Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 16

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 16

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

settler in this township was William Walker, who in 1802, came from Virginia. He was followed in 1804 by William Wetmore, who . built a house at what is now called "Stow Corners." Other pioneers were Gregory Powers, John Campbell, John Gaylord, Adam Steele, George Darrow, Erastus Southmayd, James Daily, Isaac Wilcox and David Rug- gles. The township was organized in 1808. It is now best known as the location of Silver Lake, a summer resort which is spreading its fame country-wide. Since the death of R. H. Lodge, his family have wisely continued his policies, under which great prosperity came upon Silver Lake. Near by are two other beautiful lakes-Wyoga and Crystal Lake. Stow township also contains Monroe Falls, a village on the Cuyahoga River a few miles above Cuyahoga Falls. This vil- lage was founded in 1836 by Edmond Monroe, a wealthy capitalist of Boston, Mass. A number of mills had been erected there to make use of the water-power afforded by the falls in the river. Up to the advent of the Monroes it had been called Florence. Mr. Monroe organized the "Monroe Falls Manu- facturing Company," and built a large store, many residences and the mill which is now used for the manufacture of paper. The township furnished 104 men to the country when our national life was threatened in 1861. W. Nickerson is now township clerk and Noel Beckley and W. R. Lodge are justices of the peace.

TWINSBURG TOWNSHIP.

The first settlement of Twinsburg Town- ship was made in April, 1817, and the honor of being the first settler belongs to Ethan Alling, who was then a mere boy of 17 years. sent on by his father to prepare for the later

coming of the Alling family. Moses Wil- cox and Aaron Wilcox, twin brothers, were also among the very earliest settlers. They were also among the original proprietors, as was Isaac Mills, who gave the township its first name "Millsville." The Wilcox twins afterwards persuaded the settlers to let them name the township, which they did, calling it Twinsburg in honor of their relationship. The township was organized in April, 1819. The first officials were Frederick Stanley, Lewis Alling, Luman Lane, Samuel Vail, Elisha Loomis and Elijah Bronson. Ethan Alling died in 1867, and by his will left eight shares of the stock of the Big Four Railroad Company to the mayor of the city of Akron for the purpose of having the dividends, de- clared thereon, being used to buy clothing, so that destitute children might be enabled to attend Sunday-school. These dividends are being used for this purpose at the present day, being turned over to the city poor direc- tor by the mayor upon their receipt. As early as 1822 both the Methodists and Con- gregationalists organized churches in Twins- burg. The latter built a church in 1823 and the present one in 1848. The Methodists built churches in 1832 and 1848. The Bap- tists organized in 1832 and built a church in 1841. In 1843 "The Twinsburg Institute" was opened by Samuel Bissell, which was one of the most successful educational institu-

tions in the county. The beautiful soldiers' monument on the Public Square was dedi- cated July 4, 1867. One hundred and twenty- eight men of Twinsburg went to the front during the Civil War. From 1856 to 1870 "The Twinsburg Fair" was one of the great features of agricultural life in this vicinity. At the present time, E. J. McCreery is town- ship clerk, and A. J. Brown and Isaac Jayne are justices of the peace.

CHAPTER VI

PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS

AKRON CITY HOSPITAL.

The City Hospital of Akron had its incep- tion in the fund left by an early French resident of Akron, Boniface De Roo, many years ago. This fund, which represented the lifetime savings of a frugal hard-working man, amounted to $10,000. The first building used was the old frame house at the corner of Bowery and Center streets. Here a num- ber of patients were cared for, but the place was palpably too old and behind the times, so it was given up and the city got along for a number of years longer without hospital facilities, the trustees holding the fund until such time as the sentiment in favor of estab- lishing a permanent hospital should take form.

In April, 1892, the City Hospital Associa- tion was formally organized, with T. W. Cor- nell, president; O. C. Barber, vice president ; Henry Perkins, secretary, and William Mc- Farlin, treasurer. Twelve trustees were chosen from the Hospital Association. The De Roo fund, $10,000 contributed by T. W. Cornell, and a like sum by O. C. Barber, were used to purchase the Bartges homestead on East Market for hospital purposes. After some improvements the building was opened as the City Hospital of Akron on October 18, 1892. Before many years this building be- came constantly overcrowded, and O. C. Bar- ber announced that he would see that a larger one was built. With the completion of this new building and its opening on June 5, 1904, Mr. Barber has invested nearly one quarter of a million of dollars, and the city of Akron has a hospital equipment second to none. Modern operating rooms and nurs- ing facilities, with the best of everything in

its line, have been secured. The training school for nurses was opened in 1897 with a class of two, and has been constantly in- creasing in number of students and efficiency since that time, graduating eight in May, 1907. June 27, 1906, the first resident phy- sician or interne was engaged, and his pres- ence proved so helpful that another was se- cured May 1, 1907. The internes serve for eighteen months without pay, their compen- sation coming from their experience gained during residence in the institution.

The officers of the new institution are as follows: President, O. C. Barber; vice presi- dent, George T. Perkins; treasurer, Harry J. Blackburn; recording secretary, Alexander H. Commins; president of the Auxiliary Board, H. M. Houser; superintendent, Marie Anna Lawson.

The Board of Trustees : O. C. Barber, George T. Perkins, M. O'Neil, H. B. Camp. C. B. Raymond, J. A. Kohler, George W. Crouse, C. E. Sheldon, I. C. Alden, P. E. Werner, A. H. Marks, C. C. Goodrich, C. C. Benner, William A. Palmer.

Junior Board of Trustees : George W. Crouse, jr., Tom A. Palmer, L. C. Miles, A. H. Commins, W. B. Baldwin, E. E. Andrews, H. M. Houser, E. S. Harter, H. H. Camp, C. H. Isbell, B. N. Robinson, George C. Koh- ler, Karl Kendig, Alvin V. Baird.

Officers of Staff: President, Dr. H. H. Ja- cobs; vice president, Dr. William Murdoch; secretary, Dr. J. N. Weller.

Hospital Staff: Consulting surgeons, Dr. C. W. Millikin, Dr. L. S. Ebright; consulting physicians, Dr. J. P. Boyd. Dr. William Mur- doch, Dr. L. S. Sweitzer, Dr. O. S. Childs, Dr. F. C. Reed.

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Visiting Surgeons, Dr. J. W. Rabe, Dr. F. C. Parks, Dr. A. F. Sippy, Dr. D. E. Cranz, Dr. G. F. Rankin, Dr. L. C. Eberhard.

Visiting Physicians, Dr. E. S. Underwood, Dr. E. J. Canffield, Dr. H. D. Todd, Dr. J. H. Seiler, Dr. W. S. Chase, Dr. A. A. Kohler.

Assistant Surgeons, Dr. G. W. Stauffer, Dr. J. II. Hulse, Dr. J. II. Weber, Dr. E. S. Underwood.

Gynecologists and Obstetricians, Dr. I. C. Rankin, Dr. H. H. Jacobs.

Assistant Obstetrician, Dr. A. W. Jones.

Consulting Oculist, Dr. A. E. Foltz.

Oculists, Dr. J. G. Grant, Dr. M. D. Steven- son.

Ear, Nose and Throat, Dr. T. K. Moore, Dr. E. L. Mather.

Anaesthetist, Dr. J. N. Weller.

Neurologist, Dr. W. W. Leonard.

Pathologist, Dr. L. C. Eberhard.

Bacteriologist, Dr. C. E. Held.

Ladies' Auxiliary Board: Mrs. W. C. Ja- cobs, president; Mrs. William Murdoch, first vice president ; Mrs. Ira. Miller, second vice president; Mrs. T. C. Raynolds, secretary ; Mrs. C. H. Palmer, treasurer.

Members: Mrs. W. B. Raymond, Mrs. R. L. Ganter, Mrs. F. H. Mason, Mrs. G. W. Plumer, Mrs. II. J. Shuffler, Mrs. L. M. Wolf, Mrs. Ira Miller, Mrs. F. H. Adams, Mrs. John Greer, Mrs. M. O'Neil, Mrs. William Mur- doch, Mrs. H. M. Smith, Mrs. G. G. Allen, Mrs. S. N. Watson, Mrs. J. M. Beck, Mrs. C. H. Palmer, Miss Dorothy Work, Mrs. R. P. Marvice, Mrs. C. I. Bruner, Mrs. E. S. Under- wood, Mrs. Albert Roach, Mrs. I. C. Alden, Mrs. H. K. Raymond, Mrs. G. W. Crouse, jr., Mrs. C. L. Brown, Mrs. I. C. Rankin, Mrs. R. H. Kent. Mrs. T. C. Raynolds, Mrs. E. W. Barton, Mrs. W. C. Jacobs, Mrs. Louis Loeb, Mrs. J. H. Greenwood, Mrs. F. H. Smith, Miss Emma Whitmore.

THE COUNTY INFIRMARY.

In the early days of the county the poor and indigent were cared for by action of the trustees of the various townships. The meth-

ods varied much in different townships and the system was far from satisfactory. The usual way was to "let out" the keeping of the unfortunate citizens to the lowest bidder. This was a shiftless and lazy way of dispos- ing of the burden, and remains a great re- proach to those unworthy trustees who were guilty of such a breach of trust. The con- tractor was bound to get as much out of his contract as possible, and the only way to accomplish this was to do as little for the pauper as possible. In the great majority of cases all that was done was just sufficient to keep the soul in its wretched body. The first poorhouse was built in the forties, and was a rough affair, situated in South Akron, between Main Street and the present Brew- ster switch. In 1849, the old regime, with its neglect and cruelty, came to an end. The county commissioners, acting under an Ohio statute, purchased 150 acres of land about two miles west of Howard Street, and lying between Market, Exchange and Maple Streets, extended. In the summer of that year $2,000 was expended in adding a two- story frame building to the other buildings upon the land. This was the beginning of our fine County Infirmary of today. In 1856, and again in 1879, additional land was pur- chased, until today the county farm embraces a tract of nearly 225 acres. In 1864, the legislature authorized the expenditure of $16,000 for the erection of the brick main building. By utilizing the labor of the in- mates and burning the brick from clay found on the farm, and using strict economy, a much finer building was built than was orig- inally contemplated. Large additions were made to this main building in 1875, 1880 and 1887, and many smaller additions since 1890. Today there is no better county farm or poorhouse in Ohio than the Summit County Infirmary. The infirmary directors are chosen by the people at the time of the State election. The present efficient officers are Z. F. Chamberlain, of Macedonia; J. M. Johnston, of Fairlawn, and W. E. Waters, of Akron. The present superintendent is S. B.

MARY DAY NURSERY, AKRON

MASONIC TEMPLE, AKRON

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL'S SCHOOL, AKRON

CHILDREN'S HOME, AKRON

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Stotler, who has been in the office for many years and has rendered its difficult duties to the entire satisfaction of the citizens.

THE CHILDREN'S HOME.

In August, 1882, the Summit County com- missioners purchased of George Allison, of Tallmadge, a farm near Bette's Corners, con- sisting of 140 acres of land, for $15,000. Upon this tract it was their purpose to estab- lish a home for orphan children, and such others under sixteen years of age as should be in need of county care. · A strong senti- ment began to set in against this action of the commissioners, it being felt that so large a tract was not needed and that the location should be nearer to Akron. The commission- ers accordingly suspended improvement oper- ations, and in November, 1885, leased the brick boarding-houses on Broadway, nearly opposite the court-house, which was demol- ished in 1906, when George Crisp & Son built their large storage building upon the site. Finally, in 1889, the commissioners, having sold parcels from the Allison farm and se- cured legislative permission, bought the old Jewett homestead, on South Arlington Street, in the extreme southeast corner of the city. The property now embraces nearly seven acres of land, and the old building has been entirely remodeled and thoroughly adapted to its new uses. The growth of the city and county, however, have left the original plat far in the rear, and steps should be taken at once for the erection of a modern, brick and steel, fireproof structure for a children's home. The county has provided a stone pal- ace for the county criminals (the new jail is all that) ; why should it not do as much for its little children? It has been pointed out many times that the present building is a perfect firetrap. If any taxpayer begrudges the amount necessary to care for the-e inno- cent children in a proper way, he is not a worthy member of this Western Reserve com- munity.

THE MARY DAY NURSERY.

One of the splendid charitable works ac- complished in Akron was the founding and maintenance of a nursery where children might be kept during the day, thus enabling mothers to undertake work outside the home. To the "King's Daughters" belongs the credit of perceiving and adequately meeting thiis need. In 1890, these young ladies organized the Akron Day Nursery, and first occupied rooms in the Union Charity Association Building. on South High Street, where the Y. W. C. A. Building now is. A year later Colonel George. T. Perkins presented the young ladies with a house and lot on South High Street near Buchtel Avenue, and the association became incorporated. The name was then changed to "Mary Day Nursery," in honor of Mary Raymond, Colonel Perkins' first grandchild. A few years later the munifi- cence of Colonel Perkins was again expe- rienced and the association had the extreme pleasure of accepting from his hands the splendid building on the northeast corner of Broadway and Buchtel Avenue. It is splen- didly equipped for nursery and kindergarten purposes and will meet the needs of the city in these respects for many years to come.

THE UNION CHARITY ASSOCIATION.

This society was incorporated in 1889 for the purpose of relieving destitution and pre- venting indiscriminate alms-giving. It is the clearing-house for Akron's charities. It was founded by the union of the Akron Board of Charities and the Women's Benevo- lent Association. It purchased a frame dwell- ing-house on High Street near the corner of Market, the site of the present Young Women's Christian Asosciation Building. In 1903, it erected the fine brick building called "Grace House," the money for which was contributed almost entirely by Colonel George T. Perkins. As the work of the association has fallen more and more to the lot of the Young Women's and Young Men's Christian Associations, it was found advisable, in 1906.

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to give up Grace House, and, accordingly, it was turned over to the Young Women's Christian Association. The latter remodeled and enlarged the building at an expense of $15,000, and today it enjoys one of the finest association buildings in the State. The asso- ciation has moved three times, originally occupying the basement rooms in an apart- ment house on the east side of South High Street, between Mill and Quarry Streets; thence moving into the entire third story of the Wilcox Building on South Main Street, where for two years, 1905-1907, it success- fully conducted its splendid work among the young women of Akron. In April, 1907, it moved into the new building on South High Street.

The present secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association has announced that that organization is in no sense a charitable one. However, in giving their money to es- tablish it, the citizens of Akron understood that it was to be devoted to charitable ends. At the present time the color line is strictly drawn, and only white men of a certain social grade and upwards, are welcomed at the club- house. The Young Men's Christian Associa- tion is the result of a movement on behalf of boys and young men, started by the mayor of Akron in 1902. Actively assisted by Sam- uel P. Orth, he interested a number of influ- ential citizens in behalf of a Boy's Club. Mr. Orth was at that time a professor in Buchtel College. The idea was to get boys without regard to color, race, habits or social stand- ing, in from the streets. After the move- ment had progressed considerably it seemed best to a majority of those interested in it to turn the whole project over to the Ohio Young Men's Christian Association and make use of their organization. No one doubted that the original objects of the promoters would be carried out by the latter association. In this they were mistaken. In 1903, work was commenced on a fine building on South Main Street at the southeast corner of Main and State Streets, the site having been pur- chased by the association. Early in 1906 it was ready for occupancy. It is a splendid

structure for the purpose, and consists of gym- nasium, dining-rooms, baths, dormitories, au- ditorium and reception and social rooms. Since the building has been opened and its restricted character announced, no little regret has been expressed that the purpose of its early promoters was not persisted in, the Young Men's Christian Association has never been a success in Akron, two former asso- ciations having gone to the wall after more or less checkered careers.

AKRON PUBLIC LIBRARY.

The Akron Public Library is the outgrowth of an earlier organization, The Akron Li- brary Association, this in turn having its rootage in the Akron Lecture Association. Through a series of lectures which continued for many years, through membership fees and generous donations, the Akron Library Association grew vigorously. In 1873, the library had assumed such proportions that it required more care than the association felt inclined to give, and it was offered to the city, with the stipulation that it receive proper support. The proposition was duly consid- ered and accepted in January, 1874. The library began its career as a public one in March of the same year. The city bought three rooms on the second floor of the Ma- sonic Block, and the library occupied these until October, 1898. The growth during some twenty odd years made another move necessary, and, in 1898, the second floor of the Everett Building, then in process of con- struction, was reserved for the library. From these bright comfortable rooms it moved on April 23, 1904, into its permanent home, the building given by Mr. Carnegie. The library opened to the public August 1, 1904.

The library now numbers 16,046 volumes for circulation, and 7,580 volumes of refer- ence and government reports-23,626 vol- umes in all. Aside from the main library, it reaches the public through eight stations for book exchange. The reading room has a large and attractive list of magazines and papers, and is always well patronized. From

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AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS

the beginning the library has been an active and vigorous force in the community.

Librarians of Akron Public Library -- T. A. Noble to 1875; Horton Wright, 1875- 1882; J. A. Beebe, 1882-1889; Miss M. P. Edgerton, 1889 to present year (1907).

Assistants-Miss Mary Vosburg and Miss Anna M. Krummer to 1875; Miss Bessie Wil- lis, 1875-1885; Miss M. P. Edgerton, 1885- 1889; Mrs. J. M. Proehl, 1889 to present ; Miss Clara B. Rose, 1895-1901; Miss Maud Herndon, 1901 to present; Miss Grace M. Mit- chell, 1903-1907; Miss Euphemia MacRitchie (cataloguer), 1903-1905; Miss Rena B. Find- ley, 1907; Miss Ella C. Tobin, 1907.

Directors of Library Association to 1874- D. L. King, J. S. Lane, J. H. Pitkin, I. P. Hole, C. P. Ashmun, G. T. Perkins, N. D. Tibbals, E. P. Green, Ferdinand Schu- macher, J. H. Peterson, Thomas Rhodes, R. L. Collett, J. A. Long, B. S. Chase, Sid- ney Edgerton, John Wolf, J. H. Hower, W. C. Jacobs, J. R. Buchtel.

Directors of Library Since Its Organization

as a Public Library-J. R. Buchtel, J. P. Alexander, M. W. Henry, E. P. Green, G. T. Ford, W. L. King, C. A. Collins, Adams Emerson, Mason Chapman, N. A. Carter, L. Miller, T. E. Monroe, F. M. Atterholt, C. W. Bonstedt, C. P. Humphrey, O. L. Sadler, R. P. Burnett, C. R. Grant, Elias Fraunfelter, A. H. Noah, Louis Seybold, G. D. Seward, C. S. Hart, P. E. Werner, W. T. Allen, H. K. Sander, A. H. Noah, M. J. Hoynes, John Memmer, W. B. Cannon, H. C. Corson, F. W. Rockwell, W. T. Tobin, F. C. Bryan, C. P. Humphrey, W. T. Vaughan, J. C. Frank, G. W. Rogers, J. W. Kelley, A. J. Tidyman, T. J. Mumford, W. J. Doran, H. A. Kraft.

Board of Directors (1907)-President, W. T. Vaughan; secretary, G. D. Seward; John C. Frank, Rev. G. P. Atwater, Dr. M. V. Hal- ter, Henry A. Kraft.

Library Staff (1907)-Miss M. P. Edger- ton, Librarian ; Mrs. J. M. Proehl, Miss Maud Herndon, Miss Rena B. Findley and Miss Ella Tobin, assistants; James C. Gillen, cus- todian.

CHAPTER VII

AGRICULTURE

By far the oldest of the agricultural or- ganizations of various kinds in Summit County is the Summit County Agricultural Society, under the auspices of which the an- nual autumn fair is held. This society has had an uninterrupted existence since about 1841. There is now no way of determining the exact date of its organization, as the early records have all been destroyed. The rather uncertain recollection of persons who came to Akron in 1840 is to the effect that a show of agricultural produce was held an- nually commencing within a year or two after that date. The first mention made of any such society in the local papers of the time which have survived to us occurs in 1844. In May of that year a notice was published, calling a meeting of the executive committee for the purpose of adopting rules, under which the annual fair was to be conducted.

Subsequently, the State of Ohio had passed certain acts for the encouragement of agri- cultural societies. By the terms of one of them, any such society organized in Summit County and holding an annual fair might draw $137.50 from the public treasury, each year, to be applied toward defraying the ex- penses of the society. This was not a large sum and would not go far in meeting the ex- penses of a very modest fair; but the results of the offer in many of the counties of Ohio demonstrated the wisdom of the legislature. The thrift of the Summit County farmer is proverbial. As might be expected, the offer of the State was soon accepted.

It is probable that the affairs of the early society had not moved forward without inter- ruption ; it may even have ceased to exist.

At any rate, in October, 1849, the auditor of the county issued a call for a public meet- ing of all those who would be interested in the formation of a society of agriculture. In pursuance of this call, a public meeting was held in the new court house on the eleventh day of November, 1849. The meeting or- ganized by electing officers and appointing a committee of five farmers, representing differ- ent portions of the county, to prepare a suit- able constitution and code of by-laws for the governing of the organization. Before the meeting adjourned, the society had secured seventy members from among those who had attended. The name of the old society, The Summit County Agricultural Society, was adopted as the name of the organization. Perhaps it is error to speak of the "old so- eiety," for it may not have ceased to exist. However, the real history of the society, as we know it, begins with this meeting held in the autumn of 1849. If the old society was

maintaining an uncertain existence, it was put firmly on its feet by this public meeting. That call to action aroused a strong public sentiment which has been a potent factor ever since. The ultimate result has been to make the Summit County society the strong- est one in the State, and the Summit County Fair one of the most important held any- where in the Middle West.

On November 18, 1849, the association held another meeting at the court house, at which time a constitution and by-laws were adopted and permanent officers elected. This was the first board of officials of which we have any record. Colonel Simon Perkins was elected president; William H. Dewey,

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treasurer; William A. Hanford, of Tall- madge, secretary, and John Hoy, of Frank- lin; Sylvester H. Thompson, of Hudson, Avery Spicer, of Coventry ; James W. Weld, of Richfield, and Philo C. Stone were elected as a board of directors or managers. At the present time the practice is to take one di- rector from each township in the county. These directors arranged and published a pre- mium list and made all preparations for hold- ing a fair during the fall of 1850. This, the first large and well-organized fair in the county, was held October 2nd and 3rd, 1850 At that time two days were deemed enough. The officers probably followed the custom in New England, of confining the fair to two days, the first of which was given over to the "Horse Show" and the second to the "Cattle Show." For the last twenty-five or thirty years, at least, it has been the custom to de- vote four days, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thurs- day and Friday, of fair week to the purposes of the exhibition. It is now held on the same week in the year as the earliest fair, in 1850. It is probably the most satisfactory time which could be selected.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 16

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