OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Rocky River in Early Years *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 June 12, 1999 *********************************************************************** Historical Collections of Ohio The Kelley Family Collections Newspaper article, Plains Dealer compiled by S.J. Kelley-- 1925 And Then They Went West by Darlene E. Kelley 1998 *********************************************************************** Wrights Tavern and Rocky River in Early Years----- The Mail--- In 1820, a stage line was established from Cleveland to Columbus and a branch was soon running to Norwalk by way of Rocky River over the new bridge. A mail route from Cleveland to Detroit was inaugurated in 1809 and the pounds of mail was forwarded by three carriers walking about 30 miles a day. From 1812 to 1820, a "pony express" suceeded them and then the stagecoaches took over. Tradition says the first Rocky Postoffice opened in 1827 with a Mr. Goodman as postmaster. In 1829, the stage route was changed to pass over "Hog's Back Hill" crossing the river a mile and a half above its mouth. Calvin Giddings, having a wool-carding shop on the hill, received and distributed the mail. About 1834, the office returned to the River mouth and Ruffus Wright became postmaster, for nearly a score of years, Wright's Tavern was the postoffice and Wright's sons, Abraham, Philip and Fredrick, were sucessive postmasters. Mrs. Rufus Wright was Hepsibath St. John. They were married in New York State and she assisted her husband in the tavern, even helping to lay out a road west of Rocky River. She paid neighborly visits on horseback, until a bear from the bush persisted in walking back and forth before her horse. Stage Coach Days--- When the stages were runing they brought to the tavern passengers from the east or to the farthest settled points in the west. On its platform or around the bar room fire could be seen country merchants New York bound; lawyers following the courts and their clients; Army officers, explorers, missionaries, settlers bound westward and, later professors and students from early Oberlin. Tavern fare was always good and you could chose your fish from a trough and have it served promptly. At night the house was often filled. The entire family were good story-tellers and with guests and neighbors gathered inthe bar. Gov. Reuben Wood related ancedotes. Eliel Farr, an early civil engineer who planned the first bridge, recited from the Pope's essays, and a country strong-boy, "Zene"Barnum, recounted wonderful instances of personal prowess and achievement. Of the Wright daughters, Laura was lame and never married. Hestor became Mrs. Hall and later moved to Indiana, Maria married Chauncey Deming and the couple lived on the Deming farm far southwest of Rocky River Bridge. She died in Rockport in 1881. Many an auction was held from the platform of Wright's Tavern resulting from writs of seizure issued by local justices. Acres of choice lands, "roan horses, white mares," harnesses, wagons, wheat " in the sheaf," barns and houses were auctioned from that porch to satisfy claims on "absent" or fleeing debtors. Finances--- Charles Scott, Painesville mill builder who erected Joseph Larwill's river dam, which was swept away, disappeared with Granger City and in January,1820, his goods and tools were sold. For a decade the site of the boom city was called the Village of Granger, and in 1831 eleven lots were sold in "Granger Town" to satisfy creditors of those long since gone away. The old mill lot of 138 acres was sold under the hammer and a new bridge built across the gorge. On its completion, Road Commissioner, Henry Taylor directed Amos Cahoon and Stephen Taylor, its builders, to collect from those who subscribed for it. During the first decade after the orgaization of Rockport Township, wrecks and tragedies occurred at the river mouth, in the river cut or along the steep ledges. On Nov.20,1823, in one of the worst storms known on Lake Erie, the schooner Micator was beached and her cargo of corn, oats,flour,and whiskey scattered along the shore where 59 years before Coy Bradstreet's bataux with soldiers and brass cannon had met disaster. On Oct.11.1824, Irad Kelley's five year old son, Gustavus, was drowned. Visiting his uncle, Datus, his body was found floating in water two feet deep. On Oct 29, 1826, Judson Owen, 30 years old, fell 100 feet from the river bank and was killed. On Jan 7,1828, a stage attempting to cross the swollen raceway at "Hogs Back" was swept down stream. The coach, three horses, mail and baggage were lost but no passengers were drowned. **********************************************