1809

“This year Joel Thorp built a small schooner of five or six tons, and called her the ‘Sally,’ and Alex. Simpson built one of about the same size, christened the ‘Dove.’ Levi Johnson (now living, 1866,) and his brothers, Samuel and Jonathan became residents of the place. Amos Spafford was elected Representative in the Lower House from this place, then embraced in the County of Geauga. He was soon after appointed collector of the new port of entry, established at Maumee, and in the spring of 1810 removed to Perryburg. The county of Cuyahoga being organized, Nathan Perry, Sr., Augustus E. Gilbert and Nathaniel Doan were elected Associate Judges, all residents of Cleveland Township, as it then was.”(Barr.)

Although the project of connecting the lakes and the Ohio river with the sum of twelve thousand dollars had failed, Cleveland was attracting attention. Stanley Griswold, of Connecticut, had been appointed Secretary for the territory of Michigan in 1805, under Governor Hull, and Collector of the port of Detroit. On account of official difficulties he resigned, and took up his abode in this township, at Doan’s Corners. A vacancy occurred in the Senate by the unexpected resignation of Mr. Tiffin. Governor Huntington appointed his friend Griswold to the vacancy, on his way to Washington he addressed a letter to Judge James Witherell, of the District Court of Michigan, in which he sets forth the condition and prospects of Cleveland.

“Somerset, PA., May 28, 1809.

Hon. James Witherell, now at Fair Haven, Vt.

Dear Sir:-Passing in the stage to the Federal City, I improve a little leisure to acknowledge your letter from Jefferson, Ohio, of the 16th instant. In reference to your inquiry (for a place for Doctor Elijah Coleman,) I have consulted the principal characters, particularly Judge Walworth, who concurs with me, that Cleveland would be an excellent place for a young physician, and cannot long remain unoccupied. This is based more on what the place is expected to be, than what it is. Even now a physician of eminence would command great practice, from being called to ride, over a large country, say fifty miles each way. There is now none of eminent or ordinary character in that extent. But settlements are scattered, and roads new and bad, which would make it a painful practice. Within a few weeks Cleveland has been fixed upon by a committee of the Legislature as the seat of justice for Cuyahoga county. Several respectable characters will remove to that town. The country around bids fair to increase rapidly in population. A young physician of the qualifications described by you, will be certain to succeed, but for a short time, if without means, must keep school, for which there is a good chance in winter, till piece of ground, bring on a few goods, (for which it is a good stand,) or do something else in connection with his practice. I should be happy to see your friends. I am on my way to the Federal City, to take a seat in the Senate in place of Mr. Tiffin, who has recently resigned.

Very truly your obedient servant,

Stanley Griswold.”

According to Collector Walworth’s report to the Treasury Department, the amount of goods, wares and merchandise exported to foreign countries, (Canada) from April to October, 1809, was fifty dollars.

At the fourth draft of April 2d, 1807, Samuel P. Lord and others drew the township of Brooklyn, No. 7, in Range 13. It was surveyed under their direction by Eziekiel Hover, in 1809, the interior lines of which were ran with a variation of two degrees east. The fifth and final division of the Land Company’s property took place at Hartford, on the fifth of January of this year, at which the unsold lots in Cleveland were included.

LETTER FROM JOHN HARMON.

Ravenna, June 11, 1860.

Charles Whittlesey, Esq., Cleveland,

Dear Sir:-I thank you for your kind invitation to attend the pioneer meeting at Newburg on the 13th.

You suggest if I could not attend, that I should put something on paper for the occasion. I fear I can scarcely add anything of interest to what I some time since wrote you. I first visited Cleveland, that part now called Newburg, in August, 1806, a boy of sixteen and a half years, and spent some ten days, perhaps more, in family of W.W. Williams. During my stay there, I formed some acquaintance with those of the neighborhood, especially with those young men or youths of my age, among whom were the Williams’, the Hamiltons, the Plumbs and Kingsburys, the Burks and the Guns. The Miles’ had not then arrived. We attended meetings in a log barn at Doan’s Corners once or twice, to hear the announcement of a new sect, by one Daniel Parker, who preached what he called Halcyonism-since, I believe, it has become extinct. We bathed together under the fall of Mill Creek, gathered cranberries in the marshes westward of the Edward’s place, and danced to the music of Major Samuel Jones’ violin at his house, afterwards the residence of my old friend, Captain Allen Gaylord, Judge Huntington, afterwards occupied by Dexter or Erastus Miles. Newburg street was opened previously, from the mill north to Doan’s Corners, and was then lined with cultivated fields on both sides, nearly the whole distance from Judge Kingsbury’s to the mill. But much dead timber remained on the fields. There were some orchards of apple trees on some of the farms, and Judge Kingsbury’s orchard bore a few apples that season, which was probably the first season of bearing. The Judge had a small nursery of apple trees, and there was a larger nursery of smaller trees on Mr. Williams’ place.

In May, 1809, when I first saw Cleveland city, as it was called even then, there were but few families there-Major Spafford, Major Carter, Judge Perry, Governor Huntington, and Judge Walworth,

I remember; and there may, perhaps, have been one or two more. David Clark and Elisha Norton, who had lived there, had left the city. Spafford and Carter kept taverns. Perry had a store.

June 17th we had a military election at the house of Judge Griswold, to elect an officer-I believe an ensign-of the company that included what is now Cleveland, Newburg and Euclid. It was a spirited contest, and it resulted in the election of Allen Gaylord.

Judge Griswold was absent from home at the time. It was understood he was attending a session of Congress. His wife was there, and appeared to be a very accomplished woman.

Your friend,

John Harmon.