter of Moses Jewett.
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1804
DILLE
Although Mrs. O. M. Burke-Martha Meech-was married in 1847, and only the daughter of a pioneer, she was a character that should be personally mentioned in this history, for upon her seemed to fall the mantle of her exceedingly generous-hearted parents.
The writer, at one time, by a curious chain of events, became greatly interested in two little girls living in Echo, Minn. The home in which they lived burned to the ground, destroying all household furniture. The parents were poor, struggling people, with nothing to fall back on.
The writer sent a communication to a Cleveland daily paper, which resulted in a public donation to the family, unique in the annals of any charitable event in the city. One of the boxes forwarded to Echo was said to be the largest ever sent, by an express company, out of Cleveland.
Mrs. Burke, after reading the article, hastened to the spot where donations were to be received, eager and enthusiastic to do her share. A white tablecloth, a pretty colored tablespread, a dozen large towels, and a fine wringer, all purchased that morning, was her offering, with a request that if anything seemed lacking that would be desirable for the family, she should be notified in time to get it into some box or barrel being packed.
Children of O. M. and Martha Meech :
Clarence Burke, m. Maria Hayward, Frank G. Burke, m. Joanna Arm- ington.
daughter of W. H. Hayward.
Elisabeth Burke, m. William G. Al- cott.
1804
DILLE
Broadway, about a mile and a half from the Public Square, is inter- sected or paralleled by four short streets, all close together. They are: Dille, Martin, Douse and Gibbs streets, all named for the members of one family whose farm of 90 acres covered not only both sides of Broadway at this point, but extended westward over the valley and across the Cuya- hoga River, which winds through it on its way to the lake.
Samuel Dille, of New Jersey, said to have been a nephew of David Dille, of Euclid, and Asa Dille, of Doan's Corners, bought this tract of land in 1804 of Turhand Kirtland, agent for the Connecticut Land Co. He built for his home a log-cabin, unusually large for the times, in the upper story of which was a room extending the length and breadth of the house. In this were held public gatherings. In the Stephen Peet sketch in this work will be found an interesting account of one of these gatherings that occurred in 1814.
No one can be found who remembers or was told just where this log- house stood or when torn down. It may have been replaced on the same
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DILLE
spot by the large frame structure which was the Dille homestead fully 75 years ago, perhaps even earlier. This pioneer dwelling yet stands on the south-east corner of Broadway and Dille streets, and save the addition of a front porch and a change in the size of window-frames, remains as it was built. The view from the second story must have been exceedingly beautiful in the years when the river valley was clothed in verdure, the banks between and beyond covered with forest-trees, wild-flowering shrubs and vines, while, in their season, innumerable wild fowl flew by, or floated upon the river. Today clouds of smoke obstruct the view, the banks are dreary with ash-heaps and refuse, unattractive tenements swarming with old-world emigrants surround and close in upon the old pioneer home.
Capt. Samuel Dille must have been public-spirited and patriotic. He was a member of Capt. Murray's company, recruited in Cleveland in the War of 1812. Two of his Dille cousins were in the same company.
The maiden name of his wife, Mary Anne Dille, has not been learned. She died in 1815, and lies in Harvard Grove Cemetery. The headstone that marks her grave also contained the name Samuel Dille, who died in 1850, but the inscriptions are completely effaced.
Mrs. Dille left a family of young children-three sons and two daugh- ters. They were:
George Dille, b. 1804; married three times. The third wife was Lydia Martin, by whom he had three children. He died in 1846, in Michigan, where he had removed. Lydia Dille, m. in 1823, Robert Love- well. She died before 1850, leav- ing six children; removed to Ot- towa Lake, Mich.
Samuel Martin Dille, b. 1807; m. Maryette Packard, dau. of Isaac and Polly Smith Packard, of Deer- field, Mass., and Brecksville, Ohio. S. M. Dille died aged 61.
Luther Gibbs Dille, b. 1809; died in Centerville, Mich., in 1847, aged 38; married Minerva Wilson. Keziah Dille, b. -; m.
Her daughter ] Helen married Thomas Douse, in the employ of her mother. He died young, leav- ing two children, Thomas and Mary Louise Douse. She m. 2nd, Joseph Gilson, and had a Gilson son. Helen Douse Gilson removed to California, and died about 35 years ago. Her remains were brought back to Cleveland and in- terred in Woodland Cemetery.
Luther Gibbs Dille left two sons, George and Benton Dille. Both were in the Civil War. George was taken prisoner in Columbia, Mo., and, with others, stood against a wall and was shot down. Benton died on his way home either from wounds received or from illness.
Their mother, Minerva Wilson Dille, married 2nd, John Criter. A daughter by this marriage was drowned, so that all three of her children died suddenly, and away from home. She lived to be a very old lady.
As will be noted, three of Samuel Dille's children removed to Michigan and died there previous to his own death in 1850. In that year he made his will, leaving his daughter Keziah the homestead, and 30 acres ad- joining it, and to her daughter Helen Douse, 15 acres. This comprised half of the farm. The other half was divided between the other heirs.
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1805
BURROUGHS
The only remaining son, Samuel Martin Dille, bought out the interests of his Michigan nephews and nieces, and thus came into possession of the 45 acres of river bottom. He died, leaving no children. He left his property to his widow. She married 2nd, John Gusendorfer, of New- burgh. He had a farm in Independence, and they lived upon it. When Maryette Dille Gusendorfer died, in 1901, she left the Dille property to her two step-children. This led to litigation, and the property, now valu- able, has been in court until recently. Corrigan & Mckinney's big new blast-furnace stands upon the lower half of the Dille farm.
1805 BURROUGHS
David Burroughs, Sr., with his wife and seven children, arrived in Newburgh, in 1805, from New Hampshire. He came from an old New England family of English descent. He was married and lived in Ver- mont, but had removed to New Hampshire, where he spent a few years.
The family lived in a small red house on the west side of Woodhill Road, nearly opposite the Edwards tavern. Mr. Burroughs was a black- smith, and his smithy adjoined his dwelling.
The maiden name of his wife has not been obtained.
He had nine children, most of whom, before or after their marriage, removed to other towns of this county, or to Western states.
They were:
Sarah Burroughs, m. Alonzo Pang- burn.
David Burroughs, b. 1791; m. Clara Edwards, daughter of Rudolphus Edwards.
Allen Burroughs, m. Betsey Honey. Asa Burroughs, m. Rebecca Shep- ard, in 1819.
Miranda Burroughs, b. 1800; m. Jesse Tuttle.
Levi Burroughs, married and lived in Findlay, O.
Newcomb Burroughs, m. Laura Therford, of Geauga Co.
Eunice Burroughs, m. Ira Pratt. Betsey Burroughs, m. William White, of Bedford, O.
1805 BURROUGHS
David Burroughs, Jr., was about 14 years old when his parents re- moved to Newburgh. He learned the blacksmith trade of his father, married Clara Edwards, the daughter of a neighbor, removed to town, and set up a blacksmith shop of his own on Superior Street-north-west corner of Seneca. His advertisement of the fact appeared in the Cleve- land Herald. It read: "David Burrough's shop will be known by
THE SIGN OF THE ANCHOR AND THE SOUND OF THE HAMMER."
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1806
ADAMS
Nearly across the street was located his rival, Uncle Abram Hickox, whose sign was a man on horseback, and under it:
"CAN I GET MY HORSE SHOD HERE? YES, SIR."
The Burroughs family were best remembered while living in town by their big flock of geese that disported in the puddles on Superior Street after a shower, or, roaming at will, sometimes intimidated women and children by their hissing remonstrances when any one blocked their way. The family also possessed other creatures pertaining usually to farm life-such as pigs who ran the streets under protest of the immedi- ate neighbors. However, Uncle David may have felt that the little vil- lage was not far removed from country life, and that some people were putting on city airs not sustained by local conditions.
Mr. and Mrs. Burroughs were a very estimable couple, kind and friendly to every one. Mrs. Burroughs was a stout woman, with the good nature that usually accompanies embonpoint-a faithful mother and a kind friend in need. The family finally returned to the heights of Newburgh, leaving their town neighbors minus geese, plus malaria.
The children of David and Clara Edwards Burroughs:
Cyrus Burroughs, married and re- moved to Kenosha, Wis.
Alfred Burroughs, married in Case- novia, N. Y. Removed to Keno- sha, and became a bridge-builder and contractor.
Mary Burroughs, m. Lyman Fay, her aunt Rhoda's step-son. They removed to Kenosha, Wis.
Stephen Burroughs, b. 1828; m. Su- san Newbury, of Wheatland, Wis. He became a noted bridge-builder
-had charge of all bridge-con- struction of the North Western R. R.
Lorenzo Burroughs, went to Keno- sha, in the 40's, and married there.
Phebe Burroughs, m. Orin Hough- ton, a banker, living in Hampton, Neb.
Gideon Burroughs. No record of him.
1806
ADAMS
The following document, nearly 108 years old, is in the possession of Whittlesey Adams, of Warren, O., a son of the original owner :
"Articles of agreement made and entered into between Asael Adams on the one part and the undersigned on the other, witnesseth, that we, the undersigned, do agree to hire the said Adams for the sum of Ten Dollars ($10.00) a month, to be paid in money or wheat at the market price, whenever such time may be that the school doth end, and to make such house comfortable for the school to be taught in, and to furnish
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1806
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benches and fire-wood sufficient. The said Adams to keep six hours in each day, and to keep order in said school."
Samuel Huntington, James Kingsbury, Susannah Hamilton, David Kellogg,
William Wheelock Williams, George Kilbourne,
Elijah Gun,
James Hamilton.
October, 1806.
It has been erroneously stated, several times in print, that this school was kept in a log-house near the foot of Superior Street. A glance at the names of its directors-or patrons-would show that this could not be true. Every one of them belonged to Newburgh. Not one resident of Cleveland hamlet is represented on that document. Judge Kingsbury and Elijah Gun had first settled here, but removed to Newburgh six years previously. Samuel Huntington had sold or exchanged his Cleveland property- some months before this time-October, 1806-and was living in New- burgh that winter, preparatory to taking possession of his newly-acquired possessions in Painesville, O. The other patrons of the school had never lived a day in Cleveland-so far as we can learn. For the youth of New- burgh to be conveyed every day six to eight miles and return over an almost impassable road, could not have been considered for a moment. Therefore, that first school must have been located in Newburgh.
Asael Adams-its 20-year-old teacher-tackled a much more serious job six years later. He carried the mail on horseback between Cleveland and Pittsburgh during the war years of 1812 and 1813. Ordinarily the journey was fraught with danger and innumerable hardships, but the peril and uncertainty were enhanced by the unsettled conditions of our Government at this time-its inability to repress any Indian hostility toward the pioneer settlers.
It took Mr. Adams 28 hours to journey from Pittsburgh to Cleveland -from six o'clock in the morning on Friday, to ten o'clock in the morn- ing of the following Monday. In his return to Pittsburgh, he would leave here at two o'clock in the afternoon of the same day, and arrive in Pittsburgh in time for his supper on Thursday.
He ceased traveling this mail-route at the end of his second contract. As his marriage occurred soon after, it probably was an incentive to engage in employment less perilous and more permanent, as he opened a store for general merchandise in Warren, near where he had wooed and won his bride. She was Lucy Mygatt, daughter of Comfort S. Mygatt -a notable merchant of Canfield, O. Asael Adams had a long mercantile career, and died in 1852, at the age of 66.
He was the son of Asael Adams, Sr., of Canterbury, Conn., who served four years in the War of the Revolution, and suffered all the privation of Washington's army that awful winter at Valley Forge. He knew what it was to be constantly and hopelessly hungry, and to stand sentry duty bare-headed-his cap under his feet to save them from freezing. His wife was Olive Avery, and their oldest child-Betsey Adams-married Judge Camden Cleaveland-brother of Gen Moses Cleaveland. The fam- ily settled in Liberty Township, Trumbull County, in 1802.
82
1806
AGUE, OR CHILLS AND FEVER
As Asael Adams, Jr., was so closely identified with Cleveland in its earliest years, and, from the fact that several of his sons became resi- dents of the city, his family should have space in this historical work.
Children of Asael and Lucy Mygatt Adams:
Comfort Avery Adams, m. Kather- ine E. Denis.
Asael Edgar Adams, m. Mary L. Burroughs.
George Adams, m. Elisabeth B. Dana.
Lucy Mygatt Adams, m. William Leffingwell.
Fitch Adams, m. Helen Ranney.
Whittlesey Adams, m. Margaret Scott Smith.
Alfred Adams, m. Elisabeth Baker. Henry Adams, m. Jennie S. Gilbert.
AGUE, OR CHILLS AND FEVER
This disease, which made life in the little hamlet unendurable for a few years following its settlement, drove to higher ground all the families who came here before 1806, save the Carters, Spaffords, and David Clarke. After the deaths of Lorenzo Carter and David Clark, their fami- lies also removed to the heights of Newburgh.
The malady was supposed to arise from the vapor that hung over the marshes which began at the mouth of the river, and extended for miles inland. The symptoms of an attack were extreme lassitude, a morbid appetite, and frequent desire to yawn and stretch. Within a few days following, a distressing paroxysm would attack the sufferer-either the whole body would quiver and shake violently, or every bone in it would ache excruciatingly. One attack was called "Shaking Ague," the other "Dumb Ague." It was ever a question of the day which of them was the more distressing. The paroxysm lasted from 20 minutes to several hours, and was followed by a high fever, which sometimes spent itself in a short time, and again continued as long as had been the hardest chill.
The attack recurred at the same hour of the following day or every other day. A sturdy physique enabled one to endure this malady for months, working, meanwhile, between the attacks. Physical fatigue, however, aggravated the severity of them, and, occasionally, by remaining in bed, or avoiding all exercise, they would gradually grow lighter, and finally cease-for a time, at least.
But every one had to work in pioneer days, and work hard, so that the above remedy was out of the question for most poeple. Chills and fever was especially hard upon the wife and mother, with all the household cares pressing heavily upon her, besides the rearing and frequent bearing of children.
Sometimes, when her own chill was upon her, she would drag her shaking limbs from one bedside to another, ministering to those alike stricken, or sit, burning with fever, one child at her breast, another on
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1806
PERRY
her knees, with a third shaking and wailing on the floor beside her. The pioneer physicians seemed unable to cope with the disease. Quinine was then unknown. Meanwhile, mosquitoes swarmed, and there was no net- ting to windows, nor screen-doors to bar them out of the home. The only recourse was smudges-out-door fires, dampened, to make much smoke.
1806
PERRY
The name of Perry is as old, locally, as the city itself, for Nathan Perry, Sr., the pioneer, was with the first party of surveyors who laid out and named Cleveland. He had charge of the commissary part of the outfit, and supplied the horses and cattle in the expedition. The party of surveyors and helpers was composed of strong, hearty men; the journey was laborious, and large supplies must have been necessary.
It was not until 1806, however, that Nathan Perry, Sr., or "Major" Perry, as he was called, removed with his family to Cleveland. He was born in Waterbury, Conn., in 1760, and christened by the Rev. Anthony Stoddard. The antecedents of his father, Daniel Perry, have not yet been ascertained, nor his relationship to the Rhode Island Perrys estab- lished. He removed to Rutland, Vt., where, previous to the Revolutionary Wars, he had purchased a tract of land. In 1780, he deeded a part of this to Nathan-then 20 years of age, "in consideration of the love and good will of my son Nathan."
Twelve years later, Daniel deeded another parcel of land in Vermont to his son and namesake, Daniel Perry, Jr. The deed of property to Nathan Perry may have been executed in 1780, because of his approach- ing marriage.
His bride-to-be was Miss Sophia Leonora Root, daughter of Rev. Beni- joh and Elizabeth (Guernsey) Root, of Rutland, Vt. Nathan must have been about 21 years of age, as his fourth child was born in 1786.
Nathan Perry may have been a private in a Connecticut regiment during the latter part of the Revolutionary War, as a soldier of that name about his age and unknown residence appears on an old pay-roll of that state. While his children were very young, Major Perry evidently decided to leave Rutland, for between 1785 and 1789, he had made eight convey- ances of land, aggregating $1,155. He is said to have purchased a farm and a mill in western New York, and removed his family to that state. But it must have been accomplished after 1790, as his son Horatio was born in that year in Rutland.
The name of the New York town to which he removed has not been learned, but as the family was in Canada for a time, and in 1796 Major Perry was engaged in trading with the Indians near Buffalo, he probably settled near the latter place.
At that period, Buffalo was a small frontier post, at which a few sol-
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1806
PERRY
diers were stationed. Clustered about the barracks were two or three log-houses. The place, however, was a center for the fur trade of the Hudson Bay Company. Across the Niagara River, opposite Buffalo, on the Canadian side, conditions were very different. The country was thickly settled, mostly by Tories, who had fled at the close of the American Revolution, and the Perry family may have lived on the Canadian side of the river while Major Perry was engaged in the fur trade.
The latter invested in 1,000 acres of land in Lake County, Ohio, for which he paid five dollars per acre. He also purchased the property in Cleveland, bounded by Superior, Water, St. Clair and Bank streets, lots 4, 9, 50, and 51, six acres in all. Out Woodland way, near Perry Street, he bought a tract of farming land, which in the division of the estate in after years came into the possession of his son Horace, and was known as the "Horace Perry Farm." In addition to all this he invested in property at Black River.
It was not until 1806 that he brought his family to Cleveland. The Perrys lived on the north-east corner of Superior and Water streets. A frame-building, built by Elisha Norton, first postmaster of the town, stood on this lot, and whether the Perry family occupied this or built another for their use, has not been learned.
When Cuyahoga County was organized, in 1809, Major Perry was thenceforth known as "Judge" Perry, having been appointed one of the court judges. He was highly esteemed in the communities in which he lived. Although active in business and, as it has proven, possessing a keen insight into future land values, he was known as a genial, kind- hearted man. He died in 1813, aged 53 years, and, with his wife, lies close to the main entrance of Erie Street Cemetery. His body was re- moved to this spot from the pioneer cemetery, corner of Prospect and Ontario streets.
Mrs. Perry is said to have been a very dignified woman, somewhat austere in manner, and whose acquaintance was not easily made. Her son, Nathan Perry, Jr., resembled his mother in character and disposition.
Mrs. Perry's sister, Mrs. Robert Gilmore, was a pioneer resident of Newark, Ohio, and the families often visited one another, riding back and forth on horseback. Mrs. Perry was a fine equestrienne, as was her daughter, Mrs. Weddell. A brother of Mrs. Perry possessed the unusual name of "Philanthropes" Root, and it will be noted that he had a name- sake in the Perry household, who died young.
Mrs. Perry was born the same year as her husband, but outlived him 23 years. The children of Judge Nathan and Sophia L. Root Perry :
Horace Perry, b. 1781; d. 1835; m. Abigail Smith in 1814.
Larry Perry, b. 1783; died young. Philanthropes Perry, died young.
Nathan Perry, b. 1786; d. 1865; m. Pauline Skinner.
Horatio Perry, b. 1790 ; m. 1st, Sally Prentiss; 2nd, Harriet Smith.
Sophia Perry, b. 1800; d. 1823; m. Peter M. Weddell.
Horace Perry, eldest son of Judge Nathan and Sophia Root Perry, in the thirty years of his residence in this place, was even better known
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1806
PERRY
personally than his younger brother Nathan, because of his public posi- tion. He was the first recorder of Cleveland, having been elected to that office when the village was organized in 1815, and continued to serve either as recorder or town clerk until his death in 1835. All the public records of early marriages are in his hand-writing, and cannot be excelled in the present days of professional penmanship. It is like script in its beautiful regularity and legibility. As justice of the peace, he also per- formed many marriage ceremonies.
He was 25 years of age when he arrived in Cleveland with his par- ents; in 1814 he married Abigail Smith, 18 years his junior. The couple lived in a small house adjoining that of Nathan Perry, Jr., until 1818, when Ahimaaz Sherwin built a large frame-house for Mr. Perry on the south side of the Public Square. It was a substantial building, its tim- bers of the best, and its builder a master of his trade. It was considered very imposing, and always was the largest house on that side of the square. It remained standing long years after every other dwelling in the vicinity had been torn down to make way for business. The alley that now separates May's department store from the Park Building marks the carriage drive that led in on the east side of the house.
After the death of Horace Perry, it became the early residence of Elijah Bingham. In more recent years the lower story of the building was occupied by the Humphreys, who made and sold candy there, and later by the Fulton Market.
Horace Perry was one of the incorporators of the Cleveland and Newburgh Railroad, and also joined his associates in the attempt to build adequate piers at the foot of the river. With his wife, he was of the party that took the first ride on this end of the Ohio Canal at its formal opening in July, 1827. An incident related of the trip was the loss of Mrs. Perry's new bonnet, which blew overboard.
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