OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Manx Settlers of Ohio -- Article 1

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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by
Darlene E. Kelley
http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374
August 21, 2002
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Historical Collections of Ohio
And then They Went West
S.L Kelly diaries
Series of Articles 
by Darlene E. Kelley
Manx Settlers of Ohio -- part 1
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Manx Settlers of Ohio -- Article 1

The number of Manx settlers in Ohio, when the city was but a village,
was but a few in comparison to the estimated thousand who eventually
settled through out Ohio. They came from the tiny Isle of Man, and
became a valuable ingredient of Cleveland's population. 

They were noteworthy for the readiness with which they became identified
with the interests and the order of their new home. rooting themselves
quickly and firmly in the land to give more than they could draw from
it. They were industrious, intelligent and strickly temperate.

Mans immigration began in the third decade of Cleveland history, while
Cleveland was yet a village of a few hunded people and continued to the
present 1896. The first Manxman to visit Cleveland were Dr. Harrison and
Kelly Gawne, with Kelly Gawne the first to remain. 

Dr Harrison was with the British Army in the war of 1812 and through
some connection with a duel while in the Army, was at New Orleans and he
occasioned to come northward individually and reacted positively to
Cleveland. Dr. Harrison was a surgeon in the British navy and traveled
extensively about the world. In one of his trips prior to 1820, he
stopped at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River, on which Cleveland was
built, and was greatly impressed with its future prospects by reason of
its environment and strategic situation. He wrote of his accounts of
Cleveland when he returned to the Isle, and directed his attention to it
as a desireable goal for emigration and in 1824, one family came out,
and by mistake, settled in Painesville, Ohio.

Mr. William Kelly and his family ( no relation to me, although would
have been proud to call him relation,) came out and settled in Newburg
township and was shortly followed by William Caine, in 1826. In about
the years of 1827 and 1828, over a hundred families settled what is the
" South End, " more particularly from Union Street southward. It became
to be true that one could pass
for five to six miles in a line through Newburg town and have Manx farms
on either hand all the way. Among these families in the movement in
1827, were the families of the Kerruish's, Rev Thomas Cortlett, and
Thomas Quayle.

The Manx people of Cleveland were mostly Methodists in their
denominational following and in the early days public services were held
in the Gaelic languages near Warrensville. One of the earliest preachers
was a Methodist minister -- Pastor Cannell -- who had great influence
and held services in his own log house and later led having a church
building erected on the Corbett farm. He was 73 years old when he came
to America. A large proportion of the membership of the old Wesleyan
Methodist Church which existed on Euclid Avenue years ago were Manx
people and many of them were members of the First Methodist Church.

Some of the representative Manxmen of Cleveland is W.S. Kerruish, who
was a prominent attorney, James Christian, once a superintendent of the
infirmary and well known as a preacher, John Gill, a member of the Ohio
Legislature, Judge Sherwood, M.G. Watterson, once county treasurer, T.J.
Carran, a member of the Ohio Senate and W.R. Radcliffe, well known for
his connection in various capacities with city govenment.

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Article 2 to come --