1805

“Major Carter’s son, Henry, a smart boy of about eleven years, was drowned at the mouth of the river. Search was made along the beach for the body, many days without effect. David Abbott built the “Cuyahoga Packet” at Chagrin river, a schooner of twenty tons, which sailed on lake Erie, until the war, when it was captured by the British.”-(Barr.)

Judge Huntington about this time abandoned his hewed log house, the most aristocratic residence in Cleveland city, and removed to the mills he had purchased at the falls of Mill creek. This was probably owing to the same cause, which induced other families to prefer the highlands. the prevalence here of the detestable ague. What is now Newburg was then much the largest settlement.

This was the year of the final settlement with the Indians, for their claims to lands west of the river. Wm. Dean, on his return from the treaty ground, writes to Judge Huntington as follows: The letter is superscribed to “The Hon’l. Sam’l. Huntington, at the mills near Cleaveland,’ and is dated “On board the sloop Contractor, near Black river, July 7, 1805.”

“Dear Sir:-On the 4th instant, we closed a treaty with the Indians, for the extinguished part of the Connecticut Reserve, and on account of the United States; for all the lands south of it, to the west line. Mr. Phelps and myself pay about $7,000 in cash, and about $12,000 in six yearly payments, of $2,000 each. The government pays $13,760, that is annual interest, to the Wyandots, Delawares, Munsees, and to those Senecas on the land, forever. The expense of the treaty will be about $5,000, including rum, tobacco, bread, meat, presents, expenses of the seraglio, the commissioners, agents and contractors. I write in haste, being extremely sorry I have not time to send you a copy of the treaty. You will see General Champion, who will be able to give you further information.

Having some intention of making a purchase of considerable tracts of land, in different parts of the Reserve, amounting to about 30,000 acres; I beg of you to inform me what I should allow per acre, payments equal to cash; and address me at Easton, Pa. From thence, if I make a contract, I expect, with all speed, to send fifteen or twenty families of prancing Dutchmen.”

Abraham Tappen, of Unionville, Ashtabula Co., O., among many reminiscences of the surveys and settlements, thus refers to this treaty.

“Owing to various causes, a treaty for the extinguishment of the Indian title to the Company’s land west of the Cuyahoga, and also the Sufferers’, or Fire Land, was not held until June, 1805. Cleveland was designated as the place for holding the treaty.

The Indians to the west, having claims to the lands in question, were invited to attend in council at that place. The Indians residing in Western New York, having some claim to the land, sent a deputation of not far from thirty of their number, to attend the treaty at Cleveland. They arrived at that place in June, accompanied by Jasper Parish, their interpreter. The treaty was to be held under the auspices of the United States Government. Commissioners from the different parties interested in the treaty, were promptly and in season at the contemplated treaty ground. On the part of the General Government, Col. Jewet was the Commissioner, a very large muscular man. On the part of the Connecticut Land Company, Gen. Henry Champion appeared as Commissioner. General Champion was also of more than common size, and a man of good sense.

“For some cause of the Indians living to the west, and interested in the subject matter of the treaty, refused to meet the Commissioners in council at Cleveland. And, if we except the deputation from New York, few or no Indians appeared at that place. After staying a few days at Cleveland, and being well assured that the Indians would not meet them in treaty there, the Commissioners proceeded westward; and after some delay, and a show of great reluctance on the part of the Indians, they finally succeeded in meeting them in council. The treaty was held at the Ogontz place near Sandusky City.”

[Other authorities have it at Fort Industry, on the Maumee.]

“It said by those who attended this treaty, that the Indians in parting with and making sale of the above lands to the whites, did so with much reluctance, and after the treaty was signed, many of them wept. On the day that the treaty was brought to a close, the specie, in payment of the purchase money, arrived on the treaty ground. The specie came from Pittsburg, and was conveyed by the way of Warren, Cleveland, and the lake shore to the place where wanted. The treasure was entrusted to the care of Lyman Porter, Esq., of Warren, who was attended by the following persons as an escort: Josiah W. Brown, John Lane, James Staunton, Jonathan Church, Lorenzo Carter, and anther person by the name of Clark, all resolute men and well armed. The money and other property as presents to the Indians, was distributed to them the next day after the signing of the treaty. The evening of the last day of the treaty, a barrel of whisky was dealt out to the Indians. The consequent results of such a proceeding were all experienced at that time.”

Prof. Kirtland, in an introductory lecture delivered at the opening of the term in the Cleveland Medical College a few years since, related the following incident, connected with this attempt at holding a treaty:

“While waiting their tardy movements, the company collected one afternoon on the bank of the lake, near the present location of the light-house, and were observing the descent of the sun, into the broad expanse of waters at the west. The gorgeous displays of light and shade, heightened by the brilliant reflections from the lake, unsurpassed by the brightest scenes ever exhibited by Italy’s boasted skies, served, in connection with concurring circumstances, to add interest to the occasion. One of the company, the Hon. Gideon Granger, distinguished for talents, enterprise and forethought, uttered, to his astonished associates, this bold and what was then deemed, extraordinary prediction:

” ‘Within fifty years,’ exclaimed he, ‘an extensive city will occupy these grounds, and vessels will sail directly from this port into the Atlantic Ocean.’

“A prophecy so specific and decided, coming from such a source, though received with a share of skepticism on the part of some, made a deep impression on the great body of his hearers.”

Charles Jewet, was the Commissioner on the part of the United States, Henry Champion for the Land Company, and I. Mills, for the Sufferers by fire, or the Fire Lands Company.

At the election in the fall of 1805, the poll book for Cleveland was rejected for two very good reasons. The certificate to the oaths of the clerks and judges was not attached, neither were the signatures of the judges of election. The number of votes cast was twenty-nine, of which James Kingsbury had twenty-seven for State Representative. In the county of Trumbull there were given for Edward Tiffin, for Governor; (the second term) three hundred and seventy-nine votes, and none against him. James Kingsbury received for Representative three hundred and seven votes, and Homer Hine three hundred and fourteen.

MILITARY ELECTION IN CLEVELAND.

To Elijah Wadsworth Maj. Genl. 4th Division:

We, the Judges of an election Holden in the seventh Company of the second Battalion of the First Regiment of the fourth Division of the Ohio Melitia do Certify that the persons here after named is just and truly elected in sd Company to the different posts attached to their names, given under our hands. This the twentyeth day of May said eighteen hundred and five.

Nathaniel Doan, Captain.

Samuel Jone, Leuftenant.

Sylvanus Burk, Ensign.

Lorenzo Carter,

Wm. Wr. Williams,

Will’m Erwin, } Judges.

Done in presence of Rodolphus Edwards, Clerk.

ELECTORS’ NAMES.

Jack F. Mason,                         Nethemiah Dille,

David Kellog,                           Timothy Doan,

Eb. Charter,                              Seth Doan,

Jacob Coleman,                        Steven Gilbert,

Ben Warden,                            Samuel Hurst,

Daniel Parker,                          Richard Blin,

Cristoffer Gun,                         Epetary Rodgers,?

William Coleman,                    Samuel Jones,

John Doan,                               Nathaniel Doan,

Thomas Thomas,                      William Erwin,

Henry Norton,                          Ben Wood,

Harry Gun,                               Sylvanus Burk,

Jonathan Hubbard,                   Samuel Dille,

Mason Clerk,                           Meage Data,

Nathan Chapman,                     Charles Prard.?

Nathaniel Doan, Captain, 29 votes for Captain.

Samuel Jones, 29 votes for Leuftenant.

Sylvanus Burk, 245 votes for Ensign.

Samuel Jones, one vote for Leuftenant.

Ezekiel Holley (Hawley) six votes for Ensign.

These returns are in the hand writing of Rodolphus Edwards. It is very difficult to decypher some of the names which are given literally. In this way the names of families are subject to such changes that the originals cannot be recognized. “Hawley,” has now become “Holly” or “Holley” which is identical with Holley’s of Salisbury, without any relationship.

The name of Mr. Williams, of Newburg, the builder of the first mill is in the early papers written Wheeler W., Wm. W., and William Wheeler. Our immediate ancestors were not as well versed in orthography as they were in penmanship. The disturbances of the Revolution, had a depressing effect upon education, even in New England.