Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-11-08
CLEVELAND. MONDAY MORNING, NOVEMBER 8, 1858

Miles built the first log cabin in the new city
1t stood on the bluff at the top of the hill in
Silverthorn's back yard.
The next settlers that came into the city were
John Bowling, George Reynolds and Captain
Foster
In 1916, John James, from Boston, Mass,
came in and bought out Charles Miles, and
Miles bought the farm now owned by Gov
Wood james brought on a small store of
goods, and commenced trading and keeping
tavern. He kept tavern until the time of his
death, in 1920. His widow kept on in the
business a short time afterwards, say six or
eight months, whilst Enoch James was settling
up his brothers estate, and then she bid fare
well and left.
About the year 1916, Rufus Wright came in,
built a house, and commenced keeping tavern.
Also, Asahel Porter, Elea1er Waterman, Jose
phus B. Sizer, and others, whose names have
forgotten, came into the city Also, Henry j.
Garfield came in and built Cauiied's Old
Store" and filled it with goods; and Dutch
man named Fluke, from Wooster, came in. He
was potter by trade, and commenced making
brown esrthen ware. Henry Clark came in
some time between this and 1920, and kept tav-
ern at Wright's old stand for a short time
This year (lSl6) was year of business in
Rockport Speculation ran high A man by
the name Of Scott, from Painesville, came in
and went into partnership with LarHill in
building mills They succeeded in getting a
frame dam built, and went in for winter quar-
ters. During the winter the floods came and
made q channel for the river around the south
end of the dam, and by the time the birds be-
gan 70 sing in the spring, Larwill had failed,
Scott had left, the lights in the city of Granger
soon went out, the music and dancing ceased,
and the " castles in the air - fell to the ground
with mighty crash, SO heavy that they scarce
ly left grease spot, and many of the inhabit-
ants fled
About the year 1916 or III, James Nicholson
settled in the township, on the farm where he
now lives.
About 1917, Datds Kelley built sawmill on
a small creek which crosses the North Ridge
near A. W. Deans.
In 1913, Erastus Johnson and Charles John
son came in under Larwill's claim, repaired the
dam, and built a sawmill The sawmill was
afterwards burned down.
In February or March, 1919, the township
was set off and named Rockport, and notice
put up for the electors to meet and elect their
township officers The first township election
was held at Rufus Wright's, on the first Mon
day in April, 1919; and as they had not receiv-
ed the laws of the State, in the absence of all
law to direct them, they proceeded as in other
meetings for business-first decided how many
road districts they would have, took little of
Captain Wright's good old whisky, as was the
custom in those days, and commenced business
by appointing a chairman and two judges, and
then proceeded to the election of officers. They
first elected their Township Clerk. He was
sworn into office by the chairman, and took his
seat at the table, and as they nominated their
officers, one by one, and voted IN the old way by
raising the right hand, the story was soon told.
Those elected were sworn into office by the
Clerk 1t may be doubted whether the election
was conducted in every sense OF the word ae-
cerding to law, yet the officers performed the
duties of their respective offices to the entire
satisfaction of the inhabitants of the township
think there were but nineteen voters in the
township, all told. All were present, and eigh
teen officers were needed. Every man in the
township was considered competent to fill any
township office so at the close of this election
about every voter in the township either held
office, kept tavern or owned sawinill.
Almost all who voted at that election are now
gone. Rufus Wright Asahel Porter, Henry j. !
Garfield, Samuel Dean, Chester Dean, Joseph |
Dean, Dyer Nichols, Daniel Hardin, John Kid |
ney, John Pitts and John James are dead. Chas. |
Miles, Erastus johnson, Charles johnson and |
Jcsephus B. Sizer, uncertain. Datus Kelley is |
living and now resides on Kelley's Island. Jas. |
Nicholson, Benjamin Robinson and Henry Al !
ger are still living in the township.
Charles Miles was the first Justice Of the |
Peace in the township. He was elected in june |
1919, and reelected in 1922. In 1925 there |
were two Justices of the Peace elected-Joseph |
Dean and Henry Alger. Iu 1928, Eliel Farr
and Henry Alger were elected.
In 1919, Eliel Farr and family, his sons, Aure- |
lius Farr, Elie FarT, Jr., and Algernon Farr came
in from Pennsylvania. Eliel Farr settled on the |
farm where he now lives, at good old age, he |
having seen some eighty one years.
About the same time, Augustus Porter came |
in and settled on the lake road, east Of the /
river.
About 1920, Mars Wager settled in the town
ship, on the farm now owned BY the Wager fam |
lily.
In 1921, the first bridge across Rocky river
was built, on the lake road. 1t was built most |
ly by subscription. Capt. Rufus Wright built |
the bridge and when it was raised, all hands. |
putting it up and when the raising" was /
completed, Capt. Wright invited all hands up to
his house; and the good and generous old Cap |
tain brought on the oh-be-joyful" in great |
abundance, so much so thst they had a regular |
time of joIIifcation expressive of their joy at |
having a bridge across the river. The spree |
went on to such quick time that the magistrate
of the township Jumped up on the table and |
danced iig among The bottles and tumbers, |
about in keeping with the good old tune Of
81 Yankee Doodle" which caused roar OF
laughter, when they parted in friendship
And hege we close this chapter, in 1921.
Concluded tO-m0rrO10.l