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 8

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 8

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SAMUEL ALANSON LANE.

PRELIMINARY.

W ITH a view of rescuing from oblivion sundry interesting events -- historical, biographical, criminal, tragical, comical, etc.,- that have transpired in Akron and Summit County during the past fifty years and over, and in the hope of imparting informa- tion, admonition, and possible amusement to the younger, and reminiscent gratification to the older readers thereof, this work has been compiled.

Of matters and things transpiring prior to my becoming a resident of the town and county, June 10, 1835, I have had to rely largely upon tradition and such written evidence as was available, aided somewhat by the recollections of such pioneer residents of the vicinity as still survive. But as to incidents and events that have taken place since I came here, I have relied largely upon my own memory, supplemented by the official, civil and criminal records of this and the original counties out of which Summit was carved, and the newspaper files in my possession, or otherwise readily accessible, covering almost the entire period written of.

While my own recollections may, and doubtless do, differ somewhat from those of other gentlemen now living who have participated in, or been personally cognizant of, the scenes and events hierein recorded, I think I can guarantee substantial accuracy, both as to data and detail. At all events, unlike some local " historians" who have preceded me, I have not, for the sake of telling a good story, perpetrating a flippant joke, or swelling the importance of my subjects on the one hand, or disparaging them upon the other, in any instance drawn entirely upon my imagination, or given vent to any personal animosities that may have existed between myself and such persons as a narrative of this character must of necessity mention.

And, in this connection, I desire to say that in detailing individual transactions or personal conduct prejudicial to morality, or the public welfare, I have endeavored to be as considerate of the feeling of the parties themselves, if living, or their surviving friends, if dead, as a reasonable conformity to the truth of history would justify.

Permit me, also, right here, to remark that if in these chapters the personal pronoun "I" should appear to be a rather prominent factor, I wish to have it distinctly understood that it is not by any means because the writer wishes to exalt himself above those of his neighbors who have participated in, or witnessed, the events narrated, nor through any spirit of egotism or "top-loftiness," but because the force of circumstances, and the "logic of events," have conspired to bring him to the front in many of the skirmishes with immorality and crime herein described, as well as in advocating and advancing many of the laudable enterprises which have, from time to time, contributed to the industrial, commercial, financial, educational and moral well-being of the city and county.

That its merits may be properly appreciated, and its faults indulgently overlooked, by a discriminating public, on the comple- tion of his long and arduous labors upon it, more than any hope for large pecuniary gain, is the sincere desire of

THE AUTHOR.

. AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

CHAPTER I.

AKRON'S BEGINNING-ANCIENT MIDDLEBURY-A VISIT FROM DEWITT CLINTON -COMMENCEMENT AND COMPLETION OF THE OHIO CANAL-FIRST BOAT TO CLEVELAND-DR. CROSBY AND HIS "DITCH"-" THUNDER FROM A CLOUDLESS SKY"-THE DOCTOR'S "GOOSE PASTURE" PROPHECY-THE NEW VILLAGE OF "CASCADE"-BITTER TRIANGULAR RIVALRY-SPIRITED GUIDE BOARD WAR -- EARLY MANUFACTURES-PIONEER HOTELS, MERCHANTS, ETC., ETC.

THE BEGINNING OF AKRON.

PREVIOUS to the commencement of work upon the Ohio Canal, in 1825, the territory now covered by the thriving and popu- lous city of Akron was an almost unbroken wilderness, excepting a small portion of the Sixth Ward (the original village of Middle- bury) and the partially cultivated farms of Miner and Amos Spicer and Paul Williams, these gentlemen being the first settlers in Portage township, Mr. Miner Spicer having, in 1810, visited and located the lands in the southeast portion of the township on which the three families settled in 1811-Portage township being so named from the fact that its entire length, north and south, is traversed by the path over which the Indians used to "port" their canoes, and other portable belongings, between the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas rivers, that name also extending to the county of which the township was originally a part.

MAJOR MINER SPICER, -born in Groton, Conn., May 29, 1776: married to Miss Cynthia Allen, of Groton, in 1798; in 1810 came, on horse- back, to Ohio and bought 260 acres of land in the southeastern part of Portage township; in June, 1811, with his family, accompanied by his cousin, Capt. Amos Spicer, and Mr. Paul Williams, again started, by ox- team, to Ohio, arriving at their desti- nation in September, being the first actual settlers in Portage township; built small log cabin about 40 rods southeast of the present corner of Spicer and Carroll streets. On organ- ization of township Mr. Spicer was made a trustee, and also for many years was justice of the peace. In the war of 1812, served as Major of Militia, and through life was active and energetic in all business matters, both public and private. Mrs. Spicer dying, at the age of 50 years, 2 months and 14 days, Sept. 10, 1828, Mr. S. was again married in March, 1829, to Mrs. Hannah (Allen) Williams, widow of Barnabas Williams, and sister of the first Mrs. S. Major Spicer died Sept. 11, 1855, aged 78 years, 3 months and 12 days, and the latter Mrs. S., March 7, 1856, aged 63 years, 5 months and 21 days. The first Mrs. S. bore him nine children-Avery, born Oct. 26,

MAJOR MINER SPICER.

1799; Lucinda (afterward Mrs. Stephen Ayres) Feb. 8, 1801; Cynthia, (Mrs Jonah Allen) May 21, 1803; Phæbe, (Mrs. Levi Allen) Dec. 4, 1804; Teul- perance, (Mrs. Talmon Beardsley) Oct. 15, 1807; Emily, (Mrs. Ithiel Mills) Aug. 8, 1809 ; Lydia, (Mrs. War- ren H. Smith) Feb. 16, 1811 ; Miner A., March 20, 1813 and Hiram J., Oct. 24, 1816.

THE ANCIENT VILLAGE OF MIDDLEBURY.

Down to 1825, the village of Middlebury, founded by Capt. Joseph Hart and Judge Aaron Norton, in 1807, embracing a corner each of Tallmadge, Springfield, Coventry and Portage townships, was the market town and commercial center for this entire section of Ohio, having a population of from 300 to 400 inhabi- tants, with several mills, a blast furnace, a nail factory, three or four hotels and some 10 or 12 stores, besides the usual comple- ment of mechanics and artisans in demand at that early day, together with sundry civic and military organizations which need not be enumerated here, one of the most prominent and best-remembered hotels of the ancient emporium being that of Mr. Samuel Newton, whose portrait and biography is here given.

SAMUEL NEWTON,-born at New- port, N. H., September 13, 1782, when young moving to Groton, Conn., and from thence to Ohio, settling in Middlebury, October 14, 1815. Mr. Newton was for many years one of the leading hotel-keepers of Northern Ohio, his house standing at what is now the intersection of East Market, North Arlington and Kent streets, Akron, Sixth Ward. In March, 1849, Mr. Newton, though then 67 years of age, went with the Middlebury Min- ing Company overland to California, returning via the Isthmus of Panama in January, 1850. His wife dying in September, 1855, Mr. Newton was again married, to Mrs. Laura Reming- ton, in November, 1856. Mr. Newton died August 5, 1871, at the age of 88 years, 10 months and 22 days, leaving three children-Isaac S. (since de- ceased), William G., now residing in the City of Washington, and Eliza- beth R., married to the late Hon. John Johnston, and now residing with her daughter, Mrs. Robert Watt, East Market street.

SAMUEL NEWTON.

In that year, 1825, Gen. Simon Perkins, of Warren, owner of a large tract of land in Portage township, foreseeing that the construction of the canal, with the large number of locks necessary to its successful completion and operation, located here, would make it something of a business point for the shipment of produce, and the receipt and distribution of merchandise, as well as, through its lockage water-power, be likely to attract manufac- turing and commercial enterprise, induced Mr. Paul Williams, owner of the adjoining lands upon the east, to join with him in laying out into village lots, with the usual complement of streets, alleys, parks, etc., the territory embraced within the limits of Summit street on the east, Center street on the north, and Chestnut street on the south, on the east side of the canal, and Center street on the north, Pine street on the west, and an alley next south of Catharine street on the south, on the west side of the canal, embracing in. all some 300 lots. The plat of the new village was duly recorded in the Records of Portage County on the 6th day of December, 1825.

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

G LEN. SIMON PERKINS,-born in Lisbon, Conn., September 17, 1771 ; located in Oswego, N. Y., 1795 ; in 1798, employed by the Erie Land Com- pany to explore the "Connecticut Western Reserve;" as agent of the company, spent his summers in Ohio and his winters in Connecticut, until his marriage, March 18, 1804, with Miss Nancy Anna Bishop, of Lisbon, born January 24, 1780, when he permanently settled in Warren; post- master of Warren from 1801 till 1829, also special agent of Government in establishing local offices, treating with Indians, etc .; as Brigadier Gen- eral of militia. August, 1812, took command of troops in defense of northwestern frontier ; at close of campaign, Feb., 1813, warmly com- mended by Gen. Harrison, for ener- getic and faithful performance of duty; tender of Colonel's commission in regular army by President Madi- son declined by reason of pressing private and fiduciary duties ; in 1813 organized Western Reserve Bank, and its President until 1836; Ohio Canal Fund Commissioner from 1826 to 1838; in connection with Paul Williams, in 1825, founded the village of Akron, and in 1831, in connection with Judge Leicester King and Dr.

GEN. SIMON PERKINS.

Eliakim Crosby, that portion since known as North Akron, liberally . donating grounds for public build- ings, parks, churches, etc. General Perkins died at Warren, November 6, 1844, aged 73 years, 1 month and 19 days, Mrs. Perkins dying April 24, 1862, aged 82 years and 3 months.

Previous to this, our late well-remembered fellow citizen, Mr. Charles W. Brown, of 966 East Market street, then living in Middlebury, where he located in 1817, was the owner of 58 acres of uneven and rather swampy land, running from near the present southwest corner of South Main and Exchange streets, south- wardly and westwardly, covering what is now known as the Lower Basin, and that portion of the canal at and immediately above and below Lock One. Gen. Perkins requested Mr. Brown to donate to the State the right of way through this land for the canal. This, Mr. Brown, being a mechanic with but limited means, could not afford to do, but would sell it to Gen. Perkins and let him do the donating. The General then made himn an offer, giving him the option of four different tracts of land for his 58 acres ; 45 acres in the eastern part of Portage township, 30 rods wide on Middlebury street, and running north to the middle of the Little Cuyahoga River; 100 acres a little west of the homestead of the late Col. Simon Perkins ; 150 acres further west or 300 acres in an adjoining county; and, to the General's great surprise, Mr. Brown took him on the 45 acres, it being a portion of the same farm on which he ever afterwards resided, and as the sequel proved, it was a good trade for both of then.

"AKRON," HOW AND WHY SO NAMED.

There already existed a tortuous public highway from the northeast to the southwest portions of the State, running from Warren via Ravenna, Franklin Mills (now Kent), Stow Corners, Cuyahoga Falls, Old Forge, Middlebury, New Portage and John-

"AKRON," HOW AND WHY SO NAMED.

son's Corners to Wooster, Mount Vernon, etc. This road ran substantially where Middlebury street, since changed to Buchtel avenue, now is, as far west as Broadway, thence striking diagonally towards, but a little north of what is now Exchange street, and, after crossing the valley and circling somewhat around to the south, again striking the present Exchange street line near its junction with Maple ; thence rising the hill near the Perkins residence, and continuing on southwesterly towards New Portage.

C HARLES W. BROWN,-born Oct.

2, 1796, in North Stonington, Conn .; district school education ; learning carpenter's trade, in 1817 came on foot to Ohio, reaching Middlebury, 700 miles, February 28, Mrs. Brown, nee Miss Henrietta Hal- sey, to whom he was married June 9, 1816, arriving in the following Au- gust, by ox-team ; lived in Middlebury 15 years, working at his trade, mean- time purchasing the 115 acre farm upon which he resided from 1832 until his death, at the present junc- tion of East Market street and Buch- tel avenue, dividing his time between farming and jobbing at his trade, opening streets, building bridges, etc., among others opening Market and Main streets, building the Stone (late Baptist) Church, the High (Jen- nings) School building, etc. Though a man of peace, he took an active part in early local military matters, holding a lieutenant's commission for five years. Mr. Brown was the

father of five daughters and one son -Mary, wife of Edward F. Pulsifer, of Chicago; Prudence, wife of John W. Sabin, of Akron, (both deceased), Antoinette, wife of Benjamin Mc- Naughton, of Akron; Lucy, wife of Robert P. Henry, of Akron, who died in

CHARLES W. BROWN.

1850 ; Alice, now Mrs. William H. Mills, of Akron, and Capt. Henry H. Brown, of Akron. Mrs. Brown dying Septem- ber 23, 1859, Mr. B. was again married on May 14, 1864, to Mrs. Lydia Will- iams, of Connecticut, who died Sep- tember 6, 1865, Mr. Brown himself dying June 1, 1888, at the age of 91 years, 7 months and 29 days.

The new village was named "Akron" at the suggestion of Charles Olcott, Esq., of Medina, from a Greek word signifying "high," this being the highest point of land on the line of the canal between Lake Erie and the Ohio River. It is not, however, as is popularly supposed, the highest land in the State, though no other point in Ohio, probably, can boast of a location that, through the fresh and living waters gushing from its summit, daily replenishes the Atlantic ocean at two separate points more than two thousand miles apart, the northern outflow from our own beautiful Summit Lake reaching the ocean through the Cuyahoga river, Lake Erie, the Niagara river, Lake Ontario and the river and Gulf of St. Lawrence; while from its southern outlet its waters find their way to the ocean through the Tuscarawas, the Muskin- gum, the Ohio and the Mississippi rivers, and the Gulf of Mexico.

Apropos of the name of "Akron," Gen. Perkins was greatly chaffed, by his Warren neighbors, while he was engaged in laying out his new town in what they regarded a very forbidding locality,

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

and many ludicrous names were suggested, one of his most persistent teasers being Judge Calvin Pease, grandfather of our well known citizen, Calvin Pease Humphrey, Esq., and after whom the latter was named. Judge Pease was a fine scholar, and had suggested a number of classical names, with the most ridiculous definitions, and in consulting with Mr. Olcott, also a fine classical scholar, Gen. Perkins told him that he wanted a name that would not only represent the topographical position of the town, but one, also, that Judge Pease could not perpetrate a pun upon. After having adopted the name selected by Mr. Olcott,. on his return to Warren he was accosted by Judge Pease with: "Well, General, have you named your new village yet?" "Yes," said the General, "we've named it Akron." "Ach-e-ron! Ach-e- ron!" said the Judge thoughtfully. "Ah, yes, I see! Ach-e-ron- river in hell, hey ? A,very appropriate name indeed !" Classical scholars, as well as those familiar with the original "lay o' the land" hereabouts, will at once see the aptness of this retort.

In this connection, also, it may properly be mentioned that Akron's christener, Charles Olcott, more than 65 years ago, invented and built the model of an iron ship, which he in vain urged upon the public authorities to adopt; a style of ship now in common use without the bestowal of a thought upon the original inventor.

ON. CHARLES SUMNER,-born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, June 6, 1794; common school edu- cation ; came to Middlebury, (now Akron, Sixth Ward), in spring of 1817, and was married the following June to Miss Clarissa Hart, daughter of Rufus Hart, who settled in Middle- bury in 1815; in early life worked at the clothier's trade, and officiated as minister of the gospel of the Baptist faith, his quite extensive congrega- tion being greatly decimated and altogether broken up by sickness and death during the building of the Ohio Canal. Enterprising and suc- cessful, he purchased a large tract of land in Springfield township, raising and dealing in stock, and taking large droves of horses, cattle mules, etc., over the mountains. In 1834 he moved upon the farm and built the fine stone mansion, where the daughter, Miss A. Louise Sumner, now resides. He was Associate Judge for Portage county nine years, and on the organization of Summit County, 1840, was made one of its first Associate Judges, which posi- tion he held until his death, June 22, 1845, at the age of 51 years and 16 days, Mrs. Sumner dying March 3,

.........

HON. CHARLES SUMNER.

'1872, aged 75 years, 10 months and 25 days. The daughter, Miss Louise, has never married, and is managing the fine estate left by her parents with admirable judgment, liberality and beneficence.

SOME ANCIENT LANDMARKS.

At that time the only hotels, or taverns as they were then · called, west of Middlebury, within the territory now embraced in Summit County, on the Warren and Wooster road, were those of

SOME EARLY LANDMARKS.

Joshua King, a log structure, on the present site of County Surveyor Charles E. Perkins' residence, in the west part of the city; a story and a-half frame building nearly opposite, on the east, kept by Pliny Wilcox; the two story frame house of Henry Clark, at New Portage; and one or two wayside inns at or near Johnson's Corners; for houses of "entertainment for man and beast," of rather a primitive character, were to be found at most 'of the township centers, and at frequent intervals along all the public thoroughfares, in those early days. On the Smith road also, leading from Old Portage to Medina, on the line between Copley and Bath, besides two or three others further west, was the notable and somewhat notorious "Latta's Tavern," kept by one William Latta, at what was then called "Latta's Corners," afterwards for many years known as "Ellis' Corners," but which is now known as the village of Montrose. The original building, substantially as first constructed, is still doing duty as a hotel. But of this hotel and others, and their early proprietors, more anon.

ROSWELL AND ELIZA KENT.

ROSWELL KENT,-born in Leyden, Massachusetts, May 18, 1798; removing with his parents to Hudson, Ohio, about the year 1812; educational advantages quite limited; at majority entered store of his brother Zenas (father of Hon. Marvin Kent, of Kent), at Ravenna. About 1820, he estab- lished a store in Middlebury, (now Akron, Sixth Ward), for his brother and Capt. Heman Oviatt, of Hudson, buying out the concern about 1826, and

continuing the business on his own account for several years. He then engaged in the manufacture of woolen machinery, as a member of the firm of Irish, Kent & McMillan, afterwards Irish, Kent & Baldwin, later changed to Kent, Baldwin & Co., which he followed until his death, July 19, 1871. Mr. Kent was married to Miss Eliza Hart, daughter of Joseph and Annie (Hotchkiss) Hart, the first settlers in Middlebury (1807), who was born August 6, 1808, being the first white child born within the present limits of Akron and the third born in Tallmadge township. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kent, three of whom, only, are living -Ella K., now Mrs. Finley McNaughton, of Youngstown; Russell H., Secretary and Treasurer of the Akron Stoneware Company; and Flora K., now Mrs. T. S. Page, of Toledo. Mrs Kent is still living in the enjoyment of reasonably good health, at the ripe age of over 83 years.

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

The farm house of Paul Williams, a one story frame building, on the laying out of the new village, was found to stand in about the center of South Broadway, a little south of Middlebury street, and was accordingly moved a few rods to the eastward, where, as the well known Babcock house, it still stands, in a remarkably fair state of preservation. The first building erected in the new village, however, was the tavern of Henry Clark, on the northeast corner of South Main and Exchange streets, the main portion of which building still stands upon the same site. Up to the occupation of this house, in the latter part of the Summer of 1825, the largely augmented hotel business of the vicinage, pertaining to canal operations, was transacted in Middlebury, the letting of the contracts from Cleveland to Summit Lake, having been made at Chittenden's hotel, early in June of that year; sections further south being let at other convenient points along the line of the canal during the same month.

T HOMAS NORTON,-born in Oneida Co., N. Y., April 6, 1806; same year parents moved to Ohio, first to Smithfield, Trumbull County, and in 1809, to Tallinadge, the father, Peter Norton, in 1813, purchasing 200 acres of land, in Springfield township adjacent to the village of Middlebury, on a portion of which Mr. Norton still lives, though somewhat physi- cally infirm, in full possession of his mental faculties, at the age of nearly 86 years. Mr. Norton was married January 10, 1847, to Miss Hannah M. Coney, born in Stark County, April 13, 1812. Of their two daughters, Martha M. was married, June 2, 1873, to Mr. Theodore Johns, a former Middlebury boy, now a prosperous shoe merchant in Des Moines, Iowa, and Mary P. is now the wife of Mr. Joseph Cook, a prominent manufac- turer of Akron, whose portrait and biography will be found elsewhere, Mr. and Mrs. Cook now occupying the old homestead, and kindly min- istering to the care and comfort of Father Norton, in his declining years,

THOMAS NORTON.

Mrs. Norton having died at the home of her daughter in Des Moines, Iowa, August 7, 1886 in the 75th year of her age.

A DISTINGUISHED VISITOR.

Though some work had previously been done by the con- tractors in this vicinity, the formal breaking of ground took place at Licking Summit, near Newark, on the 4th of July, 1825, DeWitt Clinton, the projector and "Patron Saint" of the Erie Canal, performing the ceremony, aided by the then Governor of Ohio, Hon. Jeremiah Morrow, amid great rejoicing by the assembled thousands, with booming of cannon, beating of drums, and other characteristic oratorical and gustatorical festivities of those early times. The distinguished New Yorker, and his retinue of traveling companions and servants, came to Buffalo by the Erie Canal; from Buffalo to Cleveland via Lake Erie, and from Cleveland to Middlebury in stage coaches. Remaining over night at Chitten-

RAPID GROWTH OF THE NEW VILLAGE.

den's hotel, early on the morning of July 2nd, in the private carriages of Mr. Chittenden and Mr. John McMillen, they started for Newark, our lately deceased 91-year-old fellow citizen, Talmon Beardsley, Esq., officiating as the driver of Mr. Chittenden's team.

T ALMON BEARDSLEY,-born in

Delhi, Delaware Co., N.Y., De- cember 15, 1799; in 1810 moved with parents to Licking Co., Ohio, settling on wild land which Talmon helped to clear and cultivate, attending school about three months per year ; in Sum- mier of 1818, walked to Middlebury (now Akron, Sixth Ward) finding ent- ployment in the old ( uyahoga Fur- nace of Laird & Norton, going to school part of the time; in 1819, entered the employ of Henry Chittenden, hotel keeper, farmer, canal contractor, etc., with whom he continued 14 years ; October 27, 1831, was married to Miss Temperance Spicer, fourth daughter of Major Miner Spicer, settling upon a 75 acre farm near Middlebury, selling that in 1833 and purchasing 100 acres in Coventry, now largely embraced within the city limits of Akron, which he brought up to a high degree of cultivation, and upon which they lived until 1864, when they removed to Akron. Their five children are Ann, wife of Mr. George W. Hart, of Cuyahoga Falls ; Mills H., hotel keeper at Green River, Utah; Avery S., now residing at Adrian, Mich .; Harriet, wife of Gates A. Bab- cock, now living in Fremont, Ohio; Louisa D., wife of Mr. Geo. Stover, of

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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