USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > Cleveland > The pioneer families of Cleveland 1796-1840 Vol. II > Part 23
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Mr. Thorman was the first of his faith to found in Cleveland a home, his marriage to Miss Regina Klein being the first wedding, and their lit- tle son who came within the following year, was Cleveland's first born Hebrew child.
Mrs. Thorman was born in Germany. Her parents were Julius and Retta Rosenbaum Klein.
Mr. Thorman was also the first Jewish member of the city council.
He is said to have been a man of kindly impulses, and charitable ac- cording to his opportunity and income. There were years in succession when our Jewish population was largely increased by families who, es- caping from intolerable conditions in the old world arrived in Cleveland in dire need. The Thorman homestead, though filled with little ones who, from time to time, had come to bless and sanctify their parents' union, was never too crowded to afford shelter for a night or two to these poor people or until a roof and employment were found for them.
And Mrs. Thorman. What of her?
The answer is to be found in her children. Nine of them called her "mother"-the name that in a large household stands for tireless devo- tion, endless self-sacrifice, unfailing love !
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The four sons and five daughters of Regina Thorman lived to be fine men and accomplished women. All married happily and well, and a large number of representative Cleveland families of the Hebrew faith today boast of their Thorman blood.
Kaufman Hayes, a son-in-law yet living, though advanced in years, is one of the best known business men of the city.
One of Mr. Thorman's granddaughters married Martin A. Marks, that broad-minded, scholarly philanthropist, member of the Public Library Board, and destined to be Cleveland's future mayor.
Another granddaughter married Sigismund Joseph, head of a big manufactory.
Still another granddaughter is the wife of Rabbi Moses G. Gries, that brilliant pulpit and platform orator, whose eloquence captivates, and whose argument wins the respect of his audience.
The children of Simpson and Regina Klein Thorman :
Samuel Thorman, m. Clara Aarons.
Frank Thorman, m. Selma Emrich.
Judah Thorman, m. Julia Goldburg.
Fanny Thorman, m. Philip Erlanger, of Terre Haute, Ind. Laura Thorman, m. Philip Schloss.
SElisabeth Thorman, m. Kaufman Hayes.
twins,
Esther Thorman, m. Jacob Wiener.
Simon Thorman, m. Hannah Marx.
Rebecca Thorman, m. Michael Wiener.
Samuel Thorman removed to New York City.
Judah Thorman lived in Terre Haute, Ind.
The father died in Terre Haute, in 1881. His remains were brought back to rest in Willet st. cemetery.
Two brothers of Simpson Thorman came to Cleveland at a later day. They were Meyer Thorman and Simila Thorman.
1837
KELSEY
Who of the past generation does not recall with a reminiscent smile the miniature steamboat floating in the fountain at the southwest corner of the Public Square, and the crowd of eager youngsters following its every movement, making wild rushes and frantic scrambles to secure a closer view whenever it approached the outer rim of the basin? and staid adults, and often old age were not above pausing for a moment on their way through the Square to watch the small craft and to guess in just which direction it would next head.
How fascinating were the little figures on the deck! the gallant cap- tain always and bravely in command; the faithful watchman ever on the
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lookout; the sturdy wheelsman perpetually on duty ! All three stood for thorough seamanship and were in no wise responsible for the erratic steering of their little craft.
No, the beautiful toy was not purchased and placed there by the board of public works, nor by any other department of our city's govern- ment. It belonged to a man who was nearing or past his 80th birthday when he whittled out the boat and carved the tiny figures laboriously un- der a microscope, his only tool a pocket knife.
One could rest assured that the little steamer was perfectly true in detail for its builder, Capt. Lorenzo A. Kelsey, in his day commanded the finest passenger boats on our Great Lakes; one of them the "Ches- peake," then considered to be the last word in size and in elegance of appointment. Fashionable Cleveland and nautical Cleveland strolled down to the river, and climbed the steep hill, returning, in order to view the much-talked-of steamer as it lay at the wharf ready to take on its first cargo and passengers.
It was characteristic of Capt. Kelsey to place his toy in the Public Square where it might amuse and instruct the youth of his city. To the very last of his life little children clung to his hands certain of sympa- thy and affection, and young people adored him, and, today, his grand- children cherish his memory as a rare bequest.
He was the direct descendant of William Leet, one of Connecticut's earliest governors. His father was Eli Kelsey of Leyden, a little village in New York state, where Capt. Kelsey was born. The latter was 34 years old and had a family when he came to this city in 1837.
When the fine New England House was erected at the foot of Superior street, he was persuaded by many friends to become its first landlord. One can imagine that the position of clerk was a most important office in that hotel. For there were professional dead-beats, even in that day, needing some one of sterner mold, than was Capt. Kelsey, to thwart their dishonest schemes. For he was generous to a fault, and seldom could deny an urgent request. Even the little steamer in the Square fountain was begged from him by an impecunious artist, much to the regret of the Kelsey posterity.
In 1848 the city of Cleveland proffered the highest gift it could be- stow upon Capt. Kelsey, and he became its mayor and chief officer. The annual salary was $400! In view of this, and the hundred and one de- mands upon a mayor's pocket-book, by no means his official one, it is not surprising that the mayor of 1848 was quite willing to retire from office at the end of the year.
Mrs. Lorenzo A. Kelsey was a typical New England woman, intel- lectual, reserved, and possessing a high standard of womanhood. She had much mental poise, and dignity of bearing. In their younger days, her granddaughter thought Grandmother overstrict in her judgment of what was proper or otherwise, but in their later years were wont to refer to her standards with pride and accept them as wise and most conducive to self-respect.
Mrs. Sophia Kelsey was the daughter of Minor and Submit Hunt- ington Smith, and was born in Windham, Conn., in 1806. Her grand-
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father Major Hezekiah Huntington went with the first troops raised in Connecticut to Boston at the breaking out of the revolutionary war, and was there when Gen. Washington took command of the army. Major Huntington was a mechanic, and is believed to be the first man in Amer- ica to make a gun. He was paid $74,000, in Continental money, for mak- ing and repairing fire arms for the army. Continental money had begun to depreciate, and by the time he reached Hartford from New York he could scarcely buy a breakfast with a hundred dollar bill. Major Hunt- ington was first cousin of Samuel Huntington, signer of the Declaration of Independence, president of Congress, and governor of Connecticut.
Capt. and Mrs. Kelsey lived for over fifty years at 242 Kinsman street, now Woodland ave. It stood opposite Brownell street, East 14th, and was torn down recently. Here Capt. Kelsey died in 1889, and Mrs. Kelsey in 1893. Both were buried in the Kelsey lot at Erie street ceme- tery, but were removed to Lake View in 1903.
Children of Capt. L. A. and Sophia Kelsey :
Eugene O. Kelsey, m. Mary Nichol- son of Providence, R. I., still liv- ing at 232 Cabot st., Lowell, Mass.
Antoinette C. Kelsey, m. Gen. J. H. Devereaux of Cleveland. She died a widow in 1911, at her home 3226 Euclid Ave.
Theodore R. Kelsey, unmarried, killed in battle at Chickamauga, during the civil war.
Ada Helen Kelsey, unmarried; d. 1907.
Josephine H. Kelsey, m. John F. Cutter, son of Orlando Cutter and a hero of the civil war. Mrs. Cutter, a widow, resides in Mead- ville, Pa., and her daughter, Miss Josephine Cutter, is connected with the Hathaway-Brown school.
On page 284 of John Kennedy's History of Cleveland will be found an engraving of L. A. Kelsey.
1837
FRISSELL
A monument in Erie street cemetery contains the following inscrip- tion :
"Erastus Frissell, b. 1801; d. 1879. Grace Mclaughlin of Scotland his wife b. 1826; d. 1853.
Adeline Converse his wife, b. 1826; d. 1878.
William Frissell, b. 1834; d. 1850."
Henry Frissell, b. 1826; d. 1878.
In the city directory of 1845, Erastus Frissell, a shoe-maker, is living at 31 Champlain street, also Henry Frissell.
Captain Erastus Frissell was an early resident of the city. He was probably a son or a nephew of the above.
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HOYT
Rev. Ova Phelps Hoyt lived in Cleveland several years as a worker for the Society of Home Missions. He had been its secretary previously and lived in Utica, N. Y., in which place he settled in 1830, six years after his graduation from Andover Seminary. He was also editor of the Western Recorder, published in Utica, and, at the time, in a flourishing condition.
He was the son of Ezra and Jerusha Hoyt of New Haven, and mar- ried in his 26th year, Mary Clark, daughter of Solomon Clark. Their first child was born in Potsdam, N. Y., and their youngest one in Euclid, Ohio. While living in Cleveland, their home was 56 Bank street.
As recorded in Cuyahoga County marriages, the Rev. Hoyt's serv- ices were in frequent demand at local weddings. He removed to Euclid, and thence to Kalamazoo, Mich., where his death occurred in 1866.
The children of O. P. and Mary Clark Hoyt:
William Clark Hoyt, b. 1826; m. Sa- John M. Hoyt, b. 1834; m. Elisabeth bine Paige. Bailey. He lived in Detroit.
Henry E. Hoyt, b. 1828; m. Mary M. Lewis.
Mary E. Hoyt, b. 1832; m. James A.
Palmer of Kalamazoo, Mich.
Sarah J. Hoyt, b. 1840; m. Isaac M. Tripp.
1837
Washington's Birthday was a gay holiday this year. The day was fine and pleasant, cannon were fired in the morning and at intervals during the day. The sailors made a huge schooner with full sail, and a portrait of Washington was hung in the rigging. This was placed on wheels, and drawn through the streets by six white horses. In the even- ing, a splendid ball was held in the assembly room of Kellogg's Block.
The front of the building was illuminated with 272 candles.
(From private journal of Aaron Clark.)
JULY FOURTH CELEBRATION
The four fire engines of the village augmented by one from Ohio City, West Side, decorated with flowers, were each drawn through the streets by four horses with flags on their heads.
One side of Superior street was kept clear for Sunday School children who marched in classes with the teacher leading and preceded by the superintendents. They went to the Baptist church on Seneca street, the largest in the town, and listened to a fine oration by Oliver P. Baldwin.
In the grove of forest trees northeast corner of Superior and Wood streets, a dinner was served to all; toasts were drunk. A boat ride on the lake finished the day's program.
(Aaron Clark's private journal.)
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1837
BURNHAM
There was much surprise and considerable interest manifested when, in 1840, it was rumored about town that Willard Burnham and Charles Bradburn were planning to build and occupy a double brick house "way out on Kinsman street"-present locality corner of Woodland and Brow- nell.
The comments of neighbors and business friends over the news were uniformly disparaging. Every one thought that the Bradburns and Burnhams were making a great mistake, that the spot chosen was too far from school, church, and business.
"I hear you are going out into the country to live," was a frequent remark that greeted members of both families.
But spite of all objections and criticism, the flitting was made, and not many years elapsed before it became the fashionable thing to live on Kinsman street. Houses were built on both sides of the street, each one a little farther east until, by the year 1860, what is now Wood- land Ave. was lined to Willson Ave. with beautiful homes.
The distance to town was from one to two miles, and there were no street cars. But men did not object in those days, to the necessary walk to and from business, and for the benefit of their women folks, nearly every resident kept a horse and buggy, while a considerable number of those who could best afford it had, in addition, fine turnouts.
These were supplemeneted by a line of public busses which ran at stated intervals to and from the Square.
Attractive cross streets north and south of the avenue were allotted. Burnham street was laid out close to the double residence, and named for Mr. Burnham. In after years it was changed to Brownell street. Longwood Ave., a little farther out, was named in honor of Dr. Long whose residence adjoined it.
The home of Messrs. Burnham and Bradburn stood back from the street surrounded by a peach orchard and was reached by a long, broad path bordered with flowers.
Both families were hospitable, and the spot was the scene of many pleasant gatherings of neighbors and friends.
Willard Burnham and Miss Matilda Wheelock were married in 1829. The bride was the daughter of Ephriam and Matilda Upham Wheelock of Southbridge, Mass. Both of her grandfathers were patriots of the American Revolution, and an ancestor was one of the founders of Harvard College.
For a few years the young couple lived in Boston, but in the fall of 1837, they started for Cleveland intending to make it their future home. Their little daughters Emily, Eliza, and Caroline found the three weeks' journey a tedious one. They began it over the first railroad laid out, between Providence and New York. Then up the Hudson river to the Erie Canal, westward to Buffalo, and thence by boat to Cleveland, a familiar route to thousands of other pioneers bound for Western Re- serve.
Mr. Burnham opened on Superior street what was known as the "Boston Dry Goods Store." A long platform ran across the whole width of it, reached by two steps. Their first home was on the north side of
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Superior street above Wood street, and on the present side of the gas office.
Mr. Burnham died in 1852, leaving his wife a widow with six chil- dren. She survived him thirty-five years. It was said of her that she bravely assumed all her cares and duties, with this great sorrow pressing upon her heart, without a murmur.
Her subsequent life naturally was one of complete self-denial. Even after the children were all married and settled elsewhere in life, their happiness and interests were her own. No sorrow that came to them but was doubly felt in her own heart. She always had a kind word for those outside of her own family, who stood in need of her sympa- thy, and her friends were legion.
She died in the harness, suddenly, painlessly.
Children of Willard and Matilda Burnham :
Emily Burnham, married Dr. A. Ev- erett. She died at the age of 31 years. Eliza Burnham, married Charles Dickenson, of Chicago, Ill.
Caroline Burnham, married Alfred Ely, of Cleveland.
George Burnham, married Mrs. Wil- son, and lives in San Diego, Cal. Abby Burnham, married Charles Pettengill.
Harriet Burnham, married George Avery, and has lived all her life in Cleveland.
1837
KIRTLAND
In 1837, Jared Potter Kirtland, a distinguished scientist of national reputation, honored this city by choosing it for his future home. He was 44 years old, and died at the age of 84, having maintained, meanwhile, a continuous residence here and causing the name of our city to be bet- ter known, perhaps, than through any other of its prominent citizens.
He was the son of Turhand and Mary Potter Kirtland of Wallingford, Conn. His father was a large stockholder in the Connecticut Land Co. and its general agent. This caused a removal of the family, in 1803, to Poland, Mahoning Co., Ohio. Jared remained in Connecticut with his maternal grandfather, Dr. Jared Potter, a distinguished physician of Wallingford, who adopted his grandson and, at his death, left to him his valuable medical library and a sufficient sum of money with which to finish his education.
While attending lectures at Yale College, young Kirtland pursued the study of botany, mineralogy, and zoology, subjects in which he had been intensely interested from childhood, much more so than in medical lore, although receiving the education of a physician, in accordance with the expressed wishes of his grandfather.
Prof. J. S. Newberry, who prepared a complete and interesting sketch of Jared P. Kirtland for the Cleveland Herald of 1879, says of him:
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BUCKLEY
"For two and a half years he pursued his professional labors in Wall- ingford, but devoted every moment of unoccupied time to the cultiva- tion of the natural sciences. Plants, flowers, fruit trees, minerals, birds, fishes, insects and shells, all received a share of his attention; and his careful observation brought to light new facts in regard to all."
And this knowledge he passed on to others. "He became the teacher of thousands, of doctors, and farmers, and florists, and horticulturists and naturalists, teaching all of them things that made them better doc- tors, better farmers, better naturalists and better men."
He bought a large fruit farm on Detroit street about three miles west of the Public Square, and upon this he built a comfortable residence for his family. In time it became the Mecca of nature-lovers.
"He won followers and devotees from every rank and condition of life, young people, particularly delighted to study under his directions. At one time, six young society women walked from one to two and a half miles, twice a week, in order to practice taxidermy under his supervi- sion.
"He was an ardent patriot, a generous and public-spirited citizen, one who shared his ample means freely with all whom he thought deserving of his bounty. During the civil war when 69 years of age, he offered his services to the government and for some months acted as examining physician of recruits.
In 1815, Dr. Kirtland married Miss Caroline Atwater of Walling- ford, Conn. They had two daughters. Mrs. Kirtland and one of these daughters died when the little girls were quite young. The surviving one, Mary E. Kirtland, married Charles Pease of this city, a sketch of whom will be found in this historical and genealogical work. Mrs. Caro- line Kirtland was a lovely woman, a fit companion for her really won- derful husband.
Dr. Kirtland married secondly in 1825, Miss Hannah F. Toucey of Newton, Conn., whom he outlived several years.
1837 BUCKLEY
Hugh Buckley and his wife Winifred Nolan Buckley sailed from Liverpool, England, for America in 1835. It took them eight weeks and three days to make the journey. They landed in New York and remained there two years. Then, accounts reached them, doubtless, of the newly fledged city on the shores of Lake Erie, and they came on to see for themselves if Cleveland was as beautiful and as prosperous as it had been represented.
But, alas! they reached here when business was completely prostrated, the bottom fallen out of everything, in the panic of 1837, and several years following, and, for a while, the Buckley fortune must have seemed dubious.
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CONGAR
In the course of events, the family removed to the East End, where the three sons and five daughters grew to maturity, married and settled in that locality.
Hugh Buckley, Jr., did gallant service for his country during the Civil War. He became very popular as a citizen, and filled public positions of trust. He was a warm-hearted, genial man.
Mrs. Margaret Buckley Eddy has been connected with the Cleve- land post-office for many years. One of her sons, Walter Eddy, a fine young man, is a civil engineer.
Children of Hugh and Winifred Buckley :
John Buckley, m. Lucy A. Lee. Mary Buckley, m. Byron Meeker. Lavina Buckley, died in 1857. Margaret Buckley, m. Louis B. Eddy.
William Buckley, m. Henrietta Mc- Connell.
Hugh Buckley, Jr., m. Amelia M. Cope. Julia Buckley, m. Lester Hender- shott.
Catherine Buckley, m. Everton C. Cope.
1837
CONGAR
To the right of the main drive through Erie st. cemetery and not far from the front entrance is a weather-worn headstone, its inscription nearly effaced. It reads, "Abigail, wife of Hanford Congar."
In the little Cleveland directory for 1837 there appear in the list of professional men living in the city the names of James Conger, Attorney, and Horace Congar, Physician.
The latter was the son of Handford and Abigail Congar, who then were living on a farm on the bank of the lake west of the city.
Handford Congar was the son of Ephriam (Ephraim?) and Expe- rience Eastman Congar, who were both born in New Fairfield, Conn., and married there in 1787. The family settled in Oneida Co., N. Y., about the year 1800, and nine years later removed to Genesee Co., where the parents died.
Their son Handford was a local justice of the peace, tavern keeper, and interested in packet boats after the completion of the Erie canal. Some time in the '30s he came west and settled on the farm on the lake shore.
His wife was Abigail Mellen. At her death, although the family lived miles away from it, she was interred in Erie street cemetery, where so many, in and without the city, were being laid away in their last sleep; for already it was a beautiful spot and gave promise that in the coming year it would be much more so.
The children of Handford and Abigail Congar received a liberal edu- cation. The eldest daughter attended a popular seminary of New York state, and the sons were given professions.
The children were:
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Mary L. Congar, m. William B. Smith.
Horace Congar, m. Louise Hayden.
Alvin Congar, m. Nancy Belknap
and removed to Elyria, O.
Olivia Congar, m. Dr. Herman Leon- ard of Strongsville, O.
Mrs. Smith removed to Ohio when her oldest child was an infant. Her husband was a native of Linden, N. Y. A daughter of this couple is Mrs. George Mulhern, of this city.
Horace Congar was a tall, slender man of grave but kindly manner. Some time after his marriage to Miss Louise Hayden he removed to Buffalo, N. Y., where he lived many years on Pearl street, a popular and successful physician.
When past middle age he began a work, The History of Medicine, in which he was assisted by his wife, a very intellectual woman of New England birth. She was a niece of Anson Haydn, a pioneer real estate agent of Cleveland; consequently a cousin of those fine useful women, the Haydn sisters, so long known and esteemed by all old Cleveland families.
Dr. Horace Congar and his wife had no children of their own, but adopted several. Two faded letters written by Dr. Congar to his father in reference to one of these, a boy, are filled with expressions of solici- ture for the lad's future and a desire that he prove to be all that the good doctor hoped for him.
After the marriage of their last adopted child Dr. and Mrs. Congar came back to the old farm, "Shady Cove," on the lake shore west of the city, which was occupied by Mrs. William B. Smith. Here the medical work was finished, and here Dr. Congar died. His widow returned to her girlhood home in New England, and lived there several years previous to her own death.
1837
GARDNER
Col. James Gardner reached Cleveland just in time to witness the financial crisis that nearly overwhelmed the young city, and which, it is claimed, depopulated it 50 per cent. The hopes and expectations he en- tertained of the future, which led him to close up or sell his furniture manufactory in Pittsfield, Mass., in order to engage in a hazard of new fortune in this western town, must have vanished when he faced the sit- uation here.
He brought with him a wife and five children, one of whom was des- tined to be an important factor in the future history of Cleveland.
Col. Gardner was born in 1805, the son of Jonathan and Abigail Babcock Gardner.
In 1828 he married Griselda C. Porter, daughter of Ebenezer and Eunice Yale Porter of Lee, Mass.
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1837
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Col. Gardner and a Mr. Cornwall started to manufacture furniture. The interest of the latter was bought out by John A. Vincent, long estab- lished in business, and the firm became "Vincent & Gardner." Their fac- tory and store was on Water street.
Although comparatively young, 32 years, when he came to this city, Mr. Gardner had filled positions of honor and trust in his former home town. He is said to have been the last Colonel of the Massachusetts state militia.
During the mayoralty of Abner Brownell, in 1853, he served as one of the trustees of the city, his associates being Geo. F. Marshall, Henry Everett, Richard Parsons and W. J. Gordon.
The home of the Gardners was on Champlain street, at first, and aft- erward on St. Clair street.
Mrs. Gardner died in January, 1861, and Col. Gardner followed her to the "Better Land" only six months later. They belonged to the Presby- terian Church.
Children of Col. James and Griselda Porter Gardner:
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