Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 19

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 19

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

them would be bad business. Space will not allow a further discussion of that report. It is now proposed to rehabilitate the canal sys- tem, and to build new locks and widen the channel and increase the supply of water. To this end the reservoir in Summit County is being greatly enlarged and it is proposed to increase it so that there will be flooded 166 acres of land, and that will contain in reserve about eighty million gallons of water. New conditions of transportation have arisen and among these is the celebrated electric mule, this being a kind of trolley car run along the tow path to draw the canal boat. It is expected that the canal will form a con-

venient means of carrying raw material and other merchandise, in which time is not a factor in the delivery. The sane conclusion of the matter is a confident reliance in the plans mapped out, and an ever constant re- minding of the career of the Ohio and Penn- sylvania canal, now abandoned beyond re- demption. The Federal government has shown interest in the project of a ship canal froin lake to river, and it is possible, if the present administration shows wisdom in its action, that once more the boats of Summit County may go from the town of Coventry to New Orleans.

HARRY S. QUINE.

CHAPTER IX

MANUFACTURES

The County's Chief Manufacturing Establishments of the Past and of the Present-Clay Products-Cereal Mills-Agricultural Implements-The Rubber Industry - Printing and Publishing, Etc.

As premised in the introduction of this history, Akron's great distinction lies in its pre-eminence as a city of manufactures. Long before the traveler reaches the city he finds its position marked on the horizon by a cloud of smoke by day and a blaze of light by night. The smoke which hovers about the city is in- separable from any place doing manufactur- ing on a large scale, and, therefore, this is one of the discomforts which is borne by Akron's citizens with equanimity. The smoke means turning wheels, prosperity, and an inflow of golden wealth to enrich capitalist and work- ingman alike. This golden shower makes possible also the extensive mercantile life of the city. Great department stores, some of them as large as any in the State of Ohio, have been attracted here by the great demand for commodities, which they supply in all the various lines of retail trade. Akron has stores which would be a credit to any city in the land. They are founded on a substantial basis and their success has been uniform.

The year 1907 has marked the highest point in the commercial life of the city a- well as in the manufactories. The im- portance of Akron as a center of manufactur- ing makes it necessary to devote an entire chapter to a statement of its resources in that respect, and to present an historical outline of its industrial development. The earliest manufacturing in Akron was conducted in

Middlebury, and was of a kind which was common to all pioneer settlements. The first requisite of such a settle- ment was a saw-mill and grist-mill and some sort of a smithy. In Middlebury these were operated by the extensive water-power which the Cuyahoga River affords at that place. The first industry of this kind was a grist-mill built in 1808 by Aaron Norton. This occupied the ground on Case Avenue, where the Akron Sewer Pipe Company now stands. Ten years after, Bagley's Woolen Mills was built in the same vicinity on the river bank. In 1817 the Cuyahoga Blast Furnace was erected by Aaron Norton and William Laird on the present site of the Great Western Cereal Company's mills. This fur- nace was established for the purpose of smelt- ing the iron ore which was found in this vi- cinity. This ore consisted principally of bog iron, and the industry became unprofitable upon the introduction of the rich ore from the Lake Superior region, and for that reason was discontinued. About 1825 the furnace prop- erty was purchased of Ralph Plum, the then owner, by Dr. Eliakim Crosby, who com- menced the manufacturing of plows. hoes and other agricultural implements. In 1827 the furnace property was sold to Arnold, Daniel and Isaac Stewart. Dr. Crosby then built a large grist-mill farther east on the Cuyahoga River, which he operated for a year or two, and then sold to Increase Sumner.

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

CLAY PRODUCTS.

The clay deposits in the neighborhood soon attracted the attention of early settlers. The potter's clay found in this vicinity is un- surpassed in quality and has made Akron's stoneware famous throughout the length and breadth of the land. Before long Akron's sewer-pipe was the standard for the world. Both the stoneware and the sewer-pipe indus- try were established about the same time. The pioneer worker in both of these fields was Ed- win H. Merrill, assisted by his brother, Cal- vin J. Merrill. He commenced, in 1847, the manufacture of stone bottles, jugs, smoking pipes and various other articles of stoneware on Bank Street, in the village of Middlebury. Enoch Rowley was a contemporary of these men and conducted a successful enterprise in clay working for many years in the same vicinity.

In 1849 IIill, Foster & Co. commenced making sewer-pipe. The firm consisted of David E. Hill, Robert Foster and Reuben McMillen. In 1851 the Merrill Brothers and Hezekiah Camp purchased the interest of Robert Foster, and the company changed its name to Hill, Merrill and Company. Both Messrs. Hill and Merrill devoted themselves to perfecting the process of manufacture and invented many new methods. In 1855 this company became Merrill, Powers & Company, composed of Edwin H. Merrill, Calvin J. Mer- rill, Frank Adams and Henry G. Powers. In 1858 the Merrills withdrew. Mr. Hill re-en- tered the business and the firm name was changed to ITill, Powers & Company. In 1859 IIill and Adams bought out the other parties and continued the business until 1868, when the Hill and Adams Sewer Pipe Company was formed. This company consisted of David E. Hill, David L. King, Ozias Barber, Lorenzo Austin and Frank Adams. At this time there was only one other factory of this kind in the United States. In 1871 the company was re- organized as the Akron Sewer Pipe Company, with a capital of $175,000. Mr. Frank Adams was president and David L. King secretary and treasurer of the company. In 1873

David E. Hill founded the Hill Sewer Pipe Company, with a capital of $80,000. In 1872 the Buckeye Sewer Pipe Company, with a capital of $100,000, was organized by Joseph A. Baldwin. In 1879 Robinson Brothers and Company, with a capital of $300,000, was or- ganized for the purpose of operating a sewer- pipe factory at the Old Forge. This company was formed by Henry Robinson and Thomas Robinson. It was a nucleus for the great Rob- inson Clay Product Company of the present time. In 1889 the Summit Sewer Pipe Com- pany was incorporated, with a capital of $100,- 000. It commenced the manufacture of sewer-pipe on Miller Avenue in South Akron. Joseph A. Baldwin was its president and George T. Whitmore was its general manager.

In 1850 Enoch Rowley, Edward Baker and Herbert Baker commenced the manufacture of yellowware in Middlebury. About 1852 Thomas Johnson associated himself with these men. In 1857 Johnson Whitmore and Com- pany was organized, Mr. Richard Whitmore and the Robinson Brothers having succeeded Mr. Rowley. In 1862 the firm changed to Whitmore, Robinsons and Company, which continued until September, 1887, when The Whitmore, Robinson and Company was in- corporated, with a capital stock of $200,000. The business was continued under this name until 1902, when the Robinson Clay Product Company was incorporated under the laws of the State of Maine, with a capital of $2,000,- 000. In 1861 Edwin H. Merrill and his son, H. E. Merrill, established the Akron pottery on the corner of South Main and State Streets. In 1880 Fred W. Butler became in- terested with them. In 1887 these three men formed the corporation known as the E. H. Merrill Company, with a capital stock of $50,- 000. The company continued until they merged with The Robinson Clay Product Company in 1902. Other stoneware compa- nies which have done a successful business in Akron are the Ohio Stoneware Company (G. A. Parker, president; F. S. Stelker, secretary; E. H. Gibbs, treasurer, 227-250 Front Street), The United States Stoneware Company, F. W. Rockwell and Company, The Akron Stone-

DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY, AKRON

WARHR

B. F. GOODRICH COMPANY, AKRON (Akron Rubber Works)

DIAMOND RUBBER WORKS, AKRON

M.O'NEIL & CO.

DEY GODDA CAMPETI

NITURE

MAIN STREET, AKRON, LOOKING SOUTH FROM MARKET

MARKET HOUSE, AKRON

WEST MARKET STREET, AKRON

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ware Company, Markle and Inman Company and Fred H. Weeks.

In 1875 Joseph C. Ewart commenced in the southern part of the city the manufacture of vitrified roofing-tile. In 1902 this company was incorporated under the name of the Ak- ron Roofing Tile Company, S. A. White, president; Charles E. Howland, secretary and treasurer and general manager; W. B. Col- lins, assistant secretary.

There have been a number of successful brick manufactories in the city, among which are the Diamond Fire Brick Works, estab- lished in 1866 by J. Park Alexander. The business is still carried on at the corner of Canal and Cherry Streets in this city. The Akron Fire Brick Company was established in 1873 by Byron A. Allison and Delos Hart. Since 1877 Mr. Allison continued the busi- ness alone until the incorporation of the com- pany in 1882, with a capital stock of $50,000.

CEREAL MILLS.

Reference has been made to the small grist- mills which were operated in the county in the early days. These were, of course, of a very limited capacity and were destined mere- ly to meet the needs of the farmers in the surrounding territory. They brought their grain to these primitive mills and sometimes waited until it was being ground to flour. On account of lack of transportation facilities, lit- tle or no attempt was made to find a market for dealers extending outside the county. In 1832, just after the canal was opened from Cleveland to Portsmouth, milling on a large scale was begun. The first of these large mills was the Old Stone Mill, which was built in 1832 by Dr. Eliakim Crosby, and those inter- ested with him in his canal projects. This was built to use the waters of the race from the Old Forge through the center of Main Street to Lock Five. In 1838 the Etna Mills, located on the canal, just north of West Mar- ket Street, was built by Samuel A. Wheeler and John B. Mitchell. A year later, Joseph A. Beebe and William E. Wright built the Center Mills. also located on the canal at

Cherry Street. In 1840 the Cascade Mills at the terminus of the races on North Howard Street, were built by William Mitchell. A year or two after, George W. McNeil built the City Mill on West Market Street between Canal Street and the canal. George Ayliffe about the same time commenced the manufac- ture of cereal goods on South Main Street. He sold out to Carter and Steward, who con- tinued the business of making oatmeal until their mills were destroyed by fire in 1881. In 1856 Albert Allen established the Allen Mill on Canal Street, just south of Cherry Street.

In 1851 Ferdinand Schumacher came to Akron from Germany. He was born in Celle, Hanover, March, 30, 1822, and came to the United States in 1850. He worked one year on a farm near Cleveland and in 1851 opened up a fancy goods store in the Hall block on the corner of Market and Howard Streets. His partner in this was Theodore Weibezahn. Their store was a very small one and fronted on West Market Street. It did not offer the inducement for advancement that Mr. Schu- macher desired and, accordingly, in August, 1852, he started a small grocery store in the room now occupied by the Dollar Savings Bank. His business growing rapidly, he moved to a larger stand across the street, next to the Empire House. In 1859 he com- menced making oatmeal on a very small scale in a frame building on Howard Street. Loyal to his native country, he named it the Ger- man Mill. Oatmeal was a new thing in this locality and its sale was at first very slow. The early deliveries were made in a hand-cart, and a humbler beginning could not have been made.

Mr. Schumacher in a few years added the making of pearl barley to his line. In 1863 he built the first of his mills on South Sum- mit Street, between Mill and Quarry. In 1872 a new German Mill was built there. In 1879 a large grain elevator was built by Mr. Schumacher. Then came the Big Jumbo mill, an eight-story structure, devoted entire- ly to the making of cereals. Then a fine, stone office building, costing $80,000, was built on the corner of Mill and Broadway. Mr. Schu-

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macher was now the foremost miller in the world. The company, of which he was the founder and head, had reached the elimax of prosperity, when, on the night of March 6, 1886, the entire plant was destroyed by fire, entailing a loss of over a million dollars to the company.

In April, 1886, just a month after the de- struction of the big plant by fire, the Ferdi- nand Schumacher Milling Company was in- corporated, with a capital stoek of two million dollars. The Old Stone Mill, which had been operated by Cummins and Allen, was con- solidated with the Schumacher interests. Mr. Ferdinand Schumacher was made president of the new company. In July, 1891, the American Cereal Company was incorporated, with a capital of $3,400,000. This was com- posed of all the principal oatmeal mills of the United States. It absorbed the Hower Mill- ing Company of Akron. In 1907 the Quaker Oats Company took the place of the Ameri- can Cereal Company. Just after the forma- tion of the American Cereal Company the prineipal office was established in Chicago and many of Akron's best citizens were taken to that city on account of the change. The representative of the officers of the company at Akron is J. H. Andrews, the local super- intendent.

In 1870 Robert Turner commenced the manufacture of oatmeal on the corner of Canal and Cherry Streets. He was succeeded in 1879 and 1880 by The Hower Company, of which John H. Hower was president; Har- vey Y. Hower, vice-president; M. Otis Hower, secretary, and Charles II. Hower, treasurer. At the time of their consolidation with the American Cereal Company they were doing a very large and prosperous business.

In 1883 John F. Seiberling organized the Seiberling Milling Company, and built a six- story brick flouring mill in east Akron, which is now the Akron plant of the Great Western Cereal Company. It was organized with a capital of $200.000, and had a capacity of 100 barrels a day. The first officers were J. F. Seiberling, president ; Lucius C. Miles, secre- tary, and Frank A. Seiberling. treasurer. In

1901 it became a part of the Great Western Cereal Company, with a capital of $3,000,000. The Allen Mills were founded about 1845 by Simon Perkins, Jedediah D. Commins, Alex- ander H. Commins, Jesse Allen, Hiram Al- len and Jacob Allen. The mills were after- wards converted into flouring mills by the Perkins Company and afterwards the Allye and Company was formed of F. H. Allen, Victor J. Allen and William A. Palmer.

THE MATCH INDUSTRY.

At one period of its existence Akron was known as the "Match Town." This was on account of the location here of the Barber Match Company. which afterwards became the Diamond Match Company. The most primitive form of the match was the small, pine stiek. coated with certain chemicals, which were lighted by dipping the chemical end in a solution of aqua-fortis. Matches aft- erwards were made by using a chemical com- position, which could be ignited by means of a piece of sand-paper. Late in the thirties came the Loco-Foco mateh. Samuel A. Lane and James R. Miltimore were the pioneer makers of matches in Akron. These Loco-Foco matehes were of pine, dipped alternately into inelted brimstone and a phosphorus composi- tion. S. A. Lane and Company began mak- ing them in 1838. They continued the busi- ness only about a year, finding little profit in it.

In 1845 George Barber commenced the manufacture of matches in a small barn in Middlebury. This was the humble beginning of the great Diamond Match Company of to- day, with its great factories and universal business. Mr. Barber found the business profitable and made several removals, finally occupying the entire woolen factory which stood on the site of the present Goodyear Tire and Rubber Works. In 1865 the Barber Match Company was formed, with George Barber, president; O. C. Barber, secretary and treasurer, and J. K. Robinson, general agent. In 1871 the Barber Match Company moved to South Akron to where the Diamond Rubber

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works is now located. In 1881 the Barber Match Company, with twenty-eight other es- tablisluments in the United States, were incor- porated under the name of the Diamond Match Company, with a capital stock of $6,- 000,000. Mr. O. C. Barber was made presi- dent of this company and John K. Robinson, treasurer. Today the Diamond Match Com- pany is one of the great industrial corpora- tions of the world, and the most credit for its success is due to the Akron man, Olio Colum- bus Barber, who has been its president since its inception.

In 1879 the Miller Match Company was formed for the manufacture of parlor matches in the building which forinerly stood just west of the old plant of the B. F. Goodrich Company. It was organized by Harvey F. Miller and S. S. Miller. Col. A. L. Conger was its president. In 1885 it was incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000. In 1888 it was sold to the Diamond Match Company.

AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS.

The Buckeye Mower and Reaper Works: In 1864 a branch of the A. Aultman Company, of Canton, was established in Akron and the manufacture of mowers and reapers was com- menced in the great plant along the railroads at the corner of Center Street. A separate company was then formed to conduct the business and was known as Aultman, Miller and Company. Lewis Miller was the general superintendent of the works from the begin- ning, and, under his able direction, the com- pany grew to be one of the largest institu- tions of its kind in the country. Much of the Buckeye machine was the invention of Mr. Miller himself. G. W. Crouse was presi- dent ; Ira Miller, secretary, and R. H. Wright, treasurer. The company continued to do a prosperous business until about 1902. when the organization of the International Harves- ter Company deprived the local company of its opportunity to compete on equal grounds. In 1905 a receiver for the company was ap- pointed and the entire assets were sold to the International Harvester Company, by order of

the court. The litigation over the failure of the Aultman, Miller Company is still (in 1907) pending.

In 1865 John F. Seiberling organized the J. F. Seiberling Company and established the Empire Mower and Reaper Works on the railroad, near Mill Street. Mr. Seiberling had been a druggist in Akron and in 1858 had invented the Excelsior mower and reaper, with a dropper attachment. In 1861 he con- menced the manufacture of them at Doyles- town. In 1864 he began the manufacture in Massillon, and in 1865 brought the industry to Akron. A large business was soon estah- lished and very extensive shops were erected. In the panic of 1873 the company was unable to weather the storm and an assigne in in- solvency took possession of the plant. When the Excelsior plant was sold, Mr. Seiberling purchased it and organized a new company, entitled the J. F. Seiberling Company, with himself as president; F. A. Seiberling, secre- tary and treasurer, and Charles W. Seiberling as superintendent. Capital stock was $160,- 000, and the plant was known as the Empire Works. The business at first was successful, and Mr. Seiberling reaped a large fortune. In the year 1900 business began to fail and ul- timately an assignec was appointed by order of court and the business wound up. The old Empire 'plant was afterwards occupied by the India Rubber Company and still later by the Fiebeger Heating Company.

The Akron Iron Company was established by Lewis Miller and other parties interested in the Aultman, Miller Company in 1866. Large rolling mills were built on the railroads south of Exchange Street. Upon its reorgani- zation in the year 1900 the company was known by the title of the Akron Iron and Steel Company, with a large part of its capital stock held in the East. Stress of competition overwhelmed it, and finally its business was wound up, and the plant sold to the railroad .companies. The old site is now a part of the Akron vards of the Erie railroad.

In September, 1886, the Selle Gear Com- pany was incorporated with a capital stock of $100,000. George W. Crouse was its presi-

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dent; F. M. Atterholt, vice-president, and W. C. Parsons, secretary and treasurer. A large factory was built on Chestnut Street, corner of High, and the company began the manu- facture of the Selle patented platform gear for wagons. In 1906 it became the Akron- Selle Company, with M. Otis Hower as presi- dent and general manager ; H. Y. Hover, vice- president; H. A. Paul, secretary, and E. R. Ifeld, treasurer. Under the able manage- ment of M. Otis Hower, a very large busi- ness is being built up, and there are good reasons for believing that, in a very short time, this concern will be one of the largest maufacturing institutions of the city.

The Akron Belting Company was ineor- porated in 1885 by George W. Crouse, Alfred M. Barber and Sumner Nash. Its first plant was on North Main Street, where the Grand Opera House is now located. They are mak- ing a very superior quality of leather belting of all sizes. Upon the vacation of the Allen Mills on Canal Street, this company moved into them and has continued to do business at that stand since. The present officers are: A. B. Rhinehart, president; Summer Nash, vice- president; George Wince, secretary and treas- urer. and Webster Thorpe, superintendent.

MISCELLANEOUS.

In 1872 Thomas Phillips and Company commenced the manufacture of paper on the Ohio Canal at. West Exchange Street. Their business consisted of making paper bags, flour sacks, wrapping paper, etc., and a very large business has been built up. In 1887 The Thomas Phillips Company was incorporated with a capital stock of $150,000. G. W. Crouse was its president and Clarence How- land, secretary and general manager. The present officers are F. D. Howland, president ; F. A. Seiberling, vice-president; G. D. How- land, secretary, and F. A. Howland, treasurer and general manager.

In 1885 the Akron Twine and Cordage Company was organized by the directors of the Aultman, Miller Company. G. W. Crouse was its president : Ira M. Miller, vice-president,

and R. H. Wright, secretary and treasurer. A large factory was built on Hill Street just east of the railroads. Rope and cordage of all kinds was manufactured. 1 specialty was made of binder twine. When hard times fell upon the Buckeye Mower and Reaper Works, the Twine and Cordage Company became in- volved in the trouble and for a long time they did not run. But at the present time they are being operated under the direction of the In- ternational Harvester Company, which pur- chased the assets of the Aultman, Miller Com- pany.

In 1878 Edward George Kubler and John Martin Beck founded what has been known as the Akron Varnish Works. They are manufacturers of varnishes, Japans and other similar products. They commenced in a hum- ble way in a small building on Bowery Street, and afterwards built a large brick factory on West State Street, where they still are engaged in the same business. In 1882 David L. King organized the King Varnish Company, and built a large, six-story brick factory on Canal Street, just north of Market. The business proved unprofitable and an assignment was inade. In 1889 David R. Paige bought the business, associating John H. McCrum with him. Upon the destruction of the factory by fie, the company was merged with the Kubler and Beck Company, under the name of the Akron Varnish Company. The officers are: E. G. Kubler, president ; J. M. Beck, vice-pres- ident and treasurer; E. M. Beck, secretary; F. W. Whitner, assistant treasurer ; F. A. Fauver, superintendent.

In 1870 John W. Baker and John C. Me- Millen established the Baker-MeMillen Com- pany and commenced the manufacture of enameled knobs, handles, etc. In July, 1890, the Baker-MeMillen Company was incorpo- rated with a capital of $120,000, and a very large business was built up. The present of- ficers are: H. B. Sperry, president and treas- urer; W. H. Stoner, secretary and general manager.

The first planing mill was established in Akron in 1832 by Smith Burton in Middle- bury. In 1836 James Bangs started a shingle

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mill near the corner of Main and Federal Streets. Samuel G. Wilson bought him out, and a few years later established a shingle mill and lumber yard on Main Street, just south of Howard. A few years later Mr. Wil- son took in Justus Rockwell and they bought out the lumber yard of W. B. Storer, which had been established on North Main Street. Mr. Samuel G. Wilson was thus the pioneer lumber dealer of Akron. In 1865 he inter- ested himself with William B. Doyle, Samuel Farnum and John H. Dix, and they organ- ized the firm of W. B. Doyle and Company. In 1867 Hon. John Johnson bought the in- terest of Mr. Wilson. In 1873 Mr. Johnson retired and the business was conducted by the other parties, until the death of Mr. Dix in 1886, and the retirement of Mr. Farnum in 1888, when the business was carried on by Mr. Doyle. Upon his death, August 6, 1890, this pioneer company ceased to exist.

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Centennial history of Summit County, Ohio and representative citizens, Part 19

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