 Ely began to build more houses to accommodate European-American settlers migrating to what was, at that time, within Huron County, Ohio.By the time Ely died in 1852, Elyria had five churches, three grocery stores, three flour mills, a newspaper, and a population of more than 1,500.Early postal service from Cleveland was provided by Artemis Beebe, a rider who held the first contract to deliver mail across this section of the Black River.