Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 10

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1150

USA > Ohio > Summit County > Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens > Part 10

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In 1851, the people of the State of Ohio adopted a new constitution. Acting under

"IRVING LAWN." RESIDENCE OF MRS. A. L. CONGER, AKRON

THE PERKINS HOMESTEAD, AKRON

RESIDENCE OF MRS. RICHARD P. MARVIN, AKRON

RESIDENCE OF JAMES H. ANDREWS, AKRON

RESIDENCE OF BERTRAM G. WORK, AKRON

RESIDENCE OF MRS. ETTA W. WORK, AKRO

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

powers granted by it, the legislature made a classification of municipalities according to population. In it Akron was classified as a village and henceforth was known as the "In- corporated Village of Akron." The popula- tion then was little more than three thousand.

December 14, 1864, recorder Henry W. Ingersoll, acting under instructions from the council, took a local enumeration and found the population living within the corporate limits of Akron to be 5,066. According to the municipal classification this entitled Akron to be advanced to the grade of "city of the second class." On the 25th day of December, 1864, the Village Council passed a resolution that the necessary steps for ad- vancement be taken and petitioned the State authorities to that end. This was done on the 21st day of January, 1865. John Brough was then Governor of Ohio. On that date the "City of Akron" had its inception. Herc- tofore there had been no wards or precincts. Under the enabling act, the Council imme- diately met and laid out the city into three wards and took the steps for holding the first city election on the first Monday in the coming April. Hitherto the village elections had been held in June.

April 3, 1865, the first city election was held and Janes Mathews was chosen as the first mayor of the new city. The first council, elected at the same time, was thus constituted : First Ward-Charles W. Bonstedt, elected for one year; George W. Crouse, elected for two years. Second Ward-John E. Bell, one year; Henry W. Howe, two years. Third Ward- J. Park Alexander, one year; Lewis Miller, two years. This council organized by elect- ing Mr. Miller as president and Jeremiah A. Long as clerk.

One of the important acts of this council was adding additional territory lving imme- diately east of the city. A small strip lying between the two municipalities of Akron and Middlebury was thickly settled and desired the benefits of city government and improve- ments. Their petition was acted upon favor- ably by the city and the county commission- ers. and, on September 6, 1865, the second

territorial addition was made to Akron. This strip was bounded roughly as follows: On the west by the east corporation line of Akron, running about the present location of Spicer and Fir streets; on the south by Exchange Street, running on the same courses as it does today; on the east by the west line of the village of Middlebury, which extended as far west as the present junction of East Market Street and Buchtel Avenue.

Early in 1870 there commenced an agita- tion in favor of the annexation of Middle- bury. The two municipalities touched each other and to all intents and purposes were as one. In Akron the sentiment was unani- mous in favor of consolidation and in Middle- bury a strong feeling in that direction began to set in. At length, public sentiment there ripened to such a degree that the Middlebury Village Council passed an ordinance submit- ting the question of annexation to Akron to a vote of the village electors. This ordinance was passed August 24, 1871. The Akron City Council passéd a similar ordinance on the 5th day of February, 1872. It was agreed and provided that the question should be voted upon at the regular spring election to be held in 1872.

It was held on the first Monday in April. and the annexationists were triumphant in both municipalities. In Akron only six votes were cast against the project; in Mid- dlebury only twenty-six. The total vote in favor of annexation was 1,182, of which Middlebury gave 140. The Akron Council then chose, as members of the joint commis- sion to arrange the details of annexation, the following citizens: William T. Allen, George W. Crouse and David L. King. The Middle- bury Council selected the following represent- ative Middlebury men as its commissioners : Frank Adams, George F. Kent and Dr. Men- dal Jewett.

This joint commission met at once and quickly agreed upon all the terms incidental to the process- of annexation, such as arrang- ing for equitable distribution of the public debts, taxation, assessments, etc. Their agree- ment was incorporated into an ordinance

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

which was passed by the Akron Council on April 24, 1872, and by Middlebury April 19. 1872. By this Act, the city of Akron in- creased its population about one-fifth and added to its domains a large extent of terri- tory which possessed great resources.

Middlebury had been known for its water- power and its clay-beds especially. It also brought into the city a substantial, sturdy citizenship which was bound to make its in- fluence felt in municipal advancement. By the ordinance of March 9, 1871, the Akron City Council had redistricted the city and created two new wards in addition to the original three, rather they had made five new ones of the original three, and, when Middle- bury was annexed, it was provided by ordi- nance of May 27, 1872, that it should form the Sixth Ward of the city. As such it con- tinued until 1900, when the annexation of much territory on the south, the west and the north, made another redistricting neces- sary. It then became the Second Ward of the city. In 1904, the ward numbers were changed again and the old number of Sixth was given to the district of Middlebury. In the year 1907 it is known as the "Old Sixth" ward of the city of Akron.

On October 28th of the same year (1872) a small district lying south of East Exchange was made a part of the city of Akron. Ten years later, a large district lying to the north- east was annexed. This new territory was in Tallmadge and Portage townships and had been known for years as "The Old Forge." It had received the name from the wrought- iron industry established there in 1817 by Asaph Whittlesey, of Tallmadge. Aaron Nor- ton and William Laird, of Middlebury. It is known today as the "Old Forge" district. The ordinance for this annexation passed the council of February 18, 1882, and by coun- cil action taken on March 1, 1886, it was made a part of the Sixth Ward.

By an ordinance dated March 15, 1886, the conneil took the necessary steps to bring about the annexation of part of Coventry Township, on the sonth, and part of Portage

Township, on the west and north. When this action was completed, the south corporation line had been extended to about South Street, on the south, and to a line running north and south and crossing Beck and Byers Ave- nues and Market Street, on the west. By this action nearly 700 acres of land, well popu- lated, was added to the city. These additions, made during the decade, lent much interest to the census of 1890, and the citizens awaited impatiently the announcement of the results of the count. The total of 27,601 was . very gratifying and every true Akronian felt that from that time onward the world would be compelled to take notice of the existence of the city of Akron.

In 1899-1900, by action of the City Coun- cil and the county commissioners, the city of Akron took additional territory from both Coventry and Portage Townships. The city had outgrown its old limits. In South Akron a district extending beyond the railroads, at Falor's and Wingerter's crossings, was thickly populated. The desirable residence features of North Hill had attracted many new resi- dents there. On the west both Perkins Hill and West Hill now contained the costliest and most fashionable residences in the city. Many of these had been built outside the old corporation line. This territory on the south, west and north was all annexed to the city at this time. The new city limits now extended beyond Falor's Crossing and Summit Lake on the south, passed through the County Farm, where the Infirmary is located, and intersected North Portage Path, near the Country Club. on the west ; added a populous district on Merriman road, and intersected Cuyahoga Falls Avenue on the north. The annexation was made in time to have the additional population ineluded in the census of 1900 as a part of the enumeration for Akron. The official count that year showed that Akron had a population of 42.728. The growth since 1900 has been steady, and at the present time the population is close to 60,000.

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

MERCANTILE AKRON.

As early as 1843 Horace Greeley said, in the New York Tribune after a visit to Akron : "This place, with a population of 2,500, has five woolen factories, an extensive blast fur- nace, a machine shop, a card manufactory, nine dry-goods stores, and about as many other stores; two weekly newspapers, four large flouring mills,- a court house, four churches and two more being erected."

For the purposes of this chapter Mr. Gree- ley's reference to the dry-goods stores is alone of importance. Now, as then, the Akron mer- cantile concerns devoted entirely, or in part, to the sale of dry-goods outnumber those deal- ing in any other one line of life's so-called necessities.

Up to 1825, the mercantile life of the town-as was true of all else savoring of a settled community-was centered in Middle- bury, which in the year mentioned had some ten or twelve stores and was the trading center of a considerable portion of northern Ohio.

The canal was important in Akron's be- ginning. It brought the first considerable number of customers for prospective mer- chants. It is recorded that soon after work was begun upon the canal, a man named Benedict erected a two-story frame store at the southwest corner of Main and Exchange streets. Mr. Benedict was probably the pio- neer merchant of Akron proper. The busi- ness which he established was continued for many years under the name of the "Mam- moth Store," and carried such a variety of goods suitable, of course, to the multitude of needs of a more or less primitive population, that it may rightly be termed Akron's first department store.

Mechanics and laborers poured into the infant city. Manufacturers located conven- iently near: farmers clustered about the out- skirts, and Benedict's "Mammoth Store" soon had many rival seekers for the trade of the active and progressive population of Akron in the twenties.

In the village of Cascade. the northern one of the settlements out of which modern Akron

was formed, the first store building was one erected by the late Seth Iredell in 1832, at the southwest corner of Market and Howard streets, on the site now occupied by Green- wood Brothers.

In 1832 Jonathan F. Fenn and Charles W. Howard established themselves in Mr. Iredell's block with a varied line of merchan- dise, but after three somewhat stormy years these early and disappointed "merchant princes" gave up the struggle. In 1835 Phil- ander D. Hall acquired a lease of the prop- erty and entered into the conduct of the busi- ness founded by Messrs. Fenn and Howard. He was much more successful than they had been, and proceeded. with his brother, to build a business and a fortune. The business was discontinued only on the death of the brothers, a few years ago. Such were the beginnings of the "general store" or "depart- ment store" business in Akron. It has grown as Akron has grown. Hundreds of mercan- tile establishments founded and conducted on a small basis have made the names of their thrifty proprietors household words in the localities where they affixed themselves. Many such businesses through the judicious investment of profits, created comfortable fortunes.

But good fortune in Akron has not been more nearly universal than elsewhere. For instance, no more pathetic and at the same time no more remarkable figure has been identified with Akron's mercantile life than that of the venerable Joseph E. Wesener, still among the living, though past eighty years of age. Born in Pennsylvania in 1827, Mr. Wesener came to Akron from Canton in 1846, and as a youth of twenty gained a prac- tical insight into mercantile affairs by clerk- ing in Akron stores for four years. Then he entered into partnership with the late Allen Hubbard. Two fires were encountered (but survived) in a few years, but Mr. Wesener pushed on, sometimes alone, and again with various partners, dealing in wool, conducting dry-goods stores, speculating where legitimate opportunity presented itself. and for a third of a century continuing to do a phenomenally

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

successful business in Akron. He was at one time rated as Akron's wealthiest citizen. Then came reverses. One. venture after another proved unsuccessful. Disaster after disaster visited itself upon him; his properties were swept away, and this venerable "captain of industry," his wealth vanished, his fame en- feebled by the relentless wear of the years, is ending his days in dire poverty.

The following are some of those who have had an active part in Akron's commercial life since 1840, arranged so far as possible, in chronological order: Frank J. Kolb, 1840; Major Erhard Steinbacher, druggist and gro- cer, 1851; Jacob Koch, clothier, beginning as a clerk for Koch & Levi in 1854; John Cook, grocer, 1855 (afterward succeeded by his sons) ; Cornelius A. Brouse, 1859; C. W. Bonstedt, John B. Houghton, John Wolf, 1862; George C. Berry, 1866. Others who have made their names in Akron's mercantile affairs were Brouse & Co., O'Neil & Dyas (now conducted by Michael O'Neil as The M. O'Neil & Co.), who first conceived the idea of a modern department store for Akron, an idea which has been worked out to huge success under the present management; Mur- ray & Watt (later the Boston Store, which was discontinued within the present year) ; Myers & Polsky (still conducted successfully by A. Polsky and his two sons) ; Wendel Mangold, Dague Brothers (whose business was recently purchased by the C. H. Yeager Co.) ; Burke C. Herrick, O. H. Remington, J. B. Storer, Dwight A. Hibbard, George J. Neiberg, C. M. Hibbard, William J. Frank, D.H.McBride and E. C. McBride, George S. Dales, Alfred M. Barber, Levi Kryder, C. M., F. L. and J. H. Kryder; Augustus Jabaut, John C. Weber, William Gray, John Kreuder, James N. Baldwin, George A. Bisbee, Charles W. F. Dick, David K. and Albert T. Paige, George Viall, Burdette L. Dodge. George W. Weeks, Albert T. Kingsbury, Louis Loeb, Fred Kuhlke. Shepard B. Lafferty, Nicholas Las- karis, Antonio Masino, J. M. Laffer, S. K. Black. John D. Rampanelli. Henry A. Akers, Emil Ganmeter, Charles A. Pouchot, John S. Herrold, George A. Kempel. Oliver A. Sor-

rick, Josiah J. Harter, A. C. Rohrbacher, John Gross, James T. Diehm, William Durr, J. W. Little, R. M. Pillmore, and a host of others.

As will be noticed, many of the names which were familiar to commercial Akron a generation or more ago are familiar now. Business conditions have changed somewhat, it is true. The city has acquired metropolitan qualities, and the people metropolitan requirements. The business details that made a concern popular and successful a generation ago might easily be shown to be valueless now. And such merchants of that other Akron as are still in business were obliged to be progressive. And they were. There are many new names in the mercantile roster for 1907. Each of them indicates the city's added greatness.

The double line of business houses which formerly extended for a block on Howard street and for a short distance on Market street, has been found too small to do the city's mercantile business. Main street has been changed from a rough and rubbish- strewn canal bank to a first class business thoroughfare of which, in its mercantile as- pect, any city might be proud.

HARRY S. QUINE.

FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS.

AKRON FIRE DEPARTMENT.

Up to the year 1839, Akron had no fire department of any kind, the inhabitants be- ing notified by one calling to another or in the ringing of the church bells. But in De- cember, 1839, an ordinance was passed pro- viding for a volunteer fire department. From this arose the "North Akron Fire Company," formed January 28, 1840, with its twenty- six members. And to the people, certificates of membership were issued. February 10, 1846, eight more were added and the numeral one was added, thus making them No. 1. The equipment of this company was gotten hy private subscription, it consisting of a ro- tary hand engine costing $600, with the sub- scribers paying $25.00 each toward the en-

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

gine. This company bought also for itself fifty feet of hose and finally, in 1841, was offered a small building for headquarters on Mill Street.

"Niagara Fire Engine No. 2" was started December 20, 1845, and its membership num- bered thirty-seven. A hook and ladder com- pany was formed in 1847, with the energetic name of "Tornado Fire Company No. 3." Various other companies were formed from time to time, but all volunteer. It was not until May, 1858, that there was a paid de- partment, and then it was two dollars per year for each member. The Niagara Com- pany was equipped with a new engine pur- chased by the town, with headquarters, finally, in the small brick building still standing on Federal Street. The West Side had its in- dependent company, called the "West Hill- ers." Later there was a German hook and ladder company called "Washington No. 3." Still another organization was known as the "Mechanics Hook and Ladder Company."

At the present time the fire equipment in Akron is as good as any in the country. It will be recalled that one of the fruitful sources of improvement in this line has been the steady increasing factor of fire insurance. Other things being equal, the city with the best fire department obtains the lowest rate. To see that fire rules are strictly observed, to keep buildings free from inflammable mate- rial, insurance agents and fire department co- operate. The estimating a rate on a given dwelling, the construction and exposure are considered, and for any building used for other than residence purposes there is a sep- arate rate. Maps of every street are made and, in short, fire protection has changed from a matter of convenience and local pride to a purely business proposition.

This being true, it has a marked reaction on the fire department. Fire cisterns are located over the business centers of the city and a superbly equipped and finely organized body of men is at the service of the city. Civil serv- ice rules prevail strictly and almost military discipline is enforced. Every night there is · drill and so perfect is the discipline that the

equipment can get away in eleven seconds from the first sounding of the alarm. Each man is allowed one day off out of five and fourteen days vacation in a year.

Particularly should Akron feel proud of its fire and police alarm system. In the year 1873 there was only one box in the city and that was located in the engine house. But about 1880 Engineer Loomis began the pres- ent system. At first it was a key for each box with the key at the nearest house. Now, of course, the alarm is turned in as soon as the door is thrown open.

This entire equipment was put in by En- gineer Loomis at a cost of three thousand dol- lars, whereas, if put in by regular methods, it would have cost twelve thousand dollars. To look after the details of this intricate system, the mechanical engineer, an expert lineman and three operators give their entire time.

The engine-houses in Akron are seven in number. No. 1 is the Central, where is lo- cated the headquarters of the alarm system. Here also are two separate and distinct compa- nies, an engine company and a truck com- pany. Here also, as at all the engine-houses, may be seen the fire district system. The re- sult of this is that in case of a fire affecting a certain district, the blaze is attended to by the fire company in that district. This leaves that engine-house without an equipment. To meet this situation the engine companies move up according to a regular schedule.

Engine-house No. 2 is located in East Akron and is in charge of Captain Smith. In addition to the gymnasium and dining room the house has a beautiful fountain presented to it by the late D. E. Hill. Probably of this fire company more than any other is it true that there is a distinct local pride in it. For the site of the engine-house is that of the town hall of the historic town of Middlebury, and local pride is still strong.

Station No. 3 is located on the West Side. Here is the home of Assistant Fire Chief Rice and here is one of the new engine-houses. Being in a community of wealth many pleas- ant social features are seen in connection with the regular routine of duty.

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

Station No. 4 is located in the South End. with Captain Tryon at its head. In addition to the splendid equipment there is also a branch of the public library.

Station No. 5 is another new station on Buchtel avenue. Here is the official home of Chief Mertz, and also one of the finest sta- tions in the city.

Station No. 6 is located on Wooster avenue and is in command of Captain Dorner. This station has a larger territory than any other house in the city.

Station No. 7 is the latest addition and is on North Hill, with Captain N. P. Smith in charge. Here the equipment is a combined hose and chemical wagon.

AKRON POLICE DEPARTMENT.

The police department of the county nat- urally centers about Akron and that depart- ment has steadily increased from its first marshal, Marshal Wright, to the present com- plex organization. William Mason was the last Marshal of Akron, and with the loss of that official succeeded the period of the Police Chief with the first incumbent, H. H. Harri- son. He was so appointed in 1897, and under him were twenty-seven officers. In 1900 the positions of captain and lieutenant were created. At the present time, in addition to the officers, are three detectives, a police sur- geon, clerk, prison-keeper and photographer.

This last-the photographer- has the task of taking the pictures of all suspected crimi- nals and at present has two hundred and sixty.

The police alarm system is similar in oper- ation to that of the fire department. Each officer must ring up hourly when on duty. And every box is marked telephone, fire, pa- trol, riot, so that his signal indicates the state of his beat.

The patrol-an automobile-for a long time was the only one of its kind in the world. That, too, was built by Engineer Loomis. The old one has just worn out and a new one is to be installed in a very short time.

No history of the police would be complete without a passing mention of the riot of 1900. From that riot dates the reorganized police. At that time an emergency arose which showed all too plainly the lack of organiza- tion and the inability to meet the demands of that catastrophe. Since then, riot guns have been a part of the regular equipment of the police, riot calls have been among their expec- tations, and there has grown up the feeling that the police are a distinct and separate or- ganization somewhat apart from the good old days when Akron was a village.

The detective bureau in operation at city hall operates along metropolitan lines and is a vital part of that complicated and intricate machinery by which one is detected. By these men a close watch is kept on all strang- ers and there are few new arrivals that are not watched and inspected. Besides this, by means of exchanged photographs, measure- ments and other devices, fugitives from jus- tice are apprehended and the difficulties of escape are increased. Through the depart- ment very efficient work has been done and in one case, at least, public notice has been taken of this branch. John E. Washer, for a long time prison-keeper, established a record as an able detective, and is now serving the president of the country as a 'personal body- guard.

Other prominent local characters connected with the detective service have been Edward Dunn, now on the pension list; James Burli- son, an old-time detective, and our first mar- shal, and Captain "Jack" Wright.

At the present time there is established a well regulated pension system for both the fire and police department. The working of this branch of the service assures the mem- bers of these departments of an assured in- come at the expiration of a given length of service. From it results a steady class of men watchful to maintain the credit of their re- spective bodies.

In times past the bane of both fire and po- lice departments has been political influence. To minimize this the legislature has placed the members under civil service rules, and now

AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

promotions are inade on the basis of fitness, physical and mental. When a vacancy occurs a regular examination is held and the candi- dates are marked as at school.

Besides this, both bodies of men are placed under the direction of the Board of Public Safety, a board appointed by the Mayor of Akron. The net results of this system are of comparative freedom from "pull." Still the counter results of an assured position and the difficulty of a trial involving incompetency are factors in the other direction. It is true, also, in a measure that Akron gets as good a force as its people demand.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 10

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868 Publication date: 1908 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1150

Author: Doyle, William B., b. 1868
Publication date: 1908
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : Biographical Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1150