Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-10-21

sSUClclys
We are met together to indulge in reminis-
eences Of the past
The occasion affords suitable opportunity
for paying the tribute of our respect to those
who have gone before US, and Of erecting histor-
ical monuments for the instruction and amuse
ment Of those who shall come after US.
Let US try to improve the occasion.
ain the spring Of the year l7s6. there arrived
within the present limits Of Cuyahoga county Z
band of simple-heaTted and persecuted Indians,
Of the Delaware tribe, under the care Of two
MoTayian Missionaries, by the name of Hukwel-
der and Zeisberger. They had been compelled
10 leave their homes on the Muskingum only
four years years before, by the remOrseless
Williamson, and had sought refuge at Detroit.
Forced by circumstances to abandon the place
Of their retreat, they were embarked in two
small vessels called the Beaver and the
'Maekinaw' for the mouth of the river which
gives name to our county and commercial i'm
porEance to our city; the "Cuyahoga" or Crook
ed" River. Having reached the islands they
were detained by contrary winds until order
overlook them from Detroit for the immediate
return Of the Beaver" as the Fur Company TO
which the craft belonged, had occasion to des-
patch that vessel, with cargo of provisions, to
Mackinsw. The remaining vessel had not much
more than sufficient capacity for the melgre
stores with which the unhappy wanderers had
been supplied on leaving Detroit.
Il thus became necessary to set the passen-
gers on shore, and the greater part OF them we've
accordingly landed on the peninsula opposite
Sandusky. After crossing the bay, they were
arranged in two bodies under the lead Of their
venerable teachers. 1t was 4 melancholy sight
to see these unfortunate men preparing for their
hazardous journey. The sick and feeble were
furnished with canoes, and. under the charge Of
Hukwelder, launched upon the lake. Those
who possessed greater powers of endurance
were led by Zeisberger into the Wilderness
Both parties arrived at the Cuyahoga on the
same day.
On the day previous to ;heir arrival, the Maeki-
nav, which had left them CT the Peninsula, and
which was laden with cargo of flour, in sacks,
taken from rude warehouse then standing on
the bank of the river, had spread her ssils for
Detroit. This was probably the first clearance"
from the district Of CuyahOga.
At the period of which we now speak, pro-
visions for the British garrison, on the Upper
Lakes, were drawn mainly from Western Penn
syivanil. There were mills erected on the Mo-
noneahela soon after the old French War, and
the surplus flour which was made there, was
taken in boats up the Allegheny and the Beaver
as far as practicable; then packed on horses
along lue Iudle AIaNNiNu AoA NcAAAAAto
by Indians to the Lake. OF, TO the nearest navI-
gable waters running into the Lake. That des-
tined for the mouth of the Cuyahoga was, in
early times, taken from boats that had ascended
the Beaver and the MahOning, at or near the
| salt Springs" in what is now the township of
| Weathersfed in Trumbull county, Thence on
pack-hOrses 1t was taken by the Indian trail, a
| westerly course, across the Portage summit,
and near the standing stone" at Franklin Mills,
until it reached the FORKS of the Cuyahoga.
1t is related of Col James Hillman, who was
for many yelrs a highly respectable citizen OF
! youngstown, in Maboning county, that he was
engaged in this carrying trade flour and bacon
between Pittsburgh and the mouth ofthe Cuya-
hoga river, and that during this same year OF
1856, he visited the site Of the ely of Cleveland
no less than six times At one Of these visits
he caused small cabin 10 be erected near a
spring in the side hill, short distance north OF
what is now the western termination Of Superb
or Lane. This was claimed by Col. Hillman To
have been the first habitation erected by the
white man, on either side of the CuyahOga,
within the present boundaries of our beautiful
Forest City II so, his visits had, in all prOba-
bility, preceded that of the gentle Moraylans
with their ersecuted flock These last, so soon
as q sufficient number of canoes could be col
lectel for the purpose proceeded up the river to
the mouth OF Turkey Creek, where they located
themselves temporarily, upon the rich soil OF a
deserted village Of "Ottawas-" Here they plant
ed corn, and set about the work Of building a
house of public worship. They called the place
.'Pllpenah, that is, the "Pilgrims Rest
On the 18th day Of August, l7S6, their chap
eI was so far completed that the sacrament of the
Lords Supper was celebrated within its walls
, This was doubtless the first house of Christian
worship on the Western Reserve, an1 the LOrd's
Supper, which they celebrated, was the first dis.
play of the Eucharist within its widely extended
territory.
Anterior to this visit Of the Moravian Mission
aries, there is little to be learned Of relisblt
: character in respect to the presence Of white
e men within the present bounds Of our county
1t Is true the Cuyahoga river had, for many years
s received marked significance from the fact thai
it was the western boundary of the neutral ter
ritory between the six Nations and West
en Indians" Itis equally true that as mean:
I of canal communication between the waters o
| the St. Lawrence and those OF the Gull of Mex
leo, it had attracted the notice of Washingtol
i and jefferson before the American Revolution
i but we have no accounts of detailed explOra
tions Of the country, in its immediate vicinity
under the auspices of the English Crown or tn
provincial Governments.
The earliest descriptive account Of this par
N ticular region Of country, to be found IN th
4 English language, is contained in the narrativ
4 of one James Smith He was 4 frontier man @
i Pennsylvania, who was captured by the Indian
near Bedford, few days before Braddock's de
feat. which occrrred on the 9Th Of July, I755
In the fall of that year, C755) his captOrs lei
their homes on the Muskingum, taking wit
them their prisoner, and proceeded up the Kill
buck and down the Black River TO Lake Ere
Thence his master, with his family, came to tn
aCuyahoga" and built winter cabin.
He passed the winter Of 1856 in the socie
]. ty of eight Wyandott hunters and thiItee
d squavs They traversed the country in all di
= rections, killing turkeys, raccOons, deer, an
: bears until the folloWing spring, when the
= turned their attention to making sugar In tn
winter Of 1861 they had their head-quarter
near the forks Of the river, at the 'od Portage
: Mr.. Smith was detained in captivity five years
and has left an interesting and intelligent aC
- count of this country when in 4 state Of nature
:, After the making of jays treaty, which pre-
I. vided for the surrender Of the western posts b
the British Crown, there seemed to be no IL
= naming obstacle in the way of establishing civ
institutions throughout the country borderin
: d the Lakes underline auspices of our own gov
{ eminent.
u The Pennsylvanians took possession Of th
Of Fort, evacuated at Erie, and laid out tow
Y there the following year, Q795)
The Resolutions Of the General Assembly {
y the State of Connecticut, appointing Commit
tee to make sale of the lands of said State lyin
- west of the west line of Pennsylvania, bear dat
ag May ., lT95.
The Committee eff.cted a sale for the roun
= sum of 81 200, 600, and deeds were executed {
the various purchasers. Afterwards, on the St
d Of September. 1875, these several purchases
70 conveved their land, N frzSf.to John Caldwell
1e John Morgan and Jonathan Brace, and, on h
5s some day, articles Of Association were agree
e upon by which the "COnnecticut Land Comps
nv" was formed and the management OF its q
fairs nnt-,stad 20 a Rnard Of seyen Diractnr