1818
SAXTON
last few nights of their journey. Any one who has ever heard the howling of wolves would wish to be between four walls when they began their music, especially if it sounded close at hand.
The family diet that winter and the following spring became very monotonous, and Mr. Saxton must have grown quite desperate in ringing the changes up on squirrel, rabbit, wild duck and turkey, with occasional chances to cook venison. For the last of the provisions brought from Vermont gave out, and until crops were raised, the family had to depend chiefly upon wild game. All this hardship was a new experience for Mr. Saxton. He had been accustomed to comforts and to a public life and the loneliness of the wilderness and the daily sight of his family's deprivation was a constant regret and worry.
He took the contract for opening of Kinsman Road from Rice Ave. to Perry Street, now E. 33rd, which compelled the chopping down of many forest trees, clearing them out of the way, and other laborious work, at 75 cents a day.
There were no schools near enough for his children to attend, and with two neighbors he built a log school-house and sent for a teacher who boarded with the three families.
Although from Bristol, Vt., Mr. Saxton was born in Whitehall, N. Y. His parents were Ebenezer and Hannah Loomis Saxton of Sheffield, Mass.
In the War of 1812 he raised an independent company of militia, of which he was the captain. He served in the Battle of Plattsburgh.
He was married twice, first to Sally Fuller, and after her death, secondly, in 1808, to Polly Stewart.
Jehiel Saxton died in 1858, aged 75 years.
Mrs. Saxton was the daughter of Sargeant Samuel Stewart, a hero of the Revolutionary War, born in Londonderry, N. H., and his wife, Elisabeth Abbott of Salisbury, Conn. Their daughter, Polly Stewart Saxton, was the first white child born in Bristol, Vt.
She inherited from her father great force of character and it was because of her hopefulness and helpfulness that her husband was enabled to pass through those trying years of pioneer life. An interesting incident of her early life in Newburgh has been handed down to her descendants.
Two neighbors and herself were spending an afternoon together. Each of them had a very young child in her arms. Suddenly they heard the squealing of the only pig in the neighborhood. They guessed at once what was happening to that pig, and rushed out, still holding their babes, in time to see a big bear making off with it. That domestic animal meant to the woman more than future pork, ham, and bacon. It stood also for fried cakes, doughnuts, and innumerable pies. Any housewife ever entirely out of shortening when trying to fry or bake will realize the desperate situation.
All three women chased that bear right into the heart of the woods over stumps, through underbrush, screaming as they ran. Bruno became rattled at the noise and pursuit and dropping the pig trotted on to more quiet and safety.
To the women of today the courage of those Cleveland and Newburgh
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1818
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pioneer wives and mothers is almost incredible. Imagine, if you can, three club-women living, say on Prospect Street, East 82nd, or Cornell Road, clutching their babes with one arm, brandishing a stick with the other, while running pell-mell in pursuit of a wild beast.
There were 12 children born to the Saxton family. Their mother closed the eyes of three in death in 1831, one in 1837, another in 1844, and yet another in 1857, half of her household preceding her to the grave. She died 1873.
Children of Jehiel and Polly Stewart Saxton:
Sally Saxton, b. 1809; died 1831; m. ------------Johnson.
Hannah Saxton, b. 1810; died 1885; m. Stark Edwards.
Jehiel Saxton, Jr., b. 1812; died 1895; m. Emeline A. Morse.
Harriet Saxton, b. 1814; died 1831.
Anson Saxton, b. 1817; died 1833.
Betsey Saxton, b. 1819; d. 1837.
The above were born in Bristol, Vt.
Phebe Saxton, b. 1821; d. 1844.
Elmira Saxton, b. 1823; d. 1900..
Dewitt Saxton, b.1825; d.1853; m. Christiana Corlett.
Cynthia Saxton, b. 1827; m. Luke Darroll
Mary Saxton, b. 1828; died on East Prospect St. 1912.
1818
STOCKWELL
William Stockwell was in Cleveland as early as 1818, for in July of that year he was married to Lydia Hall by Horace Perry. His bride was a widow with a little nine-year-old daughter, Sarah or "Sally" Hall.
Much research has failed to secure the antecedents of either husband or wife, or where they came from to Cleveland. Mr. StockwelI left no descendants so far as can be learned, and those of Sarah Hall do not know who was her father nor the maiden name of her mother.
Probably Wm. Stockwell came originally from a New England state, as the name is a familiar one in that part of the country, although thus far no genealogy of the family has been compiled. No advertisement of his business appears in the early issues of the Cleveland Herald, and it cannot be ascertained.
The family lived on Superior Street adjoining the residence of Deacon Moses White, and east of it. Madam Severance remembered them well, though but a child at the time, as very nice, refined people.
Mr. Stockwell died in the cholera season of 1834, and was buried in Erie Street Cemetery. Mrs. Lydia Hall Stockwell died three years later in Massillon, Ohio, where she had been living during her widowhood with her daughter who, at the age of 16, in 1825, had married Joseph G.
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1818
BARBER
Hogan. They resided in Massillon some years, but in 1840 returned to Cleveland, bringing with them the remains of Mrs. Stockwell, who was placed beside her husband in Erie street cemetery.
Two years later, Joseph H. Hogan died. His widow survived him over 30 years, passing away at the age of 64 years. The family lived near the corner of St. Clair and Ontario streets.
The Stockwell-Hogan monument stands to the right of the main drive of the cemetery and near its entrance.
The children of Joseph G. and Sarah Hall Hogan::
Romelia Hogan, m. Daniel Folsom He was drowned in Lake Erie in of Wooster, D. S. P. passage from Buffalo to Cleveland.
William H. Hogan, married late in life a Chicago lady. He died in. 1892, and was buried in the family lot.
Maria Hogan, m. William Johnson
Mary Long Hogan, m. John Taylor Strong, brother of C. H. Strong, Sr.
John Hogan
Charles Hogan. Died at Harpers Ferry during the Civil War
Mary L. Hogan, a namesake of Madame Severance, was considered an unusually pretty girl. Her life was spent in Cleveland. At her death in 1904, aged 66 years, she left two daughters, Mrs. William Van Tine of Pittsburgh, and Mrs. Nelly T. Gay of Manchester, Mass.
1818
BARBER
In the fall of 1818, a number of Hebron, Conn., families started for the West and traveled in company all the way to Cleveland. Three of these were the Watkins, Branch, and Barber families.
They made quite a cavalcade, as there were horses, carriages, wagons, ox-teams, ox-carts loaded with furniture, and in the rear of the procession, patient but puzzled cows walked all the way to become pioneers of their kind in Ohio.
It must have been a wonderful experience for the children of the party, those weeks of journeying and camp-life, and doubtless, it furnished topic for reminiscence long after the snows of old age had whitened their locks, and railroad trains were covering the same route and the same distance in 36 hours.
Josiah Barber was the most important member of the party. With his brother-in-law Richard Lord he had purchased a large tract of land on the west side, extending from the river to Pearl street, now West 25th, and, with two or three exceptions, from Franklin Street to the lake. It must be borne in mind that there were no roads then, simply wide paths cut through the dense woods.
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1818
BARBER
Josiah Barber evidently had an eye for the beautiful in nature; perhaps it was his wife who possessed it. At any rate, no more beautiful or convenient spot could have been selected for their first, pioneer home. It was on the edge of the bank overlooking the wide Cuyahoga Valley, with the high, steep banks of Cleveland, Newburgh, and Brooklyn, all clothed in brilliant autumn foliage and hemming it in.
The log-house was built to face this wonderful scenery, and so was the brick residence that superseded it in after years.
The writer as a child often wondered why the home turned its back on Pearl Street, and then little thought. that she would be explaining why over a half century later. It still stands on the east side of the street but a few steps south of Detroit Ave.
Josiah Barber was born in 1771, and therefore was 47 years old when he came west. He brought with him his wife and four children. His oldest one, a daughter, was married, and did not accompany her parents to their pioneer home. His youngest child was about eight years old.
All the Barber family were devoted churchmen and when, in 1820, poor Trinity, only three years old that year, had no home nor rector on the east side of the river, Josiah Barber opened wide his door and for six years church services were held off and on in his home.
He became financially interested in several mercantile and manufacturing enterprises of an early day. One of these was the Cuyahoga Steam Furnace Co. As one of the firm of "Lord and Barber" he constantly dealt in real-estate. In 1836, he was mayor of Ohio City-the West Side.
Josiah Barber married 1st, Abigail Gilbert. She died leaving a little daughter, Abigail Gilbert Barber, who married Robert Russell. He died, and eventually with her three young daughters she joined her father in this city. Two of the daughters subsequently became the wives of very prominent Cleveland citizens. These children of Robert and Abigail Russell were:
Sophia Lord Russell, m. Daniel P. Rhodes. C. Hatch.
Livania Russell.
Charlotte Augusta Russell, m. Uriah
Josiah Barber married 2nd, Sophia Lord, daughter of Samuel Philips and Rachel White Lord.
Their children were:
Epiphras Barber, b. 1802; m. Jerusha Tracey Sargeant..
Harriet Barber, b. 1804; m. Horatio N. Ward.
Sophia Lord Barber, b. 1806, died unmarried
Jerusha Barber, b. 1808; died 1823.
Mrs. Sophia Lord Barber, Sr., had a brother and two sisters, who resided in Cleveland at an early day. They were Richard Lord, Hope Lord, wife of Seldin Chapman, and Abigail Lord Randall.
As the only son of Josiah Barber, Sr., Epaphras Barber was associ-
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1818
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ated in business with his father, and at the former's death in 1842, it all devolved upon him.
His wife was the daughter of Levi and Rosamond Harris Sargeant, Cleveland pioneers. She had inherited many lovely traits of character from her mother, and been raised in a family of high ideals, and unselfish devotion to principle. Consequently, her own children, the third generation of the Barber family, were a credit to their grandparents on both sides of the house. But one of this generation remains, Mrs. Sophia Barber McCrosky. She spends her summers in Cleveland and her winters in California.*
There is no descendant of the family now living anywhere in the vicinity of the pioneer home.
The children of Epaphras and Jerusha Barber:
Richard Lord Barber, b. 1827; died 1884 in Kansas; married 1st, Mary E. Hodgeman of Parma, O.; 2nd, Ella Hale of Collinwood. James McCrosky.
Josiah Barber, 2nd, b. 1825; died 1882; m. Caroline Cook, dau. of Chauncy Cook.
Epaphras Barber, b. 1830; m. Sophia Watkins ; died 1898, in Wauseon, O.
Sophia Lord Barber, b. 1833; m.
Tootie Barber, b. 1843; m. 1st, A. M. McGregor; 2nd, Dr. M. O. Terry of Utica, N. Y.
Mrs. Terry had one son who died in his teens. After the death of Mr. McGregor, she founded the McGregor Home for the Aged, on Lee Road, East Cleveland.
She was a very bright, attractive woman, and was of much use to the world. Her death took place in a southern state in 1912.
1818
McINTOSH
Dr. Donald McIntosh was a very early Cleveland physician, also a tavern-keeper; for like all other professional men of -that day he did not attempt to earn a livelihood for himself and family through his practice alone but combined with it another occupation.
Dr. McIntosh was born in New York and educated in Quebec. He was of Scotch descent and of good family. He was considered a skillful physician, but devoted too much of his time to horses, dogs, racing and, alas! drink.
Nothing can be learned regarding his wife save that her Christian name was Susan, and that she outlived him.
But the doctor's children, two or three sons and a daughter were the schoolmates or playmates of others of their age who recalled them in after years. One of the latter was the late Philander Johnson who was
* Since deceased.
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1818
McINTOSH
born on Water Street and who furnished the writer with partial data concerning the McIntosh family.
The eldest son, Donald McIntosh, Jr., became a sailor on the lakes, a calling he followed many years and finally disappeared from knowledge of all early friends. There was another son, Grovenor or Grosvenor McIntosh, of whom no trace can be found. Both boys were nice-looking and much liked by their associates. So far as can be recalled there was but one daughter in the family, Elizabeth McIntosh.
Dr. McIntosh was profane to a degree and not always careful to abstain from bad language when in the presence of patients. In connection with this an incident is related. Squire Hudson of the Ohio town of that name, was very ill and a call upon Cleveland was made for medical aid. Why Dr. Long was not sent to his relief is a query, as he had a much better reputation and withal was a gentleman. However, Dr. McIntosh was dispatched to the scene. He found Squire Hudson very ill and very despondent. The patient thought he could not recover and refused to take the proffered medicine, which was not surprising when we recall that in those days nauseous drugs in quantity were administered for every ill.
Dr. McIntosh, an irritable, quick-tempered man, turned on the Squire, a pious deacon of the Presbyterian Church, and berated him in his choicest vocabulary. "Die then and go to hell!" was his parting shaft.
But the good deacon, horrified at such language, was aroused to expostulation and rebuke. He probably concluded that there was still work for him in this world when such very ungodly men were yet living in it. He took the medicine, recovered, and for many a year following was a religious power in his community.
Dr. McIntosh kept the Eagle tavern on Water street, corner of St. Clair. In 1820, Pliny Morey, who built a tavern in 1812 on the south-west corner of Superior Street and the Public Square, got into financial difficulties through signing a note for a friend. Leonard Case, the holder of the note, foreclosed, and the tavern was put up at auction, bid in, and later sold to Dr. Donald McIntosh for $4,500. The lot was the easterly half of original lot No. 63, with a frontage of 82.66 feet on Superior Street and a depth to Michigan Street.
In 1830 a new two-story house on Seneca Street south of Superior street is advertised for sale, "now in the occupancy of Dr. McIntosh," which would denote that tavern-keeping had ceased to be one of his occupations.
Dr. McIntosh lost his life early in the year 1834 while horse-racing by moonlight. He was thrown from his horse and his neck broken. The following June his wife Susan McIntosh, as administratrix of his estate, legally notified his creditors to exhibit their accounts within a year, and calls upon his debtors to make payment to Harvey Rice, Esq., who will transact all business connected with settling the estate.
Nothing farther can be traced of the family.
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1818
MERCHANT
Gen. Ahaz Merchant was born in Connecticut in 1794, and came to Cleveland in 1818. He was a civil engineer, and did much work in that line for the state and city. He was a contractor also, and erected many notable buildings in the business section of the city, among them the Angier House, afterward renamed "Kennard House." He tried his hand at farming with success, and the latter part of his life was spent upon a large farm on St. Clair street. He died "land poor," having invested freely in it, especially on the West Side, a locality in which he was much interested.
Gen. Merchant commanded the militia, and was a prominent figure in all military parades. His death occurred in 1862 at the age of 69. The family lived at 39 Euclid Ave. when in the city proper.
Mrs. Merchant was a Miss Catherine Stewart who came from Morristown, N. J., in 1819. Her sister Hannah Stewart married Abram Ruple of East Cleveland. Ahaz Merchant had a brother Ira, and a sister Rebecca who came to East Cleveland a year or two earlier than he. Rebecca was a widow with two children, and married later, John Welsh.
The children of Ahaz and Catherine Merchant:
Aaron Merchant, m. Mary Ann Warner Ammock..
Martha Merchant, m. Charles Cadman.
Harriet Merchant, m. R. M. Taylor
Mary Merchant, m. Madison Miller
Silas Merchant, m. 1st. Julia Riddle; 2nd, Celia Tuttle.
The sons of Ahaz Merchant assisted him in his work, and after his death followed the same lines of business. Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Taylor were host and hostess of the Angier House for many years.
The only representative of the family bearing the name of Merchant is Charles C. Merchant, son of Aaron. Silas Merchant had no children, but adopted a nephew and niece of his first wife. He became involved in his business affairs and removed to New Philadelphia, in this state.
1818
LOGAN
In 1818, upon the southwest corner of the Public Square and Superior Street, a site now occupied by Marshall's drug-store, there stood a small frame-building used as a book-store and a-doctor's office. Between that store and Seneca street, now West 3rd, there was no other building save one near the corner of Seneca that had been constructed for weighing hay. It was a quaint little structure, only 10x20 feet, and one story high. The front of the roof had been built to project a little more than the width of a wagon, and from this hung four stout log-chains which were fastened to the wheels of the vehicle to be weighed, which was then raised from the ground with the help of a long heavy beam used as a lever.
In this crude place was started the first newspaper published in the city of Cleveland, on the same street and but a short walk from the pres-
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1818
HAMLIN
ent great printing establishments of the Cleveland Leader and the Cleveland Plain Dealer, each representing a fortune and housed in many storied and costly buildings of its own. This first newspaper venture was made by Andrew Logan, an ambitious young printer and future editor. He is said to have resembled John A. Logan of the Civil War, who was of medium height, stockily built, and of swarthy complexion, and like the late general, he claimed descent from Logan, the noted Mingo chief.
Andrew Logan brought his type from Beaver, Pa., which may have been his home, for a time at least.- The type was much worn, so much so that some of the letters made almost illegible impressions. But he started his newspaper July 31, 1818, under the pretentious title, "The Cleveland Gazette and Commercial Advertiser." A copy of it is preserved in the Western Reserve Historical Library, and it will be found a very creditable sheet.
The big beam that served as a lever for the weighing apparatus ran nearly through the length of the room, and young Logan must have had to step over or around it many times a day, but as he was also official "weigher" for the town, the obstruction, like his type, was a means of livelihood. The Cleveland Weekly Herald, starting a year later with far better equipment, must have discouraged the young printer from further effort to make ends meet, and within a few months following its first issue, he ceased the publication of his own paper. To his position as weigher was added that of "village inspector," and he remained in or near town several years after the close of his printing establishment. Meanwhile, he had married Phila Sherwin, daughter of Amahaaz and Ruth Day Sherwin, who had come to Cleveland in the fall of 1818, from Middleburg, Vt., in company with her parents.
The indifference of descendants has made it difficult to gain correct information concerning Andrew Logan's subsequent life. But this much has been gleaned, that he removed to Iowa, continued in the printing and publishing business, and for many years was the editor of the Davenport News. Only the names of two children have been secured, Dr. Augustus
Rodney Logan, who died in Mexico, 68 years of age, and Sherwin Logan, who married his cousin Caroline Sherwin. She was the daughter of Ahimaaz Sherwin, Jr., and born in this city where she grew to womanhood..
1818
HAMLIN
The records of the Presbyterian church of Lenox, Mass., for August, 1820, contained an item that had an important bearing upon the struggling little society of the same faith in Cleveland. It was a record of withdrawal of Samuel Isbell Hamlin, twenty-five years of age, who had been absent from his native town for two years, and now transferred by letter to the Presbyterian church of Cleveland.
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1818
NICHOLS
He was one of the small band of Christians headed by Elisha Taylor who, in 1819, started the first Sunday-school of the town, and for half a century kept his shoulder close to the church wheel in readiness to push or lift in times of discouragement or difficulty. From a young, ardent recruit, he became an officer and pillar of what is now called the "Old Stone Church." He was "Deacon" Hamlin for many long years before his death in 1868. He was the son of Ichabod Hamlin of Lenox, Mass., and early learned the carpenter trade. He became a contractor and was financially prosperous.
Six years after he arrived in Cleveland, he married Cynthia Jones, the daughter of Daniel and Lucretia Jones. She was born in Cheshire, Conn., in 1804, and was twenty years of age when married.
Deacon Hamlin and his wife kept open house for the ministers of their faith, and loved to entertain them. Many weekly services were held at their home before the first church edifice was erected. One of their sons became a minister, which doubtless gave the good deacon and his wife unbounded satisfaction.
Samuel and Cynthia Jones Hamlin had ten children, five of whom died young.
Martha Hamlin, m. George Dewey of Bennington, Vt..
Mary Hamlin, m. Henry Putnam of New York City.
Henry Hamlin, m. Louise Stevens of Cleveland.
Rev. Chauncy L. Hamlin, m. Mary Wells
Louisa Hamlin, m. Frank Chamberlain of Cleveland
Mrs. Hamlin survived her husband twenty-one years. She died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Martha Hamlin Dewey, in Bennington, Vt., aged 85 years. The family burial lot is in Erie Street Cemetery.
1818
NICHOLS
Humphrey Nichols of Ware, N. H., arrived in Cleveland in 1818. He had been raised on a farm, and, upon reaching town, at once looked for land suitable for farming purposes. Whether he brought the money with him or later earned the $500 which paid for 100 acres at $5 an acre has not been learned, but it was a good investment even when later he had to pay as much again for it.
The land was bounded by Wade Park Ave., Lamont street, E. 105th, and E. 93rd streets. It was purchased of the Western Reserve college, then situated in Hudson, Ohio. The land had been a gift of an eastern man named Law. A disregard by the college trustees of conditions required, or some flaw in the title reverted the property to Law's heirs,
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1818
WELLMAN
and in 1841 Mr. Nichols had to pay $6 more an acre in order to hold it. The Nichols descendants still retain a few acres of the original 100-acre farm. The city holds possession of a portion lying along Rockefeller Park Boulevard.
Humphrey Nichols married, in 1824, Maria Bunts, b. 1803. Her mother, a widow with two other children, Richard and Levi, had married Charles Broff, a widower also with children.
The children of Humphrey and Maria Nichols:
Jesse Nichols, m. Jane Jones of Ogdensburg, N. Y..
Caroline Nichols, m. Mathew Penticost
Abigail Nichols, m. Lorenzo Janes
Minerva Nichols, died aged 25 years
Edwin Nichols, died aged 50 years.
.Before her marriage, Mrs. Nichols had been a member in good standing of the East End Methodist Church. Mr. Nichols had not as yet professed conversion, and declined to join the church, whereupon Miss Maria Bunts was notified that her choice of a husband was not regarded with favor, and the society put her "upon probation." Many times in the years that followed the Methodist church would gladly have welcomed her into its folds, but she refused all overtures in that direction.
She died in 1864, aged 61 years.
1818
WELLMAN
In the Cleveland Herald, 1820, the following notice is given
"The militia will meet for drill on the square in front of Mowry's tavern, Saturday evening. CAPT. H. WELLMAN."
The map of Superior Street in 1825 shows that Capt. Hiram B. Wellman lived, at that time, on the south side of the street.
In the first decade of the last century, Mrs. Joel Wellman with her four children, two sons and two daughters, made a journey on horseback in mid-winter over the Allegheny Mountains from Canadagua, N. Y., to Dalton, Wayne Co., O. It was taken at that time of the year in order that the family could be settled in their new house and ready to plow and plant when the spring season opened. The children were Hiram B., Marshal D., Eliza, and Flora Wellman.
The sons did not remain long in Dalton, and while yet lads they found their way to Cleveland. It is told that they early displayed wonderful self-reliance and courage, natural characteristics in sons of so brave and energetic a mother. While in Cleveland, they went on some errand
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1818
WELLMAN
to an island near Put-in-Bay. It was late in the fall, and the vessel in which they made the journey landed them on the island with the understanding that the boat would stop on its return trip and bring them back to Cleveland. For some unknown reason, this was not done, and the boys were left alone on a desolate island, with a limited supply of food, winter close at hand, and no means of getting to the mainland.
But they were not dismayed, for with the most primitive of tools they fashioned a boat or raft of sufficient strength to bear their weight not only to the mainland, but all the way back to Cleveland. Marshall D. Wellman returned to Wayne County and resided in Wooster, afterward removing to Massillon, Ohio. He was largely interested in the building of canals, and became wealthy. His beautiful home yet stands in Massillon on the corner of Main and Prospect streets, and is occupied by one of his descendants.
Jack London, the well-known writer of fiction, is the grandson of Marshall D. Wellman.
Capt. Hiram B. Wellman settled in Cleveland. He was the town marshal from 1820 to 1828. He had various interests in the town. One of them was a large red warehouse on the river, where he bought and sold merchandise under the firm name of H. B. Wellman and Co. He was also a director of the Bank of Cleveland. With 0. P. Hoyt, he promoted Ohio City property, now the West Side.
He married Miss Eliza Steward of Wooster, and brought her to the Superior street home. She must have been a very youthful bride, for she died in 1835 at the age of 26, leaving three little daughters. They were tenderly cared for by Martha L. Welton, who eventually became their father's second wife. She died in 1849.
Mr. Wellman married a third time, a Miss Mary H. Concklin of New York City, who gave him three sons, Marshall and Marcus, twins, and William Wellman. The last two reside in Chicago.
The children born in Cleveland:
Flora Wellman, m. Elisha W. Paxton of Wheeling, W. Va.
Mary Wellman, m. John F. Karthaus of Massillon, Ohio.
Eliza Wellman, m. John F. Karthaus, after the death of her sister Mary
Col. Hiram B. Wellman left Cleveland about 1835, and took up his residence in Massillon. He became a prominent citizen of that town, residing in a stately Colonial house on Prospect Street near his brother's home. This house is now in the possession of strangers. He went to New York City in the latter years of his life, and in 1877 made a trip to Fernandina, Florida, with his daughter, Eliza Paxton. They contracted the yellow fever, and both died and were buried there. He was 79 years old at the time of his death. A granddaughter, the child of Mary Wellman Karthaus, yet resides in Massillon.
The Wellman brothers and their children who died in Massillon, all lie near each other in Massillon Cemetery, one of the loveliest burial places in the State of Ohio.
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1818
WOOD
In September, 1818, a small boat from the famous steamer "Walk-in-the-Water" entered the river and landed at the foot of Superior Street, a tall, broad-shouldered, powerfully framed young man, a Vermont lawyer 26 years of age who had come to "spy out the land" and see. if it really was all that it purported to be, "flowing in milk and honey." As he toiled up the steep bank we cannot but conjecture what he expected to find at the summit, and what his state of mind at first sight of the poor, primitive little place, a struggling, straggling hamlet of 200 inhabitants, with a few houses standing here and there near the river bank, and back of them the virgin forest. He, may have realized at the moment that his feet were at last on Ohio soil, but little could he have dreamed that one day he would be Ohio's governor.
Reuben Wood was the eldest son of Nathaniel Wood, Jr., of Middletown, Vt. His grandfather was Rev. Nathaniel Wood, one time chaplain in the War of the American Revolution, and whose three brothers had fought on the patriot side at the Battle of Bennington, Vt. Young Wood's education was unusually thorough, especially in the classics. It is told that all through life he carried about with him a Greek Testament and Caesar's Commentaries, which he read with ease.
He had begun the study of law when, in 1816, he married, and with his youthful bride resided for a ,year with his widowed mother, who had removed, meanwhile, to Woodville, N. Y., near Sackett's Harbor. At the completion of his legal course he came to Ohio, leaving his wife and child to rejoin him later.
His instructors had been a distinguished Canadian judge, and a New York lawyer equally renowned, and he had been admitted to practice in the Vermont courts. But the latter availed him naught in Ohio. He could do no legal business, however trivial, until the Supreme Court of the state, then holding in Ravenna, had passed upon his professional merits.
The bottom of the young man's purse was alarmingly visible, so to hire a team was out of the question. Yet Ravenna was miles away, and between that place were woods, woods with ravenous wolves, catamounts, and possible Indians lurking, not a pleasant walk in anticipation. But it was an autumn month and there were objects in view other than wild beasts or men.
We can imagine how Reuben Wood, whose love of nature was life long and sincere, noted these as he strode along hour after hour. The glorious foliage above, the cushions of moss beneath, the wild beauty of the little lakes and streams yet almost unknown to the white man, the gentle rain of falling nuts, and the innumerable wild fowl gathering for their southern flight. If he encountered any serious obstacles in that long walk to Ravenna and return, they were overcome, and he brought back with him a permit to practice law within the State of Ohio.
But the outlook was anything but auspicious. The small sum of money he had brought with him dwindled in spite of the fees he occasionally earned. Yet, as the winter wore on, he longed for his wife and little Loretta to the extent of taking the chances of sending for them. Therefore, in the spring of 1819, as soon as navigation and the weather would permit, Mrs. Wood and her babe but a few months old started to
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join her husband in Cleveland. Mr. Wood went down the lake as far as Buffalo to meet her, and they took passage in the "Walk-in-the-Water" for the last stages of Mrs. Wood's journey.
A severe storm struck the steamer as it neared Cleveland. It could not enter port, even in pleasant weather, and for two days and three nights its passengers were tossed and tumbled on the waves within sight of the whole population on shore who watched the boat anxiously and unceasingly, but unable to alleviate the situation. At last, the lake subsided enough to allow small boats and lighters to row out to the steamer, and the wretched passengers were released from their tossing prison.
When Mr. and Mrs. Wood were finally landed, they were utterly prostrated. Mrs. Wood declared that she would much rather die than live, and her husband's nerve completely gave out. His fare to Buffalo and return added to his wife's passage had cost $60, and when he stepped ashore he had but 50 cents left in his pocket. In physical weakness and mental depression he resolved at the moment to give up the struggle and return to his old home in Woodville.
But Mrs. Wood's sound sense and womanly fortitude rescued the day. "I was foolish enough to come out here under the circumstances, and I am going to stick it out!" she exclaimed. How they managed to begin housekeeping on 50 cents of ready money, we can only conjecture. They never went into detail regarding it, save that they were very poor at first, very economical, but equally and always happy. Only six years later he became a state senator, then judge of common pleas, chief justice, and, in 1851, governor of the state.
It took 33 years to reach the last goal, but they were years in which he maintained a character above reproach. It is claimed that the breath of suspicion was never lisped against Reuben Wood, either as an humble lawyer or honored magistrate. He was a man of genial disposition and tender sympathies. He was a wit and enjoyed fun, but on the bench was grave and dignified.
He resigned the office of governor in order to accept that of consul at Valparaiso, South America. But this failing to meet his expectations, he returned to Cleveland, and again entered his law office and private life. He died very suddenly, October, 1864.
As wife of the governor, Mrs. Reuben Wood, in a feminine way acquired as much distinction as her husband. She was very attractive, modest, intelligent, and refined, therefore capable of receiving the many famous guests they were called upon to entertain from time to time, with grace, tact, and dignity.
Mary Rice Wood was the daughter of Truman Rice of Clarendon, Vt., who removed to the wilderness of northern New York south-west of Sackets Harbor, at the close of the Revolutionary War. Here he erected a saw and grist-mill, a store, and a comfortable log-house for his family. He was an intelligent man, and his wife was a lovable, practical woman. The father's circumstances admitted of expense in the education of his four daughters, of whom Mary was the eldest, and at the age of 12 years she was sent away from home to a boarding-school that furnished superior advantages, so that when she married Reuben Wood, six years later, she was a fitting mate for the young, ambitious lawyer. She was ever devoted
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to the interests of her husband in either extreme of their circumstances, and as he advanced to high official positions, she gained unsought prominence in the most refined circles of the land. In her prosperity she was generous, and for the unfortunate had unbounded sympathy. In the fall of 1824, she returned to her eastern home to spend the winter, accompanied by a sister who had been visiting her. The Wood residence was rented for eight months to James L. Conger, a lawyer who with his young wife had just arrived in town. Judging from a letter written to relatives by Mrs. Conger, at that time, Reuben Wood and his wife were maintaining an unusually-comfortable--and attractive home within six years of their arrival in Cleveland.
In 1833, they moved on to a farm out on Detroit street, in what is now Lakewood, and gave it the name of "Evergreen Place." On this they lived after Governor Wood's retirement from public life. Both husband and wife were very fond of the beautiful in nature, and delighted in the cultivation of trees, shrubs, and flowers. Mrs. Wood spent many happy hours in her garden which was filled with common as well as rare floral treasures.
She outlived her husband 22 years, dying in Alameda, California, in the 89th year of her age.
Governor and Mrs. Reuben Wood rest in Woodland Cemetery.
Their children were both daughters.
Loretta Wood, m. George B. Merwin.
Mary Wood, m. Seabury L. Mastick of Alameda, Cal.
Loretta Wood married the eldest son of the Cleveland pioneers, Noble and Minerva Buckingham Merwin. She was born in 1818, and died in 1890, having lived all her long life in Cleveland. In her old age, she furnished some beautiful and touching reminiscences to the Old Settlers' Association, from which much herein is quoted. She says
"My first teacher was Eliza Beard, the daughter of cultivated Irish people. At the age of nine I went to school to Harvey Rice, then a young law student from the east who taught in the old academy on St. Clair street, now an engine house." Harvey Rice became her uncle the following year, by marrying Fanny Rice, her mother's sister.
"An adjoining lot covered with old stumps deposited there from various parts of the town, weather-beaten and bleached by storms, was our playground, the stumps our playhouses when we arranged our bits of broken crockery, not a set of little dishes having yet been brought to the village."
"I walk the streets of Cleveland today unmindful of the changes time and wealth have wrought. I see rather the scattered houses, the vacant lots, and the second growth of oaks and beeches covering them."
Seabury L. Mastick removed to San Francisco, Cal., soon after his marriage. He went into the lumber business and became wealthy. His wife survived him ten years. She died at the home of her son in Plainfield, N. J.
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1818
GRAVES
Dr. Ezra Graves, the pioneer physician of Cleveland, and contemporary of Dr. Long, is frequently mentioned in records of early dates. He lived where the Adelbert and Case colleges now stand. His practice was mostly with the pioneers living east of Willson Ave., now E. 55th St. He was eccentric in manner, but a skillful practitioner.
His family:
Hiram Graves.
Deborah Graves.
Temperance Graves.
Deborah Graves married Dr. Jonathan Simmons of-East Cleveland, in 1818, and died 1834. They had four children, Ezra Graves Simmons, who married Eliza Harris, daughter of Arial and Clarissa Sherman Harris, Sophrona Simmons, married Holly Miles of Newburgh ; Mary Simmons, married William Given of Cleveland, and Peter Simmons, removed to Denver, Col. If living he would be 80 years of age.
1818
WILBUR
Eliam and Mary Edson Wilbur were living on a farm in Batavia, N. Y., when their eldest son James B. Wilbur left home in 1818 to see for himself the little settlement on the south shore of Lake Erie about which reports had reached him, reports that were most favorable and alluring.
He had been here but a short time when he sent for his parents and sisters. The family consisted of two sons and two daughters. After his arrival in Cleveland, Eliam Wilbur was engaged in several occupations. He was employed by the town to lay out our Erie Street Cemetery, and he planted many of the trees that in after years made that sacred place so beautiful.
The family residence was on Bond Street in 1837. James B. Wilbur clerked for Nathan C. Hills in his grocery, corner of the Square and Superior street, where Marshall's drug-store now stands. Afterward he opened a grocery of his own, which he conducted for two or three years. He was in the stamp department of the post-office for a long time, and finally turned hotel-keeper with much success, managing the Forest City House.
In 1842, he married Miss Loretta Welch, many years his junior, and the daughter of that good woman, Mrs. Benjamin Welch. She is still living and young in heart through the ministrations of three married daughters of her own.
Nelson Wilbur, the other son of the family, became a Methodist minister, and preached most of the time in the south. He married a lady residing in a southern town where he was located.
Angelica Wilbur remained unmarried all her life.
Mary Wilbur married and died childless.
The above were sisters of James B. Wilbur.
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1818
CUTTER
The Cutter brothers were perfect types of New England manhood, poor, independent, industrious, ambitious. But while capable of hard work and self-denial in order to succeed, they would never lend themselves to sharp dealing in any shape. They were scrupulously honest and kind in their business transactions, always keeping within the spirit as well as the letter of the law.
There were three of them, Moses, Orlando, and Abilene Davis Cutter, who came here at an early day. They were the sons of Benjamin and Catherine Farnsworth Cutter of Alstead and Jeffrey, N. H. There were other sons and daughters who remained east.
The father seems to have been something of a rover, impractical, and lacking in high sense of responsibility to his family. He moved from Alstead to Woodstock, Vermont, and, while his younger children were yet of tender age, he again removed to the wilds of lower Canada, into a log-house two miles from any other residence, and where there were no opportunities whatever for their schooling.
Meanwhile, Moses Cutter, the eldest son, either remaining in Vermont or returning there, married and started a country store in Royalton.
At the age of twelve Orlando went to live with this brother, who sent him to school for three years, then paid him $4.00 a month and board for his services in the store, and the following year doubled his wages.
Orlando was now eighteen years of age, and he went to Boston and clerked for the next three years for a. dry-goods merchant. The estimation in which he was held for industry and honesty by his employer can be judged by the fact that when he concluded to seek his fortune in the far west, this man loaned him four hundred dollars for that purpose.
Detroit was his objective point, but after reaching that place he formed a business partnership with a Detroit firm and came to Cleveland to start a branch store. There were but three stores established here at that time, October, 1818, and there seemed to be business enough for more, on account of rapidly increasing trade between this port and the large farming district south of it.
But within a year his (Detroit) partners failed, leaving him responsible for debts that took ten years to liquidate. He paid them all and established himself on a firm basis, "without assistance from any one, not even to the amount of a dime."
He also introduced an auction business which for many years was a valuable asset to the city. This he turned over, eventually, to his sons and spent his declining years in caring for estates intrusted to his keeping.
Two years after his arrival in Cleveland, at the age of twenty-three, Orlando Cutter married Phyana Phelps of Willoughby, O., daughter of Seth and Sarah Pierce Phelps, formerly of Aurora, N. Y.
She lived nine years afterward, and was the mother of three children, two of whom reached maturity. They were:
Orlando Phelps Cutter, b. 1824 in Willoughby, O. He was the first of the patriotic sons of Orlando Cutter who offered their lives and services to their country in the Civil War. He was with Col. Barnett's battery for four years. It is said he was the first Clevelander to sail in a vessel from this port bound for California via Cape
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Horn. He was away at this time for seven years.
Edwin Cutter, b. 1827 in Cleveland;. m. (1) Helen Earl, daughter of Lorenzo and Marietta Earl ; m.(2) Ellen Patrick
In 1832 Orlando Cutter married (2) Sarah Hilliard, daughter of David and Lydia Hudson Hilliard, and sister of Richard Hilliard, the pioneer merchant.
She was a tall, fine-looking woman. Some of her six children closely resembled her. She died aged 66, in Nassau, N. J.
The Cutter children by the second marriage were:
Richard Hilliard Cutter, b. 1833; m. (1) Delphine Frances Wilson, daughter of Elisha Wilson of Cleveland. She died leaving no children. He m. (2) Mary Hamilton. He served in the Civil War.
William Lemen Cutter, b. 1838, was named for a popular citizen of the city. He m. Caroline Atwater, daughter of Charles and Mary. Kirtland Pease. William L. Cutter was engaged in mercantile and banking pursuits
Nelson Patrick Cutter, b. 1837; unmarried. Was a member of the first company of volunteers that. left Cleveland at the breaking out of the Civil War. He was taken ill and died that year, 1861. He gave his life to his country
John Farnsworth Cutter, b. 1841, was yet another son of this family who served through the Civil War. He was present at several decisive battles; marched with Sherman to Savannah, and nearly lost his life by starvation when a prisoner in Charlestown, S. C. He m. Josephine Kelsey, daughter of Lorenzo and Sophia Smith Kelsey. She was a sister of Mrs. John Devereaux
Helen Phyana Cutter, m. Henry J. Hoyt of Cleveland
Horace Long Cutter, m. Emily Harvey
Norman Webber Cutter, m. Marguerite Porter
Sarah Catherine Cutter, the youngest child of the family, is the only one now living in the-city. Richard, Helen and Horace reside elsewhere
Abilene Davis Cutter, son of Benjamin and Catherine Farnsworth Cutter, was five years younger than his brother Orlando. He was the only child of the family not born in New Hampshire. His birth was in 1802 in Woodstock, Vt.
His brother's venture probably fired his imagination and ambition, for a few months after Orlando's departure he started on foot to join him here. It is stated that he made a knapsack out of a tow blouse to contain his clothes while traveling.
Luckily, the lad was not obliged to carry out his plan of walking so .great a distance, for a part of the way two men in a lumber wagon shared their seat with him.
From Black Rock, N. Y., he continued his journey in the celebrated old steamer "Walk-in-the-Water," the first one on our lake. Many interesting stories are related of experiences shared by other pioneers who trusted their lives and stomachs, chiefly the latter, on the slow, shaky
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boat, that often anchored outside of the port for hours, and even days, unable to make harbor, and bobbing about on choppy seas while passengers suffered all the pangs of sea-sickness.
A. D. Cutter was but sixteen years of age when he reached this town. He at once began to clerk for his brother. Again the Cutter honesty and ability were recognized, for a few years later a wealthy merchant of this city, having a branch store in Wooster, O., dispatched him to that place to look after it, and later sold his interest out to Mr. Cutter. Later he returned to this city and until his death was one of its honored merchants.
He married, at Wooster, Mary Shepler Hemperly, b. 1816 at Beaver, Pa. They were married in 1831.
He died very suddenly in 1852. His widow, seven years later, became the second wife of Hon. John A. Foote.
The children of A. D. and Mary Cutter:
Julia, Phineas and Henrietta, who died young..
Mary Elizabeth Cutter, b. 1839; m. James M. Carson of Cleveland. She died leaving no children, and. J. M. Carson m. (2) Mary McMillen
Charles Long Cutter, b. 1842. He was a graduate of Western Reserve University, and afterward studied law. He m. Anne Spencer, daughter of T. P. Spencer
Frances Maria Cutter, b. 1843; m. Charles Dillingham
Emma Hutchins Cutter.
Martha Cutter.
William Henry Cutter.
Arthur Davis Cutter.
Orlando and Abilene D. Cutter lived for some years side by side on St. Clair Street, Mrs. Orlando Cutter's brother, Richard Hilliard, occupying an adjoining residence to the left of them.
Moses Cutter, eldest of the brothers, also came west. He lived and transacted business in this city for a time, but, as his sons were active and prominent citizens of St. Louis, he and his wife soon joined them in that city.
Mrs. Moses Cutter was born in 1775, and was the daughter of Col. Christopher Webber.
The burial lots of the Cutter family are in Woodland Cemetery.
1819
The first marriage notice in Cleveland Herald.
"On the 25th day of September last, at Monroe, by John Bean, Esq., Elder John Blodgett of Salem, to the amiable Miss Anna Abbott, of the former place."
The Monroe and Salem mentioned may have been in this state.
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The first death notice in Cleveland Herald.
"Died, Dec. 31, 1819, Mrs. Leora Barker, aged 21. She left parents, brothers, and sisters."
"The Rev. Philander Chase, bishop of the State of Ohio, will preach in the courthouse" (north-west corner of Public Square) "in the village of Cleveland at 10 o'clock A. M., Sept. 28, 1819." (Herald.)
Salt yet very high. One barrel worth as much as three barrels of. flour.
Money very scarce. Every sixpence and shilling coming to hand had to be put by for taxes.
To relieve the wants of the people the township trustees issued a hundred dollars in shin-plasters, signed by Daniel Kelly, President, and Horace Perry, clerk of the board of trustees. Silver dollars were cut into nine pieces, and half-dollars into five pieces in order to make change.
"Joel Smith advertises his boot and shoe shop-'a few rods north-west of Merwin's tavern."'
1819
In June, 1819, a mission Sabbath-school was organized in the old log courthouse standing in the center of the south-west corner of the Square. Elisha Taylor was elected Superintendent, and Moses White, afterward founder and deacon of First Baptist Church, was made the Secretary.
This little Sabbath-school established the infancy of the Stone Church and Presbyterianism in the city. Therefore, no one of that faith but must feel an interest in the personality of the little band of Christian workers, first ancestors of the great membership of today, possessing unlimited resources, and widespread influence.
But in 1819, it was very small and very poor. The log courthouse sheltered it for two years, and after that it experienced all the anxieties and uncertainties of those who rent or accept the charity of landlords.
For a while, it held forth in the small schoolhouse on south side of St. Clair street near Bank street, then, in the second story of the old Academy on the opposite side of the street, the site of No. 1 Engine House, and by the time James Kellogg had built a business block where the American House now stands, the society was housed in the third story, and the Sabbath-school had long taken its proper place as a training school of the organized church with its 28 charter members.
There were 16 adult names enrolled on that June Sabbath of 1819, and personal mention of each will be found in this volume. Besides Elisha Taylor and Moses White, there were Mrs. Taylor, S. I. Hamlin, Philip B. Andrews, Sophia L. Perry, widow of Nathan, Sr., Bertha Johnson,
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Sophia Walworth, Mrs. Mabel Howe, Miss Harriet Howe, Henry Baird, Mrs. Ann Baird, Juliana Long, Mrs. Isabelle Williamson, Mrs. Minerva Merwin, and Rebecca Carter, widow of Lorenzo.
1819
FOOTE
Herchel Foote was an enterprising and popular young man who established the first book-store in town, in 1819. Probably he was induced to do this by members of the Men's Literary Society, organized as early as 1810, who tried to maintain a small public library.
His book-store was on the north-west corner of Superior Street and the Public Square, now the site of Marshall's drug-store. He was also a singing-master, and while leading the choir in the Old Stone Church, conducted singing-schools at Doan's Corners, and sometimes in Newburgh or Euclid.
He sold his book-store to Mr. Rouse, and bought one of general merchandise on the opposite side of the street below Seneca, and formerly owned by S. S. Dudley. Within a few years, he removed out on Euclid Ave., in what is now East Cleveland, where he was made a justice of the peace and postmaster of the village.
He came to Cleveland from Utica, N. Y., although his birthplace was Canton, Conn. He was the fourth son of John Foote, Jr. His mother was Lois Mills Foote, daughter of Dea. Benjamin and Hannah Humphrey Mills of Canton. His parents both died when he was 10 years old, the mother in December, 1802, and his father in the following June.
In 1821, he married Pamelia Townsend, daughter of Christopher Townsend of Albany, N. Y. Her mother died at her birth and Jonathan and Hannah Bliss, who had no children of their own, adopted her as their daughter. Afterward they became Cleveland pioneers of 1816, bringing the little girl, then 11 years of age, with them. She matured into an attractive young woman with unusually refined speech and bearing, and was universally admired and respected. She was 17 years old at the time of her marriage, and her husband was 28.
For over 30 years Herchel Foote kept a store on the southwest corner of Euclid Ave. and-Noble Road, and lived in a large house about 100 feet west of it. His store was one of the usual village type, containing drygoods, hardware, and groceries. He was popular with his neighbors, and drew trade from a wide area. So successful was he that some time in the early '50s he enlarged his business resources by building a big brick store directly opposite the one he had occupied so long. It was over 60 feet in length, and as the largest one thus far built in that locality, it was considered quite a pretentious building. He sent east for a big stock of goods and the outlook for trade seemed exceedingly flattering. Bennet Townsend, a brother-in-law, was taken in as partner.
But while business had been thus prospering with Mr. Foote, his
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household affairs were not on as satisfactory a footing. Mrs. Foote was a favorite in Cleveland society, and frequently entertained her intimate friends in it. Mrs. T. M. Kelley, Mrs. Weddell, Mrs. Sherlock Andrews, the Hoadleys, and the Woolseys would often drive out in their carriages to call upon Mrs. Foote, to take tea with her, or to spend the day.
Trouble began with Mrs. Foote's neglect to introduce her maids to the company and by requiring them to serve the table instead of sitting down at it with the guests. In the country district of that day this was an innovation. The "help" proved her claim of "being as good as anybody else" by being seated with the family, and when necessary, it-was more often the mistress who left the table to procure some forgotten adjunct of it, or attend to the dessert. Mrs. Foote's very reasonable and sensible requirements as viewed from the stand-point of our day and generation, were considered personal insults, not only by the maids, but by their following of relatives and friends, although in every other way Mrs. Foote had been the most considerate mistress.
Meanwhile, the social attention she received and the customary sight of carriages standing before her door began to excite the animosity of the envious. This feeling grew as inevitably as all sentiment grows in a community that has but few outside interests, and every happening is of account.
Nearly north of this locality was a settlement with a reputation of being "rough," and which furnished most of the help sought by housewives, within a radius of several miles. About the time that Mr. Foote launched out in his new store, he unfortunately added to the antagonism that had been smoldering in that settlement against his family by an adverse decision as a justice of the peace against two tavern-keepers whose business had sunk to the level of grogshops merely. The result was a boycott of his store, carried on aggressively and persistently, winning over or cowering his former customers. He became unable to meet his local bills or to pay eastern creditors, and finally he failed heavily. Disheartened and discouraged by the turn of affairs he traded his property on Euclid Ave. for Wisconsin land valued at $10 an acre, which proved to be mostly under water, and worth about 50 cents an acre.
"Nicest people I ever knew," declared an old gentleman born and raised within a few rods of the Foote homestead, and who narrated to the writer the above facts. "We never had finer neighbors, before or since. Kind, generous, and good through and through. Best folks I ever met, and it wasn't long after they left town that hired girls were expected to wait on table and eat afterward, and no one kicked up a rumpus over it, either. I know for a fact that more than one was sorry and ashamed that they didn't stand up for the Footes and down those no-account people who made all that trouble for them."
Mr. Herchel Foote removed to Saratoga Springs, N. Y. He died in the autumn of 1870 in his 80th year, at Brooklyn, N. Y. Mrs. Foote died at the home of her son Edward in Larchmont Manor, N. Y., aged 89 years. This son had become a successful physician of New York City, with a summer home at Larchmont, and his son Dr. Edward Bliss Foote succeeded him in his practice.
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The children of Herchel and Pamelia Foote:
Alfred Mills Foote, b. 1822; m. Ruth. Adams; 2nd, Miss Sally Brush His later years were spent on a fruit farm in New Jersey
Edward Bliss Foote.
1819
WILLES
Three old weather-beaten headstones standing in a row in Erie Street Cemetery to the right of the main entrance are of peculiar interest to one having the early history of the city at heart. They indicate the graves of the first three editors of the old Cleveland Herald, Luther Willes, Ziba Willes, and Jewett Prime. All three died comparatively young, and of the same disease, tuberculosis.
The Willes were brothers, and the year they came to Cleveland, 1819, Luther was 30 and Ziba 24 years old. It has been found impossible to secure aught concerning the previous lives of these young men save that they were the sons of Sylvanus Willes of some town of New Hampshire, and that they came to Cleveland by the way of Erie, Pa., where, in September, 1818, Ziba had started the first newspaper published in that place. It was christened the "Erie Gazette," and was a venture that lasted but a year.
At the expiration of that time, the press, type, and other paraphernalia of a small printing-office were transferred to Cleveland, and in October, 1819, was published the first issue of the Cleveland Herald, a newspaper that existed for 66 years.
Ziba Willes was assisted in this by a former friend and associate, Eber D. Howe, a practical printer 21 years of age, whose native home was Clifton Springs, Saratoga County, N. Y. Mr. Howe retained his connection with the Herald but two years, then removed to Painesville, Ohio, where in July, 1822, he started the Painesville Telegraph. After his departure, Luther Willes was associated for a time with his brother in the publication of the Herald, but finally withdrew and removed to Bedford, Ohio.
Luther Willes married Fanny Willey, daughter of Allen and Sophia Frink Willey of Goshen, N. H. She was an exceptionally intelligent and attractive young woman, and a sister of Hon. John W. Willey, first Mayor of Cleveland. Although possessing no data to prove the supposition, the writer is inclined to the belief that the Willeys and the Willes brothers had been neighbors or schoolmates previous to their residence here, and that their arrival in Cleveland in the same year was not by mere chance.
Mr. and Mrs. Luther Willes led an ideal life in the beautiful little village of Bedford. They were within an easy drive of Cleveland, and their pretty, hospitable home was often filled with their numerous town relatives and intimate friends.
Mr. and Mrs. John Willey, Rev. Elijah Willey, Dr. Joshua Mills and
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wife, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Andrews, and the Dodge relatives were frequent and welcome guests. And hither in 1826 came the younger brother, Ziba Willes, already bearing in his shrunken cheeks and hollow cough premonitions of the fate that awaited him. A disease incident to childhood had affected his hearing and precluded general conversation, which caused him, at times, to experience the loneliness that comes to those alike afflicted. He is said to have been a very lovable character, kind, gentle, friendly to every one, regardless of circumstance, and exceedingly honest. He died at his brother's home in Bedford in 1830, aged 35 years, and was brought back to Cleveland and buried in Erie Street Cemetery.
Three years later Luther Willes, stricken by the same malady, was laid to rest beside him.
The children of Luther and Fanny Willes.:
Charles Luther Willes, m. Anna Maria Gleason..
Maria Louise Willes, m. Gen. Jacob Medary of Columbus, Ohio..
Caroline A. Willes, m. Dr. Henry Slosson, a Cleveland physician and druggist
Fanny Willes, m. Michael L. Sulliyant
Annette Willes, died young.
Mrs. Luther Willes survived her husband 47 years, and dying at an advanced age was laid beside the companion of her youth in Erie Street Cemetery. Her children, bereft of father in helpless childhood, received the best efforts of her life and made a success of their own. Her only son Charles, left a daughter, Miss Mary Sue Willes, who at this date, 1911, is an associate editor of a newspaper in St. Paul, Minn.
1819
SCRANTON
Scranton Avenue is one of the few city streets named after pioneers that has escaped the vandalism of the council that changed nomenclature into numbers.
Stephen Scranton of Ludlow, Mass., married Asenath Wright, daughter of Abel and Joshua Wright of New London, Conn. The couple had a family of eight children, the older of whom were born in Ludlow and Belcherstown, and the youngest, twin-daughters, Cornelia and Harriet, were born in 1817 near Cooperstown, N. Y.
Stephen Scranton was a skillful worker in steel and iron. He was a man of unusual ability with an inventive turn of mind. He built works in Otsego Co., N. Y., for the manufacture of cut nails, the first one of 1 its kind in the state. He possessed rare energy, and had he lived in this later day, would have been known as a "captain of industry" from the Atlantic to the Pacific.
But misfortune overtook him. His works were swept out of exist-
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ence by fire again and again. The last time they burned down, he ;,gave up the struggle, and with his family removed west, settling in Brighton, Lorain County.
Eunice Scranton, the oldest child of the family, married Rev. Steven V. Taylor, LL. D., President of Madison University, N. Y.
Abel Scranton died of consumption in Cleveland in 1828 at the age of 20.
Joel Scranton, the second child of Stephen and Ascenath Scranton, was born in Belcherstown in 1793. His father's continued misfortunes early made it imperative for Joel to strike out for himself. He had typical Yankee shrewdness to a degree, attributes more suited to mercantile pursuits than the one with which his boyhood had been familiar.
He was 26 years old when he came to Cleveland in 1819, on a little schooner laden with leather. He rented a small store at the foot of Superior Street, and in it stored his cargo. He soon disposed of it, for it was a commodity much in demand. Of this he had assured himself on a former visit, and reconnoiter. To the sale of leather he added that of dry-goods and groceries, and within a few years was doing a business that was steady in yearly growth.
He bought a farm of many acres lying between the river and the amphitheater of hills east and south of it, and since known as "Scranton Flats." Here he built a commodious brick dwelling, in which he lived and died. Years ago, some one with a facile pen pictured, most alluringly
"The old home and orchard at the foot of the hill, the boat swinging by a chain to a ring in its nose at the shore, the horses and kine pasturing upon the green meadows of the Cuyahoga, the woods that crowned the heights, the humble dwellings struggling up the bluffs as if trying to scale them."
"The flocks of cheep grazing in the pasture have been succeeded by the white fleeces of the busy steam, and the rasp of scythes by the roar of a thousand wheels."
Mr. Scranton sometimes complained whimsically that his big farm and other extensive holdings kept him "land poor." Taxes and improvements yearly growing heavier and currency scarcer.
A Mr. Averill living in the east was his partner in real-estate holdings. "Scranton & Averill," as the firm was known, ceased at Mr. Scranton's death. Mr. Averill came on to Cleveland occasionally, but took no active part in the business. A son and three daughters inherited the latter's interest in the firm, and until very recently, if not yet, the heirs have drawn yearly upon the Cleveland estate.
In the office of T. H. and Edward Bushnell,. Society for Savings Building, hangs a letter written by Joel Scranton to Mr. Averill in those early days of land investment.
Mr. Scranton was very unconventional, independent, and democratic. He had a keen sense of humor, and any one who could inveigle him into reminiscence was certain of a rare treat.
In June, 1829, by Rev. Stephen Peet, he was married to Miss Irene P. Hickox. She was the daughter of David and Phebe Post Hickox, who settled in Clinton, N. Y., a college town, in order to give their children
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educational advantages. The family consisted of a son, Jesse Hickox, and several daughters.
David Hickox removed to Kinsman, Trumbull County, Ohio, and introduced into that locality the culture of silkworms which was attracting much attention in the east. He brought with him to Ohio cuttings of mulberry which he grafted upon native stock.
David Hickox served three years in the War of the American Revolution. He enlisted March, 1777, and was discharged June, 1780.
Irene Hickox finished her education at Mrs. Pierce's famous seminary in Litchfield, Conn., after which with Mrs. Lewis and an older sister, she started a school for young ladies at Warren, Ohio. A third sister looked after the household needs of the establishment while the others taught.
This venture was not a financial success however, and the sisters divided forces. Irene came to Cleveland and opened a select school in a dwelling on Superior Street below the present site of the American House. But Joel Scranton had other plans for Miss Irene, which he finally persuaded her to accept, and she dismissed her classes to become the mistress of his heart and home. There have been from time to time many beautiful tributes paid to Mrs. Scranton by those who knew her as a gentle, lovely girl, and as a cultured Christian woman whose society and friendship were sought and treasured alike by rich and poor.
She had a family of five children, four of whom she laid away one by one in Woodland Cemetery, and where she rests beside them.
The children of Joel and Irene Hickox Scranton:
Helen Maria Scranton, b. 1830; died at seven years of age..
Mary J. Scranton, b. 1832; m. in 1858, William Bradford.
George Hickox Scranton, b. 1834;. died 11 months old.
Emily Louise Scranton, b. 1836; died 1857, 21 years
Charles Hickox Scranton, b. 1839; died of quick consumption, aged 10 years
Jenney-----, an adopted daughter, died of consumption.
Mrs. Mary Scranton, widow of the late William Bradford, has been long the sole survivor of her father's family. She lost her only child in infancy, but her home has never been a childless one. In it has dwelt perpetual youth through the presence there of one after another to whom she has been a mother. Her sympathy for-the widow and the fatherless, and the homeless, has been acute and tender, and under many circumstances Mrs. Bradford has stood between the unfortunate and bitter, physical suffering. No one will ever learn of it through her.
She has been an active worker in the Old Trinity for many years. She founded the home on Prospect Street, giving to it personal service as well as financial support.
Mrs. Mary Bradford is one of the board of managers of the Women's department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission of 1896, under whose auspices this historical and genealogical work is being prepared and pub-
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lished. For several years she has maintained at her home on Euclid Ave. the annual meeting of the board.
Mrs. Bradford's cousin and adopted daughter, Ella Bradford, married Rt. Rev. William Montgomery Brown, Bishop of Arkansas.
1819
ARMSTRONG
John Armstrong and wife, Phebe Stewart Armstrong, were living in East Cleveland in 1819. They were from New Jersey, that state that furnished so many of East Cleveland's earliest pioneers.
Elizabeth Armstrong, m. A. B. Gillspie..
Catherine Armstrong.
Adeline Armstrong, m. Jason Abbott. Died in Chardon, O..
Euphemia Armstrong, m. Ansel Walworth-Cleveland.
Caroline Armstrong, m. Luther Lewis
Snover Armstrong, m. Mary Gun, granddaughter of Elijah Gun the pioneer of 1797
1819
SOUTHWORTH
The name of Ebulous A. Southworth as early pioneer of Cleveland, does not appear in the Southworth genealogy, neither is there any other record available that gives his parentage or birthplace. He probably belonged to the New England branch of that family.
His occupation is given as "mill wright" and again as "carpenter and contractor." He served the town in a public capacity in different years, and was on the first public school board. He seems to have been a useful and respected citizen, who in the first years of his residence here was possessed of considerable property both real-estate and personal.
He was owner of original lots 29 and 30, bounded by St. Clair, Bank and Lake streets. His-home was No. 94 Bank Street, and he had a large carpenter shop on Academy Street.
In 1828 is recorded his marriage to Elizabeth Belden, 27 years of age, the daughter of Silas and Sarah Andrews Belden of Canaan, Conn. She met Mr. Southworth while making her home with her brother, the well known pioneer, Silas Belden. She was a teacher in the Academy on St. Clair Street, and was pleasantly recalled by her pupils in succeeding years.
The business panic of 1837 started a rapid decline in Mr. Southworth's fortune. His homestead on Bank street and other property are found in the many lists of delinquent taxes advertised for years following the
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panic. The former, 66 feet, was sold in 1841 at auction by John A. Vincent, who had a mortgage upon it. Mrs. Southworth kept a boardinghouse on Bank street for many years before and after the death of her husband. The latter was an estimable man, industrious, and of abstemious habits, but he lacked the business ability that in more skillful hands would have redeemed his fortune.
He died in 1870. Mrs. Southworth outlived all her family, and passed away in 1888 at the advanced age of 87.
The children of Ebulous and Elizabeth Southworth:
Mary C. Southworth, died in 1879, aged 45 years..
Sarah Southworth, died 1887, aged 49 years.
Louis Southworth, died 1862, aged 16 years
The only son was the idol of his parents and sisters, and his early death was a blow from which they never recovered. Mr. and Mrs. Southworth were charter members of the First Methodist Church. The family all lie in Erie Street Cemetery.
1819
COWLES
Judge Samuel Cowles, son of Joseph and Sarah Mills Cowles, was born in Simsbury, Conn., and at the age of forty-four removed to Cleveland. It was in 1819, when the town was little more than a hamlet. He was a graduate of Williams College, had practised law for many years, and was a handsome, dignified gentleman of the old school of manners. Soon he became one of Cleveland's foremost and honored citizens, a lawyer of wide reputation, and was made a judge of common pleas court.
Besides the practice of his profession, he was identified with several business interests, and in time accumulated a fine property. He was considered a safe counselor and in all money transactions perfectly reliable and above all criticism.
His partner for many years was Alfred Kelley, a brilliant lawyer of early Cleveland, who was a railroad promoter during the '40s, and who removed to Columbus, where he died. -
Judge Cowles' name occurs frequently in all histories of early Cleveland, especially in connection with philanthropic movements. He was president of the first anti-slavery society organized in northern Ohio, and was active in efforts to ameliorate the physical and spiritual condition of sailors frequenting our port.
Late in life, 1832, Judge Cowles married Miss Cornelia Whiting, a beautiful young woman of Lenox, Mass., many years his junior. Her parents were Gamaliel and------ Dismore Whiting, and she was a sister of William B. Whiting, later a resident of the city.
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Mrs. Cornelia Cowles was tall and of graceful and dignified bearing. She was universally admired and esteemed by the society of the village soon destined to be a city. Judge and Mrs. Cowles made a very distinguished-looking couple. They boarded at the Scovill Tavern until the completion of an elegant mansion which was being erected for them on the south side of Euclid Avenue, the present site of the Taylor store and Arcade.
Here Mrs. Cowles entertained most royally her own friends and the many distinguished associates of her husband. The couple were not blessed with children of their own, but their spacious home was made gay and attractive by young relatives of both. Mrs. Cowles' nephews and nieces, children of William Whiting, spent much of their time with her, and their presence in the household drew to it the younger element of the society of that day. Judge Cowles also had a very attractive young niece, Miss Helen Cowles, and some nephews, Samuel, Edwin, and Giles Cowles, all children of his half-sister Almira Foote, wife of Dr. E. W. Cowles, and they helped to make their uncle's house lively.
Judge Cowles died in 1837 and was buried in Erie Street Cemetery. His widow continued to occupy the homestead for some years, then sold it, in 1853, to a Roman Catholic sisterhood who established in it the Ursuline Convent and School. Not until 1893 was the building vacated and demolished. The lot upon which it stood was wide and extended back to Prospect Street. At his death Judge Cowles willed this end of the lot to his nephews.
After the sale of the Euclid residence Mrs. Cowles lived on the west side of Erie street near Superior. Meanwhile, she contracted an unfortunate second marriage with a Dr. Williams whom she divorced, much to the gratification of all her friends.
Her niece Cornelia Whiting, a charming young woman, continued to live with her aunt and was her devoted companion until Mrs. Cowles' death in 1864. The latter left considerable property, part of which consisted of a business block, 226 Superior street near the Square.
One-fourth of this she willed to the First Methodist Episcopal Church, also $6,000 in money with which to build it, and other bequests to religious and charitable societies. The residue of her estate was divided among her nephews and nieces.
Mrs. Cornelia Cowles was placed beside her husband and her mother in Erie Street Cemetery.
1819
BURGESS
Almon Burgess, son of Ebenezer and Hannah Gibbs Burgess of Sandwich, Mass., in 1808 married Betsey Hill of Grafton, Vt. They came to Cleveland eleven years later, and their first home was a log-house on Lake Street near Water Street set in the woods. Tall forest trees or an undergrowth of oaks, with stumps in every direction, surrounded them.
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1819
BURGESS
A few years later a narrow, new street was cut between Bank and Water streets, which was given the name of Burgess Lane, which later was changed to Orange Alley, and finally to Johnson Street. Here the Burgess family moved, and here Mr. and Mrs. Burgess died.
Orange Alley was a favorite residence from the start, because it was so near the heart of the settlement. Every one who could, lived below the Public Square, and so, many families who afterward became very prominent in the social and commercial life of the hamlet, lived for many years on Orange Alley or Johnson Street.
Mrs. Burgess was a small, delicate woman, naturally pale, and gentle in her speech. She is remembered with enthusiasm by those now living who knew her in her childhood.
Mr. Dudley Baldwin once remarked that her boys, who developed into succesful business men, inherited their talent in that direction from their mother, who was capable and far-sighted. Mr. Burgess was a kind-hearted, honest, inteligent man, but not a money-maker; consequently, the family suffered hardship until the two sons were able to assist in its support. They were devoted to their mother through life, and could rarely speak of her without tears. She never failed to visit their bedside every night of their boyhood to bid them good-night, and to tuck in the bed-clothes. Mr. Burgess died in 1873, aged 88 years, and Mrs. Burgess in 1850, aged 72 years.
On the corner of Water and Johnson streets was a building in which a man named Lee was brought suffering with cholera in the fatal epidemic of 1832. No one was brave enough to care for the victim, and he doubtless would have died there alone in his great suffering but for Mr. Burgess who attended to his wants with the greatest tenderness until the man recovered. In this same year, a steamboat landed some cholera stricken sailors or passengers on the beach near the mouth of the river, which was then many rods west of where it now is, and abandoned the poor wretches to their fate, proceeding on its way to Detroit. Again Mr. Burgess responded to the call of humanity, and carried them to a place of shelter, nursed them night and day, and saw that those who died were buried with respect and decency.
His daughter, Almira Burgess, born 1810, married Ara Sprague, a man very much like his father-in-law, for when nearly the whole hamlet was ill with fever, every member of the Walworth family stricken, and not enough well ones to care for the sick, Mr. Ara Sprague nursed people night and day until worn out himself for want of rest and sleep. He removed to Huron, Erie Co. Almira Burgess Sprague died, and Ara Sprague married secondly Dinah Munger, an exceedingly bright woman, who, three years ago, was living in Chicago, nearly 100 years of age.
Ara and Almira Sprague's son, George Sprague, was a prominent commission merchant doing business on Merwin Street until after the Civil War. The second child of Almon and Betsey Burgess was Clarissa, a beautiful girl who died in her teens and was greatly mourned by her family and young companions. Cleveland men yet living recall her as a sweet personality.
Eliza Burgess married Dr. D. C. Branch, and also removed to Huron,
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but returned to the city in after years. She lived to be an old lady, leaving an unmarried daughter.
Solon Burgess, of the long well-known firm of S. & L. Burgess, wholesale grocers, never married. He was much interested in all benevolent work of the city. He died aged 83 years.
Leonard Burgess, the only child born in Cleveland, married Renda Lyon, grandchild of the founder of Strongsville, Ohio. He died a few years since, aged 79. His widow died recently. A very interesting daughter, Anna Burgess, survives her parents, and lives on Prospect Street, near Hayward. True to the traditions of her family, she cares little for society, and devotes much of her time and her income to benevolent enterprises.
1819
BLAIR
It was in 1819, that John and Henry Blair, pioneers of Cleveland, left the Maryland home of their parents Samuel and Polly (Shields) Blair, journeyed across the Alleghenies, and came, at length, to the hamlet of Cleveland on Lake Erie.
They were farmer boys and poor. John was 26 years old and had just $3 in his wallet, yet his whole cash capital seemed a goodly sum in those days of virtually no money, barter and exchange being the only method of doing business.
He had a healthy, vigorous body, an active mind and a stout heart, and within a short time was making a good living for himself and family.
In July, 1820, his first child was born, showing that either he brought his wife with him or was married soon after his arrival in Cleveland. She was Elizabeth Holm, daughter of Abraham Holm of Wilkesburgh, Pa., and was 22 years old.
The young couple boarded for a time at the Carter Tavern, and then began housekeeping at No. 60 Bank street. Their lot was wide, extending to the north-east corner of St. Clair street, and ran through to Academy street, named for the school building erected on the corner of John Blair's home lot, and facing St. Clair street. It is now Fire Engine House No. 1.
The Blair residence was in the center of the lot, and the ground space to the south side of it was devoted to flowers, of which Mrs. Blair was passionately fond, spending many hours each day in caring for them. Her flower-garden was the admiration of the town, and its location on the corner of two - principal streets made it conspicuous, and brought its beauty and fragrance in close touch with the passer-by.
Many a handful of her precious blossoms did kind Mrs. Blair hand over her picket-fence to children who on their way to the Academy paused with wistful eyes at the flowers in bloom. And we may be sure that many of her floral treasures found their way into the homes of neighbors or friends, to cheer the invalid or as a tribute to departed ones.
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BLAIR
It was in this garden-spot that the artist sat to sketch the well-known "View of St. Clair street looking east from Bank street in 1836."
John Blair was a very capable business man, quickly recognizing opportunities and availing himself of them. He built a warehouse on the river south of where St. Clair street begins. Like other warehouses of early days, it was painted red, and for long years was a landmark on the river-front.
He engaged in the forwarding and commission business, traded with Indians and farmers, and sent their furs and produce off on vessels flying between this port and others.
The opening of the canal helped him considerably, and he built the first boat, the one that in 1827 took the celebrated trip to Eight-mile Lock and return, bearing as passengers a distinguished company of citizens and out-of-town guests.
In 1836 John Blair erected a fine Colonial homestead on a large farm he had purchased on Euclid Ave. beyond Hudson street, renamed Sterling Ave., now E. 30th St.
Probably no house in Cleveland Township was more carefully or staunchly built. It was a facsimile of Mr. Blair's boyhood home in Maryland.
It set far back from the south side of the road, so far that when Prospect street was extended eastward from Sterling Ave., it passed north of the house with the sidewalk but a few feet from its front door. The house had a two-storied veranda to the main part, and high wings flanked this on each side. The Blair lane that led from the house to Euclid Ave. then became "Fern street."
The Blairs maintained a lavish hospitality in this many-roomed mansion. It seemed very far out of town in those days and many a string of carriages in summer, or bob-sleds in winter, bore crowds of town friends out to the hospitable home to be entertained at supper and to spend the evening.
Mrs. Blair's garden was transplanted from the old Bank street site, and greatly enlarged and enriched with rare floral treasures.
She died in 1860, at 63 years of age. Mr. Blair survived her 12 years. They were both laid at rest in Erie Street Cemetery.
The family consisted of six children, only one of whom married. They were:
Mary Jane Blair, died 1899, aged 79 years.
Eliza Ann Blair, died 1899, aged 77; m. George W. Slingluff. .
Henry Blair, died 1826, aged 2 years
Harriet Blair, died 1835, aged 8 years
John H. Blair, died 1872, aged 42 years
Elizabeth Blair, died 1904, aged 72 years.
.The Blair daughters were all fine women, all members of the Old Stone Church.
Elizabeth, the last one of the family, was the treasurer of the Woman's Department of the Cleveland Centennial Commission, and was greatly interested in the preparation of these volumes. At her death the homestead was demolished.
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1819
BROOKS
One of the early pioneers of Newburgh was David Brooks. He was of New England stock, having been born in Bristol, Vermont, in 1782. About the age of 31, he went to St. Lawrence County, New York, and there married Miss Mercy Holcomb, a young woman of sterling worth whose father had been an officer in the American Revolution; she also was born in Vermont, in the town of Panton.
In the year 1819, Mr. and Mrs. David Brooks came to Newburgh, settling temporarily in the western part of the township. Three years later, Mr. Brooks purchased 100 acres of land of John Hubbard, on the southwest corner of what is now Harvard street and Marcelline Ave., but which then were scarcely more than bridle-paths, and the immediate neighborhood an unbroken wilderness. He immediately erected a log house on Harvard street, in which they lived many years, and afterwards he built a frame-house on Marcelline Ave., where he and his wife died.
Mr. Brooks and Mr. Greenleese, who bought adjoining land on the west, used to make yearly pilgrimages to Madison, Ohio, on horseback to make payments on their land to Mr. Hubbard, who lived in that place.
There were nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Brooks. They were:
Betsey Brooks, m. Franklin A. Andrus. She died in her 60th year..
Samuel Brooks, m. Caroline Rathbun..
Freeman Brooks, m. Lydia Rathbun
Harriet Brooks, m. Henry L. Ferris
David Brooks, Jr., died at the age of 21
Charles Brooks, m. Sarah Ann Snell.
Midas Brooks, m. Sarah Walpole.
Betsey Brooks Andrus often talked of her girlhood days, and one of her stories told to the younger generation she was compelled to repeat over and over. It seemed so incredible and so thrilling. One day, a huge black bear came lumbering across the road in front of the old loghouse. One can imagine the scampering in-doors, the fright, and the anxiety as to what the creature would do. But he went steadily about his business, whatever that may have been, and passing west of the house, he disappeared down the big gully, yet in a state of primitive wilderness.
Harriet Brooks Ferris, the youngest daughter, who removed to Hammond, N. J., says that the women of the family grew tired of the limits and inconveniences of the log-cabin, and were all delighted when the new frame-house was ready for occupancy. And yet, in looking back upon the earlier home, she realized that they had lived happy, peaceful lives, that the expression "Log House Hospitality" indicated all that it meant to express, a never-failing one. Wayfarers asking for lodging and food were never turned away. Somehow, and in some way, sometimes with much over-crowding and discomfort for the family, room was made, even for quite a party arriving hungry and worn out with travel.
Caroline, Malinda, and Lydia Rathbun, who married the Brooks boys, were the daughters of Edmund and Julia Rathbun.
Samuel Brooks died in his 47th year, and his wife survived him for many years.
Charles Brooks settled in South Bend, Ind.
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BLAIR
Freeman Brooks removed to Madison, Ohio, and died there in his 69th year. His widow returned to Newburgh, and lived several years after her husband's death.
The members of the Brooks family who remained in Newburgh and held on to their property were well repaid, as in time it became of great value. The farms were cut into building lots, and are now the most populous part of that part of Cleveland. Several of the grandchildren have made much of their lives, and today are highly respected members of society.
1819
BLAIR
Henry Blair of Maryland was a brother of John Blair the merchant. Henry was a mason, and perhaps more necessary to the little town than his brother, for men with a trade were in much demand those days, while there seemed to be merchants in plenty. He never gained much wealth, but he married a member of a fine family, and raised children who were a credit to the community.
Mrs. Blair was Eliza Meech, daughter of Gurdon and Lucy Swan Meech of Bozrah, Conn., who came to the city in 1832. Her sisters were Mrs. O. M. Burke, Mrs. Jabez Gallup, and Mrs. Isham Morgan, all the finest of women.
The children of Henry and Eliza Meech Blair;
Hattie Blair, m. George Wyman.
Nelly Blair, m. Henry Newbury, a. second wife.
Lucy Blair, m. William Wallace Goodwin
Minnie Blair, m. Harvey Rice, Jr.
The Henry Blairs lived No. 63 Ontario street.
1819
HUBBARD
Israel Hubbard and his wife Rhoda Hulbert, daughter of Timothy and Nabby Hulbert, moved from Broome, Schoraic County, N. Y., to Newburgh, in 1819. Mr. Hubbard's father had exchanged a farm in Broome for a large tract of unimproved timber land in Newburgh, now within the city limits.
With Mr. Israel Hubbard were his sister Cynthia Hubbard Titus, her husband Stephen Titus, and their three children. Mr. Hubbard commenced a clearing, built a log-house, and with his wife and babe moved into it. This log-cabin stood on the north side of Woodland Ave., nearly
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1819
BLAIR
opposite Herald street. Later, Stephen Titus and family took up their residence there.
Wolves often howled around the house very unpleasantly. One evening, after the ground about the house had been cleared and corn growing, Mrs. Hubbard saw what she thought to be a black hog in the corn, and went to drive it away. It ran before her until it reached a fence, she following it closely, when, to her amazement, it climbed over. It was a black bear.
In 1822, the Hubbard and Titus families moved into new homes on what was afterward Kinsman street, but then dense woods. Mrs. Hubbard died 30 years after coming here, aged 53 years.
The children:
Emmeline Hubbard, m. Mr. Warren.
Ruth Hubbard.
Aaron Hubbard.
Jared Hubbard.
After Mrs. Rhoda Hubbard's death, Mr. Hubbard married Phebe Hotchkiss, born 1822. She had two sons and two daughters : William, Frank, Ada, and Mary Hubbard.
In the summer of 1820, Aaron Hubbard, father of Israel, his wife Esther Tibbals Hubbard, their daughter Ada, and their son Amos moved from Broome to the new home. They came in two covered wagons, one drawn by horses, the other by oxen, and brought with them one or more cows, which supplied them with milk on the three weeks' journey. They were accompanied by David Sheldon, wife and sisters, bound for Richfield. When they reached Buffalo, Mr. Hubbard shipped the heaviest of his loads, and took passage on the steamer "Walk-in-the-Water," leaving his wife in charge of the company. She drove the horses all the way from Buffalo to Newburgh.
They entered the State of Ohio on July Fourth. They came upon some boys celebrating Independence Day with a pine-log cannon, the leader of whom was considerate enough to warn her that they were about to fire, and to hold the horses with a tight rein.
The one log-house previously built on Woodland Ave. sheltered the three families for several weeks after their arrival, then another house was built. Mr. Hubbard had intended building a frame-house, at once, for his wife, and had brought nails and hardware with him for that purpose. But a barn for storing their crops was a necessity, and the nails went into it, and the more ambitious home was postponed for two years.
Mrs. Aaron Hubbard was a woman of good judgment, cheerful, intelligent, fond of reading, and retained her mental faculties and excellent memory to the last of her long life. She was born in Durham, Conn., in 1771. The memories of her childhood included the Revolutionary War. One winter, when subsistence for the Continental Army was hard to be obtained, the troops were quartered at the homes of Connecticut people, one, two or more, in a place. Four were sent to her father's, Mr.
Tibbal's home, and remained there all winter. When she was about eight years old, word came that Gen. Washington was expected to pass through the town, and her family all went out to the gate to salute him as he passed by.
Mrs. Hubbard not only lived to see great changes from the wilderness
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MATHER
to cultivated fields and refined homes, but also the universal change from hand work to machine work. She survived her husband many years, an example of cheerful, unselfish, Christian, old age, being 88 years old at her death.
Israel Hubbard, m. Rhoda Hulbert.
Cynthia Hubbard, m. Stephen Titus.
Ada Hubbard, m. Richard Woolsey, in 1821, and lived in Willoughby, O..
Amos Hubbard, m. Doty Hand, sister of Mrs. David Clement, in 1828. (He died in 1837, and his widow married John Healy, by whom she had two sons, the well known Healy brothers, merchants of Newburgh.)
John Hubbard, m. Rebecca Bergan; 2nd, Mrs. Jennie Hazen
Esther Hubbard, m. Alvin B. Rathbun
Hemen Hubbard, m. Helen M. Knapp.
1819
MATHER
Cleveland had a very early citizen who was a lineal descendant and namesake of Cotton Mather the celebrated Massachusetts divine.
The Cleveland Cotton Mather was educated for the ministry, but health failing, he was sent by his parents into the wilds of Pennsylvania in the hope that he might there recruit his strength, and be enabled to return east and enter upon the career planned for him.
But Cupid, roaming the western forests, met up with Mr. Mather, and shot him with an arrow that diverted all life lines laid out into other channels. The young man met a Scotch lassie named Charlotte Dagget, the daughter of a farmer living in Greenfield, Pa., and straightway fell deeply in love.
Many and various were the protestations that poured in upon him from his family, but without avail. When the wedding took place has not been preserved, but one of their six children was born in 1810.
The family removed to Cleveland about 1819, and, evidently, Mr. Mather purchased one or more of the outlying ten-acre lots bordering on the hamlet, as one of the daughters, then nine years old, tended her father's sheep within walking distance of the Public Square. She was Maria M. Mather, eventually Mrs. Sprague Perkins, and with her husband became an early .settler of Saginaw, Mich. Their son Sanford Perkins was a well-known citizen of that place, filling several important positions of public trust.
The Mather family remained in Cleveland for some years; how many cannot be learned, nor whether the parents died here or moved away. The little girl that tended sheep lived to be nearly 90 years of age, physically active and mentally bright until the last. She was grandmother of Mrs. Ashley Ames, Jr., of Miles Ave.
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1820
POPULATION, 150*
TOWN OFFICERS
President, Horace Perry.
Treasurer, A. W. Walworth.
Trustees, Wileman White, Walworth, Irad Kelly.
Marshal, Harvey Wellman.
Collector of Customs, Ashbel Wal
Postmaster, Irad Kelly. worth.
Recorder, Samuel Cowles.
COUNTY OFFICERS
Sheriff, Seth Doan.
Recorder, Horace Perry.
Prosecuting Attorney, Alfred Kelly.
Surveyor, S. S. Baldwin.
Treasurer, Daniel Kelly.
* More than doubled in past two years.
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PAGE 240 STREET MAP
1820
SPANGLER
Michael Spangler of York Co., Pennsylvania, married Elisabeth Miller who was born in Maryland in the last decade of the eighteenth century.
They removed to Canton, Ohio, where they lived for a time and then, concluding to make another change of residence, in 1820 with their family of little children they started for Cleveland. They suffered many hardships in their travels through forests, and fording or riding on dangerous rivers.
Mr. Spangler bought the tavern on the north side of Superior Street formerly owned by- George Wallace, and called the Commercial House. This they kept for many years. The Miller Block now occupies the site. He afterward purchased a farm of John Shenfelt, and left the tavern in order to live on and cultivate it. Here he died in 1836. The farm-house still stands on the corner of East Madison and Hough avenues, and is occupied by their grandson.*
Mr. and Mrs. Spangler were the first couple in Cleveland that could speak the German language, and that nationality has reason to be proud of the fact, for they were fine people in very way, greatly admired and thoroughly respected.
Mrs. Spangler was a helpmate in laying the foundation of their future prosperity. She was a capable manager, a skilled cook, and her cordial smile and warm welcome to the stranger, or frequent guest, made the small tavern a popular shelter for those who needed a transient home.
She drew a pension after Mr. Spangler's death for services he rendered his country during the War of 1812. She died in 1880, at the age of 91, having outlived her husband for forty-four years.
The children of Michael and Elisabeth Miller:
Margaret Spangler, m. Joseph K.,
Miller, son of William and Hannah Miller.
Miller M. Spangler, m. Deborah Potts.
Catherine Spangler, m. William Lemen of England..
Basil Spangler, m. Julia Stedman, and secondly, Matilda McCarg
Mary Spangler, m. Thomas Lemen, daughter of Buckley Stedman brother of William. They both died young, leaving a little daughter who became Mrs. John Underner
Harriet Spangler, unmarried.
Margaret Spangler was married in 1826, and like her mother, was destined to live many years a widow, for her husband died in 1840, and she outlived him 51 years. Their residence was on Bank Street, corner of Frankfort Street.
It was said of Mrs. Miller at her death in 1891 that "she was a woman of many admirable traits of character," and that- "she ended her long and active life replete with many acts of benevolence and charity."
The children of Joseph and Margaret Miller:
Mary Miller, m. Edwin Rouse
James Miller, m. Sophia Hensch.
Henry Miller.
William L. Miller, m. Augusta Petingill.
* Demolished in 1913.
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1820
SPANGLER
Miller M. Spangler was an active man through his long life, most of which was spent on the farm with his mother. He was chief of one of the voluntary fire companies that did such valuable service to the city before the present system was established. He was sheriff for many years, and did his duty most fearlessly. In later life he was a maltster doing a large business. He married, in 1839, Miss Deborah Ann Potts. She was the daughter of Samuel Potts of Ontario, Canada, and Mary Dockstader Potts.
Mrs. Miller Spangler was the niece of Nicholas, Richard, and Butler Dockstader, early residents of the town.: She died in 1896, at the farmhouse, corner of East Madison and Hough Aves., where she had lived many years of her married life.
They had but one child, George Spangler, who continued to live in the old homestead. He married Miss Ella Kinney, daughter of Alonzo and Eliza Sharp Kinney of Wynantskill, N. Y., and has two sons, Kinney and George Spangler.
Mr. and Mrs. Miller Spangler adopted a little girl whose parents were lost on Lake Erie. She continued to live with them until after their death.
This farm, which cost but $2,000 when purchased by the Spanglers, is at the present time worth a fortune. It was divided among the children. Spangler Ave. was named for the family.
Catherine Spangler married William Lemen in 1827. They lived on the south-east corner of the Public Square, now the site of the Cuyahoga Building, in a beautiful cottage, a famous landmark for many years. It was built of stone, was sixty feet wide, and one story high. The roof extended over the front its entire width, and was supported by eight stone columns. These were preserved when the cottage was torn down in 1854, and were used in the erection of a Grecian temple now on the family lot in Lake View Cemetery.
Mrs. Lemen lived in the "Stone Cottage" for twenty-five years. She entertained frequently, and had a large circle of friends who loved her. She was a life-long member of Trinity Church. She died in 1884, having. outlived her husband 32 years. The homestead site was leased to James Parmalee in 1889 for a term of 99 years.
The children of William and Catherine Spangler Lemen:
Anna Lemen, m. William H. Sholl.
Catherine Lemen, m. George Howe ; died in 1912. D. S. P.
Mary Lemen, m. Walter Morrison of Columbus. She died 1892.
Basil Spangler was a merchant. He also served in the volunteer fire department, and was one of the three men who composed the first board of water commissioners of the city.
Harriet Spangler, the youngest child of the pioneers, was considered a great beauty in her youth, and attracted much attention. An old lady told the writer that at an early day, while stopping at a wayside inn near Akron, she met Mr. Spangler and his daughter Harriet, who were on their way to or from Akron, and remained for the night at the same
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inn. The house was full of guests and the two young women were compelled to occupy the same room.
"I never before nor since saw such beautiful arms and neck as she possessed. They were dazzling white, and so prettily shaped."
To those who knew Harriet Spangler only in her eccentric and unattractive old age, this would seem incredible. But when living in the Spangler tavern in the '30s, she was known by the traveling public as "The Dutch beauty." She never married, but lived many years on a large, inherited property, corner of Euclid and Spangler avenues.
The Lemen brothers, William and Thomas, must have come to Cleveland before 1827. They seemed to be very popular young men, and often were alluded to in old letters in terms of respect or affection. Thomas Lemen belonged to the volunteer department, and was captain of one of its companies. He died in 1851, and William in 1852. They left daughters, but no sons. Mrs. Catherine Underner, wife of Prof. John Underner, is the only living member of that generation. She is living in Zanesville, Ohio.
1820
MARKS
Four young men started together in 1820 on a journey from Milford, Conn., to Cleveland, each intent upon buying land in the Ohio wilderness, clearing it off into a farm, and establishing thereon a home. They were Nehemiah Marks, Wilson Bennet, Richard Treat, and Victor Clark. Only the first-named selected this locality, the others settling outside the township. Upon reaching Cleveland, they first hunted up a former Milford neighbor who had preceded them and built a log-house on the present site of Calvary Cemetery, and was keeping bachelor's hall until the arrival of his family from the east. Thomas Ross welcomed the weary travelers, and entertained them until they could decide upon their future movements.
Nehemiah Marks hesitated between two 100-acre tracts of land offered for sale. One was in the vicinity of the present market-house and between Broadway and the river-valley, at three dollars an acre. The soil seemed poor, the timber on it of inferior quality, so he chose the other one, on Broadway but miles eastward, at five dollars an acre. Had he selected the 100 acres at the junction of Woodland and Broadway, and held it, leasing it for long terms as it developed, today no prudent descendant of Nehemiah Marks would be without a comfortable income.
In 1822, Mr. Marks married Clarissa Parmeter. The ceremony was performed by Theodore Miles in the Miles homestead, now the Turney residence. She was the daughter of William and Lorana Meigs Parmeter of Rutland, Vt. She had been a school-teacher in her native state.
Miss Parmater received an unexpected offer one day from a neighbor who was about to start for Ohio. He told her that she might accompany them, if she wished, free of expense, if she would drive a one-horse wagon for them all the way. But she must be at his house the next morning before sunrise, all ready to start.
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This was short notice for such an important change in her life, and to go on such a long journey. She was equal to the occasion, however, and hurriedly disposing of her household goods, collecting money due her for teaching, paying a few debts, and preparing her wardrobe, she was on hand the next morning at the appointed time.
Soon after her arrival in Newburgh, she began teaching near where the State Hospital now stands. In 1822 she married Nehemiah Marks, and began housekeeping the next day in a log-house where they lived together 54 years. They had four daughters, and two sons. She died in 1876, as dies the Christian, in a full faith of another and better life.
Nehemiah Marks went back to Connecticut in 1821. Except a ride of 26 miles, he walked all the way. It is claimed that it took but 13 days to accomplish the journey. When he returned to Ohio he drove an ox-team, a horse and wagon, his sister Content Marks accompanying him.
When the Marks log-cabin was raised, a big crowd of neighbors and friends turned out to give a helping hand. Mr. Marks preserved a list of these. It is still cherished by his son, and it is interesting to note how many names of well-known Newburgh pioneers it contains. Mr. and Mrs. Marks once entertained a guest who became a national celebrity. The summer of 1845 was marked by a disastrous drouth. Consequently, there was a scant hay-crop, and scarcely grain enough to seed the following year's corn and wheat-fields. Hay was $20 a ton, and cows could be bought for three dollars each.
December 10th, a tall man wearing a plug hat and swallow-tailed coat appeared at the Marks cabin. He was driving a flock of 104 sheep. Mr. Marks recognized him as John Brown, living in a county south of this one, and a dealer in stock.
"You must put me up, Mr. Marks," he exclaimed. "Now don't say `No.' My sheep are wet and starving. I have come from Buffalo on a steamer, and the waves washed over the decks and into the hold, soaking my sheep through to the skin. I drove them all the way on foot from Connecticut to Buffalo, and from the river here. You must take us in, Mr. Marks. Now don't say 'No,'" he repeated.
He was entertained, and his sheep fed and sheltered for the night. Mr. Brown was asked if he would share a bed with one of the youngsters of the household, and readily acquiesced. The son who had the honor of sleeping with "John Brown, whose soul is marching on," was Nehemiah Marks, Jr., still living at the age of 79.
The children of Nehemiah and Clarissa Marks:
Mary Louisa Marks, b. 1823; m. Jacob Flick..
LaFayette Marks, b. 1825; m. Jane Osborn.
Caroline Marks, b. 1826; m. Aaron.Palmer.
Marilla Marks, b. 1828; m. Harlow E. Faulk
Rosetta Marks, b. 1831; m. 1st, Charles E. Chamberlain ; 2nd, Addison Halladay
Nehemiah Marks, Jr., b. 1833; m. Maria Wells.
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Nehemiah Marks, Sr., was the youngest son of Abraham and Content Merwin Marks. His mother was related to the Cleveland Merwins, early pioneers of the village. Mr. Marks died in 1879, and his wife Clarissa Parmater Marks in 1876.
Nehemiah Marks, Jr., possesses an old flint-musket that has been in his family for 157 years, perhaps longer. It was used by three generations in three wars, father, son, and grandson, in the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812. Mr. Marks' grandfather, William Parmater, and his two brothers, John and Joshua Parmater, were also in the Revolutionary War.
1820
PRITCHARD
Jared and Anna Baird Pritchard living in East Cleveland had three daughters and a son, all of whom married into prominent pioneer families of the town.
Anna Pritchard, m. Horace Gun..
Sally Pritchard, m. Samuel Potter, removed to Medina.
Baird Pritchard, m. Julia Pardee
Polly Pritchard, m. Timothy Doan.
Mrs. Julia Pardee Pritchard was born in Waterbury, Conn., in 1796, came to Cleveland in 1832. She became a widow early, and lived many years No. 97 St. Clair street, supporting her family through a boardinghouse. She was a fervent Methodist, and much beloved in that society when its only church edifice stood on St. Clair street, corner of Wood. She came to be well known as "Mother" Pritchard. She died 1874.
The children of Baird and Julia Pritchard:
Anna Pritchard, m. Capt. Stanard.
(There was a steamboat captain living here in 1845, Capt. C. C. Stanard. )
Harriet Pritchard.
Marcus A. Pritchard, a sailor
1820
TITUS
There were two brothers and a sister by the name of Titus living in Newburgh at an early day, Stephen, James, and Phebe Titus. Stephen married Cynthia Hubbard, daughter of Aaron Hubbard, who came to Newburgh in 1820.
She was an intelligent, kind woman, an exceedingly interesting correspondent. They removed to Brandon, Wis., and her children used to
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beg the privilege of reading her letters to the relatives in Newburgh and elsewhere before they were mailed, for they often contained news items which had escaped their own observation.
Two of her children married into the Ely family of Deerfield, O., Mary Titus to Hanson Ely, and Giles Titus to Mary Ely. Eliza Titus married James Reeves and died in Wisconsin. Louise Titus married twice, 1st to William Hubbard, 2nd to a Mr. Millard ; removed to Marquette, Mich. Melissa Titus married Edward Stickle, and removed to Dakota. Phebe Titus remained single.
Giles Titus, Hanson Ely, and their wives died in Iowa; aged people.
James Titus, brother of Stephen, married Philena White, who also came to Newburgh in 1820. They lived on Kinsman street and raised a family of children, Mary, Eliza, Sarah, Henrietta and John Titus. Henrietta was blind all her life. John married a Miss Foot, and removed to Wellington, Ohio.
Phebe Titus, the sister of Stephen and James, married Peter Wilsie. She had three sons, Stephen, Reuben, and Wilkeson Wilsie, all of whom, if yet living, would be very old men. The family all moved to some western state.
1820
WEDDELL
Only two generations, covering a period of 94 years, bridge the arrival of a noted Cleveland pioneer and today.
Peter Martin Weddell came here in 1820, aged 32 years. Horace Weddell, his only living son, walks the streets of Cleveland in 1914, erect, alert, his bearing suggesting many more years of life before him.
Peter M. Weddell came from Pennsylvania, a state that furnished the Spanglers, and other valuable recruits to Cleveland's early citizenship. His father died before he was born, and after the second marriage of his mother, she took him with her to live in Kentucky. Either the stepfather was poor, or personally objectionable, for Peter was only 14 years old when he started out to earn his own living. His first. employment as clerk in a store, so demonstrated his faithfulness and usefulness that he was taken into partnership with his employer, doubtless without furnishing any capital.
During the War of 1812, and when in his '20s, he made a venture of fortune by investing in a store in Newark, Ohio. Thither came Sophia Lenora Perry, eldest daughter of Nathan Perry, Jr., a Cleveland pioneer. Hull's surrender had caused great excitement and fear all along the south shore of Lake Erie. It was possible that the British troops and Indians might swoop down upon the settlers any time. Many families fled in a body, or sent some of the younger members to points farther south.
Mrs. Robert Gilmore, a sister of Mrs. Nathan Perry, Jr., resided in Newark, and Miss Sophia was dispatched to her for safe keeping. Here she met Mr. Weddell, and though very young, barely 16 years, married
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him in 1815. Five years later they removed to Cleveland, doubtless for Mrs. Weddell's sake, that she might be near her mother, for Newark, at that time, was far more prosperous than this town, and from a business stand-point, had greater possibilities.
The store and dwelling of Nathan Perry was on the corner of Superior and Water streets, and the Weddells first lived in a small house east of it. In 1821, Mr. Weddell bought the lot where the east end of the Rockefeller Building now stands. It belonged originally to David Clark who died on Water Street in 1806. Uncle Abram Hickox's blacksmith shop had previously occupied the lot, and this was then removed to the other side of the street near Seneca, now West 3rd. Mr. Weddell built a brick store on the corner, and over this the family lived for a year or two.
Peter M. and Sophia L. Weddell had four children:
Laura and Caroline Weddell, died young.
Peter P. Weddell, b. 1817; died 1839, aged 22 years. Tinerman
Horace Weddell, b. 1823, married 1st, Mary Webster, daughter of Benjamin Webster; 2nd, Mary
The life of Mrs. Sophia Perry Weddell was brief. She died in 1823 when only 23 years of age, and was buried in the Perry lot in old Erie Street Cemetery.
A portrait of her, painted by the famous artist, Rembrant Peale, is a treasured possession of her son, Horace Weddell. The features of this portrait are beautiful and expressive.
A year after his wife's death, Mr. Weddell married 2nd, Mrs. Eliza Owen Bell, a charming young widow, the daughter of Noah and Elisabeth Gilmore Owens of Coimens on the Hudson River, who removed to Newark, Ohio, early in the '20s. Eliza Owen married David Bell who died a year or two afterward. His widow came to Cleveland on a visit and married Mr. Weddell.
She was a noble Christian woman, gentle and sympathetic. She was a sweet singer, and her voice gave unusual pleasure because so few women of that day were musical. She was also a kind neighbor, and in a quiet way, very charitable.
The son of a pioneer related to the writer one instance of this kind. His father lost everything in a financial panic, and the following winter was unable to provide sufficient support for his family. One day, there was nothing in the house to eat, and the husband and father was frantic with anxiety and self-reproach. At twilight that evening, a basket filled with delicious food of various kinds was found at the door, and every week after that until times became easier, Mrs. Weddell, who was the secret donor, divided her baking with them, besides sending groceries from her husband's store. The relater's eyes filled with tears as he recalled the story of a family's distress and of neighborly kindness.
Mrs. Eliza Weddell was better known than her predecessor, because she lived longer, and at a later day. The life of the first young wife was so brief in Cleveland that probably no one living recalls her. Mrs. Eliza
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Weddell was a true mother to Mrs. Sophia Weddell's children, the only ones in the homestead, as the former had none of her own.
About the time of his second marriage, Mr. Weddell built a two-story wing on the west side of his store as a residence. The store was on the corner and on a line with the sidewalk, the residence part set back from the street. It had a nice front porch, and a walk led to the entrance through a pretty flower-garden, Mrs. Weddell's pride, and which received her daily care.
She lived in this Superior street home 20 years. Meanwhile, Mr. Weddell had purchased several acres of land on the north side of Euclid Avenue, beyond Nathan Perry's residence, upon which he built a spacious stone cottage, which by additions in after years, became delightfully rambling and picturesque. To this he retired, leaving his business in the care of his partner, Dudley Baldwin. In 1845, the store and adjoining dwelling were demolished, and a large hotel, the finest in the west, was built on the site, and called the "Weddell House," a conspicuous landmark of the city for 60 years. When finished, Mr. Weddell went to New York City to purchase its furniture, and became ill there of typhoid fever. He hastened home, to die three weeks later.
Peter M. Weddell was the first treasurer of the Old Stone Church. He left behind him a reputation for kindliness and helpfulness, especially toward young men struggling to get a foothold in business for themselves. Mrs. Eliza Owen Weddell died in 1886, having survived her husband nearly 40 years. They both rest in Erie Street Cemetery.
The children of Horace and Mary Webster Weddell::
Laurance Weddell, m. Miss Everett dau. of Sylvester Everett.
Frank Weddell, m. Miss Webber.
Mabel Weddell, unmarried.
Children of Horace and Mary T. Weddell:
Frederick A. Weddell.
Grace Weddell, m. Walter Rich of English birth.
The following is an editorial by W. R. Rose in Cleveland Plain Dealer, June 25, 1914:
On June 19th of the present year Horace Perry Weddell, son of Peter M. Weddell, died at his home in Cleveland, in his 91st year. He was born in the village of Cleaveland on Nov. 27, 1823, in a brick store and residence, the most pretentious structure of its day, at the corner of Superior and W. 6th streets, where the Rockefeller building stands, and for his fourscore-years-and-ten remained a citizen of his native town.
It is a privilege given to few men to witness in a lifetime the changes, the growth, the mighty developments in every line of world progress that came within the observation of Horace Weddell.
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CLEVELAND IN 1823
In 1823 Cleaveland was a village of possibly 500 souls, whose struggle to enlarge an opening in the wilderness briskly continued. It possessed but one school house, the Cleveland Academy; its first stage line had been in operation but two years ; its river mouth was blocked by sand bars. When Horace Weddell was 2 years old ground was broken for the Ohio canal. He was 4 years old when the first ton of coal reached the village; he was 5 years old when the river was sufficiently deepened to admit the free passage of sixty-ton schooners.
He was born during the Monroe administration, two years after the death of Napoleon Bonaparte, in the year of Lafayette's visit to the United States. Edmund Kean and Sarah Siddons, the greatest players on the English stage, were upholding their profession ; Sir Walter Scott was on the eve of declaring himself the author of the Waverley novels ; George IV was king of England; Louis XVIII was king of France.
Horace Weddell was 4 years old when Beethoven died ; he was 4 years old when the Mormon church was organized; 6 years old when William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, was born ; 9 years old when the first Democratic national convention was held in Baltimore; 10 years old when Oberlin college was founded; 14 years old when Queen Victoria began her long reign. He antedated by a few months Alexander Dumas, Wilkie Collins, Stonewall Jackson, George William Curtis, Levi P. Morton. He was 14 years older than the city of Chicago.
NINETY YEARS OF GROWTH
Horace Weddell never lost his keen interest in the progress of the city of which he had so long been a part. No Clevelander has equaled his unusual opportunities for following our city's rise. He saw Cleveland's police force increase from two watchmen to an efficient battalion of trained officers. He saw the fire department rise from the hand pump in 1832 to the great fire-fighting brigade of today. He saw the half-dozen tiny schooners that warped their way over the sand bars prove the nucleus of a mighty lake fleet. He saw the one school house increase to more than 100 modern school buildings. He saw the village of a single acre become a municipality of approximately fifty square miles.
He saw the trading post of the '20s become the nation's sixth city in population, the fifth in manufacturing, the fourth in banking.
And all this in one man's lifetime !
1820
WIGGINS
Nathaniel Wiggins and his wife Phebe Dodge Wiggins came with a grown family of children from Montpelier, Vt., and settled on a farm on what is now Turney Avenue. The site is on a hill back of the Cleveland State Hospital.
Mrs. Wiggins was of an active temperament and very fond of her home. She used to gather wild fruit and berries in quantities, dry them,
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and thus in the winter season vary the monotony of the fare which was apt to prevail in the days before fruit-canning was discovered.
The children of Nathaniel and Phebe Wiggins:
Nahum Wiggins, m. Phebe Dunham of Bedford, O.
Benjamin Wiggins, m. Lucy Bates.
Mary Wiggins, m. William Huntoon.
Charles Wiggins, m. Maria Raraback
Theodore Wiggins, d. unmarried.
Lucy Wiggins, m. James Fletcher.
1820
SHEPARD
Jason Shepard was one of the early settlers of Newburgh. In 1813 he married Hannah Skinner who was born in Albany, Vt.
They came in 1820 with their two children to Buffalo, N. Y., and continued the journey on the steamer "Walk-in-the-Water." For two weeks the boat was buffeted by storms back and forth. It was a dreadful experience. They were greatly frightened and woefully sick every moment of the trip.
Mr. and Mrs. Shepard lived on Bedford Road for ten years, then removed to what is now Turney Avenue. Two years later while caring for a stranger dying of cholera, Mr. Shepard took the disease and lived but a few hours afterward. His wife was also very ill, but recovered and lived to be an old lady.
"Grandma Shepard," as she was called, was a woman of much energy and great endurance. In late life she loved to relate her experiences of pioneer life and could tell many interesting stories of early people of the town.
The children of Jason and Hannah Shepard:
Elias Shepard, m. Eliza Greenlese Adelia Shepard, m. Charles Scott.
of Niagara, Ont.
Children of Elias and Eliza Shepard:
Jason Shepard.
George Clement Shepard, m. Inez Mitchell.
Charles Shepard, m. Mary Smith.
Marion Shepard, m. Henry Bray-ton
Henry Shepard, m. Margaret Taylor.
1820
ANDREWS
Nathaniel Andrews of Whitestown, N. Y., and descended from John and Mary Andrews, original settlers of Farmington, Conn., furnished two sons to the hamlet of Cleveland, who became valuable citizens.
The eldest son, Philip B. Andrews, arrived here in 1820, then twenty-
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four years of age. He had married the previous year, Catherine A. Tracy, and within a few months of his arrival, she died, and was buried in the Ontario Street Cemetery, from which she was removed to Erie Street Cemetery, when the former place of burial was destroyed. In 1822, he married Mary Johnson, a sister of Capt. William and Capt. Harpin Johnson, pioneer settlers of Cleveland.
Philip Andrews was a gunsmith, a valuable trade in those days of dependency upon wild game, and dread of Indians, but gradually he worked out of this specialty and became an iron founder, and a manufacturer of engines. He removed to Detroit, but died in Three Oaks, Mich. Mary Johnson Andrews died in 1856. They were charter members of the Stone Church. Their residence was 38 Bank Street, and Mr. Andrews' foundry was on River Street.
Their children were:
Clara Andrews, m. Henry Nash..
Edward Andrews, m. Elizabeth Stewart.
William Andrews, m. Ann Starr
Catherine Andrews, unmarried
Maria Andrews.
Lydia Root Andrews, a sister of Capt. P. B. Andrews and his brother Edward, married in 1824 the celebrated Oberlin clergyman Rev. Charles G. Finney.
Five years after his arrival in Cleveland, Philip B. Andrews was joined by his sixteen-year-old brother Edward W. Andrews, who worked with him in the gunsmith business, and continued it at 26 Bank Street, after his brother had relinquished it for the foundry. In 1833, the brothers bought a farm of 100 acres at the corner of Superior Street and Addison Road.
Edward W. Andrews married in 1835 Margaret McMillan, daughter of Alexander and Elisabeth McMillan. She died in 1841, and he married secondly, Delia E. Fenn.
Like his brother, he left the city in the early '50s, and died in Oberlin, Ohio, 1899, and Mrs. Andrews in 1882.
Their children:
Helen M. Andrews, m. Caius C. Cobb. She has been a life-long resident of the city. Edward W. Andrews.
Theodore Andrews; m. Maria L. Prevost.
Frances Andrews, m. Luman H. Tenney
Charles Richard Andrews, m. Mary Farmer.
Arthur C. Andrews, m. Mary Hunt.
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1820
DAVIS
Thomas Davis' previous estimate of Cleveland's size and population cost him a tiresome and useless journey of nearly 12 miles, for upon landing here in 1820, he went past the small houses that clustered about the corner of Superior and Water streets, not dreaming that they spelled "Cleveland," and journeyed on to Newburgh, and back again after learning his mistake.
He was an honest, unsophisticated youth of 21 years, fresh from Northampton, England. What causes within causes led him to leave eastern cities and towns far behind in order to settle here at that early day is another story. He was very independent, having mastered a useful and lucrative trade, that of shoemaking. He became very well known and had a clientage that reached from the river to East Cleveland. Old residents of Collamer recall meeting him when they were children.
He married Minerva Short, daughter of Peter Short the Cleveland pioneer, and he established a "boot shop" and a residence on Erie Street, now East 9th. The south end of the Cleveland Trust Co. building overshadows the spot. Here the Davis children were born. Thomas Davis was a very earnest Christian man, and before a church was established in this village, he used to walk, rain or shine, every Sabbath, way out to Collamer to attend religious services held there. A very pretty and characteristic story is related of him in this connection.
His very first customer, after opening his new shop on Erie Street, came into it the Sunday morning following, and requested him to mend a pair of boots at once, as he was leaving town early the next day.
"But," said Mr. Davis, "I never work on Sunday."
"There's no such day in this town," declared the man.
"Then I have brought it!" replied the young Christian.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis were among the earliest members of the Old Stone Church, and the former's simple convincing piety is tenderly remembered by people yet living who were children of that day. The family moved out to a large farm on Woodland Ave. It adjoined the Short property and the two families lived in close proximity. Years afterward the two farms were allotted and put upon the market. The streets laid out through them became fashionable residence streets. Hundreds of the best families in the city built homes in that vicinity. To live out Woodland way in the '50s and '60s, was to be "in the swim."
Mr. and Mrs. Davis had an interesting family of children. They were:
Fanny Davis, died in young womanhood, unmarried..
Mary Davis, m. Mr. Gilbert a south-
ern gentleman, and early left a widow. She was the last remaining occupant of the old household near Woodland Ave., and at her death she left it as a parsonage to the Woodland Ave. Presbyterian Church, of which she had-been a life member
James S. Davis, m. Helen Hunt, daughter of Harry and Katurah Yale Hunt of Auburn, N. Y. Her brother and husband were partners as "Davis and Hunt."
John J. Davis, m. Frances Hunt, a cousin of above.
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Mrs. Mary Davis Buchan, daughter of James and Helen Hunt Davis, has in her possession many Colonial and pioneer souvenirs handed down through her great-grandmother Minerva Short Davis. They consist of foot-stove, warming-pan, candle-moulds, spinning-wheel, silhouettes, etc.
1820
CLARK
Hannah Cole, widow of Joseph Clark, a native of Haddam, Conn., settled in Brooklyn at an early day, perhaps some years earlier than 1820; the correct date not given. She had 10 children, all of whom married, and lived in Cleveland, Brooklyn, or Newburgh. They were:
Joseph Clark, m. Clarissa Dickenson.
Carey Clark, m. Mary Skinner.
Diodate Clark, m. Caroline Aiken ;. 2nd, Sally Lindsley.
Mary Clark, m. Joseph Brainard..
Phebe Clark, m. Warren Ely.
Lydia Clark, m. Sylvanus Brooks of Newburgh.
Hannah Clark, m. Sylvanus Brooks, his second wife.
Ruth Clark, m. Capt. Isaac Robinson
Maria Clark, m. Erastus Smith of Warrensville, O
Betsey Clark, m. William Aiken
1820
DUCKWORTH
The drug-store and dwelling of William Duckworth stood east of Irad Kelley's and therefore very near the south-east corner of Superior and Bank Street. Mr. and Mrs. Duckworth came from Washington, D. C., and it is said, returned to that city in ....
Mrs. Duckworth was a valuable acquisition to the little village in a social way; an accomplished society lady with exceptionally fine manners. She sang sweetly, and this gift gave untold pleasure to those who, loving music, were deprived of opportunities for enjoying it. There were no musical instruments, no concerts, no musical sounds whatever save those of Nature and the untrained and perhaps untrue voice of some local singer. Mrs. Ducksworth was also an enthusiastic and graceful equestrienne, and we may be quite sure that when she saddled her horse and went cantering off, picking her way through the unfinished streets, around the stumps that obstructed them, more than one village housewife disapproved, and wondered if Mrs. Duckworth's home was in apple-pie order, and if her mending and patching were all completed.
She was remarkably pretty and vivacious, giving to the plain little
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village a glimpse of what high society life was in the eastern cities. But her kind heart won the affection of all, and no gathering was complete without her presence.
The writer regrets that Mrs. Duckworth's maiden name cannot be ascertained, and begs that if in any future time some reader of this possesses the needed data, it will kindly be forwarded to the Western Reserve Historical Society, for insertion in its copy of this Memorial.
1820
BOUGHTON
The name of Boughton in this section of the country was once associated with wit and humor; for every one bearing it was noted for drollery, fun, and practical jokes.
There was a Nathan Boughton from West Stockbridge, Mass., who with his wife stopped at the Merwin tavern on their way to Lorain Co. They were much fatigued from traveling, and retired early. Several well-known citizens of the town were sitting in the office of the tavern, when they were suddenly startled by the voice of Boughton, seemingly in great distress, calling
"Mr. Merwin, Mr. Merwin, come here quick!"
Mr. Merwin seized a candle and followed by the others rushed upstairs.
"What is the matter? What is the matter?" they cried.
"Oh, Mr. Merwin, won't you bring me a pint of yeast right away?"
"What for?" asked the astonished landlord.
"To put under my head to raise it. My pillow is too flat."
Gaius Boughton was one of the town's characters in an early date. He kept a tavern on the corner of Water and St. Clair streets. Over the door hung a sign ornamented by the picture of a lion. In an advertise ment of the house, it reads
"Will be known by the sign of the red Ly on."
He was full of his jokes and attracted men to his place by his queer sayings and doings. The tramp problem evidently began in this town very early in its history, and Gaius Boughton solved it in a manner copied to this day. He marched the beggar of food and lodging out to the wood-pile and kept him at work until he had sawed and split enough wood to pay his way.
What became of Gaius Boughton cannot be learned. He was here not long before the cholera epidemic, and may have died in it. Or he may have moved out of town about that time. No mention is made of any children. If there were any who survived him, it is to be regretted that they cannot be traced, as Mr. Boughton seems to have been a notable character and much liked by early citizens.
Rhoda Boughton, a daughter of Nathan Boughton before mentioned,
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married Samuel Smith Baldwin, Cleveland's first sheriff. She was a grand, good woman.
Her sister Polly Boughton, Mrs. Jonathan Rawson, inherited the family love of fun. Many stories are told of her in this connection. One of them was the way she took to reprove a selfish, thoughtless neighbor who borrowed without returning. She had no flour-sieve, and neglected to buy one so long as she could use Mrs. Rawson's. But she would not take the trouble ever to return it. Mrs. Rawson grew tired of having to go after it, and one day came armed with a switch. Upon receiving the sieve, she stood and whipped it, saying,
"Now, will you come home the next time you are borrowed? You know I have no one to send for you when needed, and I cannot take the time to come myself."
She never had to go after it again.
Guy Boughton of Carlisle, probably a brother of Rhoda and Polly, and perhaps of Gaius, was known far and wide for his pranks. One of these was to invite a newly arrived neighboring woman to call upon his wife because the latter was "very deaf and did not go out of her home." He told his wife of the intended call, and warned her that she would have to talk loudly as the neighbor had lost her hearing. The two women shrieked at each other until one remarked, "You need not talk so loud unless you prefer to, as I can hear readily." "Well, you do not have to shout at me, as I am not deaf, either," replied the other. Meanwhile, Guy was rolling on the grass in an ecstasy of glee.
1820
BURTON
"How would it seem to you, out your way, if there should be no longer a Dr. Burton?" was asked recently of an old resident of East Cleveland.
"Mighty queer," he answered.
"One Dr. Burton brought me safely into the world, his son was with us when my children were born, and Dr. Burton 3rd is looking after my grandchildren."
It is indeed a rare experience for a community to have a father, son, and grandson living almost upon the same spot while practicing medicine continuously for 92 consecutive years and with every prospect of many more to come, as the grandson is yet on the sunny side of 60.
The first of the name rode into East Cleveland on horse-back, in 1820. Dr. Elijah Burton was a young married man with at least one child when he removed from Manchester, Bemington County, Vermont, to Cleveland. He made his new home on Euclid Ave., now No. 14110, and there he lived until his death in 1854, when the only son, who had been his partner for eight years, took up his father's mantle, wearing it most worthily for nearly 50 years more.
The wife of Dr. Elijah Burton was Mary Hollister Burton, who died
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in 1827, leaving three little children, the youngest but a year and a half old. They were:
Lucy Burton, b. 1817; m. George C. Dodge.
Frances Burton, m. Seth Doan, Jr. She died in Wisconsin.
Dr. Erasmus Darwin Burton, b. 1825; m. Emmeline Miriam of Randolph, Portage County, O., in 1854.
Mary Hollister Burton was laid away in the little church cemetery corner of Euclid and Doan Street.
Dr. Elijah Burton married 2nd, Abigail Hollister, a sister of his deceased wife. They had one child, Mary Burton, who remained unmarried.
Dr. E. D. Burton* retired about 12 years ago after 55 years of practice. He is a gentleman of the old school rarely met with these days. He possesses a striking personality, a dignified bearing, and his clean-cut countenance shows unusual culture and refinement. He is spending his last days among his books and newspapers in the old homestead on Euclid Avenue. His only son, also a physician, lives near by and on the original home-lot.
The children of Dr. Erasmus and Emmeline Burton:
Dr. Frederick Darwin Burton, b. 1855 ; m. Catherine Axe. .
Elizabeth Burton, b. 1857; unmarried
Martha Burton, b. 1859; unmarried
Jessie A. Burton, b. 1861; unmarried..
1820
HARRIS
Among the sad cases of families selling their New England homes, sacrificing household and personal effects dear through association, and traveling hundreds of miles in ox-team or on foot, only to find bitter disappointment and even death awaiting them at the end of their journey, were those of Ephraim Sherman and Calvin Harris.
The latter was from Brattleboro, Vt., and the nearest neighbor of the grandfather of Rutherford B. Hayes, who came to Ohio about the same time, 1820, but settled farther south in the state. Mr. Harris was a wheelwright and carpenter as well as farmer, and was 56 years of age when he made his Ohio venture. His wife was Susannah Bullock, daughter of William Bullock of Rickoboth, Mass., who removed to Guilford, Vt., in 1762. She was 49 years old and the mother of eleven children when she came west. The third living one, Marian Harris, had married Capt. Emerson Goodenough, and did not accompany her parents here. The other and younger children were Jessie, William, Henry, Ariel, Belinda, Eliza, Lydia,
* Since Deceased.
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1820
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Land Susannah Harris. Jessie was 25 years old and married. Susannah was nine years of age.
The family settled on Broadway near Willson Ave., now East 55th St., on what was afterwards called the "Streator Farm." A year after their ['arrival, Belinda Harris wrote to her sister Marian in Vermont, giving graphic detail of their new home and typical of events familiar to the average pioneer. It was written in May, 1821.
"Mother has been ill with malaria, but is pretty smart again, and spins her usual day's work. She is making soap, and whitening cloth. Lydia and Eliza-Belinda's sisters are spinning tow, the boys plowing, planting, and making maple-sugar, while I some expect to teach where I did last summer."
Poor Belinda ! She died of malarial fever two years later, aged 19 years. Her mother soon followed her to the "Better Land," a phrase in this case of great significance, and the husband and father, himself ill, discouraged and disheartened, sacrificed everything in order to have the funds with which to take the remaining members of his household back to Vermont. The property he left behind him became very valuable in time, and had he held on to it, his descendants would have been made wealthy. Three of his children, however, remained here, Jessie, Ariel, and Eliza Harris.
Jessie Harris had married, before coming west, Miss Elisabeth Paddleford. She died in 1822 in her 29th year, leaving two young children, Hannah Harris, who became the wife of Abel Putnam, and Elisabeth Harris, who married Clark Woodfone. Jessie Harris married 2nd, Poplin Sherwin, daughter of Ahimaaz Sherwin, Sr., of Doan's Corners. They had one son, Calvin Harris.
Jessie Harris died in the fatal summer of 1827, and his widow three years later. The two daughters and son must have joined the Calvin Harris family in Vermont, for they all married and died in that state. In after years, Mrs. Hannah Putnam brought fine headstones of Vermont marble, and placed them at the graves of her parents in Harvard Grove Cemetery. Adjoining them are the graves of her grandmother, Mrs. Calvin Harris, and her aunt Belinda. A letter written by Jessie Harris in 1824, to a relative in Brattleboro, Vt., contains a good description of the Cleveland of that day.
"A turnpike is being laid out from Cleveland to the Ohio River, which goes by Ariel's door. He is about four miles from Cleveland, which is a very thriving town. It has now nine stores, and two men from New York are going to open more this fall. There are three taverns, and six men who keep salt for sale, which they barter for all kinds of produce. There are six vessels owned in Cleveland, which are constantly sailing the lakes. All kinds of merchandise is sold here, and it is thought a canal from the Ohio River will come into the lake at this point."
Three years later brought the expected canal, and that year he died. In a letter written shortly before it, the hopeful note is completely lacking, and he speaks of the high taxes, the scarcity of money, the decreased value of property. The long looked-for water highway which should have given to the town a big boom, and added measurably to its growth and prosperity, had an entirely different effect. The terrible malaria
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that followed immediately after the event, greatly depleted the population by deaths and by the removal of families who had lost all faith in the healthfulness of the town.
Ariel Harris, second son of Calvin and Susannah Harris, married, in 1820, Clarissa Leland Sherman, daughter of Ephriam and Remember Cook Sherman. Both were but 18 years of age, and they went to live with the groom's parents on Broadway. Afterward he bought the Samuel Miles farm on what is now Woodhill Road, and here they died.
The Harris family were Presbyterians of the old-fashioned kind. They prepared their Sabbath meals on the previous Saturday, and nothing was cooked on Sunday save hot drinks. They went three miles to church, taking a cold lunch with them, and remained for the afternoon service.
Eliza Harris, however, the one sister who chose to remain west and lived with Ariel many years, was an ardent Episcopalian. She used to drive over to St. John's Church, West Side, then Ohio City, to attend service, as Trinity Church had no edifice at that time. She finally returned to Vermont, having married, late in life, a Mr. Chapman of Windham, in that state. Her Cleveland relatives were often warmly welcomed in her eastern home.
1820
KIRKE
When in 1837 Cleveland was presented with a city charter, she at once handed out to several leading citizens municipal gifts of more or less value, none of which were bestowed upon late comers. Only tried men and true were selected for the honors, therefore it seemed only natural and proper that upon George Kirke should be pinned the marshal's badge, George Kirke the genial, familiar figure upon the streets of Cleveland since 1820, when he came to town a lad of 19 from Canal Fulton, O.
There was much interest and curiosity centered in the new office. Cleveland village had possessed sheriffs and marshals galore, but none of these could boast the high honor of being the City Marshal. So well did the office fit the man, or vice versa, that he was retained for three consecutive terms. His salary, meanwhile, was $500 a year and an additional 2 per cent. on all collections he secured for the city treasury.
He was the owner of a magnificent New Foundland dog which accompanied him in his duties as marshal, and it is claimed the animal became quite famous as a rogue-catcher.
Mr. Kirke was the son of Michael and Christina Ball Kirke of Canal Fulton. In the 48 years of his residence in Cleveland he changed his business several times. He had previously learned the shoe-making trade, and in his first years in town kept a "shoe shop, as it was then termed.. Then he became landlord of a small tavern, and later had a livery, always a pleasant occupation for one who loves horses, and in the days lacking
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street-cars, usually a profitable one. His partner was Charles H. Weeden at first, then the firm became "Kirke & Geer." The stables were on Bank street housed in a large brick building, back of the Commercial Bank.
Mr. Kirke was considered a wit, and his quick, sharp repartee was often quoted. He was a reader, and in his younger days fond of declaiming Burns' poems.
Matilda Sterling Kirke, wife of George Kirke, was the daughter of John and Elisabeth Sterling. She was born, in Canton, O., in 1814, and died in 1883.
She was a thoroughly good woman, kind, unselfish, whose every effort was directed towards raising her family of daughters in harmony with the traditions of modesty, usefulness, and social manners, which she herself had inherited. She was short, in her middle age stout, and ever energetic. Her early membership in the Old Stone Church indicates a life influenced by religious principles.
The family residence at first was No. 88 Water street. It was a little, old rambling cottage, and "wide open stood the doorway," surrounded by a large and beautiful garden in which grew primeval forest and fruit trees.
About 1850 a home was purchased on Huron Street, just west of old Grace Church, at that time far from the noise and confusion of the city.
The children of George and Matilda Sterling Kirke were all born on Water Street. They were:
Cornelia Kirke, b. 1832; m. W. H. Taylor. She died 1902..
Rebecca Kirke, b. 1834; m. E. C.. Garlick ; died 1903..
Georgiana Kirke, b. 1839; unmarried ; died 1889
Elisabeth Matilda Kirke, b. 1843; m. Wm. H. Hayes
Fanny Augusta Kirke, b. 1845; m.Maurice Converse
Grandchildren of George Kirke residing in the city are: Miss Mary E. Garlick, William Kirke Hayes, Maurice Converse, Jr.
1820
HAND
There was a family of this name living in Newburgh, at a very early day. Only three of them, however, are on record. Whether there were more members of the family, and whether their parents also came to Newburgh, cannot be ascertained.
Hezekiah Hand, married Margaret Ives in 1825..
Doty Hand, married Amos Hubbard in 1828. He died in 1833, and she m. 2nd, John Healy
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1820
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The Hubbard children were Heman H., John Titus, and Esther Hubbard.
1820
DUNLAP
Mrs. Mary Dunlap, widow of William Dunlap, and of a prominent old family of Schenectady, N. Y., was one of-the mothers. who followed her children to the west, leaving friends and the associations of a lifetime in order to be with them. She came, probably, soon after her husband's death, making her home with Mrs. Taylor and Mrs. Walworth and spending her declining years with the latter. She died in 1840, aged 84 years. Her daughters were:
Sarah Dunlap, born 1775; m. Prof. Joshua Beattie. He was a school teacher and kept a private school in Cleveland for some years. They had a large family of interesting daughters, all but two of whom died, one after the other, of consumption
Mary and Sarah Jane Beattie are living east
Nancy Dunlap, born 1793, married Elisha Taylor
Mary Ann Dunlap, born 1797, married Ashbel Walworth
Elisabeth Dunlap, born 1785; died. unmarried 1862.
Mrs. Mary Dunlap and her daughters Nancy and Elisabeth rest in Erie Street Cemetery, to the left and near the front entrance.
1820
"Steamboat Walk-in-the-Water will sail from Buffalo June 10, for Michilimacinac. Will call for passengers at intermediate ports. Capt. Jedediah Rogers." (Cleveland Herald.)
Died. "Pardee Chapman, resident of Euclid Street beyond Willson Ave." (Herald.)
Joseph Clark, of Doan's Corners, advertises that he has a shop there.
Peggy Dow, wife of Lorenzo Dow, the earliest itinerate preacher, dies near Hebron, Conn.
Philemon Baldwin advertises a runaway bound boy named Ansel Cowdry, 16 years old.
George MacPherson was a tailor working and living on Bank Street.
Auction sale of property belonging to Moses Gleason, Jacob Spoffor, and Aaron Rice, or to their estate, advertised in Herald.
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1821
TOWNSEND
William Gaylord dies, and Leonard Case appointed his administrator. (Mrs. Leonard Case was a Gaylord.)
It is said that an eastern man owning the two-acre lot northeast corner of Ontario and Public Square offered this year to donate the deed of it for a Methodist church. No one was found able or willing to pay the recorder's fee, and the deed was not accepted.
The first stage coach from the east arrived this year.
1821
Poll-tax is a dollar on every 100 acres of first-rate land, 75 cents on second-class, and 50 cents for third-class. The tax could be worked out at the rate of 75 cents a day.
It was no unusual sight on a Sabbath morning to see a stone boat drawn by horses or oxen leisurely making its way along Euclid toward the Square, or coming toward town on what is now Woodland or Broadway. And seated on this conveyance would be an entire family with perhaps a neighbor or two, bound for church either in the log court-house on the north-west corner of the Square or in the little red school-house on St. Clair street just below Bank, now West 6th. There were no carriages in those days, and heavy wagons would sink to the hubs in mud. So these mud-scows, as they were sometimes termed, would be used to convey the family to church or to school-gatherings.
1821
TOWNSEND
Bennet Townsend, son of Chrystopher Townsend of Albany, N. Y., came to Cleveland either with the Jonathan Bliss family or soon afterward. He was a brother of Mrs. Hershael Foote. About 1832, he married Anna Norris of East Cleveland, a daughter of Abram and Abigail Mellrath Norris, and settled on Euclid Ave. near Noble Road. He clerked for Hershael Foote in the latter's store nearby. It is said that the family removed to Elkhart, Ind., when so many East Cleveland families formed a colony in the '40s, and helped to found that town.*
Mr. and Mrs. Townsend had three daughters:
Pamelia Townsend, b. 1833; m. John Elliot of Erie, Pa.
Martha Townsend, b. 1835; m. James Harper ; d. in Leetonia.
Anna Townsend, b. 1838; m. George W right ; d. in Jackson, Mich.
* The city directory for 1845 contains the name, "Albert B. Townsend, Sexton of 2nd Presbyterian Church."
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1821
HULBERT
Soon after Aaron Hubbard moved to Ohio, in 1821 Timothy Hulbert exchanged his farm in Broome, N. Y., for land in Newburgh adjoining that of the Hubbards. With his wife Nabby Stocking Hulbert and their daughter Harriet, they journeyed to Newburgh. With them also was their granddaughter Florilla Searles, daughter of Amos and Hannah Hulbert Searles, who had remained with them when her parents removed to Richfield in 1817. They afterward settled on the Hubbard land on Kinsman street, now within the city limits. Only a small clearing had been made in the very heavy timber when they began their new home. They were past middle age, and could hope to reap little from the hardships they encountered. Mrs. Hulbert died in 1853, aged 87 years.
Their children were:
Hannah Hulbert, b. 1791; m. Amos Searls
Abigail Hulbert, m. Daniel Searls of Richfield.
Rhoda Hulbert, m. Israel Hubbard
Harriet Hulbert, m. Harvey Porter.
Mrs. Harriet Porter was a lady much esteemed by her relatives and the community in which she lived.
The children of Harvey and Harriet Porter:
Edwin Porter, m. Almina Curtis, daughter of Joseph Curtis.
Leman Porter, m. Arzelia Benedict of Bedford.
Mary Porter, unmarried.
1821
CHAMPION
Reuben Champion was the son of Andrew Champion of East Haddam, Conn., and in 1821, the year he came to Cleveland, was about twenty-six years old. He was a tinsmith, and had a shop at the north-east corner of Superior and Seneca streets. He owned quite a frontage there, and in 1835 built two small frame-houses facing Superior street east of his shop.
They were the first tenement houses in the village, all others having been built by their owners for their own first use.
It was a public-spirited act, for in the boom that struck the town in the early '30s the demand for houses was so great that established families had to give up parts of their own homes and suffer much inconvenience rather than see the people in distress for want of shelter. Within a short time the population had almost doubled, and Mr. Champion's houses supplied a pressing need.
Mrs. Reuben Champion was a Miss Zerviah Fitch Hyde, of Ellington, Conn. Her parents were William and Sarah Bartlett Hyde. On the
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1821
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Bartlett side Mr. and Mrs. Champion were related, as both were descendants of James Otis, the signer of the Declaration.
They had been married about four years when they came to this town, and their residence was at 54 Huron street, a large, Colonial style house set back from the street. Their nearest neighbors, for a time, were Mrs. Mary Long Severance and Mrs. George Kirk. The former recalls Mrs. Champion as an excellent woman much esteemed by her friends.
Mr. Champion sold out his tinshop and gave his attention to realestate, which proved profitable. He died in 1841, aged forty-seven years. His wife survived him eighteen years, dying at the age of sixty-seven. The Champion family was well connected, belonging on both sides to the best blood of New England. There is no one representing this family now residing in the city.
The children:
Mary Hyde Champion, b. 1829; m.
Chauncy H. Roberts, brother of Ansel Roberts.
William Henry Champion, m. Sarah. Mann Irving, a widow. He was a lawyer, a fine scholar, fluent speaker, and for years resided in Washington, D. C. He was connected with the Indian Bureau He had no descendants.
1821
SAMUEL BIDWELL
Samuel Bidwell and his wife Martha Louise Bidwell removed from Connecticut to Cleveland about 1825, perhaps earlier. He was of old, New England stock, whose ancestor came to this country from England in 1630, and the son of Capt. Benjamin Bidwell of Revolutionary fame.
Mrs. Bidwell was the daughter of Caleb and Martha Goodrich Hills of Hartford, Conn., and a descendant of William Hills who came from England to Massachusetts in 1632. The Hills family were patriots in the Revolutionary War, and furnished many officers and privates to the Continental Army.
Samuel Bidwell was about 40 years old and his wife 35 years when they came to Cleveland. They brought four young children with them, and another daughter was born after their arrival here.
Mr. Bidwell did not live long enough to become well established in business. Within three years he had been laid away in the little Ontario Street Cemetery. Malignant malaria in 1823 caused the death of many men and women who were invaluable members of the commercial and social circles of the village.
Mrs. Bidwell was left with five fatherless children to care for. She had a brother, however, George Hills, a prominent business man of the place, who stood closely by her in her hour of anxiety and bereavement. She died in 1839, aged 53 years.
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1822
JOHNSON
The children of Samuel and Martha L. Hills Bidwell:
Charlotte Bidwell, b. 1810; married David Morison.
Lucy Bidwell, b. 1811; died unmarried, 1857.
Samuel Bidwell, Jr., b. 1816; died 1850.
Abigail Bidwell, b. 1819; died 1857.
Sarah Bidwell, b. 1821; died 1884.
Charlotte and Lucy Bidwell had a millinery store, and lived on the northwest side of the Public Square for several years. They are remembered as unusually ladylike and refined, and very popular in the village. Charlotte was the only member of the Bidwell family who married. Her husband was a widower with two children. He was a ship-chandler merchant, and a manufacturer of ropes, etc., a prominent citizen of the West Side. He was the son of David Morrison of Scotch descent.
Charlotte Bidwell Morison had five children : Anna, David, Helen, Thomas, Charlotte, and Martha Morrison.
1822
JOHNSON
Capt. William Johnson lived in Erie before coming to Cleveland to reside, and one authority claims that his wife also was first a resident of that town. She was Miss Grace O'Kane, and was born in Derby, Conn. She came here with her husband in 1822.
It is with regret that we have secured so little regarding Capt. William Johnson. But his wife left an impression of herself through her deep religious nature, and her prominence in church work. Her parents were Episcopalians, and her girlhood was spent in that faith. But one day she attended a service held by the noted Methodist divine Francis Asbury and became a convert to his gospel of simplicity which forbade the wearing of bright colors, elaborate trimming, jewelry, or flowers.
She was one of the founders of Methodism in this town. Through her solicitations, the year following their arrival, Capt. Johnson sent for a Methodist circuit rider to come to Cleveland and start a "class meeting," which appeal brought one of those hard-working, self-sacrificing, and devoted men who started or kept alive religious faith in the wilderness of Ohio.
The Johnson home was ever open to these circuit riders. Here they rested, and met the little band of local Methodists who sought encouragement and guidance. This first class remained intact for four years. It culminated in the organization of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, whose first home on the corner of St. Clair and Wood, now East 3rd street, yet stands, and whose present one, corner of Euclid Ave. and Sterling Ave., now East 30th street, is the pride of local Methodism.
Capt. William and Grace O'Kane Johnson lived on Bank street, now
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1822
JOHNSON
East 6th, a few doors north of St. Clair Ave. They had three daughters, Charlotte, Louise, and Emily Johnson. The latter married Mr. Cridland.
Capt. Harpin Johnson, another very early lake captain making his home in Cleveland, was a brother of Capt. William Johnson and Mrs. Philip B. Andrews. He was living in the village in 1821, and probably came much earlier. He married Lucretia Allen, sister of Mrs. Jonathan Johnson. She was the eldest daughter of Holden Allen of Black Rock, N. Y. She was considered a beauty both in her girlhood and more mature years, consequently received much admiration and attention. She was good as well as beautiful, and, like her younger sister Minerva, possessed accomplishments that made her society valuable to her friends.
When the British burned Buffalo, the three Allen sisters fled from their home in Black Rock, terror-stricken, and secreted themselves behind some dense bushes. An American sharpshooter, passing by, stopped and twice pointed his gun in their direction, each time lowering the weapon as if in doubt. Finally he made a detour and came slowly upon them from the rear of their hiding-place. Lucretia wore a red shawl, and it was a glimpse of it that had occasioned his action. He thought a British soldier was lurking in the bushes.
"Your red shawl nearly cost you your life!" he exclaimed, and gazing with respectful admiration at the lovely young girl, he added, "If I had shot you, I would have wanted to kill myself."
The Harpin Johnsons lived on Erie street, East 9th, while it was yet the city limits.
The wife and mother died in 1831, while in the prime of life, and was laid away in Erie Street Cemetery. The children of Harpin and Lucretia Allen Johnson:
Jane Johnson, m. Rev. Mr. Fielder.
Henrietta Johnson, m. Judge Wilson of Dubuque, Iowa..
John Johnson, m. Rebecca Warren, and in late years has resided in Lakewood, a western suburb of this city
Sybel Allen, third daughter of Holden Allen, and sister of the Mrs. Jonathan and Harpin Johnson, married, at one of their homes, Walter Bell. Their own home was on the corner of Bolivar and Sheriff streets, and the site is now covered by a towering business block.
Nothing has been learned concerning this family, save the names of their children:
Mary Bell.
Walter Bell..
Ellen Bell, m. Walter Phelps of Rockport, Ohio.
Holden Bell.
Leroy Bell
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1822
WILLEY
Not a little sentiment is connected with the successive stages of a city's growth, especially when some decidedly forward movement in its development places it on an equality or in advance of an adjoining community struggling for supremacy. Therefore, there was much rejoicing in 1836, when Cleveland discarded its village clothes and donned those of a municipality; relegated the president of the town council to second place, and elected a mayor to fill the highest office in its new civic government. Much interest centers in the first official. What type of man was chosen to head the long line of mayors, good, bad, and indifferent, who have succeeded him? What were his qualifications? And what were his limitations?
The year 1822 brought to Cleveland a young New-Hampshire lawyer destined to become almost, immediately, a brilliant figure in the legal, political, and social life of the town. Hon. John Wheelock Willey, judge, state senator, and Cleveland's first mayor, should have established a high standard of qualifications for that office, for he was a representative member of the community, first and last a gentleman, learned, dignified, courteous, honest.
From the testimony regarding him we glean that "he was a logician by nature, a ready debater, fertile of expedient, and persuasively eloquent." As a judge, he showed a wonderful memory, power of analysis, promptness of decision, strict impartiality. He was the author of the city's charter, and one who was authority in such matters, says, "The language is clear and precise, bearing the impress of an educated, experienced, legal mind, one that had a clear understanding of municipal rights and duties. For clearness, precision, and certainty, it will not suffer by comparison with any other municipal code enacted."
And yet, the life of John W. Willey was comparatively short. He was 28 years old when he reached Cleveland, and only 47 years of age when he died. He lived but a year after his appointment as judge, and during that time, and for many previous years, was slowly dying of consumption. The only portraits of him in existence were painted after he had been stricken with the disease, and therefore fail to convey any correct idea of his normal appearance. For four years previous to his death, he was in financial difficulties, which added mental worry to the physical distress he was suffering.
Previous to the disastrous panic of 1837, he had invested extensively in real-estate, and was a heavy loser thereby. The delinquent taxes published in the Cleveland Herald of 1838 and 1841 show 111 lots in his name situated in "Cleveland Center," between Columbus Ave. and the river, his home, corner of Ontario and Michigan streets, valued at $3500, and other valuable lots on Michigan and Seneca streets.
The insertion here of a coincidence may be pardoned. In these days of Cleveland's wonderful land values, many attempts are being made to clear titles obscured or jeopardized by old tax liens. Legal notices are frequently inserted in the daily press calling upon heirs of original owners of city property to appear and quiet claims. Such a notice appeared while the writer was arranging data for this sketch. It notified the heirs of John W. Willey that a certain party held possession of a lot once owned by said John W. Willey, and sold for taxes in 1838.
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1822
WILLEY
Mr. Willey was born in Goshen, N. H. His father was Allen Willey, his mother Chloe Frink Willey of Windham, Conn., and both were born in 1760. They were married in 1781, and had nine children, all born in Goshen. Of this number, five lived for some years in Cleveland, and four of them rest in Erie Street Cemetery. Besides these members of the Willey family, the widow and children of yet another one lived and died here. For this reason, it seems fitting that all the family of Allen and Chloe Frink Willey should have a place on these pages.
The children:
Allen Willey, b. 1782; m. Margaret Moore..
Rev. Elijah Willey, b. 1784; died in Cleveland.
Lucy Willey, b. 1787; married Mr. Chapman
Newton Willey, b. 1788; married his cousin Lucretia Willey. His widow died in Cleveland.
Lydia Willey, b. 1790; m. James Adams.
Hon. John Wheelock Willey, b. 1794; m. Laura M. Higby
Fanny Willey, b. 1796; m. Luther Willes, first editor of The Cleveland Herald
Charles Willey, b. 1799; m. his cousin, Anna Willey; 2nd, Elisabeth Dennis
Amos Shepard Willey, b. 1801. Died in Cleveland, unmarried.
These children received a liberal education. The sons were fitted for professional or mercantile life, and were successful in their chosen vocations. The daughters were all bright, capable, accomplished women. There are yet in existence bundles of old letters written to their parents from the -children living in Cleveland ; letters full of filial affection and respect. They invariably begin, "Honored and Revered Parents."
Amos, the youngest of the family, either came west with his brother John in 1822, or soon afterward. A gravestone in Erie Street Cemetery records his death in the following year. Rev. Elijah Willey, ten years the senior of his brother John, was a resident of Cleveland many years. He had been a distinguished Baptist clergyman in New England, was twice married, and without children. He was fond of nature and established near his home, corner of Woodland Ave. and Erie street, a flourishing nursery of fruit and flowers popularly known as the "Willey Garden." He died of a malignant throat disease in the same year of his brother John's death, 1841, aged 57 years. His funeral was held at the First Baptist Church, and much respect paid to his memory. His grave is at the left of the main entrance to Erie Street Cemetery.
Laura Maria Higby, wife of John W. Willey, was the daughter of Dexter and Rosannah Ellsworth Higby of Castleton, Vt., and later of Chillicothe, Ohio. She met John W. Willey while on a visit to her sister, Mrs. Joshua Mills, who had preceded her to Cleveland a year or so, and was married to Mr. Willey at the residence of Dr. and Mrs. Mills in 1829. Rev. S. C. Freeman, rector of Trinity Protestant Episcopal Church, performed the ceremony. The bridegroom was 35, and the bride 20 years of age.
They began housekeeping in a small house adjoining the Mills resi-
267
1822
WILLEY
dence. Both were the property of Mrs. Juliana Walworth Keyes, and stood on the south side of Superior street, just west of Seneca, now West 3rd street. They removed from this place to a beautiful home erected for them on the south-west corner of Michigan and Ontario streets, and facing the former. The lot stood above the grade of the streets and was reached by steps cut in the bank. The rooms of this house were spacious and well adapted for the brilliant social life that prevailed in them.
Mrs. Willey was a beautiful, aristocratic woman, and fond of society. Often the highest officials of the state capital were her honored guests. Governor Wood and family, Governor and Mrs. Shannon of Columbus, Major Conover of Cincinnati, and other distinguished people from southern or central Ohio, were frequently entertained at "Willey Cottage."
Michigan street and Ontario street, south of the Public Square, were resident districts in the '30s, and after the Willeys moved there, and the Dr. Mills family followed and took possession of the Skinner homestead, north-west corner of Ontario and Commercial streets, that locality became fashionable and desirable.
Mr. and Mrs. Willey had no children, but they were much and tenderly interested in their nephews and nieces, the fatherless children of Newton and Lucretia Willey. Another favorite niece was Lydia Willey Adams, who was married at their house to Benjamin Andrews, one-time postmaster of the city. These, with the son and daughter of Mrs. Joshua Mills, formed a coterie of young relatives who came to look upon the home of "Uncle John and Aunt Laura" as their own.
After the death of her husband, Mrs. Willey continued to live in her Cleveland home until 1846, when, in May of that year, she married Dr. Edwin Smith of Dayton, Ohio, and removed to that town. Dr. Smith was a widower with eight children, all in or beyond their teens. He was owner of a palatial home, and as Dayton was one of the social centers of the state, Mrs. Willey Smith spent her declining years among cultured and congenial people. The result of her second marriage was a son, whom she named for her first husband, John Willey Smith. Eventually, this son came to the city to live. He married Caroline, the accomplished daughter of a Cleveland pioneer and a musician. Willey Smith died within the last two years, leaving a widow. Mrs. Laura Willey Smith died in February, 1872, aged 65 years, and was buried beside John W. Willey in Erie Street Cemetery.
Lucretia Willey, widow of Newton Willey, once a leading Boston, Mass., merchant, came to Cleveland with her children to be near her husband's brothers and sister, and to receive their assistance in the care and responsibility of raising her family. She was remembered by her children as a fine, motherly woman, devoted to her-family of fatherless children.
They were:
Caroline Willey, m. Mr. Cunningham; 2nd, Mr. Price. She never lived in Cleveland..
Henry Willey, died unmarried.
Charles Willey, m. Paulina Perry, granddaughter of Horace Perry, the Cleveland pioneer
Mary Ann Willey, m. Gen. H. H.
268
1822
BELDEN
Dodge. See sketch of Dodge families..
George Willey, m. 1st Catherine Summers, who died 18 years of age; 2nd, Julia Vaughn, daughter of John C. and Sarah Clark Vaughn of South Carolina
Samuel Willey, m. Mary Irvine, daughter of John R. Irvine of St. Paul, Minn.
Samuel Willey, born in Boston, 1827, graduated from the Cleveland Medical College, and became a distinguished physician. He died in Bayfield, Wis., 1871.
Lucretia Willey is buried in the Dodge lot in Erie Street Cemetery.
1822
BELDEN
Captain Clifford Belden was a brother of Mrs. Judah Belden Hart, the mother of Edward William Hart, the pioneer furniture dealer. The Beldens came from Norwich, Conn., but were formerly of New Britain.
Capt. Belden commanded the schooner Minerva, built by Noble Merwinin 1822, and he may have been in town before that date. He was long a revenue officer in charge of the custom house. He married Hannah Strong of East Cleveland in 1830, who died not long afterward, leaving no children. Capt. Belden never remarried. He boarded at the Scovill tavern, and was deemed eccentric by his associates, being a man of few words, and spending his evenings in his own room engaged in reading and studying. He fell dead on the street, one day, and was buried
on the Hart lot in Woodland Cemetery.
1823
INSCRIPTION ON TOMBSTONE IN ERIE STREET CEMETERY NEAR THE MAIN
ENTRANCE
"Elihu, only son of Elihu and Ede Moore Rockwell, 1823, aged 18 years."
"Good friends, for Jesus? sake forbear To move the dust enclosed here."
The body had first lain in the Ontario Street Cemetery and removed when the latter was destroyed in order to ;run Prospect Street through it.
Again the grave will be opened, should the efforts of real-estate dealers succeed in removing Erie Street Cemetery altogether.
269
1823
BRADSTREET
In 1823 there came into the village of Cleveland, either on foot or on horseback, a young home missionary named Stephen Ingalls Bradstreet. He had traveled over the Alleghenies and then north-easterly through the State of Ohio all the way from Lynchburg, Virginia, preaching as he journeyed whenever and wherever he found the opportunity and the congregation.
He did not leave Virginia through lack of a charge nor of appreciation, but because the life there was too easy for himself, the people too prosperous. He was now in search of a place that most needed him, one nearly or quite destitute of gospel privileges. And this, in a measure, he found in Cleveland. The society of what is now called "The Old Stone Church" was without a pastor or a home. The small congregation, meeting at irregular intervals in the old Academy on St. Clair Street, joyfully engaged him to preach for it every other Sabbath, at least. His services were also needed in the East Cleveland Congregational Church, and he divided his time between the two places. He boarded while in East Cleveland with Dr. Elisha Burton, and the only surviving member of that family, the venerable Dr. E. D. Burton, still residing in the old homestead, remembers Mr. Bradstreet and his wife distinctly, although a very young child at the time they were there.
The Rev. Bradstreet was a direct descendant of Governor Simeon Bradstreet, and was born in Greenfield, N. H., in 1794.
At the age of 20 he became fired with the desire to become a foreign missionary, and bent all his energies to the accomplishment of that purpose, working hard to fit himself for Dartmouth College, and then earning his way through it, graduating in 1819. Two more years were spent in Andover Seminary.
After all, he was debarred from a foreign field because of physical weakness. Naturally of a delicate constitution, his over-work and self sacrifice proved too great a strain upon it. He then turned to Home Missionary work as the next expedient and took the first and farthest field offered, the State of Virginia, where he preached from place to place between Lynchburg and Staunton many times a week. He found in Cleveland a former friend and perhaps, classmate, John W. Willey, who came the previous year from New Hampshire. They were of the same age, 30 years, and both graduates of Dartmouth.
Mr. Bradstreet was a religious zealot who wore himself out in the burning desire to save souls. He preached twice, and often three times, every Sabbath, and each sermon usually was two hours long.
The Congregationalists and Episcopalians shared the Academy between them, one holding services in the morning or afternoon, the other in the afternoon or evening.
One year, when Christmas fell upon the Sabbath, it is said that Uncle Abram Hickox, who was the head and front of the episcopacy as represented by Trinity Church, begged Parson Bradstreet not to preach one of his "darn long-winded sermons" that afternoon, so that he, Hickox, would have time to trim the room with evergreens and candles for the Christmas evening service.
The story does not state whether Mr. Bradstreet acceded to the old man's request and cut out any of his "and thuslys" and "furthermores."
270
1823
DUNHAM
The next year after his arrival in Cleveland, Mr. Bradstreet went back to New Hampshire on an errand of romance, returning with a bride. His small but loyal congregation received her with affectionate welcome. She was Miss Anna Dana Smith of Amherst, N. H., and 23 years old. From the day she reached Cleveland until her death she was greatly admired and loved. She possessed the rare gifts of beauty, education, and tact, and her sweet manners won the hearts of all who met her. She outlived her husband 21 years, dying in 1858. Upon her tombstone was engraved : "Useful, loved, lamented."
The Bradstreets had four children, two of whom died in infancy and are buried in Erie Street Cemetery. One son, Henry Martyn, a promising youth, died in California. The remaining one, Edward P. Bradstreet, became one of Cincinnati's leading lawyers.
Rev. Stephen I. Bradstreet remained in Cleveland seven years. The following three were spent in missionary work to the lake towns between Cleveland and Toledo. In 1834 he helped to found and edited the Ohio Observer, the first religious paper published in the state. He returned to Cleveland in 1836 and attempted to start another religious paper here. It was an unfortunate time for any new project, as a great financial crisis was close at hand. He died in the height of the panic, June, 1837.
The graves of Mr. Bradstreet and infant children are in Erie street cemetery at the right of the main entrance.
1823
DUNHAM
A quaint reminder of pioneer days still stands on the north side of Euclid Ave., between Dunham and Russell avenues. On this spot once stood an isolated log-cabin set in an unbroken forest, and in it lived Rufus and Jane Pratt Dunham, who, in 1823, left their home in Mansfield, Mass., and began life anew on this farm of 140 acres, stretching from Euclid Ave. to what is now Hough Ave.
But although land-rich, they suffered many years of privation before they regained the comforts left behind them in Massachusetts and before trees and stumps -gave way to growing crops. Sometimes the larder was so low that there was nothing much but corn-meal and potatoes in the house, and once when this happened poor Mrs. Dunham was placed in a most embarrassing situation.
For who should claim her hospitality but a party of old neighbors and friends from Mansfield, who were journeying to a point still farther west. Mrs. Dunham, however, was equal to the occasion. Slipping out of the house unobserved, she walked way out to Elijah Ingersol's on the heights, three miles away, and borrowed some salt pork and flour. Returning with it, she soon had a tempting meal prepared for her guests, who, having known her more prosperous days in the east, and realizing little of
271
1823
DUNHAM
the hardships of pioneer life, never dreamed what worry and exertion that dinner had caused her.
Mrs. Dunham had much strength of character, and while bearing patiently privations entailed upon every one thus set down in a wilderness and far from centers of supplies, she had no idea of submitting to unnecessary trials.
Once, when temporarily sharing her log-house with another family, the two housewives often found themselves without sufficient firewood with which to cook the meals. The men had neglected to see that they were supplied before going off to the other part of the farm to work:
A big pile of logs was east of the house, but they were all too long, even for the commodious fire-place within, so one day, when again out of fuel and out of patience as well, they concluded to teach their delinquent husbands a lesson, and so setting fire to the whole pile, they cooked the dinner by it.
Euclid Avenue in those days was "Euclid Road," and much of the time was almost impassable. There was a good deal of marshland on the south side of it, reaching back to and beyond what is now Cedar Avenue. The Dunham children often picked many quarts of huckle-berries in a low, wet place near the south-east corner of Euclid and Willson Avenues, where the Pennsylvania Railroad Station and Kelley Island Lime and Warehouse stand.
After some years of pioneer life, Mr. Dunham was enabled to replace the old log-house for the one now standing, a large frame-building with a western wing. It was used as a country tavern for almost half a century, but now serves as a very attractive private residence.
The Dunham children who reached maturity were:
Charles H. Dunham, m. Jane Crawford, daughter of Benjamin and Riddle Crawford, a pioneer of the East End.
Caroline Dunham, m. James Welsh.
Loretta Dunham, m. Robert Pier.
The quaint old Dunham tavern, No. 6709 Euclid Avenue, is occupied as a private residence by Dr. J. A. Stephens.
Robert Pier, who married Loretta Dunham, was the son of Dr. Ira W. Pier. His mother, Sarah Bradford, was a direct descendant of Governor Bradford of the "Mayflower."
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Pier lived on Euclid Ave., corner of Dorchester Ave., for many years.
Their children were:
Frances Pier, m. Henry Sprague. son of Daniel and Sarah Stacey
Josephine Pier, m. Charles Denzer, Denzer.
272
1824
RICE
"There is no aim more laudable than a desire to live to some purpose."
This sentiment, written by Harvey Rice, one of Cleveland's most eminent citizens, was the key-note of his life, and it was that which made him honored and respected beyond what most men obtain in any community. He was born in the first year of the last century, at Conway, Mass. His father, Stephen Rice, was a lineal descendant of Edward Rice of Sudbury, Mass., 1638, a man of consequence in his day and generation, both in church and state.
His mother was Lucy Baker, and when she married Stephen Rice was the young widow of a Mr. Harvey. Possessing unusual ability and for those times, quite a degree of literary attainment, she, doubtless, would have proved a wise and tender mother, an inspiration for this her only surviving child, but her death when he was but four years of age completely changed his home environment. No longer loved and cherished, and left to the cruel mercies of the world in general, Harvey Rice suffered loneliness and deprivation. For, though his father was living, and willing to pay a reasonable price for the child's board and clothes, he was always traveling, and for eight years the little fellow was transferred from one family to another, until he reached that of an exceedingly pious woman who fed him for months, absolutely nothing but potatoes and salt served on a corner of the kitchen-table, while the family were eating other things at an adjoining one.
His school-lunch was hard, dry bread without any butter, and cheese unfit for any human stomach. Through the mercy of a neighbor, less religious and more Christlike, this appetizing luncheon occasionally was exchanged on the way for something eatable.
Although paid a stated and sufficient sum for his clothes, this enterprising woman sent him out barefooted after snow fell, and his garments were so grotesquely ill-fitting and ragged that he became the laughing stock of the village school. These facts were given by Harvey Rice himself to his children. It is to be regretted that the name of a woman, who could so shamefully abuse a motherless child, had not been furnished with the story. It would be just retribution.
Finally, Stephen Rice brought to Conway a second wife, a widow, who took charge of the boy, with ill grace, and thenceforth, from the age of 13 to 18, he lived in his father's home, but not of it. Then he started out to obtain an education and with rare courage and fortitude worked his way through Williams College.
The writer once boarded in a house where there were four students, seniors of a local college, and noticed that all four dreaded the coming month of June. Not because of the examinations and graduating themes, but they feared that so many years of academic and college life without manual training had unfitted them for anything but head labor, and if by chance, that failed them, there might be unaccustomed struggle and, perhaps, mortification to endure.
But long before Harvey Rice's diploma was handed to him he was sufficient unto himself. A boy who could master a Latin grammar in one month and make maple-sugar at the same time, had no reason to worry, even if he did start out hampered by four years' debt for college tuition.
273
1824
WORLEY
An uncle had been living in Buffalo, N. Y., and to that city he bent his steps, hoping there to secure a school to teach, but upon reaching it, he learned that the uncle was dead, so pushed on to Cleveland. From the time he reached here, in 1824, until his death in 1891, at the age of 91, his life is closely associated with the history of the city, especially in its educational advance, its social reforms, and in everything that tended to elevate its standards of thinking and living.
In 1828 Mr. Rice married Fanny Rice, daughter of Truman Rice of Claredon, Vt., and sister-in-law of his law partner, Reuben Wood ; although bearing the same name, they were not related. She was amiable, beautiful, and possessed of good common-sense; contented. to, begin wed-. ded life in the simplest manner, so that when settled in their plain apartments, a happier couple never graced cottage or palace.
But in the year 1837, within a period of six weeks, Mr. Rice lost this loving wife and two children by death.
Her remaining children were:
Capt. Percy Rice, m. 1st, Mary Trigg; 2nd, Sarah Peck of Vermont. He died in 1909.
Fanny Rice, m. Proctor Burnett She died in 1888, aged 55 years.
Three years later, Harvey Rice married Mrs. Emma Fitch Woods, daughter of Col. James Fitch, of Putney, Vt. She was 18 years of age, and a widow. Had she lived one year longer, Mr. and Mrs. Rice would have celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, which the family had anticipated with much pleasure.
She was a very lovable and exemplary woman, always had some kind word to say of every one. Her son-in-law, Mr. Hunt, who lived next door to her for 25 years, remarked of her that if she had any faults, he had yet to discover them.
The children by this second marriage were:
Henrietta Rice, m. James Irvine of San Francisco, Cal.
Emma Rice, m. Paul D. Condit of Cleveland. Mary Rice, m. Edward P. Hunt. She is a widow living on Euclid Ave., cor. E. 81st St.
James Rice, m. Cora Barlow.
Harvey Rice.
1824
WORLEY
In 1824, Daniel Worley and his wife Eliza Tomlinson Worley started from Pittsburgh with a large party of relatives and friends on foot and in flat-boats to make the journey to Cleveland. It was made through a trackless wilderness, and they all suffered incredible hardship, so much
274
1824
WORLEY
so, that when they reached the portage at Akron, where their goats had to be dragged miles on land in order to reach the Cuyahoga River, three of the party succumbed to deprivation and fatigue. They died and were buried there.
Cleveland was reached in May, 1824, and undoubtedly they received much sympathy and hospitality from the few kind-hearted families already established here.
Mrs. Worley's brother, Andrew Tomlinson, accompanied her, and died years afterward, unmarried. The . brother, and sister were--born in Maryland, and she was 27 years old when she came here, and had been married nine years. At least three of her oldest children must have been born in the east, and their tender years and helplessness doubtless added to the parents' distress in encountering the hardship and peril of the long journey. Mr. Daniel Worley seems to have been a man of force and action, for he immediately took his part in all the activities of the hamlet. And when it was made a city in 1836, he was chosen its first treasurer. He was a member of the first school board, and later, a city postmaster.
Mrs. Worley lived in Cleveland 45 years, and at her death in 1869 was one of the best known women in the city. She had eleven children, and some of them married into early Cleveland families.
Three years after her arrival, a little meeting of Methodists was held on St. Clair street, corner of Court Place, the narrow way leading from the Square to the street. It was at the residence of Rev. Joel Sizer, a local preacher who had lived in the town about a year. Here a class was formed of seven people, and two of them were Andrew Tomlinson and his sister, Eliza Worley. Years later, when subscriptions were being solicited and offered for the building of the Methodist church, corner of St. Clair and Wood streets, Mrs. Worley headed it with a silver dollar. Her memory is revered by the surviving members of that society, and at the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the old St. Clair Street Methodist Church, her name was frequently mentioned in loving remembrance.
It was said of her then that she had been a representative woman of the best circle of village society; that she was gifted intellectually and possessed rare facility of expression; that the young found her bright and sympathetic, the old a comfort and support, and that her manners were exceptionally fine. She was of the early style of Methodists, believing in very simple style of dress. All jewelry, gay colors, and furbelows whatsoever were utterly tabooed. She dressed as do the Quakers in gray or steel color, and in her declining years wore kerchiefs and caps of the softest lace. A large portrait of her is treasured by her grandson Fank C. Worley.
The Worleys lived at the foot of Superior street and facing it, in a house built in 1803 by Amos Spafford, the site of the present Atwater Building. They then removed to Water street, and finally to a farm on Broadway.
The Worley children were:
Dr. Philip Worley, m. Justina Burke.
James Worley.
John Worley, m. Caroline Norris of
275
1824
THOMAS
East Cleveland ; 2nd, Margaret Cowin.
Louisa Worley, m. George P. Burwell, his 2nd wife
George Worley, died young.
Margaret Worley, m. a widower with children. He lived but a short time after.
Dr. Philip Worley lived in Newburgh after his marriage, and moved to Davenport, Iowa.
John had a wall-paper store at 16 Public Square, for many years. He died on Woodland Ave., No. 219, in a pleasant home, surrounded with flowers, and at the side a big grape-arbor,' the delight of the Worley children and their playmates. The neighbors were the Swains, Cutlers, Deveraux, etc.
The children of John and Caroline Worley were : Frederick, Daniel, and Jane Worley. Those of the second wife Margaret Cowan were Frank C., Newton J., Anna, Charlotte, and Burton Worley.
Louisa Worley Burwell was quite an invalid. She left no children.
1824
THOMAS
John Thomas was born in Massachusetts, but had been living in New York State for some years when he concluded to remove west. His wife previous to her marriage was Miss Lydia Smartey.
Mr. Thomas built a log-cabin in the midst of a forest in Newburgh in 1824 where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, each attaining a ripe old age, he dying at 82 years, and his wife at 90 years.
Mr. Thomas was 50 years old when their youngest child was born.
The children of John and Lydia Thomas:
Catherine Thomas, m. Mr. Wetherbee..
Jemima Thomas, m. Mr. Edwards ; 2nd, Mr. Hester.
Jane A. Thomas
Charles Thomas
William Thomas, m. Mary Coly.
Patrick Thomas and Sally Thomas, his wife, are buried in the East Cleveland Cemetery. Both were over 80 years of age. No other record of this family.
276
1824
HILLIARD
For many years, beginning in the '20s and ending in the '50s, the most conspicuous object facing one walking down Superior street was the big sign of "Hilliard and Hayes." It was fastened to the front of a two-story frame-structure that stretched across the west end of the street, and which was later replaced by the Atwater Building.
The first name of the firm represented a well-known and active business man ; the Hayes part of it always remained the name merely, the owner of it, a non-resident and living in New York City.
Richard Hilliard was a son of David Hilliard of Skeneatles, N. Y., who died, leaving a widow and several children without sufficient means to support them in the manner to which they had been accustomed. Richard was but a lad of 14 years of age and felt the situation keenly. At first, according to the custom of the times, a trade seemed the most practical thing to acquire, and he tried to serve an apprenticeship with a hatter, but his proud spirit revolted against some of the menial tasks required of him, and he broke away from the making of hats in order to sell them, in conjunction with many other things, in a general merchandise store.
He already had acquired some education, and in every leisure moment studied hard and fitted himself to teach a country school. How often afterward in his business career he must have smiled in recalling to mind his first great ambition, to teach a district school. But he found the salary inadequate for the measure of assistance he wished to afford his mother and sisters, and so relinquished the educational profession forever.
About this time, Black Rock on the Niagara River rivalled Buffalo in its business enterprise, and seemed destined to be the place of importance at that end of the lake. Thither journeyed young Hilliard across the wilderness of western New York. The opening of the Erie Canal from Troy to Lake Erie may have been the incentive for this step. He entered the service of John Daly, a merchant of Black Rock, who was doing a fair amount of business in that town. It did not take the astute merchant long to discover the mental caliber of his youthful clerk, and to recognize in him a valuable asset if definitely retained, and shortly, without a cent of capital, Richard Hilliard was made one of the firm, and a branch store started in the distant village of Cleveland, with him as its manager.
This was in 1824, and three years later Daly withdrew and William Hayes, Mr. Hilliard's brother-in-law, succeeded him as a partner in the firm that became thenceforth "Hilliard and Hayes." The store was partially divided by a partition, one side used for dry-goods, the other given over entirely to groceries and vessel supplies. Its location was most favorable, for all travel to and from the river passed it, and the firm became very prosperous. Some time in the late '40s, it discarded the retail trade, erected a fine building on Water Street, and thenceforth carried on a large wholesale grocery business.
We find that, unlike some of his early business competitors, Mr. Hilliard did not ignore his civic obligations, and in the various stages of Cleveland's growth and expansion gave time that to him must have been
277
1824
HILLIARD
most valuable. For two years he was president of the village council, and one of the three aldermen in the first city government.
As a commissioner of water-works, trustee of Homeopathic college, and member of the first board of trade, he manifested an interest in everything that pertained to the growth and prosperity of the city.
Soon after Richard Hilliard's arrival in Cleveland he became betrothed to Mary Merwin, the beautiful young daughter of Noble Merwin, the pioneer. She died suddenly of quick consumption, shortly before her wedding-day. A year or two afterward, Mr. Hilliard returned from an eastern trip, accompanied by a charming bride, blonde and petite. She was Miss Sarah Catherine Hayes, a daughter of Newton Hayes, formerly of St. Albans, Vt. Her mother was a member of the New England Wilcox family. Mrs. Hayes was warmly welcomed in the little village, and her sweet presence and winning manners soon endeared her to all who made her acquaintance. In time she became surrounded by a household of children, nine in all, and it would be needless to add that it claimed nearly all her time and limited strength, leaving very little of either for church or social affairs.
Older residents of the city yet living recall her in terms of great respect and affection, and much of their interest in the after life of the Hilliard children was due to the memory of their gentle, refined mother, whom they lost when the younger of them needed her the most. She died on a steamboat while returning from the south where she had been seeking health, and was laid away in Erie Street Cemetery, in 1853. A beautiful portrait of Mrs. Richard Hilliard is in the possession of her youngest child, Miss Laura Hilliard of this city.
The family residence for many years was No. 52 St. Clair street, on the south side of it, near Water, now West 9th street. The family removed to the north side of the Public Square and lived for a time. Mr. Hilliard then built a mansion on St. Clair street, corner of Bond, now East 6th street. It created such interest at the time because of its new departure in Cleveland architecture, and the beauty and costliness of its interior finish. Mrs. Hilliard's death occurred before the house was completed, and as Mr. Hilliard followed her within three years, the family did not reside in it for any length of time. It was the home of Governor David Todd for some years and was the scene of many brilliant social events. In later years, it came into the possession of the Grasselli family. At the present day, it is the headquarters of the Associated Charities. The flotsam and jetsam of a great city enter through the portals that once opened only to the successful and prosperous, while day after day up and down the beautiful staircase with its mahogany panels on one side and heavily carved balustrade on the other pass weary, halting feet where, long ago, beautiful gowns trailed their length and dainty slippers trod.
Richard Hilliard died in 1856 from the effects of a sudden and severe cold, contracted while on a business trip to New York. He was a typical merchant of the old school, reserved, methodical, exact. Pictures and descriptions of him portray a fine-looking man, with straight features and dark hair and eyes.
278
1825
POPULATION, 500
The Hilliard children were each interesting in its way, but unlike in physique and temperament. They were:
Mary Hilliard, m. Dr. Elisha Sterling, son of John W. Sterling.
Catherine Hilliard, m. Henry W. Gaylord, son of Erastus Gaylord.
Julia Hilliard, m. ----- Miller of Buffalo, N. Y.
Richard Hilliard, m. Evelyn Sizer of Buffalo.
Newton Hilliard, m. Mary J. Hul- bert, dau. of Aaron Hulbert of Cleveland
William Hilliard, m. Eleanor-------
Laura Hilliard.
Betsey Matilda and Charles Augustus Hilliard, died in infancy
Mrs. Mary Sterling and M rs. Catherine Gaylord were life-time residents of the city. The three sons lived elsewhere most of their lives, and died before middle age.
Miss Laura Hilliard, the youngest child of the family, still remains.
1825
POPULATION, 500
Postmaster, Irad Kelly.
Trustees, A. Abel, Samuel Williamson, Horace Perry
Collector of Customs, Ashbel W. Walworth.
Marshal, Harvey H. Wellman.
President, Eleazar Waterman.
COUNTY OFFICERS
Clerk of Common Pleas, Horace Perry
Treasurer, Daniel Kelly.
Recorder, Horace Perry.
Prosecuting Attorney, Leonard Case.
Auditor, John W. Willey.
Sheriff, James S. Clark.
1825
RECOLLECTIONS OF MRS. MARY LONG SEVERANCE BEGINNING ABOUT 1820
REFERENCES TO ACCOMPANYING MAP OF SUPERIOR STREET
(1) On this corner there has been a tavern or hotel from my earliest remembrance. The house has been built over and over. Back of it, to the south-west corner of the Square, was a large yard where caravans put up, and where horses and cattle in transfer were kept. The only building between Mowry's Tavern and Seneca street was a large, frame storehouse built by the Murray brothers, many years previous.
279
PAGE 280 STREET MAP
1825
RECOLLECTIONS OF MRS. MARY LONG SEVERANCE
(2) This corner of Superior and Seneca streets was a vacant lot belonging to my father, Dr. David Lang, upon which he built a stone dwelling in 1831. After Dr. Lang removed out an Woodland Avenue, Sheldon Pease occupied it far same years.
(3) Then came the shop of. Abram Hickox the blacksmith, an eccentric but fine character. His sign read something like this : "Can I get my horse shad here?" "Yes, sir." Later he built a carriage-shop west of it and an the same lot.
(4) A small house where lived Jonathan and Mrs. Bliss. Jonathan Bliss died of malarial fever, in 1823. His adapted daughter married Herchel Foote, and the family afterward moved to the north-west corner of the Square, where Marshall's drug-stare is now situated. Here they kept a book-store far years. Deacon Rouse succeeded them there.
(5) The residence of Hiram Wellman. He removed to Massillon, O.
(6) Stephen Dudley's dry-goods stare. He was unmarried, a gay, young fellow, much liked think he went to Buffalo, not certain of it.
(7) William Bliss, his residence and shop. He was a goldsmith and kept silverware far sale. Staughtan Bliss, a son. Between 7 and 8 a wide, vacant lot.
(8) A double-front stare and dwelling built by Elisha Taylor. East side of it was occupied by a dry-goods and general merchandise stare. He sold out to T. P. May, who lived here and carried an the business far many years.
(9) William Duckwarth's drug-stare and residence. Fine people. They returned east to live.
(10) Stare, post-office, and residence of Irad Kelley. The only brick structure an the street, and built previous to my remembrance.* The Kelleys, in later years, lived out an Euclid Avenue.
(11) Residence of my uncle Ashbel Walwarth, set back from the street a few feet. He removed later to a farm. His home there was where the Friendly Inn now stands.
(12) Custom House and office of Ashbel Walwarth. Dr. David Lang, Alfred Kelley, and James Root came to Cleveland about the same time, all young and unmarried. They became warm friends, and roomed together in this office, taking their meals at Judge Walwarth's. The three young men were warmly welcomed in the community, and they were made as comfortable as circumstances admitted. Root was disappointed in the town and returned east.
Between 12 and 13, and far back in the lot, stood the log-house built by Samuel Huntington. In it I was barn. It was my parents' first residence.
* It faced Bank Street.
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RECOLLECTIONS OF MRS. MARY LONG SEVERANCE
(13) Dr. Long lived here before he built on the corner of Superior and Seneca streets. No. 2.
(14) Office and store kept by Dr. David Long.
(15) Residence and shop of Deacon Moses White.
(16) Ben. Tuell, a silver-smith. (Nothing is known of subsequent history.)
(17) Benjamin Rouse, in 1830, removed to corner of Public Square later. The first family living here, whose name escapes my memory, all died.
(18) William Stockwell. His step-daughter married J. G. Hogan. Mr. Stockwell died of cholera in 1834, leaving no children.
(19) Silas Walworth's store and residence. He made and sold hats, dealt in leather, etc.
(20) Merwin Tavern, built by Amos Spafford, in 1802. Occupied by George Wallace, in 1809, and by Noble Merwin, in 1811.
NORTH SIDE OF SUPERIOR STREET, BEGINNING AT THE PUBLIC SQUARE
I. Herchel Foote's book-store. In the late '30s kept by Benj. Rouse.
II. Three small houses built by Reuben Champion. The first ones in village built to rent. The site of the first newspaper plant. The Advertiser, which two years later became the Cleveland Herald.
III. On this corner was David Burrough's blacksmith shop and residence. He removed to Newburgh later.
Large vacant lot north-west corner of Seneca St.
IV. Tavern built and occupied by George Wallace before War of 1812. He sold out to Michael Spangler.
V. Residence of Leonard Case, a small frame-house.
VI. Commercial Bank of Lake Erie, from 1816 to 1842. Alfred Kelley, president; Leonard Case, cashier.
Back of this bank and facing Bank Street was the little log-house occupied by the Stiles, the first Cleveland settlers, now used for various purposes.
VII. The store of Peter M. Weddell. Adjoining it to the west, his residence.
VIII. Wide lot, in the center, Levi Johnson's residence. Carpenter shop in rear of lot.
8 1/2. Home and small liquor-store, later occupied by N. E. Crittenden the jeweler.
IX. Philo Scovill's tavern, The Franklin House.
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1825
SOCIAL LIFE IN CLEVELAND IN AND PREVIOUS TO 1825
IX 1/2. Orland Cutter, auction store.
X. 2nd Residence of Nathan Perry. First one back of store and on Water Street.
XI. Store of Nathan Perry.
Nearly all the residences and stores on Superior Street before 1835 were small, and close to the sidewalk.
1825
SOCIAL LIFE IN CLEVELAND IN AND PREVIOUS TO 1825
Entertainment was of the simplest kind. Often the hostess lacked chairs enough to seat her guests, and neighbors were called upon to help out.
Dishes, etc., were frequently borrowed in the interests of hospitality.
Sometimes, when a house was too small to entertain comfortably, bedsteads would be taken down, and with other furniture set outside until festivities were over.
(One cannot realize the extent of this sacrifice to friendship who has never witnessed the ceremony of roping an old-fashioned bedstead. It took time and muscle to make the rope taut enough to prevent its sagging.)
In those primitive entertainments any one who could sing, recite poetry, or was gifted with any other modest accomplishment, would invariably be pressed into service for the benefit of the company.
Social hours were between six and ten o'clock of an evening, and rarely extended even in the event of a ball.
It was not uncommon to see two young people on one horse, and bound for a dance at some tavern in East Cleveland, Brooklyn, or at Rocky River. The young man would be astride and guiding the animal, the young woman seated behind him, and with both arms around his waist to steady herself.
Judge Kingsbury's house on Kinsman near Woodhill Road was a favorite resort for the young people of Cleveland hamlet and village. Without any special invitation they would end a merry sleighride at this very hospitable home and be warmed and fed before returning to town.
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CLARK
"An ancestor of an ancient line
Who came with the Pilgrims o'er the brine,
The captain's mate (on a pilgrim bark)
Bearing the name of Thomas Clark,
At length became a man of renown
Among the settlers of Plymouth town."
Judah Clark, sixth generation in line from the above "Mayflower" ancestor, was living in Conway, Mass., in the last quarter of the 18th century. His wife was Abigail Freeman Clark, one of the many intermarriages between the Freemans and the Clarks.
Mr. and Mrs. Judah Clark had a typical New England family, eleven children, of whom five died in infancy, and only one of the remainder left posterity.
Of these one was a son, Edmund Clark, who became a pioneer merchant and banker of Cleveland. In 1825 he was living in Buffalo, N. Y., and was twenty-six years of age, when he was offered a partnership with Peter M. Weddell, who had a dry-goods store at the corner of Superior and Bank streets, the site of the Rockefeller Building. This partnership lasted but five years, as Mr. Clark became interested in other lines of business and withdrew permanently from the dry-goods trade.
He became president of the Cleveland Insurance Company, treasurer of the first railroad project, and a director of the Commercial Bank of Lake Erie. From the latter he withdrew and engaged in private banking, out of which grew the National Bank of Cleveland, the sixth one in the country.
In connection with Richard Hilliard he invested in real-estate which proved exceedingly profitable.
Mrs. Edmund Clark was Anna Maria Billings, daughter of William and Polly Williams Billings of Conway, Mass. She was a beautiful woman, of charming personality, admired and beloved. Her chief accomplishment was a fine voice, with which she gave pleasure to the church in whose choir she sang and often in private entertainments. She lost three children in infancy.
The only living child of Edmund and Anna Maria Billings Clark was Henry Freeman Clark, b. 1839. He married Eliza S. Crowell, daughter of John Crowell. They were married in 1859, in old Trinity Church.
Edmund Clark's home, at first, was on the corner of Superior and Water streets, where the Perrys had been living. He then built a home on the south side of the Public Square. The west end of the May Company's department store covers the site. Here the family lived many years, and here Mr. Clark died.
His portrait hangs in the library of Mrs. Eliza S. Clark, his son's widow. There also hangs a beautiful childhood portrait of the late H. F. Clark.
"The funeral of Edmund Clark was held at his residence, south side of Public Square, Jan. 2, 1862; a large concourse of the older citizens was present." His pall-bearers were Orland Cutter, Philo Scovil, H. B. Payne, Joseph H. Crittenden, George C. Dodge, Joseph Perkins.
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1825
OVIATT
All of the above names save the last one will be recognized as Cleveland pioneers.
1825
OVIATT
In May, 1825, Marvin Oviatt of Richfield, O., came to town and engaged in mercantile pursuits.
He was full of life and ambition, was confident of Cleveland's future prosperity, and sanguine of his ability to manage his affairs so that, when the time came, he would be well established in business and share with others in the future that awaited them.
He built a three-storied brick block on the old Carter site, corner of Superior and Water, now West 9th St. The grading of those streets in 1830 in order to lower the steep hill between Water Street and the river left this building high in the air; so high that there was ample room to place an additional story under it. Nathan Perry's store was on the other corner of the two streets and his residence over it. He nearly monopolized the Indian trade and the Oviatt family often watched those dusky sons of the forest cross the river, and gleefully leave it with guns, ammunition, trinkets, etc.
Mr. Oviatt's business ventures proved disastrous. He tied up all his ready capital in them at or before a time when there happened to be an almost total absence of money in the community, leaving him in sore straits which was taken advantage of by men waiting for just such opportunities. This experience was not confined to Marvin Oviatt.
The great fortune of one Cleveland financier at least was founded and increased largely by the business misfortune of some of the early pioneers of the city.
After some years of plucky effort to retrieve his fortune, Mr. Oviatt returned to Richfield. His wife was Mary Foote of Norfolk, Conn., daughter of Luther and Mary A. Phelps Foote.
Her grandmother was Asahel Phelps. She was a finely educated woman and an intimate friend of Mary Grant Ballister and a teacher in her school at Ipswich, the first ever started for the higher education of women of limited means. It culminated in Wellesley College.
Mary Foote came to Ohio with her sister, Mrs. Anna Pomeroy Baldwin, to be a companion for her in the wilderness of Portage County. Here in 1818 at the age of 23 she married Marvin Oviatt. Most of her after life, excepting the few years' sojourn in Cleveland, was spent in Richfield, and she died in that place aged 81 years.
She was small and slight with a fair complexion and very dark eyes. She was very proud-spirited and possessed remarkable energy. Her passionate love of flowers often took her out of her bed at four o'clock in the morning in order to gain time to cultivate them.
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1825
NOBLE
Like other women of her day, she spun and wove blankets, sheets and linen cloth for domestic use.
Interested in all religious and social happenings, her fine mind and conversational powers drew to her side many warm friends both in Cleveland and Richfield. Among the former were Mrs. Long, Mrs. Merwin, and Mrs. Weddell.
The children of Marvin and Mary Clark Oviatt:
Schuyler Oviatt, m. Charlotte, daughter of James W. Wells of Richfield, O..
Tracy Oviatt, m. Eliza Towne of Hudson. He was a clergyman..
Edward Oviatt, a lawyer, lived in Akron, O.
Celia Oviatt, born in Cleveland; married Baxter Wood of Medina, O
Virgil Oviatt.
Don Carlos Oviatt
Schuyler Oviatt lived in Cleveland many years a successful and honored business man.
He was a member of the Old Settlers' Association, and not long before his death made a valuable and interesting address before the society. He had a son James Oviatt and a daughter Charlotte Oviatt. The former died previous to his father's demise. His last residence was on East 82nd Street.
1825
NOBLE
In 1826 the first house-moving took place. Philo Scovil had been keeping a drug-store, and living in a small story-and-a-half house on the north side of Superior street half-way to Water street, and he had concluded to buy this lot belonging to Nathan Perry, and put up a large tavern. And the small house would either have to be pulled down or moved off. The latter recourse was made possible through its purchase by a young carpenter who had been living and working in town for the past five years, was about to be married, and wanted the little house for a home for his bride.
His name was Henry L. Noble, the son of Martin Noble of New Lisbon, N. Y. He was but 22 years old when he left New York State to seek his fortune in Cleveland, and it gives pleasure to state that he found it.
We can imagine the interest or curiosity of the adult members of the small community, and the excitement of its children as the building made slow progress up Superior Street. How it reached its destination, the lot upon which now stands the east end of the Society of Savings Building, whether through the Square, or skirting its north-east corner, we have no means of knowing. The trees, and the stumps of old ones not yet grubbed out, must have been great obstacles in the way, and often
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threatened disaster, but the little house eventually was safely landed upon the lot, and not long afterward curtains at the windows and a girlish figure flitting in and out of the door proclaimed that it was occupied.
Mrs. Hope Noble, or "Hopy," as she was affectionately called, was a slender, blue-eyed woman, very ambitious and energetic. She was the daughter of Gideon Johnson of Bethany, Conn. Her mother was a Crittenden, and may have been related to N. E. Crittenden, who afterward lived on the corner of the same lot.
Mr. Noble must have been a superior workman, for soon he had more work than he could accomplish single-handed, and employed other carpenters to assist him. These were boarded in his house, which means that his wife was doing her part toward the competency they both had in view. And doubtless, she stood in the door of her home and watched with pride the old, volunteer fire department, commanded by her husband, march through the Square. It was a social passport, those days, to be even a member of it, and to be "Chief" was distinction.
Two years after his marriage, in company with such men as Sherlock J. Andrews, John W. Allen, James S. Clarke, etc., Mr. Noble was organizing Trinity Church, erecting a building for it, and serving as vestry man. In 1836, he helped to incorporate the City of Cleveland, and he was the man who, as councilman, offered the resolution to buy the first lots upon which to build public schools.
Ten years after their marriage, we find Mr. and Mrs. Noble living at 90 Ontario street. He had sold the half of his lot facing the Square to C. M. Giddings and John W. Allen. The latter had erected a tall, brick house, New York style, upon the site of the old one, and Mr. Giddings had built an elegant stone residence on the corner, facing the Square, and close to the Ontario street side. This was afterward occupied for many years by N. E. Crittenden.
Mr. Noble retained the north end of the lot, reaching to St. Clair street, and here built a nice home for himself, facing Ontario street. Henry Gaylord afterward lived here, and other early Cleveland people.
Another flitting, this time to Euclid Ave., where Mr. Noble died in 1842 at the age of 53.
The children were:
Henry Martin Noble, who became a civil engineer, and lived in Marquette, Mich.
Evaline E. Noble, who married in 1861, William G. Yates
The first-born, little Eliza Noble, was severely burned at six years of age, and died from the effects of it. The family rests in Woodland Cemetery.
287
1825
MAY
Thomas P. May came from Amenia, N. Y., in 1825, and bought out Elisha Taylor's store of dry-goods and general merchandise, doing business on the south side of Superior street. It had a residence attached to it, and here he lived for some years.
Amenia is on the western border of Connecticut, and close to several Connecticut towns, and its mail often comes to Goshen, as being more convenient.
In New Britain, Conn., lived three Judd sisters, all charming girls, the daughters of Belah Judd, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. Major Judd was a civil engineer by profession. It is said., that he came to Cleveland in 1825 with his daughters, after a short sojourn in Cherry Valley, N. Y.
Thomas May married Jeanette Judd, who was born in 1793, and her two sisters coming on to visit her met their fates in the shape of two young Cleveland men, whom they married.
Mr. May sent for Melancthon Barnett then living in Armenia to assist him in the store, and a little later took him into partnership, and until 1839, they did a flourishing business under the firm name of "May and Barnett."
Mr. May invested in a ten-acre lot on Erie Street and built a home, its front facing Superior. The eastern end of that street ended at Erie, and for some years Mr. May was hounded by city officials, backed by those interested in having Superior street extended through his property. He was a man of strong character, and refused to give up the homestead he had established with much pride and pleasure, setting out fruit of all kinds, flowering shrubs, and a large flower-garden, and as long as he lived he succeeded in retaining it. It was a charming home in which was dispensed unfailing hospitality of the old-fashioned kind.
Mrs. May was an estimable and large-hearted woman who won the love of all who knew her. Her health was delicate, preventing her from mingling much in society, but her circle of friends included every one who had been early residents of the city, their children, and the members of her church, to all of whom she showed a personal interest.
Her two sons were handsome little fellows in youth, and her two daughters inherited, or were influenced by their mother's strong personality.
William May was for many years one of the editors of the Cleveland Herald. He was a ready and brilliant writer; a warm-hearted and generous man who died young.
He married first, Miss Cook, who lived but a year ; 2nd, Miss Eva E. Ferrell, daughter of Isaac Vrooman and Catharine Truax Ferrell of Sandusky, but formerly of Schenectady, N. Y.
William May's health failed, and having an interest in some mining property in Mexico, he went there to look after it, and at the same time experience a warmer climate. His search for health was futile and he died at Tehuantepec. He left a young, interesting widow and three pretty little daughters, one of whom died in girlhood.
Helen May, daughter of Thomas and Jeanette May, married Burritt Horton of the firm of Alcott and Horton, wholesale dry-goods, whose place of business was on Water Street.
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1825
MAY
He came from Medina, Ohio, and after a few years removed to New York where Mrs. Horton died. He afterward married into the Vanderbilt family.
George W. May married a Miss Amelia Chapin, who was a sister of Mrs. J. G. Holland, wife of the author.
They lived in a pretty cottage back of the May homestead on Muirson Street. The May grounds extend back to beyond this street. He also died leaving three daughters:
Minnie May, who married Charles. Chamberlain of Brooklyn, N. Y.
Elisabeth May, m. a Mr. Maitland living in Manchester, England
Sarah May, m Edward Lawton of Troy, N. Y.
Katharine May, daughter of Thomas and Jeanette May, never married. She continued to live in the old homestead until sold to the city, but remained in town all her life. Like her mother she had a strong and interesting personality, and her friendship or interest in any one was considered a valuable social asset. She had beautiful, curly hair, that after it had grown gray made a striking frame to her face which was of an oval, aristocratic type. At her death, by previous request, her body was taken to a crematory in Pittsburgh and reduced to ashes, an event quite unusual, almost exceptional in her circle of friends.
In some way, the large and unencumbered property left by Thomas May slipped away from the family. The bulk of it was left to the widow, Jeanette May, who in turn bequeathed what remained of it to her only living daughter Katharine. And at the latter's death the agent or administrator, a relative living in New York, claimed there was little left. So far as can be learned, no accounting of the property was ever furnished to the heirs.
The only survivors living in the city are Mrs. Eva May, widow of William, and her daughters Nelly May and Jeanette May Barnum, living on the west side of Doan street near Hough Ave.
Mrs. Eva May is an aged lady of the old-fashioned type now almost extinct. Her mind is stored with memories of the city in which she has lived since 'early womanhood. A fine conversationalist, her voice, her inflections, her choice of words, the apt turn of speech, all indicate that upon her birthright of gentle breeding has been engrafted a lifetime of constant reading, of keen but kindly observation, and of long social experience.
Deeply interested as either of her daughters in public events, alive to every religious or socialistic question of the day, she is as much a companion for them as one of their own age could be. Years of sorrow and anxiety have left her untouched by indifference or bitterness.
Nellie May, following the example of her aunt Katherine, or "Kate," as she was called, has never married, and, as might be expected, is a very interesting personality.
Jeanette May married Frank S. Barnum, son of David and Virginia C. Barnum of Norwalk, O. He is an architect of proved ability and has been employed for many years by the Board of Education in designing and supervising the city's public schools.
289
1825
ROSS
Joshua Ross married Miss Mary Eayrs in the Old North Church of Boston, Mass. The family of the bride were residents of that city, and the young couple began housekeeping there. But Mr. Ross became quite a rover because of his inability to be easily satisfied with conditions existing in Boston and in other towns and cities to which he moved and removed, so that by the time he reached Cleveland, about 1825, the older children of his family of nine must have become quite cosmopolitan through their many previous changes of residence. He was a merchant, also a chandler, and eventually manufactured soap and candles on a large scale at the end of Champlain Street, under the hill...
His wholesale and retail grocery was in the old Hancock Block, number 93 and 95 Superior Street, north-west corner of Seneca. Back of the store and facing Seneca street was for some years the family residence. He afterward built several houses, occupying them one by one. The last one was on Woodland Ave., then called Kinsman street. It was in the neighborhood of the Burnhams, Bradburns, etc., and there he died.
After vacating the Seneca street home, it was occupied, from time to time, by other well-known families of that period. Mr. Ross's youngest child, Elisabeth, now Mrs. Stillman, aged 87 years, was about two years old when the family came to Cleveland, and ten years later her older brothers were married and in business for themselves. About 1838, Mrs. Ross concluded to visit her girlhood home in Boston, and at the same time place Elisabeth in a finishing school in which a sister of Mrs. Ross was a resident teacher. For many weeks previous to their journey, the little girl watched the making of pretty garments, and patiently submitted to tedious fittings of school and "best" dresses, and when, at last, all was finished, she surveyed her new, first trunk, packed to overflowing, with much complacency. If one had to be separated from parents and home, what could be more sustaining than such a handsome and complete wardrobe?
Mr. and Mrs. Ross and Elisabeth made the journey to Boston via the Hudson River and New York City. Upon reaching the latter, it was found that the precious trunk had been stolen on the way, and poor Elisabeth had nothing to wear save the clothes she happened to have on her person. She cried herself to sleep as she thought of the pretty silk dresses in that trunk, the silk stockings, and gay slippers. In the morning, she refused to go on to school. As the youngest of her parents' flock, she had been used to much laxity of parental authority, and therefore gained the day, Mrs. Ross continuing the journey alone, and visiting her relatives in Boston, while Mr. Ross and his daughter retraced their steps home.
There is in the possession of the family a very interesting picture of Elisabeth at the age of 19, and recently a bride. It is a fine specimen of feminine fashion of that day, in the early '40s. There are also satisfactory portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Ross. But a disastrous household fire destroyed other articles of incalculable value, among them the old family Bible containing much Ross genealogy. On February 22, 1846, Mr. Ross stood with his wife and daughter watching a patriotic procession pass his store on Superior street. The most attractive feature of
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1825
STERLING
the parade was a miniature ship several feet long which had been built with great care as to detail by several lake captains of the city, and considered quite an achievement. After it had passed, Mr. Ross requested that one of his sons be sent for to take charge of his store, as he felt ill. He went home to die within a day or two of pneumonia, aged 69 years. Mrs. Ross survived him thirteen years, and in the last part of her life, resided with her oldest son, Joshua Ross, Jr., on Woodland Ave., where she died, 1859, aged 82 years.
The children of Joshua and Mary Ross:
Joshua Ross, Jr., b. 1802; m. Abigail Roscoe, b. 1802, d. 1866.
James Ross, m. Esther Maria Foster, daughter of Capt. Foster.
Benjamin Ross, m. Mary A. Cozzens, sister of Alfred Cozzens.
Joseph Ross, m. Mary Underhill, daughter of Dr. Samuel Underhill.
William Ross, married and lived in Akron.
Edgar Ross, m. a lady of Lima, N. Y.
Sarah Ross, the oldest of the children; m. Capt. Fred Miller of a well-known Buffalo family, and lived there
Elisabeth Ross, b. about 1823; married Capt. Chauncy Stillman of Weathersfield, Conn. She is yet living at an advanced age, the sole survivor of her generation. (She Akron. died since above was written.)
Before 1837, Joshua, Jr., and Joseph bought out their father, and under the firm name of J. & J. Ross, carried on a business at 53 Superior street, but relinquished it to him again when the panic struck the town.
Benjamin Ross, under the name of B. Ross & Co., was in partnership with his father-in-law, Alfred Cozzens, in the grocery business at 134 Superior Street. James Ross was in partnership with William and Thomas Lemen, grocers, ship-chandlers, soap and candle-makers, etc. In after years, two of the sons kept a wholesale and retail butcher-shop on Ontario street.
The older members of the family were reinterred from Erie Street Cemetery, recently, in the new city cemetery in Warrensville.
1825
STERLING
Some time in the late '20s, two brothers 22 and 27 years of age came to the village from Connecticut and cast their lots with the professional and business men already established here.
They were Elisha T. and John M. Sterling, sons of Gen. Elisha Sterling, a Yale graduate of the class of 1787, who lived in Sterling City, a suburb of Lyme, Conn.
Their mother was Alma Canfield, daughter of John and Dorcas Buell Canfield of Salisbury, Conn.
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1825
STERLING
Elisha T. Sterling engaged in manufacturing and, in time, was president of the Cuyahoga Steam Furnace, then the largest one in the country making marine engines. In 1837 he had a hardware store at No. 1 Superior Street, and he lived on the south side of Euclid Ave., near the Square.
He married Margaret Tuttle, daughter of Asahel and Sarah Sherman Tuttle of New Haven, Conn., who died at Grosse Isle, Mich., in 1871, having outlived her husband 12 years.
Mr. and Mrs. Elisha Sterling had but one child:
Col. James Tuttle Sterling, born 1834 ; m. Sarah M. Webster of Detroit, Mich. He served in the Civil War in-the famous 7th Reg. O. V. I.
John Montgomery Sterling was born in 1801 and five years older than his brother Elisha. He was married and had two very young children when he came to Cleveland. He had studied law with Judge Swift of Litchfield, Conn., and at once hung out his shingle on Superior street. Not many years elapsed before he became one of the leading lawyers of the town.
He married Marianne Beers of Salisbury, Conn., in 1824. They lived at 150 Superior St., a two-story brick house east of the Square and later on Euclid Ave. where the Andrews mansion now stands. That part of a new avenue north of Euclid when laid out ran through John M. Sterling's property, 300 acres, and it was named for him. It is now E. 30th St.
John M. Sterling, Sr., and Marianne Sterling had 11 children, of whom none survive. They were:
Dr. Elisha Sterling, b. 1825; married Mary Hilliard, daughter of. the early merchant Richard Hilliard.
Charlotte Beers Sterling, b. 1827; m. Albert G. Lawrence, 28 years of age, of Delphi, N. Y. He died in Belvidere, Ill., she in New York City.
Marianne Sterling, married Thomas. P. Rossiter. He was an artist, and one of his paintings hangs in the capitol at Washington, D. C.
Susan Fitch Sterling, was drowned in a cistern in 1844, aged 14.
John M. Sterling, Jr., born 1832; m. Louise Roberts, who died in 1894. They had no children
Harriet Canfield Sterling, b. 1834; married George Brickham of New York City, and died in Atlanta, Ga., in 1896. No issue.
Theodore Weld Sterling, b. 1836; married Susan E. Price. They resided in Paris, France, where he died in 1893
James Andrews Sterling, b. 1838; died unmarried in Boulder, Col., in 1863, 25 years old.
Laura Willey Sterling, b. 1842; died unmarried in Rye, N. Y., 28 years of age.
Dr. Elisha Sterling received his medical education in France. He practised medicine and surgery in Cleveland many years, and died 66 years of age. He was a striking looking man with a long, heavy, blonde
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beard. He had an interesting family, mostly daughters, none of whom now reside in the city.
In his earlier days John M. Sterling, Jr., was engaged in the crockery business on old Water Street. He also was police commissioner of the city. He died in 1908 in Saegertown, Pa., where he had been residing for six months for his health. He had previously retired from active life for some years.
Frederick Sterling, son of Gen. Sterling, and an older brother of Elisha and John M., came to the city in 1849. Frederick Sterling of the firm of Sterling & Co., Dr. Theodore Sterling of Gambier College, and Mrs. Rufus Choate, wife of the New York statesman, are children of the latter.
Three unmarried granddaughters of yet another brother reside in the city, one of them, Miss Alice Sterling, is the principal of Sibley Public
1825
SMELLIE
In the winter of 1825 a young Scotchman came to Cleveland with a horse and sleigh. He had driven from Buffalo, N. Y., and must have entered town on a road north of the Public Square, for he drove down to the river, crossed it on the ice, and inquired of some person he met on the West Side, "Which way must I take to reach Cleveland?" and was much astonished by the answer, "You have passed through it."
Gaven Smellie was born in Baillierton, Scotland, in 1801. The date of his arrival in this country has not been preserved. He was a mason by trade, and probably at once found many opportunities for work as soon as he reached here. The following year he married Amanda Norris. Her parents were Abram and Abigail McIlrath Norris, an East Cleveland family.
Mr. and Mrs. Smellie lived at 198 St. Clair Street. But some time in the early '40s, he purchased and removed to a farm of 100 acres at the corner of Superior and East Madison Ave., now East 79th Street, where he lived until his death in 1879.
Mr. Smellie gave five sons to his adopted country during the Civil War, two of whom were killed in action, and he much regretted that advanced age prevented his own enlistment.
The children of Gaven and Amanda Norris Smellie:
John Smellie, b. 1829; m. Lida Whitaker.
Susan Smellie, b. 1831; m. Henry G. Pearse.
Gaven Smellie, b. 1833; m. Julia Whitaker.
Charles Smellie, b. 1841. Fell wounded in Battle of Belmont, Mo., 1861, in Civil War
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Amanda Norris Smellie died in 1841. Mr. Smellie married 2nd, Calista Richmond, daughter of William and Betsey Lamson Richmond, November, 1842.
The children of Gaven and Calista Smellie:
Emerson Smellie, b. 1845. Killed at Mission Ridge 1863, in Civil War.
William Smellie, b. 1846; m. Arietta Hickox. Her grandfather, David Hickox, served three years in the Revolutionary Army.
1825
HAYWARD
Lebanon, Conn., furnished to the little village of Cleveland, in 1825, three brothers who became very prominent citizens, taking an active part in everything that pertained to the welfare of the community.
They were Joseph, John, and Nelson Hayward, and although they came here from Connecticut, probably were of Massachusetts stock, the progenitors of which were William and Marjory Thayer Hayward of Braintree. Joseph and John were married in Lebanon a few years before their removal to Cleveland.
Nelson Hayward remained a bachelor all his life. In 1843 he was elected mayor of the city. Joseph Hayward was a burr millstone manufacturer doing business on Merwin Street. His wife was a Miss Ann Loomis. Their first residence was on Water street, and later on Bond street.
Their only child was a son, George Loomis Hayward, who served his country during the Civil War.
John Hayward was one of the pioneer printers of the city. He married Maria Whedon, daughter of John Whedon of Rhode Island, in which state she was born in 1802. Their first home was on the west side of Bank street, and finally on the north side of Superior, between Seneca and Bank.
Nearly all the residences on Superior street, in those days, were connected with business. Usually the store would be in front and the residence in the rear, with a side entrance, the second story also being used by the family, which was the arrangement in this case.
Mr. Hayward died, leaving one child, a son, and Mrs. Maria Hayward married secondly, Gen. Alfred S. Sandford, who was born in Connecticut 1805, and came to Ohio in 1829. It is said that his courtship of the widow Hayward was noted with much interest and amusement by neighbors and friends. He was very boyish in his addresses, often passing and repassing the house in order to catch a glimpse of his innamorata by an upper window.
His parents were Elijah and Mabel Sandford, and the latter moved in 1832 from Connecticut with her three sons and two daughters to New-
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ark, Ohio. They were Alfred S., George, Charles, Harriet who married Jacob Mitchell, and Nancy who married Francis Taylor and moved to Indiana. All of these children either lived for a short time or visited the city frequently.
Gen. Alfred S. Sandford belonged to the voluntary fire department. He was commander of the Cleveland Grays at one time, which was the oldest military organization in the city after the War of 1812. His printing business under the name of Sandford & Lott, and Sandford & Hayward, was carried on through his life, and it printed the first city directory in 1837. He was a fine looking man, and a popular one. He died in 1888. His only child was Julius Sandford.
William Henry Hayward, son of John and Marie Hayward, born in Lebanon, Conn., was but two years of age when his parents brought him to Cleveland, and lived here the remainder of his life, until 1904. He learned the printing business through his step-father A. S. Sandford, and in time became a partner with him under the name of Sandford & Hayward. He became a member of the Cleveland Grays when only 15 years of age, and when he died was one of the last of the original company.
He served through the Civil War, and commanded the 115th regiment. In 1846, he married Miss Jane E. Willis.
Their children were:
Maria Hayward, m. Col. Clarence Burke.
Kate Hayward, m. James E. Adams.
Georgiana Hayward, m. W. F. Roeder.
William Hayward, m. Helen Loomis.
Mr. and Mrs. Hayward celebrated their golden wedding in 1896.
Col. Hayward was a prominent figure in all military parades taking place in the city for nearly half a century, and in that time one of the best known men in the community.
His wife came to this city with her mother, Mrs. S. A. Willis, from her birthplace, Cherry Valley, N. Y. She died in her 79th year, at 2917 Prospect Street, which had been her home for 42 years.
1825
HART
William Hart was a prominent citizen of Cleveland for half a century. He came here as early as 1825, when only 14 years of age.
His parents were Judah and Abigail Belden Hart of New Britain and Norwich, Conn., who removed in 1822 to Brownhelm, Lorain Co., Ohio. They died within a few days apart in July, 1824, leaving 8 children, the youngest but 6 years old. The mother on her dying bed repeated
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the promise of the Lord, "Leave thy fatherless children and I will preserve them."
Twenty years afterward, the brothers and sisters were all living, and all stanch members of orthodox churches. The year following his parents' death, William started out to make his own fortune. He came to Cleveland, and learned the trade of cabinet-making of Ashel Abel. In 1834, he was able to 'establish himself in business at 49 Water Street, where he made and sold furniture. His marriage occurred the same year.
His bride was Elisabeth Kirk, daughter of John Kirk of Cleveland. They began housekeeping at 27 Bank Street,. but removed later to St. Clair Street.
Years passed, and he became wealthy. His large wholesale and retail furniture store on Water Street was known all over the state for its great assortment of beautiful furniture.
Mr. Hart was a bluff, warm-hearted man, full of kindness for every one, and his wife much resembled him in characteristic good deeds. They had no children of their own, but Mr. Hart had a number of nephews and nieces living in Lorain County in a rural district, and three of these he brought into his home and legally adopted.
Two of them were twin-brothers, Edward and Edwin Hart, and the third a niece, Emma Hart. Later, he adopted another little girl, who, it is said, was not a relative. All of these children were tenderly cared for, and given the liberal education and business opportunities that the Harts' own children would have had.
The boys were duly taken into the furniture establishment. Emma Hart married Hezekiah Malone, and he also became a partner, and the firm name was changed to "Hart & Malone."
Mr. Hart was a man of deep feeling, and when his sensibilities were aroused, he often showed great tenacity of purpose. Of this a characteristic story is told.
His youngest adopted daughter, a pretty girl, attended a private school. Some of her classmates, perhaps knowing that she was not an own child of the Harts, together with the fact that the family lived very simply, snubbed her upon several occasions. After leaving school, one of them married, and her wedding invitations were sent to all the members of her class save Miss Hart.
Her father was furious over the slight, and vowed that when her own wedding occurred, it would be the largest and finest that ever took place in Cleveland. He built a palatial home for his family on Euclid Ave. about half-way between Case and Willson Avenues, now E. 40th and E. 55th Streets, and furnished it in keeping with the exterior, and when the daughter married, he remembered his promise and kept it. But, alas ! before the beautiful costly trosseau had time to tarnish or fade, the bride returned to her father's home. Her husband had proven unworthy of her love and trust.
Mr. Hart was induced to invest largely in oil and mining stock after he had retired from business, which turned out worthless. It is claimed that in this matter he was betrayed in the house of his friends, that they unloaded upon him to save their own pocket-books. However that may
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be, he lost the larger part of his big fortune, was forced to give up the beautiful home, and the family went to live in what had been their coachman's house.
The Euclid Ave. home was sold to Zenas King, who in time resold to L. M. Coe, whose widow still occupies it.
1825
ELLET
Rufus Ellet and his wife Mary Tift Ellet lived north of Euclid Road on a lane which afterward was widened into a street, and named Willson Avenue. The north side of Euclid Road at that point was a sandy hill.
Mr. and Mrs. Ellet had a son Rufus, Jr., who removed to Akron. Previous to that he married Ruth Hudson.
The Ellets also had a daughter Delia. There may have been other children, but the above were all that could be recalled by the "oldest inhabitant."
James Douglas, a cabinet-maker, had a shop in a frame-building at the foot of Superior street, and facing that thoroughfare. His shop was in the west end of the building and on the second floor.
In the spring of 1826, he removed to a lot on the north side of Superior street, and owend by Capt. Levi Johnson. His name is not found in the first city directory, eleven years later, and, meanwhile he probably left town, as there is no trace here of his family.
1825
ANDREWS
John Andrews, a prominent physician of Wallingford, Conn., furnished to the village of Cleveland in 1825, a well-educated, unusually talented son, and a few years later, an intelligent, accomplished daughter.
Sherlock J. Andrews was 25 years old, and but recently graduated from Union College, with a supplementary course of legal study, when at the end of his journey from the east he found himself in the small Ohio town upon which, in after years, he was to make such a definite personal impress.
From many sources regarding him, it is gathered that while gifted in a high degree, and remarkably self-reliant for one so young, he was exceedingly modest and unassuming. Ready to face any difficulty, and to assume any legal responsibility required of him, yet, when playtime permitted, boyishly full of fun and frolic.
Mrs. Mary Long Severance, in an interview with the writer, said that
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in the vernacular of that day, he was a "cut-up" and the life of the small social gatherings where the successful event of the evening would be his rendition of "Old Grimes is dead," accompanied by various original and mirth-provoking gestures and grimaces. It is related of him by one of his classmates that while preparing for college, he was so full of pranks that it looked as if his love for fun might preclude earnest efforts. However, his long life of fine achievement in the law, in congress, and on the judicial bench suggests that a keen sense of humor may be essential to such a degree of success. He was a Christian gentleman of the highest type, loyal to his friends and his beliefs.
Ursula McCurdy Allen, a young woman made an orphan through the recent death of her mother, naturally longed to join her brother John W. Allen in Cleveland, as soon as circumstances would permit. Within three years this was accomplished. Mr. Allen married Miss Perkins of Warren, and soon thereafter Ursula took the long journey from Litchfield, Conn., and was welcomed by her beloved brother at his own fireside. The arrival of a young lady endowed with various mental and personal attractions, and fresh from the social advantages of a far eastern town, received immediate attention from the coterie of professional and unattached young men of the western one. To Mr. Allen's great delight, Sherlock J. Andrews, his cherished friend, proved to be the favored suitor, and he had the gratification of giving his sister's hand in marriage to one he so much esteemed.
Mrs. Andrews was the noble, life-long companion of the young man whose fortunes she joined in her youth. She was his helpmate in her home, in society, and in the church with which they were affiliated.
A story characteristic of Mrs. Andrews' quick sympathies and resolute activities is herein given publicity for the first time. In 1879, the writer, while on the staff of the old Cleveland Daily Herald, was assigned the subject of women's employment in the city, especially that of making garments for the wholesale clothing establishments. The result was a reptition of the "Song of the Shirt" in dismal prose. Conditions were found to be unutterably sad, and the first article of the series on the subject was received with much public comment and commiseration.
By ten o'clock of the morning the article appeared, Mrs. Andrews' carriage stood in front of the Herald office, and she was within pleading to be introduced to the young man responsible for the article, and was much astonished to learn that one of her own sex was engaged in that line of work. And naturally so, for the writer was the second, and at that time the only newspaper woman in the city. When seated and fully launched upon her mission, Mrs. Andrews' bonnet-strings trembled with her excitement. She was eager to assist in the particular cases of poverty and over-work, so much so that only immediate pecuniary help could relieve the tensity of her feelings. Several women who were most in need of her ministrations she tenderly guided into more lucrative lines of work, and ministered to their necessities as occasion offered.
The first home of the Andrews family was on Water street, now West 9th St., near where the light-house stands. Dr. and Mrs. Long were their close neighbors, and the Kelleys not far away on the same side of the street. Later they removed to a small house on the Public
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Square two doors west of the Stone Church, and here two of their children were born. In 1837, they were living on Euclid Ave., opposite the Opera House. Here their neighbors in time were the Ashbel Barneys, and later the Benedicts.
Judge and Mrs. Andrews died in a stately residence on the avenue nearly to Willson, now E. 55th Street, and were laid away in Woodland Cemetery.
Their children were eleven in all, several dying young:
Sarah Andrews, yet living.
Ursula Andrews, m. Gamaliel Herrick of a Wellington, O., family.
William Andrews, m. Miss Gertrude Beardsley
Harriet Andrews, m. Elisha Whit- tlesey. Lived in New York City
Cornelia Andrews, unmarried; died.
recently
Miss Anna Rodman, a relative from the east, visited the family at an early day, and died here. She was buried in Erie Street Cemetery.
1825
BARNETT
Amenia, Duchess County, N. Y., a small farming district so close to the state line that Sharon, Conn., used to distribute most of its mail, is a spot interesting to many native Clevelanders, as it was the birthplace of several pioneers of our city. Among them was Melancthon Barnett, who figured so prominently in our early history, and who also was the father of General James Barnett whom we lovingly and admiringly term "Our First Citizen."
Melancthon Barnett was the son of James and Martha Barnett, and was born in May, 1789. In the first decade of the last century, he joined the army of young men who, seeing nothing to be gained by remaining on New England's rocky and worn-out soil, poured over into central and western New York. He chose as the site of his future home Cherry Valley, a beautiful spot which also furnished to early Cleveland many noble men and women.
Here, in 1815, when 25 years of age, he married Mary Clark, also of New England birth, and daughter of Capt. Jerome and Annie Clark. Captain Clark was a Revolutionary hero, and fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill.
In 1825, Mr. Barnett began to receive letters from a boyhood friend of Amenia, and later of Cherry Valley, who had bought a dry-goods store in the little village of Cleveland. He was Thomas P. May, the well-known pioneer merchant of the city. He depicted in glowing terms the future prospects of the place, and urged Mr. Barnett to join him in his new venture.
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So, in that same year, Mr. and Mrs. Barnett left Cherry Valley and settled in Cleveland. He clerked for Mr. May for a time, but was soon taken into partnership which continued long after they relinquished that branch of business for the more certain and lucrative one of real estate. "May and Barnett" was as much a household word with the feminine element of the town as are some of the immense department stores of today. But one had to go down Superior Street below Seneca to reach it, and a little later the store was in the Commercial Building, near the foot of the street.
Mr. Barnett was also a director of the City Bank, and for seven years was country treasurer. It is said that he was the most capable and scrupulously honest treasurer the county ever had.
The family residence was on Bank street, corner of Lake street. Mrs. Barnett was a delicate woman, and for several years was a semiinvalid. She died in 1840, of consumption, that early scourge that robbed the town of its best men and its most useful women.
Mrs. Barnett was born in New Lebanon, Conn., October, 1793, and first met her future husband in Cherry Valley, whither her parents had moved. She belonged to that type of New England womanhood that found its complete expression in the management of her household, in the self-forgetfulness of service rendered to those she loved best, and in the spiritual training of the children God had given her. What was mortal of her rests in Erie Street Cemetery.
Augustus Barnett, the eldest son, married Martha Carleton. He removed to Wisconsin, and afterward to California, where he engaged in the leather business.
Gen. James Barnett married Maria Underhill, adopted daughter of Dr. Samuel Underhill, a pioneer physician. For over half a century, Mrs. James Barnett was the faithful, congenial companion of the husband of her youth, and only within a few years passed away.
The children of Gen. James and Maria Underhill Barnett were:
Mary Barnett, m. Thomas Goodwille.
Laura Barnett, m. Charles Sheffield.
Caroline Maria Barnett, m. Alexander E. Brown.
Gen. James Barnett lived to an advanced age in his home, 2435 Euclid Ave. From boyhood, when he joined the voluntary fire department, until his death, he gave steadily to the city loyal and honest effort. He probably filled more offices and positions of-trust than any other citizen of this commonwealth, and his record as a soldier of the Civil War, and his military services rendered to the city are part of its local history, of which it is justly proud.
A nephew of Melancthon Barnett, Martin L., son of Samuel Barnett, lived in the city at 76 Bank Street, in 1837. He was a book-keeper for Ross and Lemen.
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