Cleveland, Nov 30.1868
Ch Whittlesey, Esq.
Dear Sir,
In compliance with your request I proceed to state some facts that recur to me relating to the early history of Cleveland.
I cam to Cleveland in June 1826. It was then claimed by the citizens of the village to contain the inhabitants. Of the clergymen residing here at that time I can recollect only the Rev. LI. Bradstreet, of the Presbyterian denomination; of physicians, Dr. David Song and Dr. McIntosh; of lawyers, Leonard Car, Saml. Cowles, Reuben Wood, John W. Willey, J.J. Andrews, Jon N. Allen and Saml. Meriweather; of mercants, Nathan Pery, corner of Superior and Walton Streets, P.ell. Weddell, corner of Superior and Band streets and Joel Scranton, on the South side of Superior Street. Herschel Foot had a small book store, corner of Superior Street and the Public Square. John Blair and W.il. Giddings had each a Forwarding and Commission Sore on the River.
What gave to Cleveland is first impetus in the way of prosperity and wealth was the location of the terminus of the Ohio Canal at this place.
The canal was first opened to navigation on the 4th of July 1827. At that time only 37 miles were navigable, extendingfrom Cleveland to Lock No. 17 near Aleron. Our national anniversary this year (1827) was used for a double purpose by the citizens of Ohio. Besides celebrating our Independence of Great Britain, it was used by them for celebrating the opening of navigation on the Ohio Canal. Besides the Board of Canal Commissions, the celebration of Cleveland was attended by most of the offices of state and by a large concourse of other citizens. A procession was formed which marked to the Public Square where an oration was delivered by Reuben Wood afterwards for fourteen years one of the Supreme Judges of Ohio, and subsequently twice dated governor of the State. After listening to the oration the procession returned to the Mansion House where a scrumptious dinner was served by the host, E. elle Segres.
Notwithstanding the obvious benefits of the canal to Cleveland, of the canal, some of its older inhabitants, for some years often navigation in it had commenced, contended that it was an injury and not a benefit to the business of the plan. They said that the produce of the interior, after the canal was built, was hurried through the place, in canal boats and Kake ourself, without stopping; whereas, before the opening of the canal, it had ben brought to Cleveland in wagons and exchanged for merchandise; thus profiting both tavern keepers and merchants. So far did they carry this opparition that some of the most wealthy citizens who had subscribed certain sums of money to secure the location of the canal on the East Side of the River, refused to pay their subscriptions upon the sciso that they had been procured under false pretenses; and the payment was only obtained by a suit at law.
The Ohio Canal was built under the direction of Alfred Kelly, Acting Commissioner, to whom the State of Ohio is largely indebted, not only in constructing her canals, but for very valuable services as a legislator in devising plans of fairness and banking, which have redounded largely ot the prosperity of the state.
I was the first Canal Collector appointed at Cleveland and continued in that office twenthy three years lacking two months; my salary ranging from three hundred to twelve hundred dollars per annum. I collected, during the time I was in ofice, in Tolls, Water Rutz and Faires, one million three hundred and ninety eight thou-sand six hundred and forty two dollars and sixty eight and one half cents ($1,398,642.68 1/2)
When I first came to Cleveland to reside the Court House, built of halved logs, clasp-boaded and painted red, stood on the Public Square nearly opposite where the 1st Presbyterian Church now stands. It was of two stories; the first story as used as a jail; the second, as a Court Room. Thus was there in Cleveland no church or military house used exclusively for religious worship. Religious worship as meetings were held in the Academy, a two story brick building on St. Clair Street, which stood on the ground now occupied by the school house in the third ward. The Academy was used in common by all the various religious denominations and so far as I was know, in entire harmony
D.H. Beardsley