Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-09-22

after, drafts of militia were made all over the
Northern part of Ohio, in which the company
of Capt. Van Gorder was. His whole com
pany was drafted, went out in the battalion Of
Maj Hale to old Portage, where they remained
a short time, and marched from there to san
dusky, but there being no necessity for the
large drafts which had been made BY tie Gov
ernOr under what he believed the exigency Of
the occasion, and for the purpose of protecting
the Northern frontier from the English and In
dians, many of the companies were sent home,
and among those dismissed was the company
of Capt Van Gorder. He was out, therefore,
but a short time, and had no opportunity to
show his prOmess in the tented field He,
no doubt, would have been one of she bravest
and most intrepid officers in the service, if he
had been retained in it. While in Suffield, Mr.
Van Gorder added to his business a small dry
goods store, which he kept up while there.
In 1919 or 1920 Mr.. Van GOrlen exchanged
his Sufiied mill with Mr.. Finch, for the upper
mills in Warren, and about that time he moved
his family back TO Warren.
The upper mills in Warren were built by
Henry Lane, in 1904 or 1905, and are probably
the oldest mills in the county. He afterwards
sold them to a man by the name of Finch, who
exchanged them as above with Van GOrder,
who owned them until his decease.
About the time of Mr.. Van Gorder's return
to Warren, he purchased the COtgreave prop
erty on Market street, which he has owned ever
since. The house was built Of hewed logs very
early in the settlement of Warren, and before
1907, but at what particular time have failed
to learn. 1t was a very important building aud
served the purpose OF Court House, Jail and
Tavern. Previous to 1917, when the old brick
Court House was erected on the Public Square,
courts were held in the Cotgreave building
The courts were held in large hall on the
third floor, which afterwards served for a Ma
sonic Lodge Room, and a Dancing Hall for
many years. The Jail was in a building or
addition to the west part of the building, also
built of logs, which was the only place where
criminals could be confined until the erection
of the present brick Jail, known of late as the
County Nuisance. This building which served
for so many public purposes was erected by
Col. W. W. Cotgreave, who, in his time, was
an important parsonage among the early set
tiers. He was merchant, trader and military
officer, and served in the campaign of 1912, as
Major of the second Regiment Of the Ohio mi
ltia, and in 1914 was out as Colonel eommad-
ing the same regiment
Mr. Van GOrder erected brick addition to
the old log building on the east in which he
opened a store. Soon after his purchase Of this
| property he opened tavern in the building,
which was kept by him for many years. 1t was
| a great place of resort, and furnished comfort
able quarters TO the great body Of the travelling
/ public, while 1t was continued as i hotel
Judges, lawyeOs suitOrs, witnesses, indeed nearly
all who were compelled to come to the county
seat on business, stopped at Van Gorder's hotel.
1t was also a stopping place for the various
lines of stages which passed through or CEN
tered in Warren. Mr.. Van Gorden himself, for
a time vas largely interested on these lines,
| being q large mail route contractor.
| About the year 1925 Mr.. Van Gorder pur-
chased the Lower Mills, so called; and by this
means he had acquired the entire Touring busl-
ness Of the Town and surrounding country at
that time 1t was a profitable business, and
/ Mr. Van Gorder accumulated property very
fast These mills stood on the west side OF
the river, below and near the west end Of the
present old bridge, where it remained until the
construction Of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Ca
nal. The Canal Company found It necessary
10 throw new dam across the river below the
dam for these mills, and they gave Mr.. Van
Gorder mill privilege at their dam, and as
| sisted him about the erection of a new one. He
has owned these new mills ever since, and un-
til his decease. The old frame is yet standing
west of the Public Square, and presents an ug-
ly appearance to the otherwise beautiful land
scape.
The construction of the Pennsylvania AM
Ohio Canal presented a new field for the enter
prise of Mr. Van Gorder. He took 4 large
contract upon this Public Work, which EN-
braced all the Lock work west Of the river
with the excavation therefor, and the exedva
ton for many miles beside This contract hG
carried on with his accustomed energy, AMI
concluded the same to the entire satisfaction
of the company and all concerned He was
more fortunate than some contractors on pub
lie works. and made some money on the job.
About this time he closed his tavern; the fam
ily continued to reside in the old COtgreaye
House until the great FIRE of ls46-
The Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal was con-
structed about the time Of the great expansion
which occurred after the removal of the de
posits by Gen jackson, and the rise in rca
estate and consequent spirit of speculation
which swept over the country absorbing tn,
entire business energies of the people, seemel
to settle upon this community with more than
its innate wilduess and extravagance. Wise
cautious, shrewd and otherwise same men be
came effected with the mania and entered int,
the speculation with the determination to be
come suddenly rich Real estate took an aston
ishing advance and everybody believed that
great city would spring up with the old vilagt
of Warren for a nucleus a company of War
ren gentlemen purchased portion of the farm
of Judge Freeman, known as the Flats, lait
the farm out in lots. The price was up to til,
: figures Of the time A Cleveland company con
, tracted for the farm of Samuel Quimby, lyin.
west of the river, at the price of $4,000 ol
which they paid some $4,000 or SIS 1000; an
other company composed of Cleveland and Wa,
rem men contracted for the Iddings Mills, a
Leayittsburgh, three miles west of Warren, o.
which they paid some $4,000; and still anOth
er company contracted for the Lane farm, sout
! of Warren, on which they paid some $1,000
These bubbles all burst in time, and the proper
ty all went back into the hands of the Ongina
holders, except the Freeman purchase, whie
! he never would take back
: Mr Van Gorder resisted this mania for
), long time, and was nOt..a original member c
| any of these companies. After the Freeman
: purchase had been made and the ground lai
out into lots, he was finally induced to buy int
e it, for which privilege he paid fine farm lyin
, within 4 mile of the Court House. For this h
: received the share of one OF two Of the men
n bers This speculation entailed upon him
: heavy Indebtedness. from which, with his oth'
E losses, he never recovered. To secure his POI
\ ton of it he mortgaged his Upper Mills and tn
d farm adjoining, portion Of which has bee
| soid but the debt is not yet all wiped out.
!. This was an exception in Mr.. Van GOrder'
: successful career. All Of his other enterprise
5 had been completely successful Neither ca
it be said to be an Impeachment Of his COO
5 ness, ssgacity or foresight, for where all wer
Z wilf and extravagAnt, mad with the frenzy Of b.
coming rich, it would be almost miracle Of a
a enterprising business man could escape. Whe
the bubble burst be met the occasion like tru
r. and noble man. No whining was ever mat
r by him; no baby pleas were put in; no faiul
h was talked Of; but he set to work to meet Il
r heavy responsibility thus thrown upon him.
q Scarce had he arranged this large indebte'
q ness, 90 as to bring the matter in shape to e
= able him to meet 1t, whom another heavy 10