History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 55

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

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

Ile had a farm below town, the same land which is now occupied by several thousand people. known as South Canton. On it he had built a frame house, the one formerly occupied by Mr. Peter Housel. Coulter rented his Canton prop- erty to Dr. Thomas Hartford, who came to Canton that spring from New York State. Dr. Hartford was a man of large heart. kind and benevolent. As an instance of his generous feeling. here is an advertisement. copied from the Repository of June 12, 1820 :

" Mr. Thomas Hartford HEREBY informs such as are in indigent circumstances, in the county of Stark. that in cases of sickness adrice and medicine will be given to them gratis." Imag- ine a physician of Stark County of the present day. offering to the poor of the county advice and medicine gratuitously. Such examples, however, were no more characteristic of that day than of the present. It is in proof, that a cotemporary physician, for three visits in a case of fever. took the only cow a poor man had. Then no property was exempt from exe- cution for debt, and rather than have her levied upon by the Constable. and sold for what she would bring, he gave her to the rapacious doc- tor. There is no doubt that Dr. Hartford was sincere in making this proposition, that it was in good faith, and not for " buncombe" or to advertise himself. It is well known that his heart went out in charity for the poor. His munificent bequest to the poor of Canton, which they are enjoying to-day. is only one of the many evidences showing his benevolent dis- position. In 1821, Dr. Hartford bought the property from Coulter for $2,000. The price was considered high, but it was in a time of general prosperity, and prices had become in- flated. The Doctor had a drug store in the lower room in connection with his practice. In a few years after, his nephew, John Titus, came from the East, and assisted him as clerk. With drugs, he also kept dry goods. There are many still living in Canton who will remember John Titns, from the sport they had as boys at his expense. In 1830, Hartford sold the south half of the lot to Luther L. Foote, his brother- in-law, for $600. As the number of physi- cians increased in Canton, Dr. Hartford gradu- ally withdrew from practice. He continued his store, and would prescribe for all who applied withont charge. He was then in good circum- stances, owning considerable real estate in and

around Canton. He never had any children. Mrs. Ifartford was much like her husband, and was a very estimable lady, highly esteemed by all who enjoyed her personal acquaintance. Law- yer Metcalf, of Canton, a particular friend of Dr. Hartford's, removed to Pittsburgh, and in a year or two after indueed the Doctor to follow him. Following the Doctor's removal, the property was occupied by different parties as rentors. C'anton at that time was flat, Massil- lou taking the lead. and the rent was merely nominal. Among the different occupants re- membered was Joe Parker, a tailor, with a wooden leg, who for several years was bell- ringer. At that time a town ordinance required the court house bell to be rung at 8:30 A. M., at 12 M. and at 9 P. M. The ringing at night was the signal for the stores to close, work to cease in the mechanic shops, the boys to leave the streets. and everybody to retire to their virtuous couches. The apprenticeship system was then in vogue, and men in the mechanical arts worked fifteen hours a day. There were no saloons. Topers kept their whisky at home, or got it at the taverns. The only luxury to be had in town was spruce beer and ginger- bread. But we are wandering from the text. Dr. Hartford sold the corner half, including the brick house, in 1839. to John Bauer, for $1,500. Bauer opened a grocery, which, in after years, partook of the character of a saloon. Bauer was County Recorder trom 1843 to 1845. In 1849, he sold out to a company composed of Henry Somers, David and John Garber and Abram Richards. They rented the property to Christian Oberly, who purchased it in 1861, for the same they gave. During the time Mr. Oberly occupied the old brick and its back ad- dition, and the property adjoining it on the south he has used it as an eating house and saloon. In the year 1877. Mr. Oberly sold twenty-three feet front and two hundred back to the alley in the rear. to Sherrick & Miller. for $10,000. During flush times he could easily have had double that amount. Sherrick & Miller, one of our best established hardware firms, both of them gentlemen of great business capacity, of great experience particularly in their line of business, and of strict integrity and morality. tore down the old corner building. the old time-honored brick that had weathered the storms of more than seventy years, and erected in its place their

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splendid three-story brick building, twenty- three feet by one hundred and eleven. in the year 1879, and as soon as it was finished re- moved their business into it. The building is both a credit to them and an honor to the city. The old one had a checkered experience, and was equally honored in its day : but all old things must yield to the progressive spirit of the age.

Everything almost of a tangible nature hav- ing reference to the original incorporation of the village or town of Canton has been lost, and, so far as we have been able to learn. after the most diligent inquiry, there is no one now living among us able to give definite informa- tion on the subject. But from an act passed hy the General Assembly, entitled " An act to incorporate the town of Canton," in March, 1838. when C. Anthony was Speaker of the House of Representatives, and George 1. Smith was Speaker of the Senate, in Section 18 of said act, we find a repealing clause referring to a preceding act for the same purpose, as follows : "That the act entitled . An act to incorporate the town of Canton, in the county of Stark." passed the thirtieth day of January. eighteen hundred and twenty-two ; and the act entitled ' An act to amend the act entitled, An act to in- corporate the town of Canton, in the county of Stark, passed February ninth, eighteen hundred and twenty-nine. he, and the same is hereby re- pealed." As early as the year 1822, therefore. Canton was an incorporated town or village; from some later publie action, it seems that in- corporated town and incorporated village were at that time treated as synonymous terms. The act of 1838 provided for a division of the town into four wards, bounded precisely as the four wards of the city are at this time. It pro- vided for a Town Council consisting of the Mayor. Recorder, and two members of each ward, and into the hands of this body " the government of said town, and the exercise of its corporate powers " were vested. In August of the same year, 1838. the names of John Myers, Mayor, and of Arnold Lynch. Recorder.

appear upon the ordinance book. In May, 1839. from the same source we find that Jacob Rex was Mayor, and D. A. Agnew, Recorder. On the old ordinance book we find the last ordinance of the Town Council, entitled " An ordinance to regulate the sale of intoxicating liquors and for other purposes." passed Aug. 14, 1852, at- tested by Benjamin F. Leiter, Mayor, and J. B. Estep, Recorder, and then two blank pages evi- dently left for recording some other ordinances, which for some reason or other was never done, and the next ordinance recorded is in the name of the " Incorporated Village of t'anton," passed in July, 1853, and is attested by John Lahm, Mayor. and J. B. Estep. Recorder. The expla- nation of this apparently anomolous change of names is probably found in the fact that after the adoption of the new constitution of the State, in 1852. the Legislature, early in 1853, passed an act whereby a new classification of towus was ordained, and ('anton, under the law, became an incorporated village. About this time, viz .. July, 1853, with a change in the name of the corporation. there seems to have been a general overhauling of the older ordinances for the direction of the Mayor, the Recorder, the Marshals and the Treasurer, and prescribing their duties, as well as ordinances regulating the liquor traffic and providing against offenses of various kinds opposed to the public moral- ity. The village organization. however, cou- tinued only about one year, when. under author- ity of the same law by which she had become a village, an act of the Village Council, March 22, 1854, changed Canton into a city of the sec- ond class; and under the present classification it is in the third grade of second class cities. John Lahm at this time was still Mayor, and James B. Estep, Recorder. After this time, the ordinances were attested by the President of the Council, and the Clerk of the city. Thomas Goodman was the first President, and James B. Estep, the first t'lerk under the new organization. This organization of Canton con- tinues substantially the same to the present time.

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

CHAPTER X .*

THE CITY OF CANTON-ITS GROWTH AND INCREASE OF WEALTH -SLACKWATER NAVIGATION- ORIGIN OF AULTMAN WORKS-PRESENT PROPORTIONS OF THEIR BUSINESS-OTHER MACHINE WORKS AND INDUSTRIES-CAPITAL AND LABOR EMPLOYED -CENSUS STATISTICS-WATER WORKS, ETC., ETC

" Like clocks, one wheel another one must drive; Affairs by diligent labor only thrive."-Chapman. r THE war of 1812 greatly interfered with T immigration Westward, and the tide did not set in again with much vigor until some years after it was over. Still, quite a number of families, many of whose descendants are still residing here, came in after the war, and before the year 1820. Among these may be enumerated the Buckius, the Dunbar, the Rex, the Saxton, the Myers, the Sherrick, the Dan- nor. the Kitzmiller, the Hanes. the Trump. the Hippy. the White, the Sprankle, the Smith, the Bucher, the Webb and the Whipple families, with others whose names have not been learned. When immigration commenced again. Canton had the steady and gradual growth character- istic of most other Western towns at the time. One of the greatest hindrances in the way of progress was the lack of facilities for carrying to market the surplus products of the sur- rounding country. At that time there were no railroads, there was no canal, and the ordinary roads in poor condition and impassable for heavily-loaded teams a great part of the year. Consequently, such articles as butter and eggs brought only a nominal priee, and even wheat. oats and corn were extremely low. The ordi nary prices of these things were before 1830 as follows : Eggs, 4 cents a dozen ; butter. 6 cents a pound ; wheat from 25 to 30 cents a bushel. and corn and oats from 12 to 15 cents, and that not in cash, but in trade. Of course every navigable stream was regarded as an inestima- ble feature of the country through which it passed ; Canton, in the forks of Nimishillen Creek, was at the head of navigation. Boats. called pirogues, capable of carrying a ton, were in common use for ordinary transportation. and flat-boats for flour, bacon and whisky. These started just below town, and their usual destina- tion was New Orleans. In the earlier days, before * Contributed by Prof. Daniel Worley,

the country was cleared up, the usual stage of water in the Nimishillen and Tusearawas was much higher than after, and this made naviga- tion, at least part of the year. possible for light craft ; but at the best it was difficult, and at- tended with much risk to property. The pirogue and flat-boat furnished a partial relief. but by no means all that the wants of a rapidly devel- oping country called for. The completion of the Ohio Canal, in 1830, gave a new impetus to general business and the farming interest of The country far and wide, but it was a severe blow to the commercial interests of Canton. The Ohio Canal was eight miles distant, and on its bank a new and rival town sprang up, and soon became the center of trade for fitty or sixty miles around. Massillon's prosperity and rapid growth worked great disadvantage to the interests of Canton for many years, and excited a jealousy between the two towns which was not removed for a great while. To offset the advantage of the canal to Massillon, a number of enterprising citizens of Canton projected the Nimishillen and Sandy Slack- water Navigation Company, for the purpose of building a canal along the Nimishillen Creek to connect with the Sandy and Beaver. Work was commenced and considerable was done toward constructing this branch canal, in an- ticipation of the great impetus it would give again to business ; there was a temporary re- vival, and in view of immense profits to insure speedily, much property at high prices, changed hands : but, alas! for human hopes and ex- pectations. A panie followed. when work had but rightly commenced, and the enterprise was abandoned : those who had bought property at high figures a short time before suffered loss. The failure of this project put even a greater damper on the prospects of Canton. For Twenty years there was but little improvement. if there was not indeed an actual retrogression. Massillon became noted as the wheat city, and

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went rapidly forward, and Canton stood still. So it continued until the year 1851, when the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad was located just south of the town, as it was at that day ; this road went into operation in the early part of 1852, as far west as Massillon. The railroad company did not always act in the most favorable way toward Canton, nor did they assist any by offering special facilities in building up her interests ; it is even claimed by some that there was a constant disposition to discriminate against her, until when, within a very few years, the opening up of the Valley Railroad to Cleveland gave a new outlet East and West to Canton industries. In view of the early completion of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago Railroad, nevertheless, Ball, Ault- man & Co., determined to remove their works from Greentown to Canton to avail themselves of the advantages of the new railroad, secured lots on the line of the road, erected their build- ings, and, in the latter part of 1851, they brought their tools and fixtures from Green- town to Canton, and a brighter day began at once to dawn upon this city ; the gloom and depression of many years gradually removed, and Canton again entered upon the march of progress, which has gone on steadily forward ever since, with but little interruption, and that but temporary. As the removal of this bnsi- ness to Canton is the date of a new era. it will, undoubtedly, be of great service to the younger portion of our citizens. and to after generations of Canton's children, as well as eminently just to the memory of the honored members of the firm, to put in permanent form a complete his- tory of the rise and progress of these works in ('anton, as we find it in the Chicago Commer- cial Advertiser. of February 26, 1880, which is acknowledged as accurate and satisfactory. as follows :

When it is considered that within the brief period of a quarter of a century the wonderfully effective mowing-machine of to-day has been brought to its present stage of perfection by the pre-eminent genius and skill of American in- ventors, the mind dwells upon the fact with un- stinted admiration, heightened by the thought of how completely this marvelous aid to the husbandman has revolutionized the methods of agricultural pursuits. The model and pro- gressive farmer of the present day may well look back a couple of decades and wonder how

he possibly could have accomplished his har- vesting by the tedious processes then com- monty employed-how he ever could have garnered his crops with the old-fashioned seythe, sickle and grain cradle. Certain it is that were it not for our labor-saving agricult- ural machines, this country would not now enjoy her proud position of being the principal grain-producing and world-feeding nation, whereby her wealth is angmented by hundreds of millions of dollars annually. The me- chanical facilities thus supplied have within a few years given a surprising impetus to the de- velopment of our agricultural resources, and by their great economy in gathering the crops, have enabled us to beat the world in producing cheap breadstuffs, as our gratifying export sta- ticties plainly indicate. The invention and perfection of American harvesting machinery, then, may rightly be regarded as one of the chief promoters of our country's rapid develop- ment and remarkable prosperity ; and in the light of this fact, it seems almost incredible that the original introduction into use of these now in- dispensable auxiliaries to the successful cultiva- tion of the soil was attended with very serious obstacles, not the least of which was the strong prejudice and opposition manifested by farmers and farm laborers to the employment of these "new fangled " devices. Deeming that a con- cise and accurate history of the mowing ma- chine and kindred farm apparatus would prove of interest to many people, and in view of the fact that the city of Canton is the recognized headquarters in this line of production. we have devoted considerable time to collating in- formation upon this interesting subject.

The opening of this historical sketch takes us back to the year 1848, when in the little rural borough of Greentown, a village of some 300 souls, situate about nine miles north of Canton. Mr. Cornelius Aultman, who had learned the machinist's trade, made the patterns and built on his own account five of the okl Hussey Reapers- the first machines of the kind ever made in Ohio, with the exception of a few made at Martin's Ferry, opposite Wheeling, in the year previous. Mr. Michael Dillman, a pro- gressive farmer with ample means, living near Greensburg, Summit Co., had purchased and used one of these machines during the season, and was so well pleased with its work that he proposed joining Mr. Aultman in his new un-

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dertaking, and accordingly, in the spring of ; posing of their machines, inasmuch as there 1849, they both removed to Plainfield, Will Co., , was a strong feeling of prejudice existing in TIl., where they constructed these machines for two seasons-some thirty-seven in all-and the neighboring farmers came to their shop and bought them readily. The Hussey was a one- wheeled machine, adapted only for reaping pur- poses, In the spring of 1850, Mr. Hussey, of Baltimore, Md., the inventor of this machine, but who had done very little toward manufact- uring and introducing it, learning that it was being successfully produced in the West, con- eluded that it was worth looking after, jour- neyed to Ilinois and informed the makers that he held patents on the machine, and claimed royalty on all that had been turned out. They finally settled the matter by paying him $15 on each machine.

After the close of the harvest season, in 1850, Mr. Aultman sold out his interest at Plainfield, and returned to Greentown in De- cember of that year. The manufacture of the Hussey machine was continued at Plainfield for a time, and the business was subsequently removed to Joliet, Il., where the same machine was manufactured for a number of years, and afterward the Bell machine, until about 1858, when the proprietors there secured a license to build the Buckeye machines. After Mr. Ault- man's return to Greentown. Mr. Ephraim Ball. manifesting much confidenee in him, wanted him to buy an interest in the foundry located there. then run in the name of Wise & Ball. Mr. Aultman had contemplated returning again to the West, but said if Mr. Ball woukd consent to move the establishment. within three years, to a more eligible locality, he would take an interest therein. This was agreed to, and he thereupon, abont March 1, 1851, purchased the one-third interest of Michael Wise, and a like interest of Lewis Acker, in the foundry. Shortly after- ward. Mr. Aultman transferred a one-sixth in- terest to his brother-in-law, David Fouser, one- sixth to George Cook, who was a wagon-maker by trade, and one-sixth to his stepbrother, Lewis Miller, leaving Mr. Aultman one-sixth interest, and Mr. Ball one-third. The firm now became Ball, Aultman & Co., and they at once proceeded to enlarge their business. For the season of 1851, they turned out twelve Hussey machines and six threshers. all of which were sold to farmers in the vicinity. But the firm did not have absolute " plain sailing" in dis-

the minds of farmers and farm hands against the radical " innovation." In this connection. many things occurred that were positively amusing, while other situations were equally perplexing. But these prejudices and hard feelings gradually wore away, and after two or three years had elapsed, and the farming com- munity generally had begun to properly appre- ciate the valuable aid furnished by harvesting machinery, the bitter contest well nigh ceased. The Hussey machine, as we have said, worked well as a reaper, but could not be used as a mower. A demand sprung up for a device that would meet this want, and in answer thereto, the Ketcham Mower was invented, and placed on the market, in 1851, and in 1852. quite a number of these machines were put into use. About the same time, the Allen Mower, made in the vicinity of New York City, was introduced. Both of these were one- wheeled machines, and did not meet with marked success.

After the harvest of 1851, the Pittsburgh, Ft. Wayne and Chicago Railway, having then been graded, and soon ready to be opened to Canton, Messrs. Ball and Aultman came to the latter place, and looked over the ground, with the view to securing better manufacturing and shipping facilities. They selected three lots on the line of the new railway, each 45x40 feet, being a part of the present site of their works, returned and reported to their associ- ates what they could do. and thereupon, they unanimously decided to remove to Canton. The committee immediately came here and consummated the purchase. Mr. Aultman, who was recognized as manager, moved to Canton, on the 16th of September following, and put up brick buiklings -wood-shop. 40x60 feet ; finishing-shop, 55x40 feet ; and mokling-shop, 65x40 feet, the former two, of two stories, the last. of one. In December, 1851. they trans- ported their tools and fixtures from Greentown to Canton, and commenced operations. A stock company was then formed. each partner putting in what he could, and sharing the profits in ratio thereto. At this juncture, Mr. Jacob Miller, farmer, and brother of Lewis Miller, became a copartner, contributing to the capital the sum of $1,000. An inventory of the tools, etc., was taken, and each of the

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five copartners (Ephraim Ball, Cornelius Aultman, George Cook, Lewis Miller and Jacob Miller) was credited with his pro- portionate interest. The total capital of the company, when they started in Canton. including material, property at Greentown. and estimated value of "good will," was $4,500. For the harvest of 1852. they built twenty-five Hussey Machines, with six-foot iron finger-bars, to be used as mowers, being intended for combined machines. They worked satisfactorily as reapers, but. for several reasons. they failed as practical mowers. In the fall of 1852, up to which time Mr. Aultman had done the buying and selling, and keeping books for the concern, he went to Ilinois, and there made the acquaintance of Thomas R. Tonner, who was known as a good hook-keeper, and being favor- ably impressed, prevailed upon him to come to Canton. and keep their books. When Ton- ner arrived here he had just a dime in his pocket. He proved a valuable man, as he was very systematic, and regulated things generally. lle was made the Cashier, and the partners had to go to him when they wanted money. Before that, they were in the habit of helping them- selves, when there was eash in the till, each one charging himself with whatever sum he appropriated. When clerking in Pennsyl- vania, Tonner had got accustomed to the ways of that region. one of which was a trifle un- business-like, to wit, when a note fell dne, it was not considered as a compromise of credit to allow it to go unhonored for a week or so. lle started out in Canton with this notion clinging to him, but Aultman said they must take care of their notes, in order to maintain their eredit, to his mind a very important matter. Tonner soon saw this in the same light. and looked well after the notes, even if by so doing. the firm were obliged to do with- out pocket-money for a time. To this well- established credit, they attribute their success- ful weathering of the panic of 1857. as. had it not been for their reputation for commercial honor, they could not have passed through that trying ordeal unscathed. The business of the company so rapidly increased, that it was found necessary to procure additional clerical

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 55

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