In this table the figures in the column of deaths may be safely assumed as substantially accurate.
The number of births reported is, doubtless, somewhat less than the actual number of children
born within the given period, and the mortality rate per thousand living is generally too small
also, from the inevitable tendency to overestimate the population in the intercensal periods. On
the whole, however, the reduction of the death rate during the last thirty-five years is
satisfactorily demonstrated.
On the pages of the various health reports of the last thirty-five years (in addition to numerous
facts of sanitary importance) we find several papers worthy of special mention. Among these we
may enumerate a report on epidemic diseases, made in 1873 by a committee consisting of Drs.
Thos. G. Cleveland, J.
214 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
F. Armstrong and H. W. Kitchen ; a report on vital statistics and the ventilation of schools, by
Dr. E., H. Kelley, health officer in 1875 ; a paper entitled "Filth in its Relation to Disease," by
Dr. Frank Wells, health officer in 1876, and the report of four cases of death resulting from the
imprudent entrance of workmen into an unventilated cesspool, recorded by Dr. Guy B. Case,
health officer in 1878.
A solution of the perplexing problem of the removal and destruction of the garbage of a large
community was essayed as early as 1868, when a large barge was anchored in the river for the
reception of this waste, and three times each week this barge was towed out mto the lake and its
contents dumped into our water supply "one mile from the city." The dangers of this primitive
and disgusting system were early recognized, and various means for their diminution were from
time to time adopted, but it was not until 1898 that the problem was satisfactorily solved by a
contract with the Buckeye Refuse and Destruction Company for the removal and destruction of
this disgusting refuse. In 1903, on the expiration of this contract, the entire plant of the company
was purchased by the city authorities, and the work has been since satisfactorily performed under
the direction of the board of public service.
Among the more important advances of recent date in the science of municipal sanitation,
mention should be made of the establishment of a special children's hospital in 1900; the
inauguration of a bacteriological laboratory in 1901; the provision of a free sanatorium for
tuberculosis patients in 1903; the foundation of the Cleveland Farm colony in Warrensville in
1904, and the initiation of the municipal inspection of school buildings (1905), meat (1905) and
milk (1906). These advances, so little known to the average citizen, but of vital importance to the
community, bid fair to place Cleveland in the front rank among the healthful cities of the United
States.
EPIDEMICS.
The sanitary history of Cleveland is remarkably free from severe epidemics of any kind, though
the presence of infectious diseases is, of course, frequently recorded.
We have already described the visitations of Asiatic cholera in 1832, 1834, 1849, 1850 and 1854.
In 1866, also, seventeen cases of cholera with twelve deaths were reported, and in 1867 four
cases, all of whom recovered. The earlier visitations were both more severe in themselves and
more alarming to the community from their novelty and the inexperience of both physicians and
the laity. With our present knowledge of this disease and its prevention it seems scarcely
probable that it can ever again occasion serious alarm.
Smallpox was rife in the city during the period from 1860 to 1873, and even rose to the dignity of
a threatening epidemic in 1901 and 1902. Gratuitous vaccination was offered to all in 1873 and
again in 1902, and in the latter year the compulsory vaccination of school children was enforced
with very satisfactory results. It depends largely upon the intelligence of the community and the
energy of our sanitary authorities, whether the city shall ever again be disgraced by an epidemic
of a disease so certainly and easily preventable.'
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 215
Diphtheria prevailed extensively in 1875 and again in 1878, but neither invasion could properly
be characterized as an epidemic. The disease is almost always with us, but has been robbed of
most of its terrors by the resources of modern treatment.
A severe invasion of measles was recorded in 1884 by Dr. Ashmun, though scarcely rising to the
importance of an epidemic.
An epidemic of influenza (la grippe) prevailed in 1898-99, and occasioned considerable
mortality, either directly or by its influence upon other diseases.
Typhoid fever, always present with us to some extent, prevailed extensively in 1903 and
occasioned considerable alarm as an indication of the pollution of our water supply. But the
completion of the new lake tunnel in 1904 (17) and the prospect of the speedy completion of the
great intercepting sewer, give reason to hope that, for the present at least, we may enjoy a
reasonable exemption from the ravages of this filth disease.
THE PESTHOUSE.
That gloomy relic of medieval ages (about whose walls cluster a host of gruesome tales and
memories), persisted until quite modern times, or until modern euphemism wisely converted the
name into the less repulsive "Hospital for Contagious Diseases." A decent respect for its ancient
and malodorous reputation may claim a few lines in a history of medical Cleveland.
The earliest "pesthouse" noticed in our history was established in 1832 on Whiskey island, to
receive and care for the victims of the Asiatic cholera, then newly arrived. In the subsequent
visitations of 1849-50 a similar cholera hospital was organized in the Cleveland Center block,
corner of Columbus and Division streets, on what was then known shortly as "The Flats," and in
1854 the pesthouse was located upon Michigan street.
These locations, however, were merely selected to meet an emergency, and were not appropriated
for permanent use. In 1852 the authorities purchased on Croton street (now Croton avenue,
southeast, between Forest and Humboldt streets, Thirty-fourth and Thirty-seventh streets,
southeast, a plat of land containing six acres, and soon after located upon this plat a more
permanent "pesthouse." In 1871, however, Dr. Marshall, the city physician, recommended its
removal to a more remote position, because the increasing proximity of inhabited dwellings
rendered its present location somewhat dangerous, and in 1876 the site of the present West Park
cemetery in Brooklyn (18) was purchased and fitted up for hospital purposes. In 1898 this plat
was exchanged for other property on Lorain street, and a pesthouse built in the town of Newburg.
The remoteness and inaccessibility of this latter location, however, led to its abandonment in
1901 and the building of a pesthouse on the grounds of the City hospital, which was utilized in
the epidemics of smallpox of 1901 and 1902. In 1903 the pest-house was finally removed to its
present location on the city farm in. Warrensville, and the old building converted into a
sanatorium for the tuberculous. The
17 - Begun in 1895.
18 - On the Ridge Road, near the crossing of Big Creek.
216 - HISTORY. OF CLEVELAND
latter institution was likewise removed to the Warrensville farm in the year 1906.
It would, doubtless, prove interesting to record here how the early pathology of Edinburgh,
London and Leyden yielded gradually to that of Paris, and how the influence of the latter school,
at a later period, waned before the more brilliant lights of Berlin and Vienna : how the vigorous
therapeutics of blisters, emetics, bleedmg, calomel, jalap, antimony, etc., the sheet anchor of our
fathers, faded slowly (aided by the Hahnemannian apotheosis of infinitesimals) into a practical
therapeutic nihilism : how the saddlebags and "one hoss shay" were metamorphosed into the trim
coupe or more imposing automobile of the up-to- date physician, with his modern
armamentarium of stethoscope, hypodermic syringe, clinical thermometer and pocket case of
stereotyped tablets and granules : how the keen observation, independence and all round
knowledge of our early colleagues have been largely lost, and replaced by the often one sided and
deceptive fiat of the modern specialist : how the humane and sympathetic side of medical
practice has withered before the dazzling light of modern exact diagnosis and scientific
objectivity. But these facts are neither obscure, nor are they peculiar to the experience of our own
city. They may be studied at leisure in our encyclopedias and general treatises on medical and
social history.
The present chapter must be limited to those humbler data, whose local character and
comparative insignificance render them specially liable to be lost in the gathering twilight of the
past, and which, once lost, would probably be regarded as scarcely worthy of the labor of
recovery. Gathered at odd intervals, and for various purposes, they are here grouped together in
the hope that they may be useful for future reference, and may serve, at least to some extent, to
preserve the more recondite records of a brilliant century.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE DENTAL PROFESSION OF CLEVELAND.*
Dr. Benjamin Strickland, the first located dentist, began the practice of dentistry in this city in
1835. At that time, there were probably not more than five hundred dentists in America, and
Cleveland's population was only five thousand. In 1837, he was located at the corner of Water
and Superior streets. In 1845, his office was at 145 Superior street, and later at 15 Euclid avenue.
Dr. Strickland was highly respected by both the dental and medical professions of this city. At
the organization of the Northern Ohio Dental association, in this city, in 1857, he called the
assemblage to order, and the following year was elected its president. He was annually reelected,
and served the society in that capacity for eight years. He died in 1889 at about eighty years of
age.
In the 1837 directory, appears the firm name, "Coredon & Sargeant, Surgeon Dentists, 6 Franklin
Building." As their names do not appear in the next directory (1845), their stay must have been
short. In this directory (1845) appear the names of four dentists. Two of these names, Samuel
Spencer and William Bailey, do not again appear. The name of Dr. M. L. Wright, 94 Superior
street, appears for the first time. Dr. Wright was a graduate of the Cleveland Medical college
(now medical department of the Western Reserve University). His son, M. L. Wright, and three
grandsons, Harry D., Martin L., and Wm.
* - The details in this chapter were furnished by a prominent member of the dental profession.
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 217
W., are now in practice on the west side. The writer believes this is the 0nly instance of three
generations having begun the practice of dentistry in this city. However, three generations of the
Robinson family practiced in this city.
An important accession to the dental profession of the city was made in 1846 in Dr. F. S.
Slosson. Dr. Slosson was born in 1803 and died in this city in 1887. He was an active and
progressive member of the profession. He was elected, in 1857, the first president of the
Northern Ohio Dental association, and again served the society in that capacity in 1866.
Dr. B. F. Robmson, the first of the Robinson family 0f dentists, located in the city in 1850. He
died in 1889 at the age of eighty years. This year (1850) the city had a population of seventeen
thousand, six hundred and the names of seven dentists appear in the directory.
The following year (1851) Dr. W. P. Horton, Sr., located in the city. He is still in active practice.
This same year, Dr. N. H. Ambler came to the city, and formed a partnership with Dr. B. F.
Robinson. Dr. Ambler practiced dentistry in this city until the time of his death in 1888. Ambler
Heights took its name from him. Dr. H. L. Ambler is a nephew 0f the late Dr. Ambler.
The year 1853, marked an epoch in the dental profession of this city by the acquisition of that
magnetic personality, Dr. W. H. Atkinson.
He was born at Newton, Bucks county, Pennsylvania, January 23, 1815. He began the study of
medicine at Meadville, Pennsylvania, in 1840; and graduated an M. D. from the medical college
at Willoughby, Ohio, in 1847. He located and practiced his profession at Norwalk, Ohio, where,
through a traveling dentist, he became interested in dentistry. In Cleveland he formed a
partnership with Dr. Frank S. Slosson. Two years later, he took Dr. Charles R. Butler (whom the
profession of northern Ohio honors as its dean) as his first student. Later, they entered into a
partnership which lasted until Dr. Atkinson removed to New York city in 1861, where he lived
until the time of his death in 1891. Dr. Atkinson was an intense student, had a wonderful memory
and was a brilliant orator. He enjoyed a large practice and was reputed to have received fabulous
fees, yet through his generosity, he died a poor man. Any confrere desiring knowledge was
always welcome to a position at the side of his operating chair and dining table. He is often
spoken of as the father of altruistic dentistry. He undoubtedly was the most potent factor in
removing the "no admittance" sign from the dental laboratory door. The dental historian, Dr.
Burton Lee Thorpe, describes him as follows : "William Henry Atkinson, A. M., M. D., D. D. S.,
Leader, 'Teacher of Teachers,' Prophet, and Past Grand Master Dental Enthusiast.
"The flash of wit, the bright intelligence,
The beam of song, the blaze of eloquence,
Set with their sun, but they left behind
The product of an immortal mind."
This same year (1853), a brother 0f Dr. B. F. Robinson, Dr. J. A. Robinson, of Lowell,
Massachusetts, with his two son, came to Cleveland. Dr. J. A. Robmson practiced his profession
in this city for several years when he moved to Jackson, Michigan, where he practiced until he
retired after having practiced dentistry for more than sixty years. His elder son, Dr. Jere E.
Robinson, continued in practice in this city until he retired in '900. The younger son, Wm. F.
Robinson, studied with his father and practiced in this city for some years. He
218 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
was in practice in New Orleans, at the breaking 0ut of the Civil• war, but returned north and
joined the Union army. He was severely wounded in the battle of Gettysburg. Captain Robinson
was killed by the Indians at Tucson, Arizona, shortly after the close of the war.
In 1861, Dr. L. Buffett began practice in this city. He gave a course of lectures on dental
pathology at the Cleveland Medical college (now medical department of the Western Reserve
University). He retired from practice in 1887 and moved to Easton, Maryland, where he died in
1901.
Dr. Chas. Buffett, a brother of Lewis, began practice in this city in 1866. For many years he was
the treasurer of the Northern Ohio Dental association. He retired from active practice in 1903.
Dr. D. R. Jennings came to this city from Ravenna in 1872 and continued in active practice until
the day of his death in 1897.
These are the men, with their strong personalities and indefatigable energy, who established the
dental profession in this city. From 1870, the profession has had a rapid development, and as the
accessions are still actively engaged in practice, we will only mention them in connection with
their organized activities. Before taking up the organized interests of the profession, of this city,
it will be interesting to note the statistical growth of the profession in connection with the growth
of the population.
STATISTICS.
In 1835 the population of the city was five thousand and eighty, with one dentist; m 1837 there
were nine thousand people with three dentist ; in 1860 the population had increased t0 forty-three
thousand, four hundred and thirty- seven, with twenty-two dentists. The number of dentists
fluctuated much in the seventh decade. In the directory for 1859 and 1860 there were the names
of twenty-two dentists ; in 1861 and 1862, eighteen ; 1867 and 1868, twenty-three; 1869 and
1870, twenty. Eight of these twenty dentists are still in practice in this city. The directory for
1880 gives the number of dentists as fifty-one, and the United States census report gives the
population as one hundred and sixty thousand, one hundred and forty-six; in 1890, the number of
dentists was eighty-eight, and the population was two hundred and sixty-one thousand, three
hundred and fifty-three ; m 'g00, the number of dentists was two hundred and twelve, and the
population was three hundred and eighty-one thousand, seven hundred and sixty-eight ; in 1909
with an estimated population of half a million, there are three hundred and fifty-three dentists.
DENTAL ASSOCIATIONS AND THE PART CLEVELAND DENTISTS HAVE TAKEN
1N THEM.
The American Dental association was organized in 1859 and the next year (1860) held its first
session for scientific investigations. This assemblage was held 'in this city with Dr. W. H.
Atkinson in the chair as its first president. In 1888 Dr. Chas. R. Butler served the society as its
president. In 1897 this society and the Southern Dental association were consolidated as the
National Dental association.
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 219
NORTHERN OHIO DENTAL ASSOCIATION.
In 1855, the American Dental convention, the predecessor of the American Dental association,
by resolution, recommended the organization of local societies. Drs. W. H. Atkinson, J. A.
Robinson and others, issued a circular letter to the dentists of northern Ohio, inviting them to
meet m Tremont Hall, November 3, 1857. (Tremont Hall stood on the present site 0f the Wick
block.) Of the thirty-four charter members of the Northern Ohio Dental association, there are
living only Drs. W. P. Horton, Cleveland ; Alfred Terry, then of Norwalk, now residing at Detroit
; and Chester H. Harroun, of Toledo. Eighteen 0f the twenty-two dentists located in Cleveland at
that time were present at the formation of the society.
This society has met annually with hardly an interruption. While it often meets in Cleveland
because of the conveniences afforded, it has met in 0ther northern Ohio towns. For thirty years,
the society little more than maintained the attendance of the first meeting. The writer well
remembers the meeting at which he became a member of the society ; it was in May, 1879, and
the sessions were held in the parlor 0f the Weddell House. There was plenty 0f room, for there
were not more than forty members present. In 1885, the expenses of the society were nine dollars
and sixty cents. In 1890, the bills ordered paid were six dollars and eighty-one cents, but, in
1905, the bills paid amounted to eight hundred and sixteen dollars and twenty cents and the
receipts were one thousand and seventy-five dollars. This year (1905) marked the high tide of its
prosperity. The enrollment of members, dealers and visitors present was five hundred and
ninety-six, the largest in the history of the society. The phenomenal success of that year was due
to the ceaseless labors of the corresponding secretary, Dr. W. G. Ebersole.
The officers of the association for 1909 are: President, W. A. Siddall; vice president, W. G.
Ebersole ; secretary, J. W. McDill ; treasurer, W. A. Price, all of Cleveland.
OHIO STATE DENTAL SOCIETY.
This association was formally organized June 26-27, 1866, at Columbus. Of the first officers
elected, B. F. Robinson, of this city, was made second vice president. The following Cleveland
dentists were charter members : Drs. B. F. Robinson, B. Strickland, C. R. Butler, L. Buffett, J. E.
Robinson, John Stephan, and W. P. Horton.
The Cleveland men who have served this society as president are, in the order 0f their service:
Drs. W. P. Horton, L. Buffett, C. R. Butler, D. R. Jennings, J. E. Robinson, G. H. Wilson, Henry
Barnes, H. F. Harvey, J. F. Stephan, H. L. Ambler, and W. H. Whitslar serving for 1909. H. L.
Ambler served the society for two years as secretary ; W. A. Price is the treasurer, and has served
for four years.
CLEVELAND DENTAL SOCIETY.
This society was organized in 1886 as the result of an agitation started by Dr. henry Barnes. The
evening of October 6, 1886, thirteen members of the
220 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
profession assembled at the office of Dr. D. R. Jennings and organized the Cleveland Dental
society, with the following officers : President, D. R. Jennings; vice president, J. Stephan ;
secretary, P. H. Keese; treasurer, S. B. Dewey.
The charter members were : Drs. D. R. Jennings, .Henry Barnes, C. R. Butler, J. R. Owens, J. R.
Bell, S. B. Dewey, Ira Sampsell, H. H. Newton, J. E. Robinson, George R. Goulding, P. H.
Keese, Charles Buffett and John Stephan.
Drs. H. F. Harvey and Ira W. Brown were made members at the second meeting, having been
unable to attend the first meeting. The society met monthly, except July and August, at the
offices of its members. In 1890, the society voted to increase their dues to ten dollars per year
and serve dinner to the members at the hotel in which the meeting was held. For several years the
society met regularly at the Hollenden. The society is at present assembling at the Colonial hotel.
It meets the first Monday evening of October and November, and from January to May,
inclusive. The membership is upward of one hundred. At the November, 1909, meeting, there
were twelve members elected and seventeen names proposed for membership.
The present (1909) officers of the society are : President, Frank Acker; vice president, W. G.
Ebersole; recording secretary, J. T. Newton; corresponding secretary, J. R. Owens ; financial
secretary, Harris R. C. Wilson; treasurer, W. S. Sykes ; and critic, H. L. Ambler.
The ex-presidents are: D. R. Jennings, I. W. Brown, J. R. Owens, S. B. Dewey, H. Barnes, W. T.
Jackman, H. F. Harvey, W. H. Whitslar, J. R. Bell, C. R. Butler, G. H. Wilson, J. W. Van Dorn,
H. L. Ambler, J. F. Stephan, W. A. Siddall, W. 'A. Price, J. F. Spargur, J. W. McDill, G. N.
Wasser, D. H. Zeigler, J. M. Yahres and M. C. Ramaley.
In the spring of 1909, this society was made the first "component" society of the reorganized
Ohio State society.
In the winter of 1897, the society appointed a committee for dental instruction in the public
schools. The committee consisted of Drs. W. A. Price, W. G. Ebersole, and George H. Wilson
chairman. This committee, after consultation with Superintendent Jones, formulated a series of
apothegms on the nature, use and care of the teeth, which were given through the school
authorities to the pupils. Some of the teachers are still making use of this information in their
general instruction. This committee consulted with a like committee of the state society with the
object of introducing similar instruction into all of the schools of the state ; however, small
results were obtained.
In the spring of 1906, the society appointed a committee of fifteen to act in conjunction with
Director Cooley in caring for the dental needs of fifteen hundred children of the city's outdoor
relief department. After due deliberation, the committee of fifteen elected a committee of five to
take charge of this work. The committee consisted of Drs. H. L. Ambler, chairman ; J. R. Owens,
G. F. W00dbury, D. H. Zeigler and George H. Wilson. This committee was influenced to
establish this clinic at the City hospital on Scranton road. This arrangement proved disastrous, as
it placed the clinic out of the reach of the children of the indigent poor, for whom it was
designed. The society by voluntary contributions, raised a fund of over five hundred dollars with
which to
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 221
carry on this work. The arrangement was made with Director Cooley that the city should furnish
the office, equipment and supplies, and the dental society free service. Dr. Frank Acker had
volunteered to give one half day of time per week to this work. The committee thereupon
arranged with Dr. Acker to devote two half days per week as the operator in charge of the clinic.
The clinic was opened for free work to the children of the worthy poor October 16, 1906. It very
soon developed that because of the location the only patients applying for relief were the inmates
of the infirmary, but no children. At this time Dr. Harris R. C. Wilson obtained permission t0 act
through the teachers in the neighboring ward schools, and thus the deserving children were
interested in this charity. From this time the clinician had all he could do to care for the children
of these schools and the children of the Jones' Home. This work was carried on for nearly two
years. However, while the experiment was a success in its way, it did not establish the need for
such a clinic among the downtown outdoor relief children, and the city authorities were not
justified in maintaining the charity as it was expected they would do.
After the work of dental education was inaugurated by the committee of 1897, little was
accomplished until the society appointed a committee 0n oral hygiene and education, consisting
0f Drs. W. G. Ebersole, chairman ; J. R. Owens and W. A. Price. This committee obtained
permission from the authorities to make an examination of the mouths of the children of four
selected schools. This examination was made June 14, 1909, by forty-two members of the City
society, and demonstrated the urgent need of dental supervision of the children of the public
schools. Of the two thousand six hundred and seventy-two children examined, ninety-seven per
cent were found to be in need of dental attention. With this data at hand, the committee obtained
permission of the school board to examine the mouths of all of the public school children of the
city, and to establish and maintain during the year of 1910, four clinics for the free care of the
teeth of the needy ones. This examination, and the care of the teeth of the indigent children are to
be without expense to the school board, except the board is to furnish suitable rooms, heat, light
and water. To accomplish this work, outside of committee and preliminary work, it is planned
that one hundred and sixteen members of the society shall each voluntarily give thirty-six hours
0f time, or its equivalent in money. Aside from this, a course of lectures for public instruction is
contemplated. At the dental society meeting, held November 1, 1909, when the paper was passed
for pledges of time or its equivalent, nearly sixty signatures were obtained.
PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION IN CLEVELAND.
There have been two dental schools in this city. Besides these, dental instruction has been given
to medical classes by such men as Drs. L. Buffett, H. L. Ambler, J. R. Bell, and possibly 0thers.
In 1891, a movement was started and resulted in the formation of the dental department of the
Cleveland University of Medicine and Surgery (homeopathic school). The school opened in
October, 1891, in quarters provided in the Y. M. C. A. building. There were fifteen students in
attendance. The
222 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
faculty consisted of Drs. W. H. Whitslar, dean ; Henry Barnes, S. B. Dewey, J. E. Robinson, L. P.
Bethel, Ira Sampsell, George H. Wilson, and four or five members of the medical faculty. The
following spring the faculty was reorganized, owing t0 the death of Dr. Sampsell and the
resignation of Drs. Whitslar and Wilson, who withdrew to accept positions with the dental
department created in the Western Reserve University. The second year the homeopathic school
was provided with ample quarters in the new medical building. In September of 1896, the school
disorganized and disposed of its equipment to the Western Reserve University.
DENTAL DEPARTMENT OF THE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY.
This department of the university was established in March, 1892. Four dental professorships
were created to cooperate with the medical department, and designed to teach dentistry as a
specialty of medicine. Drs. C. R. Butler, W. H. Whitslar, H. F. Harvey and George H. Wilson
were elected to the four dental chairs. Unused rooms in the medical building were equipped for
the school. Twenty-one students enrolled for the first term, and there was an annual increase until
the term of 1902-03, when there was an attendance 0f one hundred and fourteen students. The
first faculty was organized with Dr. C. R. Butler, dean, and Dr W. H. Whitslar, secretary. At the
close 0f the first session, Dr. Butler resigned, when Dr. Ambler was elected dean and professor of
operating dentistry, which position he held until the close of the term of 1905-06.
The fall of 1896 found the school housed in the Bangor building. The upper two floors were
especially arranged and equipped for dental mstruction, and, at that time, was considered
excellent accommodations. As the school increased in numbers, other dental professors and
teachers were added to the faculty.
The year of 1903 was a critical one with all dental schools, and was especially disastrous (in a
financial sense) to this school. It had been determined to discontinue the department, when the
Cogswell Dental Supply Company, through its president, Dr. H. M. Brown, of Ashtabula,
assumed the financial obligations and took charge of the school. The school remained nominally
a department of the university. During the years 1904-05, the old members of the faculty
resigned, when Dr. Brown reorganized the school by securing the services of Drs. T. J.
McLernon, of Philadelphia, as dean, E. E. Belford, of Toledo, and H. E. Friesell, 0f Pittsburg; the
remainder of the faculty being made up of young men from the dental and medical schools. With
the close of the session of 1907-o, Dr. McLernon resigned and returned east, when Dr. Belford
was made dean.
CLEVELAND DENTAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION:
In the fall of 1907 Dr. Charles R. Strong, upon retiring from practice, made knOWn his desire to
donate his dental library as a foundation toward establishing the Cleveland Dental library. A
number of the down town dentists were called together and organized, by adopting a constitution
and electing the fol-
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 223
lowing officers : President, G. H. Wilson; vice president, H. L. Ambler ; secretary, Harris R. C.
Wilson; and treasurer, Varney E. Barnes. The officers of the Dental Library association made
arrangements, through Librarian W. H. Brett with the Cleveland Public Library board, so that the
Dental library becomes a part of the reference department of the Cleveland Public library.
The collection of books, generously donated by Dr. Strong as a start for this worthy object,
consisted of about thirty bound volumes and more than seventy complete volumes of unbound
dental journals. The president of the association added to this foundation about sixty books and a
number of more or less complete volumes of unbound dental journals. Since then others have
added a few volumes of books and unbound journals. However, because of the cramped quarters
of the public library the books are not very accessible. It is hoped that this unfortunate condition
may soon be remedied.
DENTAL JOURNALISM.
Late in the summer of 1905 the Cogswell Dental Supply Company, of this city, determined to
establish a dental journal. For this purpose Drs. W. T. Jackman, W. G. Ebersole, V. E. Barnes,
and G. H. Wilson were selected to formulate and edit the new venture.
The name chosen for the new journal was "The Dentist's Magazine." The first monthly issue
appeared in December, 1905. The magazine contained over one hundred pages of reading matter
each month, was liberally illustrated, printed upon fine quality of paper and had a new cover
design for each issue. In 1909 the Cogswell Dental Supply Company was absorbed by the
Ransom and Randolph Company, of Toledo, and the Dentist's Magazine was submerged in the
"Dental Summary."
AMERICAN CIRCULATING DENTAL CLINIC.
This institution is a thought and creation of Dr. S. Marshall Weaver, of this city. The plan is to
have seven centers for work; and at each center to have a committee of six, whose duty it shall be
to collect a goodly number of dental technic specimens and send them to the central committee at
Cleveland when they are to be properly mounted and shown at a half day clinic before the city
dental society. After being arranged and cased, they will be exhibited at the second city in the
circuit, and then sent on, until they return to Cleveland, when the committee will replace its
exhibit with a new one and start it on the second round of the circuit; each city doing likewise.
The cities in which committees have been appointed and are at work preparing their exhibit, are,
in order : Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Kansas- City, and
Chicago. The first exhibition is to be made in this city early in 1910.
SPECIALISTS.
For some years there has been a tendency for the profession to specialize. Orthodontia is quite
largely given over to the men confining their attention to
224 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
this branch. The devotees of this specialty are : Drs. V. E. Barnes, F. M. Casto, W. E. Newcomb,
and L. A. Krejci. The specialists in prophylaxis are: Drs. I. W. Brown, J. W. Jungman, W. C.
Teter, and I. E. Graves. Extracting and anaesthetics : Dr. C. K. Teter. Prosthesis : Dr. G. H.
Wilson.
While not specialists, there are three other names that should be mentioned : Dr. H. L. Ambler as
an author, and Drs. W. A. Price and C. G. Myers, inventors. Dr. Ambler's works are : "Tin Foil
and Its Combinations ;" "Facts. Fads and Fancies ;" "Historical Notes on the Northern Ohio
Dental Association ;" and the chapter on the "History of Dental Prosthesis," in Koch's History of
Dental Surgery. Dr. Price's inventions are : Cataphoric appliances, dental X-ray, dental
pyrometer, artificial stone and casting outfit. Dr. Myers originated high pressure anaesthesia and
a dental lamp.
The writer desires to express his appreciation for the historical writings of Drs. Gurini, Koch,
Thorpe and Ambler. Much of this sketch has been taken from these authorities and is hereby
gratefully acknowledged.
DIVISION IV.
GOVERNMENTAL AND POLITICAL.
CHAPTER XIX.
EARLY GOVERNMENT, TERRITORIAL AND STATE.
EARLIEST JURISDICTION.
The French and the British successively held dominion over these regions before the treaty of
1783 established the jurisdiction of the United States. The French had trading posts at Presque
Isle (Erie, Pennsylvania), at Sandusky bay, on the Maumee, and on the Great Miami river, as
early as 1749. They drove out the English, who had come from Pennsylvania to start trading at
Sandusky in 1748. Notwithstanding these early activities, there is no record 0f any established
civil jurisdiction over this territory. The authority of the French was confined to a limited zone
around their forts and posts and the government was entirely military.
When the British succeeded to the sovereignty there was little practical change in the government
of the land bordering the southern shore of the lake. This territory was included in the civil
jurisdiction of Canada, for parliament in 1763 extended the province southward to the Allegheny
and Ohio rivers. In 1778 Lord Dorchester, the governor general of Canada, divided upper Canada
into four civil districts and included Detroit and the upper lakes in one of these. There is no
evidence that this district girdled Lake Erie. Later, in 1792, Governor Simcoe, of upper Canada,
was empowered by his parliament to divide his province into nineteen counties. Of these, Essex
county on the Detroit river may have embraced not only these posts to the west, but all of the
stations they established around the southern border of our lake. There is great obscurity as to
these matters. It is more evident that Virginia, with characteristic colonial enterprise, did extend
her civil jurisdiction over the western territory, under color of title granted by her various charters
to rule t0 the shores of the South Sea. In 1776 Virginia created three counties along the waters of
the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. Their western boundaries are not definitely known.
Two years later, in 1778, when the dauntless George Rogers Clark had captured the British posts
on the Wabash and the Mississippi, Virginia promptly established her jurisdiction by creating
into a county called Illinois virtually all the land later embraced in the Northwest Territory,
including the south shore 0f Lake Erie. Kaskaskia was made the county seat.* As the
* - See Federal "Statutes at Large," Volume IX, page 557.
228 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
British held the lake posts, however, Virginia's civil jurisdiction was limited virtually to
Kaskaskia and old Vincennes. (t)
British military law prevailed during the Revolution in the sparse settlements and trading stations
of all this region. The technical status of all the early civil jurisdiction of the south shore of Lake
Erie is veiled in obscurity, for as long as there were no subjects dwelling here, the problem of
sovereignty was merely a theoretical one. When settlers did arrive after the Revolution, they
found no difficulty in governing themselves. (1)
When in 1783 title to the northwest passed to the United States practical conditions did not
change. Not only did the British instigate their Indian allies to constant acts of savage cruelty, but
they refused to evacuate many forts after the treaty had been signed and it was not until 1794,
after the battle of the Rapids of the Maumee, that her open hostility ceased and not until 1797
that all of the lake posts were abandoned by the British, and not until after the war of 1812 that
her covetous eye was diverted from this region.
Connecticut, as we have seen, also claimed jurisdiction over the western country, but unlike
Virginia, she never established counties and her sons did not come to settle the wilderness until
another jurisdiction claimed the land with more right and more immediate power to enforce it.
TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION.
With the ordinance of 1787 we may say that practical civil government was first established
throughout Ohio. (2)
The ordinance vested all executive powers in a governor, all judicial powers in a territorial or
general court, and all legislative powers m the governor sitting with this court. It provided,
however, that when there should be five thousand free male inhabitants of full age in the
territory, that a legislature should be elected. The legislative power of the governor and the
judges was limited to the adopting of "such laws of the original states, criminal and civil, as may
be necessary and best suited to the circumstances of the district."
The officers were elected by congress until the adoption of the constitution, when they were
appointed by the president. On the 5th of October, 1787, congress elected Major General Arthur
St. Clair of Pennsylvania as the first governor of the northwest territory, and Major Winthrop
Sargent as his secretary, and, on the 17th of October, General Samuel Holden Parsons, General
James Mitchell Varnum and Colonel John Armstrong were elected judges. On February 19,
1788, Lieutenant Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr., was elected judge in place of Colonel
Armstrong, who declined to serve.
t - "American State Papers, Public Land Series," Volume I.
1 - See Whittlesey's "Early Civil and County Jurisdiction South Shore of Lake Erie," "Annals
Early Settlers Association," No. 3, p. 57.
2 - The ordinance was drawn by Nathan Dane, a distinguished lawyer of Beverly, Massachusetts.
See "North American Review," October, 1891, for claim that Manassah Cutler was the author of
the ordinance.' And also same magazine, April, 1876, for an article by William F. Poole on the
same subject. Poole asserts that General St. Clair, then president of congress, was promised the
governorship of the northwest Territory if he aided the passage of the ordinance. In 1792
Congress provided a seal for the territory. It represents a buckeye tree, felled by the ax of a
settler, and near it an apple tree in full fruitage, giving significance to the legend "meliorem lapsa
locavit" [the fallen (tree) has made way for a better]. The buckeye thus became the state emblem.
To the settler it was the token of good, rich soil. Ohio apples have always been a noted crop.
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 229
An interesting "provisional government" preceded that established by Governor St. Clair. On
April 7, 1788, forty-seven New England pioneers landed on the Ohi0 at the mouth of the
Muskingum and established the town of Marietta. Finding themselves in advance of the governor
and his court they requested Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs, father of the newly appointed
territorial judge, to draw up a code, which he did on a sheet of ordinary foolscap paper, and the
colony published these rules by nailing them to the trunk of a sturdy oak.
On Wednesday, July 9, 1788, Governor St. Clair arrived at Marietta with two of his judges and
his secretary, and on Tuesday, July 15, with such pomp and ceremony as his federalistic
principles dictated and pioneer limitations allowed, the governor formally entered into the duties
of his office. The ordinance and the commissions of the governor, secretary and judges were
publicly read before the assembled pioneers and the governor made a brief address.
On September 2, 1788, the first common pleas court in the territory convened at Marietta. It was
inaugurated according to the aristocratic ideas of the governor, by a procession of judges, the
officers of the militia, the soldiery and the populace, all headed by the sheriff (with drawn sword)
of the newly established county of Washington.3 This was in marked contrast to the informal
open air courts held soon after, under the shelter of trees and in the shadow of barns and corn
cribs in the rural county seats. The first territorial legislature was composed of Governor St.
Clair, Judges Parsons and Varnum, and Secretary Winthrop Sargent. It met at Marietta in the
summer and autumn 0f 1788. Its first published legislation is dated July 25, 1788, and pertains to
the regulation and establishing of the militia, a fact significant of the turbulent Indian tribes that
harassed the settlers in every valley. On August 23 the general court established "general courts
of quarter session and common pleas" and provided for the appointment of sheriffs. On August
30, probate courts were established and the terms of the general court fixed. Several other laws
were passed and all were signed by the governor and Judges Varnum and Parsons, and Judge
Symmes signed the one establishing probate courts.
Thus was finally established the authority of the United States over the Northwest Territory.
When Washington became the first president he nominated, on August 18, 1789, the same
officers for the territory, naming William Barton in place of Judge Varnum, who died early in
1789. The senate promptly confirmed these appointments. Judge Barton refused to serve and the
president named Judge Turner in his stead. The first of these officers to visit the Western Reserve
was Judge Parsons, who came to the Reserve to attend a treaty council with the Indians.4 He was
drowned in 1789, while crossing a ford in the Muskingum river. General Rufus Putnam, Jr., of
Marietta, was named in his place. He served until 1796, when he was appointed surveyor general
of the United States by President Washington. He was succeeded by Joseph Gilman of Fort
Harmar. Judge Turner resigned in 1798 and was suc-
3 See S. P. Hildreth "Pioneer History," p. 232.
4 See S. P. Hildreth "Pioneer History," p. 232.
230 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
ceeded as chief justice by Return Jonathan Meigs, Jr. There was no fixed seat of government. In
1790 the council sat at Vincennes and later at Cincinnati.
In 1798 Governor St. Clair, having satisfied himself that the necessary five thousand white male
electors were in the territory, issued a proclamation calling for the first election held in the
territory. The people were to elect representatives to the first general assembly, to be convened at
Cincinnati on February 4, 1789. The ordinance provided that the assembly should consist of a
house of representatives elected by the people, and a legislative council of five members
appointed by the President of the United States from ten nominations made to him by the house.
The house of representatives met in Cincinnati on the appointed day, nominated ten men for the
council and adjourned to meet in Cincinnati on the 16th day of the following September. Thus
the second phase of the territorial government was inaugurated.
It was not until September 24, 1799, that the two houses actually convened. They were addressed
by the governor, who still possessed great influence in the territory. The legislature was
practically under the guidance of Jacob Burnet of Cincinnati, a member of the council, who
prepared virtually every law that was passed. He later became distinguished as a judge and
senator and holds an honorable place among the law makers of early Ohio. The legislature
enacted thirty-seven laws. On October 3, 1799, it elected William Henry Harrison as the first
delegate from the territory to congress. His rival in the election was Arthur St. Clair, Jr., a son of
the governor and the attorney for the territory. Harrison's election was by a majority of one vote.
The second session of the first territorial legislature was held at Chillicothe, November 3, 1800.
Twenty-six laws were enacted and signed by the governor. Captain William Henry Harrison was
appointed governor of the newly erected territory of Indiana.
The second and last territorial legislature for Ohio met at Chillicothe on November 23, 1801, by
proclamation of the governor. Forty laws were enacted and signed. By this time the growing
antipathy between the governor and the legislature broke into open warfare. General St. Clair was
a federalist gentleman of the sedate and conscientious school of John Adams. He had the
federalists distrust for the ability of the masses to rule themselves. His tendencies were
aristocratic and his temperament autocratic. While these characteristics suited the military
commander, they were entirely unsuited to the frontier governor. His arbitrary assumption of the
legislative functions, such as the establishing of counties by proclamation, the prodigal use of the
veto power, his presumption that he was a part of the legislative branch, his propensity for
convening and proroguing the legislature without consulting its members, aroused the
frontiersman, used to self-assertion, trained in self-sufficiency and imbued with an extreme
individualism. Added to this autocratic action was a strange obstinacy born of his mistrust of the
advocates of statehood that displayed itself in his antagonism to the forming of a state. He
advocated the division of the entire territory into three parts : the eastern with Marietta as the
capital, the central with Cincinnati as its capital, and the western as Indiana territory. The
combined antagonism aroused by his personal obduracy, his advocacy of centralized power and
by the political machinations of his enemies, finally led to
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 231
mob violence, which, in December, 1801, he barely escaped in Chillicothe. Written charges were
preferred against him by the delegates to President Jefferson, who was entirely in sympathy with
the state party and ready to remove the friend and appointee of Washington. And in 1802 the first
democratic president removed the first governor of the Northwest Territory, for the reason that
the governor was reported to have used "intemperate and indecorus language toward congress"
and had "manifested a disorganizing spirit." (t)
A democrat, Charles Byrd, secretary of the territory, was appointed governor. But his
incumbency was brief. The territory was ripe for statehood and soon, with the assurance of
vigorous youth and the fore-knowledge of the proud place she would occupy, Ohio entered the
councils of the nation.
In these important territorial matters the Western Reserve had almost no voice. Three
jurisdictions claimed her, none molested her. There was first the claim of Connecticut. She
maintained that her reservation included jurisdiction as well as territory, that the two under the
American system went together. But she never erected counties, never appointed sheriffs nor
even sent a company of militia hither to maintain her assumption. Secondly was the claim of the
Connecticut Land Company, which purchased the land. Connecticut seemed to have acquiesced
to the opinion that the deed to the land conveyed the prerogatives of government to the grantees.
This mode of transferring sovereignty was not novel to English law and English colonial usage.
But the United States never subscribed t0 it, although the facts in this instance are unique. For we
find that Connecticut did not relinquish all her claims of political jurisdiction to the Umted States
until 1800.* The Reserve was settled, as we have seen, in 1796. During the four years intervening
neither the Company nor the state nor the nation made any effort toward civil government in the
sparsely settled community. We find the Company delegating a Mr. Swift t0 ask Governor St.
Clair to make a county 0f the Reserve in 1798, and for at least three years, 1797, 1798 and 1799,
annual petitions were sent by the settlers to the assembly of Connecticut praying them to organize
some sort of civil government. In October, 1798, Connecticut appointed an agent to bear the facts
upon congress. Finally in 1800 the anomalous situation ends. This is probably the only instance
in our political history where a private corporation, patently vested with governmental power,
tries to shift the burdens of political prerogative upon a commonwealth, which in turn thrusts
them upon an unwilling federal government. And thus for four years these claimants to
sovereignty allow a vast area to remain without other government that the natural self-restraint of
the New Englander.
In 1800 Governor St. Clair by proclamation created the county of Trumbull embracing the entire
Reserve, and on September 22d the governor issued a proclamation directed to David Abbott, the
sheriff, commanding "that on the second Tuesday of October he cause an election to be held for
the purpose of electing one person to represent the county in the territorial legislature." On the
given day the electors convened at Warren, the county seat, to attend the
t - It is probable that Governor St. Clair visited the Western Reserve only once, when he came to
Youngstown to attend the trial of McMahon, charged with the murder of the Indian chief
Tuscarawa George at Salt Springs, in the summer of 1800.
* - Whittlesey's "Early History of Cleveland," p. 155.
232 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
first election held m the Reserve. The elections were after the old English model, not by ballot
but viva vote. The electors, presided over by the sheriff, announced their vote orally. Only
forty-two electors attended this election. The widely separated little frontier communities could
send only a few men so great a distance. There was no one present from Cleveland. General
Edward Paine received thirty-eight votes and was declared elected. He sat in the last territorial
legislature in 1801. This was the first and last election held in the Reserve after this model.
During the territorial period the county was the unit of local government. This was after the
pattern of Pennsylvania and the south rather than 0f New England, where the township was the
unit. The governor created the counties by proclamation and appointed all its officers, which
were a sheriff, a court of quarter sessions, composed of justices of the peace of the quorum. The
court of quarter sessions had administrative and judicial care of the county. It created the
townships and appointed the township officers, namely : justices of the peace and constables, a
clerk and overseers of the poor. There was thus very little local autonomy in this first system of
local government.
At Warren, the first court of quarter sessions, in Trumbull county, "was held August 25, 1800, at
4:00 o'clock p. m., between the corncrib of E. Quinby, on Main street, fronting the Brooks house,
just south of Liberty street. These cribs had regular clapboard cabin roofs." (5)
It proceeded to divide the county into eight townships : Youngstown, Warren, Hudson, Vernon,
Richfield, Middlefield, Painesville and Cleveland. The township of Cleveland included all the
present Cuyahoga county east of the river and the townships 0f Chester, Russell and Bainbridge,
now in Geauga county, as well as the unsurveyed western portion of the reserve from the
Cuyahoga river to the Firelands. James Kingsbury was appointed the first justice of the quorum,
Amos Spafford the first justice not of the quorum and Stephen Gilbert and Lorenzo Carter, the
first constables in Cleveland township.
In January, 1802, the last session 0f the territorial legislature succeeded finally in wresting from
the unwilling governor a law permitting the townships to elect their own trustees, supervisors 0f
highways, fence viewers, overseers of the poor, and constables. The quarter sessions at the
February term 0rdered an election in "Cleaveland, Trumbull county," to be held in the house of
James Kingsbury. The record of this first town election in Cleveland reads : "Agreeably to order
of the Court 0f General Quarter Sessions the inhabitants of the town of Cleaveland, met at the
house of James Kmgsbury, Esq., the 5th day 0f April, A. D. 1802, for a town meeting and chose
Chairman, Rodolphus Edwards ; Town Clerk, Nathaniel Doan ; Trustees, Amos Spafford, Esq.,
Timothy Doan, William W. Williams ; Appraisers of Houses, Samuel Hamilton, Elijah Gun ;
Lister, Ebenezer Ayrs ; Supervisors of Highways, Samuel Huntington, Esq., Nathaniel Doan,
Samuel Hamilton ; Overseers of the Poor, William W. Williams, Samuel Huntington, Esq.;
Fence Viewers, Lorenzo Carter, Nathan Chapman; Constables, Ezekiel Hawley, Richard Craw. A
true copy of the proceedings of the inhabitants of Cleaveland at their town meeting examined per
me.
NATAHANIEL DOAN, Town Clerk."
5 - Leonard Case "Early Settlement of Trumbull County," Western Reserve Historical Society,
Tract No. 30, p.
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 233
This first election under the new territorial law was also the last, for the territory soon became a
state. On November 1, 1802, the first state constitutional convention met at Chillicothe, and in
the surprisingly short time of thirty days it completed a constitution and ratified it for the people,
the document never going to the electorate for popular approval, although it was framed to suit
an extreme democracy.
Trumbull county was represented by two delegates, David Abbott of Geauga and Samuel
Huntington of Cleveland. Both were mild federalists, although Huntington had rather decided
leanings toward Jeffersonianism, and their influence was not preponderating in the deliberations.
The convention was a rampant Jeffersonian body in complete control of the Chillicothe group of
democrats who had brought the bitter strife with St. Clair to a fatal focus.
The new national administration, the first of the republican or democratic party, lent its potent
influence toward radicalizing the constitution through Speaker Macon of the National House of
Representatives, who wrote Thomas Worthington, one of the leaders of the convention, the
wishes of President Jefferson, which included legislative supremacy in all appointments,
universal manhood suffrage, the election of militia officers by the militiamen, and limited terms
of all officers.* These ideas were all embodied in the new constitution, only Jefferson's
suggestion that the governor be elected by joint ballot of the legislature was rejected. So it came
about that Ohio, the first of the great states of the new northwest, threw aside the conservatism of
the New England pioneers and followed her Virginians and Kentuckians far into the fields of
radicalism. It gave to the legislature elected by the people, supreme power over courts and
governors ; over courts, because it appointed all judges for a limited term of seven years, and
when in 1805 the Supreme court declared a law of the legislature unconstitutional, the legislature
promptly proceeded to impeach the judges ; over the governor, for it deprived him of the veto
power and emasculated his office so that Tom Corwin could say "the reprieving of criminals and
the appointing of notaries are the sole powers of the prerogative." All property qualifications for
voters were abolished, excepting that the voter must be a tax payer and a road tax that could be
paid in work fulfilled this requirement. The militia chose its own commanders. For its day, it was
a radical document. But it suited the ideals of the rough, individualistic frontiersman,
STATE JURISDICTION.
Edward Tiffin, of Ross county, was elected the first governor ; Thomas Worthington, of Ross
county and John Smith, of Hamilton county, the first United States senators, and Jeremiah
Morrow, of Warren county, the first congressman, all from the dominating southern part of the
state.
The Reserve participated in the legislature by sending Samuel Huntington, of Cleveland, to the
senate and Ephraim Quinby to the house, that convened in 1803. The first election under this
constitution held in Cleveland was on October 11, 1803, for the choice of representatives to the
legislature. There were only twenty-two votes cast. Ephraim Quinby received nineteen ; David
Abbott, twenty-two; Amos Spafford, one ; David. Hudson, one; Timothy Doan, Nathaniel Doan
and James Kingsbury were the judges of election; Rodolphus
* - "St. Clair Papers" II, p. 590-1.
234 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
Edwards and Stephen Gilbert, clerks ; Timothy Doan, justice of the peace, swore in the officers.
(6)
The state passed safely through the vicissitudes that legislative omnipotence brought upon it and
entered, in 1825, into a career of profligate public expenditures on canals and turnpikes. When
the developing railway lines antiquated these modes of transportation, the state found itself on
the verge of bankruptcy, and in 1850 an election was held for choosing delegates to the second
constitutional convention. The 'convention met at Columbus, May 6, 1850. Cuyahoga county was
represented by two distinguished lawyers, Sherlock J. Andrews and Reuben Hitchcock. After
four and 0ne-half months deliberation the convention submitted its work to the people and by a
majority of sixteen thousand, two hundred and eighty-eight it was ratified. The new instrument
was radical 0nly in its reaction against the prevailing policy of public improvements and special
legislation. It prohibited both, authorizing only a very limited annual expenditure to maintain the
state public works. In May, 1873, a third constitutional convention met in Columbus, Cuyahoga
county being represented by Sherlock J. Andrews, Jacob Mueller, Amos Townsend, Martin A.
Foran and Seneca O. Griswold. The new constitution, a voluminous document the result of many
months' deliberation, was rejected by the people.
CHAPTER XX.
CLEVELAND MEN IN STATE AND NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
During her first half century, northern Ohio had but a small share in state and national political
affairs. Southern Ohio was settled much more rapidly than the northern counties. From
Pennsylvama, Virginia and Kentucky came a vast immigration, passing through the Ohio valley
into the rich rolling country adjacent to the Miami and other rivers. These people were
Jeffersonian in politics and their southern sympathies developed as the New England federalists
of the Reserve became whigs and abolitionists. There is, therefore, a distinct line of cleaveage
between the politics of the two sections. It was not until the Great Issue assumed its menacing
attitude that the northern and southern counties united in the republican party.
Since the development 0f lake traffic the lake cities have grown with marvelous rapidity and
Cleveland as the metropolis of the state has, in more recent years, secured her proper prestige in
state and national affairs.
STATE GOVERNMENT.
Governors.-Samuel Huntington, elected in 1808, served one term, 1809-10; lived in Cleveland
from 1803 to 1806; removed to Newburg in 1806 and to Painesville in 1807. He was born in
Connecticut, received a college education and a good legal training and traveled in Europe. He
first came to Ohio in 1800 0n a tour of investigation, visiting the principal settlements and going
as far south as Marietta, where he met Governor St. Clair and evidently made a
6 - Whittlesey "Early History of Cleveland," pp. 389-90.
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 235
favorable impression. He returned to his home in Norwich, Connecticut, not far from the home of
Moses Cleaveland, and the following spring brought his wife and two sons and their governess,
Miss Margaret Cobb, to Youngstown, where they remained until his removal to Cleveland.
During his first visit to the Reserve in 1800 he kept a diary and this is what he says of Cleveland :
"Left David Abbott's mill (Willoughby) and came to Cleveland. Stayed at Carter's at night. * * *
Explored the city and town ; land high and flat, covered with white oak. On the west side of the
river is a long, deep; stagnant pool 0f water, which produces fever and ague among those who
settle near the river. There are only three families near the point and they have the fever. * * *
Sailed out of the Cuyahoga along the coast to explore the land west of the river. Channel at the
mouth about five feet deep. On the west side is a prairie where 0ne hundred tons of hay might be
cut each year. A little way back is a ridge, from which the land descends to the lake, affording a
prospect indescribably beautiful. In the afternoon went to Williams' grist and saw mill
(Newburg), which are nearly completed." *
When he came to Cleveland to live he had Amos Spafford build him a house of hewn timber on
the rear of the lot on Superior street where the American house now stands. His house
0verlooked the river valley and was the most pretentious place in Cleveland. He lived in this
mansion only a few years. It was too 'near the malarial "stagnant pool," and in 1806 he purchased
the mill at Newburg, where he lived only one year. From his contemporaries we learn that
Governor Huntington was a cautious, honorable, industrious man, possessed of tact and patience.
Huntington was a mild Jeffersonian, unlike most of the New Englanders, and occupied many
public offices, including that of supervisor of the highway in 1802. Governor St. Clair appomted
him a justice of the quorum in 1802 and a lieutenant in the militia. He was Trumbull county's
delegate t0 the first state constitutional convention and the county's first senator in the first state
legislature. In 1803, Governor Tiffin, appointed him the first member of the first state supreme
court, which place he resigned in 188 to become the first Western Reserve governor of the state.
After serving his term he retired t0 Painesville, where he had a splendid estate. After Hull's
ignominious surrender of Detroit, in the War of 1812, Governor Huntington came to Cleveland
to meet General Lewis Cass and others and proceeded to Washington with a letter t0 the war
department, describing the precarious situation in northern Ohio and asking for arms and
equipment. He soon, thereafter, became a member of the staff of General Wm. Henry Harrison.
He died on his farm at Painesville, in 1817.
Reuben Wood, elected in 1850, served one term, was reelected in 1852, but resigned in 1853 to
accept the consulship to Valparaiso. He was the last governor of Ohio under the old constitution
and the first under the new. Governor Wood was born in Rutland county, Vermont, in 1792. He
received a common school education, studied law in the office 0f General Clark of Middleton,
Connecticut, was married in 1818 and came t0 Cleveland the same year. In 1825 he was elected
to the state senate and was twice reelected. In 1830 he was elected presiding judge of this judicial
district (the third) and in 1833 was
* See Whittlesey's "Early History of Cleveland," p. 379.
236 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
elected judge of the state Supreme court, where he served two terms, the last three years as chief
justice. He was elected governor by eleven thousand majority in 1850. When the new
constitution cut short his term, he was reelected by twenty-six thousand majority. President
Pierce appointed him consul to Valparaiso in 1853. On his return from this mission he retired to
his farm in Rockport township, an estate long known for its beauty, where he died October 2,
1864. When Governor Wood came to Cleveland there were only two other lawyers here, Leonard
Case, who was not actively engaged in practice, and Alfred Kelley. He was ingenious and alert,
and was recognized as a good jury lawyer. He was a democrat of the northern school and when in
1852 his party in national convention was in a quandary for a candidate, his name was frequently
mentioned as a compromise candidate. Governor Wood was not sagacious as a politician. He
possessed a bluntness of speech that often betrayed him to his enemies. When in 1848 General
Cass came to Cleveland, he was introduced by Governor Wood as willing to explain his position
on slavery and internal improvements. These were the topics in the people's minds and these
subjects Cass was eager to dodge.
John Brough, the last of the three "war governors," was elected in 1863, entered office in
January, 1864, and died in office August 29, 1865. He was born in Marietta in 1811. His father
was an Englishman, who came to Ohio with the ill-fated Blennerhassets in 1806, and his mother
was a Pennsylvania German. He was apprenticed to a printer, earned his way through Ohio
university at Athens by working in a printing office, was editor of the Marietta "Gazette" and
Lancaster "Eagle," and in 1839 was elected auditor of the state. For two years he edited the
Cincinnati "Enquirer" and then began the practice of law. In 1853 he was made president of the
Madison & Indianapolis railway, later a part of the Big Four system, and moved to Cleveland. He
was a war democrat but openly identified himself with the new republican organization. When
Vallandingham was named for governor on the democratic ticket in 1863, Brough made a
brilliant speech at Marietta, in which he handled Vallandingham and his adherents with his usual
ferocious rhetoric and thereby made himself the Union republican candidate. He was elected by
the largest majority ever given an Ohio governor up to that time, namely, one hundred and one
thousand, and ninety-nine. Brough was a born fighter, blunt, honest, a splendid lawyer and gifted
speaker. Indeed, during the famous Corwin-Shannon campaign for governor in 1840, the
democrats withdrew Shannon from the platform and substituted Brough, whose brusque and
often impassioned eloquence was a better match for the incomparable Corwin.
Myron T. Herrick, republican, was elected governor in 1903 and served one term. Mr. Herrick
was born in Huntington, Ohio, October 9, 1854, attended Oberlin college and Ohio Wesleyan
university. He came to Cleveland in 1878 to begin the practice of law. He retired from practice in
1886 to become secretary and treasurer of the Society for Savings and since 1894 has been
president of this noted bank. He is actively identified with many of the great business enterprises
of Cleveland, is a republican in politics and was one of President McKinley's most intimate
advisers and friends. In 1903 he was elected gov-
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 237
ernor of Ohio over Tom L. Johnson, the democratic nominee, by the largest majority ever
received by an Ohi0 governor.
In April, 1863, Governor David Tod, of Youngstown, purchased the "Hilliard Mansion," corner
Bond and St. Clair streets, which cost originally twenty- five thousand dollars.* Early in 1864 the
family moved into the house, living there little more than a year. This historic house was
purchased in 1868 by Caesar Grasselli and occupied by him until his death in 1882. It has long
been known as the Grasselli mansion, and is now 0ccupied by the Associated Charities.
Governor Tod, the second "war governor," was elected from Youngstown, in 1861. He was a
lawyer, but devoted most of his time to large business interests, including the extensive Briar Hill
coal mines. He died in Youngstown, November 13, 1868.
Governor George Hoadly lived in Cleveland during the years of his youth and early manhood. He
was born in New Haven, Connecticut, July 31, 1825. His father, George Hoadly, Sr., was mayor
of New Haven for a number 0f years. In 1830 the family moved to Cleveland and from 1832 to
1846 the father was a justice of the peace and from 1846 to 1848 mayor of the city. As a justice
of the peace, the elder Hoadly remains our model. He decided 0ver twenty thousand cases, few
were appealed, and none were reversed. His love of learning, his fine temperament inherited
from his grandmother, wh0 was a daughter of Jonathan Edwards, his splendid poise of character,
were transmitted to his distinguished son, who graduated from Western Reserve college and
began the practice of law in Cincinnati, to which city the family had removed in 1849.
Governor Seabury Ford, 1849-51, is usually classed as a Cleveland governor. But he lived in
Geauga county and never had a residence in Cleveland, though he practiced extensively in the
Cuyahoga county courts.
LIEUTENANT GOVERNORS.
Alphonso Hart, 1874-76. Not a resident of Cleveland when elected, but removed to Cleveland
subsequent to his election.
Jacob Mueller served 1872-74.
H. W. Curtis (vice Young) served 1877-78. When Rutherford B. Hayes was elected president in
1876, Lieutenant Governor Thomas L. Young became governor, and H. W. Curtis, by virtue of
being president of the senate, became acting lieutenant governor.
James Williams. On the death of Governor John M. Pattison, June 18, 1906, Lieutenant
Governor Andrew L. Harris became governor, and as president of the senate James Williams
became acting lieutenant governor.
Francis W. Treadway. Elected in 1908.
JUDGES OF THE SUPREME COURT.
Samuel Huntington. Elected by the legislature and commissioned by Governor Tiffin, April 12,
1803. Resigned December 5, 1808.
* - "Herald," April 23, 1863.
238 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
Reuben Wood. Elected by the legislature, 1833, resigned 1845.
Rufus P. Ranney. The last judge elected by the legislature under the old constitution, March 17,
1851. The following October was reelected by the people. Resigned in 1856. In 1857 he removed
to Cleveland from Warren and in 1862 was again elected and served until February 28, 1865,
when he resigned.
Franklin J. Dickman. Appointed November 9, 1886, vice Judge W. W. Johnson resigned. Elected
in 1889 and served until February 9, 1895. Member of the second Supreme court commission
April 17, 1883-April 16, 1885.
OTHER STATE OFFICERS.
Clerks of the Supreme Court.—Arnold Green, 1875-78; Richard J. Fanning, 1878-81.
Member of Board of Public Works.—Peter Thatcher, 1876-79.
Secretary of State.—W. W. Armstrong, 1863-65, Not a resident of Cleveland at the time of
election. Removed here afterward.
School Commissioner.—Anson Smythe, 1857-63. Removed here after his election.
Attorney General.—James Lawrence, 1884-86.
State Oil Inspector.—Louis Smithnight, 1880-86.
State Board of Equalization.—James S. Clark, 1841; Madison Miller, 1846; Henry B. Payne,
1853; Samuel Williamson, 1859-60; James M. Hoyt, 187o-71; F. W. Pelton, 1880-81; A. W.
Breeman, 1890-91; T. M. Bates, 1900-01; George Stuart, 1900-01.
Members of Board of State Charities.—Joseph Perkins appointed June 10, 1867; reappointed
April, 1876; Henry C. Ranney, appointed August, 1892; Virgil P. Kline, 1902-7.
State Board of Health.—D. H. Beckwith, M. D., 1886-90; William T. Miller, M. D., 1890-1911.
State Board of Dental Examiners.—Henry Barnes, M. D., president of the board, 1902-05.
State Library Commissioner.—Charles Orr, 1899 to date.
Board of Medical Registration and Examiners.—H. H. Baxter, M. D., 1896-1911.
State Board of Pardons.—T. T. Thompson, 1888-89; E. J. Kennedy, 188994; S. D. Dodge,
1904-09.
Committee to examine applicants for admission to the bar.—James B. Ruhl, now serving.
State Board of Pharmacy.—George W. Voss, 1900-05; M. G. Tielke, 1905-10.
State Board of Veterinary Examiners.—Dr. Albert E. Cunningham, 1901 to present.
Dairy and Food Commissioners Department.-W. H. Westman, inspector, 1901-02; P. L. Hobbs,
chemist, 1901-02; William B. Beebe, 1901-02.
Superintendent Free Employment Bureau.—I. M. McMullen, 1900-06.
State Examiner of Steam Engines.—G. G. Bennett, 1900-02.
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 239
State Fire Marshal.—Hy. D. Davis, 1904-06; Colonel W. S. Rogers, 1908- 09.
Fish and Game Commissioners.—Paul North, 1900 to present.
Trustees State Hospital, Athens.—Levi T. Schofield, 1872-76.
Trustees State Hospital, Newburg.—P. L. Ruggles, Joseph Perkins, Hiram Griswold, Isaac
Brayton, John Hunter, 1856; Charles Hickox, 1857; Harvey Rice, 1858; Jabez Gallup, 1860; Fred
Kluegel, 1862; W. H. Price, 1866; Allyne Maynard, 1867 ; Charles B. Lockwood, 1868; Jabez
W. Fitch, 1874-82; James Barnett, 1874-82; J. H. Wade, 1879; A. T. Winslow, 1879; John Tod,
1881-91; E. D. Burton, 1884; H. W. Curtis, 1887; J. M. Waterman, 1890.
Trustees State Institution for the Blind.—S. H. Webb, 1853-54; Royal Taylor, 1862-64; Stillman
Witt, 1865-70.
Trustees Institution for Deaf Mutes.—Jacob Rohrheimer, 1878-80.
Trustee State Hospital for Epileptics. Dr. P. Maxwell Foshay, 1901-07.
Trustees Boys Industrial School.—J. A. Foote, 1854-74; George W. Gardner, 1880-84; W. J.
Akers, 1902-08.
Trustees Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Home, Sandusky.—Colonel J. J. Sullivan, 1892 to present.
Trustees Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans' Home, Xenia.—James Barnett, 1870-74.
Trustees Massillon State Hospital.—J. B. Zerbe, 1900-05.
Trustees Ohio University, Athens.—J. E. Benson, 1892-1903.
NATIONAL GOVERNMENT.
PRESIDENTS OF THE UNITED STATES
While none of the Ohio presidents lived in Cleveland, Hayes was often in this city, and his sons
later engaged in business here. McKinley's political headquarters were in Cleveland during his
presidential campaign, for Mark Hanna and Myron T. Herrick, two of the president's most
confidential advisers, lived here. McKinley often visited Cleveland during his public career. He
spoke here frequently when he was yet in congress, was the guest of the city several times when
he was governor, and his tragic death at the hands of a Cleveland anarchist was felt by all
Cleveland citizens as a personal loss.
Garfield may be claimed as Cleveland's president. Mentor is now a suburb. Hiram, where he was
president of the college, is connected with the city by trolley; here the citizens gave him a
freehold, a brick mansion on Prospect street ; here were his political headquarters during the
presidential campaign, and here in the stately mausoleum he lies buried.
CABINET OFFICERS.
Since 1814 Ohio has had twenty-one cabinet officers, whose total time of service aggregates over
seventy-five years. Only two of these men came from Cleveland, John Hay, the great secretary of
state in the McKinley-Roosevelt
40 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
cabinets, and James R. Garfield, secretary of the interior in the Roosevelt cabinet.
SUPREME COURT.
Ohio has had six judges on the bench of the Supreme court. Two of these, Chase and Waite, were
chief justices. Since 1829 there has been an Ohio man on this bench, excepting only the interval
between the death of Justice Matthews in 1889, and the appointment of Justice Day in 1903.
None of these appointments came from Cleveland and only one, that of Justice Day, from the
Reserve.
UNITED STATES SENATORS.
Stanley Griswold.—On the resignation of Senator Edward Tiffin in 1809, Governor Huntington
appointed Stanley Griswold of Cleveland for the unexpired term, which included only a part of
one session.
Henry B. Payne.—Elected January 15, 1884; served 1885-1891 ; democrat.
Marcus A. Hanna.—Elected January 12, 1898, for the short term, vice Sherman, resigned. Was
elected 1903; served until his death, 1904; republican.
Theodore Burton.-Elected January 12, 1909, for full term of six years ; republican.
REPRESENTATIVES IN CONGRESS.
From 1803 until 1812 Ohio had only one congressional district, its sole representative in
congress being Jeremiah Morrow of Warren county, afterward governor and United States
senator. In the second decade, 1813-23, the state was divided into six congressional districts.
Cuyahoga county was in the sixth district and represented as follows : 1813-14, John S. Edwards,
of Trumbull county, Rezin Beall of Wayne county, David Clendenen of Trumbull county ;
1815-16, David Clendenen, of Trumbull county ; 1817-18, Peter Hitchcock, of Geauga county ;
1819-22, John Sloan, of Wayne county.
From 1823-1833 there were fourteen districts in the state, Cuyahoga county being in the
thirteenth district. The Reserve during this decade formed the habit of keeping a good man in
congress for many sessions. Elisha Whittlesey of Trumbull county represented the district the
entire decade.
From 1833-1843 there were nineteen districts, Cuyahoga county being in the fifteenth, and for
the first time a citizen of Cleveland was elected to congress. 1833-36, Jonathan Sloan, Portage
county ; 1837-40, John W. Allen, Cuyahoga county ; 1841-42, Sherlock J. Andrews, Cuyahoga
county.
Since 1843 there have been twenty-one districts in Ohio.
From 1843-1853 Cleveland was in the twentieth district and was represented the entire period by
Joshua R. Giddings of Ashtabula county. From 1853-63 Cuyahoga county was in the nineteenth
district, and was represented by Cleveland citizens ; 1853-60, Edward Wade of Cleveland ;
1861-62, Albert G. Riddle, of Cleveland.
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 241
From 1863-73 the city was in the eighteenth district and represented, 1863-68, by Rufus P.
Spalding, of Cleveland; 1869-72, by William H. Upson, of Akron, Summit county.
From 1873-83 the county was in the twentieth district, represented 1873-75, by Richard C.
Parsons, of Cleveland; 1875-76, by Henry B. Payne, of Cleveland; 1877-82, by Amos Townsend,
of Cleveland.
From 1883-93, Cleveland was the twenty-first district, represented 1883-88, by Martin A. Foran,
of Cleveland; 1889-90, by Theodore E. Burton, of Cleveland ; 1890-92, by Tom L. Johnson, of
Cleveland.
From 1893 to present Cleveland, east of the river, has been the twenty-first district, sending
1893-94, Tom L. Johnson ; 1895-19o9, Theodore E. Burton; 1909 to present, James Cassidy.
A portion of Cuyahoga county was in the twentieth district 1883-93 ; represented 1883-84, by
David R. Paige, Summit county ; 1885-86, William McKinley, Stark county ; 1887-88, George
W. Crouse, Summit county; 1880-9o, M. L. Smyser, Wayne county; 1891-92, Vincent A. Taylor,
Cuyahoga county.
From 1893 to present Cleveland west of the river has been in the twentieth district, sending
1893-94, William J. White, Cuyahoga county ; 1895-98, Clifton B. Beach, Cuyahoga county;
1899-1900, Fremont O. Phillips, Medina county; 1901-06, Jacob A. Beidler, Lake county; 1906
to present, Paul Howland, Cuyahoga county.
CHAPTER XXI.
COUNTY AND VILLAGE GOVERNMENT.
COUNTY GOVERNMENT.
Under the first constitution the county officers were a sheriff and a coroner, elected for two years
by the people and "not more than three nor less than two" associate judges of the common pleas
appointed by the legislature for seven years. These judges elected a county clerk. Other officers
were established by law. They were principally a board of county commissioners, to whom were
transferred all the fiscal and administrative duties formerly performed by the court of quarter
session. The commissioners were elected by the people for a term of two years.
Cuyahoga county was not organized until 1810. On the 1st of May that year the first county
government was inaugurated and on June 5 the first court of common pleas held its first session
in a new frame store building on Superior street near Seneca, where the Forest City block now
stands. The presiding judge was Benjamin Ruggles and his associates were Nathan Perry,
Augustus Gilbert and Timothy Doan. John Walworth was the first county clerk and recorder,
Smith S. Baldwin the first sheriff. Peter Hitchcock of Geauga was appointed first prosecuting
attorney and was succeeded in November by Alfred Kelley. The rest of the officers were Asa
Dille, treasurer ; Samuel S. Baldwin,
242 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
surveyor; Jabez Wright and Nathaniel Doan, county commissioners. The inauguration of the
county government was a great convenience to the people on the lake shore. It made unnecessary
the toilsome journey to Warren and later to Chardon for the transaction of legal business.
The constitution of 1851 made very little modification in the form of county government. It
provided that all the officers be elected by the people.
TOWNSHIP GOVERNMENT.
The first constitution provided that "all town and township officers shall be chosen annually by
the inhabitants thereof." The township affairs were managed by a board of three trustees and
neighborhood quarrels were settled by a justice of the peace. A clerk, a treasurer and an assessor
completed the list of township officers. From 18o3 to 1815 Cleveland had this township form of
government.
The annual militia elections were more exciting than the simple civil elections. Major General
Wadsworth was in command of this militia corps and in 1804 he issued an order dividing the
district into two brigade sections. Trumbull county including the second section was in turn
subdivided into two regimental districts, Cuyahoga county east of the river being included in one
of these. This regiment was again divided into eight companies. The township of Cleveland
formed the fourth company. It held its first election in the house of James Kingsbury, May 7,
1804. A number of the electors were dissatisfied with the results and sent a bitter remonstrance to
General Wadsworth, giving as their reasons for believing the elections "illegal and improper,"
that some under age, others are not liable to military duty, and some not residents of the town had
been allowed to vote, and that the poll books and votes had not been compared at the close of the
vote. They deemed the captain ineligible because he had given "spirituous liquors to the voters
previous to the election" and had "frequently threatened to set the savages against the
inhabitants." (1) The following were elected officers : Lorenzo Carter, captain ; Nathaniel Doan,
lieutenant; Samuel Jones, ensign.
The remonstrance was apparently not heeded and the following year Lieutenant Doan was made
captain and Ensign Jones lieutenant, according to the orthodox rule of rotation in office and none
of the remonstrants appear on the roll of electors.
VILLAGE.
The village of Cleveland received its charter on December 23, 1814. The charter provided that
the electors meet the first Monday in June, 1815, and elect by ballot a president, recorder, three
trustees, a treasurer, a village marshal and two assessors. These officers all must be resident
householders, or freeholders and have lived one year in the village. The trustees "had full power
and authority to make and publish laws and ordinances in writing," provided they were not
contrary to the constitution and laws of the
1 - Whittlesey's "Early History of Cleveland," p. 398.
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 243
United States and the state, "and provided also that no such law or ordinance shall subject horses,
cattle, sheep or hogs, not belonging to said village, to be abused, taken up or sold, for coming
into the bounds of said corporation."
The president and the recorder had the right to sit with the board of trustees. The trustees were
empowered to care for the streets, the public buildings, remove nuisances and prevent animals
from running in the streets "if in their opinion the interests and convenience of the said village
shall require such prohibition." The recorder's duty was the keeping of the records, the marshal's
the keeping of the peace, and the treasurer's the keeping of the public money.
On the first Monday in June, 1815, the first village election was held. Only twelve votes were
cast, scarcely enough to fill all the offices. The following were unanimously elected : President,
Alfred Kelley; recorder, Horace Perry ; treasurer, Alonzo Carter ; marshal, John Ackley ;
assessors, George Wallace and John Riddle; trustees, Samuel Williamson, David Long and
Nathan Perry, Jr. These are all names that have become permanently identified with our
municipal growth.
Alfred Kelley served until March 19, 1816, when he resigned and was succeeded by his father,
Daniel Kelley, who was unanimously reelected in 1817, 1818 and 1819. In 1820 Horace Perry
was elected president and Reuben Wood recorder, and in 1821 Reuben Wood was made
president. Leonard Case was elected president annually from 1821 to 1825, and when in the latter
year he refused to qualify, E. Waterman, the recorder, became president, ex officio. The records
are not quite clear who was president in 1826 and 1827, but ,in 1828 E. Waterman was elected
both president and recorder, and it is probable that be held the dual office continuously from
1825 to 1828. He resigned on account of ill health in 1828, and the trustees appointed Oirson
Cathan president and E. H. Beardsley recorder. In 1829 Dr. Long, Cleveland's first physician,
was elected president. The number of electors had increased to forty-eight. In 1830 and 1831
Richard Hilliard served as president and from 1832 to 1835 John W. Allen, an able and public
spirited lawyer, was elected annually. The last year one hundred and six votes were cast. The first
city directory, published in 1837, estimated the population in 1835 at five thousand. If this is
approximately accurate, then there was very little interest among the voters in municipal affairs.
In reviewing the history of the village during its corporate period, the first city directory naively
says : "The corporate powers vested in a president and trustees * * * were administered not
materially different from the manner such powers usually are. They had authority to lay new
streets and occasionally exercised it. * * * Its corporate powers were enlarged, and, as the several
acts say, from time to time amended. Sundry things were done— sundry hills and streets were
graded to the great satisfaction of some and dissatisfaction of others. Some six to eight thousands
of inhabitants had come together from the four winds—some wished to do more things and some
wished to do things better ; and to effect all these objects, and a variety of others, no means
seemed so proper as a City Charter in due form and style, which was petitioned for and obtained
in March, 1836, with extended boundaries."
244 - HISTORY OF CL EVELAND
CHAPTER XXII.
THE CITY, ITS SUCCESSIVE GOVERNMENTS.
Under our theory of public law the municipal corporation is the creature of the state, receiving its
power and its prerogatives from the state by means of its charter, which is constructed to suit the
creator rather than the creature. Practically this leads to constant shifts in municipal organization
dictated by party politics, by personal or sectional jealousies or other unworthy motives. In a new
state dominated by a rural legislature where political feeling often runs high and where scientific
administration is virtually unknown, one must expect to meet constant interference by petty
persons with transitory political powers and small conceptions of the functions of the
municipality.
The city of Cleveland, like all other American cities, has been compelled to grope its way
through this intermeddling period. But unlike most other American cities, it has attained a fairly
stable state of governmental equilibrium and self-government, due to a highly developed local
public opinion.
It will, of course, be impossible to touch here upon all the mutations made by the legislature. At
nearly every session the municipal kaleidoscope was turned and a new arrangement of the
multicolored political particles was made to please the fancy of the legislature. Only the leading
charters can be outlined and an attempt made to trace the partial success of the dominating
instinct for municipal self-government.
Under the first state constitution all corporations, public and private, were chartered by special
act. This led to a bewildering multitude of charters and a riot of special legislation. In the midst
of this carnival of special acts Cleveland prayed for a city charter and in March, 1836, the act of
incorporation was passed.
Considerable local agitation preceded the securing of this charter. A number of town meetings
were held and a committee was appointed to draft a charter. At a meeting held in the courthouse,
December 29, 1835, the committee's report was adopted and the committees discharged. But a
warm discussion still continued and on January II, 1836, another public meeting was called, in
the courthouse. It appears it was not an entirely tranquil gathering. Frederick Whittlesey was
chairman and H. P. Paine, "scribe." A motion was made to reject the charter. After frank
discussion the motion was lost. An amendment, making the center of the Cuyahoga the western
boundary of the city was agreed upon and the entire bill then referred to a committee of
twenty-five, who were evidently quite successful in their efforts to secure a charter agreeable to
the local wishes.*
(I) The charter defined the boundaries of the city and divided it into three wards. The council
consisted of three members from each ward and as many aldermen as there were wards, chosen at
large but no two from the same ward. The council, as would be expected from the prevalent
political opinion, were given not only legislative, but also administrative and executive powers. It
was to "regulate the police, * * * preserve the peace, prevent riots, dis-
* - See "Cleveland Whig" on dates mentioned.
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 245
turbances and disorderly assemblages, * * * to appoint watchmen, * * * appoint a city clerk and
any other agents or officers necessary for the interests of said city." The mayor was keeper of the
seal, a police magistrate and vigilance officer, taking care "that the laws of the state and
ordinances of the city council be faithfully executed." The marshal was the chief police officer
and had the authority to appoint one or more deputies with the approval of the council. The
treasurer was the custodian of the funds and under the control of the council. These officers were
all elected annually at the spring election, the first Monday in March.
(2) May ,3, 1852, an act was passed providing for the incorporating of cities and villages. It was
the intention of the legislature to comply with the new constitution and not pass special acts of
incorporation. So this general act granted general powers to cities. But it likewise divided all
cities into two classes, first and second, those over twenty thousand inhabitants were of the first
class, and all others of the second.
As Cleveland had only seventeen thousand inhabitants in 1850, it fell into the second class. The
council was composed of two trustees from each ward, and was given "all the legislative power
granted in the act." The pay of the trustees was not to exceed one dollar for every regular or
special session. The mayor's powers were limited and his pay was fixed by the council. The
marshal, treasurer and city solicitor were elected by the people. The board plan was now making
its appearance and a board of city commissioners was created, consisting of three members
elected for three years ; it had charge of city streets and bridges. The multiplication of
governmental functions was now also beginning. A superintendent of markets was elected, a
complete police judiciary, including a judge, clerk and prosecutor, and a civil engineer and
auditor were added to the list.
(3) After yearly changes in many of the minor offices, the legislature, in 1870, attempted another
general code for all cities of the first class, into which Cleveland had advanced. The mayor,
solicitor, treasurer, street commissioner, police judge, police prosecuting attorney and police
court clerk were all elected; while the civil engineer, fire engineer, superintendent of markets and
chief of police were appointed by the mayor with the consent of the council. The council
remained as before, two members from each ward. The mayor was thus becoming more distinctly
an executive officer. He shared the appointing power with the council, though the latter body still
elected the city clerk and the auditor and fixed the number of the policemen whom the mayor,
with their consent might appoint.
In order to please the numerous local demands for special charters, and at the same time to avoid
the constitutional inhibition against special legislation, the adroit politicians, with the sanction of
the Supreme court, resorted to that system of classification of cities which later developed into
such ridiculous proportions and made Ohio a byword among students of municipal government.
(4) May 14, 1878, the first serious attempt at a comprehensive municipal code in Ohio was made.
Cities were classified according to population, Cleveland falling into the first class, second grade.
This code indicated the development of the board plan and the rehabilitation of the mayor as an
exec-
246 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
utive. The council, two members from each ward, the mayor, treasurer, police judge and
prosecutor were elected for two years, the solicitor for four and the street commissioner for three.
The auditor and city clerk were appointed by the council for one year and the civil engineer for
three years. Municipal election day was the first Monday in April.
The following boards were created: The board of police commissioners, composed of the mayor
and four commissioners elected for four years ; the board of directors of the house of refuge and
correction, five members appointed by the mayor for five years ; the board of health, composed
of the mayor and six members appointed by the council for three years ; the board of infirmary
directors, elected for three years ; the board of improvements, established at the option of the
council, composed of the mayor, the civil engineer, the street commissioner, chairman of the
council committee on streets and one member appointed by the council, it had charge of the
cleaning and repairing of streets ; the board of park commissioners, three appointed by the mayor
with the consent of the council, for three years ; board of water works trustees, three elected by
the people for three years ; the board of fire commissioners, four elected by the people for four
years, and the chairman of the city council committee on fires ; the board of cemetery trustees,
three elected by the people for three years ; and the board of revision, the mayor, president of the
city council and city solicitor, met once a month to review the proceedings of the multitudinous
departments and report to the city council whether any had overstepped their prerogative.
Nearly all these boards served without pay.
A superintendent of markets was appointed by the mayor, with the consent of the council, which
prescribed his duties and his pay. The council was authorized, if it deemed wise, to appoint an
inspector of oil, an inspector of flour and bakery products, an inspector of meat, an inspector of
fish and an inspector of pot and pearl ashes.
Here was a tessellated code that included parts of all forms of municipal governments brought
together with a complete disregard for consistency. Many changes were made from year to year,
the principal one being that of April 3, 1885, when a bicameral city legislature was established,
composed of a board of aldermen of nine members elected for two years from aldermanic
districts defined by the law, and a council of one member from each ward.
(5) With such a varied experience in the frame work of its government and its manipulation by
office seekers, it is no wonder that a well defined public sentiment demanded a form of
municipal government more rationally adapted to the business of governing. Colonel John M.
Wilcox publicly suggested in 1888 that a plan of municipal government, modeled after the
federal government at Washington, might be the solution. The suggestion was well received and
at a meeting of the Board of Trade Judge Blandin and W. E. Sherwood were designated to draw a
bill after the federal model. Their bill was submitted to the legislature, passed the senate but
failed in the house. In 1890 the bill was introduced by Colonel O. J. Hodge but was amended to
death. Not until the following year was public sentiment so robust that the bill became a law
March 16, 1891. Through the united efforts of the leaders of both parties and especially
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 247
through the wise direction of its patron, Colonel Hodge, it passed both houses unanimously, an
achievement that alone would give it distinction. (t)
This plan attracted the attention of students of municipal affairs from all parts of the country. The
legislative functions were vested in a council composed of twenty-two members elected from
councilmanic districts. The councilmen elected their own president and clerk and could pass a
measure over the mayor's veto by two-thirds vote. They had authority to establish police, fire and
sanitary departments and create such offices as were deemed necessary. The executive powers
were vested in a mayor and six departments. The mayor practically became the governing power.
He had the general power of appointment and removal and wielded great influence in all
legislative and administrative matters. He received a salary of six thousand dollars a year.
The six departments were: Public works, police, fire, accounts, law, charities and corrections.
Each department was headed by a director appointed by the mayor for two years, with the
consent of the council. Each director received four thousand dollars a year except the director of
law, who received five thousand dollars. All the subordinates in the departments were appointed
by the directors without the consent of the council. The mayor and the directors constituted the
board of control, with the power of revismg the ordinances referred to it by the council. They had
the right to speak on the floor of the council but not the right to vote.
This was essentially a one man government, with definitely fixed responsibility. The people of
the city became attached to it in spite of its weaknesses.
The Supreme court, on the ostensible ground that the process of special classification of cities
had been carried far enough, handed down, June, 1902, the historic decisions that reversed their
former sanction of this evasion of the constitution, and swept aside as unconstitutional every
municipal charter in the state.* The legislature was forthwith convened in extra session and a
new municipal code of uniform operation in all municipalities, great and small, was enacted. The
Cleveland delegation contended for a code based on their federal plan, but the influences against
this form predominated.
(6) The new code was a compromise.
The mayor was retained as the executive head, with the power to appoint the principal officers
not elected by the people. He likewise had the veto power, the preparing of the annual budget,
and the power of suspending any officer for misconduct. His appointments of police and firemen
were subject to civil service rules. He was elected for two years, and his salary was six thousand
dollars a year.
Two boards were created, the board of public service with three members elected at large by the
city, in charge of the parks and the streets, the public charities, the water works and all public
property in general ; and the board of public safety, consisting of three members appointed by the
mayor. The auditor, solicitor and treasurer were elected by the people.
t - See O. J. Hodge's "Memorise," page 177.
* - State ex rel. Kinsley et al. v. Jones et al. 66 Ohio State Reports, 453. State ex rel. Attorney
General v. Beacom et al. 66 Ohio State, 491.
248 - HISTORY OF CLEVELAND
The law allowed considerable elasticity, giving the council power to create such offices as were
suitable to the needs of the community.
The city council consisted of one member from each ward, and four members elected at large. Its
powers were almost entirely legislative, the state having reached that point of political thought
where it finally could draw a more or less clear line between the legislative and executive
functions.
(7) On April 29, 1908, the legislature passed the "Paine Law," which marks the final
modification in the form of our municipal government. Under this law the mayor is elected for
two years, and is made the principal executive officer of the city with the power of appointing a
director of public service and a director of public safety, and all other municipal officers not
elected by the people. The director of public service is given charge of the streets and all public
works, and the director of public safety is given charge of the police and fire departments and
public charities.
The mayor and the two directors form the board of control which approves all contracts, prepares
estimates, and has general supervision over all public business.
The city, council remains as under the former law. This is evidently a long step toward the old
federal plan. This law also provides for the first time in the history of our state, a civil service
commission whose duty it shall be to examine all applicants for public service under the city.
This board is appointed by the president of the board of education, the president of the city
sinking fund commissioners, and the president of the city council. The members of the civil
service commission hold office for three years, and their salary is fixed by the city council.
The city solicitor and other municipal officers are elected by the people, as heretofore.
This law went into operation, January 1, 1910.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
During the pioneer days police duty was done by the posse, and if necessary, the militia.
Constables were appointed by the court of quarter sessions in the territorial regime, and a sheriff
was appointed by the governor when Trumbull county was organized.
In the earliest days of the village the peace of the town depended largely on the strong arm and
iron will of Lorenzo Carter, who, whether he held legal office or not, was always to be depended
upon to quell drunken brawls among the Indians, and fights among the rowdies that are always
found in pioneer communities. "Carter's law" was highly respected.
HISTORY OF CLEVELAND - 249
When the village became incorporated, a marshal was chosen by popular vote. The law provided
that in case of urgency he could press others into the service. June 11, 1832, the marshal was
authorized "to appoint a deputy when he may be absent from the village or incapacitated by
sickness." Under the charter of the city, the office of an elective marshal was retained. His salary
was fixed by the council at five hundred dollars a year. April 15, 1836, Cleveland held a city
election. George Kirk was elected marshal. March 6, 1838, "on motion of Councilman Noble it
was decided that Marshal Kirk should retain two per cent of all fees collected." * The marshal
usually owned a fine dog, one of these, a magnificent Newfoundland, became quite famous in his
day as a rogue catcher. The council allowed several deputies called "watch-men" because their
duties were principally the guarding of property at night. Considering the fact that Cleveland was
not only a frontier town, but an important lake port and canal terminus, it is surprising that there
was so little need for an organized police force, for canalmen and sailors on shore leave are not
easily handled. But there seems not to have been enough work to keep even the marshal busy, for
he was often required to superintend the cleaning of streets, to collect taxes and fees and do other
utility jobs. Under this regime a crude police force was developed by necessity before the war
broke out, when the city began to grow rapidly. The marshal and forty-four patrolmen constituted
the force in 1865. The city council supplied the funds, patrolmen were chosen by the marshal and
the council as they desired.
The second period of police history begins with the Metropolitan Police act of 1865, creating a
board of police commissioners, consisting of the mayor and four others appointed by the
governor of the state. The law was obviously patterned after the New York law and attempted to
place the metropolitan police under partial control of the governor. The law went into effect May
1, 1866. The first board consisted of Mayor H. M. Chapin, W. P. Fogg, James Barnett, Philo
Chamberlain and Nelson Purdy. The law gave them considerable power, including the levying of
a tax, which was inadequate, raising only thirty thousand dollars in 1866, when the gross
expenses were fifty-one thousand, seven hundred dollars. They were limited in appointing
members of the force to "one patrolman for every thousand inhabitants of the city shown by the
last federal census." The city had grown so rapidly since 1860 that this was entirely inadequate
and on May 30, 1866, the city council gave them authority to appoint sixteen more patrolmen.
The board earnestly attempted several reforms. They began a crude civil service. "In appointing
officers and patrolmen, the political opinions and preferences of applicants have been entirely
ignored by the board, reference having been had to the physical, moral and mental
qualifications." (t)
Indicative of the semi-military character of the force, contemplated by the law, a full complement
of Springfield rifles was provided and the men were drilled in
* - City council records.
t - See first Annual Report.
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