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chapter two The Historical Development of the African American Community in Cleveland and the Black-Owned Business Sector, 1795–1895 Cleveland’s central location at the mouth of the Cuyahoga River “gave the city potential both as the northern terminus of a water connection between the lake and the Ohio River and as a Great Lakes port.”1 This location also aided considerably in Cleveland’s eventual development into a major industrial and manufacturing center.2 In 1795, the land of the Western Reserve was placed on the market to acquire funds to enhance the state treasury of Connecticut. The land was purchased by the Connecticut Land Company for $1.2 million. Moses Cleaveland, a member of the board that was established to oversee the Connecticut Land Company, agreed to assist in developing the land deal. Additionally, he added more than thirty thousand dollars of his own money. Cleaveland, who was eventually persuaded to head the first survey team to the area in 1796, is credited with founding the city.3 Theoriginal mandate givento the Connecticut Land Companywasnottosettle the land or, for that matter, to develop it for commercial purposes. Rather, it was an instruction to take necessary steps to prepare the land for a quick resale.4 Thus, parcels of land were put up for sale in the land lotteries in 1798, and individuals purchased land of varying quality. Although the Connecticut Land Company did not actively support settlement of this new area, settlers began to gradually move in, and by the turn of the century, fifteen hundred residents lived in the area. Cleveland became the county seat for Cuyahoga County in 1809.5 The first black person to arrive in the area probably did so in March 1806. He was a fugitive slave called Ben who survived the sinking of a boat on Lake Erie. He was discovered near Lakewood by two hunters who took him to meet Lorenzo Carter.6 Carter did not support slavery for moral reasons. Ben’s two owners eventually caught up with him and tried to take him back. They traveled toward Pittsburgh, going over the Cleveland-Warren Road, and were overtaken by two hunters on the outskirts of Cleveland. The hunters allowed Ben to climb down from his horse 13 14 confronting the odds and run away into the woods. The two slave catchers were sent on their way, but Ben remained in the area for a while before going to Canada.7 Although many Ohioans did not support the institution of slavery, in 1802 the Ohio general assembly passed a constitutional amendment that impeded the overall progress of blacks. This “black law” prevented African Americans from voting and marrying individuals from other racial groups.8 The first permanent African American inhabitants of Cleveland were George Peake and his family members. Peake had served in the British Army during the FrenchandIndianWar(1754–63).PeaketraveledtoClevelandinApril1809withhis two sons and in 1811 purchased a farm in the area that is now Lakewood. Available evidence indicates that his wife possessed significant financial means according to the economic standards of that period. Other black families soon followed.9 During the 1820s and 1830s, Cleveland had a very small African American population, probably less than 1 percent of the number of inhabitants. Nevertheless , some blacks served as horse breeders, seamstresses, blacksmiths, masons, bricklayers, farm owners, hair stylists, tailors, and manufacturers. Alfred Greenbriar was a noted cattle and horse breeder in 1827. He owned a farm that was located in the area that is now Bridge Avenue on the west side of Cleveland.10 Duringthe1830s,theblackcommunitydevelopedalibrary,aschool,andalecture program. Attitudes toward racial issues changed drastically during the 1830s with the influx of settlers from northern New England who introduced a more liberal perspectiveonsocialissues.Someofthemevensupportedtheabolitionmovement as well as the Underground Railroad. Leading members of the black community embraced the abolition movement and helped slaves escape to freedom.11 From 1827 through 1847, Cleveland operated as an important transshipment point, where agricultural products were collected from the interior to be shipped east, while manufactured goods from the East were sent south. In 1840, Cleveland’s population had increased to slightly more than six thousand inhabitants, and it became the largest city in northeastern Ohio. By 1861, about eight hundred blacks resided in Cleveland, and their numbers increased to about thirteen hundred by 1870. Many had migrated from the South.12 From the 1830s through the 1850s, more black businesses were established in various types of skilled and service areas, and several...

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