Pioneer Families of Cleveland

1819

SCRANTON
Scranton Avenue is one of the few city streets named after pioneers that
has escaped the vandalism of thecouncil that changed nomenclature into
numbers.

Stephen Scranton of Ludlow,Mass., married Asenath Wright, daughter of
Abel and Joshua Wright of New London, Conn. The couple had a family of
eight children, the older of whom were born in Ludlow and Belcherstown,
and the youngest, twin-daughters, Cornelia andHarriet, were born in 1817
near Cooperstown, N. Y.

Stephen Scranton was a skillful worker in steel and iron. He was a man of
unusual ability with an inventive turn of mind. He built works in Otsego
Co., N. Y., for the manufacture of cut nails, the first one of its kind
in the state. He possessed rare energy,and had he lived in this later
day, would have been known as a "captain of industry" from the Atlantic
to the Pacific.

But misfortune overtook him. Hisworks were swept out of existence by
fire again and again. The last time theyburned down, he gave up the
struggle, and with his family removed west, settling in Brighton, Lorain
County.

Eunice Scranton, the oldest child of the family, married Rev. Steven V.
Taylor, LL. D., President of Madison University, N. Y.

Abel Scranton died of consumption in Cleveland in 1828 at the age of 20.

Joel Scranton, the second child of Stephen and Ascenath Scranton, was
born in Belcherstown in 1793. His father's continued misfortunes early
made it imperative for Joel to strike out for himself. He had typical
Yankee shrewdnessto a degree, attributes more suited to mercantile
pursuits than the one with which his boyhood had been familiar.

He was 26 years old when he came to Cleveland in 1819, on a little
schooner laden with leather. He rented a small store at the foot of
Superior Street, and in it stored his cargo. He soon disposedof it, for
it was a commodity much in demand. Of this he had assured himselfon a
former visit, and reconnoiter. To the sale of leather he added that of
dry-goods and groceries, and within a few years was doing a business that
was steady in yearly growth.

He bought a farm of many acres lying between the river and the
amphitheater of hills east and south of it, and since known as "Scranton
Flats." Here he built a commodious brick dwelling, in which he lived and
died. Years ago, some one with a facile pen pictured, most alluringly:

"The old home and orchard at the foot of the hill, the boat swinging by a
chain to a ring in its nose at the shore, the horses and kine pasturing
upon the green meadows of the Cuyahoga, the woods that crowned the
heights, the humble dwellings struggling up the bluffs as if trying to
scale them."

"The flocks ofcheep grazing in the pasture have been succeeded by the
white fleeces of the busy steam, and the rasp of scythes by the roar of a
thousand wheels."

Mr. Scranton sometimes complained whimsically that his big farm and other
extensiveholdings kept him "land poor." Taxes and improvements yearly
growing heavierand currency scarcer.

A Mr. Averill living in the east was his partner in real-estate holdings.
"Scranton & Averill," as the firm was known, ceased at Mr.Scranton's
death. Mr. Averill came on to Cleveland occasionally, but took noactive
part in the business. A son and three daughters inherited the latter's
interest in the firm, and until very recently, if not yet, the heirs have
drawn yearly upon the Cleveland estate.

In the office of T. H. and Edward Bushnell, Society for Savings Building,
hangs a letter written by Joel Scranton toMr. Averill in those early
days of land investment.

Mr. Scranton was very unconventional, independent, and democratic. He had
a keen sense of humor, andany one who could inveigle him into
reminiscence was certain of a rare treat.

In June, 1829, by Rev. Stephen Peet, he was married to Miss Irene P.
Hickox. She was the daughter of David and Phebe Post Hi

1. Eunice SCRANTON b. 10 Sep 1791, Ludlow Ma.
2. Joel SCRANTON b. 4 May 1793, Belchertown Ma; d. 9 Apr 1858, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
3. Lyman SCRANTON b. 26 Apr 1798, Burlington Ny; d. Oct 1869, Utica,Oneida,New York.
4. Stephen SCRANTON b. 19 May 1803, Edmeston,Ny; d. 1885, Brighton,Lorain,Ohio.
5. 1. Abel Wright SCRANTON b. 4 Jan 1808, Edmeston Ny; d. 25 Nov 1828, Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio.
6. Orrin SCRANTON b. 28 Apr 1811; d. 3 Sep 1812.
7. Harriett SCRANTON b. 18 Mar 1817, near Cooperstown Ny.
8. Cornelia SCRANTON b. 18 Mar 1817, near Cooperstown Ny.

1. Jerusha WRIGHT b. 16 Aug 1768.
2. 3. Asseneth WRIGHT b. 20 Apr 1770, Windsor,, Connecticut; d. 8 Aug 1837.
3. Abel WRIGHT b. 4 Mar 1773, Windsor,, Connecticut; d. Bef 1837, Ludlow Ma.
4. Elam WRIGHT b. 1 Dec 1774, Windsor,, Connecticut; d. 6 Feb 1831, Ludlow Ma.
5. Joel WRIGHT b. 1 Oct 1777, Connecticut; d. 25 Mar 1874.
6. Sarah WRIGHT b. 23 Sep 1781, Windsor,, Connecticut.
7. Clarissa WRIGHT b. 11 Sep 1790, Ludlow Ma; d. Bef 9 Dec 1818.

Name Suffix: III
Francis Griswold, born Windsor, CT. Nov. 8, 1719; married Aug. 2 , 1739,
Jerusha Thrail born Sep. 2, 1722, daughter of John and Mindwell (Moses) Thral.

William Thrall, ancestor of John,Thrall, had a land grantin Windsor, CT.in
1640; Served in the Pequot War.

The date of Jerusha Griswold death is not known. Francis married (2) Keziah
Church, born 1723 died Dec. 28, 1798 age 75.

Francis Griswold served with the Colonial treeps in 1758.

The will of Francis dated Jan. 26, 1796, State Library, Hartford, Ct.
Mentions wife Thezia (Keziah), children Francis, aaron, Jerusha and Thezia
(Keziah) , wife of Abel Barnes.

Reference; page 72, " The Griswold Family " The Frist Five Generations in
America. Compiled and Edited by, Esther Griswold French and Robert Lewis
French.

1. Francis GRISWOLD, IV b. 23 Apr 1741, Windsor,Ct; d. Sep 1822, Bartholomew,Indiana.
2. Aaron GRISWOLD b. 23 Oct 1743, Windsor,Ct.
3. 7. Jerusha GRISWOLD b. 6 Dec 1747, Windsor,, Connecticut; d. Aft 1813, Ludlow Ma.