History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio, Part 99

Author: Johnson, Crisfield
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.B. Lippincott & Co.
Number of Pages: 716


USA > Ohio > Cuyahoga County > History of Cuyahoga County, Ohio > Part 99


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).


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1846. Trustees, Theron Skeels, Rufus Libby. N. Hamhin: clerk, Lee Lord: treasurer, Wm. B. Hillman.


1847. Trustees, Theron Skeels, Rufus Libby, N. Hamhin: clerk, Lee Lord: treasurer. Wm. B. Hillman.


1848. Trustees, Otis Button, Rufus Libby, N. Hamlin: clerk, Lee Lord: treasurer, Wm. B Hillman


1849. Trustees, Otis Button, Asa Marble, Sidney Smith; clerk, Lee Lord: treasurer, F. H. Cannon.


1850. Nelson Hamlio, Rufus Libby, Chauncy Osborne: clerk, Lee Lord: treasurer, F. H. Cannon.


1851. Trustees, Hiram Bacon, Rufus Libby, Hiram Smith; clerk, A. M. Whitaker; treasurer. F. H. Cannon.


1852. Trustees, Hiram Bacon, Benj. Samson, Hiram Smith; clerk, George Fuller; treasurer, F. H. C'aunon.


1×53. Trustees, Hiram Smith, Asa Dunham, Silas Gray : clerk. L. I). Benedict; treasurer. L. D. Hathway.


1854. Trustees, Julius S. Benedict, Asa Dunham, George Lathrop; clerk, L. D. Benedict ; treasurer, L. D. Hathaway.


1×55. Trustees, Jacob Flick, Jr., Win. King, George Lathrop; clerk, Wm. H. May ; treasurer. L. D. Hathaway.


1-56. Trustees, Jacob Flick, Jr., Caswell Wright, Joel Nelsou ; clerk, Wm. H. May ; treasurer, A. H. Comstock.


1-57. Trustees. Asa Duuham, Wm. King, Caswell Wright; clerk, Wm. H. May; treasurer, A. H Comstock.


1858 and 59. (Records missing).


1860. Trustees, Asa Dunham, James S. Benedict, George Lathrop: clerk, A. M. Whitaker; treasurer. A. H. Comstock.


1-61. Trustees. Asa Dunham, Wm. King. L. Tarbell; cle.k. A B, Hubbell: treasurer. Levi Marble.


1862. Trustees, Wm. King, R. S. Benedict. D. D. Robinson; clerk, A. M. Whitaker: treasurer, Levi Marble.


1863. Trustees, James S. Benedict, Sidney Smith, Edwin F. Wheeler; clerk, H J. Hammond; treasurer, Levi Marble.


1-64. Trustees, S. A. Clark, James Egbert, Benj. Lemoin : clerk, Sid- ney Smith : treasurer, Levi Marble.


1865. Trustees, Horace Herriman, Vincent Salsbury, Benj. Lemoin; clerk, Sidney Smith; treasurer, Levi Marble.


1866. Trustees, Asa Dunham. H. A. Wise, Benj Lemoin; clerk, Henry Freeman: treasurer, Levi Marble.


1867. Trustees, Asa Dunham, James E bert, T. B. Patterson; clerk. Sidney Smith : treasurer, Levi Marble.


1868. Trustees, Asa Dunham, B. Lemoin, T B. Patterson: clerk, Sid- uey Smith: treasurer, Levi Marble.


1869 Trustees. James Egbert, James Mathew, Geo, Laing: cleik, Sidney Smith ; treasurer, J. H. Wakefieldl.


1470. Trustees, James Egbert, James Mathew, Joseph Mathew ; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield.


1871. Trustees. James Egbert. Reuben Parkinson, Joseph Mathew ; clerk, J. R. Tudor; treasurer. J. II. Wakefield,


1872. Trustees, Asa Dunham, Reuben Parkinson, Levi Marble; clerk. J. R. Tudor; treasurer, J. II. Wakefield.


1×73. Trustees, Asa Dunham, Reuben Parkinson, Levi Marble; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J H. Wakefield.


1874. Treasurer. R. J. Hathaway. Reuben Parkinson, Levi Marble: clerk. W. S Warner; treasurer, J. Il. Wakefield.


1475. Trustees, Asa Dunham, Il. D. Lathrop, E. M. Libby ; Jerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield.


1876. Trustees, J. C. Walton, H. D. Lathrop, E. M. Libby; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. 11. Wakefield.


1877: Trustees, J. C. Walton, Johnson Mcfarland. E. M. Libby ; clerk, W S. Warner: treasurer, J. H. Wakefield.


1474. Trustees. J. C. Walton, Johnson MeFarland, HI. D. Lathrop; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. H. Wakefield.


1×79. Trustees, J. C. Walton, Johnson MeFarland, H. D. Lathrop; clerk, W. S. Warner; treasurer, J. II. Wakefield.


CEMETERY AND TOWN HALL.


In 1857 the township appropriated five hundred dollars to purchase a tract of ground for burial pur- poses. A lot of three and one-third acres was selected in the southeastern part of the village, which has been well fenced, laid out in blocks, planted with fine trees, and a vanlt provided. The township also fur- nished a hearse and provided the services of a sexton. The cemetery contains some very fine monuments, and has become the general place of interment of the people of the township.


406


THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.


On the 30th of May, 18:4. the trustees of Bedford contracted with David Law, of Willoughby, to build a town hall at the village, for $13,500. The hall was subsequently seated and furnished, making the entire cost about $15,000. The building is three stories high, with a Mansard roof of figured slate, and has a very attractive appearance. The lower story is fitted up for township offices, and has a room in which the general meetings are held. It was first occupied for this purpose in the spring of 1815. The second story forms a public hall, for lectures, concerts, and other occasions; and the third story has been fitted up by the Masons for the use of their order. The hall is an appropriate monument to the enterprise and progres- sive spirit of the people of Bedford.


PUBLIC THOROUGHFARES.


The first roads of Bedford were merely underbrushed paths, but afterwards, when the township was organ- ized, the people went to work in earnest to improve them. The State road, passing through the township diagonally from southeast to northwest, was built about 1830, and at once became a popular thorough- fare, and is still the principal highway of the town- ship. The other highways were in due time improved, the low places being turnpiked. At present the roads are in a very fine condition, and in 1829 were in charge of the following supervisors: William Trimple, C. Wright, George Nichols, J. II. Stohlman, George Laing, David Winders, James Rees, D. Wells and Amos Allen.


In the spring of 1849 ground was broken in Bed- ford for the Cleveland and Pittsburg railroad, and in 1852 the road was fully opened for trathe. It has a length in Bedford of about seven miles, and at the village a good station has been provided. The rail- road bridge across Tinker's creek is a very fine piece of massive stone masonry, more than one hundred feet high. About the same time that the railroad was built, the Twinsburg and Bedford plank road was constructed: and at a little later date the Cleveland and Mahoning railroad was opened through the north- eastern part of the township. The plank road was abandoned about 1860.


BEDFORD VILLAGE.


This is chiefly situated on lot forty-six, near the center of the township. It is located mainly on the north bank of Tinker's creek, which there flows through a deep gorge, the sides of which are almost perpendicular walls of rock, partly bare and partly covered with trees and shrubs, and presenting a very picturesque appearance. At a bend of the creek, on lot fifty-six, the first effort to start a village was made about 1826 by Luther Willis. He was the owner of water-power which had been employed to operate machinery, but beyond the building of a few houses nothing resulted from the endeavors of the proprietor.


After 1830 Hezekiah Dunham became the owner of a large tract of land farther north, and mainly o


lot forty-six, a portion of which he caused to be sur- veyed for a village in December, 1834. The plat was made by John C. Sill, and embraced a number of lots south of the present village park (which was at that time devoted to the publie use), and west of the turnpike road. Lots were also set aside for a hall for town meetings, and the several religious societies each received a building site. This liberal spirit, and other inducements held out by the proprietors, caused a number of improvements to be made, neces- sitating, in 1836, an addition of lots on the east side of the turnpike, which was also made by the Dun- hams. Other additions were made by the owners of adjoining real estate from time to time, until the area of the village has been greatly extended.


It is not compactly built, and since the Cleveland and Pittsburg railroad located a station here, in 1852, it has partaken somewhat of the characteristics of a suburban village in relation to Cleveland. It is only six miles distant from the limits of that city, and has a population of about eight hundred. The village contains a very fine public hall, a Methodist, a Disei- ple, a Baptist and a Presbyterian church, an elegant Union School building, a number of comfortable resi- dences, and the various establishments mentioned a little further on.


Bedford was incorporated according to the provis- ions of an aet of the general assembly, passed March 15, 1834, which set forth "that so much of the township of Bedford, in the county of Cuyahoga, as herein described, viz. : The whole of lots forty-five, forty-six and fifty-six, and that part of lot fifty-five which lays northeast of Tinker's creek; also a strip thirty-two rods width off the south end of lot thirty- six, and a strip of thirty-two rods width off the south end of lot thirty-five, west as far as the west line of Justus Remington's land, be and the same is hereby created a town corporate, and shall hereafter be known by the name and title of the . Town of Bedford.'" An election of a mayor, a recorder, and five trustees was ordered to be holden the following April, and yearly thereafter. The mayor chosen was George M. Payne: the recorder, David B. Dunham.


All the records prior to 1860 have been destroyed by fire, so that no complete list of officers can be given. The village allowed its first charter to lapse, and on the 3d day of May, 1852, a new act of ineor- poration was granted, with the limits before given, which yet remain as originally fixed.


Since 1850 the principal officers have been as fol- lows: 1860, J. C. Cleveland, mayor; A. M. Whita- ker, recorder. 1861, J. C. Cleveland, mayor; W. L. Lord, recorder. 1862, L. D. Benedict, mayor; C. A. Ennis, recorder. 1863 & 64, F. H. Cannon, mayor; S. P. Gray, recorder. 1865. B. J. Wheelock, mayor: Sidney Smith, recorder. 1866, R. C. Smith, mayor; H. Freeman, recorder. 1867, A. J. Wells, mayor; Sidney Smith, recorder. 1868, Benjamin Lemoin, mayor; Sidney Smith, recorder. 1869 to 1873, C. A. Ennis, mayor; A. M. Whitaker, recorder. 1874


40%


BEDFORD.


to 1875, C. A. Ennis, mayor; L. P. Whitaker, re- corder. 1826 to 1877, D. B. Dunham, mayor; W. S. Warner, recorder. 1878, V. A. Taylor, mayor: W. S. Warner, recorder.


In 1829 the village officers were as follows: V. A. Taylor, mayor; W. S. Warner, recorder; M. L. Hil- liard, C. B. Marble, J. C. Nelson, C. A. Ennis, John II. Gause, J. II. Lamson, councilmen: Robert Forbes, treasurer: H. P. Bredes, marshal. A tax of three and one-half mills was levied on the valuation of the village for all the purposes of the corporation in 1879.


POST OFFICE, STORES AND HOTELS.


The Bedford post office dates from abont 1826. Ziba Willis was the first postmaster. His sueeessor in 1833 was D. B. Dunham, who held the office until 1842. At that time there was one mail per day, by stage; the arrival varied from two to ten hours, ac- eording to the condition of the roads. The successors of Mr. Dunham have been J. P. Robinson, R. D. Benedict, Leverett Tarbell, Levi Marble, and the pres- ent postmaster, Charles B. Marble. The office enjoys good mail privileges.


The first store in the village, and also the first in the township, was opened by David B. Dunham, in November, 1831, in a building which stood at the forks of the road, opposite the present hotel. 1Ie oeenpied that building eight years, when he removed to a fine stone block, which stood just north of his present residence, and which was occupied by him when it was destroyed by fire in June, 1878. In that building was transacted, for a number of years, a business which aggregated more than $100,000 per year, and which made Bedford one of the best trading points in the county, outside of Cleveland. Other prominent merchants have been F. Il. Cannon, J. P. Robinson, W. B. Hillman, Paddock & Esselstyne. George M. Payne, Zachariah Paddock, Chester Ham- ilton, Watson I. Gray. M. B. Dawson, Leverett Tar- bell, A. II. Comstock, James Thompson. L. D. Hathaway, L. P. Gray, etc. The present merchants are Newman Robinson, since 1845; Robert Forbes. sinee 1865; C. B. Marble. L. C. Hains, Joseph lains. (. HI. Dustin and J. R. Tudor & Co.


Enoch Allen had the first public house in the vil- lage, about 1829, near the present chair factories. He was followed by Amos Belden and others. In 1832 Calvin Barnes put up a good hotel, north of the park which was widely known as the " Checkered House." Among other keepers were Silas Gray and George Lathrop. In 1821 the house was destroyed by fire. In 1832, also, the present "Fountain House" was built by Levi Marble, who kept it a few years, and was followed by Abner Heston and others. The present proprietor is Charles Turner, and it is the only hotel in the place. Formerly hotels were kept in the stone block and at other places; the village having, at one time, had five public houses.


PHYSICIANS AND THE PRESS.


Dr. J. M. Turner, who came about 1828 and lived a little south of the village, was the first physician and was in practice about five years. Dr. Charles Goodrich came about 1830, but fell a vietim to the cholera in 1832: Dr. J. P. Robinson was in practice from January, 1832, till his removal to Cleveland in 1865. Dr. D. G. Streeter eame in 1845, and remained until his death, October, 1848, and Dr. S. M. Tarbell was one of his contemporaries. Others, formerly in practice, were Doctors A. W. Oliver, Noble H. Finney, -Brainard, - Gerold and B. M. Hutchinson. The present physicians are Doctors C. M. Hawley, N. A. Dalrymple -- Daniels, and N. B. Armstrong. The veteran Dr. T. Garliek, for many years one of Cleveland's most eminent surgeons, is a retired citi- zen of the village.


In 1838 John Hammon, of Ravenna, began the publieation of the Bedford Intelligencer, a small sheet devoted to local news and the interests of the Demo- cratic party. In five years it was discontinued, and the place has since been without a paper.


MANUFACTURING INTERESTS.


The first manufacturing in the township was on Tinker's creek, near the line of Independence. Some- time about 1815 two men, named Adams and Starr, put up a sawmill and a gristmill, both small, at a point about thirty rods above the mills now situated in that locality. The first mills were suffered to go down. and in 1820 Culverson and Boland improved the present site. The mills erected by them soon after became the property of Moses Gleeson, and have since been operated by him and his family.


About 1821 Daniel Benedict built a sawmill, and soon after a carding machine, on Tinker's creek, near the State road, at Bedford village. These were de- stroyed by fire, but on the site there is now a saw- mill, belonging to Henry Wick. Below this point Luther Willis built mills in 1825, which are at pre- sent operated by Levi Marble. Near by is a building in which blinds were formerly made and which, at a later day, was a chair factory, but which is at present little used.


Farther down the stream, and just inside the eor- porate limits of Bedford village, Stephen C. Powers built and set in operation a woolen factory. in 1842, which was in operation about fifteen years. Here, also, was formerly a sawmill: but at present the power is unemployed. In 1843 a pail factory was built by Lee Lord and Enoch Allen, which was ear- ried on successfully a few years but was then de- stroyed by fire. Formerly a brush factory gave em- ployment to a number of men, but after a short season it was removed.


As early as 1832 Allen Robinette put up a small tannery which, since 1840, has been carried on by


108


THE TOWNSHIPS OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY.


Hinman Robinson. Abont 1845 Robinson & Hill- man engaged in tanning on a large scale, but after a few years operation the enterprise was abandoned. About 1840 Comstock. Kirkham & Diekey put up a foundry near the creek. which was burned. It was subsequently rebuilt near the railroad, where it re- mained in operation until 1868, when it was again destroyed by fire.


In 1866 the citizens of Bedford formed themselves into an association for the purpose of establishing a rolling mill. A large capital stock was subscribed, and II. N. Slade chosen the first president. A good mill was built near the railroad bridge, in which from fifty to seventy-five hands were employed. The mill became the property of E. W. John about 1869, and subsequently was owned by the "Leetonia Iron and Coal Company," which also failed. After standing idle a few years, it was purchased by parties resi- dent in Massillon, who removed it to that place, where it is now in operation. During the time it was carried on at Bedford, it is estimated the place sus- tained a direct and indirect loss of more than two hundred thousand dollars, which was chargeable to that source, while the benefit derived from it was very slight.


A machine shop for general iron work was built about 1854 by M. A. Purdy & Son, near the above site, which was last carried on by C. Purdy. In July, 1875, the establishment was totally destroyed by fire.


THE BEDFORD CHAIR FACTORIES.


These have for many years been among the princi- pal industries of the place, and are the only ones which have survived the mutations of time. In 1851 B. J. Wheelock began the manufacture of cane-seated chairs in the old building by the mill, having at first a force of five men. Changes in the firm fol- lowed, and the capacity of the shop was largely in- creased, more than twenty men being employed. In 1855 B. J. Wheelock and L. F. Osborne built a large factory on the hill north of the old establishment, the latter being continued meanwhile by Lord, Park & Co. and others. In 1858 the new shops were en- larged by the firm of Wheelock & Wright, and about the same time M. A. Purdy & Son erected a new shop devoted to the chair business, in the same locali- ty, and operated it a number of years. In 1867 the different chair manufacturers in the village united their interests and formed the Bedford Chair Com- pany. Another building was then erected to connect the two factories on the hill, the establishment then being made to assume the shape it now has. At that time about fifty men were employed. At present the factory is operated by Wheelock & Co., on a more limited scale, in the manufacture of single cane-seated work only.


As early as 1833 Benjamin Fitch carried on the manufacture of splint-bottom chairs at his home in the northern part of the township, on lot fifteen. Here W. O. Taylor learned the chair-maker's trade.


and in 1844 began work on his own account. In 1863 he erected a shop in this locality, in which he shortly after began the manufacture of cane-seated chairs, although still continuing to make splint work. In 1844 his factory was removed to Bedford village, where the business has since been very successfully carried on by W. O. Taylor & Son. At present they occupy a large building more than one hundred feet " long, with several capacious wings, in which sixty


men are employed, nearly as many more persons being given employment outside of the factory, in weaving and braiding chair seats. The work of this factory has attained a wide reputation, and in 1876 was awarded the medal at the Centennial Exhibition. More than forty styles of single and double-seated cane work are made, and the demand for the wares of the factory is so great that it is taxed to its utmost to supply it.


EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.


The records of the township are silent in regard to the early condition of the public schools, nothing of interest but a list of teachers prior to 1840 being obtainable. This includes the names of Miss Barnes, II. L. Sill, C. Ruggles, R. Root, W. Johnson, D. Baldwin, M. Smith, Polly Allen, Betsey Predner, Mary Ann Sill, Laura Gould, Mary McCartney, Mariah Peck and L. Ruggles. In 1848 there were eleven districts in the township, having an aggregate of six hundred and sixty-two children of school age. The school fund amounted to $665.40.


Thirty years later there were two fractional dis- tricts and eight sub-districts, in addition to the Union School of Bedford village. Not including the latter, the expenditure for school purposes were $3,441.56. Thirty-three weeks of school were maintained, and the aggregate enrollment was one hundred and ninety- six boys and one hundred and seventy-five girls. The average attendance was nearly three hundred, all the scholars being engaged in the study of the common branches, except two. The average wages of the male teachers was $36.00; of female teachers, $16.50. There were eight school houses the value of which was set at $10,500. The most of them present an attractive appearance on the outside, and are com- fortably fitted up on the inside. In 1879 the board of education was composed of R. J. Hathaway (Dis- trict No. 4), president; W. S. Warner, clerk; Ozro Orborne, of District No. 1; A. J. Hansay, of No. 2; H. H. Cox, of No. 3; George Laing, of No. 5; F. B. MeConnor, of No. 6; Leonard Hershey, of No. 7; S. S. Drake, of No. S.


BEDFORD VILLAGE UNION SCHOOL.


The district was originally organized to embrace only the territory within the corporate limits of the village, but in 1874 the bounds were extended so as to include all of lots thirty-six, thirty-seven, forty- four, forty-five, forty-six, fifty-three, fifty-four, fifty- five, fifty-six and parts of thirty-five, forty-seven,


409


BEDFORD.


fifty-seven, 'sixty-five, sixty-six and sixty-seven. In 1813 the present school building was erected, under the direction of a board of education composed of Robert Forbes, R. Moffatt and W. Il. Wheelock, and was ready for occupaney in the early part of 1824. It is a very handsome edifice of brick, forty by fifty_ six feet, two stories high. with basement, and cost $15,000. There are four rooms, but at present only three are occupied for school purposes. The schools were attended by two hundred and forty-one pupils in 1848, the average attendance being two hundred and five. Thirty-eight weeks of school were main- tained at a cost of nearly $1,600. under the principal- ship of R. C. Smith.


Since 18:2 the board of education has been com- posed of six persons. The present members are J. W. Derthwick, president: N. L. Hillard, secretary; Robert Forbes, treasurer: W. T. Wheelock, M. B. Dawson and J. F. Bently.


RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.


Soon after 1830 several religious societies were formed in Bedford, which failed to maintain their or- ganization more than a few years. There being no church building in the place, a small framed meeting house was erected about this period by Mrs. Fanny Willis, which was the first place of worship of the several societies organized before 1841.


The Disciples were the first to form a society that proved permanent. In May, 1830, Rev. E. Williams visited the village to preach, and for some time came every month thereafter. In August Noel C. Barnum was baptized by Mr. Williams, and in April, 1831, Enoch Allen and six others received the same rite. Preaching was continued by Rev. Messrs. Williams. William Hayden, J. JJ. Moss and others, and in December, 1833, was organized


THE CHURCH OF CHRIST IN BEDFORD,


with twenty members and the following officers: Thos. Marble, overseer: Enoch Allen and George M. Payne, deacons. The following year these were under the min- istrations of the Rev. A. B. Green. In 1834 Rev. . 1. . 1. Moss became a resident of Bedford, and for five years taught and preached from house to house. In 1831 a great revival prevailed whereby thirty-two persons were added to the membership of the church. In 1835 Enoch Allen and Allen Robinette were elected overseers: Samuel Barnes, N. C. Barnum and W. W. Walker, deacons.


The church has enjoyed numerous revivals: in 1843 receiving one hundred and six additions, and in 1848 fifty-four additions-among them being thirty persons who had formerly belonged to the Baptist church. In 1852, under the preaching of Rev. A. B. Green, one hundred and fifteen persons joined at one meeting. The aggregate membership has been very large. reach- ing nearly twenty-five hundred: and from the Bedford society have originated fifty churches in various parts of the country. At present there are three hundred


and twenty-five resident, and one hundred non-resi- dent members. Among those who have originated here as ministers were Irvin A. Searles, Theo. John- son, Burdette Goodale, Alonzo Dunham, J. P. Rob- inson, William Robinson, Charles F. Bartlett, Sidney Smith. and a number of others who expound the Word at home.


The elders of the church have been, in the order of their election: Thomas Marble, Allen Robinette, Enoch Allen, Sidney Smith, James Young, C. F. Bartlett, R. S. Benedict, S. F. Lockwood, James Egbert,* W. Il. Millman, A. T. Hubbell, Alonzo Drake, * R. J. Hathaway, * Hiram Woods and A. C. Ilubbell; and the deacons have been Enoch Allen, George M. Payne, Samuel Barnes, N. C. Barnum, W. W. Walker, A. Gray, Charles F. Bartlett, George Comstock, Silvan F. Lockwood, Augustin Collins, Silas A. Hathaway, Daniel Gould, N. P. Benedict, Lee Lord. I. S. Benedict, A. T. Ilubbell, D. D. Rob- inson, N. A. Egbert. Augustus Rincar,* W. W. Wells, M. B. Dawson, J. W. Derthwick, * J. M. Eg- bert,* V. A. Taylor, * and Johnson MeFarland .*


In 1856 the church employed its first pastor (the ministers until that period having been evangelists), the Rev. J. O. Beardsley, who afterwards became a foreign missionary. Ilis successors in the pastoral office have been JJ. H. JJones, James II. Woods, A. B. Green, R. Moffit. W. L. Anderson, W. J. Sharp. S. W. Brown, L. Cooley, and E. D. Barclay the present pastor.




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