OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Gen. Simon Perkins [13] *********************************************************************** 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 20, 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 *********************************************************************** Thirteenth in series---- Canals-- Simon Perkins --Alfred Kelley On Feb.8,1825, the Ohio Legislature passed an act that would permit the State to borrow money and build two canals: " The one commencing at the mouth of the Scioto River, and terminating at Lake Erie, either at the confluence of the Cuyahoga or Black River, as may be found most eligible. The other line of canal commencing at the city of Cincinnati, and terminating at the foot of the rapids of the Miami of the Lake." This act eliminated the Mahoning Grand River route from consideration; and on March 9,1825, a meeting of Trumbull County residents was held in Warren to protest the levy of taxes against them for payment of interest on canal loans. It was inequitable taxation, in the veiw of the Warren residents, since the canals were so situated as to be no benefit to them. The citizens appointed a committee to protest the taxation, but Simon declined to take any part in the affair. He knew the Mahoning-Grand River route had been bypassed because, for one thing, it was considered as formng a part of the contemplated national canal, from waters of the Atlantic to the Lakes. Simon had, in fact, provided Whittlesey with data to use in promoting this canal. In addition, Simon and the legislators felt that the stagnating central and western portions of the State needed the canals more than the south and eastern sections. Although it made him unpopular, Simon would not take part in the tax protest; and Alfred Kelley, one of the canal commissioners, then said to him: ' It gave me great pleasure to learn that you took no part in those procedings and I hope to hear that this was the case with the more substancial and reflecting part of your citizens generally." In the meantime it was left to Alfred Kelley and the other commissioners to decide upon the terminal location for the central canal. That is, whether the Lake Erie end of the canal would be at the Cuyahoga or the Black River. It would obviously be of great benefit to the State if land were contributed for this part of the canal; and Simon was asked by Alfred Kelley, for the canal commissioners and in response to an act of the Legislature, to contribute land he either owned or had the agency of along the canal routes. Simon then owned some land in Town 4 Range 18, possibly near or on the proposed Black River route; but he, Joseph Perkins, and Paul Williams owned land in Town 2 Range 11 [Portage] on the Cuyahoga Muskingum route that had been discussed since 1807 for a waterway. In his letter soliciting land, Alfred Kelley also expressed the hope that Simon would meet with him to discuss " some other subjects connected with canal policy" and on April 18, 1825, Alfred Kelley eagerly agreed to a suggestion evidently made by Simon that he meet with the commissioners on May 5, in Wooster. " On the contrary your attendance will give me and I presume all the members of the Board much pleasure and as you suggest 'may do some good.'" Then sometime between May 5 and June 7,1825, Simon Perkins rode over the Cuyahoga Muskinggum route with Alfred Kelley and Paul Williams. As Alfred later recalled, the route of the canal was then concluded upon. It was route as Alfred Kelley and the canal commissioners reported to the Legislature--that was abundantly supplied with water, as James Geddes had earlier verified, to operate the locks needed across the dividing or summit ridge; and it would, along with the planned western canal, benifit the greater part of the State. Following their exploation of the route the men rode along the road to the place where, Kelley felt a town might be laid out. It must have seemed to Simon that history was repeating itself, for Kelley's suggestion was very like the one Simon had outlined to Howland in 1811. Alfred Kelley then solicited Simon and Williams for permission to plat the ground and asked that Simon give to the State a share of the lots. After some discussion, Simon agreed to give the State a third of the town building lots. Kelley, it was further agreed, was to make the location of the ground, to advise on laying out the town plat, and to plat and select the lots for the State. Simon's only condition to the gift, according to Alfred Kelley, was that Lock No.1 and the basins should be located in a certain way. The construction of Ohio Canal began that year, and it acted as an immediate boast to the economy of the state. Canal workers swarmed into the area and poured their wages back into the state in the purchase of land and produce. But by 1826, the comissioners were meeting difficulty in borrowing additional construction money in NewYork. Money was again tight and interest rates had jumped to seven per cent. It was feared that construction would be halted or that the cost of the canal would soar beyond all expectations. At this point one of the Canal Commissioners resigned and Simon was appointed to the vacancy on the board which had the responsibility of handling the financing of the canals. In Oct., Simon went to New York to aid Ethan Brown in securing the badly needed loans. According to John Still, Simon showed temperamental tendencies toward the other board members, but there is little doubt that it was Simon's financial reputation that enabled the State to secure the money they needed at six per cent interest. And the construction of the Ohio Canal continued. Finally on July 4, 1827-- that portion of the Ohio Canal from Akron to Cleveland was opened. It was a day of great celebration. On July 3 Simon and other dignitaries boarded a boat. the "State of Ohio," that had been built for the occassion in a newly establihed boat yard in Akron and were towed slowly down the canal toward Cleveland for the opening day celebration. *********************************************** To be continued---