Feb. 20,1781 - Feb. 25,1870

 

The concept of a canal connecting the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes had been a hot topic of discussion in the New York region of the American colonies since 1699. It was not until the early 1800's that New York Governor George Clinton was finally able to make it a reality, George Clinton initiated political action and his nephew, Dewitt Clinton, inherited Uncle's task when he was elected Governor of New York in 1817. Dewitt persuaded the state lawmakers to provide 7 million dollars for the canal's construction. Asa Eastwood was a staunch supporter of Thomas Jefferson and his social and political views of agrarianism, limited government, and individual liberty, as was George Clinton (who served as Jefferson's Vice President from 1805 until his death in 1812). When Asa Eastwood returned to New York, a naval hero from Jefferson's Barbary War, it was only natural that he would be embraced by the newly elected Jeffersonian Republican Party at both the state and federal levels. As Eastwood established himself in New York business endeavors, he found himself the recipient of political appointments as well. Though his naval career was over, Eastwood never lost his love of the sea, but more importantly, his respect of the commercial potential of merchant businesses. In addition to his numerous merchant ventures, he purchased businesses (hotel, tavern, etc.) in the harbor area which provided services to the maritime industries. Though skeptics referred to construction of the Erie Canal as "Clinton's Folly", and the canal itself, was called "Clinton's Ditch", Eastwood recognized the commercial future it provided for the State of New York. When he learned of a choice 107 acre parcel of farmland on the southwest corner of Oneida Lake, adjacent to the Onondaga River in upstate New York, he contacted the lawyer for the estate of the deceased owner (Revolutionary War veteran who was granted the property) and purchased it, sight unseen, in 1817. He knew that the canalization of the river, and the completion of the Oswego Canal, would not only link his property to the Hudson River and all of New York, but also to Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, providing access to Canada and the rapidly growing American West. 

To be continued...

 Asa Eastwood was born in the Eastwood home in Allentown, Monmouth County, New Jersey, on February 20, 1781, the third son of Lewis and Virginia Mary Eastwood. Virginia Mary, had previously blessed Lewis with the births of their eldest son, Lewis Jr., and John, who was born two years prior to Asa. Asa's closest younger brother, Enos, was also born at home in Allentown, about a year after Asa's birth. The Eastwood family moved north to Goshen, New York after Enos' birth, in the summer of 1785. The births of brother Benjamin and sister Catherine followed in New York during the next two to three years.

As noted in the diary of Asa Eastwood:
“My father moved from Allentown, New Jersey when I was a child, to Goshen, State of New York, from there to Schenectady, from thence to Balstown, from thence to Lolenburgh, from thence to Kinder Hook, from thence to Harperfield, from there to Catskill, from thence to Red Hook. Living in some place from several years and in other for several months only, in the former place he carried on his trade in an extensive manner which was that of Tanner and Currier in Balston.” *{New York}.

In addition to Lewis’ itinerancy, he professed to have little faith in "public education" and believed that 'experience was the best teacher'; subsequently, his children were all "home schooled". This is a fact that Asa bemoans in several entries in his diary. However, what Asa might have missed in a formal education, was more than made up for by his busy, young life (validating his father's beliefs). His writings (diary, letters, political and legal papers) display an education far superior to the majority of the people raised and schooled during the times.

*Author's Note: In deference to the "home schooling" from Lewis and Mary, the author must point out that Asa's aforementioned diary is now housed at Syracuse University's ______ and has been the historical reference for numerous newspaper articles, historical papers, et al. Additionally, during Asa's long and esteemed career, he was both appointed and elected to countless public offices at the municipal, county, state, and national levels. While serving as Constable and Justice of the Peace under appointment of New York Governor Clinton, he was elected as a delegate to the State Convention to revise the new US Constitution. He was next elected to the New York State Legislature. where, upon arrival, he was granted "Freedom of the City" by New York Mayor, Stephen Allen. His last elected office was to the NY State Assembly in November, 1832. During his political career, he also was elected "Sachem" (leader) of New York's famed Tammany Society (Tammany Hall) and was a founder and early leader of the New York Freemasons (Masonic Order). It was the age difference between Asa and the "American Founding Fathers" that prevented their personal and professional intimacy, not his lack of formal schooling. Nonetheless, he enjoyed the tutelage of both former US Vice Presidents, Aaron Burr and George Clinton (New York's first and longest serving Governor). The author has been unable to undercover any links to George Washington (Virginia), Paul Revere (Boston), or Benjamin Franklin (Philadelphia), however they were all US Freemason founders and leaders, but all matters pertaining to the ancient order are shrouded in secrecy.