History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060

USA > Ohio > Stark County > History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 104

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The General Assembly of Ohio having * The account of the Children's Home is by Thomas P. Hopley,

FAIRMOUNT CHILDREN'S HOME.

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passed a law authorizing counties to establish Children's Homes, prominent citizens of Co- lumbiana and Stark Counties commenced agi- tating the matter with the view of securing action from the Commissioners in regard to an institution of this character. It was orig- inally intended that the counties of Columbi- ana. Mahoning, Portage and Stark should form the " Home district," and, with this end in view, the Commissioners of these counties held their first joint meeting at Alliance. on September IS, 1874, at which time a Board of Trustees was appointed composed of the following members: Hon. J. K. Rukenbrod and Joshua Lee, of Columbiana: Dr. G. W. Broke, of Mahoning: William Barber, of Stark, and William Grinnel, of Portage. Mr. Rukoubrod being a member of the Ohio Sen- ate was ineligible to the office and shortly afterward resigned, and James Davis, of Co- lumbiana, was chosen to fill the vacancy. The trustees visited several institutions of like character and during the next four months arrangements were perfected for a Home, but in the meantime the counties of Portage and Mahoning withdrew from the district and Messrs. Levi Stump and C. K. Greiner. of Stark, were appointed to the vacant trusteeships. The Commissioners of the two counties on May 4, 1875, signed the deed for the land which they purchased from Thomas Rack- straw, paying him $13,770 for the farm. H. E. Myers, an architect of Cleveland, prepared the plans and specifications for the building, and the contract for erecting it was awarded to Messrs. Parkinson & Morrison, of New Lis- bon. The entire cost of the buildings and furnishings was about $65,000; the real estate is now valued at $15,000, making a total of $50,000 which have been devoted by these two counties for charitable purposes in this form.

Fainnount Home consists of the main build- ing. two cottages, the farm house. the bake house and a large boiler house in which is generated steam for heating the several apart- ments. There is also a barn, wagon house, ice house, a slaughter house and the neces sary ontbuildings. The main building is three stories high above the basement; the greatest width is 52 feet and the greatest

length is 115 feet. In the basement are large fruit, vegetable and dairy rooms, the kitchen, laundry and industrial rooms. On the first floor are the office, reception rooms, parlor, dining rooms, pantries and store rooms. The Superintendent's family rooms, guest rooms, store rooms and three large school rooms are situated on the second floor. On the third floor are rooms for employes and large tanks for hard and soft water. Centrally located on the first three floors are fire plugs con- nected with the tanks. Situated in the rear of the main building are two cottages each thirty- two feet in width and thirty-niue feet long. In each cottage on the first floor is a nursery, a sitting room for children, a bedroom for the nurse and cottage matron, a wash room and a bath room. On the second floor of each eot- tage are two dormitories and a wardrobe. The cottages are connected to the main build- ing by a covered passage. In the farm- house" is a large family of boys, a sitting room, a large airy dormitory, a bedroom for the matron and family, the necessary rooms for the kindergarten - accommodating the children from four to six years of age.

Fairmount Home was completed and erected in 1876 and dedicated with appropri- ate exercises in October of that year. The Board of Trustees employed Dr. J. F. Bnek to take charge of the institution. This gen- tleman had been for the previous seven years connected with the Ohio Reform Farm at Lancaster; he brought with him to the Home much valuable experience and has been the means of making the Home a great success. The building was opened for the reception of inmates October 31, 1876, on which day six- teen children were received from the Stark County Infirmary. From that date until October 31, ISSO, a period of four years, 392 children were received into the Home: 168 the first year, 71 the second, 90 the third and 69 the fourth. Of these children 140 were in the Home October 31, 1550: 194 have been placed in families where they have found desirable homes: 17 have died and 41 have been returned to friends, discharged or sent to other charitable institutions of the State. These children have been gathered from thetwo counties of Stark and Columbiana. They have

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been supported and educated at an expense to these counties of less than $10,000 each year. But a money value cannot be placed on that which will be gained by these chil- dren when placed under good influences in private families, where their chances for be- coming good and useful men and women will be enhanced, and the probabilities of their be- coming burdens upon society will be greatly diminished. Fairmount Home, however, is to a great extent self-sustaining. The farm embraces 154 acres, a considerable portion of which is cultivated and yields a bountiful harvest: the work of the farm is largely per- formed by the older boys, who are required to assist one-half of each day from May to October in the general farm work. `The be able to support themselves, but their edu- cation receives due attention both physical, intellectual, moral and religious. Believing that sound minds can be best developed in sound bodies, everything which has a tendency to develop the physical organization receives elose attention by the Superintendent. Wholesome food, pure air, cleanliness of per- son, healthful exercise on the play-grounds, and moderate labor about the buildings, gar- den and fields, are the means relied upon for building a symmetrical temple for the mind. Many of the children receive their first les- sons from books while at the Home. Those of school age are divided into two separate grades according to their proficiency. Both grades are in session during the entire school smaller children are a great help in market- gardening and cultivating small fruit. These day. The older scholars who work half the day attend school during the other half, but duties are part of the practical education those from six to ten years of age have furnished by the Home. for as the greater attended school regularly during school hours without vacation. All who are of sufficient age are required to attend the Sabbath school exercises, which consist mainly in reciting por- tions of the Scriptures and singing. Minis- ters of different denominations and the Young Men's Christian Association of Mount Union with sermons and addresses on Sabbath after- noons without any compensation. Fairmount is emphatically a home for those who other- wise would be homeless, and it is a wise econ- omy for the citizens of Stark and Columbiana Counties to take these poor, friendless children and provide them with a good home training so that at majority they will be able to take care of themselves, rather than have them homeless and hardened criminals or confirmed paupers. Fairmount is doing a work, the value of which cannot now be estimated, but must be acknowledged in time to come. Were it not for the fostering care of the Home, the majority of its inmates would be surrounded by baneful influences growing up in igno- ranee and vice. number of those who leave the institution are indentured to farmers the principal thought kept in their minds while at work is not " how much " but "how well." The farm also con- tains rich pasture lands for eows which fur- nish an abundant supply of milk and butter. The practical household education of the girls | have, during past years, favored the Home is not neglected, for they are taught to be handy with the needle by a lady who has charge of the industrial department, and many articles of use are manufactured in this room by the older girls who work one-half of each day and during the year make all the elothing needed by the inmates of the Home. The assistance of these older girls is also of great value in the kitchen, laundry and dining rooms of the Home, and the instruction which they have received in these several depart- ments will be of great importance to them in any sphere in which they may be placed in future years. The money saved in conse- quence of the amount of labor performed by the older girls in these departments as well as in others for so large a household is an item of no small importance: but, when com- pared with the importance of this training to habits of industry and order, the money value sinks into insignificance.

The children while at the Home are not only taught to work in order that they may

Owing to the fact that several families of Quakers resided in the township, a station on the Underground Railroad was established there. The Johnsons were prominently con- nected with this road, and assisted more than one fugitive to the Dominion of Canada.

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Unknown to those who made it their business to apprehend slaves on their way north, there were several secret places on the shore of Lake Erie, where vessels from the Canada side landed on certain days for the fugitives who were concealed in the adjacent heavy forests. These places were known to the Quakers, who very likely paid the owners of the vessels for their trouble. It is stated that, on one occasion. a fugitive family, that had stopped in the woods in the northeastern part of the county, were surprised by their owner and conveyed to Virginia before the Quakers had become fully aware of the state of affairs. This was the result of not seeking the assistance of the Quakers. When the latter were trusted, the slaves invariably reached their destination in safety.

The quantity of timber land, of land under cultivation, of meadow land, and of swamp land, has been constantly changing since the earliest day. The following table explains itself:

Number of acres of arable and plow land

in Washington Township, 1880 .. 14,534

Meadow and pasture land .. 38

Uncultivated or woodland. . 6,351

Total number of acres of flat, wet and marshy land .. 1,698

Total value of land excluding buildings. . . $734.113 Total value of houses 82,041

Total value of mills. 2.650

Total value of other buildings. 26,990

General average price per acre, including buildings

The Baptists and Methodists began holding meetings in the township about the same time. This was not far from the year 1817. Meetings were at first held in the old log

dwellings, and at such places where ample room could be had by traveling the least dis- tance. Our grandparents required a great deal of space when they got down to business at these early religious meetings. This can be said of the Methodists at any rate. The few Quakers were quiet, and waited for the spirit to move them. The spirit was pretty lively sometimes, judging from the activity at the Quaker meetings. The Baptists built a small brick church quite early at Mount Union, near the graveyard, but prior to this their meetings were held in the old school- house. The church was built not far from 1830. It is thought the Methodists held meetings before the Baptists, and that their small frame church, located just across the line in Lexington Township, was built after the Baptists built theirs. Job Johnson gave the lot upon which the Methodist Church was built. Other churches have succeeded these. School was taught in the old brick Baptist Church. The Catholics have a neat church and cemetery at Strasburg. The building was erected many years ago. The United Brethren have a church on Section 11. It was erected in comparatively late years. The Albrights have a church on Section 22. The Methodists have one at Freeburg. Some of the church societies have died out: others have suffered much from lack of funds and membership. Some have been strong since their organization. Many of the citizens belong to churches located just without the limits of the township. The people are generally moral, and many belong to the churches.

PART III.

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.

CITY OF CANTON.

LAWRENCE ALEXANDER, city woolen mills, Canton ; is a native of Dublin, Ireland, and was born in the year 1815. When 11 years old, he engaged in the woolen trade ; and, having completed his apprenticeship, he, in 1833, eame to the United States, locating in the city of Boston. He worked for about four years in the vieinity of that city, and then went to Philadelphia, remaining there one year, when he came to Massillon, Ohio, and from there went to Waynesburgh, where he lived some ten years. Ile then lived in Lexington Tp. some eight years, after which he came to Can- ton about the year 1855. He rented a mill in Waynesburgh, and bought one while living in Lexington Tp. After coming to Canton, he and John Robbin rented Jacob Sprankle's fac- tory, near the eity, and soon after Mr. Alexander bought his present place, which was originally built for a tannery. He put in the requisite machinery, and has eondueted the woolen busi- ness ever since. During his residenee in Stark Co. he has served as Commissioner two terms. He was married in 1836 to Miss llannah Fitz- gerald, a native of Lowell, Mass. They have four children, viz .: Elizabeth M., Francis A., Augustine and Frank. All live at home except Augustine, who is the Rev. A. Alexander, of Baltimore, of the Catholic Church. Mr. Alex- ander is a Democrat in politics.

JOHN H. ALTEKRUSE, merchant and Sher- ifl; Canton ; was born in Massillon May 6, 1844. His parents, Rudolph and Mary (Uphutf) Altekruse, were natives of Germany, who emi- grated to America in the fall of 1837. and settled in Massillon, Ohio, where they have sinee resided. His father was a shoemaker by

trade, and condueted the business in Massillon until 1868, when he embarked in the grocery trade, and followed the same until the fall of 1879, when he retired to private life. lle is now nearly 70 years of age, enjoys excellent health and is greatly esteemed in the commu- nity. Our subjeet is the oldest and only sur- viving son in a family of eight children, one sister only living, Mrs. Andrew Dangeleisen, of Massillon. Young Altekruse, after having re- ceived a good education in his native town, passed a year with his father in the shop, and one year as elerk in the store of Samuel Goudy, of Massillon. He then became elerk in the hardware store of Kelly & Allen, of Massillon, in which capacity he remained five years. During the war he served in the Ohio National Guard, in Co. A, 162d O. V. I., being stationed at Tod Barracks, Columbus, Ohio. In Febru- ary, 1867, he purchased the grocery store and stock of Charles Hose, of Massillon, and eon- dueted that business over twelve years. Aside from his business associations. he has filled a number of local positions of responsibility and trust in the city and county. In the fall of 1875, he was elected Coroner of Stark Co., and served two years. For three years he filled the office of Township Clerk ; he also served on the Massillon City Council, and for three years was Chief Engineer of the Massillon City Fire De- partment. Five years likewise he was on the City Board of Equalization, and for two years he served on the Massillon Board of Health. In the spring of 1879, he was elected a member of the Massillon Board of Education, and in October of the same year was elected Sheritt of Stark Co., which position he now occupies. In

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polities he is a Democrat, as is also his father. llis religious connection is with the German Reformed Church of Massillon. On July 12, 1866, he married Flora, daughter of Peter Morgenthaler, of Massillon ; the results of this union have been four children, two living. He is a man of fine business ability, quiet, cautious, strictly honorable and greatly esteemed in the community for his genial, social nature and agreeable manner.

ALBERT BALL, Red Jacket Plow Works, Canton ; is the second of a family of nine children, born to Jolin and Martha J. (Grimes) Ball, on the 7th of July, 1830. IIe was raised on the farm near Greentown, in this county, and at the age of 15 began learn- ing the trade of a molder in his uncle's foun- dry ; at 17, he went to Wadsworth, in Medina Co., and then to Wooster; at 19, he went to Fort Defiance, where he took charge of a shop, remaining one year, when he went to North Manchester, Ind., where he commenced the plow business on his own account. After doing a successful business for fourteen years, he sold out, and engaged in the lumber trade in Kosciusko Co., where he operated two mills, with headquarters at Warsaw. He continued this business for four years, the last two of which he had a partner (a Mr. Penticost) who, during ill-health of Mr. Ball, failed to account for large collections made in closing up the business. Upon his recovery, Mr. Ball came to Canton, and traveled one year for John Ball & Co., during which period he invented (Aug. 3, 1871) his Red Jacket plow ; he also patented an iron wagon. He then went to Elkhart, Ind., where he engaged in manufacturing for a year and a half, and, in the meantime, bought a farm near Elkhart, upon which he lived two years. In the spring of 1874, he returned to Canton, and licensed John Ball & Co. to man- ufacture the Red Jacket plow, receiving $1,200 per year, and 25 cents royalty to oversee the work and inspect the plows, and the next year was made Superintendent, serving one year at $1,800, when the company began closing out the business. In 1877, he bought out the busi- ness and works, and began the manufacture, which he has since continued successfully, in- creasing it each year. A large additional brick building, 130x35 feet, two stories high, is now (1881), in course of construction. In Octo- ber, 1849, he was married to Miss Mary A.

Wyandt. a native of Stark Co. They have had six children, four of whom are living, viz. : Lorenzo D., Silas W., Amanda C. (now Mrs. Hubison), and Annette J. (now Mrs. Myers). All are living in Canton.

J. C BOCKIUS, deceased, Canton ; was a native of Prussia; his father, who was a native of Frederick, Md., went to Europe, and while there was " pressed " into the British service, which he deserted in Denmark, and went to Germany; he emigrated to America in 1834, and died in Canton. Our subjeet, when 12 years of age, became attached to the army of Bonaparte, as drummer, remaining with the army until 17 years of age. In 1812, he crossed the Alps with the army on foot, and went to Italy. At the age of 17 he learned the shoemaker's trade in Prussia, and in 1819 emigrated to America. In 1820 he established in Canton the business house which is still transacting business there, He remained in Canton, engaged in active bus- iness life, and taking an interest in all publie measures until his death, in 1878. His wife's maiden name was Rosanna Keller ; she was a native of Baden, and came to Canton with her parents when 12 years of age ; they were mar- ried in Canton May 25, 1825. She died in 1865. There were six girls and seven boys born to them, only six of whom are now living: Lewis V., of Canton ; Henry J. and Charles J., residents of Port Huron, Mich., engaged in the shoe business ; Charles J., of Canton ; Hen- rietta, now Mrs. R. Rohrer, of Freeport, Ill., and Amelia D., now Mrs. Huntington, of George- town, Colo.

L. V. BOCKIUS, boots and shoes, Can- ton ; was born in Canton, in 1826, and was connected with his father as an assistant in his store until May, 1848, when he entered into partnership with him, under the firm name of J. C. Bockius & Son, and has been managing partner up to the present time, with the excep- tion of a few months, when he took a trip to California. In 1870, he took his brother, Ed- ward A., in business with him, which partner- ship terminated at the death of that brother in 1881, and in May, 1881, Charles J. Bockius entered as partner, the firm name now being J. C. Bockius' Sons. Mr. Bockius is one of the leading representative citizens of Canton ; he is, with Mr. D. Tyler, one of the largest stock owners of the Diebold Safe & Lock Co., and is one of the directors of the Valley R. R.,

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with which he has been associated from its in- fancy. He has served the city as Treasurer ; has been a director of the Canton Cemetery, and is now President of that association, and was President of Building Association No. 2, which wound up its affairs satisfactorily. He has been identified with the most prominent movements of the city, and is one of its most honored citizens. Ile was married, in Septem- ber, 1855, to Miss Caroline P. Graham, a native of Stark Co., whose father, John Graham, was one of the earliest settlers of Jackson Tp., and was State Senator for several years. Mr. and Mrs. Bockius have six children-Charles 3 .. Edward G .. Frederick William, Harry G., Catharine A. and Mary H.

CHARLES J. BOCKIUS, boots and shoes. Canton ; is a native of Stark Co., and was an assistant of his father in the store until 17 years of age. He then commeneed learning the watch-maker's trade, and after eighteen months went to Philadelphia, where he remained for two years. In 1855, he went to New York, and remained there until 1861, engaged in the jewelry business. He then removed to Michi- gan, and was in the shoe business with his brothers until August, 1862, when he enlisted in the 22d Mich. V. I., and was in the service nearly three years, in the Army of the Cumber- land under Gen. Thomas, passing through active and severe service, and participating in the en- gagements of Danville, Lebanon, Bowling Green (Ky.), Nashville (Tenn.), Chickamanga, Mission Ridge, Lookout Mountain, Atlanta, etc. After the close of the war, he went to Chicago, and was in the jewelry business there one year; thence to New York, in the same bus- iness, remaining over four years, and again re- turning to Chicago, where he remained in the jewelry business three years, and for six years as Secretary and Treasurer of the Marietta Barge Line Co. In 1881, he returned to Canton, and entered into business with his brother, where he intends to remain. lle was married in 1864. to Miss Helen M. Garlick, of Michigan. They have five children-Mary L., James II., Helen R., Etta L. and Carrie. Mr. Bockius is a mem- ber of the Masonic fraternity, of the K. of II. and G. A. R.

JOSEPH A. BOUR, of Elsass & Bour, furni- ture, Canton : is a native of Canton. and son of Nicholas and Catharine (Deville) Bour. His father was a native of France; his mother of

Belgium ; the former came to Stark Co. in 1835; the latter, with her parents, about 1837 ; they were married in Canton, where they have since resided. The father has been a business man of Canton for many years, but is now living retired. He served as Postmaster of Canton from 1852 until 1860. Our subjeet is the fourth child of a family of ten children ; he was an attendant of the Canton schools until 22 years of age, when he went into the office of Judge Meyer, in 1870, remaining with him until 1874, in practice. He was admitted to the bar in 1874, but, on account of ill-health, could not continue practice. He then engaged at farm- ing for one year, and then removed to New Castle, Penn., where he engaged in the furniture and undertaking business, remaining there until February, 1879, when he returned to Can- ton, and has since then been associated with J. C. Elsass. He has served one term as Deputy County Clerk, and one year as Deputy County Treasurer; is a member of the Legion of Honor and the C. M. B. A. Ile was married in 1874 to Miss Mary Kegler, of Massillon ; they have one child, Eleanor.

DAVID S. BEGGES, merchant, Canton ; is a son of James and Mary (Slusser) Begges; the former, an early and prosperous merchant of Canton, died while in the prime of life, and the latter, the daughter of Philip Slusser, one of Stark Co.'s earliest pioneers. David S. is now about 50 years of age, and owns and conducts one of the largest queens- ware establishments of the county, which is located at Canton. He was educated princi- pally in the Canton schools, finishing. however. at Scott's Academy, of Steubenville, Ohio. He began his business carcer as a salesman, and was connected with different mercantile houses of Canton, until he subsequently engaged in bus- iness on his own account, which he has since conducted successfully.

J. W. BARNABY, County Recorder, is the son of Joseph and Maria (Hoiles) Barnaby. Joseph Barnaby became a resident of Stark Co. about 1836, and subsequently engaged in the mercantile business at Mount Union for a number of years, and in 1861 removed to Alli- ance, where he held the office of Justice of the Peace for a number of terms, and was Mayor of the city at the time of his death, which oc- curred in April, 1877. J. W. has been a resi- dent of the county during his life. and most of

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1060

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892? ed
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1060