Welcome to part 1 of a multi-part series, where I try to reintroduce you to the very earliest of the white settlers of what would become Euclid, Ohio.
Settlers of Euclid: William Coleman
William Coleman was born in New Jersey on January 18, 1780, to parents Leonard Coleman and Eunice Pierson. William married Jamima Craft (b. 29 August 1780, at Atkinson's Fort) when he was 20. Their union took place Wednesday, November 12, 1800, probably in the same place Jamima was born and raised, Washington county, Pennsylvania.
Jamima's parents were Lawrence Craft Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Lymes Osborn.
William Coleman came to Euclid in August 1803 with 4 others interested in settling from Washington county, Pennsylvania. 2 settled in East Cleveland while Coleman and a man named John Ruple chose and purchased land in Euclid; Ruple close to the East Cleveland border and Coleman near Euclid creek and the “Great Road”, now known as Euclid Avenue. Even at this early time, Great Road was the main mail and stage route from Cleveland to Buffalo.
This is the land area owned by Coleman in 1852, nearly half a century after prospecting brought him here. Chances are, he owned more than this originally.
Coleman brought his family to Euclid in 1804 and that spring he and the few neighbors he had built a log cabin near Euclid Creek. Coleman cleared and planted 2 to 3 acres during this time as well. Coleman's newly relocated family was his wife, Jamima, and 2 young children. He was only 23 years old. With his young family sheltering in their wagon while the cabin was built and the land was cleared and planted, the only things the family owned were a yoke of oxen, the aforementioned wagon, a cow, and 75 cents. William and Jamima completed the roof of the log cabin on their own.
The following Spring, March 1805, the little bit of corn the family had grown was exhausted. A third child was on the way so Coleman traveled to Newburg to seek credit. He ended up speaking with the wife of Judge Huntington. She didn’t know Coleman and was hesitant to extend credit to him. She asked if he could make baskets. He never had, but that didn’t stop him from offering baskets in exchange for corn. Coleman made his way back to Euclid, stopping in East Cleveland and borrowing a small amount of cornmeal from Timothy Doane, and immediately went to teaching himself basket weaving. He worked until he was satisfied with his new ability, and within 3 weeks had sold multiple baskets to Mrs. Huntington and in return was headed to the mill with 10 and one-half bushels of corn.
Upon arriving at the mill, Coleman discovered the stones had been removed for a new dress. Coleman decided he was handy enough with a hammer and volunteered to help. He spent 3 days dressing, or sharpening, the stones, and then grinding his corn. In one month, Coleman had acquired 2 brand new skills and was headed home with food to feed his growing family. He also paid back his small loan to Timothy Doane.
Meanwhile, William and Jamima's third child arrived. Sophia, born in 1805, was the first white girl child born in the future Euclid Township. She joined her 2 older siblings, Rebecca, born in 1800, and John, born in 1804.
William Coleman, like other settlers and native people, had a canoe and would fish regularly, but it was widely accepted by the whites and the Native Americans that you had to smoke lake fish and eat them immediately, that they could not be preserved as ocean fish could. Coleman had a reserve of salt and an idea.
It was a financial leap he took, using this treasured reserve of salt to cure the Pickerel and Pike he caught on the Rocky river, but it paid off. His salt cure quickly caught on. People were downright giddy that they could store and eat fish at their leisure, and this may be the single thing William Coleman is most known for today.
Pre-Euclid Township had deer, bears, and rattlesnakes in great numbers. Coleman credits fellow settler Deacon John Ruple with being the first white man to kill a panther here, with history assuring us the slain beast was 9 feet, nose to tail.
William’s uncle Jacob Coleman also came to Euclid Township, in 1805. Jacob Coleman was a soldier during the Revolutionary War, enlisting at Hackensack, New Jersey on September 15, 1780. As a private, he served Captain George Handy's Company under Colonel Henry Lee. Jacob Coleman was also in the battle of Guilford Courthouse, the Siege Fort Motte, the taking of forts on the Congaree, the Siege of Augusta, the Siege of Ninety-Six, and the battle of Eutaw Springs. Jacob Coleman was discharged on September 15, 1783.
In 1810, William Coleman was made the first Postmaster of the United States Post Office in Euclid township. This is the same year Cuyahoga county and Euclid Township were both officially organized.
The war of 1812 sent many early township residents scattering. Twice, William Coleman traveled to Cleveland to ensure that British forces were not headed towards Euclid Township. On his word that it was safe to come back, the settlers returned. Coleman enlisted in the military in 1812 and was discharged in 1813. Coleman and many other settlers, either officially or otherwise, served in the war of 1812.
William Coleman erected his gristmill on Euclid Creek between 1813 and 1818. Later, it was converted to a sawmill. Coleman was awarded a patent on February 25, 1830, for “improvement on Haskins' gristmill”.
William Coleman was amongst the less than 50 men who voted in October 1815.
In the mid-1820s, William Coleman was a member of the Ohio General Assembly.
The week after Christmas 1857, citizens met to form "a society to preserve and celebrate" the first settlements of Cuyahoga County. The committee to represent Euclid was William Coleman, Sanford Dille, and Cyrus Ruple.
Altogether he and Jamima had 6 children, 4 being born in Euclid.
Rebecca Coleman Sage 1800 - 1822
John P Coleman 1804 - 1853
Sophia W. Coleman Camp Newell 1805 - 1862
Walter Strong Coleman 1811 - 1883
Pamelia M Coleman Cushman 1820 - 1891
Leonard Coleman 1823 - After 1880
Jamima died on June 29, 1853. She was loved in the community of Euclid, known for her generosity, caring, and motherly ways.
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| A beautiful memorial, although her father's name is butchered. Cleveland Leader 7-9-1853 |
William Coleman died a little over 8 years later, on September 18, 1861.
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| Cleveland Leader, 9-20-1861 |
3 of their children are also buried in Euclid cemetery. They are Rebecca Coleman Sage, John P. Coleman, and Pamelia Coleman Cushman.
Jacob and Rebecca are unique as they were removed to Euclid cemetery after being buried in the defunct Stop 8 cemetery. Euclid cemetery was established in 1864. Stop 8 cemetery was in use 50 years earlier than this, being around since the first burial occurred there on April 4, 1811.
Rebecca was buried there in 1822. In late October 1822, the owner of the land, John Wilcox, sold the land to the First Baptist Church and Society of Euclid for 6 cents. It is noted in the deed from Wilcox to the church that the Baptist meetinghouse was located on his property as well as "one other piece of land... being a piece of ground now occupied for a burying ground containing forty square rods it being a part of my farm."
Still, people were interred in Stop 8 cemetery, including Jacob being buried there in June 1835. John Wilcox himself was buried there in February 1869. Living relatives decided to move some of these graves to the new Euclid cemetery, and purchased 3 lots, C15 to C 17. At this point, Rebecca was among those moved.
Not all remains were removed, however, and in 1881 the New York, Chicago, and St. Louis Railroad came through the very grounds of this early cemetery. Jacob was successfully moved at this time, but his wife was not, and it is likely she remains there to this day. Even with the train tracks running through the old baptist burial yard, and children using it as a place to play, the grounds were eventually overtaken by nature and vandalism.
When the property was sold in 1926 and left the hands of the Baptist church, there is no mention of a burial ground in the deed.
A survey was taken in 1934 and graves were confirmed to be left behind. A couple were relocated to Euclid cemetery at this time, though others that should have been there couldn’t be found. Likely these remains still truly remain in Euclid Stop 8 cemetery.
There’s nothing left visually of Stop 8 Cemetery, located here, off Chardon road.
I scoured the internet but there appear to be no images of William or Jamima, but I think their lists of achievements and the little bit of their story I was able to share with you paint an interesting image.
I also learned in my research that William Coleman and I are 8th cousins.
Great article, many thanks.
ReplyDeleteFascinating history. Thank you for sharing!!
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