Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-07-19
MORNING LEADER.
First settlement Of Roekport.
Written for he CuyshOsa County Historical Society,
By -. D. TAYLOR.
Confnued.

Until 1910, the Indians were quite numerous
in the vicinity of Rocky River, it being their
place of general rendezvous in the spring, for
the purpose Of fishing. The island near the
mouth of the river was used by them for bury
irg ground, where they assembled and built
their camps. Like civilized men, they dug their
graves east and west-head 10 the west After
the corpse was put in the grave, before filing II
up, it was customary TO set up hollow tube at
the mouth of their dead, into which, afterward,
they occasionally placed provisions Of various
kinds, such as green corn, meat, DE. On this
island they left their canoes during the winter,
while they went into the interior to hunt; and
on the first night after their return in the spring
it was their custom to build small fire at the
head of each grave. Many grave treatise has
been written on the religious ceremonies and
traditions Of the Indians. It would be folly for
the writer to attempt to throw any light on the
subject as it would only "darken counsel by
words without knowledge"
Immediately after the breaking out Of the last
war with England, the Indians all left the region
about Rocky River, went west, and Joined Te-
cumseh under General Proctor, where, in the
battles with the brave Harrison and "Diek
Johnson" many of them ' bit the dust"
For winding up of this chapter, we will say
a word about " Taylor's Harbor." Somewhere
opposite DR. Kirtland's, where the Lake has an
iron-bound shore, being perpendicular rock Of
sixty or seventy feet in hight, thefe il a cove
which bears the above title. The question is
frequently asked-Why is this called Taylor's
HaTborl 1t is for the following reason:
When Philo Taylor resided at Rocky River,
there was no road TO Cleveland; consequently
he used a canoe in going and returning, instead
of 4 horse and buggy. At one time while on
A a sha-o
storm from off the Lake; he being alone, ran
his canoe into this cuve, where there was a
small beach, and remained there during the
storm.
At the present time there are about one hun
dred dwelling houses between Rocky River and
Cleveland, with plank road, which, ike all
other plank roads, IS 80 rough at times that il is
a question whether the man Of UZ would retain
bis equanimity while travelling over 1t.
At the time Of the first settlement Of Rock
port, the woods abOunded with wolves, bears,
panthers, wildcats, DC, which made it danger
Gus for one alone to travel the road to Cleye-
land, it being nothing but foot path At the
present time there is an enemy, not only on the
Rockport road, but almost every other road in
the country, and in Cleveland too, more TO be
dreaded than were all the wolves, bears and cat
amounts combined. We mean those internal
hells Wnere nq1Or Is sol0- At some OF llese
places in Cleveland, and in the country, they
presume to lay claim to respectability. Sol much
the worse. The greater the respectability, the
greater the curse. Moral suasion has done but
little good in eradicating this evil; stringent
laws have done little OF no good. The only
remedy is for the women to rise in their omnipO-
tence, and the thing is done. Through their
influence, thrones and dominions have tOttered
and fell-wars declared and peace made
Through their influence men may be made
either good or bad. But the influence Of their
pretty faces won't prevail their tears nor pray
ers won't prevail; there is only one way form
vigilance committees; throw the bottles into
the street pull the plugs out Of their barrels
and there is no man with "cussedness" enough
about him to lay hands on them, and no jury
will convict item. Commence at Newburgh
village make an example there. There have
been more drunkaTls made in thatvillage within
forty-five years than would be sufficient to storm
Salt Lake City, if they were sober men.
But the reader may inquire-What has this
to do with the first settlement of Rock port =
Well, i don't know as It has anything to do with
it. only wanted to show my colors.