WHITTLESEY, Polly nee MYGATT
Mrs. Elisha Whittlesey – m. 5 Jan 1806 in Danbury, Fairfield Co. CT
Daughter of Comfort Starr and Lucy Knapp Mygatt
B. 8 Jan 1787 in Danbury, Fairfield Co. CT
D. 4 June 1855 in Canfield, Mahoning C. OH at 68y 4m 27d
Burial – June 1855 in Canfield Village Cemetery, Section A Row 01, Canfield, Mahoning Co. OH
Western Reserve Chronicle, Wed., 1 Aug. 1855 p. 2: 4-5
"Tribute to the Memory of Mrs. Whittlesey"
"We copy the following from the New York Atlas. We feel assured that it will be read with great interest, not only by the many of our readers who were personally acquainted with Mrs. Whittlesey, and the still larger number of the friends of her husband; but by all who are cognizant of his political life and public services. The tribute paid to the wife and mother, and to Mr. Whittlesey himself are just and deserved. We are glad of this opportunity to assist in giving publicity to a sketch of the life of Mrs. W.
Mrs. Whittlesey – This estimable woman, late the wife of the Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, First Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States, died on the 4th of June. Respect, for her distinguished husband, and reverence for the deceased, impels us to the publication of an obituary notice which we have collected from sources to be relied on. During a residence of many years in the city of Washington, we often saw Mrs. Whittlesey, though we had not the pleasure of her personal acquaintance, and often listened to her praises from unnumbered tongues.
The late Mrs. Polly Whittlesey, wife of Elisha Whittlesey, was born in Danbury, Connecticut, on the 8th of January, 1787. Her father, Comfort S. Mygatt, commenced business as a silver smith, and was afterwards a prudent, successful merchant. He educated his children in the best schools in the town. The subject of this sketch was instructed by Thomas Tucker, whose tuition was sought for by parents in New York, and in other distant places; by Mrs. Lawrence, one of the most accomplished of ladies, in early and middle life; by Mr. Scoville, from Stamford, who succeeded the Rev. Thomas Robbins, D. D., late of Hartford, Connecticut; and the Rev. Moses Stuart, late of Andover, Mass., in an academy endowed by Major Ezra Starr, before the American Revolution. These opportunities for obtaining information, became well improved.
In the summer, Danbury was the resort of families from New York and the West Indies, which tended favorably to refine the manners of the youth. Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey were married on the 6th of January, 1806, and removed to Ohio, in June following, and settled in Canfield, Trumbull County. Neither of them before had crossed the North River; but they cheerfully left pleasant homes, kind friends, and affectionate family connections, to spend their lives in the new, but rising West.
Although industrious, Mrs. Whittlesey had no experience in the drudgery of house keeping, or in the inconveniences of a log house; and, it was fortunate for both of them, that they did not look upon labor as degrading or disgraceful.
An accurate description of the road would not, at this day, be believed. – Arrived at Ohio, Mrs. Whittlesey was treated with marked kindness by several estimable females who preceded her; but she was not exempt from the privations of a new country. No sighing or sorrowing for the comforts or relations she left. She immediately conformed to the condition of the country, and the society in which her lot was cast, making herself and others as happy as possible. It was a cherished object with her through life, to elevate those in humble situations-to encourage them to rely on good characters, rather than to aim at riches or honors. Every young girl she employed to assist her in household affairs, loved her as a friend and protector - most of them remaining with her until they were respectably married; and, those, who survive, have interesting families. The grief of those at her grave was witnessed by a multitude. Mr. Whittlesey's circuit as a lawyer was extensive; and his private and public business required him to be much from home, and the charge of the children principally devolved on her. They are all living – have families, are respectable. Her unceasing attention, energy, industry, perseverance, prudence, good judgment and affection, were conspicuously displayed, and greatly blessed.
Mothers, and none but mothers, can duly appreciate her trials, her anxieties and her responsibilities. They, and they only, realize the warm gratitude of her heart, when presiding at her table, and entertaining six of her children, three daughters-in-law, and a number of grand children, the last day she was permitted by a Divine Providence to engage in active duties.
She made a public profession of religion in 1822, and most strenuously endeavored to perform every covenant, moral, religious obligation and duty. At no period did she take pleasure in being in the society of the vain, fashionable or frivolous. To the poor she was kind and liberal. To her family, eminently affectionate and devoted.
She left Washington on the 1st day of May in good health, to spend the summer, as usual, in Ohio. About 11 o'clock on the night of the 17th of May, her right side was palsied. She survived to the 4th of June, in the possession of her reason, and died at the family residence at 1 o'clock, 50 minutes p.m., beloved by her family, and by those who best knew her.
"Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like His," were the approving sentiment of many minds, repeated by many tongues.
It may not be inopportune to pay here a small tribute of respect to Mr. Elisha Whittlesey, the husband of the deceased, who for the last forty years, has held a prominent position in the counsels and in the government of the country. He was many years at the head of the Committee on Private Claims, and was distinguished for his earnest devotion to his public duties.- No claim from an individual ever came before him that he did not examine minutely, always anxious to award payment, where payment was justly due. But, often satisfied that a claim was unfounded, or not well founded, no earthly inducement could swerve him from opposition. We do not believe that any claimant that appeared before the Committee of claims, ever left the Capitol without being satisfied that Mr. Whittlesey's decision, no matter what it was, was based on truth, justice and high honor.
One of the great achievements of Mr. Whittlesey's official life, was accomplished when he was on the celebrated Investigation Committee of the Post Office Department, in 1832-3. The whole Department was, at that time, in a state of unutterable confusion, into which it had been led by Postmaster Generals McKean and Barry. Everything was chaotic; nobody could tell how the accounts of the Department stood. Mr. Whittlesey took hold of the matter with a fixed determination to sift everything to the bottom, and produce light and intelligence from confusion. And he succeeded. He made an expose of the whole discordant ramifications of the Post Office, and affected a state of things that rendered one of the hitherto inexplicable Department clear and unequivocal.
On the accession of General Harrison to the Presidency, Mr. Whittlesey accepted a comtrolling office in the Post Office Department, under Mr. Francis Granger; and held it till several months of Mr. Tyler's administration had faded away. Being required to do things inconsistent with his sense of right, and in violation of what he deemed his duty to his country, to dignity, and offensive in the eyes of common justice, he threw up his commission, and returned to private life. We have reason to know that, when Mr. Polk acceded to the Presidency, he anxiously sought the services of Mr. Whittlesey, although that gentleman was politically opposed to the party he led, but was not able to secure them.
After the close of the Polk administration, Mr. Whittlesey was appointed to the office of First Comptroller of the Treasury, an office of great power, responsibility and labor, requiring the most incessant toil, allied to pre-eminent talents. On the accession of Gen. Pierce to the Presidency, Mr. Whittlesey signified a desire to resign, and once more to return to his domestic fireside in Ohio. The President did not think fit to dispense with the services of an officer who had proved himself honest, capable and faithful beyond almost every man who had held a similar station, and Mr. W. consented to remain. He still holds the office of First Comptroller of the Treasury. Though now advanced in years, Mr. Comptroller Whittlesey enjoys a glorious green age. He is well nigh to three score years and ten, though to common observation, does not appear to be over five and fifty. Through his long life, he has been engaged in the thickest of political strife, but he has always made truth, duty, and integrity his polar star, and has not, we believe, in the wide world, a solitary foe."
Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 1897 27 Aug - Article No. 32
Canfield in Early Times, The Changes of a Century Noted
Re: Elisha Whittlesey Family
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1897.
CANFIELD IN EARLY TIMES.
HISTORY COMPILED BY AN AGED PIONEER.
THE CHANGES OF A CENTURY NOTED.
ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF AN INTERESTING SERIES
Written in a Highly Entertaining Style By Dr. Jackson Truesdale of Canfield.
ARTICLE NUMBER 32.
"Editor Dispatch: - Unable as we are to do justice to the theme, it would seem strange for us to omit in our sketches of the pioneers of Canfield some special mention of Elisha Whittlesey, who stood pre-eminent in moulding and shaping the material and moral progress of this struggling community to which he attached himself at an early day, and among whom he spent an honorable and useful life. We are told that Mr. Whittlesey prepared a sketch of his own life, perhaps in connection with that of others. If this be true it is probable the manuscript may yet be found among his papers, and if published would be of great interest at the present time. We have neither sought nor asked for it. It would be improper to attempt to make any use of its contents even if obtainable without the consent of his descendants. What we may say of Mr. Whittlesey must be drawn from sources already made public. Chief of these is a sketch prepared for public use by an aged daughter. We allude to Mrs. Stratton of Spokane, Washington state. This manuscript fell to the care of Mrs. P.T. Jones and by her was kindly loaned to me. Notwithstanding the age and infirmities of Mrs. Stratton she writes well in both matter and style. A chatty production written as a woman would naturally do when speaking of the happy domestic life of her parents. She leaves out, as we will also do, any attempt to speak of the life of Mr. Whittlesey as a legislator and public officer. We will leave to a more competent pen this part of his history. Our effort will be to speak of this distinguished man in his home life, as a fellow citizen and townsman.
The Hon. Elisha Whittlesey was born in Washington, Litchfield county, Conn., Oct. 19, 1783. His parents were John and Molly Whittlesey. The ancestors of Mr. Whittlesey we may assume were of English extraction and settled in Connecticut as early as 1633. We learn from a statement made by Mr. W. found in Mrs. Stratton's sketch that his father was a hard-working farmer, and we judge was not in affluent circumstances, but was the owner of a farm on which he labored and required his sons to do the same. He says of his father: "He was esteemed and respected by the learned and un-learned, by the rich and poor."***"His mind was well stored with useful knowledge pertaining to governmental affairs and agriculture. The family were clothed and fed by the productions of the farm and the united labor of its members." Mr. W. says of himself: "I was a country boy without an artificial polish and without intercourse with town or city society except an occasional visitor at my father's house." In 1792 the father of Mr. Whittlesey sold his farm in Washington and purchased one in Salisbury, Conn. This change of location was important in that it brought the family into the neighborhood that had furnished most of the emigrants from Connecticut to Canfield. Elisha's brother, Matthew B. Whittlesey, had established himself in the town or city of Danbury in the practice of law. Thither our unpolished farmer's boy went when a lad of 15 years to attend schools of a much better grade than those near his home. In payment for his board he did chores for the family, such as sawing wood, making fires, sweeping the office, &tc. These schools were thus attended for several successive seasons and when summer came he would return to the parental home and labor on the farm. In this way Mr. Whittlesey obtained a fair English education, and as the years rolled on he studied law in his brother's office, and at the age of 21 or 22 was admitted to the bar and established a law office in New Milford in 1805.
While Mr. Whittlesey was attending school at Danbury he no doubt was undergoing a change. The rough corners of an awkward farmer's boy were being gradually smoothed down and in after years he became a model of politeness and affable manners. The town of Danbury at the time of which we write is said to have contained an unusual number of families of wealth, culture and refinement and among these was the family of Comfort S. Mygatt, an enterprising and well-to-do merchant - the father of several accomplished daughters among whom was one with the homely name of Polly. The Mygatt family occupied a higher seat in social life than the Whittleseys. During the school days of Elisha at Danbury a trivial incident occurred, trivial so far as the wide world was concerned, but one of the great interest to two young hearts. Of course we allude to that old common passion we call love. Nearly every man and woman has had a twist of it. With some it lasts for life and never changes its object, with others as fickle as the ever-changing winds. With the subject of our sketch it endured while life lasted. We copy from Mrs. Stratton an account of the incident referred to: "My mother was the second daughter of Comfort S. and Lucy Mygatt. They attended the same school. Father being a stranger in the place did not consider himself very high up in life. He said; "I mingled very little in society separate from my brother's family and the school room. With Polly Mygatt I have no recollection of having formed any acquaintance more intimate or particular than with other girls of her age in the neighborhood. In the winter of 1800-1801, I was returning from school in a deep snow and having passed Mr. Mygatt's house and hearing a sleigh behind me, turned to let it pass. It was the horses and sleigh of Mr. Mygatt very comfortably filled with children. The horses were driven by a nephew of Mrs. Mygatt. As the sleigh was passing me Polly requested her cousin to stop and take me in. He was inclined to comply, and the company I thought indifferent and making objections. She, however, persisted and he reined up and I got in." We cannot follow further the details following so trifling an incident more than to say that this was the beginning of an acquaintanceship that ripened into an ardent attachment for each other which culminated in a happy marriage of the young couple at the home of Mr. Mygatt Jan. 5, 1806. We have applied the term trivial to the sleigh ride incident. It was nor trivial to Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey. They evidently believe the occurrence led to their final marriage. If Mr. Whittlesey had married some other lady it would likely have changed the whole tenor of his after life. Comfort S. Mygatt would then never have had occasion to follow a daughter to Canfield and would never have been a resident of the township. With nearly the same probability Mr. Whittlesey would never have made this place his home. The absence of these two men in the formative period of our history would have greatly changed the history of the five mile square of land we call Canfield. All these results hinged upon the question of asking or neglecting to ask Mr. Whittlesey to take a seat in the sleigh. If we recall our own experience we may remember some slight occurrence, a word, a whim, it may be, that has led to an entire re-ordering of our plans in life.
The subject of our sketch is now married and a practicing attorney, and thus prepared for the duties of a busy life. We must no longer call him Elisha or his wife Polly; but for the sake of brevity we hope to be excused if we only use initials when necessary to refer to them by name. Soon after their marriage, and possibly before, this young and ambitious couple were seized with the emigrating spirit that so generally prevailed in the East at the beginning of the present century. The fact of his selecting Canfield for the purpose of engaging in his profession in preference to Poland, Youngstown, Warren or Cleveland indicates the favorable position our settlement was held in the estimation of eastern people. It was the wish and advice of Mr. and Mrs. Mygatt that their son-in-law- should first come to Ohio without his wife, and if an eligible place could be found for a promising home to, make some suitable preparations in advance and then return for his wife. This apparently prudent advice was not agreeable to Mrs. W. She preferred to and was determined to share with her husband all the trials and hardships attendant to a life on the frontier of civilization at that time, and well and bravely she bore them all, as her future life attested. We may readily suppose that the few months between their marriage and the removal to Canfield were spent in preparation for the long and tiresome journey, giving rise to many an anxious consultation. The great question to be solved was not how much, but how little of the absolute necessaries of life could be taken with them. One after another of the comforts of a luxurious home (with a sigh and perhaps a tear), had to be left behind. But we are glad to record that their journey to New Connecticut was made far more comfortably and speedily than their predecessors on foot, or with ox teams. Mr. Mygatt provided for the couple a span of good horses and a so-called Jersey wagon, or carriage, in which the party rode in comparative comfort. A large square trunk was provided, covered with the tanned skin of an animal with the hair left on and ornamented with a profusion of large headed brass nails and colored straps of leather. "In this trunk mother had her bed and bedding, and I suppose all that they owned in the wide, wide world. I do not think the trunk was taken from the so-called carriage from the day they left Danbury, Conn., June 3rd. until they arrived June 27th, 1806." Before leaving, the young bride of 19 summers asked her father for $50 with which to purchase as they passed through New York a new bonnet, some silverware, table linen, &c. Mr. Mygatt replied to this request by saying to her that she would have no use for such articles in the place where she was going, that she would in place of a table be compelled to take her meals from the head of a barrel, and as for table-ware all she would need would be two tin cups and as many pewter spoons with which to eat their mush and milk. But all the same Polly got the $50, but as to how it was spent history is silent. Mr. and Mrs. W. had for a companion on this journey Miss Gesie Bostwick, a lively, jovial young lady who came out to visit her sister, Mrs. Herman Canfield. The party would put up for the night wherever convenience or necessity required. The morning after leaving Pittsburgh the party were surprised to find darkness spreading over the land and increasing to such an extent that for a time they thought it best to put up. "It was the total sun eclipse in June, 1806. It was said the chickens went to their roosts thinking it was night, so dark did it become." After leaving Boardman we hear again the old complaint of swampy, mirey roads.
The young ladies before reaching Canfield, true to their natures, forced open the big trunk in search of the long concealed bonnets, which were donned and ribbons and flowers adjusted in such a manner as to secure the admiring gaze and possible envy of some of their own sex in the little village who had not for years feasted their eyes on the latest style of woman's head-gear. "Father used to laugh at their vanity for years afterwards." The newcomers, as all did, received a hearty welcome from the town people, especially so from the Canfields, Wadsworths, Tanners, and Johnstons, "so that mother was never homesick."
After a few days spent in visiting, the young people found quarters in an upper room in the home of Cook Fitch. "Father and mother had the south chamber with I think the smallest fireplace that at which ever a woman (and she a new beginner) cooked a meal. Ma had an iron bake kettle with a lid, a pot, and spider, all of iron. I have heard her say that when she used the spider in cooking, Mrs. Fitch would use the pot, and then reverse the order.
But I think I notice a sour old fellow in my audience who seems disgusted at the recital of such trivial matters. Who cares, he says, whether Mr. Whittlesey and wife first lived in one upper room or in a mansion of a dozen rooms? Whether Mrs. W. had one pot or two pots? Let me say to this sour old codger that Mr. W. l did not long remain in one room - but I have no doubt while there he paid his rent - and as soon as possible he got a home of his own with more rooms in it; and after a few more years a home with many rooms and all the pots Mr. W. needed in her ample kitchen. And more than this, he had acquired a fame that reached far beyond his adopted state. Clients at first did not show up in abundance, but he did not for this reason take a seat on the doorsteps of a grocery and howl the days away in abusing the town he lived in and crying hard times. If he could not at once obtain professional support he hustled for some employment that would. His first winter in Ohio, that of 1806-07, was spent in teaching a school in the vicinity of the present so-called mud school house. History is silent as to the amount of his remuneration. We only know from the character, ability and number of families in the neighborhood it would be small, but small as it was, it was better than idleness in more ways than one. It would serve as the means of self-improvement that would be of use to him in various ways in after life.
Canfield, O. J. Truesdale (To be continued.)"
Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 3 Sep 1897 - Article No. 33
Canfield in Early Times, The Changes of a Century Noted
Re: Elisha Whittlesey Family
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1897.
CANFIELD IN EARLY TIMES.
HISTORY COMPILED BY AN AGED PIONEER.
THE CHANGES OF A CENTURY NOTED.
ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF AN INTERESTING SERIES
Written in a Highly Entertaining Style By Dr. Jackson Truesdale of Canfield.
ARTICLE NUMBER 33.
"Editor Dispatch: The years 1807 and 1808 must have been busy ones for Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey. A vast amount of labor and care was pressing for attention. The lot must be cleared and crops and gardening attended to, and above all, the erection of a large dwelling, a barn and outbuildings. These meant much more in the way of labor than the same would 90 years thereafter. Mr. Whittlesey's professional and official duties necessarily called him from his home much of the time, and for long intervals. We are unable to say what or how many counties were embraced in his district as public prosecutor. At all events, it included the entire Reserve. During his absence a large part of the supervision of such diverse labor would to a great extent devolve upon the young mother. We quote her words; "We boarded all of our workmen. I never had a person to assist me for a day." With the exception of washing, this brave woman did all the work of a large family besides caring for her babe. Hear her; "Our table was a small one, yet some days we would have as many as 10 or 12 men to board. I got along very well, although I had never done a hard day's work at my father's home - yet I was never happier in all my life than when we lived in our log house." Well done and well said. Let it be remembered that this work was accomplished without the aid of the conveniences our housewives now possess. No cooking stove or range. No pantry or cellar. A few utensils, an open fire place, a cabin with two rooms - that was all, and never happier. The family moved into their new house Oct. 27, 1808 (later became Schaaf home on N. Broad St. and now demolished). Now hear again; "Our son John was born Nov. 29th, 1808, one month after we got into our frame house." No wonder the 'Squire worshiped his wife.
In addition to the many and pressing private duties that the subject of our sketch was called upon to perform was added the additional labor of assisting or leading in nearly every enterprise of public nature, whether civil, military, or of a religious character. In these various capacities we have already had frequent occasion to use his name in former articles, and may have to do so to the end, so intimately is the history of Mr. Whittlesey connected with that of our entire community. Somewhere I have read that he, commenting upon the mixed character of the population that was setting in as early as 1806, says in a humorous way that in this year of his arrival in Canfield the militia of the township elected for captain a Dutchman, for lieutenant an Irishman, and for ensign himself, a Yankee. At present we hear no more of an ensign as a commissioned officer, and I do not remember the special duties he was expected to perform. It may have been the same, or nearly so, of a sub or second lieutenant as now arranged, or as the name would indicate, the color bearer. Be this as it may, it seems that he was popular as an officer, for we find that in 1808 he was promoted to the captaincy and in 1810 he was commissioned as aide-de-camp on the staff of Maj. Gen. Wadsworth of the 4th Division Ohio Militia. In the war of 1812 he as aide was of great service to his general. We should remember that at that period military titles and positions were not carelessly bestowed. Capt. prefixed to one's name was as good as Hon. as we now estimate the value of titles. A military election often called out often a fuller vote and was more hotly contested than a civil one.
In the line of religious enterprises we find Mr. Whittlesey engaged in a scheme to build a house of worship at the center in 1808 by joint effort of English and German speaking people. A site was secured and enough money pledged to secure the erection of a comfortable sized building. For reasons not now clear the project was abandoned. Before Mr. Whittlesey put in an appearance there existed in the township an organization entitled a "society for detecting thieves." History says the society put the quietus on stealing. After the arrival of the 'squire we notice him as an active member. We are loth to believe, in fact we won't believe, that so far as the Canfield population was concerned there was any need for such a society. These naughty scamps had their homes elsewhere.
In social life Mr. Whittlesey was the active promoter and leading spirit in the "Onion Society," the odorous memory of which still exists. If we do not die of old age before our sketches are finished we may have more to say of the diet and perfumes used in the frolics of our supposed staid ancestors.
In the fall of 1810 Mr. Whittlesey visited his old Connecticut home and returned by the way of Washington, C.C., a city that in after years became a familiar one to him. While there he witnessed for the first time the forms and ceremonies of a presidential levee. This was perhaps the first great social event in the life of our honored 'squire, and it may be he found some trouble with his hands and feet. These members of our body are sometimes very handy - again they seem much in the way, especially if one is trying to avoid giving an awkward impression in society. Whether Mr. W. was embarrassed or not on this occasion matters little. As we knew him he was a gentleman of easy and dignified manners. He wrote to the dear one at home a description of the interesting event, and how "graceful and dignified" Mrs. Madison, the president's wife, bore herself on the occasion.
Gen. Hull's surrender at Detroit soon after the commencement of the war of 1812 threw the whole northwest into a ferment of fear and excitement. The orderly and peaceful pursuits of all classes of people were suddenly checked. The excitement produced by the first fire on Fort Sumptner was not a parallel one. It was one of fiery indignation and enthusiastic confidence in final victory. In 1812 at least for a time a fearful panic prevailed all along our northwestern borders - a helpless fear - a fear of sudden massacre by an enemy that knew no mercy. In this emergency nearly every able-bodied man in Canfield as well as along the border was suddenly called upon, unprepared as he was, to face a victorious foe. In this condition of affairs Mr. Whittlesey laid down his pen, closed his law books, dismissed his clients, and the next or the second day following the reception of the news of surrender, Maj. Gen. Wadsworth with Major Whittlesey for his aide was on his way to Cleveland escorted by a volunteer company of cavalry, composed mostly of Canfield men. This is not the place to pursue the history of these men, and other men of Canfield who soon followed after to the frontier, more than to say that Maj. Whittlesey with his usual method and energy was of great service to the campaign and received the commendation of his superiors. After the retirement of Gen. Wadsworth the major continued for a time in the service, acting as military secretary on the staff of Gen. Harrison. Towards the close of his service he became ill with the "camp fever" that swept away so many of the prominent men of Canfield in 1813. I copy from the autobiography of Rev. Joseph Badger who for a short time was chaplain and postmaster in the army. By the way, this book of Badger's is a valuable relic of itself. It is said upon competent authority there is only one copy in existence, and this copy cost me some trouble to obtain the use of for a short time. It was fortunate indeed that Maj. Whittlesey in his severe sickness was nursed by this man who before had been a nurse in the revolutionary army, and furthermore, a man of good sense and great experience. He says; "Soon after the building of Fort Meigs was commenced the men began to be sick. Here Maj. E. Whittlesey was taken very sick. The general's tent was crowded. I took him into my own tent and took care of him night and day. He was given up to die by all except Dr. Stonard of the Virginia line and myself. The doctor understood the case. I carefully administered the prescriptions, which were blessed for his recovery." But how were matters at his home? Mrs. Whittlesey says, "I had four little children that winter. Ann Maria (Mrs. Stratton) was born the 7th day of November, 1812, (in his absence). I had everything I wanted to eat and wear, plenty of wood to burn. When I would think of his situation I was unhappy at times, not knowing what would become of myself and our little helpless children should he be taken away. An all-wise providence saw best to spare his life, and he returned in March, 1813."
He was taken sick with the fever the same spring in Kinsman at the hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman. My brother Comfort went there to help in the care of him. The Kinsman family were dear friends of ours."
While active hostilities were continued on our western frontier for some time after the retirement of Gen. Wadsworth and Maj. Whittlesey they were conducted and prosecuted largely by the regular forces of the United States army, and for this reason most of the men that were so suddenly called out to meet the pressing emergency we have alluded to were suffered to return to their homes, where their labor and presence were so greatly needed. Mr. Whittlesey reopened his office and resumed the quieter pursuits of his profession, but we doubt not the prestige he acquired in the army and the acquaintances made there served to increase the number of his clients and pave the way for future political preferment."
Canfield, O. J. Truesdale (To be continued.)"
Canfield Very Prominent in 1812 War Events - Two distinguished men gave their fortunes to Ohio
By Whittlesey Adams, 16 Aug 1912
Excerpt:
During the war of 1812 the British soldiers and the Indians were combined against the United States. In that was Elisha Whittlesey who was a major under General Simon Perkins of Warren. Elisha Whittlesey represented this district, in congress for sixteen years and afterwards was first comptroller of the United States treasury under Presidents Taylor, Pierce and Lincoln. Following are copies of letters from Elisha Whittlesey written during the war of 1812, to his wife:
Camp at Cleveland, August 29, 1812.
I am as yet in excellent health. Yesterday one company of men crossed the Cuyahoga, which will be followed by two companies today and more tomorrow under the command of B. G. Simon Perkins. They will station themselves ion the most healthy situation, somewhere near the Huron, for the purpose of allaying the fears of the few inhabitants who are remaining in that country and act as a corps of observation. The troops have not all of them arrived, Colonel Hayes' regiment is expected today, Raynes tomorrow, together with this detachment from Beall's and Miller's brigade. The encampment is about three quarters of a mile from town, pleasantly situated, near some of the finest springs you ever saw. About fifty hovels are already completed, and the necessary works progressing for the reception of the troops. It is very difficult to organize the militia, in the encampment but like all other good things of magnitude, may be in some measure improved by time and a good share of patience. My time is very busily employed and not that time to communicate with you which I wish, and believe I shall have here-after. I wish Mr. Boughton to see that the ground for wheat is well ploughed. There is not at present any danger apprehended.
My love to all friends, family connections and the dear children
Yours affectionately, Elisha Whittlesey
(To) Mrs. Polly Whittlesey
Canfield, Ohio
Lower Sandusky, Dec. 24, 1812.
I have had a moment to write you my dear wife, and inform you of my being in good health. The place where we are stationed is beautiful. I have been up the river 13 miles, and for that distance better land than I ever saw elsewhere. There are several Indian villages, in that distance, containing from 15 to 20 huts which are now deserted. They were formerly inhabited by what are called friendly Indians, who are now many of them at Upper Sandusky, who belong to the Wiandot tribe. Those belonging to the Seneca nation have gone back to Niagara.
A scout returned yesterday from the Miami Rapids. They report that there are no Indians or British at that place, nor have there been since the fall of the snow. We shall probably move on there in a few weeks. The Pennsylvania troop have arrived in part at Upper Sandusky and the rest expected soon. The drums are now beating and I have to attend to the guards.
My love to our dear children and all friends,
From yours affectionately, Elisha Whittlesey
(To) Mrs. Polly Whittlesey,
Canfield, Ohio
Lower Sandusky, Jan. 2nd. 1813
Your letter of December 14rh and your papers of the 25th were received by Mr. Way on the 31st. I hope you will be careful of your health and consider it as of the first importance. Colds are common with us, but generally the camp is as healthy as could be expected. The weather has been favorable for our situations, until yesterday. Last night it commenced snowing, and without intermission has continued through the day, and is very stormy tonight and blistering.
Major Frederick has commenced cutting the road from this to the Miami Rapids with a party of about sixty men who he hired from the troops, having undertook to cut the road by the job.
No news to write. Uncertain when we move westward. Do not fail to write every week. I shall be very anxious to hear from you as frequently as opportunity shall present. But do not do anything that shall in the least expose your constitution. Thank Mr. Mygatt for his favors, they were gratefully received and shall be answered. To Mr. Boughton present my compliments and inform him that I shall not be able to comply with his request at present. Mr. Patch I hope will not fail to write. To all give my love. Tell the children they are not out of my mind and that I hope to return and receive a favorable account of their good conduct.
Your Affectionate husband, Elisha Whittlesey,
Mrs. Elisha Whittlesey – m. 5 Jan 1806 in Danbury, Fairfield Co. CT
Daughter of Comfort Starr and Lucy Knapp Mygatt
B. 8 Jan 1787 in Danbury, Fairfield Co. CT
D. 4 June 1855 in Canfield, Mahoning C. OH at 68y 4m 27d
Burial – June 1855 in Canfield Village Cemetery, Section A Row 01, Canfield, Mahoning Co. OH
Western Reserve Chronicle, Wed., 1 Aug. 1855 p. 2: 4-5
"Tribute to the Memory of Mrs. Whittlesey"
"We copy the following from the New York Atlas. We feel assured that it will be read with great interest, not only by the many of our readers who were personally acquainted with Mrs. Whittlesey, and the still larger number of the friends of her husband; but by all who are cognizant of his political life and public services. The tribute paid to the wife and mother, and to Mr. Whittlesey himself are just and deserved. We are glad of this opportunity to assist in giving publicity to a sketch of the life of Mrs. W.
Mrs. Whittlesey – This estimable woman, late the wife of the Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, First Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States, died on the 4th of June. Respect, for her distinguished husband, and reverence for the deceased, impels us to the publication of an obituary notice which we have collected from sources to be relied on. During a residence of many years in the city of Washington, we often saw Mrs. Whittlesey, though we had not the pleasure of her personal acquaintance, and often listened to her praises from unnumbered tongues.
The late Mrs. Polly Whittlesey, wife of Elisha Whittlesey, was born in Danbury, Connecticut, on the 8th of January, 1787. Her father, Comfort S. Mygatt, commenced business as a silver smith, and was afterwards a prudent, successful merchant. He educated his children in the best schools in the town. The subject of this sketch was instructed by Thomas Tucker, whose tuition was sought for by parents in New York, and in other distant places; by Mrs. Lawrence, one of the most accomplished of ladies, in early and middle life; by Mr. Scoville, from Stamford, who succeeded the Rev. Thomas Robbins, D. D., late of Hartford, Connecticut; and the Rev. Moses Stuart, late of Andover, Mass., in an academy endowed by Major Ezra Starr, before the American Revolution. These opportunities for obtaining information, became well improved.
In the summer, Danbury was the resort of families from New York and the West Indies, which tended favorably to refine the manners of the youth. Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey were married on the 6th of January, 1806, and removed to Ohio, in June following, and settled in Canfield, Trumbull County. Neither of them before had crossed the North River; but they cheerfully left pleasant homes, kind friends, and affectionate family connections, to spend their lives in the new, but rising West.
Although industrious, Mrs. Whittlesey had no experience in the drudgery of house keeping, or in the inconveniences of a log house; and, it was fortunate for both of them, that they did not look upon labor as degrading or disgraceful.
An accurate description of the road would not, at this day, be believed. – Arrived at Ohio, Mrs. Whittlesey was treated with marked kindness by several estimable females who preceded her; but she was not exempt from the privations of a new country. No sighing or sorrowing for the comforts or relations she left. She immediately conformed to the condition of the country, and the society in which her lot was cast, making herself and others as happy as possible. It was a cherished object with her through life, to elevate those in humble situations-to encourage them to rely on good characters, rather than to aim at riches or honors. Every young girl she employed to assist her in household affairs, loved her as a friend and protector - most of them remaining with her until they were respectably married; and, those, who survive, have interesting families. The grief of those at her grave was witnessed by a multitude. Mr. Whittlesey's circuit as a lawyer was extensive; and his private and public business required him to be much from home, and the charge of the children principally devolved on her. They are all living – have families, are respectable. Her unceasing attention, energy, industry, perseverance, prudence, good judgment and affection, were conspicuously displayed, and greatly blessed.
Mothers, and none but mothers, can duly appreciate her trials, her anxieties and her responsibilities. They, and they only, realize the warm gratitude of her heart, when presiding at her table, and entertaining six of her children, three daughters-in-law, and a number of grand children, the last day she was permitted by a Divine Providence to engage in active duties.
She made a public profession of religion in 1822, and most strenuously endeavored to perform every covenant, moral, religious obligation and duty. At no period did she take pleasure in being in the society of the vain, fashionable or frivolous. To the poor she was kind and liberal. To her family, eminently affectionate and devoted.
She left Washington on the 1st day of May in good health, to spend the summer, as usual, in Ohio. About 11 o'clock on the night of the 17th of May, her right side was palsied. She survived to the 4th of June, in the possession of her reason, and died at the family residence at 1 o'clock, 50 minutes p.m., beloved by her family, and by those who best knew her.
"Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like His," were the approving sentiment of many minds, repeated by many tongues.
It may not be inopportune to pay here a small tribute of respect to Mr. Elisha Whittlesey, the husband of the deceased, who for the last forty years, has held a prominent position in the counsels and in the government of the country. He was many years at the head of the Committee on Private Claims, and was distinguished for his earnest devotion to his public duties.- No claim from an individual ever came before him that he did not examine minutely, always anxious to award payment, where payment was justly due. But, often satisfied that a claim was unfounded, or not well founded, no earthly inducement could swerve him from opposition. We do not believe that any claimant that appeared before the Committee of claims, ever left the Capitol without being satisfied that Mr. Whittlesey's decision, no matter what it was, was based on truth, justice and high honor.
One of the great achievements of Mr. Whittlesey's official life, was accomplished when he was on the celebrated Investigation Committee of the Post Office Department, in 1832-3. The whole Department was, at that time, in a state of unutterable confusion, into which it had been led by Postmaster Generals McKean and Barry. Everything was chaotic; nobody could tell how the accounts of the Department stood. Mr. Whittlesey took hold of the matter with a fixed determination to sift everything to the bottom, and produce light and intelligence from confusion. And he succeeded. He made an expose of the whole discordant ramifications of the Post Office, and affected a state of things that rendered one of the hitherto inexplicable Department clear and unequivocal.
On the accession of General Harrison to the Presidency, Mr. Whittlesey accepted a comtrolling office in the Post Office Department, under Mr. Francis Granger; and held it till several months of Mr. Tyler's administration had faded away. Being required to do things inconsistent with his sense of right, and in violation of what he deemed his duty to his country, to dignity, and offensive in the eyes of common justice, he threw up his commission, and returned to private life. We have reason to know that, when Mr. Polk acceded to the Presidency, he anxiously sought the services of Mr. Whittlesey, although that gentleman was politically opposed to the party he led, but was not able to secure them.
After the close of the Polk administration, Mr. Whittlesey was appointed to the office of First Comptroller of the Treasury, an office of great power, responsibility and labor, requiring the most incessant toil, allied to pre-eminent talents. On the accession of Gen. Pierce to the Presidency, Mr. Whittlesey signified a desire to resign, and once more to return to his domestic fireside in Ohio. The President did not think fit to dispense with the services of an officer who had proved himself honest, capable and faithful beyond almost every man who had held a similar station, and Mr. W. consented to remain. He still holds the office of First Comptroller of the Treasury. Though now advanced in years, Mr. Comptroller Whittlesey enjoys a glorious green age. He is well nigh to three score years and ten, though to common observation, does not appear to be over five and fifty. Through his long life, he has been engaged in the thickest of political strife, but he has always made truth, duty, and integrity his polar star, and has not, we believe, in the wide world, a solitary foe."
Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 1897 27 Aug - Article No. 32
Canfield in Early Times, The Changes of a Century Noted
Re: Elisha Whittlesey Family
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1897.
CANFIELD IN EARLY TIMES.
HISTORY COMPILED BY AN AGED PIONEER.
THE CHANGES OF A CENTURY NOTED.
ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF AN INTERESTING SERIES
Written in a Highly Entertaining Style By Dr. Jackson Truesdale of Canfield.
ARTICLE NUMBER 32.
"Editor Dispatch: - Unable as we are to do justice to the theme, it would seem strange for us to omit in our sketches of the pioneers of Canfield some special mention of Elisha Whittlesey, who stood pre-eminent in moulding and shaping the material and moral progress of this struggling community to which he attached himself at an early day, and among whom he spent an honorable and useful life. We are told that Mr. Whittlesey prepared a sketch of his own life, perhaps in connection with that of others. If this be true it is probable the manuscript may yet be found among his papers, and if published would be of great interest at the present time. We have neither sought nor asked for it. It would be improper to attempt to make any use of its contents even if obtainable without the consent of his descendants. What we may say of Mr. Whittlesey must be drawn from sources already made public. Chief of these is a sketch prepared for public use by an aged daughter. We allude to Mrs. Stratton of Spokane, Washington state. This manuscript fell to the care of Mrs. P.T. Jones and by her was kindly loaned to me. Notwithstanding the age and infirmities of Mrs. Stratton she writes well in both matter and style. A chatty production written as a woman would naturally do when speaking of the happy domestic life of her parents. She leaves out, as we will also do, any attempt to speak of the life of Mr. Whittlesey as a legislator and public officer. We will leave to a more competent pen this part of his history. Our effort will be to speak of this distinguished man in his home life, as a fellow citizen and townsman.
The Hon. Elisha Whittlesey was born in Washington, Litchfield county, Conn., Oct. 19, 1783. His parents were John and Molly Whittlesey. The ancestors of Mr. Whittlesey we may assume were of English extraction and settled in Connecticut as early as 1633. We learn from a statement made by Mr. W. found in Mrs. Stratton's sketch that his father was a hard-working farmer, and we judge was not in affluent circumstances, but was the owner of a farm on which he labored and required his sons to do the same. He says of his father: "He was esteemed and respected by the learned and un-learned, by the rich and poor."***"His mind was well stored with useful knowledge pertaining to governmental affairs and agriculture. The family were clothed and fed by the productions of the farm and the united labor of its members." Mr. W. says of himself: "I was a country boy without an artificial polish and without intercourse with town or city society except an occasional visitor at my father's house." In 1792 the father of Mr. Whittlesey sold his farm in Washington and purchased one in Salisbury, Conn. This change of location was important in that it brought the family into the neighborhood that had furnished most of the emigrants from Connecticut to Canfield. Elisha's brother, Matthew B. Whittlesey, had established himself in the town or city of Danbury in the practice of law. Thither our unpolished farmer's boy went when a lad of 15 years to attend schools of a much better grade than those near his home. In payment for his board he did chores for the family, such as sawing wood, making fires, sweeping the office, &tc. These schools were thus attended for several successive seasons and when summer came he would return to the parental home and labor on the farm. In this way Mr. Whittlesey obtained a fair English education, and as the years rolled on he studied law in his brother's office, and at the age of 21 or 22 was admitted to the bar and established a law office in New Milford in 1805.
While Mr. Whittlesey was attending school at Danbury he no doubt was undergoing a change. The rough corners of an awkward farmer's boy were being gradually smoothed down and in after years he became a model of politeness and affable manners. The town of Danbury at the time of which we write is said to have contained an unusual number of families of wealth, culture and refinement and among these was the family of Comfort S. Mygatt, an enterprising and well-to-do merchant - the father of several accomplished daughters among whom was one with the homely name of Polly. The Mygatt family occupied a higher seat in social life than the Whittleseys. During the school days of Elisha at Danbury a trivial incident occurred, trivial so far as the wide world was concerned, but one of the great interest to two young hearts. Of course we allude to that old common passion we call love. Nearly every man and woman has had a twist of it. With some it lasts for life and never changes its object, with others as fickle as the ever-changing winds. With the subject of our sketch it endured while life lasted. We copy from Mrs. Stratton an account of the incident referred to: "My mother was the second daughter of Comfort S. and Lucy Mygatt. They attended the same school. Father being a stranger in the place did not consider himself very high up in life. He said; "I mingled very little in society separate from my brother's family and the school room. With Polly Mygatt I have no recollection of having formed any acquaintance more intimate or particular than with other girls of her age in the neighborhood. In the winter of 1800-1801, I was returning from school in a deep snow and having passed Mr. Mygatt's house and hearing a sleigh behind me, turned to let it pass. It was the horses and sleigh of Mr. Mygatt very comfortably filled with children. The horses were driven by a nephew of Mrs. Mygatt. As the sleigh was passing me Polly requested her cousin to stop and take me in. He was inclined to comply, and the company I thought indifferent and making objections. She, however, persisted and he reined up and I got in." We cannot follow further the details following so trifling an incident more than to say that this was the beginning of an acquaintanceship that ripened into an ardent attachment for each other which culminated in a happy marriage of the young couple at the home of Mr. Mygatt Jan. 5, 1806. We have applied the term trivial to the sleigh ride incident. It was nor trivial to Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey. They evidently believe the occurrence led to their final marriage. If Mr. Whittlesey had married some other lady it would likely have changed the whole tenor of his after life. Comfort S. Mygatt would then never have had occasion to follow a daughter to Canfield and would never have been a resident of the township. With nearly the same probability Mr. Whittlesey would never have made this place his home. The absence of these two men in the formative period of our history would have greatly changed the history of the five mile square of land we call Canfield. All these results hinged upon the question of asking or neglecting to ask Mr. Whittlesey to take a seat in the sleigh. If we recall our own experience we may remember some slight occurrence, a word, a whim, it may be, that has led to an entire re-ordering of our plans in life.
The subject of our sketch is now married and a practicing attorney, and thus prepared for the duties of a busy life. We must no longer call him Elisha or his wife Polly; but for the sake of brevity we hope to be excused if we only use initials when necessary to refer to them by name. Soon after their marriage, and possibly before, this young and ambitious couple were seized with the emigrating spirit that so generally prevailed in the East at the beginning of the present century. The fact of his selecting Canfield for the purpose of engaging in his profession in preference to Poland, Youngstown, Warren or Cleveland indicates the favorable position our settlement was held in the estimation of eastern people. It was the wish and advice of Mr. and Mrs. Mygatt that their son-in-law- should first come to Ohio without his wife, and if an eligible place could be found for a promising home to, make some suitable preparations in advance and then return for his wife. This apparently prudent advice was not agreeable to Mrs. W. She preferred to and was determined to share with her husband all the trials and hardships attendant to a life on the frontier of civilization at that time, and well and bravely she bore them all, as her future life attested. We may readily suppose that the few months between their marriage and the removal to Canfield were spent in preparation for the long and tiresome journey, giving rise to many an anxious consultation. The great question to be solved was not how much, but how little of the absolute necessaries of life could be taken with them. One after another of the comforts of a luxurious home (with a sigh and perhaps a tear), had to be left behind. But we are glad to record that their journey to New Connecticut was made far more comfortably and speedily than their predecessors on foot, or with ox teams. Mr. Mygatt provided for the couple a span of good horses and a so-called Jersey wagon, or carriage, in which the party rode in comparative comfort. A large square trunk was provided, covered with the tanned skin of an animal with the hair left on and ornamented with a profusion of large headed brass nails and colored straps of leather. "In this trunk mother had her bed and bedding, and I suppose all that they owned in the wide, wide world. I do not think the trunk was taken from the so-called carriage from the day they left Danbury, Conn., June 3rd. until they arrived June 27th, 1806." Before leaving, the young bride of 19 summers asked her father for $50 with which to purchase as they passed through New York a new bonnet, some silverware, table linen, &c. Mr. Mygatt replied to this request by saying to her that she would have no use for such articles in the place where she was going, that she would in place of a table be compelled to take her meals from the head of a barrel, and as for table-ware all she would need would be two tin cups and as many pewter spoons with which to eat their mush and milk. But all the same Polly got the $50, but as to how it was spent history is silent. Mr. and Mrs. W. had for a companion on this journey Miss Gesie Bostwick, a lively, jovial young lady who came out to visit her sister, Mrs. Herman Canfield. The party would put up for the night wherever convenience or necessity required. The morning after leaving Pittsburgh the party were surprised to find darkness spreading over the land and increasing to such an extent that for a time they thought it best to put up. "It was the total sun eclipse in June, 1806. It was said the chickens went to their roosts thinking it was night, so dark did it become." After leaving Boardman we hear again the old complaint of swampy, mirey roads.
The young ladies before reaching Canfield, true to their natures, forced open the big trunk in search of the long concealed bonnets, which were donned and ribbons and flowers adjusted in such a manner as to secure the admiring gaze and possible envy of some of their own sex in the little village who had not for years feasted their eyes on the latest style of woman's head-gear. "Father used to laugh at their vanity for years afterwards." The newcomers, as all did, received a hearty welcome from the town people, especially so from the Canfields, Wadsworths, Tanners, and Johnstons, "so that mother was never homesick."
After a few days spent in visiting, the young people found quarters in an upper room in the home of Cook Fitch. "Father and mother had the south chamber with I think the smallest fireplace that at which ever a woman (and she a new beginner) cooked a meal. Ma had an iron bake kettle with a lid, a pot, and spider, all of iron. I have heard her say that when she used the spider in cooking, Mrs. Fitch would use the pot, and then reverse the order.
But I think I notice a sour old fellow in my audience who seems disgusted at the recital of such trivial matters. Who cares, he says, whether Mr. Whittlesey and wife first lived in one upper room or in a mansion of a dozen rooms? Whether Mrs. W. had one pot or two pots? Let me say to this sour old codger that Mr. W. l did not long remain in one room - but I have no doubt while there he paid his rent - and as soon as possible he got a home of his own with more rooms in it; and after a few more years a home with many rooms and all the pots Mr. W. needed in her ample kitchen. And more than this, he had acquired a fame that reached far beyond his adopted state. Clients at first did not show up in abundance, but he did not for this reason take a seat on the doorsteps of a grocery and howl the days away in abusing the town he lived in and crying hard times. If he could not at once obtain professional support he hustled for some employment that would. His first winter in Ohio, that of 1806-07, was spent in teaching a school in the vicinity of the present so-called mud school house. History is silent as to the amount of his remuneration. We only know from the character, ability and number of families in the neighborhood it would be small, but small as it was, it was better than idleness in more ways than one. It would serve as the means of self-improvement that would be of use to him in various ways in after life.
Canfield, O. J. Truesdale (To be continued.)"
Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 3 Sep 1897 - Article No. 33
Canfield in Early Times, The Changes of a Century Noted
Re: Elisha Whittlesey Family
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1897.
CANFIELD IN EARLY TIMES.
HISTORY COMPILED BY AN AGED PIONEER.
THE CHANGES OF A CENTURY NOTED.
ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF AN INTERESTING SERIES
Written in a Highly Entertaining Style By Dr. Jackson Truesdale of Canfield.
ARTICLE NUMBER 33.
"Editor Dispatch: The years 1807 and 1808 must have been busy ones for Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey. A vast amount of labor and care was pressing for attention. The lot must be cleared and crops and gardening attended to, and above all, the erection of a large dwelling, a barn and outbuildings. These meant much more in the way of labor than the same would 90 years thereafter. Mr. Whittlesey's professional and official duties necessarily called him from his home much of the time, and for long intervals. We are unable to say what or how many counties were embraced in his district as public prosecutor. At all events, it included the entire Reserve. During his absence a large part of the supervision of such diverse labor would to a great extent devolve upon the young mother. We quote her words; "We boarded all of our workmen. I never had a person to assist me for a day." With the exception of washing, this brave woman did all the work of a large family besides caring for her babe. Hear her; "Our table was a small one, yet some days we would have as many as 10 or 12 men to board. I got along very well, although I had never done a hard day's work at my father's home - yet I was never happier in all my life than when we lived in our log house." Well done and well said. Let it be remembered that this work was accomplished without the aid of the conveniences our housewives now possess. No cooking stove or range. No pantry or cellar. A few utensils, an open fire place, a cabin with two rooms - that was all, and never happier. The family moved into their new house Oct. 27, 1808 (later became Schaaf home on N. Broad St. and now demolished). Now hear again; "Our son John was born Nov. 29th, 1808, one month after we got into our frame house." No wonder the 'Squire worshiped his wife.
In addition to the many and pressing private duties that the subject of our sketch was called upon to perform was added the additional labor of assisting or leading in nearly every enterprise of public nature, whether civil, military, or of a religious character. In these various capacities we have already had frequent occasion to use his name in former articles, and may have to do so to the end, so intimately is the history of Mr. Whittlesey connected with that of our entire community. Somewhere I have read that he, commenting upon the mixed character of the population that was setting in as early as 1806, says in a humorous way that in this year of his arrival in Canfield the militia of the township elected for captain a Dutchman, for lieutenant an Irishman, and for ensign himself, a Yankee. At present we hear no more of an ensign as a commissioned officer, and I do not remember the special duties he was expected to perform. It may have been the same, or nearly so, of a sub or second lieutenant as now arranged, or as the name would indicate, the color bearer. Be this as it may, it seems that he was popular as an officer, for we find that in 1808 he was promoted to the captaincy and in 1810 he was commissioned as aide-de-camp on the staff of Maj. Gen. Wadsworth of the 4th Division Ohio Militia. In the war of 1812 he as aide was of great service to his general. We should remember that at that period military titles and positions were not carelessly bestowed. Capt. prefixed to one's name was as good as Hon. as we now estimate the value of titles. A military election often called out often a fuller vote and was more hotly contested than a civil one.
In the line of religious enterprises we find Mr. Whittlesey engaged in a scheme to build a house of worship at the center in 1808 by joint effort of English and German speaking people. A site was secured and enough money pledged to secure the erection of a comfortable sized building. For reasons not now clear the project was abandoned. Before Mr. Whittlesey put in an appearance there existed in the township an organization entitled a "society for detecting thieves." History says the society put the quietus on stealing. After the arrival of the 'squire we notice him as an active member. We are loth to believe, in fact we won't believe, that so far as the Canfield population was concerned there was any need for such a society. These naughty scamps had their homes elsewhere.
In social life Mr. Whittlesey was the active promoter and leading spirit in the "Onion Society," the odorous memory of which still exists. If we do not die of old age before our sketches are finished we may have more to say of the diet and perfumes used in the frolics of our supposed staid ancestors.
In the fall of 1810 Mr. Whittlesey visited his old Connecticut home and returned by the way of Washington, C.C., a city that in after years became a familiar one to him. While there he witnessed for the first time the forms and ceremonies of a presidential levee. This was perhaps the first great social event in the life of our honored 'squire, and it may be he found some trouble with his hands and feet. These members of our body are sometimes very handy - again they seem much in the way, especially if one is trying to avoid giving an awkward impression in society. Whether Mr. W. was embarrassed or not on this occasion matters little. As we knew him he was a gentleman of easy and dignified manners. He wrote to the dear one at home a description of the interesting event, and how "graceful and dignified" Mrs. Madison, the president's wife, bore herself on the occasion.
Gen. Hull's surrender at Detroit soon after the commencement of the war of 1812 threw the whole northwest into a ferment of fear and excitement. The orderly and peaceful pursuits of all classes of people were suddenly checked. The excitement produced by the first fire on Fort Sumptner was not a parallel one. It was one of fiery indignation and enthusiastic confidence in final victory. In 1812 at least for a time a fearful panic prevailed all along our northwestern borders - a helpless fear - a fear of sudden massacre by an enemy that knew no mercy. In this emergency nearly every able-bodied man in Canfield as well as along the border was suddenly called upon, unprepared as he was, to face a victorious foe. In this condition of affairs Mr. Whittlesey laid down his pen, closed his law books, dismissed his clients, and the next or the second day following the reception of the news of surrender, Maj. Gen. Wadsworth with Major Whittlesey for his aide was on his way to Cleveland escorted by a volunteer company of cavalry, composed mostly of Canfield men. This is not the place to pursue the history of these men, and other men of Canfield who soon followed after to the frontier, more than to say that Maj. Whittlesey with his usual method and energy was of great service to the campaign and received the commendation of his superiors. After the retirement of Gen. Wadsworth the major continued for a time in the service, acting as military secretary on the staff of Gen. Harrison. Towards the close of his service he became ill with the "camp fever" that swept away so many of the prominent men of Canfield in 1813. I copy from the autobiography of Rev. Joseph Badger who for a short time was chaplain and postmaster in the army. By the way, this book of Badger's is a valuable relic of itself. It is said upon competent authority there is only one copy in existence, and this copy cost me some trouble to obtain the use of for a short time. It was fortunate indeed that Maj. Whittlesey in his severe sickness was nursed by this man who before had been a nurse in the revolutionary army, and furthermore, a man of good sense and great experience. He says; "Soon after the building of Fort Meigs was commenced the men began to be sick. Here Maj. E. Whittlesey was taken very sick. The general's tent was crowded. I took him into my own tent and took care of him night and day. He was given up to die by all except Dr. Stonard of the Virginia line and myself. The doctor understood the case. I carefully administered the prescriptions, which were blessed for his recovery." But how were matters at his home? Mrs. Whittlesey says, "I had four little children that winter. Ann Maria (Mrs. Stratton) was born the 7th day of November, 1812, (in his absence). I had everything I wanted to eat and wear, plenty of wood to burn. When I would think of his situation I was unhappy at times, not knowing what would become of myself and our little helpless children should he be taken away. An all-wise providence saw best to spare his life, and he returned in March, 1813."
He was taken sick with the fever the same spring in Kinsman at the hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman. My brother Comfort went there to help in the care of him. The Kinsman family were dear friends of ours."
While active hostilities were continued on our western frontier for some time after the retirement of Gen. Wadsworth and Maj. Whittlesey they were conducted and prosecuted largely by the regular forces of the United States army, and for this reason most of the men that were so suddenly called out to meet the pressing emergency we have alluded to were suffered to return to their homes, where their labor and presence were so greatly needed. Mr. Whittlesey reopened his office and resumed the quieter pursuits of his profession, but we doubt not the prestige he acquired in the army and the acquaintances made there served to increase the number of his clients and pave the way for future political preferment."
Canfield, O. J. Truesdale (To be continued.)"
Canfield Very Prominent in 1812 War Events - Two distinguished men gave their fortunes to Ohio
By Whittlesey Adams, 16 Aug 1912
Excerpt:
During the war of 1812 the British soldiers and the Indians were combined against the United States. In that was Elisha Whittlesey who was a major under General Simon Perkins of Warren. Elisha Whittlesey represented this district, in congress for sixteen years and afterwards was first comptroller of the United States treasury under Presidents Taylor, Pierce and Lincoln. Following are copies of letters from Elisha Whittlesey written during the war of 1812, to his wife:
Camp at Cleveland, August 29, 1812.
I am as yet in excellent health. Yesterday one company of men crossed the Cuyahoga, which will be followed by two companies today and more tomorrow under the command of B. G. Simon Perkins. They will station themselves ion the most healthy situation, somewhere near the Huron, for the purpose of allaying the fears of the few inhabitants who are remaining in that country and act as a corps of observation. The troops have not all of them arrived, Colonel Hayes' regiment is expected today, Raynes tomorrow, together with this detachment from Beall's and Miller's brigade. The encampment is about three quarters of a mile from town, pleasantly situated, near some of the finest springs you ever saw. About fifty hovels are already completed, and the necessary works progressing for the reception of the troops. It is very difficult to organize the militia, in the encampment but like all other good things of magnitude, may be in some measure improved by time and a good share of patience. My time is very busily employed and not that time to communicate with you which I wish, and believe I shall have here-after. I wish Mr. Boughton to see that the ground for wheat is well ploughed. There is not at present any danger apprehended.
My love to all friends, family connections and the dear children
Yours affectionately, Elisha Whittlesey
(To) Mrs. Polly Whittlesey
Canfield, Ohio
Lower Sandusky, Dec. 24, 1812.
I have had a moment to write you my dear wife, and inform you of my being in good health. The place where we are stationed is beautiful. I have been up the river 13 miles, and for that distance better land than I ever saw elsewhere. There are several Indian villages, in that distance, containing from 15 to 20 huts which are now deserted. They were formerly inhabited by what are called friendly Indians, who are now many of them at Upper Sandusky, who belong to the Wiandot tribe. Those belonging to the Seneca nation have gone back to Niagara.
A scout returned yesterday from the Miami Rapids. They report that there are no Indians or British at that place, nor have there been since the fall of the snow. We shall probably move on there in a few weeks. The Pennsylvania troop have arrived in part at Upper Sandusky and the rest expected soon. The drums are now beating and I have to attend to the guards.
My love to our dear children and all friends,
From yours affectionately, Elisha Whittlesey
(To) Mrs. Polly Whittlesey,
Canfield, Ohio
Lower Sandusky, Jan. 2nd. 1813
Your letter of December 14rh and your papers of the 25th were received by Mr. Way on the 31st. I hope you will be careful of your health and consider it as of the first importance. Colds are common with us, but generally the camp is as healthy as could be expected. The weather has been favorable for our situations, until yesterday. Last night it commenced snowing, and without intermission has continued through the day, and is very stormy tonight and blistering.
Major Frederick has commenced cutting the road from this to the Miami Rapids with a party of about sixty men who he hired from the troops, having undertook to cut the road by the job.
No news to write. Uncertain when we move westward. Do not fail to write every week. I shall be very anxious to hear from you as frequently as opportunity shall present. But do not do anything that shall in the least expose your constitution. Thank Mr. Mygatt for his favors, they were gratefully received and shall be answered. To Mr. Boughton present my compliments and inform him that I shall not be able to comply with his request at present. Mr. Patch I hope will not fail to write. To all give my love. Tell the children they are not out of my mind and that I hope to return and receive a favorable account of their good conduct.
Your Affectionate husband, Elisha Whittlesey,
WHITTLESEY, Polly nee MYGATT
Mrs. Elisha Whittlesey – m. 5 Jan 1806 in Danbury, Fairfield Co. CT
Daughter of Comfort Starr and Lucy Knapp Mygatt
B. 8 Jan 1787 in Danbury, Fairfield Co. CT
D. 4 June 1855 in Canfield, Mahoning C. OH at 68y 4m 27d
Burial – June 1855 in Canfield Village Cemetery, Section A Row 01, Canfield, Mahoning Co. OH
Western Reserve Chronicle, Wed., 1 Aug. 1855 p. 2: 4-5
"Tribute to the Memory of Mrs. Whittlesey"
"We copy the following from the New York Atlas. We feel assured that it will be read with great interest, not only by the many of our readers who were personally acquainted with Mrs. Whittlesey, and the still larger number of the friends of her husband; but by all who are cognizant of his political life and public services. The tribute paid to the wife and mother, and to Mr. Whittlesey himself are just and deserved. We are glad of this opportunity to assist in giving publicity to a sketch of the life of Mrs. W.
Mrs. Whittlesey – This estimable woman, late the wife of the Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, First Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States, died on the 4th of June. Respect, for her distinguished husband, and reverence for the deceased, impels us to the publication of an obituary notice which we have collected from sources to be relied on. During a residence of many years in the city of Washington, we often saw Mrs. Whittlesey, though we had not the pleasure of her personal acquaintance, and often listened to her praises from unnumbered tongues.
The late Mrs. Polly Whittlesey, wife of Elisha Whittlesey, was born in Danbury, Connecticut, on the 8th of January, 1787. Her father, Comfort S. Mygatt, commenced business as a silver smith, and was afterwards a prudent, successful merchant. He educated his children in the best schools in the town. The subject of this sketch was instructed by Thomas Tucker, whose tuition was sought for by parents in New York, and in other distant places; by Mrs. Lawrence, one of the most accomplished of ladies, in early and middle life; by Mr. Scoville, from Stamford, who succeeded the Rev. Thomas Robbins, D. D., late of Hartford, Connecticut; and the Rev. Moses Stuart, late of Andover, Mass., in an academy endowed by Major Ezra Starr, before the American Revolution. These opportunities for obtaining information, became well improved.
In the summer, Danbury was the resort of families from New York and the West Indies, which tended favorably to refine the manners of the youth. Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey were married on the 6th of January, 1806, and removed to Ohio, in June following, and settled in Canfield, Trumbull County. Neither of them before had crossed the North River; but they cheerfully left pleasant homes, kind friends, and affectionate family connections, to spend their lives in the new, but rising West.
Although industrious, Mrs. Whittlesey had no experience in the drudgery of house keeping, or in the inconveniences of a log house; and, it was fortunate for both of them, that they did not look upon labor as degrading or disgraceful.
An accurate description of the road would not, at this day, be believed. – Arrived at Ohio, Mrs. Whittlesey was treated with marked kindness by several estimable females who preceded her; but she was not exempt from the privations of a new country. No sighing or sorrowing for the comforts or relations she left. She immediately conformed to the condition of the country, and the society in which her lot was cast, making herself and others as happy as possible. It was a cherished object with her through life, to elevate those in humble situations-to encourage them to rely on good characters, rather than to aim at riches or honors. Every young girl she employed to assist her in household affairs, loved her as a friend and protector - most of them remaining with her until they were respectably married; and, those, who survive, have interesting families. The grief of those at her grave was witnessed by a multitude. Mr. Whittlesey's circuit as a lawyer was extensive; and his private and public business required him to be much from home, and the charge of the children principally devolved on her. They are all living – have families, are respectable. Her unceasing attention, energy, industry, perseverance, prudence, good judgment and affection, were conspicuously displayed, and greatly blessed.
Mothers, and none but mothers, can duly appreciate her trials, her anxieties and her responsibilities. They, and they only, realize the warm gratitude of her heart, when presiding at her table, and entertaining six of her children, three daughters-in-law, and a number of grand children, the last day she was permitted by a Divine Providence to engage in active duties.
She made a public profession of religion in 1822, and most strenuously endeavored to perform every covenant, moral, religious obligation and duty. At no period did she take pleasure in being in the society of the vain, fashionable or frivolous. To the poor she was kind and liberal. To her family, eminently affectionate and devoted.
She left Washington on the 1st day of May in good health, to spend the summer, as usual, in Ohio. About 11 o'clock on the night of the 17th of May, her right side was palsied. She survived to the 4th of June, in the possession of her reason, and died at the family residence at 1 o'clock, 50 minutes p.m., beloved by her family, and by those who best knew her.
"Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like His," were the approving sentiment of many minds, repeated by many tongues.
It may not be inopportune to pay here a small tribute of respect to Mr. Elisha Whittlesey, the husband of the deceased, who for the last forty years, has held a prominent position in the counsels and in the government of the country. He was many years at the head of the Committee on Private Claims, and was distinguished for his earnest devotion to his public duties.- No claim from an individual ever came before him that he did not examine minutely, always anxious to award payment, where payment was justly due. But, often satisfied that a claim was unfounded, or not well founded, no earthly inducement could swerve him from opposition. We do not believe that any claimant that appeared before the Committee of claims, ever left the Capitol without being satisfied that Mr. Whittlesey's decision, no matter what it was, was based on truth, justice and high honor.
One of the great achievements of Mr. Whittlesey's official life, was accomplished when he was on the celebrated Investigation Committee of the Post Office Department, in 1832-3. The whole Department was, at that time, in a state of unutterable confusion, into which it had been led by Postmaster Generals McKean and Barry. Everything was chaotic; nobody could tell how the accounts of the Department stood. Mr. Whittlesey took hold of the matter with a fixed determination to sift everything to the bottom, and produce light and intelligence from confusion. And he succeeded. He made an expose of the whole discordant ramifications of the Post Office, and affected a state of things that rendered one of the hitherto inexplicable Department clear and unequivocal.
On the accession of General Harrison to the Presidency, Mr. Whittlesey accepted a comtrolling office in the Post Office Department, under Mr. Francis Granger; and held it till several months of Mr. Tyler's administration had faded away. Being required to do things inconsistent with his sense of right, and in violation of what he deemed his duty to his country, to dignity, and offensive in the eyes of common justice, he threw up his commission, and returned to private life. We have reason to know that, when Mr. Polk acceded to the Presidency, he anxiously sought the services of Mr. Whittlesey, although that gentleman was politically opposed to the party he led, but was not able to secure them.
After the close of the Polk administration, Mr. Whittlesey was appointed to the office of First Comptroller of the Treasury, an office of great power, responsibility and labor, requiring the most incessant toil, allied to pre-eminent talents. On the accession of Gen. Pierce to the Presidency, Mr. Whittlesey signified a desire to resign, and once more to return to his domestic fireside in Ohio. The President did not think fit to dispense with the services of an officer who had proved himself honest, capable and faithful beyond almost every man who had held a similar station, and Mr. W. consented to remain. He still holds the office of First Comptroller of the Treasury. Though now advanced in years, Mr. Comptroller Whittlesey enjoys a glorious green age. He is well nigh to three score years and ten, though to common observation, does not appear to be over five and fifty. Through his long life, he has been engaged in the thickest of political strife, but he has always made truth, duty, and integrity his polar star, and has not, we believe, in the wide world, a solitary foe."
Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 1897 27 Aug - Article No. 32
Canfield in Early Times, The Changes of a Century Noted
Re: Elisha Whittlesey Family
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1897.
CANFIELD IN EARLY TIMES.
HISTORY COMPILED BY AN AGED PIONEER.
THE CHANGES OF A CENTURY NOTED.
ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF AN INTERESTING SERIES
Written in a Highly Entertaining Style By Dr. Jackson Truesdale of Canfield.
ARTICLE NUMBER 32.
"Editor Dispatch: - Unable as we are to do justice to the theme, it would seem strange for us to omit in our sketches of the pioneers of Canfield some special mention of Elisha Whittlesey, who stood pre-eminent in moulding and shaping the material and moral progress of this struggling community to which he attached himself at an early day, and among whom he spent an honorable and useful life. We are told that Mr. Whittlesey prepared a sketch of his own life, perhaps in connection with that of others. If this be true it is probable the manuscript may yet be found among his papers, and if published would be of great interest at the present time. We have neither sought nor asked for it. It would be improper to attempt to make any use of its contents even if obtainable without the consent of his descendants. What we may say of Mr. Whittlesey must be drawn from sources already made public. Chief of these is a sketch prepared for public use by an aged daughter. We allude to Mrs. Stratton of Spokane, Washington state. This manuscript fell to the care of Mrs. P.T. Jones and by her was kindly loaned to me. Notwithstanding the age and infirmities of Mrs. Stratton she writes well in both matter and style. A chatty production written as a woman would naturally do when speaking of the happy domestic life of her parents. She leaves out, as we will also do, any attempt to speak of the life of Mr. Whittlesey as a legislator and public officer. We will leave to a more competent pen this part of his history. Our effort will be to speak of this distinguished man in his home life, as a fellow citizen and townsman.
The Hon. Elisha Whittlesey was born in Washington, Litchfield county, Conn., Oct. 19, 1783. His parents were John and Molly Whittlesey. The ancestors of Mr. Whittlesey we may assume were of English extraction and settled in Connecticut as early as 1633. We learn from a statement made by Mr. W. found in Mrs. Stratton's sketch that his father was a hard-working farmer, and we judge was not in affluent circumstances, but was the owner of a farm on which he labored and required his sons to do the same. He says of his father: "He was esteemed and respected by the learned and un-learned, by the rich and poor."***"His mind was well stored with useful knowledge pertaining to governmental affairs and agriculture. The family were clothed and fed by the productions of the farm and the united labor of its members." Mr. W. says of himself: "I was a country boy without an artificial polish and without intercourse with town or city society except an occasional visitor at my father's house." In 1792 the father of Mr. Whittlesey sold his farm in Washington and purchased one in Salisbury, Conn. This change of location was important in that it brought the family into the neighborhood that had furnished most of the emigrants from Connecticut to Canfield. Elisha's brother, Matthew B. Whittlesey, had established himself in the town or city of Danbury in the practice of law. Thither our unpolished farmer's boy went when a lad of 15 years to attend schools of a much better grade than those near his home. In payment for his board he did chores for the family, such as sawing wood, making fires, sweeping the office, &tc. These schools were thus attended for several successive seasons and when summer came he would return to the parental home and labor on the farm. In this way Mr. Whittlesey obtained a fair English education, and as the years rolled on he studied law in his brother's office, and at the age of 21 or 22 was admitted to the bar and established a law office in New Milford in 1805.
While Mr. Whittlesey was attending school at Danbury he no doubt was undergoing a change. The rough corners of an awkward farmer's boy were being gradually smoothed down and in after years he became a model of politeness and affable manners. The town of Danbury at the time of which we write is said to have contained an unusual number of families of wealth, culture and refinement and among these was the family of Comfort S. Mygatt, an enterprising and well-to-do merchant - the father of several accomplished daughters among whom was one with the homely name of Polly. The Mygatt family occupied a higher seat in social life than the Whittleseys. During the school days of Elisha at Danbury a trivial incident occurred, trivial so far as the wide world was concerned, but one of the great interest to two young hearts. Of course we allude to that old common passion we call love. Nearly every man and woman has had a twist of it. With some it lasts for life and never changes its object, with others as fickle as the ever-changing winds. With the subject of our sketch it endured while life lasted. We copy from Mrs. Stratton an account of the incident referred to: "My mother was the second daughter of Comfort S. and Lucy Mygatt. They attended the same school. Father being a stranger in the place did not consider himself very high up in life. He said; "I mingled very little in society separate from my brother's family and the school room. With Polly Mygatt I have no recollection of having formed any acquaintance more intimate or particular than with other girls of her age in the neighborhood. In the winter of 1800-1801, I was returning from school in a deep snow and having passed Mr. Mygatt's house and hearing a sleigh behind me, turned to let it pass. It was the horses and sleigh of Mr. Mygatt very comfortably filled with children. The horses were driven by a nephew of Mrs. Mygatt. As the sleigh was passing me Polly requested her cousin to stop and take me in. He was inclined to comply, and the company I thought indifferent and making objections. She, however, persisted and he reined up and I got in." We cannot follow further the details following so trifling an incident more than to say that this was the beginning of an acquaintanceship that ripened into an ardent attachment for each other which culminated in a happy marriage of the young couple at the home of Mr. Mygatt Jan. 5, 1806. We have applied the term trivial to the sleigh ride incident. It was nor trivial to Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey. They evidently believe the occurrence led to their final marriage. If Mr. Whittlesey had married some other lady it would likely have changed the whole tenor of his after life. Comfort S. Mygatt would then never have had occasion to follow a daughter to Canfield and would never have been a resident of the township. With nearly the same probability Mr. Whittlesey would never have made this place his home. The absence of these two men in the formative period of our history would have greatly changed the history of the five mile square of land we call Canfield. All these results hinged upon the question of asking or neglecting to ask Mr. Whittlesey to take a seat in the sleigh. If we recall our own experience we may remember some slight occurrence, a word, a whim, it may be, that has led to an entire re-ordering of our plans in life.
The subject of our sketch is now married and a practicing attorney, and thus prepared for the duties of a busy life. We must no longer call him Elisha or his wife Polly; but for the sake of brevity we hope to be excused if we only use initials when necessary to refer to them by name. Soon after their marriage, and possibly before, this young and ambitious couple were seized with the emigrating spirit that so generally prevailed in the East at the beginning of the present century. The fact of his selecting Canfield for the purpose of engaging in his profession in preference to Poland, Youngstown, Warren or Cleveland indicates the favorable position our settlement was held in the estimation of eastern people. It was the wish and advice of Mr. and Mrs. Mygatt that their son-in-law- should first come to Ohio without his wife, and if an eligible place could be found for a promising home to, make some suitable preparations in advance and then return for his wife. This apparently prudent advice was not agreeable to Mrs. W. She preferred to and was determined to share with her husband all the trials and hardships attendant to a life on the frontier of civilization at that time, and well and bravely she bore them all, as her future life attested. We may readily suppose that the few months between their marriage and the removal to Canfield were spent in preparation for the long and tiresome journey, giving rise to many an anxious consultation. The great question to be solved was not how much, but how little of the absolute necessaries of life could be taken with them. One after another of the comforts of a luxurious home (with a sigh and perhaps a tear), had to be left behind. But we are glad to record that their journey to New Connecticut was made far more comfortably and speedily than their predecessors on foot, or with ox teams. Mr. Mygatt provided for the couple a span of good horses and a so-called Jersey wagon, or carriage, in which the party rode in comparative comfort. A large square trunk was provided, covered with the tanned skin of an animal with the hair left on and ornamented with a profusion of large headed brass nails and colored straps of leather. "In this trunk mother had her bed and bedding, and I suppose all that they owned in the wide, wide world. I do not think the trunk was taken from the so-called carriage from the day they left Danbury, Conn., June 3rd. until they arrived June 27th, 1806." Before leaving, the young bride of 19 summers asked her father for $50 with which to purchase as they passed through New York a new bonnet, some silverware, table linen, &c. Mr. Mygatt replied to this request by saying to her that she would have no use for such articles in the place where she was going, that she would in place of a table be compelled to take her meals from the head of a barrel, and as for table-ware all she would need would be two tin cups and as many pewter spoons with which to eat their mush and milk. But all the same Polly got the $50, but as to how it was spent history is silent. Mr. and Mrs. W. had for a companion on this journey Miss Gesie Bostwick, a lively, jovial young lady who came out to visit her sister, Mrs. Herman Canfield. The party would put up for the night wherever convenience or necessity required. The morning after leaving Pittsburgh the party were surprised to find darkness spreading over the land and increasing to such an extent that for a time they thought it best to put up. "It was the total sun eclipse in June, 1806. It was said the chickens went to their roosts thinking it was night, so dark did it become." After leaving Boardman we hear again the old complaint of swampy, mirey roads.
The young ladies before reaching Canfield, true to their natures, forced open the big trunk in search of the long concealed bonnets, which were donned and ribbons and flowers adjusted in such a manner as to secure the admiring gaze and possible envy of some of their own sex in the little village who had not for years feasted their eyes on the latest style of woman's head-gear. "Father used to laugh at their vanity for years afterwards." The newcomers, as all did, received a hearty welcome from the town people, especially so from the Canfields, Wadsworths, Tanners, and Johnstons, "so that mother was never homesick."
After a few days spent in visiting, the young people found quarters in an upper room in the home of Cook Fitch. "Father and mother had the south chamber with I think the smallest fireplace that at which ever a woman (and she a new beginner) cooked a meal. Ma had an iron bake kettle with a lid, a pot, and spider, all of iron. I have heard her say that when she used the spider in cooking, Mrs. Fitch would use the pot, and then reverse the order.
But I think I notice a sour old fellow in my audience who seems disgusted at the recital of such trivial matters. Who cares, he says, whether Mr. Whittlesey and wife first lived in one upper room or in a mansion of a dozen rooms? Whether Mrs. W. had one pot or two pots? Let me say to this sour old codger that Mr. W. l did not long remain in one room - but I have no doubt while there he paid his rent - and as soon as possible he got a home of his own with more rooms in it; and after a few more years a home with many rooms and all the pots Mr. W. needed in her ample kitchen. And more than this, he had acquired a fame that reached far beyond his adopted state. Clients at first did not show up in abundance, but he did not for this reason take a seat on the doorsteps of a grocery and howl the days away in abusing the town he lived in and crying hard times. If he could not at once obtain professional support he hustled for some employment that would. His first winter in Ohio, that of 1806-07, was spent in teaching a school in the vicinity of the present so-called mud school house. History is silent as to the amount of his remuneration. We only know from the character, ability and number of families in the neighborhood it would be small, but small as it was, it was better than idleness in more ways than one. It would serve as the means of self-improvement that would be of use to him in various ways in after life.
Canfield, O. J. Truesdale (To be continued.)"
Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 3 Sep 1897 - Article No. 33
Canfield in Early Times, The Changes of a Century Noted
Re: Elisha Whittlesey Family
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1897.
CANFIELD IN EARLY TIMES.
HISTORY COMPILED BY AN AGED PIONEER.
THE CHANGES OF A CENTURY NOTED.
ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF AN INTERESTING SERIES
Written in a Highly Entertaining Style By Dr. Jackson Truesdale of Canfield.
ARTICLE NUMBER 33.
"Editor Dispatch: The years 1807 and 1808 must have been busy ones for Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey. A vast amount of labor and care was pressing for attention. The lot must be cleared and crops and gardening attended to, and above all, the erection of a large dwelling, a barn and outbuildings. These meant much more in the way of labor than the same would 90 years thereafter. Mr. Whittlesey's professional and official duties necessarily called him from his home much of the time, and for long intervals. We are unable to say what or how many counties were embraced in his district as public prosecutor. At all events, it included the entire Reserve. During his absence a large part of the supervision of such diverse labor would to a great extent devolve upon the young mother. We quote her words; "We boarded all of our workmen. I never had a person to assist me for a day." With the exception of washing, this brave woman did all the work of a large family besides caring for her babe. Hear her; "Our table was a small one, yet some days we would have as many as 10 or 12 men to board. I got along very well, although I had never done a hard day's work at my father's home - yet I was never happier in all my life than when we lived in our log house." Well done and well said. Let it be remembered that this work was accomplished without the aid of the conveniences our housewives now possess. No cooking stove or range. No pantry or cellar. A few utensils, an open fire place, a cabin with two rooms - that was all, and never happier. The family moved into their new house Oct. 27, 1808 (later became Schaaf home on N. Broad St. and now demolished). Now hear again; "Our son John was born Nov. 29th, 1808, one month after we got into our frame house." No wonder the 'Squire worshiped his wife.
In addition to the many and pressing private duties that the subject of our sketch was called upon to perform was added the additional labor of assisting or leading in nearly every enterprise of public nature, whether civil, military, or of a religious character. In these various capacities we have already had frequent occasion to use his name in former articles, and may have to do so to the end, so intimately is the history of Mr. Whittlesey connected with that of our entire community. Somewhere I have read that he, commenting upon the mixed character of the population that was setting in as early as 1806, says in a humorous way that in this year of his arrival in Canfield the militia of the township elected for captain a Dutchman, for lieutenant an Irishman, and for ensign himself, a Yankee. At present we hear no more of an ensign as a commissioned officer, and I do not remember the special duties he was expected to perform. It may have been the same, or nearly so, of a sub or second lieutenant as now arranged, or as the name would indicate, the color bearer. Be this as it may, it seems that he was popular as an officer, for we find that in 1808 he was promoted to the captaincy and in 1810 he was commissioned as aide-de-camp on the staff of Maj. Gen. Wadsworth of the 4th Division Ohio Militia. In the war of 1812 he as aide was of great service to his general. We should remember that at that period military titles and positions were not carelessly bestowed. Capt. prefixed to one's name was as good as Hon. as we now estimate the value of titles. A military election often called out often a fuller vote and was more hotly contested than a civil one.
In the line of religious enterprises we find Mr. Whittlesey engaged in a scheme to build a house of worship at the center in 1808 by joint effort of English and German speaking people. A site was secured and enough money pledged to secure the erection of a comfortable sized building. For reasons not now clear the project was abandoned. Before Mr. Whittlesey put in an appearance there existed in the township an organization entitled a "society for detecting thieves." History says the society put the quietus on stealing. After the arrival of the 'squire we notice him as an active member. We are loth to believe, in fact we won't believe, that so far as the Canfield population was concerned there was any need for such a society. These naughty scamps had their homes elsewhere.
In social life Mr. Whittlesey was the active promoter and leading spirit in the "Onion Society," the odorous memory of which still exists. If we do not die of old age before our sketches are finished we may have more to say of the diet and perfumes used in the frolics of our supposed staid ancestors.
In the fall of 1810 Mr. Whittlesey visited his old Connecticut home and returned by the way of Washington, C.C., a city that in after years became a familiar one to him. While there he witnessed for the first time the forms and ceremonies of a presidential levee. This was perhaps the first great social event in the life of our honored 'squire, and it may be he found some trouble with his hands and feet. These members of our body are sometimes very handy - again they seem much in the way, especially if one is trying to avoid giving an awkward impression in society. Whether Mr. W. was embarrassed or not on this occasion matters little. As we knew him he was a gentleman of easy and dignified manners. He wrote to the dear one at home a description of the interesting event, and how "graceful and dignified" Mrs. Madison, the president's wife, bore herself on the occasion.
Gen. Hull's surrender at Detroit soon after the commencement of the war of 1812 threw the whole northwest into a ferment of fear and excitement. The orderly and peaceful pursuits of all classes of people were suddenly checked. The excitement produced by the first fire on Fort Sumptner was not a parallel one. It was one of fiery indignation and enthusiastic confidence in final victory. In 1812 at least for a time a fearful panic prevailed all along our northwestern borders - a helpless fear - a fear of sudden massacre by an enemy that knew no mercy. In this emergency nearly every able-bodied man in Canfield as well as along the border was suddenly called upon, unprepared as he was, to face a victorious foe. In this condition of affairs Mr. Whittlesey laid down his pen, closed his law books, dismissed his clients, and the next or the second day following the reception of the news of surrender, Maj. Gen. Wadsworth with Major Whittlesey for his aide was on his way to Cleveland escorted by a volunteer company of cavalry, composed mostly of Canfield men. This is not the place to pursue the history of these men, and other men of Canfield who soon followed after to the frontier, more than to say that Maj. Whittlesey with his usual method and energy was of great service to the campaign and received the commendation of his superiors. After the retirement of Gen. Wadsworth the major continued for a time in the service, acting as military secretary on the staff of Gen. Harrison. Towards the close of his service he became ill with the "camp fever" that swept away so many of the prominent men of Canfield in 1813. I copy from the autobiography of Rev. Joseph Badger who for a short time was chaplain and postmaster in the army. By the way, this book of Badger's is a valuable relic of itself. It is said upon competent authority there is only one copy in existence, and this copy cost me some trouble to obtain the use of for a short time. It was fortunate indeed that Maj. Whittlesey in his severe sickness was nursed by this man who before had been a nurse in the revolutionary army, and furthermore, a man of good sense and great experience. He says; "Soon after the building of Fort Meigs was commenced the men began to be sick. Here Maj. E. Whittlesey was taken very sick. The general's tent was crowded. I took him into my own tent and took care of him night and day. He was given up to die by all except Dr. Stonard of the Virginia line and myself. The doctor understood the case. I carefully administered the prescriptions, which were blessed for his recovery." But how were matters at his home? Mrs. Whittlesey says, "I had four little children that winter. Ann Maria (Mrs. Stratton) was born the 7th day of November, 1812, (in his absence). I had everything I wanted to eat and wear, plenty of wood to burn. When I would think of his situation I was unhappy at times, not knowing what would become of myself and our little helpless children should he be taken away. An all-wise providence saw best to spare his life, and he returned in March, 1813."
He was taken sick with the fever the same spring in Kinsman at the hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman. My brother Comfort went there to help in the care of him. The Kinsman family were dear friends of ours."
While active hostilities were continued on our western frontier for some time after the retirement of Gen. Wadsworth and Maj. Whittlesey they were conducted and prosecuted largely by the regular forces of the United States army, and for this reason most of the men that were so suddenly called out to meet the pressing emergency we have alluded to were suffered to return to their homes, where their labor and presence were so greatly needed. Mr. Whittlesey reopened his office and resumed the quieter pursuits of his profession, but we doubt not the prestige he acquired in the army and the acquaintances made there served to increase the number of his clients and pave the way for future political preferment."
Canfield, O. J. Truesdale (To be continued.)"
Canfield Very Prominent in 1812 War Events - Two distinguished men gave their fortunes to Ohio
By Whittlesey Adams, 16 Aug 1912
Excerpt:
During the war of 1812 the British soldiers and the Indians were combined against the United States. In that was Elisha Whittlesey who was a major under General Simon Perkins of Warren. Elisha Whittlesey represented this district, in congress for sixteen years and afterwards was first comptroller of the United States treasury under Presidents Taylor, Pierce and Lincoln. Following are copies of letters from Elisha Whittlesey written during the war of 1812, to his wife:
Camp at Cleveland, August 29, 1812.
I am as yet in excellent health. Yesterday one company of men crossed the Cuyahoga, which will be followed by two companies today and more tomorrow under the command of B. G. Simon Perkins. They will station themselves ion the most healthy situation, somewhere near the Huron, for the purpose of allaying the fears of the few inhabitants who are remaining in that country and act as a corps of observation. The troops have not all of them arrived, Colonel Hayes' regiment is expected today, Raynes tomorrow, together with this detachment from Beall's and Miller's brigade. The encampment is about three quarters of a mile from town, pleasantly situated, near some of the finest springs you ever saw. About fifty hovels are already completed, and the necessary works progressing for the reception of the troops. It is very difficult to organize the militia, in the encampment but like all other good things of magnitude, may be in some measure improved by time and a good share of patience. My time is very busily employed and not that time to communicate with you which I wish, and believe I shall have here-after. I wish Mr. Boughton to see that the ground for wheat is well ploughed. There is not at present any danger apprehended.
My love to all friends, family connections and the dear children
Yours affectionately, Elisha Whittlesey
(To) Mrs. Polly Whittlesey
Canfield, Ohio
Lower Sandusky, Dec. 24, 1812.
I have had a moment to write you my dear wife, and inform you of my being in good health. The place where we are stationed is beautiful. I have been up the river 13 miles, and for that distance better land than I ever saw elsewhere. There are several Indian villages, in that distance, containing from 15 to 20 huts which are now deserted. They were formerly inhabited by what are called friendly Indians, who are now many of them at Upper Sandusky, who belong to the Wiandot tribe. Those belonging to the Seneca nation have gone back to Niagara.
A scout returned yesterday from the Miami Rapids. They report that there are no Indians or British at that place, nor have there been since the fall of the snow. We shall probably move on there in a few weeks. The Pennsylvania troop have arrived in part at Upper Sandusky and the rest expected soon. The drums are now beating and I have to attend to the guards.
My love to our dear children and all friends,
From yours affectionately, Elisha Whittlesey
(To) Mrs. Polly Whittlesey,
Canfield, Ohio
Lower Sandusky, Jan. 2nd. 1813
Your letter of December 14rh and your papers of the 25th were received by Mr. Way on the 31st. I hope you will be careful of your health and consider it as of the first importance. Colds are common with us, but generally the camp is as healthy as could be expected. The weather has been favorable for our situations, until yesterday. Last night it commenced snowing, and without intermission has continued through the day, and is very stormy tonight and blistering.
Major Frederick has commenced cutting the road from this to the Miami Rapids with a party of about sixty men who he hired from the troops, having undertook to cut the road by the job.
No news to write. Uncertain when we move westward. Do not fail to write every week. I shall be very anxious to hear from you as frequently as opportunity shall present. But do not do anything that shall in the least expose your constitution. Thank Mr. Mygatt for his favors, they were gratefully received and shall be answered. To Mr. Boughton present my compliments and inform him that I shall not be able to comply with his request at present. Mr. Patch I hope will not fail to write. To all give my love. Tell the children they are not out of my mind and that I hope to return and receive a favorable account of their good conduct.
Your Affectionate husband, Elisha Whittlesey,
Mrs. Elisha Whittlesey – m. 5 Jan 1806 in Danbury, Fairfield Co. CT
Daughter of Comfort Starr and Lucy Knapp Mygatt
B. 8 Jan 1787 in Danbury, Fairfield Co. CT
D. 4 June 1855 in Canfield, Mahoning C. OH at 68y 4m 27d
Burial – June 1855 in Canfield Village Cemetery, Section A Row 01, Canfield, Mahoning Co. OH
Western Reserve Chronicle, Wed., 1 Aug. 1855 p. 2: 4-5
"Tribute to the Memory of Mrs. Whittlesey"
"We copy the following from the New York Atlas. We feel assured that it will be read with great interest, not only by the many of our readers who were personally acquainted with Mrs. Whittlesey, and the still larger number of the friends of her husband; but by all who are cognizant of his political life and public services. The tribute paid to the wife and mother, and to Mr. Whittlesey himself are just and deserved. We are glad of this opportunity to assist in giving publicity to a sketch of the life of Mrs. W.
Mrs. Whittlesey – This estimable woman, late the wife of the Hon. Elisha Whittlesey, First Comptroller of the Treasury of the United States, died on the 4th of June. Respect, for her distinguished husband, and reverence for the deceased, impels us to the publication of an obituary notice which we have collected from sources to be relied on. During a residence of many years in the city of Washington, we often saw Mrs. Whittlesey, though we had not the pleasure of her personal acquaintance, and often listened to her praises from unnumbered tongues.
The late Mrs. Polly Whittlesey, wife of Elisha Whittlesey, was born in Danbury, Connecticut, on the 8th of January, 1787. Her father, Comfort S. Mygatt, commenced business as a silver smith, and was afterwards a prudent, successful merchant. He educated his children in the best schools in the town. The subject of this sketch was instructed by Thomas Tucker, whose tuition was sought for by parents in New York, and in other distant places; by Mrs. Lawrence, one of the most accomplished of ladies, in early and middle life; by Mr. Scoville, from Stamford, who succeeded the Rev. Thomas Robbins, D. D., late of Hartford, Connecticut; and the Rev. Moses Stuart, late of Andover, Mass., in an academy endowed by Major Ezra Starr, before the American Revolution. These opportunities for obtaining information, became well improved.
In the summer, Danbury was the resort of families from New York and the West Indies, which tended favorably to refine the manners of the youth. Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey were married on the 6th of January, 1806, and removed to Ohio, in June following, and settled in Canfield, Trumbull County. Neither of them before had crossed the North River; but they cheerfully left pleasant homes, kind friends, and affectionate family connections, to spend their lives in the new, but rising West.
Although industrious, Mrs. Whittlesey had no experience in the drudgery of house keeping, or in the inconveniences of a log house; and, it was fortunate for both of them, that they did not look upon labor as degrading or disgraceful.
An accurate description of the road would not, at this day, be believed. – Arrived at Ohio, Mrs. Whittlesey was treated with marked kindness by several estimable females who preceded her; but she was not exempt from the privations of a new country. No sighing or sorrowing for the comforts or relations she left. She immediately conformed to the condition of the country, and the society in which her lot was cast, making herself and others as happy as possible. It was a cherished object with her through life, to elevate those in humble situations-to encourage them to rely on good characters, rather than to aim at riches or honors. Every young girl she employed to assist her in household affairs, loved her as a friend and protector - most of them remaining with her until they were respectably married; and, those, who survive, have interesting families. The grief of those at her grave was witnessed by a multitude. Mr. Whittlesey's circuit as a lawyer was extensive; and his private and public business required him to be much from home, and the charge of the children principally devolved on her. They are all living – have families, are respectable. Her unceasing attention, energy, industry, perseverance, prudence, good judgment and affection, were conspicuously displayed, and greatly blessed.
Mothers, and none but mothers, can duly appreciate her trials, her anxieties and her responsibilities. They, and they only, realize the warm gratitude of her heart, when presiding at her table, and entertaining six of her children, three daughters-in-law, and a number of grand children, the last day she was permitted by a Divine Providence to engage in active duties.
She made a public profession of religion in 1822, and most strenuously endeavored to perform every covenant, moral, religious obligation and duty. At no period did she take pleasure in being in the society of the vain, fashionable or frivolous. To the poor she was kind and liberal. To her family, eminently affectionate and devoted.
She left Washington on the 1st day of May in good health, to spend the summer, as usual, in Ohio. About 11 o'clock on the night of the 17th of May, her right side was palsied. She survived to the 4th of June, in the possession of her reason, and died at the family residence at 1 o'clock, 50 minutes p.m., beloved by her family, and by those who best knew her.
"Let me die the death of the righteous, and let my last end be like His," were the approving sentiment of many minds, repeated by many tongues.
It may not be inopportune to pay here a small tribute of respect to Mr. Elisha Whittlesey, the husband of the deceased, who for the last forty years, has held a prominent position in the counsels and in the government of the country. He was many years at the head of the Committee on Private Claims, and was distinguished for his earnest devotion to his public duties.- No claim from an individual ever came before him that he did not examine minutely, always anxious to award payment, where payment was justly due. But, often satisfied that a claim was unfounded, or not well founded, no earthly inducement could swerve him from opposition. We do not believe that any claimant that appeared before the Committee of claims, ever left the Capitol without being satisfied that Mr. Whittlesey's decision, no matter what it was, was based on truth, justice and high honor.
One of the great achievements of Mr. Whittlesey's official life, was accomplished when he was on the celebrated Investigation Committee of the Post Office Department, in 1832-3. The whole Department was, at that time, in a state of unutterable confusion, into which it had been led by Postmaster Generals McKean and Barry. Everything was chaotic; nobody could tell how the accounts of the Department stood. Mr. Whittlesey took hold of the matter with a fixed determination to sift everything to the bottom, and produce light and intelligence from confusion. And he succeeded. He made an expose of the whole discordant ramifications of the Post Office, and affected a state of things that rendered one of the hitherto inexplicable Department clear and unequivocal.
On the accession of General Harrison to the Presidency, Mr. Whittlesey accepted a comtrolling office in the Post Office Department, under Mr. Francis Granger; and held it till several months of Mr. Tyler's administration had faded away. Being required to do things inconsistent with his sense of right, and in violation of what he deemed his duty to his country, to dignity, and offensive in the eyes of common justice, he threw up his commission, and returned to private life. We have reason to know that, when Mr. Polk acceded to the Presidency, he anxiously sought the services of Mr. Whittlesey, although that gentleman was politically opposed to the party he led, but was not able to secure them.
After the close of the Polk administration, Mr. Whittlesey was appointed to the office of First Comptroller of the Treasury, an office of great power, responsibility and labor, requiring the most incessant toil, allied to pre-eminent talents. On the accession of Gen. Pierce to the Presidency, Mr. Whittlesey signified a desire to resign, and once more to return to his domestic fireside in Ohio. The President did not think fit to dispense with the services of an officer who had proved himself honest, capable and faithful beyond almost every man who had held a similar station, and Mr. W. consented to remain. He still holds the office of First Comptroller of the Treasury. Though now advanced in years, Mr. Comptroller Whittlesey enjoys a glorious green age. He is well nigh to three score years and ten, though to common observation, does not appear to be over five and fifty. Through his long life, he has been engaged in the thickest of political strife, but he has always made truth, duty, and integrity his polar star, and has not, we believe, in the wide world, a solitary foe."
Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 1897 27 Aug - Article No. 32
Canfield in Early Times, The Changes of a Century Noted
Re: Elisha Whittlesey Family
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 1897.
CANFIELD IN EARLY TIMES.
HISTORY COMPILED BY AN AGED PIONEER.
THE CHANGES OF A CENTURY NOTED.
ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF AN INTERESTING SERIES
Written in a Highly Entertaining Style By Dr. Jackson Truesdale of Canfield.
ARTICLE NUMBER 32.
"Editor Dispatch: - Unable as we are to do justice to the theme, it would seem strange for us to omit in our sketches of the pioneers of Canfield some special mention of Elisha Whittlesey, who stood pre-eminent in moulding and shaping the material and moral progress of this struggling community to which he attached himself at an early day, and among whom he spent an honorable and useful life. We are told that Mr. Whittlesey prepared a sketch of his own life, perhaps in connection with that of others. If this be true it is probable the manuscript may yet be found among his papers, and if published would be of great interest at the present time. We have neither sought nor asked for it. It would be improper to attempt to make any use of its contents even if obtainable without the consent of his descendants. What we may say of Mr. Whittlesey must be drawn from sources already made public. Chief of these is a sketch prepared for public use by an aged daughter. We allude to Mrs. Stratton of Spokane, Washington state. This manuscript fell to the care of Mrs. P.T. Jones and by her was kindly loaned to me. Notwithstanding the age and infirmities of Mrs. Stratton she writes well in both matter and style. A chatty production written as a woman would naturally do when speaking of the happy domestic life of her parents. She leaves out, as we will also do, any attempt to speak of the life of Mr. Whittlesey as a legislator and public officer. We will leave to a more competent pen this part of his history. Our effort will be to speak of this distinguished man in his home life, as a fellow citizen and townsman.
The Hon. Elisha Whittlesey was born in Washington, Litchfield county, Conn., Oct. 19, 1783. His parents were John and Molly Whittlesey. The ancestors of Mr. Whittlesey we may assume were of English extraction and settled in Connecticut as early as 1633. We learn from a statement made by Mr. W. found in Mrs. Stratton's sketch that his father was a hard-working farmer, and we judge was not in affluent circumstances, but was the owner of a farm on which he labored and required his sons to do the same. He says of his father: "He was esteemed and respected by the learned and un-learned, by the rich and poor."***"His mind was well stored with useful knowledge pertaining to governmental affairs and agriculture. The family were clothed and fed by the productions of the farm and the united labor of its members." Mr. W. says of himself: "I was a country boy without an artificial polish and without intercourse with town or city society except an occasional visitor at my father's house." In 1792 the father of Mr. Whittlesey sold his farm in Washington and purchased one in Salisbury, Conn. This change of location was important in that it brought the family into the neighborhood that had furnished most of the emigrants from Connecticut to Canfield. Elisha's brother, Matthew B. Whittlesey, had established himself in the town or city of Danbury in the practice of law. Thither our unpolished farmer's boy went when a lad of 15 years to attend schools of a much better grade than those near his home. In payment for his board he did chores for the family, such as sawing wood, making fires, sweeping the office, &tc. These schools were thus attended for several successive seasons and when summer came he would return to the parental home and labor on the farm. In this way Mr. Whittlesey obtained a fair English education, and as the years rolled on he studied law in his brother's office, and at the age of 21 or 22 was admitted to the bar and established a law office in New Milford in 1805.
While Mr. Whittlesey was attending school at Danbury he no doubt was undergoing a change. The rough corners of an awkward farmer's boy were being gradually smoothed down and in after years he became a model of politeness and affable manners. The town of Danbury at the time of which we write is said to have contained an unusual number of families of wealth, culture and refinement and among these was the family of Comfort S. Mygatt, an enterprising and well-to-do merchant - the father of several accomplished daughters among whom was one with the homely name of Polly. The Mygatt family occupied a higher seat in social life than the Whittleseys. During the school days of Elisha at Danbury a trivial incident occurred, trivial so far as the wide world was concerned, but one of the great interest to two young hearts. Of course we allude to that old common passion we call love. Nearly every man and woman has had a twist of it. With some it lasts for life and never changes its object, with others as fickle as the ever-changing winds. With the subject of our sketch it endured while life lasted. We copy from Mrs. Stratton an account of the incident referred to: "My mother was the second daughter of Comfort S. and Lucy Mygatt. They attended the same school. Father being a stranger in the place did not consider himself very high up in life. He said; "I mingled very little in society separate from my brother's family and the school room. With Polly Mygatt I have no recollection of having formed any acquaintance more intimate or particular than with other girls of her age in the neighborhood. In the winter of 1800-1801, I was returning from school in a deep snow and having passed Mr. Mygatt's house and hearing a sleigh behind me, turned to let it pass. It was the horses and sleigh of Mr. Mygatt very comfortably filled with children. The horses were driven by a nephew of Mrs. Mygatt. As the sleigh was passing me Polly requested her cousin to stop and take me in. He was inclined to comply, and the company I thought indifferent and making objections. She, however, persisted and he reined up and I got in." We cannot follow further the details following so trifling an incident more than to say that this was the beginning of an acquaintanceship that ripened into an ardent attachment for each other which culminated in a happy marriage of the young couple at the home of Mr. Mygatt Jan. 5, 1806. We have applied the term trivial to the sleigh ride incident. It was nor trivial to Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey. They evidently believe the occurrence led to their final marriage. If Mr. Whittlesey had married some other lady it would likely have changed the whole tenor of his after life. Comfort S. Mygatt would then never have had occasion to follow a daughter to Canfield and would never have been a resident of the township. With nearly the same probability Mr. Whittlesey would never have made this place his home. The absence of these two men in the formative period of our history would have greatly changed the history of the five mile square of land we call Canfield. All these results hinged upon the question of asking or neglecting to ask Mr. Whittlesey to take a seat in the sleigh. If we recall our own experience we may remember some slight occurrence, a word, a whim, it may be, that has led to an entire re-ordering of our plans in life.
The subject of our sketch is now married and a practicing attorney, and thus prepared for the duties of a busy life. We must no longer call him Elisha or his wife Polly; but for the sake of brevity we hope to be excused if we only use initials when necessary to refer to them by name. Soon after their marriage, and possibly before, this young and ambitious couple were seized with the emigrating spirit that so generally prevailed in the East at the beginning of the present century. The fact of his selecting Canfield for the purpose of engaging in his profession in preference to Poland, Youngstown, Warren or Cleveland indicates the favorable position our settlement was held in the estimation of eastern people. It was the wish and advice of Mr. and Mrs. Mygatt that their son-in-law- should first come to Ohio without his wife, and if an eligible place could be found for a promising home to, make some suitable preparations in advance and then return for his wife. This apparently prudent advice was not agreeable to Mrs. W. She preferred to and was determined to share with her husband all the trials and hardships attendant to a life on the frontier of civilization at that time, and well and bravely she bore them all, as her future life attested. We may readily suppose that the few months between their marriage and the removal to Canfield were spent in preparation for the long and tiresome journey, giving rise to many an anxious consultation. The great question to be solved was not how much, but how little of the absolute necessaries of life could be taken with them. One after another of the comforts of a luxurious home (with a sigh and perhaps a tear), had to be left behind. But we are glad to record that their journey to New Connecticut was made far more comfortably and speedily than their predecessors on foot, or with ox teams. Mr. Mygatt provided for the couple a span of good horses and a so-called Jersey wagon, or carriage, in which the party rode in comparative comfort. A large square trunk was provided, covered with the tanned skin of an animal with the hair left on and ornamented with a profusion of large headed brass nails and colored straps of leather. "In this trunk mother had her bed and bedding, and I suppose all that they owned in the wide, wide world. I do not think the trunk was taken from the so-called carriage from the day they left Danbury, Conn., June 3rd. until they arrived June 27th, 1806." Before leaving, the young bride of 19 summers asked her father for $50 with which to purchase as they passed through New York a new bonnet, some silverware, table linen, &c. Mr. Mygatt replied to this request by saying to her that she would have no use for such articles in the place where she was going, that she would in place of a table be compelled to take her meals from the head of a barrel, and as for table-ware all she would need would be two tin cups and as many pewter spoons with which to eat their mush and milk. But all the same Polly got the $50, but as to how it was spent history is silent. Mr. and Mrs. W. had for a companion on this journey Miss Gesie Bostwick, a lively, jovial young lady who came out to visit her sister, Mrs. Herman Canfield. The party would put up for the night wherever convenience or necessity required. The morning after leaving Pittsburgh the party were surprised to find darkness spreading over the land and increasing to such an extent that for a time they thought it best to put up. "It was the total sun eclipse in June, 1806. It was said the chickens went to their roosts thinking it was night, so dark did it become." After leaving Boardman we hear again the old complaint of swampy, mirey roads.
The young ladies before reaching Canfield, true to their natures, forced open the big trunk in search of the long concealed bonnets, which were donned and ribbons and flowers adjusted in such a manner as to secure the admiring gaze and possible envy of some of their own sex in the little village who had not for years feasted their eyes on the latest style of woman's head-gear. "Father used to laugh at their vanity for years afterwards." The newcomers, as all did, received a hearty welcome from the town people, especially so from the Canfields, Wadsworths, Tanners, and Johnstons, "so that mother was never homesick."
After a few days spent in visiting, the young people found quarters in an upper room in the home of Cook Fitch. "Father and mother had the south chamber with I think the smallest fireplace that at which ever a woman (and she a new beginner) cooked a meal. Ma had an iron bake kettle with a lid, a pot, and spider, all of iron. I have heard her say that when she used the spider in cooking, Mrs. Fitch would use the pot, and then reverse the order.
But I think I notice a sour old fellow in my audience who seems disgusted at the recital of such trivial matters. Who cares, he says, whether Mr. Whittlesey and wife first lived in one upper room or in a mansion of a dozen rooms? Whether Mrs. W. had one pot or two pots? Let me say to this sour old codger that Mr. W. l did not long remain in one room - but I have no doubt while there he paid his rent - and as soon as possible he got a home of his own with more rooms in it; and after a few more years a home with many rooms and all the pots Mr. W. needed in her ample kitchen. And more than this, he had acquired a fame that reached far beyond his adopted state. Clients at first did not show up in abundance, but he did not for this reason take a seat on the doorsteps of a grocery and howl the days away in abusing the town he lived in and crying hard times. If he could not at once obtain professional support he hustled for some employment that would. His first winter in Ohio, that of 1806-07, was spent in teaching a school in the vicinity of the present so-called mud school house. History is silent as to the amount of his remuneration. We only know from the character, ability and number of families in the neighborhood it would be small, but small as it was, it was better than idleness in more ways than one. It would serve as the means of self-improvement that would be of use to him in various ways in after life.
Canfield, O. J. Truesdale (To be continued.)"
Mahoning Dispatch, Fri, 3 Sep 1897 - Article No. 33
Canfield in Early Times, The Changes of a Century Noted
Re: Elisha Whittlesey Family
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1897.
CANFIELD IN EARLY TIMES.
HISTORY COMPILED BY AN AGED PIONEER.
THE CHANGES OF A CENTURY NOTED.
ANOTHER INSTALLMENT OF AN INTERESTING SERIES
Written in a Highly Entertaining Style By Dr. Jackson Truesdale of Canfield.
ARTICLE NUMBER 33.
"Editor Dispatch: The years 1807 and 1808 must have been busy ones for Mr. and Mrs. Whittlesey. A vast amount of labor and care was pressing for attention. The lot must be cleared and crops and gardening attended to, and above all, the erection of a large dwelling, a barn and outbuildings. These meant much more in the way of labor than the same would 90 years thereafter. Mr. Whittlesey's professional and official duties necessarily called him from his home much of the time, and for long intervals. We are unable to say what or how many counties were embraced in his district as public prosecutor. At all events, it included the entire Reserve. During his absence a large part of the supervision of such diverse labor would to a great extent devolve upon the young mother. We quote her words; "We boarded all of our workmen. I never had a person to assist me for a day." With the exception of washing, this brave woman did all the work of a large family besides caring for her babe. Hear her; "Our table was a small one, yet some days we would have as many as 10 or 12 men to board. I got along very well, although I had never done a hard day's work at my father's home - yet I was never happier in all my life than when we lived in our log house." Well done and well said. Let it be remembered that this work was accomplished without the aid of the conveniences our housewives now possess. No cooking stove or range. No pantry or cellar. A few utensils, an open fire place, a cabin with two rooms - that was all, and never happier. The family moved into their new house Oct. 27, 1808 (later became Schaaf home on N. Broad St. and now demolished). Now hear again; "Our son John was born Nov. 29th, 1808, one month after we got into our frame house." No wonder the 'Squire worshiped his wife.
In addition to the many and pressing private duties that the subject of our sketch was called upon to perform was added the additional labor of assisting or leading in nearly every enterprise of public nature, whether civil, military, or of a religious character. In these various capacities we have already had frequent occasion to use his name in former articles, and may have to do so to the end, so intimately is the history of Mr. Whittlesey connected with that of our entire community. Somewhere I have read that he, commenting upon the mixed character of the population that was setting in as early as 1806, says in a humorous way that in this year of his arrival in Canfield the militia of the township elected for captain a Dutchman, for lieutenant an Irishman, and for ensign himself, a Yankee. At present we hear no more of an ensign as a commissioned officer, and I do not remember the special duties he was expected to perform. It may have been the same, or nearly so, of a sub or second lieutenant as now arranged, or as the name would indicate, the color bearer. Be this as it may, it seems that he was popular as an officer, for we find that in 1808 he was promoted to the captaincy and in 1810 he was commissioned as aide-de-camp on the staff of Maj. Gen. Wadsworth of the 4th Division Ohio Militia. In the war of 1812 he as aide was of great service to his general. We should remember that at that period military titles and positions were not carelessly bestowed. Capt. prefixed to one's name was as good as Hon. as we now estimate the value of titles. A military election often called out often a fuller vote and was more hotly contested than a civil one.
In the line of religious enterprises we find Mr. Whittlesey engaged in a scheme to build a house of worship at the center in 1808 by joint effort of English and German speaking people. A site was secured and enough money pledged to secure the erection of a comfortable sized building. For reasons not now clear the project was abandoned. Before Mr. Whittlesey put in an appearance there existed in the township an organization entitled a "society for detecting thieves." History says the society put the quietus on stealing. After the arrival of the 'squire we notice him as an active member. We are loth to believe, in fact we won't believe, that so far as the Canfield population was concerned there was any need for such a society. These naughty scamps had their homes elsewhere.
In social life Mr. Whittlesey was the active promoter and leading spirit in the "Onion Society," the odorous memory of which still exists. If we do not die of old age before our sketches are finished we may have more to say of the diet and perfumes used in the frolics of our supposed staid ancestors.
In the fall of 1810 Mr. Whittlesey visited his old Connecticut home and returned by the way of Washington, C.C., a city that in after years became a familiar one to him. While there he witnessed for the first time the forms and ceremonies of a presidential levee. This was perhaps the first great social event in the life of our honored 'squire, and it may be he found some trouble with his hands and feet. These members of our body are sometimes very handy - again they seem much in the way, especially if one is trying to avoid giving an awkward impression in society. Whether Mr. W. was embarrassed or not on this occasion matters little. As we knew him he was a gentleman of easy and dignified manners. He wrote to the dear one at home a description of the interesting event, and how "graceful and dignified" Mrs. Madison, the president's wife, bore herself on the occasion.
Gen. Hull's surrender at Detroit soon after the commencement of the war of 1812 threw the whole northwest into a ferment of fear and excitement. The orderly and peaceful pursuits of all classes of people were suddenly checked. The excitement produced by the first fire on Fort Sumptner was not a parallel one. It was one of fiery indignation and enthusiastic confidence in final victory. In 1812 at least for a time a fearful panic prevailed all along our northwestern borders - a helpless fear - a fear of sudden massacre by an enemy that knew no mercy. In this emergency nearly every able-bodied man in Canfield as well as along the border was suddenly called upon, unprepared as he was, to face a victorious foe. In this condition of affairs Mr. Whittlesey laid down his pen, closed his law books, dismissed his clients, and the next or the second day following the reception of the news of surrender, Maj. Gen. Wadsworth with Major Whittlesey for his aide was on his way to Cleveland escorted by a volunteer company of cavalry, composed mostly of Canfield men. This is not the place to pursue the history of these men, and other men of Canfield who soon followed after to the frontier, more than to say that Maj. Whittlesey with his usual method and energy was of great service to the campaign and received the commendation of his superiors. After the retirement of Gen. Wadsworth the major continued for a time in the service, acting as military secretary on the staff of Gen. Harrison. Towards the close of his service he became ill with the "camp fever" that swept away so many of the prominent men of Canfield in 1813. I copy from the autobiography of Rev. Joseph Badger who for a short time was chaplain and postmaster in the army. By the way, this book of Badger's is a valuable relic of itself. It is said upon competent authority there is only one copy in existence, and this copy cost me some trouble to obtain the use of for a short time. It was fortunate indeed that Maj. Whittlesey in his severe sickness was nursed by this man who before had been a nurse in the revolutionary army, and furthermore, a man of good sense and great experience. He says; "Soon after the building of Fort Meigs was commenced the men began to be sick. Here Maj. E. Whittlesey was taken very sick. The general's tent was crowded. I took him into my own tent and took care of him night and day. He was given up to die by all except Dr. Stonard of the Virginia line and myself. The doctor understood the case. I carefully administered the prescriptions, which were blessed for his recovery." But how were matters at his home? Mrs. Whittlesey says, "I had four little children that winter. Ann Maria (Mrs. Stratton) was born the 7th day of November, 1812, (in his absence). I had everything I wanted to eat and wear, plenty of wood to burn. When I would think of his situation I was unhappy at times, not knowing what would become of myself and our little helpless children should he be taken away. An all-wise providence saw best to spare his life, and he returned in March, 1813."
He was taken sick with the fever the same spring in Kinsman at the hospitable home of Mr. and Mrs. Kinsman. My brother Comfort went there to help in the care of him. The Kinsman family were dear friends of ours."
While active hostilities were continued on our western frontier for some time after the retirement of Gen. Wadsworth and Maj. Whittlesey they were conducted and prosecuted largely by the regular forces of the United States army, and for this reason most of the men that were so suddenly called out to meet the pressing emergency we have alluded to were suffered to return to their homes, where their labor and presence were so greatly needed. Mr. Whittlesey reopened his office and resumed the quieter pursuits of his profession, but we doubt not the prestige he acquired in the army and the acquaintances made there served to increase the number of his clients and pave the way for future political preferment."
Canfield, O. J. Truesdale (To be continued.)"
Canfield Very Prominent in 1812 War Events - Two distinguished men gave their fortunes to Ohio
By Whittlesey Adams, 16 Aug 1912
Excerpt:
During the war of 1812 the British soldiers and the Indians were combined against the United States. In that was Elisha Whittlesey who was a major under General Simon Perkins of Warren. Elisha Whittlesey represented this district, in congress for sixteen years and afterwards was first comptroller of the United States treasury under Presidents Taylor, Pierce and Lincoln. Following are copies of letters from Elisha Whittlesey written during the war of 1812, to his wife:
Camp at Cleveland, August 29, 1812.
I am as yet in excellent health. Yesterday one company of men crossed the Cuyahoga, which will be followed by two companies today and more tomorrow under the command of B. G. Simon Perkins. They will station themselves ion the most healthy situation, somewhere near the Huron, for the purpose of allaying the fears of the few inhabitants who are remaining in that country and act as a corps of observation. The troops have not all of them arrived, Colonel Hayes' regiment is expected today, Raynes tomorrow, together with this detachment from Beall's and Miller's brigade. The encampment is about three quarters of a mile from town, pleasantly situated, near some of the finest springs you ever saw. About fifty hovels are already completed, and the necessary works progressing for the reception of the troops. It is very difficult to organize the militia, in the encampment but like all other good things of magnitude, may be in some measure improved by time and a good share of patience. My time is very busily employed and not that time to communicate with you which I wish, and believe I shall have here-after. I wish Mr. Boughton to see that the ground for wheat is well ploughed. There is not at present any danger apprehended.
My love to all friends, family connections and the dear children
Yours affectionately, Elisha Whittlesey
(To) Mrs. Polly Whittlesey
Canfield, Ohio
Lower Sandusky, Dec. 24, 1812.
I have had a moment to write you my dear wife, and inform you of my being in good health. The place where we are stationed is beautiful. I have been up the river 13 miles, and for that distance better land than I ever saw elsewhere. There are several Indian villages, in that distance, containing from 15 to 20 huts which are now deserted. They were formerly inhabited by what are called friendly Indians, who are now many of them at Upper Sandusky, who belong to the Wiandot tribe. Those belonging to the Seneca nation have gone back to Niagara.
A scout returned yesterday from the Miami Rapids. They report that there are no Indians or British at that place, nor have there been since the fall of the snow. We shall probably move on there in a few weeks. The Pennsylvania troop have arrived in part at Upper Sandusky and the rest expected soon. The drums are now beating and I have to attend to the guards.
My love to our dear children and all friends,
From yours affectionately, Elisha Whittlesey
(To) Mrs. Polly Whittlesey,
Canfield, Ohio
Lower Sandusky, Jan. 2nd. 1813
Your letter of December 14rh and your papers of the 25th were received by Mr. Way on the 31st. I hope you will be careful of your health and consider it as of the first importance. Colds are common with us, but generally the camp is as healthy as could be expected. The weather has been favorable for our situations, until yesterday. Last night it commenced snowing, and without intermission has continued through the day, and is very stormy tonight and blistering.
Major Frederick has commenced cutting the road from this to the Miami Rapids with a party of about sixty men who he hired from the troops, having undertook to cut the road by the job.
No news to write. Uncertain when we move westward. Do not fail to write every week. I shall be very anxious to hear from you as frequently as opportunity shall present. But do not do anything that shall in the least expose your constitution. Thank Mr. Mygatt for his favors, they were gratefully received and shall be answered. To Mr. Boughton present my compliments and inform him that I shall not be able to comply with his request at present. Mr. Patch I hope will not fail to write. To all give my love. Tell the children they are not out of my mind and that I hope to return and receive a favorable account of their good conduct.
Your Affectionate husband, Elisha Whittlesey,
Family Members
Siblings
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Abigail "Abbie" Mygatt Hoyt
1785–1867
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Julia Mygatt Boughton
1789–1813
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Mary Magdalene Mygatt Mell
1791–1849
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Betsey M Mygatt Fitch
1791–1838
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Comfort Mygatt
1792–1814
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Lucy Mygatt Adams
1794–1885
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George Mygatt
1798–1885
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Anna Marie Mygatt
1799–1812
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Dr Eli Mygatt
1807–1885
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Hannah Mygatt Otis
1812–1840
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Comfort Stewart Mygatt
1815–1892
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Julia Anna Mygatt
1816–1832
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Almira M. Mygatt Jones
1818–1907
Children
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