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 145

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 145

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ELISHA NASH BANGS.

canal inspector four years. Firmly believing in the fatherhood of God, and the brotherhood of Man, and that religion consisted in doing right, because it was right, Mr. Bangs died November 18, 1878, at the age of 78 years, 7 months and 8 days; Mrs. Bangs dying September 24, 1880, aged 78 years.

at 18 learned printer's trade in office of Schoharie Patriot, edited by Gen- eral Husic Mix; in 1859 worked in office of New York Sun; in 1866 came with father's family to Ohio, settling in Buena Vista, Tuscarawas county; owing to failing eyesight, changed occupation, working at carriage painting, at Shanesville and in Cleve- land, from there coming to Akron with Mr. Henry Gentz, in 1869, to start the Akron Germania, on which he operated as superintendent and local editor two years. November 13, 1871, was married to Miss Celestia E. Bangs, youngest daughter of the late Elisha N. Bangs, who has borne hin one son-Wallace P., now a clerk in business office of Akron Daily BEA- CON and REPUBLICAN. Mr. Moersch was for six years, 1878-83, inclusive, clerk of Portage township; six years -- 1882-88-justice of the peace; assist- ant secretary of Summit County Agricultural Society twelve years ; publisher of Fair premium lists, and of Christmas Magazine and Almanac for many years, and is at present in charge of the advertising department of the Akron Daily BEACON and REPUBLICAN.

CHAPTER LVIII.

MISCELLANEOUS MENTION-PORTRAIT AND BIOGRAPHY OF REV. WILLIAM FROST CRISPIN-BUCHTEL COLLEGE ADDENDA-ANOTHER VICTIM OF THE FEARFUL HOLOCAUST OF DECEMBER 13, 1890-DEATH OF A WARM SUP- PORTER AND TREASURER OF THE COLLEGE, MR. JOY H. PENDLETON- OTHER RECENT DEATHS OF WELL-KNOWN CITIZENS-THE GREAT HOWARD STREET DISASTER OF NOVEMBER 7, 1891, WITH A FINE VIEW OF THE COLLAPSED BUILDINGS-NEW HIGH STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST, ETC.

R EV. WILLIAM FROST CRISPIN, -- son of William and Mary E. (Van Kirk) Crispin, born November 14, 1833, near New Martinsburg, Fay- ette county, Ohio, being of English ancestry, the remotest known being Rear-Admiral William Crispin, of the British Navy, brother-in-law of Sir Admiral Penn, uncle of William Penn, the American ancestors being Friends; removed with parents to Highland county, when young ; early education very limited, in log school house; at majority borrowed money 'at ten per cent. interest to go to Ohio Wesleyan University one term, work- ing for father at $18 per month, to pay note; next summer taught home school, and next winter taught in Illinois ; then chopped wood, at fifty cents per cord, to go to what is now the National Normal University, at Lebanon, Ohio, where, by self-board- ing and teaching winters, he received the teacher's degree (I. J.), in 1860; after partly completing Senior course, in Spring of 1862 was called home by illness of father; later teaching, in all about five years, mostly in Highland and Clinton counties. May 25, 1865, was married to Miss Drusilla D. Evans, of Green- field, who bore him three children - Mary Frederica, Fannie Forester and Willie D., the latter dying in infancy, the mother, preceding him, dying May 16, 1872. Was again married, June 28, 1876, to Miss E. Emma Reed, of Sabina, Ohio. After first marriage engaged in drug and grocery trade, continuing until 1876. Though raised

a Democrat, Mr. Crispin early espoused the anti-slavery cause,

REV. WILLIAM FROST CRISPIN.

allying himself with the Republican party, on its organization ; served as census enumerator for his township in 1880, but for the past ten years lias been a zealous Prohibitionist. Relig- iously a Universalist, besides occa- sionally preaching and lecturing, since 1870, traveling for denomina- tional publishing house two years, and in the interest of Buchtel College nearly six years, and published a book on Universalism in 1888; since his ordination in 1890, has, unaided, established a Mission, resulting in. the organization of a Church in Mansfield, and preached for'a time in the city of Springfield, Ohio, besides officiating, since 1885, as the fortnightly (paid) correspondent of the Chicago Universalist.

A PROPOS of the foregoing portrait and biography of Rev. William Frost Crispin, a few words, in addition to the pretty full history of Buchtel College, given in. Chapter VIII. of this work, are due to that gentleman for his arduous and self-sacrificing

1163

DEATH OF ANOTHER LADY STUDENT.

labors in the interest of that beneficient institution. Notwith- standing the munificence of Hon. John R. Buchtel and others of its founders, there was a time, about 1879, '80, when the College was struggling under such an incubus of debt (about $65,000) as to very seriously embarrass its operations, if not absolutely to threaten its existence. In this emergency, by reason of his strong love for the Universalist Church, and his interest in the cause of education, Rev. J. S. Cantwell, D. D., recommended Mr. Crispin to the board of trustees as a suitable successor to Rev. D. C. Tomlinson, as financial agent of the College. In accordance with this recommendation the Executive Board made an arrangement with Mr. Crispin, by which he entered upon the work of can- vassing the southern half of Ohio, and Summit county, Rev. W. P. Burnell being employed to canvass the rest of the northern half of the State. In this work Mr. Crispin was so successful that he was soon regularly employed as financial agent at a stated salary and expenses paid, removing his family to Akron in the Spring of 1881. By reason of the embarrassments alluded to, and other causes, the work of raising money was at this period at a standstill, many of its friends having so nearly lost faith in its success that it was very difficult to rally them to its support.

But through the tact and perseverance of Mr. Crispin, these difficulties were overcome and disaster to the institution averted -unremittingly laboring through the week, soliciting money and students, and often lecturing on education or preaching on Sunday. This strain, in the language of Mr. Crispin, was kept up for about five years without vacation-travelling in all sorts of ways and weather, often in the night and broken of rest, and fre- quently with the very poorest of accommodations, which, with the care in part of his wife in her severe sickness, wrecked his own health, producing nervous prostration and partial paralysis, prac- tically "shelving" him for many years, if not for life. Besides largely aiding in the cancellation of the debt alluded to, by collections on old and new subscriptions, Mr. Crispin secured nineteen one thousand dollar scholarships, being the first to interest Mr. Henry Ainsworth, of Lodi, in the College, securing first from that gentlemen properties valued at $7,500 and later properties valued at $10,000, also interesting him in the chair of mathematics which he subsequently endowed with $30,000, his total benefac- tions and bequests amounting to over $70,000. Besides the securing of many other smaller sums, the College was thoroughly adver- tised through Mr. Crispin's lectures on Education before some twenty High Schools, and doubtless his work, in cultivating loyalty to the College among the Universalists of the State, will bear good fruit in years to come, all the money secured by him, outside of Akron, being Universalist money, given for the mainten- ance of a college under the auspices of the Universalist church, which could have been secured for no other purpose, Mr. Crispin's experience being that soliciting money is the most difficult, the most unpleasant and the least appreciated employment in which a person can engage, and yet a most essential part of the work of founding and maintaining a college.

SAD ENDING OF ANOTHER YOUNG LIFE.

In this connection, recurring to the appalling disaster in the College, on the night of December 13, 1890, by which two of the

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

1164

lady students were deprived of life, and several others severely burned, as described in Chapter VIII. of this work, it is proper to say that since that Chapter was printed, another of the injured young ladies-Miss Myrtle Louisa Barker, of Peru, Ohio, has also passed away, as a result of the injuries then received. After removal to her home, the burns healed rapidly, and though still a great sufferer, she pluckily returned to the College, and, passing safely through the Spring term of 1891, was promptly in her place again on the opening of the Fall term. But though her mental powers were unimpaired, her physical and nervous system could not stand the strain, Miss Barker dying suddenly, October 9, 1891, to the general grief of not only her family friends, and of her college mates and the faculty, but of the citizens of Akron gener- ally. The rest of the injured young ladies, so far as known, have substantially recovered from the fearful results of that unfor- tunate event.

DEATH OF MR. JOY H. PENDLETON.

Since that chapter was printed, also, one of the most devoted friends and liberal supporters of the college, Joy H. Pendleton, Esq., has passed away, his death occurring October 10, 1891, at the age of 81 years, 8 month and 9 days. Mr. Pendleton was a mem- ber of the board of trustees, a member of the executive committee and treasurer of the college, Hon. George W. Crouse having been appointed to succeed him on the executive committee, and Albert B. Tinker as treasurer, the vacancy in the board of trustees not yet having been filled.

In this connection, and as a closing word in behalf of the col- lege, it is proper to say that the prospects for the speedy erection of the Science Building alluded to on page 165 are still bright, while the college authorities are negotiating for the purchase of several acres of land, a short distance south of the college, for ath- letic grounds, which, if secured and properly fitted up, will prove a source of healthful amusement to the students, and of pleasure to the citizens of Akron generally.

THE HOWARD STREET DISASTER.

Originally, the entire west side of Howard street, from Market street south to the present site of Rohrbacher & Allen's hardware store, was covered with one and two-story frame business and residence buildings, with the exception of the two-story brick tavern, immediately south of what is now Phoenix Hall, a part of which is still standing, the Perkins Company, heretofore written of, about 1845, erecting the three-story brick block, now occupied by Greenwood Brothers, as a clothing store.

On the night of September 16, 1848, all of those wooden struc- tures, between the Perkins block and the alley on the north, were destroyed by fire, as described on page 333, of this work, involving a total loss about $25,000. The burned buildings were replaced by plain, but substantial two and three-story brick structures, dur- ing the years 1849, '50, the present Dussell block being erected by one of Akron's early druggists, the late Leverett J. Ives, a brother- in-law of our well-known citizen. Thomas H. Goodwin, Esq.

On the night of February 17, 1851, the entire square, bounded by Canal, Market and Howard streets, and the alley, was devas- tated, except the partial escape of the two-story building on the

1165

THE HOWARD STREET COLLAPSE.

alley, belonging to the estate of the late Col. Justus Gale, on the present site of Cutter's fine brick block, the aggregate losses being from $25,000 to $30,000, the sufferers being Johnson & Pratt, auctioneers, corner Market and Canal streets (where the fire origi- nated), P. D. Hall & Co., corner Howard and Market, general mer- chandise; I. P. Sanford & Co., clothing; A. Hibbard & Co. (the old " green store"), dry goods; Abbey & Rose, dry goods; and Sum- ner & Co., general merchandise; a large proportion of the contents of several of the stores named being removed, however, before the flames reached them.

These burned frame structures were also replaced by plain, but substantial three-story brick buildings as rapidly as the mechanical facilities of that day would admit of, the block of P. D. Hall & Co., on the corner, extending back, on Market street to the corner of Canal street, and including that portion on Howard street now occupied by the City National Bank; the building lately occupied by S. B. Lafferty, by the late Allen Hibbard, and that lately occupied by Herrick & Son, by C. Johnston & Co. (Cor- nelius Johnston and Daniel McNaughton), the old Gale building, on the alley, saved from the fire, about 1865 giving place to the fine brick block, still standing there, erected by Cutter & Howe (Morrill T. Cutter and the late Charles R. Howe), all of the build- ings, as then erected, being shown in the upper engraving, on page 462.

These several buildings, exteriorly, have since remained sub- stantially as originally erected, except the Johnston block, which, then occupied as a clothing store by one Jonathan Long, was "mysteriously" burned out on the night of June 28, 1872, in rebuild- ing which its present owners, Messrs. Israel Isbell and Henry H. Clark, added a handsome stone front, as shown in the lower engraving on the page above named.

Thus matters have remained, with occasional changes of ten- ants for the central blocks, until Saturday, November 7, 1891, the two blocks named, belonging respectively to the estate of the late Dr. E. W. Howard and Messrs. Isbell & Clark, the former occupied by Mr. Shepherd B. Lafferty, and the latter by Herrick & Son, as above stated. Though the owners and occupants had for some time been aware that the foundation of the division wall was defective, and were planning for repairs at an early date, no fears of immediate disaster were entertained. On the day named, bright and balmy, the streets of our always busy city were unusu- ally thronged, and its business places crowded with customers, the noon hour being an especially busy one in the dining hall of the Lafferty establishment.

About 1 o'clock, after the rush was substantially over, but while several of his customers were still at the tables, Mr. Lafferty became aware, from certain crackling sounds, and from falling plaster in the front part of the store, that danger was impending, and hurried his help and customers to the rear part of the room. A moment later, the entire front of the building, together with that occupied by Messrs. Herrick & Son, fell to the ground with a mighty crash, the front walls, composed of brick and heavy blocks of stone, covering the sidewalk and extending nearly half across the street. And, most wonderful to relate, with from twenty to twenty-five persons in the two buildings, and with the street and

1166

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

sidewalk crowded with men, women and children, no loss of human life resulted from the catastrophe, and but one serious accident-Miss Frances Miner, from Johnson's Corners, being borne down by the falling debris, and so badly injured as to require the amputation of the right leg, at the knee, a few hours later; a horse, however, belonging to John H. Stauffer, of Copley, being instantly killed by the falling walls.

While the inmates and visitors in the two collapsed buildings were severely shaken up, and of course very greatly frightened, immunity from death or serious injury was largely due to the fact that the rear end of both buildings remained intact, while the inner portion of the upper floors and roofs, following the crumbling wall, left the outer portion, at quite an angle, resting against the walls of the contiguous buildings, thus preventing the serious, if not fatal, consequences to the several parties involved, that must inevitably have otherwise resulted; one of the most mirac- ulous escapes from instant death being that of Frank Zimmerman, a candy-maker, just returned from his dinner to his work in the front part of the third story of the Lafferty block, who was carried down with the building and, to the great surprise of the rap- idly gathering and horrified spectators, was presently seen crawl- ing out from amid the wreckage, and who, on recovering from the daze into which he was thrown, and pulling himself together, was found to have a sprained wrist and a few slight bruises, only, to remind him of the fearful peril from which he had so providen- tially escaped.

HIN

N HORSE

hana

THE AKRON

CITY TIMES

Messrs. Herrick & Son, with their characteristic energy, on the following Monday morning, established themselves in the commodious east store room of the Academy of Music building,

1167

THE CONCLUSION.

where, with the uninjured portion of their stock, a considerable part of which was still in original packages in the basement, and with immediately ordered large additions, they are now (Decem- ber, 1891), serving their customers as usual, while Mr. Lafferty, with similar promptness, removed his confectionery store and din- ing hall to 204 East Market street, his bakery, in the rear of the old stand, remaining intact, and his customers supplied with their daily bread without interruption.

The owners of the collapsed buildings have not as yet fully perfected their plans for rebuilding, but it is understood that both blocks will be rebuilt in accordance with the most approved style of modern architecture at an early day.

The foregoing view of the collapsed buildings, a zinc etching reproduced by the Werner Printing & Litho. Company, from a photo taken by George E. Hitchcock immediately after the catastrophe, more graphically illustrates its nature and extent, and its wonderfully fortunate outcome, than could any word paint- ing at the command of the writer, who, though already largely in excess of his originally designed limits, while deploring the losses and injuries involved, is pleased to embody it in his book, as being among the most wonderful of the many wonderful events herein recorded of "Fifty Years and Over of Akron and Summit County."

THE NEW HIGH STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST.

As a fitting close to this history, and as evidence that the moral and spiritual sentiment of our people is keeping fully abreast with their indus- trial, commercial and financial enterprise, a cut, from the architects' drawing, is here given of the new church edifice to be erected by the High Street Church of Christ, in 1892. See history of Society on page 201.

New High Street Church of (bryt, Akron. ) -Weary and Kroner Archer

ADDENDA, ERRATA, ETC.

TN a work of such a character and magnitude as this, and covering several years in its compilation, and several months in its publication, numerous errors will unavoidably have crept in, and many changes in firms, corporations, occupations, locations, etc., will have taken place, while some of the parties, whose portraits and biographies were printed herein when they were still in actual life, may possibly have meantime passed away. While it will be impossible to advert to all the errors, of ommission or commission, that a critical perusal will disclose, in addition to the deaths of Mr. Pendleton, as given on page 1164, and of Judge James S. Carpenter, noted on page 551, after their portraits and biographies had been printed, so, also, Mr. Robert L. Ewart, of Springfield, father of Major Joseph C. Ewart, of Akron, suddenly passed away, November 19, 1891, at the age of 79 years, 8 months and 1 day, his portrait being given on page 982.

In the sketeli of Akron's well-known machinist, James B. Taplin, Esq., on page 170, an error appears, in that he should be credited with service as a member of Council of the Incorporated Village of Akron, for the year 1854, and with re-election in 1855, though resigning, as stated, before entering upon his second term, as is shown in the official roster on page 262.

In a portion of the edition, as printed. Mr. Ulysses Marvin, of Stow, father of Judge U. L. Marvin, of Akron, is recorded as having been born in "Lynn," Connecticut, when it should have been "Lyme," an error which his more intimate friends and acquaintances will readily be able to rectify.

Rev. Frank M. Green, is also given as still a resident of Stow, though now located at Wilmington, Clinton county, Ohio, Mr. Green saying in a recent letter to the writer: "While away, 'Theologically,' I am 'at home,' . in heart, in Summit County and Stow."

F499 A3L3 1892

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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