OHIO STATEWIDE FILES - Know your Ohio: Tidbits of Ohio -- Part 91 ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES(tm) NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information is included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgenwebarchives.org ************************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Darlene E. Kelley http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00026.html#0006374 August 19, 2006 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Historical Collections of Ohio And Then They Went West Know Your Ohio Tid-Bits - Part 91. by Darlene E. Kelley notes by S. Kelly ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid-Bits - Part 91. William W. Armstrong William W. Armstrong, a Ohio local newspaper publisher and Democratic Party political leader,was born March 18, 1833 at New Lisbon, Ohio. In 1854, he removed to Tiffin, Ohio and bought and published a local newspaper. He married Sarah Virginia Hedges in 1854. The couple had one daughter, Isabella, who was educated at the local schools. After serving as a registrar in the state treasurer's office in Columbus, Armstrong was elected Secretary of State- the youngest man to hold that office in Ohio. ( 1862 ). After which he moved to Cleveland, in 1865 and bought the " Plain Dealer " and edited it until 1883. In 1868, he testified at the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson. Armstrong served as a delegate to the Democratic National Conventions in 1868, 1880, and 1884. He also served on the Democratic National Committee and in 1881, he declined the nonimation to run for Governor of Ohio. In 1891 the Democatic Party adopted his " rooster " design as a party symbol. Although often referred to " Major and General " he never served in the military. The titles dated from his youth, when he was a member of a military organization for young boys. The fact that his father, General John Armstrong, had been a military officer, enhanced William Armstrong's reputation of possessing a military background. He died at his home at Cleveland, Ohio and returned to Tiffin, Ohio for burial. He was a good leader in the newspaper business and employed many fine writers, He was maticulate about the materials gathered for the " Plain Dealer " although Democatic in view, he was always fair to other Party affiliations. He was a leader of the city and was instrumental in many city fine works, and reported them in his newpaper as well as gave his readers many good hours of enjoyable reading. He was always promoting to young people, his art of good journalism, and encourgeing them to be truthful in their reporting. Encouraging them to add their style of reporting and promptness of getting articles in to be edited on time. His kindness was rewarding to these young writers, and they were fond of him, as were the young paper boys, who sold the newspapers on the streets. We always "tipped our caps" in his honor, especially when he called us by name. ++++++++++++++++++++ Origianl Owners of Lots in Cleveland The sale of the six reserved townships, and the City lots in Cleveland, did not come up the the expectations of the Connectict Land Company. The city lots had receded from fifty dollars cash in hand, to twenty-five dollars on time. The treasury of the associations, instead of being filled by the proceeds of sales, had to be replenished by the diagreeable process of assessments. By individual exertion, the private owners under the previous drafts, had disposed of limited amounts of lands, on terms which did not create very brlliant expectations of the speculation. In truth, the most fortunate of the adventures realized a very meagre profit, and more of them were losers than gainers. Those who were able to make their payments and keep the property for their children, made a fair and safe investment. It was not until the next generation came to maturity, that land on the Reserve began to command good prices. Taxes, trouble and interest, had been long accumulating. Such of the proprietors as became settlers, secured an excellant home at a cheap rate, and left as a legency to their heirs, a cheerful future. At this time, however, it was considered better for the property to be in private hands, and on the 28th of December, 1802, another draft was made of the six townships, which had been divided into ninty parcels. This included all the lands east of the Cuyahoga, except a few city lots in Cleveland. Some had been sold, but most of them were assorted to the stockholders as part of the draft. The names of the original owners are here given. Original Owners of lots in Cleveland by Draft, or First Purchase. Number of City Lots -- 220. Lot No's are included by the name. Samuel Huntington - 1 to 6, 61, 5, 76, 78, 80 to 84, 190 to 194, 206, 210. Caleb Atwater - 7 to 24, 31 to 36. Lorenzo Carter - 25 to 30, 54, 197 to 205. Ephram Root - 37 to 47. Elijah Boardman and others - 48. John Bolls and others - 139 to 144. Ephram Stow and others - 154 to 155. Martin Sheldon and others - 161, 162, 212. Amos Spafford - 179 to 182, 187, 212. Oliver Phelps - 170 to 177, 182 to 190, 213 to 215, 217 to 220. Richard W. Hart and others - 195, 196. Judson Canfield and others - 79. Samuel P. Lord,Jr. - 85 to 87, 97 to 99, 211, 212. William Shaw - 88 to 96, 100 to 133. Samuel Parkman - 134 to 138. John Bolls - 139 to 144. Ezekial Hawley - 49 to 51. David Clark - 52 to 53. Joseph Howland - 55 to 57, 62. Charles Dutton - 58. James Kingsbury - 59, 60. Samuel W. Phelps - 63. Joseph Perkins and others - 64 to 72. Austin & Huntington - 73, 74. Wyles and others - 77. Judson Canfield and others - 79. The others were as first paid for, became in trust for their heirs. +++++++++++++++++++ Black Hawk ( 1767 - Oct 3, 1838 ) Black Hawk was an American Indian chief of the Sauk, and leader of the Black Hawk war against the United States in 1832. Born in the village on Rock River, Ill., near the present day of Rock Island, Ill. He came to Cleveland in 1833 to visit his mother's grave on the Cuyahoga River. Although some men from Cleveland served in the Black Hawk War, the village was unaffected directly by the war, although indirectly 50 Clevelanders died from an epidemic of cholera brought by a troop boat returning from the war. The boat had been denied docking in Detroit, but after a consultation, it was allowed to stop in Cleveland, where the epidemic spread. After the war, Black Hawk was taken into custody by the U.S. government and brought to meet with President Andrew Jackson. Returning westward, he asked to stop in Cleveland for a day in order to visit his mother's grave. In Cleveland, Black Hawk was given a canoe or a boat, and he paddled up the River alone to a bluff overlooking the valley. [ Possibly from the southeast corner of Riverside Cemetery ] He remained there for a short time, and upon returning, he apparently had tears in his eyes. After stopping in Cleveland, Black Hawk was brought west to the Sauk reservation in Iowa where he was buried. His body was stolen in 1839, mutilated, and burned in a fire at the Historical Society of Burlington, Iowa where it had been placed after it had been recovered. ++++++++++++++++++++ Walking Bear or Joc-O-Sot ( 1810 - Sept 3, 1844 ) Joc-O-Sot was a chief of the Fox ( or Mesquakie ) tribe which resided in the Iowa area. During 1831, Joc-O-Sot fought in the Black Hawk War against the United States when the Fox allied themselves wit the Sauk. Following the defeat of Black Hawk, Joc-O-Sot, who had been wounded in the war, made his way east to Cleveland in the early 1830's. Here he began leading hunting and fishing expeditions and became a close companion of Dr. Horace Ackley. Through Ackley's friends, he made the acquaintance of theater promoter, Dan Marble. He joined the Marble's theatrical troupe, touring various cities, performing in plays which purported to represent Native American life. In March 1844, at the behalf of Marble, Joc-O-St traveled to England in company of Irish Composer William Vincent Wallace. In June 1844, Joc-O-Sot was received in audience by Queen Victoria. Very much impressed by Joc-O-Sot, the queen commissioned a portrait of him by her royal lithographers, Day and Hague. Joc-O-Sot fell ill with tuberculosis while in England and, on his own, made his way back to Cleveland where he died. Ackley and his friends arranged for his burial in Erie Street Cemetery. His epitaph, bearing incorrect date of death reads; "Joc-O-Sot called Walking Bear/ a Distinguished Sauk Chief / Died August 1844/ Erected by ten citizens of Cleveland and a friend/ of Cincinnati." Although the record is unclear, it is probable that Joc-O-Sot's remains were taken and used for medcal experimentation, a practice that was all too common during the 1840s. [ taken from an article called " A Cleveland Indian in Queen Victoria's Court." written by David O'Neill ] ++++++++++++++++++++ Stigwanish Stigwanish, also known as Stigwandish, Stigonish, or Senecca, a prominent Indian chief in the early years of Cleveland's settlement whose name translates Standing Stone, was chief of the Senacca Indians remaining in Ohio after " Mad " Anthony Wayne's 1794 victory at Fallen Timbers. He helped the first survey party of the Western Reserve in 1796, and remained in the settlement, helping Job Stiles and his wife Tabitha Cumi, and others survive the first winter of 1796-97. Edward Paine Jr., whose family settled in Painesville wrote, " Seneca has the dignity of a Roman Senator, the honesty of Aristides, and the philanthropy of William Penn." Stigwanish continually traveled to Cleveland, Painesville, Ashtabula, and his wintering residence near the Cuyahoga River in Streetsboro Twp. Stigwanish moved to Senaca County ( named after him ) in 1809. Before the war of 1812, most Indians in Northeast Ohio left for Canada to aid the British and plan raids along Lake Erie's south shore. Stigwanish warned that the British were inciting the Indians. When the British finalized their plans, Stigwanish warned settlers, so that most women and children were evacuated from from lakeshore settlements. However, spies alerted the British, who canceled their plans. Stigwanish died in 1816. Three versions of the death exist; In all three, a white man whose family had been murdered and scalped by Indians killed him. [The Northwest Ohio Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) named their camp in Madison, Stigwanish, in the chief's honor.] +++++++++++++++++ Ben Ben was a fugitive slave who spent several months in Cleveland in 1806. In the spring of 1806, a small boat transporting a man named Hunter, his family, and Ben, was upset and driven ahore just east of Rocky River. Hunter, from Michigan, hoped to resettle in the Western Reserve. Ben was the only survivor; the others drowned or died of exposure. After 3 or 4 days, French trappers enroute to Detoit rescued Ben, and returned to Cleveland and left him in the care of Lorenzo Carter. That October, 2 men from Kentucky, one claiming to be Ben's owner, demanded to see Ben. Carter purportedly stipulated that Ben must consent to the meeting, which he did. As a precaution, Carter had Ben on one side of the Cuyahoga River and the 2 men on the other. the owner reportedly reminded Ben of his good treatment and Ben sonseted to rturn to him. After the men, with Ben, left there they were confronted in Independence by 2 men carrying rifles who ordered Ben to flee to the woods, which he apparently did. These men, John Thompson and Jas. Geer, were considered employees of Carter's. or at least frequenters of his tavern, so Carter was credited with arranging the affair. Unable to find Ben, the slave owners returned to Kentucky. For a while it was believed that Ben lived in a hut, in either Independence or Brecksville. He eventually madehis way to Canada where he could be a free man. Nothing more is known of him thereafter. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Tid-Bits continued in Part 92.