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 79

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 79

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Plans are being laid, however, by which the P., A. & W. will get an eastern outlet. Surveys have been made from Akron to Moga- dore, from which place it is proposed to build to Youngstown. Here the Pittsburg & Lake Erie will be connected with, and access afforded to Pittsburg. Thence New York can be reached by way of the Philadelphia & Eastern New York, and the Dela- ware, Lackawanna & Western.

At Delphos the P., A. & W. connects with the P., Ft. W. & C. Road and the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City ("Clover Leaf"). With the latter it has close working relations, enabling it to reach St. Louis, Kansas City and other western points.

AKRON & CHICAGO JUNCTION.

In the Summer of 1890, Akron was headquarters for two rail- road construction companies. They were rivals, too, each giving out that it was to build the long expected east and west link. One of these companies was McCracken & Semple, building the P., A. & W., as sketched above. The other was Ryan & McDonald, who had under contract the building of what was called the Akron & Chicago Junction Railroad. Each of these roads depended upon getting the P. & W. as an eastern outlet. Each affirmed that the other would never be built; but each went so far in its operations that when Fall came there were two lines well under way, and in the Spring of 1891, both were practically done, giving two links where but one was needed.

The Akron & Chicago Junction Railway Company, which was understood from the beginning to be an arm of the B. & O., was incorporated at Columbus early in the Summer of 1890. Wil- liam Thornburg, who had been general manager of the Valley, was, after its acquisition by the B. & O., elected president; J. T. Johnson, superintendent; and Henry M. Keim, auditor. Head- quarters were established at Cleveland. The surveyed lines started at Chicago Junction, in Huron county, on the B. & O., and went east by way of Greenwich, Lodi, Creston, Sterling, Rittman, Barberton and New Portage to Akron, making seventy-five miles of, for the most part, straight road. On July 1, 1891, the line was finished from Chicago Junction to Warwick, on the C., A. & C. Negotiations had meantime been made with the C., A. & C. for right of way alongside the latter's track from Warwick to Akron; and pending construction of the Warwick-Akron part, an arrange- ment was made to run over the C., A. & C., between Warwick and Akron.

The Akron & Chicago Junction is known as the Akron Divis- ion of the B. & O. Trains began running on August 10, 1891, and on that date Akron took on a new importance as a pivotal point on a great east and west trunk line. The royal blue trains over the B. & O., out of New York, run through this city, and all the fast freight trains carrying New York and Chicago freight.

Akron thus became, also, the connecting point for B. & O. passenger traffic from Cleveland to Chicago, coming over the Valley. The route from Cleveland to Chicago, by Valley, Chicago Junction and main B. & O. is only thirteen miles longer than over the Lake Shore.

639

AKRON AS A RAILROAD CENTER.

An important part of the B. & O's plans, that had Akron for their point of gravitation, was the acquisition of the Pittsburg & Western. This took place in the fall of 1890. The B. & O. interest had been for some time largely represented among the P. & W. stockholders, and at the time indicated, enough more stock was secured to put the B. & O. in control. Harry Oliver remained for some time president of the P. & W., but J. W. Patton, of the B. & O., was made general manager. This stroke was the sensation of a month in railroad circles, as it gave the B. & O. the desideratum of years, a direct line westward from Pittsburg. The connection of P. & W. and A. & C. J. tracks, and of Valley tracks with both, was made at Old Forge, which thus became a most important transferring point.

RAILROADS A PUBLIC BENEFACTION.

Other important lines to pass through Summit county are being talked up, but as yet nothing can be said of them. The large list already given-the completed and uncompleted-shows that during the past half century, the people of Akron and of Sum- mit county have been fully alive to the value of the railroad in all matters of human enterprise and social progress.

Though few of the local promoters of any of the roads named have ever directly realized a penny upon the money thus invested, all, individually and collectively, have been vastly benefited by their construction. Without our railroads, and the speedy mode of transportation afforded thereby, Akron would have remained the little water-power village of less than 2,000 inhabitants that it was forty years ago-if it had not retrograded-instead of the magnificent manufacturing and commercial city of 30,000 souls that it is to-day; while the farm lands of the county, instead of commanding from $75 to $300 per acre as they now do, would have been, like the most of the lands of the non-railroad counties of the State, unremunerative and almost unsaleable at any price.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE TOWNSHIP OF BATH-EARLY SETTLEMENT-INDIANS AND WILD BEASTS THE WAR OF 1812-PERRY'S VICTORY ON LAKE ERIE -ORGANIZATION, NAME, ETC. - MANUFACTURES-GHENT AS A RAILROAD CENTER- EARLY AND MODERN CROOKEDNESS-LATTA'S TAVERN-PROPRIETOR IN LIMBO- FORFEITS HIS BAIL-SKIPS TO INDIANA-BROUGHT BACK ON THE AFFI- DAVIT OF HIS FORMER CAPTAIN "JIM" BROWN-FINAL ACQUITTAL-BATH IN THE WAR OF THE REBELLION-IN COUNTY AND STATE AFFAIRS, ETC.

BATH TOWNSHIP-TOPOGRAPHY, ETC.

THE Township of Bath, topographically considered, is far less attractive to the average agriculturist than the majority of the townships of Summit county. The eastern portion of the township, overhanging, and extending down into, the valley of the Cuyahoga river, is largely composed of precipitous hills and deep gullies, though occasional well-tilled farms are found on the broader plateaus of the bluffs, and in the intervening valleys.

The central and western portion of the township, however, is well adapted to general agriculture, and especially to stock-grow- ing, some of the finest cattle, sheep, etc., in the county being found in that vicinity.

WATER POWER, MANUFACTURES, ETC.

About one mile south of the geographical center of the town- ship, running from west to east, is a considerable stream of water called "Yellow Creek," which, passing under the Ohio Canal, empties into the Cuyahoga river, at what was formerly known as Yellow Creek Basin; afterwards, for many years, as the village of Niles, and now, as a station for the Valley Railway, called Botzum. In the original building of the canal, there was no berme-bank at this point, the waters of the creek covering quite a large area upon the west side; and hence its original name, Yellow Creek Basin.

This stream, rising in the adjoining township of Granger, on the west, and having quite a number of smart tributaries, on either hand, as it passes through the township, with quite a rapid descent, has furnished a large amount of motive power for manufacturing operations, both at, and above and below, the village of Ghent, consisting of grist and merchant flouring mills, saw mills, woolen mills, planing, turning and bending mills, hub, spoke and felloe factories, etc., a number of which. establishments, in spite of the vicissitudes of time, fires, floods and other disasters, are still in successful operation.

BATH'S PIONEER SETTLERS.

It is not now known as to precisely when the first white people took up their abode in what is now the township of Bath .. It was- not ceded by the Indians to the United States until 1805, at the treaty of Fort Industry. The township was surveyed into lots by Col. Rial McArthur, in 1805, who, in his field-book, gave it the

641

BATH'S BEGINNING.

name of "Wheatfield," the reason why not being now apparent, as its topography and soil are not especially adapted to the raising of wheat. The first two permanent settlers in the township were Jonathan Hale, of Glastenbury, and Jason Hammond, of Bolton, Connecticut. In June, 1810, these gentlemen, having exchanged their Old Connecticut property with Ezekiel Williams and Thomas Bull, of Hartford, two of the original proprietors of the township, immediately started for their new possessions in what was then called New Connecticut, where they arrived sometime in July ; from twenty to thirty days then being required to make the journey that can now be accomplished in about half as many hours.

TONATHAN HALE,-Born in Glas- tenbury, Conn., April 23, 1777; mar- ried to Mercy S. Piper, July 11, 1802; moved to Ohio 1810, Mr. Hale, by two-horse teanı, starting alone, June 12, and reaching his purchase in what is now Bath, July 13, being the first bona fide settler in' that town- ship, though a squatter named Miller had built a cabin and made some improvements upon his land, for which Mr. Hale, on taking posses- sion, duly paid him; Mr. Hale's fam- ily coming on with Mr. Jason Han- mond and family later the same sea- son. In the War of 1812, both Mr. Hale and Mr. Hammond were drafted, but owing to the exposure of their families to Indian depredations, were permitted to return home. On organ- ization of township, in 1818, it was named Bath, at Mr. Hale's suggest- io11. Mrs. Hale died October 16, 1829, leaving six children-Sophronia, William, Pamela, Andrew, Abigail and James M., the latter only, now 76 years of age, surviving, and residing in Akron. Mr. Hale was again mar- ried, Nov. 2, 1830, to Mrs. Sarah Cozad Mather, a widow with three children -- George Mather, now living in Men- tor ; Jane, now, as widow of her step- brother, Andrew Hale, living on the old homestead, and Betsey, now Mrs.

JONATHAN HALE.

Rogers, of Mt. Dora, Florida. The second Mrs. Hale bore her husband three children-Jonathan D., Mercy A. and Samnel C., the latter, a resi- dent of Cleveland, only, now surviv- ing. Mr. Hale died May 14, 1854, aged 77 years and 21 days, his remains reposing in the little cemetery upon the old homestead.

Mr. Hammond's purchase consisted of lots 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, extending from the north and south center road eastward to the township line, building for himself a house at or near what is now known as Hammond's Corners ; hence the name. Mr. Hale's pur- chase consisted of lots 11, 12, 13 and part of 14, immediately north of, but not running so far west as Mr. Hammond's; Mr. Hale locating in the valley, about one mile west of the river.

THERE WERE SQUATTERS IN THOSE DAYS.

From the most reliable sources available, it is probable that Messrs. Hale and Hammond were preceded by Moses Latta, Aaron Miller, Hezekiah Burdit, Gibson Gates, and Moses and Aaron Decker, who had located themselves in the township as squatters,

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

most of them, probably, the previous year; Aaron Miller having built a cabin upon the purchase of Mr. Hale, and into which Mr. Hale moved with his family, residing therein for several years, and until the present brick structure now occupied by his grandsou, Mr. C. O. Hale, was erected. Moses Latta squatted on a lot upon the Smith road, a short distance east of what was afterwards for many years known as Latta's Corners-so named from the some- what notorious Latta's tavern, erected, and for many years kept by William Latta (presumably a son of Moses)-afterwards as Ellis's Corners and now called Montrose.

WILLIAM HALE,-Eldest son of Jonathan Hale, born in Glasten- bury, Conn., July 5, 1806, came with parents to Bath in 1810, where, on a portion of the old homestead, he resided until his death, January 24, 1862, excepting the years 1856, '57, '58, '59 and '60. spent in Hudson. November 13, 1828, Mr. Hale was married, to Miss Sally C. Upson, of Tallmadge, who. died June 25, 1829. For his second wife Mr. Hale married Miss Harriet Carlton, an orphan whose father was killed in the War of 1812, and whose mother died when she was born, who was raised by her aunt,. Mrs. Sarah Cozad Mather, then the stepmother of Mr. Hale. Five children were born to'them-Sarah C., Lucy E., Othello W., Olivia H. and Josephine H., Othello, only, now living, in his 51st year. Mrs. Hale dying August 7, 1854, Mr. Hale was again married, Feb- ruary 15, 1855, to Miss Adeline R. Thompson, of Peninsula, who bore him three children-Herbert T. (deceased), William B., now of St. Paul, Minn., and Harriet A., now with her mother at Oberlin, Ohio. At his death, as above stated, Mr. Hale

WILLIAM HALE.

was aged 51 years, 6 months and 19 days. He was a man of sterling integrity, a conscientious christian and highly respected by all who knew hin1.

THE WAR OF 1812-PERRY'S. VICTORY, ETC.

Though not so rapidly settled as many of the contiguous townships, "Wheatfield," or as it had then come to be called, "Hammondsburgh," is said to have furnished quite a number of soldiers for the defense of the frontier against the combined forces of the "Red-coats" and "Red-skins" in the War of 1812, but whose names cannot now be ascertained. There are many yet living who distinctly heard the cannonading during the memorable battle on Lake Erie, September 10, 1813, in which Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, with his comparatively small squad- ron of hastily constructed and meagerly equipped ves-

sels, carrying but 55 guns and 490 officers and men, won such a splendid victory over the British fleet of 65 guns and 502 officers and men, thus establishing the supremacy of America on the Lakes, causing the immediate evacuation of Detroit by the British forces, and very materially hastening the close of the war, in favor of the stars and stripes. It is said that the people of Bath very materially aided the authorities in the

643

THE BATTLE OF LAKE ERIE.

construction of two boats-which were built at Old Portage in the Summer of 1813, and which, being floated down the Cuyahoga river to Lake Erie, formed a portion of Perry's fleet in the above- named naval engagement. Of this, however, there is now no . positive evidence available; but as it is undoubtedly true that sev- eral small vessels for the Lake trade were built at the point named, about that time, and as most of the vessels in the victorious fleet were of that character (though the squadron had been organized at Erie, Pa.,) there is reasonable grounds for giving credence to the tradition. That victory, with the laconic dispatch of Commodore Perry to Gen Harrison: "We have met the enemy and they are ours-two ships, two brigs, one schooner and one sloop," has been commemorated in various ways-the conferring of gold medals, by Congress, upon Commodore Perry and his Chief Lieutenant, Jesse Duncan Elliott; the erection by the govern- ment of a suitable monument on Put-in-Bay Island over the remains of those killed in the engagement; a fine marble statue of the Commodore in the Central Park of Cleveland; while the anni- versary has, for a third of a century, been annually celebrated in the township of Bath, by the Pioneer Association of Summit and Medina counties.

A NDREW HALE,- son of Jonathan Hale, first actual white settler in Bath township, was born in that township, December 5, 1811, and was the first white child born in Bath ; educated in pioneer township schools and raised to farm life ; April 12, 1838, was married to Jane Mather, who bore him six children- Pamela L. (Mrs. Charles Oviatt, now living in Florida); Sophronia Jane, (Mrs. S. J. Ritchie, of Tallmadge); Clara, (Mrs. L. H. Ashmun, of Tall- madge); Charles Oviatt, now resid- ing on the old homestead; Alida (Mrs. Truman Humphrey, of Rich- field); and John P., now a jeweler in Akron. Mr. Hale was a life-long member of the Congregational church, a thorough-going Republi- can, a genial and accommodating neighbor, a great lover of music, unostentatious, generous, and in its broadest sense a strictly honest man. For three years before his death Mr. Hale was a great sufferer from a neuralgic affection of the head, his death occurring, upon the farm

ANDREW HALE.

where he was born, July 29, 1884, aged 72 years, 7 months and 25 days. Mrs. Hale, now 69 years of age, is affection- ately cared for by her eldest son, C. O. Hale, at the old family homestead.

INDIANS, WOLVES, BEARS, ETC.

When first opened for settlement, remnants of the several tribes of Indians, who had originally inhabited the neighborhood, still lingered in the vicinity, mingling quite freely among the whites, and there exists to this day, within the limits of Bath, the remains of mounds, forts, villages, altars, etc .; while flint spear and arrow heads, stone hammers and axes, mortars, pestles, pottery- ware, etc., are still occasionally found on the hills and in the valleys of the township. It does not appear that there were any

644

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

of those deadly feuds between the Indians and the whites of Batlı, that were experienced by the early settlers of many of the contigu- ous townships, though, after the breaking out of the war, the Indians generally fraternizing with the British, there was very great anxiety, and some very narrow escapes from collision and disaster. After the battle upon Lake Erie, and the subsequent capitulation of Detroit, however, the "Noble Red Man" was no more seen within the limits of the township.

Every species of wild beast was also very plenty on the advent of the earlier white settlers of the township, many of whom proved to be very expert hunters, and many thrilling " hair breadth 'scapes " were formerly, and perhaps, are still to be found in the traditionary lore of the township. Wolves, bears and catamounts were sufficiently numerous to keep the inhabitants constantly on the qui vive for the safety of both their stock and themselves .. The writer has often listened with the most intense interest to the graphic stories of the late venerable William Cogswell, and other old timers, of their encounters with the denizens of the forest, which, if they could be correctly put in print, would make mighty interesting reading.

RICHARD ENGLISH PARKER,- born in Northampton, March 9, 1811, and said to be the first male white child born in that township; at 14, witnessed the laying of the cor- ner stone of the first lock built upon the Ohio Canal ; in 1825, drove team and otherwise assisted in building the canal ; at 21, bought a farm and built a cabin on the north line of Copley. April 18, 1833, Mr. Parker was married to Miss Martha M. Rich- ardson, of Bath, who bore him nine children, all of whom are still living -Henry A., Hartwell A., and Frank W., of Akron; David L., of Copley and Perry R., of Bay City, Mich .; Mrs. Dora S. Trumbull, of Orangeville, Trumbull county ; Mrs. Phoebe M. Low, of Granger, Medina county ; Mrs. Mary L. Harris, of Copley, and Mrs. Cordie M. Stadler, of Akron. Mr. and Mrs. Parker lived happily together over half a century, celebra- ting their golden wedding anniver- sary April 18, 1883, in Akron, having removed thither in 1871. Mrs. Parker died August 7, 1884, aged 69 years and 17 days, Mr. Parker surviving his com- panion four years and one week, dying August 14, 1888, aged 77 years,

RICHARD ENGLISH PARKER.

5 months and 5 days. Mr. Parker was a successful farmer, a model husband and father, and a liberal and patriotic citizen, in politics a stanch Republican, and in religion a sincere and earnest Universalist.

ORGANIZATION, NAME, ETC.

The township was not organized until 1818, eight years after the first regular settlement was made, having previously been attached to Northampton. There is no record, or even authentic tradition, of the organization now available, other than that Dr. Henry Hutson was elected justice of the peace, and Eleazer Rice, constable. An undated tally-sheet in the possession of Mr. James

645

BATH'S CIVIL STATUS.

M. Hale, announcing Jonathan Hale as a trustee, and Jason Ham- mond as supervisor. At this first regular "Town Meeting," as, following the good old New England custom, local elections were called, the question of a permanent name for the township was considered. As before stated, by reason of the Hammond element and influence, the original name of "Wheatfield" had gradually been superseded by that of "Hammondsburgh." This was dis- tasteful to many, both on account of its length, and on personal grounds, and quite a number of other names were mooted and urged with considerable spirit, until Mr. Jonathan Hale, really the first regular settler in the township, getting out of patience, and being a little waggish, withal, exclaimed: "O, call it Jeru- salem, Jericho, Bath, or anything but Hammondsburgh!" A motion was thereupon immediately made to call it Bath, which was carried by a large majority, and Bath it lias remained.to the present day, and is, alphabetically, the leading township of the county, being first upon the roll-call at all political and other con- ventions of Summit county.

BATH IN COUNTY AND STATE AFFAIRS.

The industrial, commercial, educational and religious history of Bath, has already been pretty fully written up by others, and may very properly be passed in this series of papers, with the remark that in point of agricultural achievements, manufacturing enterprises, and educational and moral worth, Bath stands fully at par with the average of the townships of Summit county, though in the remote past subjected to certain malign influences tending to somewhat becloud her fair fame and name, to be more fully alluded to hereafter. In county and State affairs Bath has had a fair representation, indeed, as follows:

PETER VORIS, in 1843, was elected county surveyor, the duties of which important office he successfully performed for one full term of three years.

In 1847 Mr. Voris was chosen as one of the two representatives Summit county was that year entitled to in the State Legislature, and, in connection with his colleague, Capt. Amos Seward, of Tallmadge, served his constituents thoroughly and well.

In the Spring of 1850 Mr. Voris was, by Governor Seabury Ford, appointed associate judge of the Court of Common Pleas, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Judge Samuel A. Wheeler, of Akron, which office he held until the taking effect of the new constitution, in February, 1852.

Under the new constitution Summit county's first probate judge was Charles G. Ladd, brother-in-law and law-partner of the late L. V. Bierce, elected in October, 1851. Judge Ladd being taken sick, between the election and the time fixed by law for entering upon the duties of his office, Alvin C. Voris, son of Judge Voris, of Bath, was appointed deputy clerk by Judge Ladd, and organized and very acceptably performed the Probate business of the county until the date of Judge Ladd's death in August, 1852, having pre- viously served as deputy county clerk for about two years.

ROLAND O. HAMMOND, a native of Bath, though then residing in Akron, on the death of Judge Ladd, in August, 1852, was appointed by Gov. Reuben Wood to fill the vacancy until the ensu- ing election in October, making a very prompt and remarkably

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

efficient officer during his brief incumbency. Mr. Hammond also officiated as postmaster of Akron for four years, under the admin- istration of President James Buchanan.

JOHN MCFARLIN,-born in Bristol, Ontario county, N. Y., July 27, 1805; came to Ohio with parents when a boy, settling in Sharon ; edu- cation limited ; married to Miss Azubah Lowe, born in Canandaigua, N. Y., August 2, 1812, and settled on farm on west line of Bath, about 1830, five children having been born to them-Anthony, Adeline, Emily Eliza, Jane and Harriet, the former only now surviving, and now occupy- ing the old family homstead. Mrs. McFarlin dying . October 11, 1862, Mr. M. was again married, to Miss Elsie A. Codding, of Granger, Octo- ber 13, 1863, who bore him one child, Jessie E., born February 20, 1865, and died March 21, 1869. Mr. McFarlin died September 14, 1877, aged 72 years, 1 month and 17 days, Mrs. McFarlin now residing in Medina. Mr. McFarlin was a thrifty farmer and public- spirited citizen, having been a justice of the peace for many years, and twice elected by the people of his county to the responsible office of county commissioner-first in 1858, serving three years, and again in 1864; during his second term of three years, amid much opposition, join- ing heartily with the other mem-

IND.02.

JOHN M'FARLIN.

bers of the Board in the erection of the present elegant and extensive Infirmary buildings, which are at once a credit to the county and their projectors.

JOHN McFARLIN, one of the pioneers and most substantial citi- zens of Bath, served as county commissioner from 1858 to 1861, and again from 1864 to 1867, six years in all.

ALVIN C. VORIS, in 1859, though then permanently located in Akron, was elected, in connection with Judge Sylvester H. Thomp- son, of Hudson, to represent Summit county in the State Legis- lature, holding that office two years. In 1861, that gentleman entered the army as lieutenant colonel, of the 67th Regiment, O. V. I., which he personally- recruited, serving through the war, and winning for himself the title of Brevet Major General of Vol- unteers. This whilom Bath boy was also a member of the Con- stitutional Convention of 1873, in the deliberations of which he bore a conspicuous and honorable part. In November, 1890, Gen. Voris was elected judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Sum- mit, Medina and Lorain counties, which position he is now ably . filling.

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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