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Biographies
Source:
Early History of Cleveland
by Col. Chas. Whittlesey -
Publ. Cleveland, O.
1867
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NATHANIEL DOAN
Nathaniel Doan, was one of those of the first
surveying party, who volunteered for the second year's work.
He was so well pleased with the new country, that he emigrated
with his family in 1798, and became one of the permanent settlers.
in 1799 they fled from the Miasma of the river bank, like the
majority of the early residents, and settled on the Euclid road,
four miles from the Cuyahoga, at the corners; where the road
from Newburg intersects Euclid street. This gave rise to a
hamlet, which has increased to a village, and which, until
recently, was known as "Doan's Corners."
Mr. Doan was a blacksmith of the Land Company,
whose business it was, during the progress of the survey, to keep
their pack horses well shod. In 1798 he erected a rude shop
on the south side of Superior street.
A blacksmith is a very important member of a pioneer
settlement. He is soon brought into personal acquaintance,
with all the neighboring people. His shop becomes a central
point for gossip, and for more serious discussions upon public
affairs. Mr. Doan appears to have been an useful
smith, and a good citizen. His name appears frequently, in
the proceedings at elections and town meetings. In 1804, he
was made a lieutenant in the first militia company organized here.
Nathan Chapman, who was not personally connected with the
surveyors, but who appears to have been on the Reserve, from the
year 1796, as a purveyor of beef, and an trader, as a friend of
Doan. Chapman had no family, and died at Doan's
Corners in 1814. Doan died at the same place, in
1815. The widow of the late Edward Baldwin of
Cleveland, once the sheriff and treasurer of Cuyahoga county, is
the daughter of Nathaniel Doan.
The late Seth Doan, who was his nephew, in a
statement made to James S. Clark, Esq., in January, 1841,
remarks, "that a boat was despatched in the fall of '98,
down the lake, to a mill ten miles west of Erie, at Walnut creek,
for flour; but it was beached and destroyed, at Euclid Point.
There was, as yet, no settlement at Buffalo or Black Rock, nor any
between Cleveland, and the Ohio river. The one at Presque
Isle, or Erie being the nearest. When we arrived, there were
three or four clearings, of about two acres each. One
between Water street and the bluff, just north of St. Clair
street; another near Stiles' house, on Bank street, and one
near Hawley's at the end of Superior street, where the
"Central Buildings," (Atwater Block,) are now standing."
Source: Early History of Cleveland
by Col. Chas. Whittlesey -
Publ. Cleveland, O. 1867 - Page 331 |
NOTES:
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