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 55
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JUDGE SAMUEL C. WILLIAMSON.
mit county, and re-elected in 1878, serving six years. At the close of his second term, being in failing health, he visited New Mexico, where he died March 27, 1883, his remains now reposing in the G. A. R. lot in Glen- dale Cemetery. Judge Williamson never married.
Milton C. Wilcox, son of Curtis C. Wilcox, Esq., of 216 Union street, enlisted as private in the 104th O. V. I., July 24, 1862; pro- moted to regimental hospital steward August 30, 1862; discharged at Knoxville, Tenn., February 20, 1864, to accept position of hospi- tal steward in regular army; in April, 1864, appointed aide-de-camp and private secretary to Governor William G. Brownlow, of Ten- nessee, with the title of colonel; after the close of the war taking an active part in adjusting the civil affairs of that State to the new order of things, particularly interesting himself in educational matters, and is now a prominent and influential citizen of that State.
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426
AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.
THE MILITIA DURING THE WAR.
Under the act of April 14, 1863, for the reorganization of the militia of Ohio, besides the independent companies, battalions and regiments heretofore spoken of, the entire State was duly dis- tricted, organized and drilled, preparatory to performing local, State or National military duty, should their services be called into requisition. We have no proper data for giving the rosters of the several companies thus organized and maintained in Summit county during the war, ready to take part in the great struggle, if called upon (and many of whose members did do valiant service as volunteer soldiers under the several calls for troops), but the . original officers, for the companies, elected in July, 1863, as far as reported, were as follows:
BATH, District No. 1: Henry Mack, captain, William Davis, Jr., first lieutenant, B. M. Noble, second lieutenant.
BOSTON, No. 1: Joseph Drake, captain, Leander Beers, first lieutenant, Daniel R. Tilden, second lieutenant; No. 2, L. F. Car- gould, captain, E. S. Haskill, first lieutenant, James Edgerly, sec- ond lieutenant.
COPLEY, No. 1: David Parker, captain, William Medsker, first lieutenant, George W. Weeks, second lieutenant; No. 2, John Fran- cisco, captain, Hiram King, first lieutenant, Jonathan Delong, sec- ond lieutenant.
COVENTRY, No. 1: Wm. B. Doyle, captain, Edward H. Viers, first lieutenant, Hiram B. Housell, second lieutenant; No. 2, Jacob Hoffman, captain, Peter Stine, first lieutenant, Jacob Warner, second lieutenant.
CUYAHOGA FALLS: William H. Hinde, captain, H. C. Lock- wood, first lieutenant, George A. Waite, second lieutenant.
FRANKLIN, No. 1: Samuel Wolf, captain, Oscar E. Brownell, first lieutenant, Isaac Dailey, second lientenant; No. 2, Lewis Wagoner, captain, L. J. Wagoner, first lieutenant, Timothy Sulli- van, second lieutenant.
GREEN, No. 1: William Y. Royer, captain, John J. Marsh, first lieutenant, E. J. Semler, second lieutenant; No. 2, John F. Helm, captain, Benjamin Chisnell, first lieutenant, Jonathan Foster, second lieutenant.
HUDSON, No. 1: Rollin Bosworth, captain, Z. R. Trowbridge, first lieutenant, James H. Seymour, second lieutenant; No. 2; Car- roll Cutler, captain, H. J. Bell, first lieutenant, William Wilder, second lieutenant.
MIDDLEBURY: M. J. Housell, captain, T. S. Jones, first lieu- tenant, Thomas H. Peckham, second lieutenant.
NORTHAMPTON, No. 1: John C. Johnston, captain, F. L. Har- rington, first lieutenant; George Chart, second lieutenant; No. 2, James R. Brown, captain, Andrew J. Bean, first lieutenant, Norton R. Hardy, second lieutenant.
NORTON, No. 1: Peter Hunsicker, captain, William Betz, first lieutenant, D. J. Waltz, second lieutenant; No. 2, J. B. Jones, captain, Aaron Betz, first lieutenant, Alexander A. Mentzer, second lieutenant.
NORTHFIELD, No. 1: Albert Bliss, captain, J. H. Clark, first lieutenant, J. B. Gallie, second lieutenant.
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427
LATER MILITARY AFFAIRS.
PORTAGE, No. 1: Josiah J. Wright, captain, Stephen J. Horn, first lieutenant, Augustus T. Brownless, second lieutenant; No. 2, Charles Miller, captain, Romas Halter, first lieutenant, Richard F. Palmer, second lieutenant; No. 4, Vincent Nowatany, captain, E. M. Hastings, first lieutenant, William Weston, second lieutenant.
RICHFIELD: Hiram Hart, captain, B. H. Rouse, first lieutenant, Joseph Churchill, second lieutenant.
SPRINGFIELD, No. 1: David W. Martin, captain, Cyrus Yerrick, first lieutenant, John M. Fisher, second lieutenant; No. 2, S. L. Stall, captain, G. W. Fulkerson, first lieutenant, William A. McClelland, second lieutenant.
STOw: Hiram Gaylord, captain, J. A. Gross, first lieutenant, Loten Hartle, second lieutenant.
TALLMADGE: Norman S. Keller, captain, C. H. Sackett, first lieutenant, L. H. Ashmun, second lieutenant.
TWINSBURG, No. 1: D. W. Richardson, captain, Chauncey Lane, first lieutenant, Alfred Ledsham, second lieutenant; No. 2, Josiah Oviatt, captain, E. C. Herrick, first lieutenant, William Chamberlin, second lieutenant.
MODERN MILITARY OPERATIONS.
Allusion has been made elsewhere to the early military operations of Akron and Summit county, special mention having been made of the "Summit Guards," organized in the latter thirties, and maintained for several years, under the auspices of the late Gen. Philo Chamberlin, Arad Kent and other enterprising young business men of ancient Akron. In addition to a brief history of nearly every regiment in which citizens of Akron so gallantly served their country during the late war, including the independent companies of the Ohio National Guard, who rendered their country such invaluable service for one hundred days in the Summer of 1864, it is proper that the later and present military status of the city and county should receive a passing notice in this chapter. The companies forming the 54th Battalion O. N. G., as did all similar organizations throughout the State, partaking of the general feeling of the people, that they had had a sufficiency of military display, soon after the war lapsed into a condition ' of " innocuous desuetude," and the whole militia system of the State being apparently about to fall into a general state of inefficiency and dilapidation, the independent companies in question were, a a year or two later, honorably discharged. A few years later, how- ever, realizing the importance of having conveniently at hand an efficient number of thoroughly drilled soldiers to quell any dis- turbances that might arise in any portion of the State, and to prevent invasion from without, the Legislature, on the 18th day of April, 1870, passed "An act to organize and regulate an inde- pendent militia," providing that "for the purpose of creating greater efficiency in the military system in counties having cities or towns with a larger population than three thousand, it shall be lawful for any members of the enrolled militia to embody and organize themselves into independent companies, battalions, squadrons, regiments and batteries, in manner and form and sub- ject to the provisions and restrictions hereafter prescribed; pro- vided that such organizations shall be of no charge or expense whatever to the State."
428
AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.
It will thus be seen, by the italicized proviso, that so far as the public, for whose benefit these organizations were to be main- tained, was concerned, the new system was to be parsimoniously economical. The act did provide, however, that such companies might have the use of the public arms of the State, on giving a properly secured bond, in double the value thereof, for the return of the same, on demand of the governor or adjutant gen- eral; that in addition to regular members, "contributing members" not to exceed 150, or 45 per cent. of the voting population, might be enrolled; not less than three days of public parade and drill to be performed each year, with yearly encampment of not less than three days and to be subject to the call of the governor to repel invasions, or the sheriff or mayor to suppress riots, etc., to be paid by the State in the former case, and by the county or city in the latter, one dollar for each day, and a like sum for each night while thus on duty. Under this law each company had to uniform itself, provide its own armory, fuel, lights, etc., in return, each active and contributing member being exempt from jury duty and work on the public highways during continuance of membership, and every active member serving five years to be thereafter exempt from military duty in time of peace.
PORTER ZOUAVES .- Under the inspiration of Mr. Henry Porter, an ex-soldier of the late war, eighteen men, about one-half of whom were veteran soldiers, and the remainder a younger class of men without military experience, met in the room of the Akron City Band, on Howard street, on Friday evening, October 15, 1875, for the purpose of organizing a military company under the law in question, Captain T. D. McGillicuddy acting as chairman of the meeting. Fifteen names were enrolled at that meeting, each of wliom was appointed a committee to solicit recruits, and at the second meeting, held in the rooms of the G. A. R., October 22, twenty new names were reported, making 35 in all-veterans and "kids" in about equal numbers. At this second meeting a prelim- inary organization was effected, with Emmett F. Taggart as president; Edgar W. Cubbison, secretary, and Ernest F. Pfleuger, treasurer.
"VETS" VERSUS "KIDS."-The third meeting was held at Rentschler's Hall, Market street, on the evening of November 1, 1875. In the meantime differences had arisen and the officers elected at the previous meeting, and several others, voluntarily withdrew, new officers being elected as follows: Michael W. Santry, president; Samuel D. Blocker, secretary; and Charles M. Henry, treasurer, with Henry Porter as drill master, Alvin T. Hawn, assistant drill master, the company assuming the title of Porter Zouaves.
THE "BIERCE CADETS."-About this time Gen. Lucius V. Bierce, became actively interested in the organization, and in addition to his experienced military counsels, rendered the com- pany such pecuniary assistance in the way of paying hall rent and other expenses, that, by a nearly unanimous vote, the company assumed the name of "Bierce Cadets," and under that title was organized, November 13, 1875, with Michael W. Santry as captain; James K. Polk Sours, first lieutenant, and Charles E. Carter, second lieutenant, to whom commissions were issued by Governor Thomas L. Young, December 8, 1875, Col. Adams Emerson, about
429
BIERCE CADETS, CITY GUARD, ETC.
this time succeeding Mr. Henry Porter, as drill master, under whose training the cadets, though nearly all young men, averaging only about 22 years of age, attaining a commendable state of proficiency. "AKRON CITY GUARD."- Meantime, the withdrawing mem- bers, and others, mostly veterans of the late war, at a meeting held at Pendleton's Hall, on Howard street, on the evening of November 4, 1875, effected a preliminary organization, with 37 names enrolled, by the election of Emmett F. Taggart as president; Edgar W. Cubbison as secretary, and Ernest F. Pfleuger as treasurer. November 18, fourteen names were added to the roll-51 in all- and on the evening of November 12, the company elected military officers as follows: David W. Thomas, captain; Alexander G. Maynes, first lieutenant; T. D. McGillicuddy, second lieutenant, and the title of "Akron City Guard" was unanimously adopted. At a meeting held December 4, 1875, 52 members signed the mus- ter roll, formally enlisting in the military services of the State for five years, as follows:
We, the undersigned, citizens of Akron, Summit county, Ohio, hereby acknowledge that we have enlisted as volunteer soldiers in the service of the State of Ohio, to defend her borders and repel or prevent invasion; to pre- vent and suppress riots and insurrections; to maintain the honor and integ- rity of our State, and sustain the civil authorities whenever and wherever we may be called to duty, within the intent of the act aforesaid, and for these purposes, as well as to sustain our own good name and credit, and to reserve and secure a just immunity from ordinary militia service, we have signed this enrollment, and now pledge ourselves to the State, and to each other, that we will diligently strive to secure the greatest practicable correct- ness and efficiency in drill and discipline, and that we will perform our duty faithfully, for a period of five years, unless sooner discharged by competent authority, and we hereby petition to be organized as a company of infantry, "O. N. G. M."
Fifty-two names, with their respective ages at that time, were attached to the foregoing application, as follows: D. W. Thomas, ·34; A. G. Maynes, 40; T. D. McGillicuddy, 40; L. H. Walcott, 37; Louis Fischer, 22; M. W. Cramer, 22; F. G. Harrington, 26; F. O. DeLong, 23; Alfred F. Koons, 25; Avery K. Spicer, 35; S. C. Wilson, 30; George M. Clause, 26; George P. Brodt, 25; E. F. Taggart, 29; J. W. Kolb, 25; H. H. Bickel, 27; H. C. Peck, 28; E. W. Weise, 31; G. R. Smetts, 22; R. O. Church, 25; D. L. Pursell, 30; J. Beckhardt, 27; Andrew C. Getz, 32: John M. Roberston, 27; George Mitten, 40; George W. Kummer, 24; Amos Brown, 34; William Markwalder, 30; Jacob Markwalder, 27; Charles H. Miller, 32; T. F. Homer, 30; A. H. Vordeman, 37; William Pence, 45; William Barrett, 25; Aaron J. Hart, 32; S. C. Haines, 28; Charles W. McCune, 38; G. A, Reichler, 30; E. A. Stoffer, 26; Charles Yost, 35; Francis A. Allen, 33; D. C. Smith, 36; Martin Shank, 28; M. H. Smith, 35; Allen Walker, 35; I. H. Allyn, 24; Thomas M. Schlabach, 35; William Richards, 23; J. J. Foust, 25; J. W. Hillier, 28; Henry Cruse, -; FrankGrafton, 25. Average age, 30.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION.
Some technical informalities in the previous organization of of the company having been discovered, on the evening of January 3, 1876, a new election was had, resulting as follows; D. W. Thomas, captain; T. D. McGillicuddy, first lieutenant, (Lieutenant Maynes declining a re-election); Richard P. Marvin, Jr., second lieutenant; W. A. Noble, seeretary, and J. Beckhardt, treasurer.
430
AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.
Both the Bierce Cadets and the City Guard were reasonably prosperous, considering the limited encouragement extended by the city and State authorities and the many expedients, besides the revenue from contributing members, that had to be resorted to in raising the wherewithal to pay their current expenses.
A TASTE OF ACTIVE SERVICE .- In the early Spring of 1876, a strike among the coal miners of the Tuscarawas Valley necessitat- ed the calling out of several companies of the Ohio National Guard of the vicinage to quell the riotous proceedings among the strikers. The Akron City Guard-having meantime been provided with new Springfield breech-loading rifles-by order of Capt. Thomas, assembled at their armory at 7:30 A. M. on Tuesday morning, May 16, 1876, in response to the following official requisition:
SHERIFF'S OFFICE, SUMMIT COUNTY, AKRON, Ohio, May 16, 1876.
To Capt. D. W. Thomas, Akron, Ohio :
You are hereby ordered to report your full command, "The Akron City Guard," to me, before 12 o'clock M., on the 16th day of May, A. D., 1876, at the Franklin Coal Mines, in Franklin township, Summit county, Ohio, to aid the civil authorities in suppressing threatened violence and supporting the laws in Summit county.
L. J. MCMURRAY, Sheriff of Summit County, Ohio.
Some changes of membership having meantime occurred, 45 of the 48 members then on the muster roll enthusiastically responded, as follows: Capt. D. W. Thomas; first lieutenant, T. D. McGilli- cuddy; second lieutenant, Richard P. Marvin, Jr .; first sergeant, E. F. Taggart; second sergeant, T. F. Homer; third sergeant, E. A. Stouffer; fourth sergeant, L. H. Walcutt; fifth sergeant, T. M. Schlabach; first corporal, Amos Brown; second corporal, J. W. Hillier; third corporal, A. C. Getz; fourth corporal, A. H. Vorde -. man; fifth corporal, F. G. Harrington; sixth corporal, I. H. Allyn; seventh corporal, H. Mealy; eighth corporal, William Pence, and privates F. W. Baker, A. A. Bartlett, G. M. Clause, F. O. De Long, J. J. Foust, L. F. Fischer, Z. S. Fralick, Frank Grafton, William Hawk, A. J. Hart, A. F. Koons, J. W. Kolb, G. W. Kummer, John Limric, William Markwalter, Charles Miller, Samuel McCoy, H. C. Peck, D. L. Pursell, William Richards, George R. Smetts, M. H. Smith, M. Shank, A. K. Spicer, D. C. Smith, George Shenkel, L. Stair, S. C. Wilson, and Charles Yost, all the other members being absent from town except one, who was dismissed from the company for failure to report for duty as ordered.
A THIRTY DAYS' CAMPAIGN .- Donning their accoutrements, and receiving from Sergeant Taggart twenty rounds copper-shelled cartridges each, the company marched to the Union depot, where amid the cheers of a multitude of friends, it embarked on the C., A. & C. for the Franklin coal chutes, eight miles south of Akron, reaching its destination at 11:30 A. M. A detail of eight men was stationed at the chutes, and the balance of the men marched to the mine, a mile and a half to the eastward, around which, under the name of "Camp Thomas," a cordon of sentinels were posted and regular army discipline maintained for the period of 32 days.
Though there was much bad blood, many dire threatenings, and some hostile and savage demonstrations, on the part of the
431
A THIRTY DAYS' COAL-MINE CAMPAIGN.
striking miners, both towards the new men that were introduced to work the mine, as well as towards the soldiers themselves, for- tunately there were no serious collisions and no special damage to either person or property.
The nearest approach to a fatal conflict was during the second week of the campaign. Sheriff McMurray having received what he regarded as reliable information that a force of some 250 strikers were intending to overpower the Guard, on a given night, and drive out the new men who had gone to work in the mines, mounted a fleet horse and, a la Sheridan, rapidly rode from Akron down to Franklin town, eight miles away, to notify Capt. Thomas of the anticipated raid. A strong picket line was established, with instructions to shoot, to kill, whoever might attempt to force the lines. During the night, there was a rapid discharge of fire-arms from the neighboring thicket, and two men came running towards the camp, but happily obeyed the order to halt, before being fired upon by the pickets, and, being marched into camp, at the point of the bayonet, proved to be one of the new miners, who had ven- tured outside the line, accompanied by a friend, who were being chased by the strikers, but fortunately for themselves, the strikers kept at a wholesome distance from the picket line.
SUNDAY VISITORS TO CAMP THOMAS .- During their stay in Camp Thomas the brave soldier boys received frequent visits from home friends-especially on Sundays-" armed and equipped" with every variety of toothsome family edibles to sweeten the plain and wholesome, but somewhat monotonous, rations prepared by the company cook, in the improvised camp kitchen, alias the mine mule shed; the first Sunday in camp bringing some 300 visitors, men and women, and second Sunday about 500, including the Akron City Band.
Notwithstanding the strict military discipline maintained, and in spite of much rainy and disagreeable weather, the boys man- aged to enjoy themselves hugely, but want of space forbids the repetition, here, of the many pranks that were practiced upon each other, and the many novel pastime expedients that were resorted to.
AT SILVER CREEK MINE, ALSO .- On May 31 Sheriff McMurray ordered Captain Thomas to withdraw from the Franklin mine all of his command, except one commissioned officer, one sergeant, three corporals and twenty privates, which was accordingly done, leaving Lieutenant Richard P. Marvin, Jr., in command of the men retained in Camp Thomas.
Meanwhile the Mount Vernon Guard, in charge of the Silver Creek Mine in Wayne County, had themselves become so "restive" that Adjutant General Wikoff deemed it advisable to order. then home, but not wishing to leave the mine unprotected, issued the following order:
ADJUTANT GENERAL'S OFFICE, } COLUMBUS, OHIO, June 7, 1876. 5
Captain D. W. Thomas, Akron, Ohio:
Send an officer and twenty men of your command to report to the Sheriff of Wayne county, at Silver Creek Mine, to relieve Captain Wood's company on duty there, under order of said Sheriff.
By order of the Governor.
A. T. WIKOFF, Adjutant General of Ohio.
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432
AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.
The men who had recently been withdrawn from the Franklin inine, in command of Lieutenant McGillicuddy reported at the Silver Creek mine, and were formally placed in charge thereof by Sheriff Jacob R. Bawman, on the evening of June 8, the detachment being received in military style by a detachment of the Mount Vernon Guard, whom they were about to relieve.
CAPT. TIMOTHY D. MCGILLI- CUDDY,-born in Louisville, Ky., December 1, 1835; moved with parents to Cleveland, where he graduated from Central High school in 1854; in 1856, went to Hannibal, Mo., and engaged in railroading; in April, 1861, enlisted in Co. B, Marion Battal- ion, U. S. Reserve Corps, and elected first lieutenant; served under Gen. Nat. Lyon, in all engagements in Mis- souri, from the capture of Camp Jackson, May 10, to the surrender of Lexington, September 9, 1861; organ- izing another company was commis- sioned captain of Čo. K., 5th M. V. I., October 5, 1861; was with the Army of tlie Tennessee, from the capture of Fort Henry to the fall of Savannah; was sick with typhoid fever at Cor- inth, Miss., from June to October, 1862, and severely wounded in an engagement with Roddy's rebel cav- alry, March 23,1864; commanded regi- ment on the March to the Sea; mus- tered out at Savannah, January 1, 1865; at close of war, settled in Akron; November 13, 1867, was married to Miss Frances L. Carter, only daugh- ter of Dr. Israel E. and Mary (Wil- liamson) Carter, who has borne hill one child-Kate Leora; is a charter member of Buckley Post, G. A. R .;
CAPT. TIMOTHY D. MCGILLICUDDY.
Post Commander, 1873 to 1879; assist- ant quartermaster general, 1875; jun- ior vice department commander, 1876; judge advocate general, 1879; assist- ant adjutant general 1880, district inustering officer, 1882; district inspector 1884, '85, delegate to national encampments, 1870-75, 1883-85-86.
THE MINERS' WAR ENDED .- Both the mines in question having at length been supplied with new operatives or the return of the old ones, the strike was at length declared off, Lieutenant Mar- vin's detachment being formally withdrawn from the Franklin mine, by Sheriff McMurray, June 18, Lieutant McGillicuddy's command being relieved from further duty at Silver Creek two days later, by the following complimentary order from Sheriff Bawman:
WOOSTER, OHIO, June 20, 1876.
Lieut. T. D. McGillicuddy, Commanding Akron City Guard, Silver Creek, Wayne County, Ohio:
Grateful for faithful services, but your services being no longer required, you and your command will consider yourselves released from further duty, from and after this date. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JACOB R. BAWMAN, Sheriff of Wayne County, Ohio.
"SKIRMISHING" FOR THEIR PAY .- Having been ordered out by State authority, the guard, of course; looked to the State to pay them for the services they had thus rendered. Considerable
433
SEEKING REGIMENTAL IIONORS.
correspondence ensued between Captain Thomas and Attorney- General Wikoff, the outcome of which was the receipt of the fol- lowing "wet blanket" from the latter officer by Captain Thomas:
COLUMBUS, OHIO, July 14, 1876.
Captain D. W. Thomas:
SIR :- I find it impossible to pay your company in advance of an appro- priation by the General Assembly. I therefore return all the papers to you by mail, to-day. Very respectfully,
A. T. WIKOFF, Adjutant General.
To say that the boys were indignant would be drawing it very mild, indeed, many of them having given up their own more lucrative work, in the very busiest season of the year, to attend to the business of the public at one dollar for each day and a like sum for each night of service, and very properly feeling that the pittance thus faithfully earned ought to be promptly paid. But Lieutenant "Dick" Marvin seems to have been adequate to the situation, for, after visiting the Governor and Adjutant General at Columbus, and certain interested parties in Cleveland, the money was forthcoming, and on the evening of July 24, 1876, the men were paid off, amounting in the aggregate to $2,700.
ATTEMPT TO ORGANIZE A REGIMENT.
Up to this time the two companies-the "Bierce Cadets" and the "City Guard,"-had pursued a course of friendly rivalry, and though, as their name implies, the former were composed of a younger class of men, they were, under the skillful training of Col. Adams Emerson, rapidly perfecting themselves in drill and military tactics, both companies taking a prominent part in one of the most imposing civico-military demonstrations ever witnessed in Akron, the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of American Independence, July 4, 1876. As there were now six thrifty independent military companies in this immediate vicinity, it was, on consultation, deemed expedient to organize a regiment, and papers for that purpose were duly prepared and forwarded to Columbus, by Capt. Thomas, and on July 10, 1876, an order was issued at State Headquarters, for the organization of the Ninth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, to be composed of the following companies: Akron City Guard, as Company A; Bierce Cadets, as Company B; Cuyahoga Falls Light Guard, as Company C; Wads- worth Light Guard, as Company D; Orrville Guard, as Company E; West Salem Guard, as Company F.
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