USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > The pioneer families of Cleveland 1796-1840 Vol. II > Part 19
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Mr. Shelley died in 1889, following an illness of three months. It is said that, next to family and church, he was devoted to his friends. In times of pleasure or pain, sorrow or rejoicing, they were sure of his ready sympathy and aid. Therefore, upon the day of his funeral, scores of gray-haired men and women crowded the ample parlors of his home to pay their last testimony of respect and affection.
Mrs. John Shelley married in 1839, Clarinda Russell, daughter of Alanson and Nancy Caulkins Russell, early residents of Cleveland. We quote from one who knew her well:
"There were few like her. A sweeter, purer woman never lived- always busy on her Master's service, always thoughtful of others, and lovingly doing for them."
She was a devoted member and worker in Trinity Church nearly all her life; one of the original members of Lakeside Hospital, of the Church Home-for aged women-and one of the originators of the Diet Dispens- ary-now defunct-which, for long years, was the most beautiful and practical charity the city has ever known. In hundreds of cases, weeks or months of suffering among the sick poor were alleviated and made en- durable by daily gifts of delicious beef tea, fresh eggs, milk, etc., and,
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1836
CLEVELAND A CITY
above all, by personal sympathy from the members of that organiza- tion. That funds could not be secured for its further continuance was a reflection upon those who withheld their dimes, rather than those who declined longer to give their dollars.
Mrs. Shelley did in 1877. There was but one child in the family : Mary Shelley, m. Edmund Pechin.
From girlhood to middle age Mary Shelley Pechin was a prominent society woman. She was closely identified with all Trinity church activi- ties, and an ardent supporter of the Diet Dispensary, which her mother had helped to found. She is a Colonial Dame, and a Daughter of the American Revolution. For several years she has been living in Bu- chanan, Virginia.
1836
CLEVELAND A CITY
POPULATION ABOUT 6000
FIRST MUNICIPAL OFFICER, ELECTED
Mayor, John W. 'Willey.
President of Council, Sherlock J. Andrews.
Aldermen, Richard Hilliard, Joshua Mills, Nicholas Dockstader.
Councilmen, Morris Hepburn, John R. St. John, Aaron Stickland Horace Canfield, Archibald Smith.
Attorney, H. B. Payne. Treasurer, Daniel Worley. Street Commissioner, Benjamin Rouse.
Marshal, George Kirk.
Fire Chief, Samuel Cook. Postmaster, Daniel Worley.
(Sketches of all the above men and their families will be found in this work.)
A year of great prosperity. From March 15 to November 28, 1901 steamships and vessels arrived in port.
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1836
SMITH
Mr. Benjamin Sears, who accompanied his parents from Delaware Co., N. Y., to Columbia township, Lorain Co., in 1836, and passed through Cleveland en route, is still living, in a peaceful and comfortable old age, although fully 12 years of age when he made that early western trip. His impressions of the town were very favorable. He says that Superior street was not then yet relinquished to trade; that there were still many private residences, with their dooryards fenced in, on each side of the street from Water street to the Public Square.
Mr. Sears is the father of Mrs. O. W. Carpenter, 12434 Detroit street, city.
1836
SMITH
William T. Smith was born in 1811, and when yet a lad he became a member of the family of the well-known Oren Sage, a shoe-maker of Rochester, N. Y., and thus learned a trade most valuable in those days. Mr. Sage had formerly lived in Ballston Spa, N. Y., and a close friend- ship existed between himself and the parents of William Smith.
They were John and Nancy Keysler Smith of Ballston Spa.
In 1835, W. T. Smith married Frances L. Smith, daughter of Elias and Prudence Crary Smith of Groton, Conn., who had removed to Roch- ester, N. Y. The young couple, though bearing the same name, were not previously related.
About the time of their marriage, John Seaman, who contemplated starting a shoe-store in Cleveland, persuaded Mr. Smith to join him in the venture. The firm of Seaman & Smith conducted a shoe-business on Superior street for half a century.
Deacon Smith was an earnest, devout member of the First Baptist church, and much venerated in the community. Long years before his death, his head was crowned by a luxuriant growth of silver hair, giv- ing him a striking appearance. He had much sympathy for young peo- ple, and his gentle face usually beamed with human kindness.
Mrs. Smith was one of four young married women living in Roches- ter, N. Y., who had been girls together, very much attached to each other, and remained intimate friends all their lives, which were pro- tracted until very old age. They were Mrs. W. T. Smith, Mrs. John Sea- man, Mrs. Sylvester Ranney, and Mrs. Horace Ranney. They all helped in the formation of the First Baptist church, therefore charter members, and the bond of sympathy between them was strengthened in their efforts in be- half of that struggling little religious society.
Mrs. Smith was a tall, fine-looking woman, a great worker in'her home as well as in her beloved church society. She taught in the Sabbath School from the time her family could spare her to do so until younger hands took up the responsibility her aged and feeble ones relinquished.
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1836
YOUNGLOVE
In many ways she was a most remarkable woman. When about 78 years of age her eyesight was restored to her, and she never lost her hearing.
About this time she took a fancy to fine needle-work, and without any instruction began to do embroidery such as many a younger and more experienced woman would have been proud of. The writer had the rare pleasure of meeting this good woman, and listening to the tales of her childhood, her enthusiasm over her girlhood friends, she could scarce- ly praise them enough, of her early life in the city, the growth of her beloved church.
The oil portrait of a lovely woman hung in her sitting-room, and upon inquiry, she explained that it was that of an aunt, the daughter of a clergyman, and who was very dear to her in years gone by. This aunt must have had much to do with her mental and spiritual training, for she told two incidents when she had received gentle rebukes from her, in the days of youth and thoughtlessness.
They were both visiting an eccentric relative, when Mrs. Smith made a remark of criticism or ridicule. "I never discuss my hostess Frances," was the reply. Another time, Mrs. Smith spoke to her of the dreadful- looking hands of a relative, worn and ill-kept. "Oh! but think of what those hands have done!" she exclaimed. "Think what useful hands they have always been, what helping hands !"
The Smith home was for a few years at 63 Bank street, and after- ward for 45 years it was Number 97 St. Clair street. Mr. Smith died in 1888. His wife lived into this century, dying in 1906, aged 92 years.
Prudence Smith, an unmarried sister of Mrs. Frances Smith, and who was probably visiting or making her home in Cleveland, at the time, died in 1843, and was buried in Erie street cemetery.
Children of William T. and Frances Smith :
Henry A. Smith, m. Lydia Dwight of Chicago.
Albert B. Smith, m. Elisabeth Lew- is ; lived in Bellevue, O.
George E. Smith, m. Claribel Albro of Cincinnati.
Franklin Smith, twin, m. Louise More of Meringo Park, Ill.
Frances Smith, twin, m. Louise Sherwin of Sherwin & Williams. Charles A. Smith, m. Harriet Gold- braith.
1836
YOUNGLOVE
Col. John Younglove, who led his regiment on the battlefields of the American Revolution, had many grandchildren, but none of them could have upheld to a greater degree the family name, or more justified fam- ily pride than did his grandson, Moses Cowan Younglove, who at the age of 25, sought a newer field than his native town, Union Village, N. Y., and one offering wider opportunities for business success.
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1836
YOUNGLOVE
His father, Moses Younglove, Sr., died in 1811, a month before this only son was born, and from the age of four or five years, a step-father had helped attend to the latter's physical and spiritual needs.
Moses C. Younglove had no capital to invest when he reached Cleve- land. His only resources were an alert mind, able to recognize Oppor- tunity when he met it, common-sense, and willing hands. He found em- ployment in a small book-store on the north side of Superior street, and, within a year, it is claimed, had purchased a share in the business, and such was the faith in the young man's honesty that his note was ac- cepted without security or payment.
The firm was now "Wetmore and Younglove." The partner was Ed- ward Wetmore, a fine young man, who, within a few years, sold out his own share of the business to Younglove and removed to a suburb of Cin- cinnati.
In the Cleveland Directory of 1845 we find the following :
"Younglove, M. C .- book and stationery store, book and job printing, and book-binding, 46 Superior street."
This stand was under the American House. Seven years elapse, and with John Hoyt he has started a paper mill at 137 Broadway, the first one in the city. Meanwhile, five of his half-brothers had come on from New York state to join his fortunes, and three of them, Brutus J., Caius C., and Junius B. Cobb, had taken charge of, or purchased the book- store.
Other pioneer enterprises were started by Mr. Younglove, and these, in connection with real-estate deals, made him a very rich man. He owned a lot on the Public Square, part of the Horace Perry estate, now occupied by the Park Building, and 10 lots on Euclid, from the corner of Willson Ave., East 55th, to the residence of Samuel Kimball. The Penna. R. R. station and tracks cover the one nearest E. 55th street. These were but a part of his real-estate holdings.
He died in Los Angeles, Cal., at the age of 81, having lived 56 of those years in Cleveland.
The wife of Moses Younglove was Maria Day, daughter of John and Maria Powers Day. Her father was a Cleveland merchant. (See Day sketch.) She was born in the Catskills in 1823, and was but 16 years of age when she married Mr. Younglove.
She was a gentle, refined lady, of much mental poise. One of her sisters married the Rev. Samuel Aikin of the Old Stone church.
The family residence was first on Lake street, and the last one on Euclid, corner of Handy, E. 19th street. Mrs. Younglove died at the age of 61, and was laid to rest in Lake View cemetery.
The children of Moses and Maria Day Younglove:
Caroline Younglove, b. 1842; m. Cornelia Younglove, m. Edmund B. Willard Abbott. Meriam. She died 1891.
Albert Younglove, died in Alexan- Gertrude Younglove, m. Caleb E. Gowen. She died in 1884.
dria, aged 26.
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1836
MORSE
Caroline Younglove Abbott, or "Carrie," as she was known to hosts of friends, had a life that encompassed 60 years of vicissitudes. She was interested in and a worker in several benevolent and church socie- ties. She was an active member of the Cleveland Sanitary Commission during the civil war, and one of the vice-presidents of the Woman's De- partment, Cleveland Centennial Commission of 1896. The sad news of her death in Rome, far from home and friends, cast a shadow over many a Cleveland household.
Of her children, seven in number, only three lived to maturity. They are :
Frank Abbott, m. Mary Root. Gardner Abbott, m. Lois Allen.
Caroline Abbott, m. Homer E.
Keyes.
Cornelia Younglove Meriam had two children:
Marie Y. Meriam, m. Charles Ingersoll.
Albert Y. Meriam, unmarried.
Caleb and Gertrude Younglove Gowan had a son:
Albert Y. Gowan, who m. Margaret Smith.
1836
MORSE
Mr. Thomas Wright Morse of Greenwich, Conn., was 28 years of age when he came to Cleveland in 1836. His wife was Sarah Malvina Paff of Hemstead, Long Island.
With Benjamin Dodge, he started a clothing store in the Exchange Building at the foot of Superior street, afterward the Atwater Block, under the firm name of Morse & Dodge.
Mr. and Mrs. Morse boarded with Mrs. Benjamin Rowland, on Lake street for a year or two after their arrival. Then Mr. Morse built a large brick house on the east side of Erie street, the third one from Euclid. He lived there for a number of years, then built on Euclid Ave., just west of where the Hickox building stands, and, finally, had a beau- tiful home on the lake shore in Glenville.
Mr. and Mrs. Morse were a very warm-hearted couple, evidenced by many acts of kindness. While boarding with the widow Rowland, who came from Bordertown, N. J., they became interested in her and her children. And after she gave up keeping boarders, she made her home with the Morse family until her death. The children of it were much attached to her. She had a son who kept a book-store, and a daughter,
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1836
WILSON
Jane Rowland, who, it is said, never married. She taught school for some years.
The Morse family was one of the instances, in those days so common, where consumption seized upon a household and took from it every mem- ber.
The children of Thomas W. and Mrs. Morse:
Theodore Morse, m. Susan Holder of Berlin, Worcester Co., Mass.
Virginia Morse, m. Ogden Critten- den. She died in Cleveland, about 25 years of age.
Josephine Morse, m. Allen O'Brien.
Charles Morse, m. a New York lady. Fanny Morse, m. Ogden Crittenden. Her sister's widower.
George Morse. Died 16 years of age.
George was the first to die of consumption, and he, and sister Vir- ginia Morse Crittenden, were laid away in Erie street cemetery. Charles and Fanny removed to New York, and died there comparatively young. Mr. and Mrs. Morse joined them in New York, and passed away to the other life from that city.
The only remaining member of the family and living in Cleveland, is Susan H. Morse, widow of Theodore, an intelligent lady of advanced years, who, with her sister, equally interesting, is making her home at 13535 Euclid Ave.
1836
WILSON
Hon. Hiram A. Wilson was born in Madison Co., N. Y., in 1808, and read law with Francis S. Key of Washington, D. C. He came to Cleve- land in 1834, and was the law-partner of an intimate friend, H. B. Payne. He is described as a very fine-looking man, tall, with dark hair and eyes. He died of consumption in 1866.
He was a Judge of U. S. court, and for long years at the head of the legal fraternity of the city. He married Martha Smythe, widow of Mr. Ten Eyke of Detroit. They boarded at first with Mrs. Wilson's sister, Mrs. Jane Merwin. Afterward, they lived on the west side of Bank street, near the Weddell House, and finally on Willson Ave., named for the family, and now E. 55th street. Judge Wilson purchased 100 acres of land on the east side of it and built a large brick house on this prop- erty near Euclid Ave.
Mrs. Wilson was short of stature, plump, and considered very pretty. She filled a prominent place in the social life of the city, as did her sis- ters, Mrs. C. M. Giddings, and Mrs. Noble Merwin.
There were but two children in the family, Jennie Wilson, who died of consumption, and Mary Wilson, who married W. S. Chamberlain. The latter had a daughter, Jennie Chamberlain, who was a beauty of interna- tional fame. She visited England and became a favorite in court circles, and eventually married into the English nobility.
552
1836
BINGHAM
In 1836 Sheldon Pease, a Cleveland vessel-owner, had a small steamer called the "Robert Fulton" plying in the summer between Buffalo and Cleveland. On this boat William Bingham, a mere stripling of 20 years, took passage in the last stage of his long journey from Andover, New Hampshire, and from its deck caught his first glimpse of this city just in- corporated, and with a population of less than 5000.
When, in 1904, Mr. Bingham closed his eyes in his last sleep, the population was over 400,000. In 1836 the eastern line of the town was East 14th street, with scarcely half a dozen houses beyond East 9th. In 1904 the city stretched eastward five miles from that point, with one con- tinuous line of beautiful homes, lofty apartment houses, and innumerable places of business. Few Cleveland pioneers lived to experience such changes, and Mr. Bingham was duly appreciative of the fact. He took much pride in the city of his young manhood and of his very old age, and loved well to dwell upon its wonderful prosperity.
William, Edward, Caroline and Joel Bingham were the children of Cyrus and Abigail Foote Bingham, and were born in Andover, N. H. They all became residents of this place at an early day.
Their ancestor, Thomas Bingham, was one of the founders of Say- brook, in 1660, and their grandparents were Stephen and Sarah Long Bingham of Lebanon, Conn.
Flavel Bingham, a cousin of William Bingham, was well established in this city at the year William graduated from Yale, and persuaded the latter to join him here and seek his fortune in the fast growing town.
His first occupation was with George Worthington as clerk in his hardware store, and two or three years later he purchased that of Clark and Murfey and thus founded the firm of William Bingham & Co., which is still in existence. He served the city of his adoption in many valuable ways, his presence on any board or committee establishing its prestige in the eyes of his fellow townsmen, through his reputation for unswerv- ing honesty. His public services through his many years of citizenship seem to check off the various important measures undertaken by the city from that first year of its existence through all the intervening ones until the date of his death.
Mr. William Bingham's business interests covered a wide field of activities. Besides his wholesale and retail store, he was connected with banks, railroads, and other institutions of mart and commerce, either as director or share-holder.
He was the first president of the Union Club, and a citizen member of the Loyal Legion.
Mr. Bingham married in 1842 Elisabeth Beardsley, daughter of David H. and Cassandra Hersh Beardsley. They began housekeeping in a small dwelling east of the home of the bride's father. It was 74 St. Clair street, between Ontario and Seneca streets.
Later they lived on Euclid ave, on a lot upon which, years afterward, Samuel Andrews erected a palatial residence. This property Mr. Bing- ham exchanged for one on the same street west of Sterling ave. where he died.
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1836
KELLY
The children of William and Cassandra Hersh Bingham:
Caroline Bingham, m. Charles Bray- Charles W. Bingham, m. Mary ton. Payne, daughter of H. B. and Mary Perry Payne.
Cassandra Bingham.
1836
CLEVELAND
Dr. Benjamin F. Cleveland, brother of Daniel, and of Lucetta Cleve- land Gaylord, came here about 1836, soon after his second marriage. His first wife was Maria Trumbull Goodwin. He married 1836 in Oswego, N. Y., Elisabeth Putman, 19 years of age, daughter of Aaron and Mary Greene Putman.
Their first child was born in Cleveland.
Dr. Benjamin F. Cleveland graduated from Hamilton College. For many years he was a practicing physician in Madison, N. Y., and a chem- ist. His name is not included in the list of physicians given in directory of 1837, and he may have been associated during his residence in Cleve- land with his brother in the drug business. His home was at 91 Seneca street.
His daughter Mary Elisabeth Cleveland, b. 1828, in Madison, N. Y., married James Orson Seymour. She died in this city in 1857. Her chil- dren live in California.
Lucy Greene Cleveland, b. 1837, in Katherine Sloan Cleveland, b. 1843;
Cleveland, married Eben H. married John Jackson Eddy, and Moore of New Haven, Conn. resides in Boston, Mass.
Dr. Cleveland had seven children, but only those who were born, or married in this city, are noted above.
1836
KELLY
Moses Kelly, who was destined to be long a central figure in the city, came to town just in time to witness the panic of 1837, and whatever sanguine expectations he had cherished before starting west from his native town, must have "gone glimmering" as soon as his feet touched the city's only pavement, in front of the Commercial Bank of Lake Erie.
Mr. Kelly was a lawyer and he brought to Cleveland his legal lore which was his only capital, at a time when the numerous men of his profession were breaking ranks and fleeing before the storm. However, the situation resolved itself indeed into the "Survival of the fittest," and
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1836
DAY
Moses Kelly remained to win an enviable footing on the bench and at the bar.
His parents were Daniel and Mary Roupe Kelly of Groveland, N. Y., and his grandfather was a soldier of the American Revolution. He was raised on a farm, graduated at Harvard College, and was 26 years old when he reached Cleveland and opened an office in the Hancock Block. He made his home at the Franklin House. Three years later he married Miss Jane Howe, the accomplished daughter of General Hezekiah and Sarah Townsend Howe of New Haven, Conn. Judge Kelly became a law partner of Thomas Bolton, one of the ablest men at the bar. The firm "Bolton and Kelly" was well known all over northern Ohio. When the senior member of it retired it became "Kelly and Griswold," the latter, member of a distinguished Connecticut family, came to the city at a much later period.
Mrs. Kelly was an exemplary wife and mother. Her mind was well stored through years of constant reading. She was fond of literature and often wrote on various themes for her own pleasure and the gratifi- cation of her family, but resolutely declined to have them published.
The family were of the Protestant Episcopal faith, and Judge Kelly was one of the founders of St. Paul's church, and was one of its vestry- men during the years that it stood on the north-west corner of Euclid ave. and Sheriff street.
The first home of the family was on Lake street between Ontario and Bank streets, where it lived for some years, after which Judge Kelly removed to a fine residence on Euclid ave. Euclid Place, now East 69th street, was cut straight through the site of the Kelly homestead some years after his death, 1870.
Mrs. Kelly lived 82 years.
The children of Moses and Jane Howe Kelly :
Frank Howe Kelly, m. 1st, Florence Jewett; 2nd, Katherine Pettee. They reside in Willoughby, Ohio. Jane Eliza Kelly, died unmarried. George D. Kelly, m. Katherine Wick of Ashland, Ohio. He died 1891.
Margretta Sterling Kelly, lives in Willoughby, Ohio.
Clara Howe Kelly, m. Earl Wright of Ann Arbor, Mich.
The family lot is in Woodland cemetery.
Frank H. Kelly was judge of Cleveland Police court for some years. He was held in much esteem by members of the bar, many of them con- sidering him superior to any previous occupant of that position.
1836
DAY
William and John Day, of Catskill, N. Y., accompanied by their wid- owed mother, Lucy Day, arrived in this city in 1836. They belonged to the well-known New England family of that name, whose ancestor Robert
555
1836
FITCH
Day came to Massachusetts in 1630, a family noted for its intelligence and patriotism. Many of its members fought for their country in the war of the American Revolution, and many more have given civil serv- ices equally as valuable. When they arrived, the Day family found rela- tives long established in the village, from whom they received a warm welcome. The brother started a dry-goods store on Superior street, but William soon withdrew his interest in it.
He had been educated for the ministry, and before coming west had officiated as pastor of an eastern church. But throat trouble obliged him to resign from his duties. After a few years' sojourn in Cleveland, he was again able to preach and had charge of the Bethel Church on Water street.
Before her marriage, Mrs. Day was Elizabeth Waldo Allen, a cousin of John W. Allen and Mrs. Sherlock Andrews. She was a finely educated and well-poised woman yet young in years, and assumed charge of a pri- vate school for young women. It was located on the west side of the Public Square about 60 feet north of Superior street.
Here were educated her own family of four little daughters, as well as scores of misses, the matrons of yesterday and today. The private schools of that period taught more than book knowledge. They strove effectually to mold character as well, and to fit young women for social and domestic life.
Beautiful needle-work, one of the accomplishments of that day, was taught in all its branches, and not to be able to sew properly was to con- cede a lack of education. Good manners were taught by precept, and, as the head of the school was a lady, by example also.
The daughters of William and Elisabeth Allen Day :
Mary Elizabeth Day.
Ursula Allen Day.
Julia Sawtelle Day. Lucy Waldo Day.
The youngest and only surviving daughter yet living in the city is an accomplished musician whose word carries weight in all things musi- cal. Many friends are drawn to her for her mother's sake, and equally as many for her own.
Lucy Day, the mother of William and John Day, lies in Erie street cemetery. She died at an advanced age.
1836
FITCH
Grant Fitch, son of Zalmon and Betsey Mygatt Fitch, was born in Can- field, O., 1809, and came to Cleveland when he was 27 years old. He mar- ried in Buffalo, N. Y., 1837, Mary C. Baldwin, daughter of James J. and Candace Beach Baldwin, and seventh generation from Joseph Baldwin of Milford, Conn. Her grandmother's father was a soldier of the Revolu- tion. She was but 18 years of age when she accompanied her husband to Cleveland.
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