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 9

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 9

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TALMON BEARDSLEY.

Canal Fulton, Ohio. In 1889 Mr. and Mrs. Beardsley went to reside with Mr. and Mrs. Stover, where Mrs. B. died April 20, 1891, aged 83 years, 6 months and 5 days, Mr. Beardsley dying July 18, 1891, aged 91 years, 7 months and 3 days.

THE SECOND BUILDING.

Soon after the commencement of work upon the canal and locks at this point, and following closely upon the erection of the hotel of Henry Clark, a man named Benedict built a two-story frame store, on the southwest corner of Main and Exchange streets, which was for many years, under successive proprietors, known as the "Mammoth Store." From this time on, lots in the new village sold quite rapidly, and a considerable number of residences and shops were erected for the accommodation of the large number of contractors and operatives required to build the canal, and construct the locks and bridges in this vicinity. The lower lands of what is now called North Akron, being thickly dotted over with log and slab shanties, inhabited mostly by Irish laborers upon the canal, was christened, and for many years retained, the historic name of "Dublin." Thus, by the time the canal was finished, in 1827, the village had, including its Dublin suburb, a population of perhaps two hundred souls, embracing merchants, lawyers, doctors, mechanics, laborers, and "gentlemen of leisure," of which latter class, more anon. The more substan- tial improvements were on the east side of the canal, on Main and Exchange streets, several of the original structures still standing where they were then erected, though one or two grocery stores

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

and two freight warehouses were soon afterwards located upon the west side of the canal, one of the latter at the head of Lock One, still standing, and the other on the north side of the bridge, a warehouse also being located on the east side of the lower basin, about where the Brewster coal chutes are now.

INCREASE SUMNER,-son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Holland) Sumner, was born in Townshend, Vt., February 25, 1800; at 16, came to Pittsburg, where he worked for a time at nail-making, when he came to Middlebury, where his brother Charles was then living, where he early became prominent in business . affairs, engaging in milling, iner- chandising, contracting, etc., build- ing many of the bridges and dams in Akron, besides doing considerable stone work on the Ohio Canal. I11 1849, as Captain and Treasurer of the "Middlebury Mining Company," he went, by ox-team, overland to Cali- fornia, where, mining and merchan- dising, he remained nearly three years. On his return to Middlebury, he engaged in farming, but later sold his farm and opened a stone- quarry and engaged in contracting stone work until his death, November 18, 1868, at the age of 68 years, 8 months and 23 days. March 19, 1837, Mr. Sumner was married to Mrs. Elizabeth (Hammel) Miller, a native of Ithaca, N. Y., born September 21, 1812, her first husband, Arthur Miller, to whom she was married January 29, 1827, having died of consumption, at Pantuxet, R. I., whither he had

INCREASE SUMNER.

gone in hopes of recovering his health, July 16, 1830, leaving two children, since deceased. Mrs. Suni- ner, in comfortable health and cir- cumstances, still survives.

The first regular boat to navigate the waters of the Ohio Canal was called the "Ohio." It was built upon the east side of the lower basin, about where Jackson & Lyman's planing mill now stands, according to the recollection of the late George Dailey, of Cuyahoga Falls, by Alexander and Edward Wheeler, the hulk of the ancient craft now lying in the mud in a small cove in the berme bank of the canal near the residence of the late James Robinson, of Coventry. It was launched on the 27th day of June, 1827, and, after receiving a few finishing touches, and its furniture, commissary stores, etc., on the third day of July, under command of Captain Henry Richards, an experienced navigator from the Erie Canal, started, with a full load of passengers, amid the huzzas of the multitude, the firing of cannon, etc., for Cleveland, to participate the next day in the dual celebration of the Nation's birthday-the glorious Fourth-and the arrival of the first boat from the "port" of Akron, via the new canal. The late John C. Stearns, of Copley, claims to have been steersman of the "Ohio," on its initial excursion trip, while Northampton claims for the late Job Harrington, of that township, the honor of having propelled said craft from Akron to Cleveland and back, with his own team of substantial farm horses.

DR. CROSBY AND HIS "DITCH."

DOCTOR ELIAKIM CROSBY, to whom Akron is more largely indebted for its manufacturing existence than to any other one man, was born in Litchfield, Conn., March 2, 1779. He was educated and for some time engaged in teaching in and about Litchfield. In 1806, he went to Buf- falo, where he read medicine with a Dr. Chapin, allopathic, though in the early forties he embraced, and for a while practiced, the homeopathic system of medicine. About 1808 or 1809 he went to Simcoe, Canada, BENEDICTIL where he was married to Miss Marcia DR. CROSBY. Beemer in 1810. In the war of 1812, Dr. Crosby entered the service of the United States as a surgeon in the army, in consequence of which his property in Canada was confiscated by that government. In 1820 he removed with his family to Ohio, locating in the then enterprising village of Middlebury. Though giving some attention to the practice of medicine, he soon became interested in the various enterprises of the time, in connection with Mr. Henry Chittenden taking a contract upon the canal, between Bethlehem and Zoar, and for furnishing 16,000 bushels of water-lime for the construction of locks in 1826-7. Previous to the completion of these contracts, Dr. Crosby purchased of Mr. Ralph Plum the Cuyahoga Furnace property, originally erected by Aaron Norton and Wm. Laird in 1817, on the present site of the Seiberling flouring mill. This purchase included the property on the opposite side of the Canton road, for many years past known as the "Aunt Betsy Stewart homestead," the doctor removing his family into the small frame house erected by Mr. Plum, and now doing service as a horse barn and carriage house.

This furnace, originally devoted to the smelting of such iron ores as were found in the vicinity, was, by Dr. Crosby, largely devoted to the manufacture of plows and sundry other agricultural and household articles in demand at that time. The furnace was at this time run by water power from a dam across the Little Cuyahoga river, near the present woolen and felt works. A year or two later Dr. Crosby sold the furnace property, including his dwelling house, to the Stewart brothers, Arnold, Isaac and Daniel B. The Doctor then bought the sawmill property, near the dam, and by securing the control of the river above, built a dam three- fourths of a mile further up, and by race and flume, secured a better head of water, both for the furnace property, his saw mill and the large two-story grist mill which he erected where the felt works now stand; building for himself, in the meantime, a new dwelling house on or near the present site of the Kent school house. After running these mills a year or two Dr. Crosby sold his mill property to the late Increase Sumner, who also opened a store in the business portion of the village, both of which, finding himself financially embarrassed, Mr. Sumner trans- ferred to his two brothers, Edward and Charles, in 1832.

AKRON' AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

The Doctor now got his practical eye upon "bigger game," and by his mysterious maneuvers led certain property owners to believe that he was endeavoring to divert the business of the town to a point further down the stream, towards or below the Old Forge, and a combination was entered into by which it was sought to dam the river at, or near, what is now known as the "White Grocery," and from thence conduct the water through Blue Pond to a point near where the Akron Sewer Pipe works now stand, thus creating a water power that would overshadow anything that the Doctor could command lower down the stream. That eminent hydraulic engineer, Col. Sebried Dodge, (afterwards owning and living upon, until his death, what is known as the "Dodge farm," three miles southwest of Akron) was employed by the syndicate to make the surveys, and both loud and frequent were the boasts made to the Doctor that they would head him off, to all of which the Doctor would pleasantly, but significantly reply: "Gentlemen, your scheme won't work, but mine will; and what's more, it will cause the grass to grow in your streets, and make a goose pasture of your town."

Thus time passed on. Engineer Dodge found that very little, if any, additional power could be obtained by the plan proposed than by following the natural course of the stream to the point designated, and that scheme was abandoned. In the meantime the Doctor pursued the even tenor of his way, quietly obtaining control of the river bed and all the lands upon either side, as far west as the lands of Gen. Perkins, through which the Ohio Canal had been constructed, when, suddenly, like a peal of thunder from a clear sky, it burst upon the astonished intellects of the Middleburghers, that an arrangement had been made between the Doctor and Gen. Perkins to conduct the entire waters of the river, by means of a race, to be immediately constructed, from the north part of that village to a point near Lock Five on the Ohio Canal, from whence they could be used over and over again, as far as Lock Seventeen, for milling and manufacturing purposes.

This was in 1831. The surveys being completed, a large force of men was at once set to work constructing the race, a consider- able portion of which, from about opposite the present Fair Grounds to Summit street, had to be quarried from the solid rock. The next year, 1832, the building then, and ever since known as the "Stone Mill," at Lock Five was begun; both the race and the mill being completed and running early in 1833. The lands purchased by Dr. Crosby were consolidated with the 300 acre tract, so-called, belonging to Gen. Perkins, and by those gentlemen, and Judge Leicester King, of Warren, who had in the meantime purchased a one-third interest in the enterprise, had been platted into streets, lots, etc., and quite a good many lots sold and improved, though the plat was not put to record until the 10th day of August, 1833; the new plat covering the territory between North street, on the north, and the "gore," so called, (Quarry, Bowery and West Center streets) on the south, and Summit street upon the east, and Oak and Walnut streets upon the west. It was said, with how much truth the writer cannot say, though with a strong shade of probability, that to prevent observation and the miscar- riage of his designs, the Doctor did much of his surveying and the running of his levels for his contemplated race, by moonlight,

THE NEW VILLAGE OF "CASCADE."

as all of his movements had to be made on the sly, until after the control of the river bed had been secured by the purchase of contiguous lands on either side.

As a sample of some of the difficulties encountered and over- come, some 15 acres off from the north end of the 45 acre tract deeded by Gen. Perkins to Mr. Charles W. Brown, as before stated, being needed for the race, and the control of the waters of the river, and suspecting that the Doctor's designs were deeper than was apparent upon their surface, Mr. Brown drove so sharp a bargain with him that 57 acres of much better land, immediately adjoining him upon the east, was obtained from the Doctor for the smaller parcel needed. Also upon the north side of the Little Cuyahoga river was a 300 acre farm belonging to Mr. William Phelps, a small corner of which ran down into the bed of the stream, and which had to be secured before the waters could be diverted from their natural channel. This acre or two Mr. Phelps would not sell at any price, unless they would take the entire farm at the exorbitant price, for those days, of $14,000 in gold. An option for a certain number of days having been obtained by Judge King, late in the afternoon of the last day of the option the Judge appeared at the Phelps mansion with the coin. On inquiring for Mr. Phelps, the Judge was informed that he was away from home, but could get no information as to where he had gone nor how soon he would be back. "Very well," said the Judge, " I'll wait for him," and wait he did until near midnight, when he took the bag of gold from his pocket and began counting it out . and piling it upon the table, and then and there made a tender of the sum agreed upon to Mrs. Phelps, as the representative of her husband. After the midnight hour had passed Phelps came forth from his hiding, but refused to receive the money, claiming that the time of the option was up; thinking perhaps, that by holding off he could extort from them still higher figures. Finally a day or two later, on the advice. of Mr. Brown, he executed a deed to Judge King, and took his money, a portion of which he invested in farming lands in Wadsworth, Medina County.

.THE NEW VILLAGE OF "CASCADE."

As indicated by the name given to Dr. Crosby's "ditch "-the "Cascade Mill Race,"-the embryo rival to the ancient village of Middlebury and the original town of Akron, was at first called "Cascade," though it was finally platted under the name of Akron. Hence the first store on the site now occupied by Hall's block, corner of Market and Howard streets, erected by Mr. Seth Iredell (father of our present fellow citizen, Robert S. Iredell) in 1832, was called the "Cascade Store," while the first hotel, erected the saine year, by James Baldwin (father of Capt. Aaron P. Baldwin) and Lewis Kilbourn (father of William W. Kilbourn, of 212 East Exchange street), was called the "Cascade House;" and for several years, both at home and abroad, the snappy and prosperous new village was known as "Cascade," rather than by its platted and ultimately well-established cognomen of Akron.

About simultaneously with the building of the race and the Stone Mill, two blast furnaces had been erected at the North End -the " Ætna," near Lock Twelve, by Parsons, DuBois & Co., (L. M.

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

Parsons, Robert K. DuBois and William Slater) succeeded early in 1833 by Hart, DuBois & Co., (William J. Hart, Robert K. DuBois and David J. Garrett) and the "Portage," on the present site of Dr. J. H. Peterson's Assembly Hall, by Fenn & Howard, (Jonathan F. Fenn and Charles W. Howard), the blast of the former run by the waters of the Cascade Mill race, and that of the latter by the waters of Wilcox run (the cemetery brook) brought in a race and wooden flume from a little above the cemetery lodge and crossing West Market street, at its present junction with Cherry street. About the same time, also, Messrs. David and Jesse Allen and Col. Reuben McMillan, under the firm name of Allens & McMillan erected a three-story frame building, a little southwest of what is now known as the Allen Mills, where they entered largely into the manufacture of carding and spinning machines, for which there was quite a demand in those early days. This factory was, a few years later, converted into a flouring mill by Messrs. Joseph A. Beebe (our late City Librarian) and William E. Wright, (late of Rome, N. Y.,) and was called the "Center Mill," and though it long years ago gave place to the Allen Mills, the most excellent brand. of flour, called "Center Mills," is still a favorite with many of our citizens.

TESSE ALLEN,-sixth son of Jesse Allen, senior, one of the pioneers of Coventry, was born in Tompkins Co., N. Y., May 1, 1807, removing with family to Ohio in 1811. Though his education was limited he was remark- ably intelligent, and early acquired prominence in business, social and political circles. In boyhood worked on farm, later learning the trade of a stone cutter, at which he became quite expert, especially in carving, lettering, etc. About 1833, with his brother, David, and the late Reuben McMillan, he erected a large three- story building, west of the present barrel-house of the Allen Mills, and engaged in the manufacture of wool- carding and spinning machinery. On the retirement of Mr. McMillan, three years later, D. and J. Allen erected the shop on the west side of Lock 7, now embraced in the Akron Building and Cabinet Company's plant. Mr. David Allen dying December 6, 1842, at the age of 42 years and 4 days, the original shop having meantime been converted into the well-remembered Center Mill, Mr. Allen, in connection with other members of the family, engaged in milling, later, with his brothers Jacob and Hiram, and the late Jedediah D. Commins, engaging in the. manufacture of satinets, in the

JESSE ALLEN.

building now known as the Allen Mills, the change from cloth to flour being made in 1856, in which business he continued until his death, Sept. 24, 1863, at the age of 56 years, 4 months 23 days. Mr. Allen served three years as member of the Village Council-1837-38-44. He never mar- ried.

PIONEER MERCHANTS, HOTEL KEEPERS, ETC.

In 1832, Jonathan F. Fenn and Charles W. Howard, (son-in- law of Dr. Crosby), placed a stock of general merchandise in the store which had been erected by Mr. Seth Iredell as above stated,

BANK CHARTER APPLIED FOR.

but that firm having failed, in the Spring of 1835 the building was leased to Mr. P. D. Hall, and, as lessee and owner, the stand has been continuously occupied by that gentleman to the present time. The "Cascade" House was opened by Mr. Willard W. Stevens, (now living at Tontogany, Wood County, Ohio), and kept by that gentleman until the Fall of 1834, when the lease was transferred to our present venerable fellow citizen, and model landlord, Mr. Charles B. Cobb, who changed its name to the "Pavilion House." These pioneer hotel, mercantile and manufac- turing establishments, were rapidly followed by others, so that, when the writer arrived in Akron, June 10, 1835, though the South End still held the ascendency, in point of imports and sales of merchandise, shipments of produce, etc., , the North End was rapidly developing its manufacturing and commercial resources, and in population, also, rapidly approached the former.

COL. REUBEN MCMILLAN,-born in Galway, Saratoga Co., N. Y., May 25, 1799, when young moving with parents to Lima, Livingston Co .; soon after coming of age was com- missioned Colonel of artillery ; Oct. 24, 1824, was married to Miss Orpha Partridge, of Thetford, Vt., who bore him six children-Geo. Willis, died in infancy; Harriet Louisa, now Mrs. D. E. Hill, of Akron; Lucinda Avis, late Mrs. Robert Foster, of Minneap- olis; Caroline Eliza, deceased; George R. died young; and Frances A., now Mrs. O. W. Keller, of Montana. In 1832, came to Middlebury and a year or two later to Akron, engaging with Messrs. David and Jesse Allen in the manufacture of carding ma- chines; in 1836 went to Massillon and started the same business there. The works being destroyed by fire, in 1840 he returned to Middlebury and or- ganized the firm of Kent, Irish & Mc- Millan, successful manufacturers of carding and spinning machinery for many years. Col. McMillan was an early advocate of the cause of tem- perance, and an earnest abolitionist, both by his tongue and pen advo- cating the doctrines of the "Wilmot

EDICE

FCOCH

COL. REUBEN MCMILLAN.

Proviso," and using his personal in- fluence, in Washington, to secure its passage; was also an able and intelli- gent advocate of labor reform and protection to American manufac- tures. Mr. McMillan died Nov. 9, 1851, aged 52 years, 5 months, 14 days, Mrs. McMillan dying March 31, 1887, aged 83 years, 1 month, 5 days.

The joint population of the two villages at this time was probably from 600 to 900, though in the copy of a petition to the Legislature, now in possession of the writer, dated December 18, 1835, for a bank charter for Akron, the committee composed of James W. Phillips, Richard Howe, Erastus Torrey, S. A. Wheeler, Justus Gale, Simon Perkins, Jr., J. D. Commins, R. McMillan and Seth Iredell, state the population of the town to be between 1,200 and 1,300. It is quite probable, however, that it was intended to include, in this estimate, the inhabitants of Middlebury and other adjacent territory, who would be patrons of, and benefited by, the establishment of a bank in Akron, the entire population of Portage township, five years later, including Akron, the "Chuckery," and a portion of Middlebury, being, by the census of 1840, but 2,381.

AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.

PHILANDER D. HALL,-born at Bridgeport, Conn., Oct. 10, 1806; educated at Weston Academy; at 20 engaged in teaching at.Saugatuck, Conn., where he also clerked in dry goods store a year and a half; return- ing to Bridgeport, engaged in the grocery shipping trade and import- ing West India products; in Summer of 1834 first visited Akron, and in May 1835, established himself in the gen- eral merchandise trade, corner of Howard and Market streets, then called the "Cascade Store." The original store, a two-story frame, being destroyed by fire, February 17, 1851, the present three-story brick block was erected and occupied the same season. In 1842 Mr. Hall was joined in business by his brother Orlando, who was married to Miss Sophia R. Towne, December 12, 1854, and died March 10, 1855, Mr. Hall soon afterwards associating with himself his brother Lorenzo, under the firm name of "Hall Brothers," which ar- rangement still continues. Mr. Hall was married December 30, 1841, to Miss Martha McElhinney, of Allegheny City, Pa., who died in New York, Feb- ruary 20, 1889, Mr. Hall in 1857 having

PHILANDER D. HALL.

established his family residence in that city, dividing his time between travel and purchasing supplies for his firm, though at frequent intervals giving his personal attention to bus- iness and property interests here.

INTENSE AND BITTER RIVALRY.

The completion of the Cascade Mill race, the starting of the Stone Mill, and other business enterprises resulting therefrom, soon culminated in a very bitter triangular rivalry between Middlebury and the two Akrons, and especially between the North and South Akronites. The ancient emporium had struggled bravely to prevent the diminution of its business by the establish- ment of a rival village at the Summit, and for the reason that the former, through its water power, possessed superior manufac- turing advantages, was for a time fairly successful in holding its own, if not, in fact, slowly advancing. But this new rival- Cascade-was an impending calamity to be fought to the bitter end by both the Middleburghers and Southenders; for the Doctor's "goose pasture" prediction, in regard to the former, was not only likely to be speedily and literally fulfilled, but South Akron, also, was in imminent danger of sharing the same fate. Hence, when the denizens of the former could no longer retain all the trade from-the south and east, they would use their best endeavors to turn it towards the south end, representing the inhabitants of "Cascade" as being a set of cut-throats, and the village itself as reeking with pestilential miasms that it would be dangerous to encounter, even for an hour. These representations were also persistently promulgated by the Southenders, and every possible device adopted to keep the people of the country. from visiting the lower village. At the forks of the road, at the intersection of East Market and Middlebury streets, the Southenders erected, upon the south side of the road, a guide board, pointing towards that village, bearing the inscription "Akron, 1 mile le This was imitated by he Northenders, the board pointing towards that village also

CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES.

reading "Akron, 1 mile ffer." This was speedily demolished by the Southenders, followed almost as speedily, by the destruction of their own board by the irate Northenders. Both of these boards were several times replaced with like results, and several personal collisions took place between the parties detailed to guard the boards in question. At length a compromise was effected, said boards being inscribed "South Akron" and "North Akron" respectively; after which, so far as the guide board contest was concerned, there was a cessation of hostilities ; but, as will be seen further on, the "cruel war" was by no means over.

C OL. JUSTUS GALE, -born in

Guilford, Vt., January 14, 1798; June 23, 1823, was married to Miss Sarah Hyde, who was born in Guil- ford, April 26, 1802; in July, 1833 remov- ed to Akron, as a member of the firm of Pulsifer, Gale & Austin, establishing a store on the east side of South Main street, near Exchange, and a year later the pioneer tin-shop in North Akron, and erecting a dwelling house on the southeast corner of Howard and Mill streets, later erect- ing a cupola furnace and engaging extensively in stoves, hollow-ware, plows, etc. Col. Gale was active in all public enterprises, an earnest promoter of the cause of education; was one of the trustees of Akron's first high school project in 1837; was several times member of the Village Council, and one of the most influen- tial promoters of the New County project-1835 to 1843. Col. Gale died June 28, 1847, aged 49 years, 5 months, 14 days. Mr. and Mrs. Gale were the parents of six children-Lucy Jane, afterwards married to the late John H. Chamberlain, now Mrs. Alexander Brewster; Sarah Hyde, the first Mrs. Frank Adams, died in 1863, aged 35; Frances Harriet, died May 10, 1845, aged 16; Ann Elizabeth, now Mrs.

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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