Cleveland Past and Present
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Title: Cleveland Past and Present Its Representative Men, etc.
Author: Maurice Joblin
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CLEVELAND PAST AND PRESENT
Its Representative Men
Comprising Biographical Sketches of Pioneer Settlers and Prominent Citizens
With a History of the City and Historical Sketches of Its Commerce, Manufactures, Ship Building, Railroads,
Telegraphy, Schools, Churches, Etc., Profusely Illustrated with Photographic Views and Portraits
1869
Photographically Illustrated by E. Decker
Preface.
Cleveland Past and Present 1

The city was originally comprised in lands purchased by the "Connecticut Land Company," and formed a
portion of what is termed the Western Reserve. This company was organized in 1795, and in the month of
May of the following year, it commissioned General Moses Cleaveland to superintend the survey of their
lands, with a staff of forty-eight assistants. On the 22d of July, 1796, General Cleaveland, accompanied by
Augustus Porter, the principal of the surveying department, and several others, entered the mouth of the
Cuyahoga from the lake. Job P. Stiles and his wife are supposed to have been with the party. General
Cleaveland continued his progress to Sandusky Bay, leaving enough men to put up a storehouse for the
supplies, and a cabin for the accommodation of the surveyors. These were located a short distance south of St.
Clair street, west of Union lane, at a spring in the side-hill, in rear of Scott's warehouse. During the season a
cabin was put up for Stiles, on lot 53, east side of Bank street, north of the Herald Building, where Morgan &
Root's block now stands. This was the first building for permanent settlement erected on the site of the city,
although huts for temporary occupancy had been previously built in the neighborhood.
Upon the return of the party from Sandusky, Mr. Porter prepared the outlines of the city. He says: "I surveyed
a piece of land designed for a town its dimensions I do not recollect probably equal to about a mile square,
bounding west on the river, and north on the lake. I made a plot of this ground, and laid it off into streets and
Cleveland Past and Present 2
lots. Most or all the streets I surveyed myself, when I left it in charge of Mr. Holley to complete the survey of
the lots."
The survey of the city was commenced on the 16th of September, and completed about the 1st of October,
1796. Holley's notes state that on Monday, October 17th, he "finished surveying in New Connecticut; weather
rainy," and on the following day he records: "We left Cuyahoga at 3 o'clock 17 minutes, for home. We left at
Cuyahoga, Job Stiles and wife, and Joseph Landon, with provisions for the Winter." Landon soon abandoned
the spot and his place was taken by Edward Paine, who had arrived from the State of New York, for the
purpose of trading with the Indians, and who may be considered the first mercantile man who transacted
business in Cleveland. Thus, during the Winter of 1796-7, the population of the city consisted of three
inhabitants. During the Winter a child is reputed to have been born in the cabin, which had only squaws for
nurses.
Early in the Spring of 1797, James Kingsbury and family, from New England, with Elijah Gunn, one of the
surveying party, all of whom had continued during the Winter at Conneaut, where they had endured incredible
hardships, removed to Cleveland. His first cabin was put up on the site of the Case Block, east of the Public

Cleveland Past and Present 3
and wheat were grown and lumber required to warrant the speculation.
The desire of moral culture and education did not relax in this lonely region, and in 1800, a township school
was organized, and the children were taught by Sarah Doane. The site of the school house was near
Kingsbury's, on the ridge road.
Cleveland received two additions in 1800, in the persons of David Clarke and Amos Spafford, the former of
whom erected a house on Water street. The first sermon preached in Cleveland, was delivered in that year by
the Rev. Joseph Badger, an agent of the Connecticut Missionary Society.
The years of 1798, 1799 and 1800, were remarkable for the early commencement of genial weather. Pinks
were in bloom in February, and the peach trees were also in full blossom in March.
In 1801, the first distillery was erected by David Bryant. The memorable 4th of July of the same year was
celebrated by the first ball in Cleveland. It took place at Major Carter's log house, on the slope from Superior
street to the harbor, and was attended by thirty of both sexes.
The first village school was held in Major Carter's house in 1802, and the children were taught by Anna
Spafford.
In 1803, Elisha Norton arrived in Cleveland with a stock of goods principally adapted to the Indian trade,
which he exhibited for sale in Major Carter's house. The State of Ohio was this year admitted into the Union,
and the first election was held at James Kingsbury's.
The first Post Office was established here in 1804, when letters were received and transmitted every seven
days.
In 1805, the harbor was made a port of entry, and classed within the Erie district. In the same year the territory
on the west side of Cuyahoga was ceded to the State by treaty. During the negotiations for that treaty, one of
the commissioners, 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 an
extensive city will occupy these grounds, and vessels will sail directly from this port into the Atlantic Ocean."
The prediction has been fulfilled, though the latter portion of it required an extension of time, of a year or two
to make the fulfilment literal.
In 1806, Nathan Perry and family and Judge Walworth removed to Cleveland the latter from Painesville. In
the same year the first militia training occurred. The place of rendezvous was Doane's corner, and the muster
amounted to about fifty men.

settler in Ohio City.
In 1830, was established a stage conveyance to Columbus, and in the autumn a second proceeded to Norwalk.
In 1821, these efforts were followed by others, and two additional wagons were started, one for Pittsburgh and
another for Buffalo.
In 1825, an appropriation was made by Government for the improvement of the harbor, being the first
Government aid received for that purpose. The water in the river was frequently so shallow that it was
customary for vessels to lie off in the lake and transfer passengers and freight by boats. On the 4th of July in
that year ground was broken at Licking Summit for the Ohio canal, to connect the waters of Lake Erie at
Cleveland with those of the Ohio river at Portsmouth.
In 1827, Mr. Walworth, the harbor-master and Government agent, proceeded to Washington, and after the
most strenuous exertions, succeeded in obtaining a further grant of $10,000 for the improvement of the
harbor. In the same year the Ohio canal was opened to Akron, and the first importation of coal to Cleveland
made.
In 1828, a new court-house was erected on the Public Square.
The light-house, on the bluff at the end of Water street, was built in 1830, the lantern being one hundred and
thirty-five feet above water level.
In 1832, the Ohio canal was finished and communication between the lake and the Ohio river opened. In the
same year a new jail was built on Champlain street.
In 1834, some of the streets were graded, and the village assumed such importance that application for a city
charter began to be talked of.
The population of the city had grown in 1835 to 5,080, having more than doubled in two years. There was at
Cleveland Past and Present 5
this time an immense rush of people to the West. Steamers ran from Buffalo to Detroit crowded with
passengers at a fare of eight dollars, the number on board what would now be called small boats, sometimes
reaching from five hundred to six hundred persons. The line hired steamers and fined them a hundred dollars
if the round trip was not made in eight days. The slower boats, not being able to make that time with any
certainty, frequently stopped at Cleveland, discharged their passengers, and put back to Buffalo. It sometimes
chanced that the shore accommodations were insufficient for the great crowd of emigrants stopping over at
this port, and the steamers were hired to lie off the port all night, that the passengers might have sleeping
accommodations. In that year fire destroyed a large part of the business portion of Cleveland. At the same

Men were wounded of both parties, three of them seriously. The draw was cut away, the middle pier and the
western abutment partially blown down, and the field piece spiked by the west siders. But the sheriff and the
city marshal of Cleveland appeared on the scene, gained possession of the dilapidated bridge, which had been
given to the city of Cleveland, and lodged some of the rioters in thee county jail. This removed the bridge
question from the camp and battle-field to the more peaceful locality of the courts.
In 1840, the population had increased to 6071, so that, notwithstanding that the city had been suffering from
depression, there was an influx of a thousand persons in the last five years.
Cleveland Past and Present 6
In 1841, the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal was completed, Connecting the Ohio Canal at Akron with the Ohio
river at Beaver, Pennsylvania, and thus forming a water communication with Pittsburgh.
The United States Marine Hospital, pleasantly situated on the banks of the lake, was commenced in 1844 and
not completed until 1852. It is surrounded by eight acres of ground, and is designed to accommodate one
hundred and forty patients.
In 1845, the city voted to loan its credit for $200,000 towards the construction of a railroad from Cleveland to
Columbus and Cincinnati, and subsequently the credit of the city was pledged for the loan of $100,000
towards the completion of the Cleveland and Erie or Lake Shore line.
In 1851, the 23d of February, the Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati Railroad was opened for travel; and on
the same day forty miles of the Cleveland and Pittsburgh Railroad was likewise completed. These
circumstances produced great rejoicings, for during the period of their construction the city had been almost
daily adding to the number of its inhabitants, so that it had nearly doubled in the last six years, its population
being now 21,140, and in the following year (1852) it added eighty-seven persons per week to its numbers,
being then 25,670.
In 1858, the new court house was built and the old court house on the Public Square was taken down.
We have thus glanced at a few of the leading incidents in the history of the city. A more full and exact account
will be found in the historical sketches prefacing each department in the body of the work, and still further
details will be found in the biographical sketches. There only remains to be added here a few data in regard to
the population, government, and officials of the city.
The population of Cleveland commenced in 1796, with four persons. Next year the number increased to
fifteen, but in 1800, had fallen back to seven. The subsequent figures are: 1810, 57; 1820, about 150; 1825,
about 500; 1830, United States census, 1,075; 1832, about 1,500; 1833, about 1,900; 1834, city census, 6,071,

eleven wards. This number remained until 1868, when, by the annexation of additional territory, a re-division
was necessitated, and the city districted into fifteen wards.
As an interesting and valuable contribution to the municipal history of the city we give the following complete
record of the executive and legislative government of Cleveland since its organization as a city:
1836. Mayor John W. Willey. President of the Council Sherlock J. Andrews. Aldermen Richard Hilliard,
Joshua Mills, Nicholas Dockstader. Councilmen 1st Ward Morris Hepburn, John R. St. John, William V.
Craw. 2d Ward Sherlock J. Andrews, Henry L. Noble, Edward Baldwin. 3d Ward Aaron T. Strickland,
Horace Canfield, Archibald M. C. Smith.
1837. Mayor John W. Willey. President of the Council Joshua Mills. Aldermen Joshua Mills, Nicholas
Dockstader, Jonathan Williams. Councilmen 1st Ward George B. Merwin, Horace Canfield, Alfred Hall. 2d
Ward Edward Baldwin, Samuel Cook, Henry L. Noble. 3d Ward Samuel Starkweather, Joseph K. Miller,
Thomas Colahan.
1838. Mayor Joshua Mills. President of the Council Nicholas Dockstader. Aldermen Nicholas Dockstader,
Alfred Hall, Benjamin Harrington. Councilmen 1st Ward George C. Dodge, Moses A. Eldridge, Herrick
Childs. 2d Ward Benjamin Andrews, Leonard Case, Henry Blair. 3d Ward Melancthon Barnett, Thomas
Colahan, Tom Lemen.
1839. Mayor Joshua Mills. President of the Council John A. Foot. Aldermen Harvey Rice, Edward
Baldwin, Richard Hilliard. Councilmen 1st Ward George Mendenhall, Timothy P. Spencer, Moses Ross. 2d
Ward John A. Foot, Charles M. Giddings, Jefferson Thomas. 3d Ward Thomas Bolton, Tom Lemen, John
A. Vincent.
1840. Mayor Nicholas Dockstader. President of the Council William Milford. Aldermen William Milford,
William Lemen, Josiah A. Harris. Councilmen 1st Ward Ashbel W. Walworth, David Hersch, John Barr. 2d
Ward David Allen, John A. Foot, Thomas M. Kelley. 3d Ward Stephen Clary, Charles Bardburn, John A.
Vincent.
1841. Mayor John W. Allen. President of the Council Thomas Bolton. Aldermen William Milford, Thomas
Bolton, Newton E. Crittenden. Councilmen 1st Ward Nelson Hayward, Herrick Childs, George B. Tibbets.
2d Ward Moses Kelly, W. J. Warner, M. C. Younglove. 3d Ward Philo Scovill, Benj. Harrington, Miller M.
Spangler.
1842. Mayor Joshua Mills. President of the Council Benjamin Harrington. Aldermen Nelson Hayward,
William Smyth, Benjamin Harrington. Councilmen 1st Ward William D. Nott, Robert Bailey, Henry

Christopher Mollen.
1850. Mayor William Case. President of the Council Alexander Seymour. Aldermen Alexander Seymour,
John Gill, Leander M. Hubby. Councilmen 1st Ward William Given, George Whitelaw, Buckley Stedman.
2d Ward Alexander McIntosh, William Bingham, Samuel Williamson. 3d Ward Arthur Hughes, Abner C.
Brownell, Levi Johnson.
1851. Mayor William Case. President of the Council John Gill, Aldermen John Gill, Leander M. Hubby,
Abner C. Brownell, Buckley Stedman. Council-men 1st Ward Jabez W. Fitch, George Whitelaw. 2d
Ward Alexander McIntosh, Thomas C. Floyd. 3d Ward Stoughton Bliss, Miller M. Spangler. 4th
Ward Marshall S. Castle, James B. Wilbur.
1853. Mayor Abner C. Brownell. President of the Council Leander M, Hubby. Aldermen John B. Wigman,
Leander M. Hubby, Basil L. Spangler, Buckley Stedman. Councilmen 1st Ward Henry Morgan, Aaron
Merchant. 2d Ward William H. Shell, Robert B. Bailey. 3d Ward Stoughton Bliss, John B. Smith. 4th
Ward Admiral N. Gray, Henry Howe.
1853. Mayor Abner C. Brownell. President of the Council William H. Shell. Trustees 1st Ward John B,
Wigman, George F. Marshall. 2d Ward William H. Shell, James Gardner. 3d Ward William J. Gordon,
Robert Reilley. 4th Ward Henry Everett, Richard C. Parsons.
Cleveland Past and Present 9
1854. Abner C. Brownell. President of the Council Richard C. Parsons. Trustees 1st Ward John B.
Wigman, Charles Bradburn. 2d Ward William H. Sholl, James Gardner. 3d Ward Christopher Mollen,
Robert Reilley. 4th Ward Henry Everett, Richard C. Parsons. 5th Ward Chauncey Tice, Mathew S.
Cotterell. 6th Ward Bolivar Butts, John A. Bishop. 7th Ward W. C. B. Richardson, George W. Morrill. 8th
Ward A. C. Messenger, Charles W. Palmer. 9th Ward Wells Porter, Albert Powell. 10th Ward Plimmon C.
Bennett, I. U. Masters. 11th Ward Edward Russell, Frederick Sillbers.
1855. Mayor William B. Castle. President of the Council Charles Bradburn. Trustees 1st Ward Charles
Bradburn, E. A. Brock. 2d Ward William H. Sholl, William T. Smith. 3d Ward Christopher Mollen,
Thomas S. Paddock. 4th Ward William H. Stanley, Rensselaer R. Horrick. 5th Ward Chauncey Tice, Irad L.
Beardsley. 6th Ward Bolivar Butts, John A. Bishop. 7th Ward W. C. B. Richardson, George W. Morrill. 8th
Ward Charles W. Palmer, S. W. Johnson. 9th Ward Albert Powell, William A. Wood. 10th Ward I. U.
Masters, Charles A. Crum. 11th Ward Edward Russell, S. Buhrer.
1856. Mayor William B. Castle. President of the Council Charles W. Palmer. Trustees 1st Ward E. A.

Meyer. 7th Ward E. S. Willard, P. M. Freese. 8th Ward J. Dwight Palmer, Solon Corning. 9th Ward Wm.
Sabin, A. Anthony. 10th Ward I. U. Masters, Wm. Wellhouse. 11th Ward J. Coonrad, Thos. Dixon.
Cleveland Past and Present 10
1862. Mayor Edward S. Flint. President of the Council I. U. Masters. Trustees 1st Ward J. J. Benton, C.
C. Rogers. 2d Ward T. N. Bond. A. Roberts. 3d Ward A. C. Keating, H. S. Stevens. 4th Ward Henry Blair,
E. Thomas. 5th Ward Joseph Sturges, N. P. Payne. 6th Ward Wm. Meyer, Jno. Huntington. 7th Ward P. M.
Freese, E. S. Willard. 8th Ward Solon Corning, J. Dwight Palmer. 9th Ward A. Anthony, A. T. Van Tassel.
10th Ward Wm. Wellhouse, I. U. Masters. 11th Ward Thos. Dixon, J. Coonrad.
1863. Mayor Irvine U. Masters. President of the Council H. S. Stevens. Trustees 1st Ward C. C. Rogers,
Thos. Jones, Jr. 2d Ward A. Roberts, T. N. Bond. 3d Ward H. S. Stevens, A. C. Keating. 4th Ward E.
Thomas, Henry Blair. 5th Ward N. P. Payne, Joseph Sturges. 6th Ward John Huntington, Geo. W. Gardner.
7th Ward E. S. Willard, Peter Goldrick. 8th Ward J. D. Palmer, Jos. Ransom. 9th Ward A. T. Van Tassel,
Percival Upton. 10th Ward H. N. Bissett, George Presley. 11th Ward J. Coonrad, Stephen Buhrer.
1864. Mayor Irvine U. Masters. Mayor George B. Senter, President of the Council Thomas Jones, Jr.
Trustees 1st Ward Thomas Jones, Jr., Chas. C. Rogers. 2d Ward T. N. Bond, Ansel Roberts. 3d Ward A.
C. Keating, Amos Townsend. 4th Ward Henry Blair, David A. Dangler. 5th Ward Joseph Sturges, B. P.
Bowers. 6th Ward George W. Gardner, John Huntington. 7th Ward Peter Goldrick, E. S. Willard. 8th
Ward Joseph Randerson, Wm. H. Truscott. 9th Ward Percival Upton, John Martin. 10th Ward George
Presley, Michael Crapser. 11th Ward Stephen Buhrer, Edward Russell.
1865. Mayor Herman M. Chapin. President of the Council Thomas Jones, Jr. Trustees 1st Ward Charles
C. Rogers, Thomas Jones, Jr. 2d Ward Ansel Roberts, Henry K. Raynolds. 3d Ward Amos Townsend,
Randall Crawford. 4th Ward David A Dangler, Simson Thorman. 5th Ward B. P. Bower, Joseph Sturges.
6th Ward John Huntington, George W. Calkins. 7th Ward E. S. Willard, Charles Pettingill. 8th
Ward William H. Truscott, Joseph Randerson. 9th Ward John Martin, Fredrick W. Pelton. 10th Ward John
J. Weideman, George Presley. 11th Ward Edward Russell, Stephen Buhrer.
1866. Mayor Herman M. Chapin. President of the Council P. W. Pelton. Trustees 1st Ward Thos. Jones,
Jr., Charles C. Rogers. 2d Ward H. K. Raynolds, Ansel Roberts. 3d Ward Randall Crawford, Amos
Townsend. 4th Ward Simson Thorman, Maurice H. Clark. 5th Ward Joseph Sturges, Wm. Heisley. 6th
Ward George W. Calkins, John Huntington. 7th Ward Charles B. Pettingill, Christopher Weigel. 8th
Ward Joseph Randerson, William H. Trascott. 9th Ward Frederick W. Pelton, John Martin. 10th

superfluity for another article, and for all articles furs and skins were legal tender, as they could be sent east
and converted into money or merchandise.
The first strictly commercial transactions were with the Indians. They needed powder and lead for hunting,
blankets for their comfort, beads for the adornment of the squaws, and the two great luxuries or
necessities of frontier life, salt and whisky. In payment for these they brought game, to supply the settlers
with fresh provisions, and skins, the currency of the West. In course of time the opening up of the country
beyond made a new market for the salt, whisky, and salt provisions collected at Cleveland, and with these
staples went occasionally a few articles of eastern made goods for the use of the frontiermen's wives. As the
country became more settled the commercial importance of Cleveland increased, until it divided with Detroit
and Buffalo the honors and profits of the commerce of the lakes.
Cleveland was settled in 1796. PFiveyears later the first commercial movement was made by the erection of a
distillery for the purpose of providing an adequate supply of the basis of early western commerce whisky.
The trade operations were of a promiscuous and desultory character until about the year 1810, when a log
warehouse was built by Major Carter, on the bank of the lake, between Meadow and Spring streets, and this
was speedily followed by another, built by Elias and Harvey Murray, which became the centre of business and
gossip for the village and the country round about. Of course a full supply of the great staple whisky was
kept.
In 1813 Cleveland became a lively and prosperous place, it having been chosen as a depot of supplies and
rendezvous for troops engaged in the war. A good business was done in selling to the army, in exchanging
with the quartermasters, and in transporting troops and supplies. This was a flourishing time for Cleveland,
and its inhabitants in many cases made small fortunes, realizing several hundred dollars in hard cash.
The close of the war brought the usual reaction, and the commerce of the embryo city lagged, but gradually
improved under the stimulus of increasing emigration to the West. In 1816 it had reached such a point that a
bank was deemed necessary to the proper transaction of trade, and the Commercial Bank of Lake Erie was
opened, with Leonard Case as president. It had the misfortune of being born too soon, and its life
consequently was not long. At the same time, the projectors of the bank were not wholly without warrant for
their anticipations of success, for Cleveland was doing a good business and owned an extensive lake marine of
seven craft, measuring in the aggregate four hundred and thirty tons.
The harbor facilities of Cleveland at this time were very few. The river mouth, to the westward of the present
entrance, was frequently choked with sand, and sometimes to such an extent that persons could cross dry

benefited. The opening of the Pennsylvania and Ohio canal, in 1841, opened communication with Pittsburgh
and added a trade in iron, nails, and glass to the other branches of business. In 1844 the commerce of
Cleveland by lake had reached an aggregate of twenty millions for the year.
The opening of the railroad to Columbus in 1851 marked the second step in the business history of the city.
The canals brought business from the south-east, and by a slow and uncertain route from Cincinnati. The
completion of the railroad gave direct and speedy connection with Cincinnati, with the rich valleys of the
Miami, and with lands hitherto undeveloped or seeking other markets for their produce. Other railroads were
rapidly built, and developed new avenues of commerce and new sources of wealth. The population increased
rapidly. The streets were extended and lined with new buildings. Additional stores were opened and all
departments felt the rush of new life. The lake commerce of the port, in spite of the business drawn off by
competing railroads, increased in 1853 to a total of eighty-seven million dollars, more than four times the
amount reached nine years before, after the canal System had been completed and was in full operation. The
grain trade which once was the foundation of the commerce of the city, had fallen away owing the gradual
removal of the wheat producing territory westward. It was asserted, and generally believed, that the canals had
done all they could for the prosperity of the city, and that unless something new turned up for its benefit,
Cleveland would remain at a stand-still, or increase only by very slow degrees. Business was extremely dull,
the prospect looked dubious, many business men moved to other cities and more were preparing to follow.
Just then two things occurred. The war broke out, and the Atlantic and Great Western railway was extended to
Cleveland. The latter event opened a new market for trade in north-western Pennsylvania, and soon after, by
sending a large proportion of the product of the oil regions to this point for refining or shipment, built up an
immense and lucrative department of manufacture and commerce, whose effect was felt in all classes of
business. The war stimulated manufactures, and by a sudden bound Cleveland set out on the path of
Cleveland Past and Present 13
permanent prosperity long pointed out by some far-seeing men, but until the time referred to strangely
neglected. In a very few years the population more than doubled the existing facilities for business were found
totally inadequate for the suddenly increased demands, and the most strenuous exertions of the builders failed
to meet the call for new stores. Manufactory after manufactory came into existence, and with each there was
an influx of population and a consequent increase in all departments of trade. And the work still goes on,
every manufactory started creating some need hitherto unfelt, and thus rendering other manufactories
necessary to supply the need.

a terra incognita, and Munchausen himself would have had a chance of being believed had he located his
adventures in what was then the Far West. Stephen Remington quit barn-building, shut up his shop, packed up
his tools and started in the Fall of 1807 for the new Eden, on Lake Erie. In the succeeding Spring, Johnson
followed in his footsteps as far as East Bloomfield, near Canandaigua, where he worked during that Summer,
building a meeting-house.
In the Fall of 1808, he shouldered his pack and set out on foot for the West. At Buffalo he found work and
wintered there until February, when his uncle came along, bound also for the land of promise. There was
room in the sleigh for Levi, and he was not loth to avail himself of the opportunity of making his journey
quicker and easier than on foot. On the 10th of March, 1809, the sleigh and its load entered Cleveland.
Cleveland Past and Present 14
By that time it had come to be hard sledding, so the sleigh was abandoned and the two travelers, determining
to put farther west, mounted the horses and continued their journey to Huron county. Here they fell in with
Judge Wright and Ruggles, who were surveying the Fire Lands. They wanted a saw-mill, and Johnson's uncle
contracted to build one at the town of Jessup, now known as Wakeman. Levi turned back to Cleveland, and
was fortunate in finding a home in the family of Judge Walworth. The Judge wanted an office built, and
Johnson undertook to make it. Hitherto, all the houses were of logs; but the Judge, having a carpenter
boarding in his family, aspired to something more pretentions. The building was to be frame. At that time
Euclid was a flourishing settlement, and rejoiced in that important feature a saw-mill. The lumber was
brought from Euclid, the frame set up on Superior street, about where the American House now stands, and
every day the gossips of the little settlement gathered to watch and discuss the progress of the first frame
building in Cleveland. The work occupied forty days, and when it was completed, there was great pride in this
new feature of Cleveland architecture. The erection of the first frame building marked the commencement of a
new era.
That job done, Levi turned back to Huron to fulfill the contract made by his uncle for the erection of a
saw-mill. This was a heavy job for so small a force, and between three and four months were spent in it.
Slinging his kit of tools on his back, he then turned once more towards Cleveland, in which he settled down
for the remainder of his life, the next two or three years being spent in building houses and barns in Cleveland,
and in the more flourishing village of Newburgh. A saw-mill also was put up on Tinker's creek.
When Mr. Johnson was building the saw-mill at Jessup, he fell in with a young lady, Miss Montier, who
enjoyed the distinction of being the first white girl that landed in Huron, where she lived with a family named

Johnson was now a man of means, the successful transactions with the army having given him more money
than he had ever possessed at one time before. His voyages and trading success had given him a taste for
similar occupations in the future, and his first step was to build a vessel for himself. His first essay in
ship-building was something novel. The keel was laid for a ship of thirty-five tons, to be named the Pilot.
There was no iron for spikes, but wooden pins supplied their place. Other devices of similar primitiveness
were resorted to in the course of the work, and at last she was finished. Now came the question of launching,
and it was not lightly to be answered. Modern builders sometimes meet with a difficulty owing to the ship
sticking on the "ways," but this early ship-builder of Cleveland had a greater obstacle than this to overcome.
He had built his ship with very slight reference to the lake on which she was to float. For convenience in
getting timber, and other reasons, he had made his ship-yard about half a mile from the water, near where St.
Paul's Church now stands on Euclid avenue, and the greasing of the "ways" and knocking out of the blocks
would not ensure a successful launch. Here was a dilemma. Johnson pondered and then resolved. An appeal
for aid was promptly responded to. The farmers from Euclid and Newburgh came in with twenty-eight yoke
of cattle. The ship was hoisted on wheels and drawn in triumph down the main street to the foot of Superior
street hill, where she was launched into the river amid the cheers of the assembled crowd.
This was not the first of Cleveland ship-building. About the year 1808, Major Carter built the Zephyr, used in
bringing goods, salt, &c., from Buffalo. After good service she was laid up in a creek, a little below Black
Rock, where she was found by the British during the war and burned. In 1810, the firm of Bixby & Murray
built the Ohio, an important craft of somewhere about sixty tons burden, the ship-yard being lower down the
river than the point from which Johnson's craft was subsequently launched. Towards the close of the war she
was laid up at Buffalo, when the Government purchased her, cut her down, and converted her into a pilot boat.
Whilst Johnson was building his vessel another was under construction on the flats near the present location
of the works of J. G. Hussey & Co. This craft, the Lady of the Lake, about thirty tons, was built by Mr.
Gaylord, brother of the late Mrs. Leonard Case, and was sailed by Captain Stowe, between Detroit and
Buffalo.
Johnson was now literally embarked on a sea of success. His little ship was in immediate requisition for army
purposes. Cargoes of army stores were transported between Buffalo and Detroit. Two loads of soldiers were
taken from Buffalo to the command of Major Camp, at Detroit, and on one of the return voyages the guns left
by Harrison at Maumee were taken to Erie. The absconding of a quarter-master with the funds in his
possession, among other sums three hundred dollars belonging to Johnson, was a serious drawback in the

death lay behind her. Whenever she passed a house she raised an alarm, and at two o'clock in the morning,
more dead than alive with terror and fatigue, she urged her jaded horse into the village of Cleveland,
screaming at the top of her voice, "The British and Indians are coming! The British and Indians are coming!"
Men slept lightly at that time, with their senses attent to every sound of danger. The shrieks of the woman and
the dreaded notice of the approach of the merciless foe awoke the whole village and curdled the blood of the
villagers with horror. In that brief announcement, "The British and Indians are coming," were concentrated
possibilities of frightful outrage, carnage and devastation. Wild with the terror of her long and agonized night
ride, the woman reiterated her piercing warning again and again, filling the air with her shouts. A chorus of
voices, from the childish treble to the deep bass of the men, swelled the volume of sound and added to the
confusion and alarm. In a few minutes every house was empty, and the entire population of the village
swarmed around the exhausted woman and heard her brief story, broken by gasps for breath and by hysterical
sobs. She insisted that a fleet was bearing down upon the coast with the purpose of spreading carnage and
devastation along the whole lake frontier, that the vessels were crowded with British troops and merciless
savages, and that before long the musket bail, the torch and the scalping knife would seek their victims among
the inhabitants of Cleveland.
At once all was hurry; the entire population prepared for speedy flight. The greater part took to the woods in
the direction of Euclid, the women and children being guarded by some of the men, the others remaining to
reconnoiter, and, if possible, defend their property. As soon as the non-fighting portion of the settlement was
cared for, a picked force of twenty-five men, contributed by Cleveland, Euclid and Newburgh, marched to the
mouth of the river and kept guard. It was evening when this little army reached the river, and for hours after
dark they patrolled the banks, listening intently for the approach of the enemy. About two o'clock in the
morning a vessel was heard entering the river; the guards hastily gathered for the attack, but before firing,
hailed the supposed foe; an answering hail was returned. "Who are you, and what have you on board?"
shouted the river guards. "An American vessel loaded with Hull's troops!" was the reply. The astounded guard
burst into laughter at their absurd scare. The alarm spread with greater swiftness than the report of the facts,
and for days armed men came pouring into Cleveland from so far as Pittsburgh, prepared to beat back the
enemy that existed only in their imagination.
It was during this year that the Indian, Omic, was hung for participating in the murder of the trappers, Gibbs
and Wood, near Sandusky, in return for the shelter given by the trappers to their two murderers. After
committing the murder, the Indians set fire to the hut, and the flames became the instrument of their capture,

after the massacre, Major Whistler engaging the ship for the purpose.
In 1824, Johnson left the Neptune, and in company with Turhooven & Brothers, built the steamer Enterprise,
about two hundred and twenty tons burden. This was the first steam vessel built in Cleveland, and her hull
was made near the site of the Winslow warehouse. The engine, of sixty to seventy horse power, was brought
from Pittsburgh. Johnson ran her between Buffalo and Detroit until 1828, when hard times coming on and
business threatening to be unprofitable, he sold his interest in her, and left the lakes. In company with
Goodman and Wilkeson, he built the Commodore, on the Chagrin river, in the year 1830, and that closed his
ship-building career.
By this time he had accumulated about thirty thousand dollars, a respectable fortune in those days, with which
he invested largely in real estate, and waited the course of events to make his investments profitable.
In 1831, he contracted with the Government officers to build the light-house on Water street. In 1836, he built
a light-house at Sandusky. In the following year he constructed seven hundred feet of the stone pier on the
east side of the Cuyahoga river mouth. The first thing done in the latter work was the driving of spiles. Mr.
Johnson became dissatisfied with the old system of driving spiles by horse-power, and purchased a steam
engine for four hundred dollars. Making a large wooden wheel he rigged it after the style of the present
spile-drivers, and in the course of two or three weeks, had the satisfaction of seeing the spiles driven with
greatly increased speed and effect by steam-power.
About 1839, he took his new spile-driver to Maumee Bay and drove about nine hundred feet of spiling around
Cleveland Past and Present 18
Turtle Island, filling the enclosed space with earth to the height of three feet, to protect the light-house. In
1840, he built the Saginaw light-house, sixty-five feet high, with the adjoining dwelling. In 1842-3, he built
the light-house on the Western Sister Island, at the west end of Lake Erie. In 1847, he completed his
light-house work by building the Portage River light-house.
Besides his light-house building, Mr. Johnson erected in 1842 his stone residence on Water street, and in
1845, the Johnson House hotel on Superior street. The stone for the former was brought from Kingston,
Canada West. In 1853, he built the Johnson Block, on Bank street, and in 1858, he put up the Marine Block at
the mouth of the river. This completed his active work.
Since 1858, Mr. Johnson's sole occupation has been the care of his property and occasional speculations in
real estate. By a long life of activity and prudence, and by the steady rise in real estate, he is now possessed of
personal and landed property to the value of about six hundred thousand dollars, having come to the city with

inches in height, erect and well proportioned. In a word, he was a man of heart, and of generous impulses,
honest, frank and cordial. In the circle in winch he moved, he was the friend of everybody and everybody was
his friend.
Cleveland Past and Present 19
John Blair.
The race of men who remember Cleveland in the day of its small beginnings, is fast passing away. Of those
who were residents of the little village on the Cuyahoga fifty years ago, only about half a dozen now live in
the flourishing city that occupies its site and inherits its name. One of these is John Blair, well known to all
the Clevelanders of ante-railroad days, but who is probably a mere name to a large proportion of those who
have crowded into the city of late years. Mr. Blair is one of the few remaining links that connect the rude
village in the forest with the modern Forest City.
John Blair was born in Maryland on the 18th of December, 1793. His early years were spent in farming, but at
the age of twenty-three he dropped the hoe and turned his back to the plow, resolving to come west and seek
his fortune. From the time that he shook from his feet the dirt of the Maryland farm, he says, he has never
done a whole day's work, at one time, at manual labor.
In 1819, he reached Cleveland, then an insignificant village of about a hundred and fifty inhabitants, who
dwelt mostly in log houses, grouped at the foot of Superior street. At the corner of Water street and what is
now Union lane, stood the pioneer hotel of Cleveland, the tavern of Major Carter, where good
accommodations for man and beast were always to be found. The young Maryland adventurer was not
overburdened with wealth when he landed in his future home, his entire cash capital being three dollars. But it
was no discredit in those days to be poor, and three dollars was a fine capital to start business upon. In fact
sonic of the then "old settlers," would have been glad to possess so much capital in ready money as a reserve
fund.
But even in those days of primitive simplicity, three dollars would not support a man for any great length of
time if there were no other sources of supply. Mr. Blair recognized the fact that no time must be wasted, and
at once turned his attention to a chance for speculation. An opportunity immediately offered itself. An old
Quaker, with speculation in his eye, entered Cleveland with two hundred and fifty fat hogs, expecting to find a
good market. In this he was mistaken, and as hogs on foot were expensive to hold over for a better market, he
determined to convert them into salt pork. Mr. Blair offered to turn pork-packer for a proper consideration; the
offer was accepted, and this was Mr. Blair's first step in business.

by diligence and enterprise. He was then the oldest merchant in the city, having been in business over a
quarter of a century. For the past twenty-four years he has taken life easy, which he has been able to do from
the sensible step he adopted of quitting active business before it wore him out. At the age of seventy-five he is
still hale, hearty and vigorous, looking younger than his actual years, and possessing that great desideratum, a
sound mind in a sound body.
Philo Scovill.
Familiar as is the name of Philo Scovill, but few of our citizens are aware that he was one of Cleveland's
earliest merchants. It appears that circumstances, not altogether the choice of Mr. Scovill, induced him to
come to Cleveland with a stock of drugs and groceries. His father was a millwright, and had brought up his
son to the use of tools. He had no taste for his new calling, and so worked out of the store-keeping as speedily
as possible, and commenced the erection of dwellings and stores in the then new country, being only second
in the trade here to Levi Johnson. He continued in the building business until 1826, when he erected the
Franklin House, on Superior street, on the next lot but one to the site of the Johnson House. Mr. Scovill at
once became the landlord, and continued as such for twenty-three years, excepting an interval of a five years'
lease.
About 1849, he left the hotel business to attend to his real estate interests. He was successful in his hotel
business; and from time to time invested his surplus capital in lands adjacent to the city, which, within the last
few years have become exceedingly valuable. Streets have been laid out upon his property, and inducements
offered to settlers that insured a ready sale, and materially aided the growth of the city.
Mr. Scovill, as a man, has enjoyed the confidence of his fellow citizens to an unusual degree. He was
hardworking, resolute, and exactly fitted by nature for the pioneer life of his choice, a life that, though
toilsome, has left him still hale and vigorous, with the exception of the fruits of overwork, and perhaps
exposure, in the form of rheumatism.
Mr. Scovill was born in Salisbury, Ct., November 30, 1791. He lived at that place until he was nine years of
age, when his father moved to Cornwall, in the same county; thence to Shenango county, and from thence to
Seneca county, N. Y. Here he lived on the banks of Seneca Lake nine years. After that he lived in Buffalo one
year, from which point he came to Cleveland, as before stated.
Mr. Scovill was married February 16, 1819, to Miss Jemima Beebe. Mrs. S. is still living and enjoying
excellent health.
Melancthon Barnett.

Barnett.
Joel Scranton.
Joel Scranton, whose name is associated with much of the history of Cleveland, during the period when it
grew from a small village to a city well on the way to permanent prosperity, was born in Belchertown, Mass.,
April 5, 1792. Whilst yet a child his parents removed with him to Otsego county, N. Y., where a considerable
portion of his early life was spent. About the year 1820 he removed to Cleveland, where he engaged in
business and remained until his death, of apoplexy, on the 9th of April, 1858, having just completed his
sixty-sixth year.
In the later years of the village of Cleveland and the early days of the city, Mr. Scranton's leather and dry
goods store, at the corner of Superior and Water streets, was a well known business landmark. In the
prosecution of his business he succeeded in saving a comfortable competence, which was increased by his
judicious investments in real estate. These last have, by the rapid growth of the city, and increase in value
since his death, become highly valuable property.
Mr. Scranton was industrious, economical, and judicious in business transactions; of strong mind and well
balanced judgment; a kind parent and a firm friend.
Orlando Cutter.
Cleveland Past and Present 22
Orlando Cutter first beheld the harbor and city of Cleveland on the 30th of June, 1818, having spent nine
dismal days on the schooner Ben Franklin, in the passage from Black Rock. He was landed in a yawl, at the
mouth of the river, near a bluff that stood where the Toledo Railroad Machine Shops have since been built,
about seventy-five rods west of the present entrance to the harbor. In those days the river entrance was of a
very unreliable character, being sometimes entirely blocked up with sand, so that people walked across. It was
no uncommon thing for people to ride over, or jump the outlet with the help of a pole.
[Illustration]
Mr. Cutter walked along the beach and on the old road to Water street, and thence in a broiling sun to the
frame tavern of Noble H. Merwin, on Vineyard lane, near Superior street. Here he was first introduced to
Philo Scovill, a robust young carpenter, who was hewing timber for Merwin's new brick tavern, afterwards
called the Mansion House.
Mr. Cutter had experienced what our city boys would regard as a rough beginning in life. At sixteen he went
into a store at Royalton, Massachusetts, at a salary of four dollars a month and board; and at the end of a year

dollars, so he left the place in disgust and hurried home, through the woods, in no placid frame of mind. Of
Cleveland Past and Present 23
four new shoes put on his horse that morning, three had been torn off by the mud, roots, and corduroy
between Cleveland and Middleburg.
After closing up the old business, he posted books or turned his hand to whatever employment presented
itself. Inactivity and despondency formed no part of his character. About 1827, there was a temporary
business connection between himself and Thos. M. Kelly, after which he started again alone, adding the
auction and commission business to that of a merchant.
Mr. Cutter, in November, 1832, was married to Miss Hilliard, sister of the late Richard Hilliard. Of this
marriage there are seven children now living, most of them settled in the city. William L. is cashier of the
Merchants National Bank; Edwin succeeded his father two years since at the old auction store in Bank street,
and R. H. is the principal partner of Cutter & Co., upholsterers.
Going east in the Fall of 1821, Mr. Cutter, on his return, preferred the staunch steamer Walk-in-the-Water, to
the Wasps, Fire Flies and Franklins, on board of which he had experienced so many buffetings. George
Williams and John S. Strong were also of the same mind. These three old settlers, and about seventy others,
went on board at Black Rock, in the afternoon. Eight yoke of oxen were required to assist the engines in
getting her over the rapids into the open lake. In the night a furious gale arose, Capt. Rogers put back, but not
being able to get into Buffalo Creek, came to anchor near its mouth. Being awfully sea sick, Mr. Cutter lay
below, little caring where the Walk-in-the-Water went to. Her anchor, however, parted before morning, and
she went ashore sidewise, on an easy sand beach, without loss of life.
This year completes his semi-centennial as a citizen of Cleveland, yet he is still hale and vigorous. He has
gone through revulsions, and has enjoyed prosperity with equal equanimity, never indulging in idleness or
ease, and has now come to a ripe old age possessed of an ample competence.
Peter Martin Weddell.
One of the most noted historical and topographical landmarks of Cleveland is the Weddell House. Its builder
was one of the most valuable citizens of the Forest City.
Mr. P. M. Weddell was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1788. His father died before his birth,
and his mother, marrying again, removed to Paris, Bourbon county, Kentucky, the State at that time deserving
its sobriquet of the "dark and bloody ground," as the contest with the native savages was carried on with
relentless fury on both sides. Under such circumstances it may well be supposed that he grew up with few

In 1823, Mr. Weddell built what was regarded as a princely brick residence and store on the corner of
Superior and Bank streets, afterwards the site of the Weddell House. His surplus funds were invested in real
estate, which soon began to increase in value at an astonishing rate, as the city grew in population and
importance. On one of his lots upon Euclid street he built the stone cottage which he designed as a country
retreat, and after his taking his clerks into partnership, he left the store mainly to their management, devoting
his attention to the purchase and improvement of real estate, being generally regarded as a gentleman of
wealth.
In the Spring of 1845 he began work upon the Weddell House, tearing away the store and mansion, where his
fortune had been made. It was finished in two years. He then made a journey to New York to purchase
furniture. On the way home he was attacked by typhoid fever, and in three weeks was in his grave.
As a merchant, Mr. Weddell had few superiors. His urbanity, industry, and care made him popular, successful,
and safe, while his integrity and his liberality were well known to his correspondents and to all the religious
and benevolent institutions of the times.
He was always willing and ready to aid and assist his young men; when he found one correct and capable he
never refused a helping hand. Very few of his day were so liberal in this respect, or could point to so many
who became prominent merchants by their aid as could Mr. Weddell.
At his death, Mr. Weddell was a man of such personal energy and business capacity, that he had promise of
twenty more years of active life. Soon after the Rev. S. G. Aiken became pastor of the old Stone Church, Mr.
Weddell became a communicant, and he died in the Christian faith. He bequeathed to the American Board of
Foreign Missions the sum of five thousand dollars; to the Home Missionary Society five thousand dollars, and
several other bequests amounting to some thousands to other benevolent institutions.
Dudley Baldwin
In 1819, Dudley Baldwin came to Cleveland from Ballston, New York, having as his principal capital a fair
common school education. In course of time be found employment in the mercantile store of Mr. Weddell,
and became one of his trusted clerks, being, after a few years, taken into partnership. The death of Mr.
Weddell in 1847, terminated a connection that had existed pleasantly for over twenty years.
Cleveland Past and Present 25