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Source:
Memoirs of Lucas County & City of Toledo
Harvey Scribner, Editor in Chief
Illustrated
Vol. I - Publ. Madison, Wisc. by Western Historical Association
1910
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CHAPTER X.
CITY OF TOLEDO
pg. 205
Pioneer Annals - The Settlement - Vistula - Rival Villages - Origin
of the Name of Toledo - Extract From the Memoirs of Jessup W. Scott -
Early Conditions - Reminiscences of Richard Mott - Comparison of Real
Estate Values - Personal Mention of Early Settlers - Land Speculation -
First Bridge in Toledo - Toledo as a City - Boundaries in 1837 -
Provisions of the City charter - Present Municipal Code - Complete List
of Mayors - Present Limits of the city - Labor Troubles - Public Works,
Buildings, Etc. - List of Postmasters - Public Parks - Charities,
Hospitals, Etc. - Fraternal and Other Societies -
Burial Places for the Dead.
The history of the city of
Toledo properly begins with its incorporation and organization under the
charter by Act of the State legislature at the session of 1836-37, but a
portion of the pioneer annals has been reserved for this chapter, in
order that the record of metropolis might not be disassociated from the
earlier and important events. It was at a Very early period that
the site of Toledo first attracted attention, and in recounting the
different states of development leading up to the incorporation of the
city it will be necessary to indulge in repetition to a slight extent.
It will be remembered by the reader that under the Treaty of Greenville,
concluded Aug. 3, 1795, sixteen reservations of lands were made to the
United States from the vast domain up to that time held by the Indians,
and then confirmed to them. Of these reservations was one of
twelve miles square "at the British fort on the Miami of the Lake at the
Foot of the Rapids." The tract included the mouth of Swan Creek
and a portion of the present limits of Toledo. Under an Act of
Congress these lands were surveyed and sold at public auction, in
February, 1817, the sale taking place at Wooster, Ohio. Two
companies of capitalists were organized for the purpose of buying lands
at that sale. One of them, known as the "Baum Company," was
composed of Martin Baum, Jesse Hunt, Jacob Burnet, William C. Schenck,
William Barr, William Oliver and Andrew Mack; and the other,
the "Piatt Company," consisted of John H. Piatt, Robert Piatt,
William M. Worthington and Gorham A. North. Both of
these associations were represented at the Wooster sale, and it was
found that both companies were seeking to purchase the lands about
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THE SETTLEMENT.
It is from 1832, therefore, that
the history of Toledo, as a hamlet or village, may be said to begin.
The village was a small and mean one, apparently, for a time given up to
Indian trading, and then it may be said that its history was nearly
devoid of interest. Like the knife-grinder, it has no story to
tell, and the narrator of what little gossip there is about it may be
told, as Macauley was about his "History of England," that it is
his story, and not history. Still, within the succeeding months
and years the foundations were laid for the city as it exists today, and
it does not do for cities, any more than individuals, to despise the day
of small beginnings. It has always kept pace with the growth of
the great West, and has always had reason to congratulate itself that
its founders had some conception, even if an inadequate one, of the
great prospect before it.
The plat as then recorded shows that the initial of
Toledo was
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made about the mouth of Swan creek, and in extent covered the territory
east and west from Jefferson to Washington street, and north and south
from what is now Superior street to the river, Erie then occupying the
place of whatis Summit, Ontario that of St. Clair, and Huron that of
Superior.
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A complete list of owners of
lots in Port Lawrence, prepared in 1836, contained the names of the
following persons. John Baldwin, S. S. Humphrey, Daniel McBain,
William P. Daniels, W. J. Daniels & Company, Charles Noble, Platt Card,
Philo Bennett, W. J. Dan-
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iels, George Bennett, Platt & Miller, Coleman I. Keeler, David B.
Mooney, G. W. Rhodes, Austin E. Wing, Abram Ritter, A. Noyes, J. Brandet,
A. Bourdenois, G. Simpson, Calvin Comstock, J. Rawles, Philander
Raymond, J. Clark, Mrs. General Vance, Mrs. Harriet W. Daniels, T. & S.
Darlington, W. Ritter, R. Foster, William Oliver, Micajah T. Williams,
Stephen B. Comstock, Isaac S. Smith, John B. Macy, Edward Bissell,
Raymond & Lynde, Andrew Palmer, Hezekiah D. Mason, Hicks & Company, Dart
& Mott, James Myers, Charles Butler, Joshua R. Giddings, Lot Clark and
C. W. Lynde.
VISTULA.
In 1832, becoming satisfied that
the Port Lawrence enterprise .....
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RIVAL VILLAGES.
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EARLY CONDITIONS.
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TOLEDO AS A CITY.
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LABOR TROUBLES.
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PUBLIC WORKS, BUILDINGS, ETC.
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PUBLIC PARKS.
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CHARITIES, HOSPITALS, ETC.
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FRATERNAL AND OTHER SOCIETIES.
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CEMETERIES.
Around the resting places
which have been set apart for the sacred burial of the dead lingers the
tenderness of the living, and it is fitting that this chapter which is
devoted to the city of Toledo, should be closed with a brief reference
to its cemeteries.
The first provision made in Toledo for the interment of
the dead consisted of about two acres of land set apart for that
purpose, about 1830, by Dexter Fisher. It was part of
eighty acres owned by Mr. Fisher, and it was situated on the
south side of the public road from Port Lawrence to Tremainesville, and
near the crossing of Madison and Seventeenth streets. It was used
as a burial ground for several years and until about 1840, when it was
abandoned for that purpose Early in the history of Vistula, a small
piece of ground, situated at the present crossing of Lagrange and
Bancroft streets, was to a lim-
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ited extent used for burial purposes. It was on the road from
"Lower Town" to Monroe and Detroit; hence the story of the man who
stated that upon inquiring his way to Detroit he was told to take "the
most traveled road," and soon found himself in a graveyard. These
grounds were not used to a great extent, and were wholly abandoned about
1838. In the year just mentioned the proprietors of the Port
Lawrence plat set apart lot No. 859 (corner of Dorr and Lenk streets)
for burial purposes, and in January, 1839, the city council made
provision for fencing the land and laying it out in lots. Ere
long, however, the property was sold for taxes and thus passed out of
the possession of the city.
The first permanent provision for the burial of the
dead was made in 1839, when eight acres of land was purchased of B.
F. Stickney. It was situated outside the city limits and has
been known as Forest Cemetery. From time to time, as occasions
demanded, the grounds were cleared and platted for market. But by
1865 the accommodations of the premises had become so far exhausted as
to make further provision necessary, and a committee consisting of
James C. Hall, William Baker and D. E. Gardner was appointed
by the city council. It was made the duty of this committee to
examine lands near the city with the view of ascertaining the most
desirable location for a new cemetery. After careful examination
these gentlemen made a report recommending the purchase by the city of
portions of sections 22 and 23, Washington township. The council
finally concluded that the location was too remote from the city, and
instead purchased eighteen acres adjoining Forest Cemetery, making a
total of twenty-six acres in those grounds.
But the rapidly increasing population of the city, and
the corresponding rapidity with which the accommodations of those
grounds were reduced made necessary other provisions. To this end,
by an association of citizens, Woodlawn Cemetery Association was
organized, in December, 1876, and the following gentlemen were elected
as trustees: William St. John, C. B. Phillips, H. S. Walbridge,
J. L. Stratton, B. F. Griffin, Heman D. Walbridge, H. S. Stebbins, D. W.
Curtis, and Edward Malone. After careful examination of
various tracts, it was found that the land recommended by the council
committee, in 1865, was most suitable for the purpose. It was
known as the Richards farm, lying northwest of Ottawa river, and
contined 160 acres. This land was purchased and steps were
at once taken for laying out the grounds for the purpose of the
association. The grounds were formally dedicated on Sunday, Oct.
21, 1883, and they have since become the principal burying place of the
city of Toledo. The location is about three miles from the
postoffice, and a considerable amount has been expended in cutting and
smoothing wide graveled roadways, maintaining beautiful flower beds,
planting trees, erecting a fine fountain and otherwise making it a
beautiful and restful city of the dead. For beauty of natural
location and taste in artificial adornment it has not a superior in the
State.
Other cemeteries are: Calvary, situated on Door
street, west of the fair grounds; the cemetery of the Benevolent
Association, on the
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Perrysburg road, near the city limits; Collingwood, in West Toledo, on
Phillips avenue near Duke street; St. John's Evangelical Lutheran, on
Seaman near Wheeling; Hebrew cemetery at Eagle Point; North Oregon, on
the east side of Otter creek, between York and Consaul streets; St.
Francis de Sales, on Manhattan road near Lagrange street; St. Mary's, at
the corner of Lagrange street and Manhattan boulevard; St. Patricks, at
the corner of Dale and Wayne Streets; St. Peter's at teh corner of
Western avenue and Wayne street; and Willow, in Woodville, beyond the
city limits. A number of the above named cemeteries are fitted
with convenient down-town offices, where all arrangements may be made,
and at the cemeteries there are offices and rest rooms fitted with every
convenience. Attendants are ready to minister to the wants of
members of funeral parties, and careful records are kept by the
secretaries to do away with any confusion. These are found invaluable in
hundreds of cases. Neat graveled walks and in many instances walks
of cement are found everywhere, and nearby fountains provide water with
which the graves may be watered. Caretakers keep the cemeteries
looking like beautiful parks, and the lawns and hedges are carefully
clipped. No sign of neglect or carelessness is allowed, and thus
the modern cemetery is no longer a tangle of overgrown weeds and grass,
as it was in years gone by.
END OF CHAPTER X.
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