Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-20
MORNING LEADER.
First settlement of Rockport.
Written for the CuyOboga County Historical Society,
BIZ J. D. TAYLOR.



The most notable character at Rocky River in
olden time was Mrs James, her husband having
died there shortly after the curse was pro
nounced. Now this widow kept tavern on the
west side, and no hostess was more aOeemmo-
dating than she her house was said 10 be the
easiest place to get drunk entirely.
Long time ago, say forty years, there resided
in Cleveland physician and surgeon of much
eminenee, who INDUCED too freely at the bottle
He being at Mrs James with some friends at
one time when they all got drunk, was request
eJ TO ut er three Of the most prOfane words he
could call to mind. After several moments OF
profound silence, and casting his eyes full IL the
face of the hostess, he said: " Mrs james
Cati, ,h-Roeky River
In regard to the first temperance society
formed in ROckport, the writer begs to be IN
dulged in an extract from his First Settlement
of RockpOrt," ;" publish ed in 1883:
"From the time of the first organization of
the township till 1927, twas customary for the
Judges and clerks of elections, IN consideration
Of the honor and lucTativeness of their oiice, TO
keep bott of whisky on the table during the
hours of election, to which bottle both high and
low, rich and poor, noble and ignOble, had free
access and every one who was elected TO any
Office, was in honor and duty bound to treat the
company. Now, Datus Kelley was a friend to
good order; he thought it was wrong to drink SO
much whisky, and was probably the first one in
Ohio to form Temperance society,
"On the first Monday OF April, 1927, 1t being
the day for the township election, he presented
his temperance pledge to the sOvereigns OF
ROckport, for their approval or rejection. Mr.
/ Kelley of course signed the pledge before offer
ing it to others. The writer will never forget
the sensation produced when this iirebrand was
thrown among the people. Some looked blank
and nothing spake others looked daggeTs,
ropes aud ratsbane; others looked on approving
| IL, and thought very wise thing was going to
be done After some ton or twelve had signed
it, Mr.. B. mighty soul was well nigh bursting,
when he broke out in a strain Of elCquence the
most astounding. He exboned the people not
to sign away their liberties, which had cost so
much blood and treasure /; and in the sublimity
of his eIoquelce, he SCARED untrodden heights,
and seemed at homo where angels bashful
looked and then again with the gentleRess that
dew falls on summer flowers he came down to
the capacity Of his audience, and panorama
of sages, statesmen and heroes, from the time
of the landing of the Pilgrims down to 1914,
passed before their Imagination. The people
were in fair way OF having the scenes recorded
in Acts xiv: II, l2, l3, enacted before them,
when Mr. B. left the house, and most Of his
audience followed him, but not until he had
completely annihilstsd Datus Kelley, and all
who had signed the pledge. CPhe main features
of the pledge were, that they who signed 1t
| agreed to discOuntenance the use Of the whisky
bottle on the table, aud that they would not
treat In consideration Of their being elected TO
ofice)
"After the eommotion had somewhat subsided,
a company of men might have been seen out
side the house, discussing grave subjects 1t
was a time that tried mems souls An attempt
had been made, and no doubt by designing men,
to undermine their liberties. The whisky bot
tie was passed round, which stimulated to noble
actions. 1t was passed round again, for they
were determined to do nothing rashly. They
began to talk about nominating chairman, IN
order to organize preparatory to getting up a
ticket but before nominating chairman II
was thought best to pass round the whisky A
chairman was appointed by aeclamation. Mr.
. R. resides at present in Nebraska The chair
man made short speeeh-said something abOu
! liberty, democrats, democracy, &c, which made
q sensation. The chairman didn't need to tel
them the object of the meeting The whisky
bottle was there-though mute, it spoke as lou,
as Cesar's wounds did. They took some NOR
t whisky. A ticket was got up and elected No
one who signeI the pledge had an Office tha
year But the whisky bottle was never agaii
seen on the table in Rockport, and treating j
D consideration of being elected to office was dis
eountenanced.
"In giving history Of this temperance socie
: ty, the writer's design Is not TO cast any Odiur
e on his fellow tOwnsmen; he is not aware tha
: any who opposed that temperance pledge are a
e present residents Of the township. Doubles
e the same pledge would have met with the sam
: fate elsewhere at that day.
. But there is something more about that eleC
e ton. 1t so happened that the successful cand
0 dates were all wings, for before this, there wa
] no whig, no democrat and no freesoiler know
e at township elections in RoekPort. Atthe nel
: township election, Mr.. R, who had lately com
L into the township. said to the people Thos
Z men who were elected lastyear were all wings
/ let's up and have democratic ticket Well, the
: did do that thing, and elected their ticket too
q and hence the commencement Of party strife i
5 ROckport."