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 29

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 29

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).

210

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

costing $35,000, and on the south part of which it is the intention of the society to build an imposing church edifice, or cathedral, in the near future.

Pastors of church since Father Loure: 1862, Rev. Louis Shiele, the first regular pastor; 1863, Rev. Peter Donnerhoffe; 1866, the present incumbent, Rev. John Broun. Present membership between 400 and 500 families or nearly 2000 souls. Children in schools about 500.

AKRON HEBREW CONGREGATION.

Though a number of Hebrew merchants commenced doing business in Akron as early as 1845, and that class of our population increased from year to year, no steps were taken towards the organization of a congregation of that faith until 1865. April 2, of that year, a legal organization was effected, with Michael Joseph, Theo. Rice, J. L. Joseph, S. B. Hopfman, Simon Joseph, H. W. Moss, Isaac Levi, S. M. Ziesel, Moses Joseph, Herman F. Hahn, J. N. Leopold, D. Leopold, Louis Calish, Caufman Koch and Jacob Koch, as charter members. Being reluctant to call upon other denominations, or the public generally, in providing for them- selves a house of worship, for four years after its organization the association had no fixed place for holding its meetings, but in 1869 fitted up a room in the third story of Allen's block for synagogue and school purposes. This was occupied until 1874, when new rooms were fitted up in Clark's block, on the opposite side of Howard street, which, in turn, gave place to still more commo- dious quarters in the third story of the new Barber block, cor- ner. of Howard and Cherry streets, in 1880, over $1,000 being. expended in fitting up the latter, nearly as much more, probably, being expended upon the two former.

In 1885 the former house of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, on South High street, was purchased for the sum of $4,500, and refitted for a Jewish Temple, at an additional cost of $2,000, In this pur- chase and improvement, outside aid to the extent of $2,500 was accepted from citizens generally, the members of this society ever doing their full share in the business and benevolent enterprises of the day. The congregation some time ago purchased land for burial purposes, adjoining the Akron Rural Cemetery, on the west, but afterwards transferred the same to the Cemetery Association, in exchange for a section of the southeast corner of the cemetery . grounds, paying the association $1,000 additional in money.

The Jewish population in Akron is probably about 300 souls, 175 of whom are adherents of this branch of the church, the remainder, composed mostly of other nationalities than the Ger- man, being known as "Orthodox Jews," which has no Rabinical head at the present time.

The number of paying members-heads of families-of the High Street Society is about 125, with about 40 Sabbath School scholars, the children attending the public schools during the week, the Rabbi giving them lessons in German and Hebrew four times a week, the regular religious services of the congregation being held on Friday evening of each week. Successive ministers to the congregation have been: Revs. N. Hirsch, N. L. Holstein,

211

AKRON'S CHURCH HISTORY.

J. Jesselson, A. Suhler, A. Schreier, A. Burgheim, S. M. Fleisch- man, B. Rabbino and Rabbi Joseph Wasserman, the present incumbent.

WEST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.

About 1885, owing to the rapid increase of the protestant population in the west part of the city, and especially in view of the somewhat plethoric status of the First Congregational Society worshipping on South High street, a new society upon the West Side began to be talked of, when Mr. Lorenzo Hall gener- ously proposed to donate a lot for the proposed new church, on the northwest corner of West Market and North Balch streets. The proposition was accepted, and a tasty frame structure, 50x50 feet in size, with light and airy Sunday School rooms in basement, was completed in1 December, 1887, at a cost of $6,300.

BENEDICT FOI ON.

West Congregational Church, corner West Market and North Balch Streets.

The church was duly organ- ized April 12, 1888, with 65 mem- bers from the parent society, and others, the present membership of the new society (August, 1891), being 225; Sunday School teach- ers and scholars, 400.

May 13, 1888, Rev. David T. Thomas, a graduate of Lane

EV. DAVID T. THOMAS,-second

son of Thomas . E. and Margaret Thomas, was born in Penycae, Mon- mouthshire, South Wales, July 20, 1857, emigrating with parents to Min- eral Ridge, Mahoning County, Ohio, in 1864, three years later moving to Brookfield, Trumbull County, work- ing at coal mining; in 1876 worked on farm near West Farmington; in 1877 attended commercial college in Youngstown ; then clerked in grocery store in Sharon, Pa., fifteen months ; in 1879 entered preparatory depart- ment of Western Reserve College, at Hudson, going to Cleveland on removal of college thither, and gradu- ating from Adelbert University in June, 1885. In Fall of that year entered Lane Theological Seminary, at Cincinnati, graduating therefron in May, 1888, previous to graduation accepting call to the pastorate of the West Congregational Church of Akron, entering upon his ministerial labors May 13, 1888, and continuing to the present time. January 5, 1889, Mr. Thomas was married to Miss Millie H. Alexander, daughter of the late David S. and Sarah (Hale) Alex-

REV. DAVID T. THOMAS.

ander. They have one child-Ruth born June 19, 1891.

212

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

Theological Seminary, at Cincinnati, became the pastor of the new church (his first regular charge,) though not as yet regularly installed. Taken all in all, the West Congregational Church is. one of the most prosperous of the younger religious societies in the city.

AFRICAN M. E. ZION CHURCH.

For a number of years the colored people of Akron have main- tained, with more or less vigor, distinct religious organizations,. the present society known as the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, having been in existence some twelve or fifteen years .. At first meetings were held in private houses and halls, but after the erection of the present Perkins School building, the old frame: school house was purchased and removed to the present site of Andrew Jackson's lumber office, on Exchange street, east of Ohio- Canal. This point being needed for business purposes, about 1882, through the aid and under the auspices of the Ladies' Home Mis -- sionary Society, a lot was purchased on South High street, between Cedar and Chestnut streets, and the house in question removed thereto and duly fitted up and furnished. For some time church and Sunday School services were conducted under the auspices of the white ladies of the Missionary Society, but now wholly by the colored people themselves-regular morning and evening services. every Sunday, with Sunday School in the afternoon. Among the pastors of this church have been Rev. P. R. Anderson, five years; . Rev. Charles H. Docket, one year; Rev. A. B. Mathews, two years; Rev. P. R. Anderson (second time), one year; Rev. J. H. McMullen,. one year, and present incumbent, Rev. George Cliff. Present trustees (1891): Isham Smith, Milton Taylor, Richard Jones, James Morrison, Wilson Gross. Present membership, 25; Sunday School scholars, 25; teachers, 5.

SHILOH BAPTIST CHURCH (COLORED).

This society has been organized about 10 years, but having no house of worship of its own, meetings are at present held in a hall on Howard street, Rev. Cheatham, of Cleveland, officiating every other Sunday. Membership, 25; Sunday School scholars and teachers, 40.

TRINITY REFORMED CHURCH.

The rapidly increasing population of the region known as "North Hill," rendering better church and Sunday School facili- ties an imperative necessity, a Union Sabbath School was organ- ized, and a suitable building for general religious services erected on North Howard street extension in 1889. The interest manifested in this enterprise by the people of that vicinity, soon created a. demand for distinctive church privileges, and on October 1, 1890, Rev. E. D. Wettach organized Trinity Reformed Church, with a present membership of 150, and a Sunday School of 270 scholars and teachers, a Sunday School building, with seating capacity for 350, having been erected at a cost of $3,800 with the intention of adding thereto a more commodious church structure at an early day.

NORTH HILL M. E. CHURCH.

February 1, 1891, Rev. O. A. Curry organized, in the Union Sunday School House, a new M. E. Church, under the above title,

213

AKRON'S CHURCH HISTORY.

the present pastor being Rev. Mark G. McCaslin, of Kent. Present membership, 60: Sunday School scholars (union) 75 to 100. This new society have secured a lot at corner of North Howard street and Tallmadge avenue and have already (July, 1891) a fund of $3,000 towards the erection of a house of worship. Trustees: Wilson Treash, George L. Hanks, George Rittenhouse, Henry Zink, Robert Turner, Andrew Jackson and B. C. Herrick-Treash and Zink, leaders.

WABASH AVENUE CHURCH OF CHRIST.

The young people of the High Street Church of Christ, feeling the necessity of Missionary work in the southwestern portion of the city, in June, 1889, organized a Mission Sunday School in that locality, with such marked success that on Sunday, July 12, 1891, a handsome chapel, corner of Wabash and Euclid avenues, costing $2,400, was dedicated. The Sunday School membership is now (July, 1891) 140 with 12 teachers and officers. Church organiza- tion, proper, not yet perfected.

SOUTH MAIN STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST.

This is also a Mission enterprise, organized in March, 1891, under the auspices of the High Street Church of Christ, services thus far having been held in the Falor school house, though the erection of a house of worship at an early day is in contemplation. Present membership (July, 1891) 58; Sunday School scholars (union) 91; teachers and officers, 15.

SHERBONDY HILL CHURCH OF CHRIST.

Organized February 1, 1891; present place of worship Sherbondy Hill school house, Rev. Wellington Besaw; present membership (July, 1891), 21; Sunday School scholars, 100.

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Organized under the auspices of the Evangelical Lutheran Synod, by Rev. E. M. Engers, of Defiance, in Germania Hall, on Sunday, July 12, 1891, with a membership of 14. Temporary officers; Frank Werner, president; Fred Albright, secretary; Christian Reinhard, treasurer.

OLD FORGE SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Under the auspices of the First Congregational Church, in which a union Sunday School is maintained with about 180 scholars, and regular preaching by Rev. Clinton W. Wilson.

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE CHURCH.

Organized May, 1890, in hall, 200 East Market street; Rev. George E. Burnell, pastor; Trustees: Herbert P. Hitchcock, chair- man, Charles M. Huntley, Earl D. Shepard; membership 50; Sunday School 50.

214

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

SWEDISH EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN BETHANY CHURCH.

Organized January 29, 1889: Services every other Sunday by Rev. G. M. Nilseneus, of Cleveland; deacons; John Petterson, Nels Nelson, Nels Bengtson; trustees, Gustof Carlson, Gustof Johnson, John Olson; church edifice on Roswell street, 28x45, two stories and basement, erected in 1891; membership 75; Sunday School 78.

CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

At a special meeting of the Cleveland Presbytery, in 1891, a committee, consisting of Revs. Edward Layport, A. J. Hall, Charles S. Pomeroy and John C. Elliott, were appointed to look over the ground, with the view of organizing a new Presbyterian Church in the central portion of the city. It is understood that the con- mittee is meeting with such encouragement, in the way of pledges, that an organization will soon be effected, and a commodious house of worship erected, though the exact location has not yet been definitely decided upon.

AKRON MINISTERIAL ASSOCIATION.

This Association has been in existence several years, its aim and object tersely stated in article 2, of its Constitution, as fol- lows: "To cultivate mutual acquaintance and the social element; to discuss local and social problems, and to secure, as far as possi- ble, harmony and united action on questions of public expediency."

At first the constitution provided that all resident ministers, in good and regular standing in their respective denominations, might become members by invitation of the Association, through its Secretary, but an amendment, passed September 8, 1885, extended the privileges of the Association to all clergymen resi- dent in Summit County.

The officers are: president, vice president and secretary, elected annually. Regular meetings are held every two weeks, except during the months of July and August, with such special meeting as the best interests of the Association may seem to demand.

The meetings of the Association are open to all, and its pro- ceedings are participated in by the ministers of the religious denominations of the city and county, and is a very useful organi- zation, not only in a social and fraternal point of view, but in securing unity of action in regard to the promotion of the relig- ious and moral questions and reforms of the day.

CHAPTER XI.

AKRON'S NEWSPAPERS-A TRULY LITERARY CENTER-ANCIENT MIDDLEBURY THE PIONEER, IN 1825-THE "PORTAGE JOURNAL"-HUDSON AND CUYAHOGA FALLS SOON FOLLOW-AKRON ALSO EARLY ON THE TAPIS-THE " AKRON POST," ESTABLISHED IN 1836-THE "AKRON JOURNAL"-THE "AMERICAN BALANCE"-THE CELEBRATED "AKRON BUZZARD"-THE "SUMMIT BEACON," ITS STRUGGLES, REVERSES AND . SUCCESSES FOR HALF A CENTURY-THE "AMERICAN DEMOCRAT" AND ITS NUMEROUS PROGENY-THE "CASCADE ROARER"-THE "SUMMIT COUNTY JOURNAL "-THE "AKRON CITY TIMES," AND SCORES OF OTHER NEWSPAPER VENTURES, BOTH SUCCESSFUL AND UNSUCCESSFUL-AN ENTERTAINING AND INSTRUCTIVE CHAPTER.

SUMMIT COUNTY'S NEWSPAPERS.

T `HE first newspaper venture in what is now Suminit County, was in the village of Middlebury, now the flourishing Sixth Ward of Akron, in 1825. The Ohio Canal project was then agitating the local public mind, it being thought that if that great water highway from Lake Erie to the Ohio River, could be brought through, or within a mile and a half of, that ancient emporium, fortunes for its inhabitants would speedily be made.

Hence an active and intelligent young printer from Ravenna, by the name of Laurin Dewey, proposed to boom the project by the publication of the Ohio Canal Advocate, if the people of the village would aid him in procuring the necessary outfit. Accord- ingly, a subscription paper was started, worded as follows: "We, the subscribers, being anxious for the prosperity of this section of the country, and for the dissemination of useful information gen- erally, do severally agree to pay the sums set opposite our respec- tive names, for the purchase of a printing press, types, etc., and the erection of a printing establishment in the village of Middlebury, under the direction of Mr. Laurin Dewey, who will edit a weekly paper devoted to the general interests of the country, advertising, etc., the columns to be enriched by foreign and domestic news, religious intelligence, poetry, etc; the suis so paid by us to be considered in the light of a loan, to be repaid whenever the editor shall consider himself able to do so."

Signatures to above, and amounts paid by each are as follows: Charles Sumner, $10; Erastus Torrey, $10; Henry Chittenden, $5; Nathan Gillett, Jr., $5; Rufus Hart, $3; Edward Sumner, $10; Samuel Newton, $10; Charles W. Brown, 5; Benajah A. Allen, $3; Phineas Pettis, 5; Elijah Mason, $5; John McMillen, Jr., $10; Spencer & Morgan, $15; Alexander C. Lawson, $2; William McGallard, $2; D. W. Williams, $5; Thomas C. Viall, $2; Jacob Kaufman, $5; Jesse Allen, $4; Ithiel Mills, $3; Amos Spicer, $4 William Bell, $3; Roswell, Kent & Co., $5; Henry Squires, $5; Elisha Farnam, $5; Joseph W. Brown, $5; Horatio Howard, $5; Ambrose Cotter, $5; Henry Rhodes, $3; William Phelps, $2; William J. Hart, $3; R. and S. McClure, $5; Theophilus Potter, $2; Joshua Richards, $2; Bagley & Humphrey, $10; Leonard Chatfield, $2; David Jones, $2; Julius A. Sumner, $3; Miner Spicer, $4; Alpheus Hart, $1; Paul Williams $2; Guerdon Geer, $5. Total $204.

216

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

With this fund an old style Ramage press, and a quantity of second-hand materials were purchased from the Cleveland Herald, the entire outfit being transported overland in a couple of two- horse wagons.

In the meantime Mr. Ozias Bowen, (uncle of the late Hiram Bowen, founder of the BEACON, as hereinafter detailed), for many years Common Pleas Judge of Marion County, became associated with Mr. Dewey in the enterprise; and the canal question having already been settled, the name of the projected paper was changed to the Portage Journal.

The first number was issued September 28, 1825, Mr. Dewey having meantime transferred his interest to Elijah Mason. The size of the Journal was 19x24, an inch less each way than one-half the size of the DAILY BEACON. The price was "two dollars per annum, (exclusive of postage) if payment be made within a year, or two dollars and fifty cents if payment be delayed until the year expires. No paper will be discontinued until all arrearages are paid."

In politics the Journal was independent, with strong anti- Jackson proclivities. October 27, 1826, Mr. Bowen transferred his interest to Mr. John McMillen, Jr., the new firm of McMillen & Mason changing the name of the paper to the Portage Journal and Weekly Advertiser.

This was a pretty long name for so small a paper. A year later, with number 109, Mr. Mason transferred his interest to Alvah Hand, Esq., then practicing law in Middlebury. McMillen & Hand continued the paper until January or February, 1829, when, finding that it could not be made self-supporting, it was discon- tinued, the materials being sold to parties in Massillon.

In subsequent chapters upon Hudson and Cuyahoga Falls, will be found brief histories of the Western Intelligencer (1827); the Ohio Observer (1832); the Family Visitor (1850); Hudson Gazette (1857); College City Venture (1866); Hudson Enterprise (1875); and at Cuyahoga Falls, of the Ohio Review (1833); True American (1840); the Cuyahoga Falls Reporter (1870); Weekly Journal (1881); Hudson Express (1888), etc., which need not be further alluded to here.

Previous to its incorporation, in March, 1836, Akron was entirely destitute of local newspaper facilities, being entirely dependent upon the papers of Ravenna, Hudson and Cuyahoga Falls, for such legal or business notices as were required to be published. The act of incorporation was passed March 12, 1836, and immediately thereafter a practical printer from Medina, Mr. Madison H. White, removed his Ramage press and types to Akron, and on March 23 issued the first number of the Akron Post.

The Post was a five column weekly, Democratic in politics, and, considering that its proprietor was editor, compositor, reporter, pressman, job printer and " devil," it was a very fair expo- nent of the business and local interests of the village at that time.

But as all official advertising had to be done in the papers at the county seat, the local paper did not receive the support antici- pated; and the Post was suspended November 15, 1836.

The Akron Journal .- Deeming the continuance of a Demo- cratic paper essential to the interests of the Democratic party, the late Judge Constant Bryan, then an ambitious young lawyer, and,

217

AKRON'S NEWSPAPERS.

like the writer, a somewhat active Democratic politician, bought the out-fit of the defunct Post, and on the 1st day of December, 1836, revived the paper under the name of the Akron Journal.

While of the same general make-up as the Post, the Journal was far more ably conducted, but the proper business and pecun- iary support was not forthcoming, and the Journal, too, after an existence of about six months, was discontinued June 15, 1837.

The American Balance. - In so stirring and promising, and withal so strongly Whig a town as Akron, it would, of course, never do to let the Democrats enjoy a monopoly of the newspaper business, and so Horace K. Smith, an educated business man of Akron, and Gideon G. Galloway, of Northampton, a practical printer, procured a second-hand out-fit in Cleveland, purchased and repaired the crippled Ohio Observer press, alluded to in the chapter on Hudson, and issued the first number of the American Balance on the 19th day of August, 1837.

In February, Mr. Hiram Bowen, a vigorous writer, and a practical printer, purchased Mr. Galloway's interest in the paper. Messrs. Smith & Bowen made the Balance a paper that ought to have succeeded, but it, too, soon met an adverse fate, owing doubtless to the monetary panic then on, and the failure-inviting custom then in vogue among newspaper men, of giving universal credit for both subscriptions and advertising, and the Balance was suspended at the end of the first year, August 9, 1838.

The Akron Buzzard .- The history of this curiously named and, in its day, quite notorious little paper is thus briefly stated: A young Connecticut Yankee, by the name of Samuel Alanson Lane, then a recent comer to Akron, seeing the great amount of crookedness so prevalent along the line of the canal, at that early day, and especially in and about Akron, conceived the idea that a paper devoted especially to that end would greatly aid the authorities in ridding the town and county from the hordes of blacklegs, counterfeiters and thieves infesting and disgracing the community.

Though following the business of a sign and ornamental painter, Mr. Lane had previously acquired a smattering of the art of printing, and obtaining from the late Judge Bryan permission to use the press and types of the defunct Journal, on the 7th day of September, 1837, issued, as a feeler, the first number of the Akron Buzzard.

It was a three column folio, 12x17 inches, published every two weeks at 75 cents per year, doubled in size and price raised to one dollar at the beginning of the second year. The editorial nom de plume was "Jedediah Brownbread, Esq.," its orthography being of the Yankee dialect order, of which the abominable styles of "Artemas Ward," "Josh Billings," "Petroleum V. Nasby," "Judge Waxem," etc., are fairly good imitations, and to this day Mr. Lane is more frequently saluted as "Jedediah," by his old-time asso- ciates, than by his own proper cognomen.

The Buzzard's Platform .- Translated into ordinary lan- guage, the following extract from its salutatory fully sets fortlı the aims and objects of the paper: "The Buzzard will be a real jolly, nothing-to-do-with-politics, anti-blackleg paper, devoted to news, popular tales, miscellany, anecdotes, satire, poetry, humor, the correction of public morals, etc. It will strike at the vices of

218

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

mankind with an occasional brush at its follies. It will expose crime whether committed by the great or small, and applaud vir- tuous and noble actions whether performed by the rich or poor. It will encourage the honest man in well-doing and make a trans- parency of the breast of the hypocrite. In short, it will be to society what the common buzzard is to our Southern cities, viz .: It will pounce upon, and by its influence endeavor to reform, or remove, such loafers as are nuisances in the community, by hold- ing them up to the gaze of a virtuous public."

The Buzzard made things lively for the "b'hoys" and the "b'hoys" sometimes made things pretty lively for the Buzzard- or rather its editor-visiting him with threatenings dire, vindic- .. tive lyings-in-wait and frequent assaults. But though -literally carrying his life in his hand, in his editorial onslaught upon crime and vice, "Jedediah" pursued the even tenor of his way from day to day, and from month to month, for a year and a half, when, having accomplished the object of its mission, the Buzzard was discontinued on the 25th day of February, 1839-not for want of patronage, for it was self-sustaining from the start-its subscrip- tion list being transferred to Hiram Bowen, Esq., who was thus able to resuscitate his own paper, under the title of the Summit Beacon, a full history of which will be found further on.

The Pestalozzian. - From the start, Akron was well sup- plied with enthusiastic educators, among them being our vener- able fellow citizen, Nahum Fay, Esq., the late Horace K. Smith, and a very proficent teacher by the name of S. L. Sawtell. For the purpose of enthusing the people with their own advanced ideas upon the subject of education, and of systematizing the methods of imparting knowledge and conducting public schools, the two latter gentlemen, on the 14th day of April, 1838, commenced the publication of a neat monthly quarto under the above title. Though ably edited, being in advance of the times, and by reason of the monetary stringency then on, it failed to secure a paying circulation, and was discontinued with the issue of its sixth num- ber; September 30, 1838.

The Ohian and New Era. - The question of finance and banking was one of the absorbing subjects of discussion and legislative tinkering of 50 years ago. To ventilate his own pecu- liar views upon the subject, and doubtless with an honest desire to ameliorate the financial embarassments of the people, the late Jonathan F. Fenn, an early business man of Akron, (who died of cholera at Sacramento, Cal., in the fall of 1850), for a short time in 1838, published a small semi-monthly paper in Akron, under the above title, devoted to Free Banking, but though ably (from its standpoint) handling the financial questions of the day, it failed of financial success, and quietly expired.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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