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 26

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 26

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).

DR. WILLIAM C. JACOBS,-born at Lima, Ohio, February 26, 1840; educated in Lima public schools ; at 16 was appointed to National Naval School, at Annapolis, Md., but resigned in 1859, and began the study of medicine with Dr. William Carson, of Cincinnati, graduating from the Ohio Medical College, in that city, in 1862. In April, 1862, was appointed assistant surgeon of the 4th O. V. C., serving with that regiment until December, 1862, when he was pro- moted to surgeon and assigned to the 81st O. V. I., with which he served till close of war; during the Atlanta campaign serving on the Operating Board of Second Division of Six- teenth Army Corps. In October, 1865, Dr. Jacobs located in Akron, where he has since been in continuous practice, from 1870 to 1873 with the late Dr. William Bowen, and after- wards with Dr. Albert C. Belden. Dr. Jacobs is a member of Summit County Medical Society, Union Medi- cal Association of North Eastern Ohio, State Medical Society, and American Medical Association ; was the first secretary of the second named society, and has held official

DR. WILLIAM C. JACOBS.

positions in others. September 10, 1863, Dr. Jacobs was married to Miss Huldah M. Hill, a native of Knox County, O. They have one child, Harold H., born February 10, 1866, now practicing medicine in company with his father.

The officers and directors of the Akron Library Association, in its corporate capacity, were as follows: Presidents: William H. Upson, 1866, '67, '68; George P. Ashmun, 1869; Lewis Miller, 1870;

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J TOHN W. BAKER,-born in Auburn, Cayuga County, N. Y., January 27, 1827, common school education; in 1843, came with parents to Akron; a year later went to Col- umbus to learn cabinet making, serving three years, worked at trade in Akron till 1850, when he went over- land to California and engaged in inining, remaining two years; returning home, via Panama and New York, worked for a musical instrument firm until 1857, when he became a member of the Akron Melopean Company, continuing ten years; then engaged in the manufac- ture of cigar boxes, gradually adding wood-turning and japanning, about 1870 forming a partnership with Mr. John C. McMillen, a few years later Mr. John P. Teeple being added, under the firm name of Baker, McMillen & Co., which in the spring of 1890 was organized into a stock company, with Mr. McMillen as president, Mr. Baker as superintend- ent and Mr. Teeple as secretary and treasurer, and is one of the most prosperous industries in the city. Politically a stanch Democrat, in 1876 and 1877 Mr. Baker represented

CARL WILHELM BONSTEDT.

CARL WILHELM BONSTEDT,- son of Carl

Frederic and Augusta Wilhelmina (Peschau) Bon- stedt, was born at Clausthal, on the Hartz, Kingdom of Hanover, Ger- many, January 11, 1825; common school education; at 14 apprenticed to grocery trade, serving four years; then superintendent of the large cigar factory of Landsmith & Co., at Engter, near Osnabruck, for several years, when he came to America,

BENEDICT arra CHI.

JOHN W. BAKER.

the Second Ward in the City Council. May 6, 1853, he was married to Miss Caroline M. Thayer, a native of New York, who has borne him three children, two of whom are now liv- ing-Frank E. and Alice., both still at home.

having charge of a large tobacco business in Baltimore, Md., until 1855, when he came to Akron, as clerk in the grocery store of Ferdinand Schumacher, later being promoted to book-keeper; in 1863 bought out Mr. S., continuing the business till 1875, when he sold out to his book- keeper, Mr. John Terrass. After a short engagement in the limestone business, near Sandusky, again embarked in the grocery trade in Akron, with Mr. Jolin Kreuder, at 210 East Market Street, the partnership continuing six years, on the with- drawal of Mr. K., Mr. B. continuing on his own account, until his death, October 19, 1890, the business being still carried on by his sons. Mr. Bonstedt was one of the organizers and most active members of the Akron Liedertafel; was first president of Retail Grocers' Association, mem- ber of Akron Mercantile Associa- tion, Board of Trade, and of City Council 1864-65. March 15, 1857, Mr. Bonstedt was married, in Akron, to Miss Augusta F. Beyer, a native of Germany, who bore him eight sons and one daughter-Charles W., of Greentown; Adolph; Victor E .; Ferdinand, of Lincoln, Neb .; Her- man; William H .; Frank; Louis, and Augusta F. Mrs Bonstedt still sur- vives.

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David L. King, 1871, '72; Edwin R. Green, 1873. Vice Presidents: Stephen H. Pitkin, 1866; Lewis Miller, 1867, '68; John J. Wagoner, 1869, '70, '71, '72; Thomas Rhodes, 1873. Corresponding Secre- taries: Charles B. Bernard, 1866; Stephen H. Pitkin, 1867, '68, '69, '70, '71; George W. Crouse, 1872; Byron S. Chase, 1873. Recording Secretaries: James H. Peterson, 1866; John E. Miller, 1867, '68; Arthur L. Conger, 1869, '70; William T. Allen, 1871, '72, '73. Treas- urers: George W. Crouse, 1866, '67, '68, '69, '70; John H. Cliristy, 1871; William B. Raymond, 1872, '73. Directors: 1866, David L.

King, Julius S. Lane, Julian H. Pitkin, Israel P. Hole; 1867, George P. Ashmun, George T. Perkins, Newell D. Tibbals, Edwin P. Green; 1868, Ferdinand Schumacher, David L. King, George T. Perkins, Edwin P. Green; 1869, Edwin P. Green, James H. Peterson, Thomas Rhodes, Robert L. Collett; 1870, Jeremiah A. Long, Byron S. Chase, Edwin P. Green, Ferdinand Schumacher; 1871, Sidney Edgerton, James H. Peterson, John Wolf, John H. Hower; 1872, Sidney Edgerton, John H. Hower, George T. Perkins, William C. Jacobs; 1873, John R. Buchtel, John H. Hower, George T. Perkins, William C. Jacobs.

D R. MASON CHAPMAN,-son of Lucius and Sally B. (Mason) Chapman, was born in Copley, June 28, 1838 ; in 1857 went with parents to Wisconsin, and later to Iowa, work- ing on father's farm, except for a time clerking in grocery and boot and shoe store, while living in Wiscon- sin, till December, 1864; meantime having attended Cornell College at Mt. Vernon, Iowa, two years ; taught school two terms and studied den- tistry two years with Dr. Matson, of Anamosa, Iowa. After a short visit to the State of New York, in the Spring of 1865, came to Akron and engaged in the practice of his pro- fession with Dr. C. H. Bolles, later buying him out, and continuing the business with phenomenal success to the present time, having fitted up in his own new building, erected in 1887, corner Broadway and Mill, the finest suite of dental parlors in the city. An earnest Republican, though not an office-seeker, Dr. Chapman ably represented the Third Ward in the City Council from April, 1878, to April, 1880. November 3, 1867, Dr.

COON

DR. MASON CHAPMAN.

Chapman was married to Miss Alice L. Randall, a native of Copley town- ship. They have one son, Cloyd M. Chapinan, born November 5, 1874, now a student in Akron High School.

At a meeting of the life members of the Library Association, January 9, 1877, David L. King, Edwin P. Green, John R. Buchtel and Sidney Edgerton were constituted a committee to convey, by deed, with proper stipulation for its perpetual care, the library and property of the Association to the city, concludingits labors by the adoption of the following resolution:

Resolved, That the members of the Akron Library Association are extremely gratified by the success of the movement to transfer their library to the City of Akron, and have full faith that the true interests of the Library Association will be promoted by such transfer.

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FREE PUBLIC LIBRARY.

A NDREW H. NOAH,-son of Elmer and Esther Noah, was born in Bath, February 15, 1858, his father dying in the war when he was quite sınall ; was raised in Peninsula, edu- cated at Oberlin College; taught school four years at Steele's Corners, Boston Village and Chittenden's Cor- ners; worked for the Dayton (Ohio), Hedge Company five years, in the capacity of general agent, traveling through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Ken- tucky and Tennessee; December 29, 1880, was married to Miss Kittie B. McGill, youngest daughter of James and Susan McGill, of Urbana, Ohio ; they have no children ; August 1, 1885, bought half interest in real estate business with Frank A. Wilcox; May, 1888 was elected member of Board of Control of Akron Public Library, and mnade secretary of the board, serving two years and declining a re-election; charter member of The Akron Build- ing and Loan Association, on organ- ization, in 1888, being elected secre- tary, which position he still holds ; Past Grand of Akron Lodge, No. 547,

JOSEPH ALVIN BEEBE.

OSEPH ALVIN BEEBE,-born in J New London, Conn., September 18, 1810; removed with parents, in infancy, to Middletown, Conn .; com- inon school education ; from 14 to 21 clerk in postoffice, under Postmaster Joshua Stow ; in 1832 came to Cuya- hoga Falls, and engaged in book- binding with his brother, the late Oliver B. Beebe; in 1838 established Akron's pioneer book store, on pres- ent site of Houghton's grocery store

BENEDICT FLACHI.

ANDREW H. NOAH.

I. O. O. F .; member of Akron Encamp- ment and one of the five directors of the Akron Underwriters' Asso- ciation.

on East Market street ; in 1839 with Mr. William E. Wright established the Center Mill, near the present site of the Allen Mill, continuing two or three years; in 1841, in partnership with Dr. Perkins Wallace, added drugs to book trade in the old stone block, later having Dr. Dana D. Evans for a partner, and still later (1848) Mr. Richard S. Elkins, after- wards adding to their business the publication of the SUMMIT COUNTY BEACON, the firm of Beebe & Elkins continuing until 1879, over 30 years. October, 1880, Mr. Beebe was elected a director of County Infirmary and re-elected in 1883, serving six years, most of the time clerk of the board ; also occupied the position of City Librarian seven years, from 1882 to . 1889. May 19, 1840, Mr. Beebe was inarried, at Edinburg, Portage County, to Miss Cornelia E. Wads- worth (daughter of the late Frederick Wadsworth), who bore him three children-Helen, born August 16, 1841, now Mrs. William B. Raymond ; Frederick Wadsworth, now of Paige Brothers & Co.'s hardware corpora- tion, Akron; and Charles Joseph, now of Philadelphia. Mrs. Beebe died December 21, 1884, aged 65 years, 10 months and 2 days, Mr. Beebe dying May 16, 1891, aged 80 years, 7 months, 28 days.

The Board of Control consists of six members elected by the Council, two each year, to serve three years, the Board maintaining its own separate organization for the management of the affairs of

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

the library, subject only to the control of the Council in the matter of its money expenditures, the authorized tax levy for its support being limited by law to half a mill on the dollar, three-tenths of a mill being about the average yearly levy for library purposes, the expenditures for the year ending March 12, 1887, being $2,023.36, and for the years ending March 15, 1888, $2,325.82; 1889, $2,500; 1890, $3,700; 1891, $1,600, the library at the present time (1891) containing about 12,000 volumes.

Members of the Board of Control, since the organization of the Akron Public Library, have been: John R. Buchtel, J. Park Alex- ander,Milton W. Henry, Edwin P. Green, George Tod Ford, William T. Allen, William C. Allen, John W. Baker, Paul E. Werner, David L. King, Charles A. Collins, Adams Emerson, Mason Chapman, Noah A. Carter, Lewis Miller, Thomas E. Monroe, Frank M. Atter- holt, Charles W. Bonstedt, C. P. Humphrey, Olin L. Sadler, Ralph P. Burnett, Charles R. Grant, Elias Fraunfelter, Andrew H. Noah, Louis Seybold, Louis D. Seward, Charles S. Hart.

JUDGE CHARLES R. GRANT, -- J born October 23, 1846, in Orange, New Haven County, Conn .; at 15 enlisted in 12th Connecticut V. I., and held the extremely perilous position of dispatch bearer on Gen. Butler's Staff, in the Department of the Gulf, and continued on the staff of Gen. Banks until October, 1863, when he was discharged. In April, 1864, locat- ed at Cuyahoga Falls, where he was engaged in farming and study until September, 1868, when he entered . the freshman class at Western Reserve College, graduating in 1872 as valedictorian of his class of eigh- teen students. After a year spent in Colorado, recruiting his health, he entered the office of Judge N. D. Tibbals as a law student, being admitted to the bar, at Akron, in September, 1874. Health again fail- ing, he engaged in farming until January, 1876, when he formed a

partnership with H. B. Foster, Esq., of Hudson, in November of that year

locating in Akron, as a member of the law firm of Foster, Marvin & · Grant, which arrangement continued until his appointment by Gov. Foster, September 16, 1883, Probate Judge of Summit County, on the death of Judge Goodhue, being elected to the office in 1884, and again in 1887, giving to the office over seven years of able and faithful

MOSS ENCICO .

JUDGE CHARLES R. GRANT.

service. October, 9, 1873, Judge Grant was married to Miss Frances J. Wadhams, of Boston township, who died September 14, 1874. Nov- ember 9, 1876, he was again married, to Miss Lucy J. Alexander, of Akron, who died June 8, 1880, leaving one child-Frances Virginia, born Sep- tember 24, 1877. August, 19, 1891, was again married to Miss Ida Shick, of Akron.

Presidents of the Board have been as follows: Hon. John R. Buchtel, 1874-77; Milton W. Henry, 1877-79; Edwin P. Green, 1879-82; Rev. Thomas E. Monroe, 1882, '83; Noah A. Carter, 1883, '84; C. P. Humphrey, 1884-86; Frank M. Atterholt, 1886, '87; Charles R. Grant, 1887,'88; Olin L. Sadler, 1888, '89; Charles R. Grant, 1890, '91.

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POPULAR ENTERTAINMENTS.

Secretaries: George Tod Ford, 1874, '75; William T. Allen, 1875, '76; William C. Allen, 1876, '77; Paul E.Werner, 1877-82; Dr. Mason Chapman, 1882-84; Paul E.Werner, 1884,'85; Olin L. Sadler, 1885,'89. Louis D. Seward, 1890, '91.

Treasurers: Previous to 1882, the Secretary also officiated as Treasurer of the Board, since which time the treasurers have been: Frank M. Atterholt, 1882-85; Ralph P. Burnett, 1885 to present time. Librarians: Theron A. Noble, from beginning to 1875; Horton Wright, 1875-82; Joseph A. Beebe, 1882-89; Mary Pauline Edgerton, 1889 to present time.

Assistant Librarians: Mary Vosburg and Anna M. Kummer, to December, 1875; Bessie Willis, 1875-85; Mary Pauline Edgerton, 1885-89; Mrs. Jennie M. Proehl, 1889 to present time.

Akronians are justly proud of Akron's Free Public Library, which it is conceded is not only one of the very best equipped, in point of the extent and arrangement of its alcoves, and the judi- cious selection of its books and periodicals, but also one of the best managed institutions of its class in the State.

CHEAP POPULAR ENTERTAINMENTS.

Besides the frequently recurring popular lectures and other entertainments-literary and scientific-given under the auspices of Buchtel College, the Grand Army of the Republic, and the various church and other organizations of the city, the Young Men's Christian Association, has, during two decades, not only maintained a well supplied reading room, to which has recently been added an extensive gymnasium, but for several years past has given to the public, during the winter season, courses of ten lectures and musical entertainments by the very best talent of the country, at the extremely low figure of one dollar per course, their popularity not only rendering them self-sustaining, but affording a handsome surplus for the carrying forward of the other branches of the beneficent work of the association.

Long may Akron continue to cherish and liberally sustain her magnificent educational, literary, benevolent and Christian institutions.

CHAPTER X.

AKRON CHURCHES-FULLY ABREAST WITH HER BUSINESS ENTERPRISES, SCHOOLS, ETC .- PIONEER RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS-STRIVINGS, STRUG- GLINGS, ADVANCES, REVERSES, ETC .- THE SECTS VERY LARGELY REPRE- SENTED-HARMONIOUSLY WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE GENERAL GOOD -MODERN CHURCH STRUCTURES, SOME OF THE FINEST IN THE COUNTRY -PRESENT STATUS OF ALL THE CHURCHES-MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION, ETC.

AKRON CHURCHES.

THIS chapter, giving an epitome of Akron's church history, is largely compiled from the more elaborate sketches furnished by pastors or prominent members of the several societies, with such emendations as the personal recollections of the writer furnish, and such statistical information obtained from official sources as to bring the matters written of down to the present date.

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

This society, whose present church edifice is located on Kent street, near Arlington, in the Sixth Ward, is undoubtedly the oldest · church organization in what is now the city of Akron. It was organized on the 15th day of December, 1831; by Revs. Benson C. Baldwin and John Hughes, with twenty-six members, one of whom, only, Mr. Edgar T. Chapman, now survives, though not now a member of the congregation; but we are without definite data as to when their house of worship was erected. Successive pastors . for twenty-four years were: Rev. Benson C. Baldwin, December 1831 to September 1838; Rev. Abraham Sanders, October 1838 to October 1839; Rev. H. A. Sackett, July 1840 to June 1841; Rev. James Shaw, 1841 to 1845.

About this time, by reason of differences growing out of the slavery question, quite a number withdrew from the society, and organized the Congregational Church of Middlebury, the parent church being ministered to by Rev. William Hanford in 1846; Rev. Horace Foote in 1847; Rev. Elroy Curtis, 1848 to 1854. Having harmonized their differences on the slavery question, the two societies re-united, as an independent church, in 1860, under Rev. William Dempsey, who continued to officiate as pastor until 1863, followed by Rev. Mr. Hicks for three years; Rev. G. Hall, three years; and Rev. Henry Avery three years.

In 1874, largely through the influence of the late Ambrose L. Cotter, one of the original members, the society returned to the fold of the Presbytery, under whose auspices it has since remained. Late pastors: Rev. C. Barnes, 1874 to 1877; Rev. J. H. Jones, 1877 to 1881; Rev. Dwight L. Chapin, September 1883 to 1889; Rev. Edward Layport, May 1, 1889, to present time. Membership in 1883, thirty- five; present membership of 145; number scholars in Sunday School, 150. About 1885 the present fine brick church, with hand- somely decorated interior, Sunday School rooms in basement, etc., was .erected, at a cost, for house and lot, of some $10,000; the old

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AKRON'S CHURCH HISTORY.

well-known and well-worn brick church, south of the present fire station, after half a century's faithful public service, for religious meetings, political meetings, temperance meetings, lectures, con- certs, festivals, etc., having been razed to the ground.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

In the earlier years of its existence, the few Presby- · terians and Congregational- ists of the new village of Akron, used to meet from week to week for conference, prayer and praise at private residences, school houses, etc. In 1834 a Congregational church, amenable to Pres- Akron's First Church built on Court House lot in 1835. bytery, was organized by Rev. John Pettit, and in 1835 a small house of worship, a cut of which is here given, was erected on the present Court House grounds, but, on the location of the Court House at that point, in 1840, was removed to the corner of Quarry and High streets, and, after doing service for several churches, as elsewhere detailed until 1877, was removed to the rear of the present German Lutheran Church and used for the parochial school of that Society until 1889, when it was torn down to make room for the nice brick house now standing there.

The pulpit was supplied by Mr. Pettit, members of Western Reserve College and others, until 1836, when Rev. James B. Walker, a theological graduate from the college named, was called to the pastorate, erecting for himself a dwelling house in the woods, which house for many years was owned and occupied by Richard S. Elkins, Esq., late of Ravenna, and is still standing immediately north of the Windsor Hotel. In 1839, Mr. Walker resigned and was succeeded by Rev. James D. Pickands, who, unfortunately, embraced and preached the Second Advent doc- trines which so greatly agitated the religious world from 1840 to 1846, as fully detailed in another chapter.

In consequence of these heresies, 22 members withdrew from the church in the Spring of 1842, and on the 2nd day of January, 1843, were formally organized, by a council convened for that purpose, consisting of Rev. Seagrove Magill, of Tallmadge, Rev. Joseph Merriam, of Randolph, Rev. Mason Grosvenor, of Hudson, and Rev. William Clark, of Cuyahoga Falls, under the title of the "Second Congregational Church of Akron."

July 3, 1843, nine others from the old, joined the new church, and the 31 members proceeded to organize by the appointment of Mr. Harvey B. Spelman, as Deacon, and Mr. Allen Hibbard, as Clerk.

Meantime, the embryo society, holding regular services in what was then known as the "Court Room," in the third story of the large stone block on the southeast corner of Howard and Market streets, had been ministered to by a young eastern theo- logian by the name of Isaac Jennings, who was ordained as the

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

first pastor of the new church, on the 14th day of June, 1843. Measures were soon afterwards taken for the erection of a church edifice, which was accordingly built at the corner of North Main and Tallmadge streets, at a cost of $1,800, which was dedicated in June, 1845. [This building in more recent years was purchased by Mr. George Wulle, and used as a livery stable until destroyed by fire in 1887.]

The pastorate of Mr. Jennings ceased in February, 1847, by resignation, being followed by Rev. W. R. Stevens, as stated supply, from November, 1847, until May, 1849, when Rev. Nathaniel P. Bailey, now of Massillon, assumed the pastorate, being ordained October 7, 1849. Mr. Bailey served until May 3, 1856, and was followed by Rev. A. Duncasson, from February, 1857, to November, 1858; Rev. Abraham E. Baldwin, from 1858 to 1861 (ordained in February, 1860); Rev. Carlos Smith, December 30, 1861, till the Winter of 1873; Rev. Thomas E. Monroe 1873 to the present time.

By reason of the Second Advent delusions, the original First Congregational Church had gone to pieces, and its house of worship sold to the Disciples, so that the Second naturally became the First, by which title it is now known.

R EV. CARLOS SMITH, D. D.,- born in Hopkinton, N. H., July 17, 1801; married to Miss Susan Saxton, of Hanover, N. H., February 20, 1827; inducted into the ministry at Utica, N. Y., by the Oneida Pres- tery in 1832; was pastor at Manlius, N. Y., four years; Painesville, Ohio, eight years; Massillon, three years ; Tallmadge, 14 years; and of First Congregational Church in Akron 12 years-1861 to 1873. "Father Smith," was a general favorite with all classes-genial in his manner, and earnest in his piety, but remarkably liberal and tolerant of the views and feelings of others. Mr. and Mrs. Smith were the parents of twelve children, four of whom died in infancy and one-Eliza Mygatt- dying at 16 years of age in Tallmadge, the seven survivors being: Louisa J., now Mrs. George Carter, of Jack- sonville, Ill .; Charles Edward, a phy- sician in Palınyra, Ill .; Sarah Porter, now Mrs. Leavitt Bissell, of New York City ; Harriet Sanford, at home, in Akron; Mary Clark, now Mrs. Robert McKee, of Waverly, Ill .; Ellen Chase, at home; and Ethan Sanford, attorney in Minnesota. Mr.

REV. CARLOS SMITH, D. D.

and Mrs. Smith celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, Feb- ruary 20, 1877, Mr. S. dying April 22, 1877, aged 75 years, 9 months and 5 days, and Mrs. S. December 21, 1889, aged 84 years, 3 months and 24 days.

At the beginning of Mr. Smith's pastorate there was a mem- bership of about 60, at its close 268, during which time a new house of worship, a fine brick structure, on High street, had been erected at a cost of some $40,000.

Soon after Mr. Monroe's accession, a gallery was added to the seating capacity of the auditorium, and additional Sunday School facilities provided in the basement, at a cost of $5,000. The house

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AKRON'S CHURCH HISTORY.

being partially destroyed by fire, on February 2, 1881, additions and repairs were made to the extent of about $10,000, with a large new organ, there being a fine-toned bell in the tower, and a first- class clock, donated by one of Akron's best-known business mien for nearly half a century, Mr. Joseph E. Wesener.

R EV. THOMAS E. MONROE,- son of Job and Phœbe (Collins) Monroe, of Scotch descent, was born at Plainfield, Conn., April 28, 1829; raised on farm with common school and academical education ; at 17. began teaching in Rhode Island, continuing three years ; then entered a preparatory school in Providence, the year following entering Oberlin College, graduating from the clas- sical course in 1856 and from the theological course in 1858 ; ordained as a minister of the Gospel in 1859 by the Cleveland Conference. Preaching one year in Amherst, Lorain County, in 1860 Mr. Monroe became the pastor of the First Congregational Church in Mount Vernon, the church mein- bership increasing during his thirteen years pastorate from 150 to 457 and the society building a new church edifice at a cost of $38,000. April 1, 1873, Mr. Monroe became the pastor of the First Congregational Church of Akron, which position he still retains; the society in the inter- vening 18 years,besides making exten- sive improvements on its house of worship, having increased its mein- bership from 268 to 903, besides con- tributing 100 of its members to the West Congregational Church, organ-

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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