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 22

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 22

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).

The cost of the building with necessary fixtures, furniture, etc., was about $35,000, exclusive of the real estate, the consideration for which was $9,000. Both English and German instruction is given in the schools of this society. Compensation to teach- ers $200 per year each.

The German Zion's Lutheran society also maintains a parish school in a new two-story brick building standing in the rear of the society's handsome brick church, corner of South High and Quarry streets. There are at present 225 scholars, in three classes, the first taught by Mr. German Lutheran Parochial School, Quarry street, Second Ward. William M. Spuhler, the second by Miss Emma Lothman, and the third by Rev. Theodore Huegli, both German and English being taught. Salary of teachers, $600,.

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BUCHTEL COLLEGE.

$400 and $300 per year, respectively. After confirmation, at the age of 13 or 14 years, pupils are permitted to attend the public schools of the city. Present school directors, George Single and Henry Runge.

Buchtel College, named in honor of principal contributor to building and endowment funds, Hon. John R. Buchtel, of Akron- Erected in 1871-2.

BUCHTEL COLLEGE.

This institution is the crowning educational glory of Akron, and, indeed, of Summit County, since the ruthless spoliation of the venerated old Western Reserve College, at Hudson, and requires more than mere passing mention in this work. Though in no manner sectarian, the College was founded by, and is carried forward under the auspices of, the religious organization known as Universalist, and its history is, briefly, as follows:

At the annual Convention of the Universalist Church of the State of Ohio, in 1867, its Committee on Education submitted a report in favor of establishing, at some eligible point in the State, a seminary for the education of the youth of the State, to the privileges of which both sexes should be admitted on equal footing.

The report was favorably received by the Convention, but 110 definite action was taken upon it at that session. At the session of 1868, Rev. Andrew Willson, of Kent, submitted a plan for the establishment of the contemplated school, which was adopted by the Convention, but no action was had towards carrying it into effect. At the session of 1869, the Convention, by resolution, rescinded its former action, and authorized the board of trustees, and the committee on education to take the necessary steps for the establishment of a college, instead of an academy, as at first con- templated. The board of trustees then consisted of Rev. John S. Cantwell, Rev. Andrew Willson, Rev. Henry L. Canfield, Rev. John W. Henley, and Oscar F. Haymaker; and the committee on educa- tion of Rev. Everett L. Rexford, Rev. Marion Crosley, and Rev. Benjamin F. Eaton.

At a joint meeting of the board and committee, in November, 1869, Rev. Henry F. Miller, then of Madison, Indiana, who had already greatly aided one or two similar institutions in that

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

direction, was chosen as the Financial Secretary of the Convention, to solicit funds for the erection of the necessary buildings, endow- ments, etc., of the proposed institution, which the Convention desired to present as Ohio's offering to the approaching Centennial anniversary of Universalism in America, the first Universalist Church in America being organized at Gloucester, Mass., by Rev. John Murray, in 1770.

MR. AND MRS. JOHN R. BUCHTEL.

OHN RICHARDS BUCHTEL,-son of John and Catharine (Richards) J Buchtel, was born in Green township, January 18, 1820; education limited ; raised a farmer, working land on shares, then buying twenty acres in Coven- try, and afterwards the 210 acre farm, since known as the Thornton farm, now a populous portion of the city of Akron ; for several years agent for Canton Buckeye Reaper and Mower Works, and largely instrumental in securing the Aultman, Miller & Co. branch for Akron ; during the war, active in securing enlistments, raising bounty money, and averting the draft ; largely promo- tive of many of the industrial enterprises of the city, including blast fur- nace and extensive coal and iron mines in Athens County ; Grant presidential elector, in 1872; Prohibition candidate for Secretary of State in 1874; managing trustee of Ohio Agricultural College for several years. An ardent Univer- salist, while unstintedly liberal towards other denominations, his crowning glory is his munificence, aggregating nearly a half a million dollars, toward the college that bears his name, fully written of elsewhere. Married January 8, 1844, to Miss Elizabeth Davidson, never having been blessed with children of their own, though both physically infirm for many years, Mr. and Mrs. Buchtel jointly devoted the accumulation of their lives, for the benefit of the children of their neighbors and the general welfare.

Mrs. Buchtel,-daughter of John Davidson, was born in Union County, Pa., August 25, 1821; removed to Ohio, with parents, in 1834, settling in Coventry ; after marriage sharing with her enterprising husband the labor of founding for themselves a home and a fortune, and sharing equally with him the pleasure of dispensing, while living, the wealth thus jointly accum11- lated, in the founding of Buchtel College, and the promotion of the various other educational, moral and benevolent enterprises of the day. In June, 1881, Mrs. Buchtel was stricken with paralysis ; but notwithstanding her great infirmity, and its many deprivations, she was ever cheerful and helpful of her distinguished husband, who became similarly afflicted March 21, 1887, still retaining her interest in all of their joint enterprises and benefactions, to the last, her death occurring Friday, May 22, 1891, at the age of 69 years, 8 months and 27 days.

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AKRON SECURES THE PRIZE.

Mr. Miller entered upon his duties in January, 1870. Meantime a lively competition was in progress, between the inhabitants of several of the cities of the State, Akron among the rest. It was finally authoritatively announced that the location would be given to the city that would furnish a suitable site and subscribe $60,000 to the funds of the College.

To this proposal, the people of Akron and Summit County promptly responded, Mr. John R. Buchtel leading off with a sub- scription of $25,000 to the endowment fund and $6,000 to the building fund. Others followed with equal liberality, in proportion to their ineans, and on May 31, 1870, Financial Secretary Miller reported to the trustees and committee that the stipulated sum of $60,000 had been subscribed and the proper site secured by the people of Akron.

A VERY SPICER,-eldest son of Miner and Cynthia (Allen) Spicer; born at Groton, Ct., October 26, 1799 ; came with parents to Ohio in 1811, being the first white settlers in Port- age township ; district school educa- tion ; raised a farmer; at 21, worked for father two years at $7.00 per month ; in 1825, had charge of gang of hands on Ohio Canal, furnishing stone, timber, etc. for locks ; Septeni- ber 3, 1826, was married to Miss Har- riet King, daughter of Joshua King, first white child born at Old Portage, (September 7, 1810); in 1837 purchased large farm in Coventry, where he lived 20 years, moving to the original homestead, corner Spicer and Car- roll streets, in 1857, where he resided until his death, May 10, 1881. Mr. Spicer officiated for several years as trustee of Coventry township, and for 15 years as director of County Infirmary, superintending the erec- tion of present Infirmary buildings. Mr. and Mrs. Spicer were the parents of nine children-Isaac A., who died in California in 1850; Cynthia, now Mrs. Geo. Coggshall, Akron ; Sarah C., late Mrs. John Newton, of Buchanan, Mich .; Austin A., who died in Cov- entry, March 4, 1889; Harriet, now

AVERY SPICER.

Mrs. J. T. Trowbridge, Akron ; Olive and Oliver, twins, who died in infancy, and Ella C., now Mrs. Charles Parmenter, Waltham, Mass. Mrs. Spicer, now in her 82d year, still survives.

This joint body then, by resolution, formally located the "Universalist Centenary School of Ohio," at Akron, and a certifi- cate of incorporation was duly filed, with the following named corporators: Hon. John R. Buchtel, Rev. John S. Cantwell, Col. Geo. T. Perkins, Henry Blandy, Rev. George Messenger, Rev. Benjamin F. Eaton, Hon. Newell D. Tibbals, Rev. John W. Henley, Hon. Edwin P. Green, Oscar F. Haymaker, Rev. Willard Spaulding, James Alexander Lantz and George Steese.

The association, on organization, very appropriately took the name of "Buchtel College," in honor of its principal donor, and the institution was formally declared "to be under the control of the Ohio State Convention of Universalists." It was made the duty of the corporators to appoint a board of 18 trustees, five of whom were to be resident freeholders of Summit County, the first board

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appointed being as follows: John R. Buchtel, president; Henry Blandy, Philip Wieland, J. Dorsey Angier, Edwin P. Green and George T. Perkins, for three years each: Rev. Henry L. Canfield, Rev. Everett L. Rexford, Gen. James Pierce, John F. Seiberling, Rev. John S. Cantwell and Newell D. Tibbals, for two years each, and Oscar F. Haymaker, Sanford M. Burnham, secretary, John R. Cochrane, Charles Foster, Rev. George Messenger and Avery Spicer, for one year each; George W. Crouse, not a member of the board, being appointed treasurer.

HON. GEORGE W. CROUSE,-born in Tallmadge, November 23, 1832 ; in early boyhood removed with his parents to Green township ; gradu- ating from district school at 17, taught schools five years; 1855 to 1858, deputy in offices of County Audi- tor and Treasurer; 1858, at 25 years of age, elected County Auditor, and re-elected in 1860; resigned in Febru- ary, 1863, to accept appointment of Treasurer to fill vacancy, serving to end of term, seven months ; 1863, took management of Akron branch of C. Aultman & Co.'s Buckeye mower and reaper business ; in 1865, on organi- zation of Aultman, Miller & Co., as a separate corporation, became secre- tary and treasurer, being now its president, besides being pecuniarily and officially connected with a large number of other business and finan- cial enterprises in Akron and else- where. Republican in politics, Mr. Crouse has filled, besides those mentioned, the following civil offices: County Commissioner, member and president Board of Education ; mem- ber and treasurer Board of Control Akron Public Library ; member and president Akron City Council ; State Senator and Member of Congress .. Liberal, efficient and patriotic, Mr. Crouse served 100 days in defense of Washington, in 1864, and was largely instrumental in securing the erection of our beautiful Soldiers' Memorial Chapel, besides contributing liber-

HON. GEORGE W. CROUSE.

ally in behalf of all the educational, religious and benevolent enterprises of the day. Married October 18, 1859, to Miss Martha K. Parsons, of Kent They have five children-Martha P., Julia M., Mary R., Nellie J., and George W., Jr.

The site selected for the College is one of the most commanding in the city, fronting on Middlebury street, (now Buchtel Avenue), upon the north, and running through to Carroll street on the south. It is a part of the original farm occupied by Akron's first settler, Major Miner Spicer, in 1811-Major Spicer himself being an ardent Universalist, and a zealous member of the first society of that faith organized in Akron, in 1837-the college edifice being visible from every portion of the city, while the view from the top of its central tower is one of the most extensive and pic- turesque in the county.

The architect, Rev. Thomas W. Silloway, of Boston, Mass., submitted plans for the College building, December 28, 1870, and a building committee of seven was appointed, as follows: Hon. John R. Buchtel, Avery Spicer, Col. George .T. Perkins, Rev. Henry

Bri

153

LAYING THE CORNER STONE.

F. Miller and Gen. Alvin C. Voris, of Akron; Rev. George Messenger, of Springfield, and Mr. Henry Blandy, of Zanesville.

Noah A. Carter, of Akron, was made general superintendent; Samuel Snider and Lewis Wilhelm, of Akron, awarded the contract for stone work; John H. Waggoner, of Akron, superintendent of brick work, and Henry W. Howe, Esq., superintendent of grading.

Ground was broken on the 15th day of March, 1871, and the work so vigorously prosecuted that the massive foundation and basement walls were completed, and the corner-stone of the super- structure was laid on the Fourth of July, 1871, with the following imposing ceremonies:

TUDGE EDWIN P. GREEN,-born in Gaysville, Windsor Co., Vt., March 10, 1828; educated in common schools and Bradford Academy; commenced studying law in Little- ton, N. H., coming to Akron in 1852 and completing studies in office of Humphrey, Upson & Edgerton, being admitted to the bar in September 1853; October 1854 elected Clerk of Courts, holding the office until Feb- rnary 1861, then resuming his law. practice; during the war was deputy provost marshal for Summit County, and member of Congressional Mili- tary Committee. Prosecuting Attor- ney N. D. Tibbals entering the ser- vice for 100 days, in 1864, Mr. Green was appointed prosecuting attorney ad interim; in 1883 was elected Judge of Common Pleas Court, to fill the unexpired term of Judge Tib- bals, resigned, and re-elected for full term in 1885, ably filling the position until January 1, 1891. when he resigned and again resumed practice at the bar. Judge Green has always taken a lively interest in educational matters; for many years serving as county and city school examiner; was active in establishing Akron Public Library, and a mnen1- ber of its board of control until elected Judge; was one of the incor- porators of Buchtel College, serving as Trustee since its organization in 1872; member of American Bar Asso- ciation, for many years its member

JUDGE EDWIN P. GREEN.

of General Council for Ohio, and in 1889 elected its vice president for Ohio, also member of Ohio Bar Association of which he was made president in 1887. Judge Green was' imarried to Miss Isabella M. Moore, of Littleton, N. H., December 31, 1855, who died March 13, 1869; was again imarried, to Miss Elizabeth A. Moore, sister of the first Mrs. G., April 25, 1870, who has borne him three child- ren, Isabella M. and Willian A., 110w living, and Mary L., deceased.

The Excelsior Gun Squad fired a salute of thirty guns at mid- night, and at sunrise the Buckeye Gun Squad awoke the morning echoes with thirty-seven guns. The procession was formed on Howard street by Chief Marshal Gen. Geo. W. McNeil, assisted by Herman F. Hahn, Paul Giffhorn and Thomas K. Perkins, on the part of the citizens, and by Dr. Thomas McEbright, Milton H. Hart and Ohio C. Barber, marshals, on the part of the Masonic Fraternity.

The procession formed in the following order: 1, Marshals and Assistants; 2, Babcock's Band; 3, Fire Department; 4, German Benevolent Society; 5, Order of United American Mechanics; 6, Coopers' Union; 7, Harmonie Society; 8, Turner Society; 9,

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Liedertafel Society; 10, Knights of Pythias; 11, Father Mathew Temperance Society; 12, Good Templars; 13. Sons of Temperance; 14, Grand Army of the Republic and 29th O. V. V. I .; 15, I. O. O. F .; 16, Marble's Band; 17, Masons; 18, Mayor, City Officers and Council; 19, Clergy; 20, Trustees and Officers of College; 21, Officers of the Day and invited and distinguished guests; 22, Citizens,

GEN. ALVIN COE VORIS,-eldest son of Judge Peter Voris, born in Stark Co., April 27, 1827, in infancy moving to Bath township; educated in Twinsburg Institute and Oberlin College; 1850 to 1852, deputy county clerk and acting probate judge; admitted to practice law June 20, 1853; in partnership with Gen. L. V. Bierce till 1859; Sept. 25, 1853, married Miss Lydia Allyn, who bore him three children-Edwin F. (now practicing law in Akron,) Lucy, (now Mrs. Charles Baird) and Bessie C, (now Mrs. Will T. Sawyer); repre- sentative to State Legislature 1859- 1860; in September 1861. entered the army as Lieutenant Colonel of 67th Reginient. O. V. I., becoming its commanding office the following March; [the gallantry of this regi- ment and the terrible sufferings of its commander, from wounds received in battle, fully set forth elsewhere in this work]. Colonel Voris was brevetted Brigadier Gen- eral December 8, 1864, and a few months later Major General, . "for distinguished services in the field." Since the war, with the exception of serving .as a delegate to Constitu- tional Convention in 1873, the Gen- eral has devoted himself assiduously , to his profession, with marked legal

GEN. ALVIN COE VORIS.

and financial success. November 4, 1890, General Voris was elected Judge of Court of Common Pleas for the counties of Summit, Medina and Lorain for the the term of five years. The first Mrs. Voris dying March 16, 1876, the General was again married, to Mrs. Lizzie H. Keller February 21, 1882.

The corner-stone, three feet square on its surface and two feet in thickness, bears, in oval form, the inscription: "Centenary of Universalism in America, 1870. This stone laid July 4, 1871, by A. H. Newcomb, G. M. F. & A. M., A. L. 5871." In the cavity was placed a casket containing copies of the Star in the West, Universalist, Gospel Banner, Universalist Quarterly, Ladies' Repository, Myrtle, Guiding Star, Universalist Register, Akron

. Daily Beacon, Akron City Times, New York Tribune, and the Ohio Universalist, published in Cleveland in 1838; also a history of the College enterprise, a list of its officers, architects, builders, etc .; a Bible; list of officers of the Grand Lodge of Ohio, and officers and members of Akron Lodge, No. 83, F. & A. M., and by-laws of the Lodge; samples of American coin, etc. On the arrival of the procession at the building, the President of the Day, Henry Blandy, Esq., of Zanesville, introduced Rev. Everett L. Rexford, of Columbus, who offered a brief but fervent prayer, which was followed by "America," superbly rendered by Marble's Band, and the formal laying of the corner-stone by the officers of

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HON. HORACE GREELEY'S ADDRESS.

the Grand Lodge of Masons of Ohio, conducted by Grand Master A. H. Newcomb.

Among other musical exercises, a Glee Club, composed of W. Milton Clarke, Wilson G. Robinson, Dr. Byron S. Chase and Daniel R. Knight, sang an original song, of six twelve-line stanzas to the tune of "Yankee Doodle," of which the following is a sample stanza:

"A Yankee Dutchman lived in town, And built machines for mowing, And reaping, too, so he came down (To set the thing a-going) With thirty thousand of the pelf, He'd earned by trade and labor;

He said 'twas good to help one's self, Better to help a neighbor;

In this way Buchtel (that's his name) Was bound to scatter knowledge;

He gave them stamps, they'll give him fame, They'll build him Buchtel College."

FERDINAND SCHUMACHER, -born in Celle, Hanover, March 30, 1822 ; served 13 years (from 15 to 28), as clerk in grocery and sugar refin- ery; in 1850 emigrated to United States, settling on a farm in Euclid, near Cleveland; in 1851 engaged in fancy goods trade in Akron; in 1852 embarked in grocery trade which he successfully followed ten years; in 1856 engaged in the manufacture of oat meal, pearl barley and other cereal products, enlarging and increasing his mills, until now, notwithstanding his heavy losses by fire, as detailed elsewhere, his works are the most extensive and successful of their kind in the world. Besides his mill- ing interests Mr. Schumacher is .pecuniarily and officially connected with many other manufacturing enterprises. Liberal in his religious views, he is a generous contributor to all church organizations, the Uni- versalists being under especial obli- gations to him for their present church lot and fine house of worship. A pronounced Prohibitionist, he is one of the most zealous Temperance promoters in Ohio. Mr. Schumacher was married at Cleveland, October 7, . 1851, to his cousin. Miss Hermine Schumacher, of Bevern, Brunswick,

FERDINAND SCHUMACHER.

Germany. Seven children have been born to them, five of whom are deceased, the two survivors, Louis and F. Adolph, ably assisting their enterprising father in conducting the immense business of which he is the founder-the former as vice president and the latter as secretary of the F. Schumacher Milling Co.

HON. HORACE GREELEY'S ADDRESS.

After a few preliminary remarks, Mr. Greeeley, continuing, said: "Allow me now to say a few words in reference to the edu- cation inculcated by our colleges at large. It is too superficial for the age. People do not grudge money for education, provided they know that they secure what they pay for, yet they fear that they are not now receiving in proportion to the expenditure. My objection to college courses is, that while there has been advance- ment of the world, in every department of human industry, there has not been a corresponding stride in the curriculuni of college studies. I insist that our average course tends directly to drive

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men into three pursuits or professions, which, however honorable, do not comprise the great professions which labor for the general good of mankind; and I hope to see the day when there will be a reform; when this college shall graduate a great and glorious body of young and earnest men in engineering, science, and a hundred different pursuits where knowledge is of great benefit to human kind. I want the young men to be leaders in these hundred branches of industry, and would like to see it different from the present day, when the richest metal of the mind is sent abroad to be moulded and formed into shape to be practically applied to the science of the age."

TOY H. PENDLETON,-born ill Litchfield County, Conn., Febru- ary 1, 1810; removing with parents to Ohio in 1819, settling in Stow; reared to farm life, with limited educational opportunities ; at 20 entered store of Stow & Wetmores, at Cuyahoga Falls, as clerk, remaining with them about five years, part of the time traveling through Ohio selling their papers and other goods ; in 1835, in company with brother, opened a general store in Brunswick, Medina County, a year later removing the business to Franklin Mills (now Kent), about 1840, engaging with B. F. Hopkins, in conducting flouring mill, saw mill, and woolen factory, under the title of "Center Manufacturing Company," also carrying on a general merchan- dise store, continuing therein until about 1847. From 1850 to 1860 Mr. P. was engaged in railroad construc- tion, with headquarters at Dayton and Cincinnati. Removing to Akron in 1866, aided in organizing the Sec- ond National Bank of Akron, becom- ing its vice-president, which position he retained until the death of presi- dent George D. Bates, July 25, 1887, when he was elected to the presi- dency of the bank, which position, yet hale and vigorous, in the 82d year

JOY H. PENDLETON.

of his age, he still retains. Mr Pen- dleton has been three times married : in 1832 to Miss Julia Corp, who died . July 5, 1833; in November, 1834, to Miss Sybil Fletcher, who died May 29, 1841; September 13, 1842 to Miss Eunice M. Post, a native of Summit County, who still survives. . They have one child, Nellie A.

Mr. Greeley then spoke at length on " Human Conceptions of God as they affect the Moral Education of our Race." We cannot here give the full text of the address, and no mere synopsis would do it justice. A few brief sample excerpts, therefore, must suffice: "There are those," said Mr. Greeley, "who talk sonorously, stridently, of Law-of the Law of Development or Progress-as though they had found in a word a key which unlocks all the mysteries of creation. But I am not silenced by a word; I demand its meaning, and then seek to determine how far that meaning bridges the gulf which the word was intended to over-leap. To my apprehension, Law is the dictate of an intelligent will, or it is nothing. *

* What we affirm is that God is more than a blind, creative Energy, an inexorable Fate, a vitalizing, fructifying Principle.

He is the conscious, loving Author and Governor of . things. * * Hence the higher education of our day-most

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EVENING RECEPTION TO MR. GREELEY.

wisely in purpose, not always in method-essays to base its insti- tutes and processes on religion, and to ground the character it seeks to form on the firm foundations of Christian Faith and Love. * *

* This, then, I apprehend, is the proper work of the college: To appreciate and measure, and undistrustfully accept and commend the gigantic strides which physical science is making in our day, yet not be swept away by them; to welcome all that is true and beneficent in the impetuous currents of modern thought, but not to exaggerate their breadth and depth, nor accept their direction as authoritative or final; to proffer a genial and gracious hospitality to whatever is nobly new, yet hold fast, and from time to time assert, that no discovery in science, no advances in human knowledge, can ever invalidate or belittle the Golden Rule, and no conclusion of philosophy ever equal in importance that simple affirmation of the untaught Judean peasant, who long ago per- ceived and proclaimed that 'GOD IS LOVE.'"

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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