Cleveland Past and Present | Page 9

Purcell, Nathan P. Payne. 6th Ward--Edwin Hart, John Huntington. 7th Ward--Charles B. Pettingill, George Angell. 8th Ward--Joseph Houstain, Patrick Carr. 9th Ward--F. W. Pelton, John Martin. 10th Ward--William Wellhouse, John J. Weideman 11th Ward --Charles E. Gehring, George L. Hurtnell. 13th Ward--E. C. Gaeckley, Benj. R. Beavis. 13th Ward--George Rettberg, Major Collins. 14th Ward--John Jokus, A. E. Massey. 15th Ward--B. Lied, John A. Ensign.
1869. Mayor--Stephen Buhrer. President of the Council--Amos Townsend. Trustee--1st Ward--C. C. Rogers, Silas Merchant. 2d Ward--H. G. Cleveland, Peter Diemer. 3d Ward--Amos Townsend, Charles Coates. 4th Ward--R. R. Herrick, Proctor Thayer. 5th Ward--Nathan P. Payne, Thomas Purcell. 6th Ward--John Huntington, W. P. Horton. 7th Ward--George Angell, Horace Fuller. 8th Ward--Patrick Carr, Patrick Smith. 9th Ward--John Martin, L. L. M. Coe. 10th Ward--John J. Weideman, Wm. Wellhouse. 11th Ward--George L. Hartnell, John G. Vetter. 12th Ward--Benj. R. Beavis, Eugene C. Gaeckley. 13th Ward--Major Collins, J. H. Slosson. 14th Ward--A. E. Massey, A. A. Jewett, 15th Ward--John A. Ensign, C. W. Coates.
[Illustration: With Respect, Levi Johnson]

Trade and Commerce.

The commercial history of the early years of Cleveland does not differ from that of most western settlements. When the white population numbered from a few dozen to a few hundred, it is difficult to define what was commerce and what mere barter for individual accommodation. Every man did a little trading on his own account. The carpenter, the tailor, the judge and the preacher were alike ready to vary their customary occupations by a dicker whenever an opportunity offered. The craftsman purchased what necessities or comforts he needed, and paid in the work of his hands. The possessor of one article of daily use traded his superfluity for another article, and for all articles furs and skins were legal tender, as they could be sent east and converted into money or merchandise.
The first strictly commercial transactions were with the Indians. They needed powder and lead for hunting, blankets for their comfort, beads for the adornment of the squaws, and the two great luxuries--or necessities--of frontier life, salt and whisky. In payment for these they brought game, to supply the settlers with fresh provisions, and skins, the currency of the West. In course of time the opening up of the country beyond made a new market for the salt, whisky, and salt provisions collected at Cleveland, and with these staples went occasionally a few articles of eastern made goods for the use of the frontiermen's wives. As the country became more settled the commercial importance of Cleveland increased, until it divided with Detroit and Buffalo the honors and profits of the commerce of the lakes.
Cleveland was settled in 1796. PFiveyears later the first commercial movement was made by the erection of a distillery for the purpose of providing an adequate supply of the basis of early western commerce--whisky. The trade operations were of a promiscuous and desultory character until about the year 1810, when a log warehouse was built by Major Carter, on the bank of the lake, between Meadow and Spring streets, and this was speedily followed by another, built by Elias and Harvey Murray, which became the centre of business and gossip for the village and the country round about. Of course a full supply of the great staple--whisky--was kept.
In 1813 Cleveland became a lively and prosperous place, it having been chosen as a depot of supplies and rendezvous for troops engaged in the war. A good business was done in selling to the army, in exchanging with the quartermasters, and in transporting troops and supplies. This was a flourishing time for Cleveland, and its inhabitants in many cases made small fortunes, realizing several hundred dollars in hard cash.
The close of the war brought the usual reaction, and the commerce of the embryo city lagged, but gradually improved under the stimulus of increasing emigration to the West. In 1816 it had reached such a point that a bank was deemed necessary to the proper transaction of trade, and the Commercial Bank of Lake Erie was opened, with Leonard Case as president. It had the misfortune of being born too soon, and its life consequently was not long. At the same time, the projectors of the bank were not wholly without warrant for their anticipations of success, for Cleveland was doing a good business and owned an extensive lake marine of seven craft, measuring in the aggregate four hundred and thirty tons.
The harbor facilities of Cleveland at this time were very few. The river mouth, to the westward of the present entrance, was frequently choked with sand, and sometimes to such an extent that persons could cross dry shod. Vessels of any considerable size--and a size then called "considerable" would now be held in very slight estimation--made no attempt to enter the river, but came to anchor outside, and were unloaded