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 86

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 86

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).

THERE WERE PERILS THERE, ALSO .- Though there are many quite extensive areas of solid land, called islands, in different por- tions of the swamp, much of it was extremely soft and miry, especially in the rainy seasons of the year. Thus it was quite haz- ardous traveling through it, except in cold weather, and even then, persons inexperienced in woodcraft were in imminent danger of becoming lost, many instances occurring where parties, thus becoming bewildered, have undergone considerable hardship before finding their way out, the universal tendency, it is said, of persons thus lost, being to travel in a circle, instead of in a straight line in any desired given direction.

It is not now remembered that loss of life to any adult per- son ever resulted from thus becoming bewildered in the swamp, though some thirty years ago, the sad death of a six-year-old boy occurred therein, under the following circumstances: Doctor Henry Hetrick, since a resident of Copley, in 1861, lived near the north line of Coventry, west of the canal. A little six-year-old son of Mrs. Hetrick (formerly Mrs. Houck) was living with an uncle near East Liberty, in Green township, some seven miles to the

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NAME OF TOWNSHIP, SETTLEMENT, ETC.

southeast. On Friday, July 26, little Benny, being sent by his uncle to watch the barn door to keep the hogs out, while the farm hands were in the field after a load of grain, being probably seized with a desire to see his mother, unnoticed by the family, started off in the direction of her Coventry home. He seems to have traversed the rather difficult route correctly, until within a few rods of his mother's house, when, seeing a neighbor at his gate, being of a timid nature, the little fellow climed over the fence, as if to reach the house through the back lot. The supposition is that he was unable to recognize his home from the rear, and wandered on, climbing into the road beyond, the last seen of him alive being on Sherbondy hill, on the road to Loyal Oak.

THE SEARCH-FOUND DEAD .- The parents supposing that the child was still at his uncle's, and the uncle supposing that he was at his mother's, several days elapsed before it was known that he was missing. Then a vigorous search was instituted by the fam- ily and neighbors, which was kept up for about ten days, but without obtaining any clue whatever, other than above indicated. On Wednesday, August 14, some twenty days after his disappear- ance, Curtis Robinson and Abner and William Scranton, while hunting in the swanıp, found the dead body of the little wanderer about eighty rods south of Black Pond, the child evidently having followed the ditch leading from the pond to Pigeon Creek, until he sank exhausted down to death. The body was in such a stage of décomposition as to be recognized only by its clothing. The parents were promptly notified, a coffin procured, and the remains removed to the family residence, where the funeral was largely attended by sympathizing friends and neighbors on Thursday, August 15.

EFFORTS AT RECLAMATION .- An immense amount of time and money have already been expended in the construction of public roads through different portions of this swamp, and in ditching and other efforts to utilize these swamp lands for grazing and agricultural purposes, and several hundred acres have thus far been reclaimed and put under cultivation. But owing to the peculiar construction of the Ohio Canal, near the junction of Wolf Creek and the Tuscarawas river, the full benefit of the reclamation project by drainage has not yet been secured. Through the efforts of Senator J. Park Alexander and Representative Henry C. Sanford, the Legislature has authorized the construction of a culvert under the canal, for the purpose of running said surplus water into the Tuscarawas river, which, if successful, it is confidently expected will add several thousand acres to the tillable and taxable lands of the several townships interested.

A "LORDLY" NAME .- In the distribution of the lands of the Western Reserve, Township 2, Range 12, fell principally to one Gardner Green, of Boston, Mass., and was at first called Greenfield, but was afterwards changed by Mr. Green to Copley, in honor of his wife, whose maiden name was Copley, said to have been a lineal descendant of Lord Copley, of England. Thus, though largely Republican in politics, and . eminently Democratic in thought and habit, the good people of Copley can justly boast that, in name at least, their township is a veritable "sprig of nobility."

WHEN AND BY WHOM SETTLED .- The first actual white settler in the township, is believed to have been Jonah Turner, a native

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

of Pennsylvania, who, in 1814, located on "Stony Ridge," about two miles west of Montrose. Turner was a member of Major Crog- han's battalion, in the war of 1812, and is said to have selected this location while encamped near by, on the march of the battalion from Pittsburg to Fort Stephenson, at Lower Sandusky, in the Summer of 1813, where, with a garrison of but 150 men, and a single cannon, such a gallant and successful defense was made against 500 British troops, and about the same number of Indians and six pieces of artillery, under the veteran 'General Proctor-Major .Croghan being then but 21 years of age.

From the fact that the Indians of this vicinity vanished with the breaking out of the war, allying themselves with the British forces as above indicated, and the further fact that Copley was not settled as early as many of the other townships of the county, no- stories of collisions between white and red men, are to be found among the traditionary lore of this township.

L UTHER H. PARMELEE, -son of Elisha and Roxa (Stanley) Par- melee, natives of Goshen, Conn., was born in Mt. Morris, Livingston county, N. Y., August 13, 1812; educated at Batavia, Genesee county, N. Y .; at 17 engaged in clerking in Westfield, Chautauqua county, N. Y .; February, 1832 came with family to Hudson, Ohio, working on father's farm Sum- mers and teaching school Winters; in Spring of 1835, entered store of Oviatt & Baldwin, at Copley Center, as clerk; in 1838 formed mercantile partnership with Leavitt Weeks, con- tinuing until 1845, when he removed to Akron, where he resided 10 years. May 14, 1838, Mr. Parmelee was mar- ried in Copley, to Miss Tamma In- gersoll, daughter of Noah and Mary (Stickels) Ingersoll, who has borne him seven children-Helen E., wife of George O. Rice, of Kent; Walter M., Caroline G., wife of A. L. Ewell, of Kent; Luther H. (deceased); Mary H., wife Henry C. Rea, of Kent; Frank H., of Kent, and Roxa S., wife of W. I. Caris, of Kent; the family having removed to Kent in the Fall of 1855. While a resident of Copley, Mr. Par- melee served as township clerk, assessor, trustee and member of board of education, and since resid- ing in Kent has held the offices of township trustee, clerk, school director, justice of the peace, men- 1

CHI

LUTHER H. PARMELEE.

ber of the board of education and' treasurer, village councilman, re- corder, treasurer, treasurer of union school board, county commissioner .. county coroner, cashier of the Kent Savings and Loan Association and' treasurer of Portage and Summit Pioneer Association.

It will be impossible to give the names of all the early.settlers: in the township, but of those coming thither previous to 1820 we may mention the following: George Hawkins, 1815; Lawrence More, 1816; Allen Bosworth, 1817; Jacob Spafford, Nathaniel Davis and Jonathan Starr, 1818, and Chester Orcutt, 1819.

Copley was organized, as a distinet township, in July 1819, one year, only, after the organization of Medina county, of which it was then a part. The election records are not now in existence,

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GROWTH, POPULATION, ETC.

and it is not remembered by any of the present residents of the township who the original officers of the township were, though it is quite certain that Mr. Jonathan Starr was the first town clerk, as well as the first justice of the peace (elected in 1820), though Mr. Lawrence More, who had been previously elected by the sev- eral associated townships above named, continued to act until the close of his term.

GROWTH, POPULATION, ETC .- After its organization, settlement, by sturdy and enterprising emigrants, mostly from New England, but with a healthy mixture from New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and other States, was quite rapid, so that, by 1835, the town- ship was nearly, if not quite, as populous as it is now. The census of 1840 gave it a population of 1,439, while that of 1880 made the number but 1,337 (being a shrinkage, in the forty intervening years, of 102 souls), while the census of 1890 credits the township with 1,321, a loss of 16 during the decade-a condition of things accounted for in the fact that the services of the timber-slasher and log- burner are no longer needed; and in the still further fact that the labor of the country has been largely transferred from the farm to the work-shop, for the fabrication of labor-saving agricultural implements; aided, too, by the concentration of mercantile and mechanical operations, that used to be done at township centers, in the larger villages and cities.

COPLEY'S BUSINESS STATUS .- Aside from the swampy portion of the township, described above, with the exception of a few stony ridges in different localities, the land is of a gently rolling con- formation, and of a general fertility equal to that of any other township on the Reserve; and it is safe to say that its farms are as well tilled and cared for, and its farm buildings as commodious and carefully kept, as those of any other community in Ohio. Copley may, therefore, emphatically be called an agricultural township, producing, in abundance, nearly every species of grain, vegetables and fruit known to this climate, as well as some of the very best stock raised in Northern Ohio.

In the centerof the town is a hotel, store, postoffice, and sundry mechanical establishments, though for reasons stated above, these branches of business are on a much smaller scale than forty years ago. Though abounding in water, Copley never possessed any considerable amount of machinery-propelling water power, the Zeigler Flouring Mill, on Wolf Creek, two miles south of the cen- ter, originally erected by Allen Pardee, being the only permanent establishment of the kind in the township. One or two grist mills also had an early brief existence, while quite an extensive steam- driven flour inill, with three run of stones, was established at the center about 1858, by the late John C. Stearns, and Darwin Clarke, which, after a fairly successful run of about two years, was unfor- tunately destroyed by fire, and never rebuilt. Quite a number of sawmills have also existed from time to time in the township, driven by both water and steam power, some of which-notably that of Mr. William C. Sackett, on the eastern line of the township -did quite an extensive business for several years, but most of them are now a memory only.

The manufacture of " black salts," or potash, was also quite an industry in Copley, and surrounding townships, during the early forest-slashing period, "asheries" being then quite common, the

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

product, in large, tight casks, finding a market in Pittsburg (by wagon), previous to the opening of the Ohio Canal, and afterwards in Cleveland, Buffalo and other points further east.

"EVIL SPIRITS" DID THERE ABOUND .- The fabrication of whisky, too, was one of Copley's most prominent early "industries," some- thing like a dozen distilleries having been erected at different points within the limits of the township, some of them turning out as high as 50 gallons per day, and one of them continuing in oper- tion as late as about 1850.

Though some of these establishments were a source of consid- erable wealth to their proprietors, and incidentally pecuniarily beneficial to some of the neighboring farmers, it was early discov- ered, by the more thoughtful inhabitants that they were sadly interfering with the industrious habits of others, and rapidly sowing the seeds or immorality and disorder in the community.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON,-son of Cornelius and Elizabeth (Wil- helm) Johnston; was born in Green township, August 3, 1815; raised a farmer with such education as the ineager schools of that early day afforded; remained with parents until 29 years of age; April 22, 1841, was married to Miss Elizabeth G. Moore, daughter of the late John Moore, of Springfield, and in April, 1844, located on lot 15 in Copley township, where he continuously resided until his death, November 23, 1885. Mr. Johnston was a great reader, and thoroughly posted in af- fairs, in politics originally a Whig, and later a thorough-going Republi- can, and one of the most active and influential members of that party in his township and county. Besides filling various township offices, Mr. Johnston was a member of the County Board of Infirmary Directors, from 1858 to 1861, three years. Mr. and Mrs. Johnston were the parents of two sons-Cornelius A., born July 16, 1842, now a successful farmer in Tall- madge, and John M., born August 13, 1844, now residing upon the family

WILLIAM JOHNSON.

homestead in Copley, the latter also having ably served on the Infirmary Board six years-1882 to 1888, the last two years as clerk of the board. Mrs. Johnston still survives, residing with her son upon the old homestead.

EARLY TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT .- Hence, as early as October, 1829, a temperance organization was effected, believed by some to be the first regular society of this kind in Ohio, although the sub- ject was then being somewhat agitated in Hudson, Tallmadge and several other towns upon the Western Reserve. The society was called "The First Temperance Society of Medina County," the second, third and fifth articles of its constitution being, respect- ively, as follows:

ART. 2. The object of this compact shall be the suppression of intem- perance, by doing away the unnecessary use of ardent spirits.

ART. 3. The members of this society agree not to use ardent spirits theni- selves, unless necessary for the promotion of, or restoration to, health, and also to discourage their use by others.

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EDUCATIONAL-RELIGIOUS, ETC.

ART. 5. The members of this compact shall make use of the means in their power to prevent the intemperate use of ardent spirits; and shall use their endeavors to disseminate a knowledge of intemperance upon individ- u1als and upon society generally.

This society increased in numbers quite rapidly, and through its influence similar organizations were effected in contiguous localities, considerably diminishing the use of distilled liquors and the respectability of their manufacture and sale, though it was not until the Washingtonian movement, originating in Baltimore in 1840, struck Ohio, a few years later, that the manufacture of "blue- ruin" was entirely discontinued in Copley, since which time the township will compare favorably, for sobriety and morality, with any other community in the State of Ohio.

LACTEAL OPERATIONS .- Some eighteen or twenty years ago, the Cheese Factory system was inaugurated in Copley; one establish- inent being located near the center or the town and another upon its eastern border, upon the farin of Mr. William C. Sackett. The patrons of the latter, being residents of both Copley and Portage townships, it was denominated the "Summit Union Cheese Com- pany," and for a time, under the superintendence of Mr. Sackett, did quite an extensive business; but differences arising among the stockholders in regard to its management, the business was aban- doned some ten years ago and the large milk production of the neighborhood is now daily distributed from wagons, among the inhabitants of the rapidly growing city of Akron.

At the present time there is very little cheese made in the township, the private dairies of those who do not sell their milk, as above noted, being devoted to butter making, large quantities of which, of a most excellent quality, find a ready maket at remu- nerative prices.

EDUCATION AND RELIGION .- It is a little difficult to determine, at this late day, who was the first school teacher in the township, recollections being about equal in favor of John Codding and Jonathan Starr. It is a fact, however, that Copley has been sup- plied with as good school houses, and as efficient teachers, from the beginning, as any of its neighbors, while, for a good share of the time, an academy, or high school, has been maintained at the center of the town; the center, becoming incorporated as a separate school district some 25 years ago, the school then being placed in charge of Rev. John Encell, who made himself so efficient as an instructor, and so popular as a citizen, that in 1865 he was selected as Summit county's representative in the State Legislature, as elsewhere noted.

In religious matters, Copley holds a fair average with her sister townships. In the early forties, the Congregationalists and Methodists jointly erected a church building, a short distance south of the center, in which Sunday services have been held by one or other of the societies, with slight interruptions, to the present day. During a portion of the time, also, there has been a Metho- dist society on the north line of the township, jointly maintained by citizens of Copley and Bath, while within the past few years, a small but fine house of worship has been erected one mile east of the center, at Boughton's Corners, by the society of the "Church of God" (commonly known as "Winebrennarians"), the Disciples, also, having erected a snug little church edifice at the center, and

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

the United Brethren a similar house of worship at Montrose, a short distance east of the corners, on the Copley side of the line, within the past year or two.

COPLEY'S WAR RECORD .- In the line of patriotism and military ardor, Copley's record is remarkably fine. Of her ex-Revolutionary heroes, nothing can now be definitely learned. In the War of 1812, Colonel Jonas Schoonover, in his contribution to Hardesty's Mili- tary History of Ohio, gives the names of Copley's participants as follows: Joel Thayer, Josiah Arnold, Chester Cole, Hezron Thomp- son and John Beatty. In the Mexican War: Ezra and Noah Tryon, and Otis, George and Elias Capron, while in the War of the Rebellion, a roster of ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY-ONE, is compiled from Colonel Schoonover's list, and the assessor's returns for 1863, '64, '65, as follows:

Lyman J. Adair, Andrew A. Adair, Ransom J. Arnold, Charles F. Arnold, Samuel Arnold, Nathaniel Averill, Mervin H. Ayres (died in service), James Andrews, Rice Brockway, Willard Bos- worth, Lewis Ball, Benjamin F. Boughton, More Briggs, Jacob Ballinger, Conrad Ballinger, Samuel Briggs, J. T. Barnett, Stephen Bloomfield, W. H. Bloomfield, David Conrad, Daniel Conrad (killed in battle), Albert Capron, Christopher Conrad, Joseph Chalfant, Albert Coon, William Conrad, Marion Cogswell (died in service), Ira Capron, Guerdon A. Cook, William S. Dale, Joseph De Long, Thomas Dreuery, William H. Durant (died in service), Almeron Francisco, Franklin A. Foster, Edward Foley, John H. Francisco, John Fairbanks (died in service), Robert Fairbanks, Henry Fair- banks, Robert Ferryman (died in service), Curtis Gingery, Stephen Griffith, Amos Griffith, Alma Griffith, James Griffith, Emanuel Ging- ery (died in service), Freedom Green, Aaron Golden, George W. Hollo- way, Samuel Hoagland (died in service), Harvey Hull (died in service), Irving Hull, Martin Hutchinson, Amos Hutchinson, Dieterich Heath- man (died in service), George Heppart, Sylvester Hull, Luther Hollo- way, James Heathman, John Hatfield, A. Hoagland, William Hawk, George Hogan, Enoch Hastings, E. Hamilton, John Jones, W. H. Jones, Henry Keck, Hiram King, Martin Keller, Samuel King, Samuel Kennedy, George Loomis, Benjamin R. Lee, John Mann, William Medsker, Isaac Medsker, John Moore, Perry Moore, Robert Mech, R. Mech, George Mann, Samuel Moore, Henry Null, Ira S. Nash, Andrew Null, Charles P. Nash, Nelson D. Oviatt, Luman B. Oviatt, Hartwell A. Parker, Henry A. Parker, Calvin R. Porter (died in service), Gardner Pratt, Nathan Pursell, Edy Randall, Walter Randall, Lebeus Robinson, Ezra Randall, Lester Robinson, Charles Robinson, John C. Steans, Jr., Thurlow Scudder, A. A. Stonebrook, William G. Stoughton, Irving Spafford, Leonard Squires (died in service), N. J. Smith, J. W. Shonts, Arthur W. Scudder, James W. H. Snyder, Martin Squires, Samuel Shanafelt (died in service), Washington Shanafelt, Simon Starr, Charles W. Stearns (died in service), Henry Stroel, C. J. Spelman, Seth Thomas, Coral W. Taylor (died in service), Ed. Tewksbury, Mortimer Van Hyning, Peter Weeks, Jr., Paul E. Wylie, David L. Winkler, Jona- than Welker, George Welch, Orlow West, Jacob Winters, Harrison Weeks, Mandred Weeks, George D. Woodruff (died in service), Martin Welker, James Winkler (died in service), John Warner, Nel- son Wager, Alvin West, William Wagoner, Robert Weeks, John Yoey.

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COPLEY IN PUBLIC OFFICE.

In addition to the ever efficient and active influence of the late Chester Orcutt, James Hammond, Morgan D. Pratt, Dr. Byron Chapman, Vincent G. Harris, William C. Sackett, Esq., and others, in promoting the agricultural and other industrial interests of the county, Copley has maintained fully an average standing with her sister townships, in public office, since the organization of Summit county, in 1840.

JONATHAN STARR was a member of the first Board of County Commissioners, being elected in April, 1840, to serve until the ensuing regular election, and, in October of that year, re-elected for the full term of three years, making a inost efficient officer, for nearly four years, in organizing the business machinery of the new county, erecting the public buildings, etc. Mr. Starr, on the 18th day of December, 1851, while visiting his son (the lately deceased Jonathan Starr, Jr., of Akron), who was then clerking for Mr. P. D. Hall, in looking through the new store building, then nearing completion, accidentally fell through an open scuttle from the second story to the floor below, 13 feet, and was instantly killed.

WILLIAM JOHNSTON was not only a model farmer and patriotic public-spirited citizen, but most efficiently filled the important office of Infirmary director, from 1858 to 1861, three years.

FRANCIS T. HUSONG, by appointment of the Board of Directors, . in June, 1861, became superintendent of the Infirmary, holding the position, and ably performing its responsible duties, until April, 1868, nearly seven years, during which time the main build- ing of the present fine Infirmary edifice was erected, Superinten- dent Husong's services, in the planning and building thereof, laying out the grounds, etc., being almost invaluable. In October, 1867, Mr. Husong, having in the meantime become a resident of Akron, was elected a director of the Infirmary, which position he ably filled for three years.

REV. JOHN ENCELL, then a resident of Copley, as the nominee of the Republican party, in October, 1885, was elected to represent Summit county in the State Legislature, which he ably and effi- ciently did for two years.

GEORGE W. WEEKS, EsQ., was, in October, 1872, elected clerk of Courts, and re-elected to that important office in 1875, retiring therefrom, after six years' faithful service, in February, 1879, with the public plaudit of "Well done, Good and Faithful Servant."

GEORGE W. WEEKS, JR., besides rendering valuable aid to his father, during his six years' incumbency of the clerk's office, as above stated, also efficiently served the people of Summit county as deputy county auditor during the six years' administration of that office, from 1881 to 1887, by Aaron Wagoner, Esq.

JOHN M. JOHNSTON was elected a director of the County Infirmary in 1882, and so faithfully performed the duties devolved upon him, that he was re-elected in October, 1885, serving six years.

DR. MASON CHAPMAN, a.native of Copley, for many years past a resident of Akron, served as a member of City Council from 1878 to 1880.

WILLIS D. CHAPMAN, also a native of Copley, now an acconi- plished civil engineer and scientist, served as city engineer in Akron from 1886 until 1889, besides holding other positions of responsibility, as stated elsewhere.

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AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

COPLEY'S RAILROAD FACILITIES .-- One of the principal disad- vantages with which Copley has had to contend, is that hitherto, since theadvent of railroads into Summit county, she has been thoroughly "inland," all her travel and transpor- tation having to be done by teams, over mud roads, nearly impassable several months in the year. Now, however, the com- pletion of the new Pittsburg, Akron & Western Railroad, through the central portion of the township, from east to west, , with the passenger station a few rods north of the center, will give her people easy access to Akron, Medina and other desired points, not only proving a great personal and public convenience, but, doubtless, very considerably increasing her dairy and other business operations, and the general value of her real estate.

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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