Fifty years and over of Akron and Summit County : embellished by nearly six hundred engravings--portraits of pioneer settlers, prominent citizens, business, official and professional--ancient and modern views, etc.; nine-tenth's of a century of solid local history--pioneer incidents, interesting events--industrial, commercial, financial and educational progress, biographies, etc., Part 117

Author: Lane, Samuel A. (Samuel Alanson), 1815-1905
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Akron, Ohio : Beacon Job Department
Number of Pages: 1228

USA > Ohio > Summit County > Akron > Fifty years and over of Akron and Summit County : embellished by nearly six hundred engravings--portraits of pioneer settlers, prominent citizens, business, official and professional--ancient and modern views, etc.; nine-tenth's of a century of solid local history--pioneer incidents, interesting events--industrial, commercial, financial and educational progress, biographies, etc. > Part 117

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

D R. SECRETARY RAWSON,-was born in Warwick, Massachu- setts, October 18, 1796; educated in common schools, and four years in New Salem Academy ; read medicine five years with eminent New England physicians ; holds two medical diplo- mas under laws of Vermont and Ohio; practiced medicine forty-five years ; came to Ohio in 1823, settling in Richfield in 1824; married to Miss Lucy B. Hancock, June 19, 1824; the fruits of this happy union being three daughters-one dying at 15 years of age, the other two well settled in life -and three grandchildren. In 1825, the doctor organized a public library company in Richfield, soon accumu- lating quite a large collection of valuable books; aided in subduing the wilderness, erecting the regula- tion log cabins and afterwards replacing them with the more com- modions and comfortable frame structures ; helped to construct high- ways, bridge streams, build school houses, erect churches, and was a warm supporter of Richfield's old- time popular and prosperous Academy. Dr. Rawson was among the earliest advocates of temperance in Ohio, previous to 1830 drafting pledges, lecturing, and as far as pos- . sible discarding the use of distilled liquors in his practice. In 1866,

DR. SECRETARY RAWSON.

broken down in health, the doctor removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where, with partial restoration, but still a continual sufferer from severe ner- vous derangement, he has reached his 95th year, with his mental powers apparently as vigorous as when he first settled in Richfield, sixty-seven years ago.

A Richfield correspondent, in writing of old-time inhabitants and incidents says of "Old Dave Smith," a noted local story-teller, that he once boasted that while himself and others were mowing in a field a deer rushed past them, the mowers chasing him into a snow-drift where they caught him alive. It being suggested to him that hay-making and snow-drifts did not go well together, he said, after a moment's reflection : "That's so, I must have got two stories mixed." The old man was so prone to "mix" things, that the church took him in hand on the charge of lying, when he humbly begged for forgiveness, saying: "I detest lying as bad as

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

any of you, but I have an incurable tendency to exaggerate. It has given me more trouble than anything else in the world, and I have shed barrels and barrels of tears over it, but I can't get over the habit."

BUSINESS RESOURCES, RIVALRIES, ETC .- For some now unex- plainable cause, the business interests of Richfield became divided at an early day, a rival village to the original and geographical center, three-fourths of a mile west, and called the West Center," coming into existence. At the East Center, there was a church, one or two stores, a hotel, postoffice, and the usual complement of mechanics, with comfortable family residences extending a short distance out on the four roads centering there, but the spirit of push and spread-out-a-tive-ness, seemed to be.lacking.

DR. JEREMIAH CULLEN WIL- COX,-born in Hartland, Hart- ford county, Connecticut, December 6, 1790; at 16, removed with parents to Vernon, Trumbull county, Ohio, nearly losing his life, en route, in crossing the Ohio river; graduated from Jefferson (Pennsylvania) Col- lege, in 1813; studied medicine and cominenced practice in Hartford, Trumbull county, where he resided fifteen years ; in 1816, married to Miss Lorena Bushnell, who died in 1831, leaving five children-Harriet N., who married Rev. Daniel Emerson, dying in 1870; Amelia, died at 19; Maria, married to R. C. Clark, of Ken- tucky, afterwards of Sacramento, California, died in 1870; Jeremiah B., of Butte City, Montana, and Jerusha, married to General S. D. Sturgis, and now living at West Point, New York. Owing to impaired health, Dr. Wilcox discontinued the practice of inedi- cine, and to secure better educational facilities, removed to Hudson, and in 1839, located on the large farin in Richfield, which he successfully cul- tivated until his death, from paralysis, January 26, 1873, at the age of 82 years, 1 month and 20 days. In 1839, Dr. Wilcox married Mrs. Julia A. (Wilder) Pettee, formerly of Rochester, New York, who bore him eight children,

BENEDICT

CP CUCHI

DR. JEREMIAH CULLEN WILCOX.

five of whom are now living-Amelia A., wife of Mr. George B. Clarke, now of Akron; Henry Chauncey, of Akron; Newell O., died in infancy; William Cullen, now missionary in East Africa ; Francis A., real estate agent in Akron, and Stella H. Of sterling integrity and indomitable energy, Dr. Wilcox was among the most highly respected of Richfield's many honored citizens.

At the rival "Center," however, it was different. Hotels were established, a number of stores were erected and filled with mer- chandise, a postoffice was secured, churches instituted, manufac- tures inaugurated, etc., until at one time, in the early forties, Rich- field was one of the very snappiest inland points in Northern Ohio, not only stimulating the general prosperity of the township itself, but attracting a large amount of business from adjoining, and even more remote, localities-the east center, of course, to a con- siderable extent, sharing the general prosperity.

RICHFIELD'S PUBLIC SPIRIT .- For nearly twenty years, Rich- field, with several contiguous townships, maintained a spirited Fair association, under the title of the "Union Agricultural and Mechanic Art Society."

945

RICHFIELD'S SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC.

A flourishing Masonic lodge (Meridian Sun Lodge, No. 266), has also been maintained in the township for more than sixty years, and, for the most of the time for the past forty years, a fine band of music has been liberally supported, while a good deal more than usual attention has been given to church and educa- tional matters in both villages, and throughout the township.

Besides the usual complement of well-attended district schools, Richfield, in 1836, established a well-equipped academy, in a commodious building erected for that purpose between the two villages, which was liberally patronized, not only by the peo- ple of the township, but many pupils from abroad were here educated, many of whom, without any additional scholastic advan- tages, have become eminent in business, statecraft, professional life, etc. Modern educational methods, however, have displaced the original Richfield academy, by the establishment of a commo- dious central or high school building for each village, that at the east village, unfortunately destroyed by fire, in 1887, having been replaced by a handsome and still more commodious structure.

I UDGE NOAH M. HUMPHREY,-

born in Goshen, Connecticut, June 18, 1810; educated as farmer's boy during minority ; in September, 1833, came to Ohio, entering law office of Humphrey & Hall, in Hudson, studying three years, teaching school winters ; admitted to bar, in Medina, September 5, 1836; began practice with Van R. Humphrey and Harvey Whedon, under firm name of Hutin- phrey,Humphrey & Whedon, changed a year later (on appointment of Van R. Humphrey to president judge- ship), to Humphrey & Whedon. Sep- tember 24, 1840, was married to Miss Velina Hannum, of Brecksville, set- tling in Richfield, in addition to legal work, teaching, farming, dealing in stock, etc .; in 1852, '53, represented Summit county in State Legislature ; in 1854 elected probate judge, renlov- ing to Akron in Spring of 1855; re-elected in 1857, serving six years. Mrs. Humphrey dying September 24, 1855, on January 12, 1859, Judge Hum- phrey was again married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Young, daughter of the late David Allen, of Akron ; in Fall of 1862, removed to Taylor's Falls, Chisago county, Minnesota, where he has since continuously resided, and where he has received many honors,

JUDGE NOAH M. HUMPHREY.

both from the people and the govern- ment, being now postmaster of that city. Of the two children of Judge Humphrey, Laura M., born January 31, 1842, is now Mrs. D. A. Caneday, and Marcus F. C., born August 23, 1844, died at his home, in Fergus. Falls, Minnesota, April 18, 1885.

RICHFIELD'S RELIGIOUS STATUS .- Originally settled by Puritanic stock, Richfield has, from the first, been duly observant of religious worship, and the means for its proper exercise and maintenance. The first church organization (May 15, 1818), to accommodate the various shades of religious belief, was called the "Church of Christ,". but that element largely predominating, afterwards known as the "First Congregational Church, of Richfield," a com- fortable house of worship being erected at the east center, in 1822, which remained substantially as originally constructed until 1886,

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

when it was destroyed by fire. A much handsomer and more costly structure has been erected upon the same site, by the liberal contributions of all the people of the township, aided by generous donations from former residents living elsewhere, among the latter being Governor Russell A. Alger, of Michigan; and Edwin J. How- lett, of Philadelphia; who each contributed some $500 to the build- ing and furnishing funds. The society has been fairly prosperous throughout, maintaining nearly continuous preaching to the pres- ent time, the pastorate of the late Rev. J. A. Mckinstry, com- mencing in August, 1864, and continuing nearly a quarter of a cen- tury, the present pastor, ordained September 6, 1889, being Rev. W. E. Wheeler.

The Methodists erected a modest house at an early day (about 1832), which remained only partly finished until 1852, when it was burned. Its successor, near the west center, was a more com- modious structure, and has recently been considerably enlarged and improved, and the society is now healthy and prosperous.

The Baptists, also, have a prosperous society, with a com- modious house of worship at the west center, erected in 1838, which has also been remodeled and enlarged, within a few years, while the United Brethren have a flourishing society and a hand- some church edifice, called the "Centennial Church," in the south- east portion of the township. This, with the four religious insti- tutions alluded to, liberally supported by her citizens, with per- haps, quite a large contingent of independent religious faith and practice, Richfield's "calling and election" may be regarded as tolerably sure.

RICHFIELD'S MILITARY CAREER.

It is believed that among her early settlers there were several ex-Revolutionary soldiers, though only the name of John Farnam, who died May 21, 1833, has been handed down. Nor is there any record of her having furnished any soldiers for either the War of 1812, or the Mexican War, though nine residents of the town after- wards received pensions for services rendered in the former war, before removing thither.

In the War of the Rebellion, however, Richfield did her whole duty, furnishing, in all, 150 men for the Union army. Of these, five were killed in battle, and twenty-two died from diseases con- tracted in the service, while thirteen shared the " hospitalities" and the horrors of the various prison-pens of the late C. S. A .; six more carrying in and upon their persons indubitable evidences of their having "been there."

RICHFIELD'S ROLL OF HONOR.

Samuel Allman, Benjamin Allman, Martin Bigelow, Jr., Luman Bigelow (died in service), Albert G. Baldwin (died in service), Charles Blakeslee, Jerome Barnell, Charles Beardsley, George A. Butler, Cyrus P. Brooks, George M. Buel, Darius D. Baldwin, George W. Barnett (died in service), Orson H. Buck (died in ser- vice), Nathan S. Britton, Martin C. Bentley, Thomas Burns, De Vil- lar Bowles, D. E. Bowles, James Barnett, Charles Ball, Thomas Bruner, J. T. Barney, Levi P. Carr, Charles C. Chapman, Ezra Carter, Thomas Clifton, Lewis B. Clark, Charles Churchill, Asa P.

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RICHFIELD'S ROLL OF HONOR.

Carr, M. R. Comstock, O. B. Carpenter, Richard Dunning, George W. Dickinson, H. E. Dustin, William Davis, Augustus Dillman, Jacob F. Eckert, John Fauble, Thomas Ferryman, Samuel Fauble, M. Fauble, Adam Farney, Horace Greenwood, Augustus N. Gold- wood, John Goldwood, Charles Goldwood, Daniel Gorman, Thomas Gilbert, Charles Hall, Decius Humphrey, Thomas Hatfield, Lucian E. Humphrey, Charles Hicken (killed in service), John Hancock, A. O. Halliwell, Cyrus J. Hughes, A. W. Hancock, D. Hubbard, Thomas Huddleston, William Hudson, Henry B. Johnson, Wil- liam H. Jones, Nathaniel Jones, Thomas Jackson, J. P. Jackson, George Johnson, Henry Killifer, Henry Knapp, John Knapp, Thomas King, Augustus Knapp (died in service), Oliver King, Charles Knapp, John S. Lee, Loraine H. Lockert, J. Linderman, Joseph Lantz, David Lyons, Joseph Mead, Frank Miles, Samuel Moody (died in service), Albert Mead, West Miller, Charles Mead, Levi Mix, James Moore, M. H. McCoy, William Moody, Ezra Men- kins, Marcus Noble (died in service), Emmon S. Oviatt, Charles Oviatt (died in service), John F. Oviatt (died in service), Marcus U. Oviatt, Horace Olmstead, Jr., Owen Pixley (died in service), Eras- mus Payne, Corydon P. Payne, Edwin W. Poole, Sumner Pixley, Charles Peeples, Lorain J. Phillips, R. J. Phillips, George Rox- bury, Edward B. Reed, M. R. Risden, Oscar F. Reed, Enoch W. Simmons, George C. Sheldon, Andrew J. Spencer (died in service), James W. Sanborn (died in service), James Sammons (killed), Daniel W. Sprankle, John Smith, Charles R. Sheldon, Elnathan Simmons, Richard Sweet, William A. Shepard, Eugene E. Shall, Christian Senghar, Levi Shoalwater, Charles Stockhouse, Nathan G. Strong, . David Sangharst, Daniel P. Stoffer, Milton H. Stoffer, Evelyn E. Shall, William R. Townsend, Richard Tunwell, Robert Tunwell, Samuel Train, Charles W. Tunwell (died in service), Albert Tupper, Hawthorn Thompson, Joseph Taylor, Charles P. Townsend, John M. Thompson (died in service), Sylvester Viall, Henry P. Wadhams, Henry C. Wilcox, James Washburn, Montrose Washburn, Vendruth Washburn, George Wilson.

THE PATRIOTIC SPIRIT STILL CULTIVATED .- To preserve and properly cultivate the fraternal feeling naturally existing between the surviving soldiers of the late war, as well as for general social and beneficial purposes, the A. N. Goldwood Post, No. 104, Grand Army of the Republic, with a healthy membership of the veterans of Richfield and vicinity is maintained, with stated meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, and such special meetings, entertainments, etc., as are from time to time deemed advisable.

COUNTY, STATE AND NATION .- In the civil affairs of both the county, state and nation, Richfield holds a most exalted position, as a perusal of the following summary will most clearly demon- strate :

JAMES W. WELD, EsQ., of Richfield, was elected county commis- sioner in 1844, and successively twice re-elected, ably filling that important position for nine consecutive years. Mr. Weld also previously held the office of treasurer of Medina county for two years, and for many years officiated as justice of the peace of Rich- field township.

NOAH M. HUMPHREY, EsQ., was elected as Summit county's first representative to the State Legislature, under the new

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

constitution, in October, 1851, filling the position for two years with ability and honor.

SCHUYLER R. OVIATT was elected county surveyor in October, 1852, satisfactorily discharging the duties of the office for three years.

HON. NOAH M. HUMPHREY, in October, 1854, was again called to the front, by being elected probate judge for three years, and re-elected in 1857, most ably discharging the intricate duties of that office for six full years.

EDWARD OVIATT, EsQ., though born in Hudson, and since 1844, a resident of Akron, having spent almost his entire youth in Rich- field, and acquired his most excellent education in her old-time- highly popular academy, may properly be considered a Richfield " boy," and we will therefore give her credit of furnishing Summit county, in the person of Mr. Oviatt, with a most efficient prose- cuting attorney from 1864 to 1868.

DAVID BAKER ALGER,-fourth son of John and Sarah (Baker) Alger, natives of Connecticut, was born in Bethany, Genessee county, New York, April 5, 1816. The father dying three years later, in 1822, the mother, with her six children, came by ox-team to Ohio, and settled upon a farm, previously bought by the father, in Richfield. Here the boy David grew to manhood, with such educational advantages only, as the schools of the township afforded. January 16, 1838, he was married in Hinckley, to Miss Margaret Richard- son, of Eden, Erie county, New York, who bore him four children-two sons and two daughters. He fol- lowed farming, both as a business and as a profession, and on his well- managed old Richfield farm, he and his good wife not only made a pleas- ant home for their own family, but also for the orphaned children of two of his brothers. A warm friend of education, Mr. Alger was ever actively identified with the school interests of Richfield, and being strictly temperate himself, was first and foremost in all temperance and other reform movements. He died

DAVID BAKER ALGER.

December 30, 1884, aged 68 years, 8 months and 25 days, Mrs. Alger and their four children-May L., Eunice P., Albert W. (now of Kansas City, Mo.), and Richard Edwin, still sur- viving.

ORSON M. OVIATT, for two consecutive terms, from 1868 to 1874, filled the office of county commissioner, both creditably to himself and highly satisfactorily to his constituents.

SCHUYLER R. OVIATT, was elected county treasurer in 1870, for two years, and re-elected in 1872, not only discharging the duties of the office with his customary fidelity, but so improving the methods of performing the routine work of the office, as to at once greatly facilitate the transaction of the the public business, and lessen the liability to mistakes.

HIRAM HART, elected county commissioner, in October, 1879, re-elected in 1882, for six consecutive years made one of the most enterprising and faithful public officials that Summit county ever had.

949

RICHFIELD IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

HENRY C. SEARLES, a native of Hinckley township, Medina county, and an ex-soldier in the War of the Rebellion, became a resident of Richfield, soon, after the close of the War, engaging in trade and for several years officiating as postmaster at West Rich- field. In 1884, Mr. Searles was elected county recorder, and re- elected in 1887, and though in quite poor health a portion of the time, was a first-class officer during his six years incumbency.

HENRY C. SEARLES, - son of Daniel Searles, was born in Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio, August 19, 1841; raised a fariner ; educated in district schools and Hiram College; in 1861 enlisted in Battery A., 1st O. L. A., serving two years, and discharged on account of injuries ; clerked in store of Baxter H. Wood, West Richfield, eight years; in 1873, engaged in mercantile busi- ness for himself, being at that time appointed postmaster at West Rich- field ; in 1878, his store, with most of its contents, was destroyed by fire, but immediately rebuilt on a larger scale, where he continued to do busi- ness until elected county recorder in 1884, to which position he was re-elected in 1887, ably filling the position six years. Mr. Searles, besides serving as postmaster thir- teen years, was treasurer of Richfield for nearly twenty years, and member of the board of education some ten years. August 19, 1863, Mr. Searles was married to Miss Elizabeth Parker, daughter of Rev. Sanford Parker, of Hinckley, born November 12,1843. They have had three children - Harry I., born June 17, 1864, deputy county recorder three years, from January 1, 1885, later salesman in dry goods store of Murray & Watt, died February 12, 1891; Lizzie A., born

HENRY C. SEARLES.

March 14, 1867, and George DeForest, born September 14, 1869, now deputy county recorder. The present resi- dence of Mr. Searles is at 931 East Market street, Akron. He is now a stockholder and director, and the secretary of the Akron Hardware Company, corner Stanton and Getz Avenues.

JOHN E. HURLBUT, EsQ., one of Richfield's most successful far- mers and business men, on the inauguration of the internal rev- enue system, during the War of the Rebellion, was appointed, by President Lincoln, United States assessor for the 18th Congres- sional District of Ohio, composed of Summit, Cuyahoga and Lake counties, with his headquarters in Cleveland. It is safe to say that in no district of the United States, was the service more ably performed, than that presided over by Mr. Hurlbut, and in no other county of the district was the routine work more conscientiously and fearlessly executed than by his faithful local deputies, Schuyler R. Oviatt, of Richfield; Hiram V. Bronson, of Boston; Alfred R. Townsend, of Akron; Andrew Fenn, of Tallmadge; and Stephen D. Miller, of Norton. Mr. Hurlbut, after the War, remained in Cleveland, where he died some four or five years ago.

HON. SAMUEL B. AXTELL, one of Richfield's early adopted sons, and whose family and property interests are still in that township, represented the San Francisco (Cal)., district in the fortieth and and forty-first sessions of Congress. Returning to Richfield, on

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

the expiration of his second term, he was in January, 1875, appointed governor of the territory of Utah, by President Grant,. but a few months later was transferred to New Mexico, of which territory he was governor between three and four years. Still later, in May, 1882, by appointment of President Arthur, he became chief justice of that territory, which position he filled with: acknowledged ability for three years, tendering his resignation to. President Cleveland, May 1st, 1885, to take effect on the 25th of the same month. On June 1, 1885, Judge Axtell accepted from the Southern Pacific railroad, the position of solicitor of that road for New Mexico, with headquarters at Santa Fe, which position he held until his death, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Charles M. Phillips, in Morristown, New Jersey, August 6, 1891, at the age of 71 years, 9 months, 22 days.

RUSSELL A. ALGER, was reared and educated in the township of Richfield, graduating with honors from the famous old Rich- field Academy, some 35 years ago. Soon after his graduation he entered, as a student, the law office of Messrs. Wolcott & Upson, in Akron. On the completion of his studies, he was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court, at Columbus. Practicing for a short time in Cleveland, he established himself at Grand Rapids, Mich., with fair prospects of the most eminent success in his chosen profession. On the breaking out of the War, however, the young lawyer forsook his clients and his briefs, and entered the Union Army as a private soldier, retiring therefrom, in 1865, with the well-earned title of Brigadier General. After the close of the War, he engaged extensively in the lumber and shipping business, accumulating a speedy fortune, which he is liberally dispensing in benevolent and business enterprises, one of the ventures in the latter line, being his joint-ownership, with Hon. J. A. Kohler, of Akron's beautiful Arcade Block, on South Howard street. In 1884, he was elected governor of Michigan, holding the office through 1885 and 1886, and, declining a re-election, retired from that high office with the reputation of having made one of the very best governors Michigan ever had, his name also being prom- inently mentioned as a candidate for President before the National Republican Convention for 1888. [See portrait on page 555].

THE BIG SLEIGH RIDE OF 1856 .- The Winter of 1855, '56, was- one of considerable severity, accompanied by much snow and long-continued sleighing. Local sleigh-rides were frequent, engen- dering much neighborhood rivalry, soon extending to township and finally to county contests for the prize banner-a piece of com- mon muslin, with the figure of a young negro rudely painted thereon, with thumb on nose, and extended digits, with the legend issuing from between his ivory teeth and protruding lips, "You can't: come it!" Starting in Solon with seven four-horse teams, fol- lowed by Twinsburg with sixteen teams, Bedford with thirty-two ;: Brecksville, forty-four; Royalton, sixty-three; Boston, sixty-six; Independence, sixty-five; Hudson, seventy-one, the flag had finally come to Richfield, with seventy-three teams. By this time the excitement had become so great that it was determined to make it a county affair, between the three contiguous counties of Cuya- hoga, Medina and Summit. Richfield being already in possession of the prize, and being, withal, the most central township in the territory involved in the contest, it was decided that the triangular

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THE BIG SLEIGH-RIDE OF 1856.

gathering should be held there. Accordingly, on Saturday, March 15, 1856, the great trial took place, four and six-horse teams, only, being counted. The marshals reported Medina one hundred and forty, Cuyahoga one hundred and fifty-one, and Summit one hun- dred and seventy-one teams, making a grand total of four hun- dred and sixty-two four and six-horse sleighs, though quite a good many one and two-horse teams, bearing witnesses and spectators, were present from all parts of the adjacent country.

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Author: Lane, Samuel A. (Samuel Alanson), 1815-1905 Publication date: 1892 Publisher: Akron, Ohio : Beacon Job Department Number of Pages: 1228

Author: Lane, Samuel A. (Samuel Alanson), 1815-1905
Publication date: 1892
Publisher: Akron, Ohio : Beacon Job Department
Number of Pages: 1228