History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 69

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 69

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).

392

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

1 and advertised the public that they would take all the wheat they could get, and would pay cash ; and that was the commencement of the prosperity of Massillon. To the firm of HI. B. & M. D. Wellman may be accredited the begin- ning of the great name that Massillon acquired as the " Wheat City," and which it proudly held until the railroad era noticed hereafter. For twenty-five years Massillon knew no competition nor allowed any competition to cross her path. She purchased and stored wheat. paid the largest prices, and grew more rapidly than any commercial point on the navigable waters of the interior of the State. She never knew what it was to call a halt until the building of the Ohio & Pennsylvania Railway and the nummer- ous other railways which offered transportation to markets with which she cannot nor does compete by means of the canal. so far as the grain traffie is regarded as an important factor in the business of the country.

During the year 1827, a movement was made for the establishing of a post office in the new village ; a petition was forwarded to Hon. Jolin McLean, then Postmaster General under Presi- dent Adams, and to appoint Capt. Folger Post- master, Kendal then being the post office at which all mail matter was delivered for the county west of Canton-Jackson, Lawrence, Tuscarawas, Sugar Creek and Bethlehem being without any mail facilities. Of course there were rival candidates for the office, but Capt. Folger received the appointment and opened the office in January, 1828 ; before he moved into the village, his first Assistant Postmaster was Orlando Keyes, a clerk in the store of lliram Johnson, and where the office was kept until Capt. Folger removed into the village, which-as already noticed- was on the 4th of February, 1828 : he then opened the Commer- cial Inn, and kept it as a hotel until his death on the Ist of September , of that year. The first quarterly report from Massillon Post Office. as rendered by Capt. Folger, showed a balance due the Government of 80 cents. On the death of Capt. Folger, his son, William M. Fol- ger, was appointed and held the office until the administration of Gen. Jackson got fairly at work, when Alexander MeCulley was ap- pointed, who held the office until 1839. when the late Hon. Mathew Johnson, Jr., was ap- pointed. MeCulley's accounts had got into a bad shape, the drafts upon the office were not

paid, and MeCulley had to surrender at disere- tion. Mr. Johnson held the office until after the election of "Tippecanoe and Tyler too," when, under the Postmaster Generalship of Hon. Francis Granger, of New York, he sur- rendered to Dr. Abel Underhill. The Doctor held the office until a few months after the death of Gen. Harrison, President, when the Government became Tylerized, and he was re- moved to make room for G. W. Williams, a Tyler man. A change of administration put him out and Samuel McCaughey was appointed ; he held until another change of the appointing power, when Samuel F. Jones took charge ; he held until John Shepley, under another admin- istration, took the office, who was removed to make room for John J. Hofman, who held the place until the late respected Dr. John Schert- zer took the office and held it two terms, when Isaac H. Brown, Esq., was appointed and held it to the satisfaction of all who got their mat- ter at the office, when he gave way for the present incumbent, Charles F. Ricks. Esq., whose second term expires early in 1882, and who has rendered entire satisfaction in all re- speets. The writer of these sketches has wit- nessed all of the above appointments and changes from 1828 to the present time. From the appointment of Capt. Folger to the latest appointment, he has had an opportunity to ex- press his preference between the applicants.

Capt. Folger was also the first Collector of Canal Tolls for the port of Massillon ; at his death, Hon. James Duncan received the ap- pointment for the succession, and held the ofliee many years ; after whom, John Everhard. Mathew Maey, John S. Johnson. Judge Thomas Blackburn and others successively held the office ; it is now held by David Atwater, Esq.

Prominent among the early business men of the village was the late HIon. John Everhard. He erected the first brick building on the west side of the canal, and opened a store, his firm being J. Everhard & Co. Dr. Thomas Ilart- ford, of Canton, being his partner. Mr. Ever- hard erected one of the first warehouses for storing wheat that was erected in the city, and which was built on the lot where now stands Beatty's Block. The last mentioned building was built by the Johnson Brothers in 1837. who from 1832 to 1845, were prominent in business circles. Their business was dry goods and commission merchants, produce dealers,

393

CITY OF MASSILLON.

and shippers on the canal. The old landmarks in the way of business houses that have stood more than forty years, are the building creeted by Gen. Gardner Field, the Farmers' and Me- chanics' Block, erected by Hogan & Harris, now owned by Hon. George Harsh. Coleman's Block, northeast corner of Main and Mill streets, and the building at the east end of the canal bridge, south side of Main street. Older, however, than any other buikling in the city erected after the city was laid out, except the Farmers' Hotel, is the brick building on the west side of the canal, south side of Main street, erected by JJudge Everhard. In this connection, it should be remarked that few men among the early settlers of Massillon have left as good a name, or one that will be re- membered in greater kindness. Although long years have passed since his death. his name is inseparably connected with Massillon's early history.

The first saddler and harness-maker who opened a shop in the village was Thomas S. Webb, now a resident of the city. and better known as Col. T. S. Webb. Since Col. Webb came to Massillon, fifty-two years have flown, during which period Col. Webb will be remem- bered as the host of the Franklin House in this city, the Eagle and I'nion in Philadelphia, the National in New York, and during the Centen- nial year, two in Philadelphia, after having years before retired. As a hotel keeper, he has achieved a world-wide reputation.

In 1831, 1832 and 1833, the business talent and enterprise of the village was largely aug- mented by the new firms of Hogan & Harris, Hull & Shepard, A. & P. Vinton, and J. D. & D. R. Atwater. Messrs. Hogan & Harris were agents for the Ohio, Troy & Erie line of canal boats, and did a large forwarding. com- mission and produce business, going out of business with the changes brought about by the panie of 1837. Messrs. Vinton. as gen- eral dry goods merchants and produce dealers. did business in the village for several years, when they removed to Port Washington, Tus- carawas County, where Mr. P. Vinton died. after many years of successful business. Messrs. Heill & Shepard commenced and continued in the produce business also for many years, and erected the first steam flouring mill in the vil- lage. The Atwater Brothers continued in the grocery and provision business until 1840.

when their firm was dissolved by the death of Mr. J. D. Atwater ; the survivor. D. R. At- water, Esq. continued business until his death, on the 31st of July, 1875, at the age of sixty- eight years. In 1833 also came Dr. Joseph Watson and family, from Dalton, Wayne County. The Doctor at once opened a large drug store, and continued in business until within a few years past, when he disposed of his stock of goods and retired from business and is now quietly enjoying the luxury of

" Blest retirement, friend of life's decline."

The first school opened in Massillon was in 1827. in a building standing on the present cor- ner of Mill and Charles streets, which had been erected by James Duncan. the proprietor, for some other purpose.

" There, in his noisy mansion skilled to rufe. The village master taught his little school."

The village master was a young gentleman who. in the autumn of that year. had left his native home. Berkshire County, Mass .. and came west to find employment as a teacher. That young gentleman is now known in Ohio as Ion. Harlow Chapin, of Harmar. Washington Co., Ohio. Perry Township was all included in one district under the law, as prepared by Hon. James W. Lathrop. The Directors were James Duncan, Alexander Johnson and Gilbertharp Earle. Mr. Duncan was a resident of the village. and Mr. JJohnson resided on his farm southwest of the village, and Mr. Earle on his farm north- west. The amount of money which was raised by taxation was not half enough to pay the teacher, and the deficit was made up by volun- tary subscriptions by the parents or guardians of the scholars. The School Districts of Perry Township now number ton, each having a good schoolhouse. independent of Massillon Union School, which enumerates 2, 161 children entitled to the benefits of the common school fund.

Mr. Chapin had tried in Medina County to obtain a school, but the ground was occupied ; he came into Stark County, James F. Leonard being then a School Examiner : under the pro- visions of the law. although Mr. Chapin was provided with a certificate from Medina, he was not authorized to teach in Stark County until he could produce a certificate from a Stark County Examiner. On making the acquaint- ance of Mr. Leonard, whom Mr. Chapin found to

894

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

be a " very kind-hearted man," he obtained the necessary authority to teach in Stark. Armed with the proper authority and encouraged. with but 188 cents, as money was then counted, in his pocket, he arrived at Massillon and at once took lodgings with Jacob Miller, and made known his business. Mr. Miller said a school was needed. and tendered his aid at once, but there was no building suitable -- in fact, no build- ing at all.

It would be interesting to narrate the trials and tribulations through which Mr. Chapin passed in order to open a school. Mr. Duncan treated him with habitual kindness, but was " very busy," and referred him to the other Directors, Messrs. Johnson and Earle, who gave little encouragement. The truth was every- body was poor in this world's goods : they were rich in hopes of the developments of the " shadowy future," but they had not learned to wisely improve the present so far as education was concerned ; they were men of limited edu- cation themselves, consequently had not that appreciation of the necessity to

"Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring."

room, " and all was ready," as Mr. Chapin says, for the first school in Massillon.

Mr. Chapin's first term was such a success that he was immediately employed for a second, at the end of which his school elosed with a theatrical exhibition in the ball-room of Judge Miller's Hotel. Mr. Chapin was assisted in his histrionie effort to close his school with eclat, by outside parties, " who with the school acquitted themselves with eredit, and elicited praise from a full house."

Mr. Chapin furnishes a most graphic account of his labors in thus starting and closing the first school, and which, did room permit, would cheerfully be given at length ; those who recol- lect the early means of education may make a large draft on their imagination for what he has so kindly written, in aid of Massillon's early history. In naming the early pupils whom he taught in the little building, he gives those of Amelia and Fanny Heydon, the former of whom is now Mrs. Folger of this eity, and the latter, Mrs. Finton, wife of Alvin Finton, Esq., an em- inent banker and capitalist at New Philadel- phia and Dover in Tuscarawas Co., Ohio ; JJames Henry, son of Hon. James Duncan, who died in 1828, an unusually bright young man, whose death was long mourned by his parents and friends ; Mary G., daughter of Mr. Dunean, af- terward wife of the late Hon. J. L. Reynolds, of Chicago, now residing at Grand Rapids, Mich .; Caroline, also a daughter of Mr. Duncan, after- ward Mrs. Wheeler, wife of Hon. H. Wheeler, Jr., Superintendent of the Massillon Rolling Mill Co., by whom she was left a widow in 1841, she subsequently married David J. Ely, Esq., a prominent merchant in New York, and is now a widow enjoying a competence, and residing in the city of her husband's business and resi- dence. Mr. Chapin also mentions George, a son, whose death is noticed elsewhere in these sketches, and Mary and Clarissa Miller, daugh- ters of his patron and friend, Judge Miller; Mary became the wife of Henry Waggoner, and died in Cincinnati, and Clarissa, by her second marriage, is the widow of the late Dr. J. P. Bar- rick, her first husband being Pomroy Baldwin, Esq. Mrs. Folger and Mrs. Barrick are the last of Mr. Chapin's scholars now residing in this city.

While despair seemed almost to hold Mr. Chapin within its dreaded grasp. he fell in with John Everhard, one of the pioneers of Massillon, a School Examiner. a gentleman of education and refinement-a son of llenry Everhard, a pioneer settler of Plain Township-and who at once interested himself for the young. friendless and penniless teacher. Mr. Everhard. after- ward Associate Judge of the Common Pleas Court, went to the Directors and obtained their consent to the opening of a school in the build- ing described, and which is well remembered by the writer as being about twenty feet square. A contract was made, and Mr. Chapin opened the first school in what is now the city of Mas- sillon. the teacher to receive 812 per month and board, which was to be with Mr. Miller, neces- sarily often referred to in these sketches, and who gave his full influence to the enterprise. AHl arrangements being made, no time was lost in obtaining and placing the meager stock of furniture for Mr. Chapin's school, which con- sisted of four long slab benches or seats, with- out backs, and a sort of sloping shelf on one side of the room for practicing writing, with a After Mr. Chapin coneluded his teaching, he went into the service of the State as engineer large open fire-place on another side capable of receiving cord-wood from which to warm the . on the Ohio Canal ; thence as contractor on the

395

CITY OF MASSILLON.

Muskingum improvements. He married Han- nah. daughter of Gilbertharp Earle, Esq., and has lived in Harmar many years. le repro- sented Washington County in the Constitutional Convention of 1873, and life-long has sustained a position commanding the respeet and esteem of the people of the State.

Mr. Chapin's school was followed by many teachers. men and women, and among those ever ready to aid in the cause of education were Judge Miller. Hon. Arvine Wales and the late Dr. William Bowen. Dr. Bowen became a resi- dent of this city before the organization of the Union School, and remained here until it was in successful operation, when he removed to Akron, where his useful life closed a few years ago. at the age of seventy years. Sinee Mr. Chapin closed his school at Massillon. he seems to have abandoned the profession of a teacher. educated as a civil engineer. and succeeding in getting positions more to his taste than teach- ing ; he has not, since leaving Massillon, accepted any of the numerous positions as an educator that have been within his reach. His failure to follow a business for which he was so well qualified by nature and education is to be re- gretted, as his labors as a teacher in this city will ever be kindly remembered. To attempt to enumerate those who have followed him in this city. between the time of his teaching until the organization of the I'nion School. now the pride of the city. would be a hopeless task. It can- not, however, be said of him, as of him of Sweet Auburn-

"But past is all his fame : the very spot.

Where many a time he triumphed is forgot."

On the contrary, he will be ever gratefully re- membered by bis surviving pupils, and the spot where stood the old schoolhouse will not be permitted to be lost " in memory's waste."

The influence left by Mr. Chapin's school continued to live and thrive. The people of Massillon. young as was their village, felt the importance of education. They realized that England's Lord Chancellor. who defended Queen Caroline, uttered a great truth when he said. " The schoolmaster is abroad." and that " the schoolmaster is greater than the soldier." Mr. Chapin was sneceeded by many teachers : the names of but few are remembered. John Mark. Brice S. Hunter, Wallace and Miss Grosvenor are, however, among those whose names as teachers deserve mention.

When Messrs. Duncan, Wales and Skinner purchased the real estate of the " Kendal Com- inunity." they laid out a portion of it into lots as an addition to the village, and named it Dunean, Wales & Skinner's Addition. This was in 1832. They donated a square containing near two acres for " literary purposes." The first use to which this donation was put, was by a Mr. Wallace, whose Christian name is not re- membered ; he taught for some time success- fully. but it was not until 1848 that Massillon Union Schools were organized and in successful operation. In 1847, a plan of a union school was gotten up by William Bowen, M. D. who with Arvine Wales and Charles London, were elected Directors. The plan of a building was fixed upon, and on the 21st of February. 1845, the General Assembly of the State of Ohio passed " An act entitled, an act to incorporate School District Number One, in Perry Township. Stark County, Ohio." I'nder that act. the Board of Directors organized by electing Charles London, President ; Arvine Wales. Treasurer ; and William Bowen, Secretary. Of that first Board of Directors of Massillon U'n- ion School. Charles London is the sole survivor, a firm friend of education, honored and respect- ed wherever he is known. On perfecting their organization, the Board appointed Philander Dawley (who at that time was Superintendent of the Charity School of Kendal) George Miller and Kent Jarvis, Esqs., examiners for the dis- triet, to serve three years, two years and one year in the order named. The teachers em- ployed for the year were Lorin Andrews, Super- intendent and Principal, salary $800 ; Miss Bet- sey M. Cowles, $300 and board paid ; Miss Jane M. Becket. $300 : Charles R. Shreve, $200; Mary Ann Russell, 8225 ; and Sarah J. Hoxworth, $140. In 1849. the corps of teachers was in- ereased by the addition of Miss Sarah C. Pearce and Mr. Frederick Loeffler, teacher of German and Music. This year the first catalogue was published and among the pupils in the high school is found the name of W. B. Hazen, Hiram. Portage County. now tien. W. B. Hazen. U. S. Army and Chief of the Signal Service. He left Massillon in 1850. and was appointed to the U. S. Military Academy that year or the next. graduated after the usual course of study. and has served in the F. S. Army with distinc- tion ever since.

Mr. Andrews resigned in 1552 to accept the

396

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

Presidency of Kenyon College, at Gambier, Knox County. Ohio, where he remained until the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, when he resigned and entered the army ; was appoint- ed Colonel of the Fourth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, and died in the service.

The Union School of Massillon, was opened in a plain substantial brick building, erected on the lot donated by Messrs. Duncan, Wales & Skinner, by the board already named, and it must be said of the board, they builded as well as they knew. They had no experience in building or furnishing such honses as are now required by the Union Schools of Ohio. The building stood for thirty years, when it yielded to the unchangeable law of change which always enforces obedience, and in its place stands the grandest structure in Ohio, finished in 1879 at a cost, including heating apparatus, seats, an additional square of land purchased on the north of the school building, outbuildings. well and cistern and grading of the new lot, of i $48,000, imposing a tax cheerfully borne by the district. The board who erected the build- ing and watched its progress with characteris- tie fidelity were Henry Beatty. John R. Dang- ler. J. E. Brown, J. G. Warwick, James II. Jus- tus, W. B. Ilumberger, S. A. Conrad and Dr. J. P. Barrick. Messrs. Conrad and Humberger have served as members of the board nine and eight years respectively. Dr. Barrick did not live to witness the completion of a work to which he faithfully devoted his careful atten- tion.

Of the many Boards of Education that have been elected for the Union Schools of Massillon, the following gentlemen are conspicuous. The first Board entire. Arvine Wales served until his death, January 1, 1854. Dr. Bowen, for his devotion to the cause of education, as does citizen Charles London, deserves especial men- tion. Ilon. Arvine C. Wales has served thirteen years. Hon. George Harsh was elected in 1851 and served until 1869, the full period of eighteen years, when in consequence of failing health, he declined a seventh election. No vil- lage or city in Ohio has been more favored in its selection of wise and prudent men for its school boards, than has the city of Massillon. By a vote of the citizens, and according to the provisions of the amended school law, the number of members of the Board was increased from three to six and the following gentlemen

were elected. Hon. Kent Jarvis, S. A. Conrad, James Il. Justus, Warren (. Richards, Frank L. Ballwin and William B. Ilumberger. Messrs. Jarvis and Richards, both of whom were for many years identified with the public service, holding offices of trust. the duties of which they always faithfully discharged, are dead.

After the resignation of Mr. Andrews, Hon. Thomas W. Harvey, late State School Commis- sioner, was appointed Superintendent and held the place fourteen years, his terin of service closing in July, 1865. He was succeeded by Professor Joseph Kimball, who remained until 1869, when Prof. E. A. JJones served for four years, until 1873. Mr. Jones then declining a re-election, D. P. Pratt was called to the super- intendeney and remained from 1873 to 1875, when Mr. Jones was again tendered the posi- tion and accepted and remains at the head of the schools.

Among the teachers who have served long and faithfully should be named Miss Jane M. Becket, ten years in the high school, Miss Nancy Stone, in the different departments, including the high school, fourteen years, both of whom are well known in Ohio as teachers and as hav- ing occupied important positions as educators. Miss Sarah J. Hoxworth began as a teacher in the primary when the school was first or- ; ganized, and served in the different depart- ments until 1872, when she resigned her posi- tion in the high school, having taught more than twenty-three years in the same building. Miss Sallie Brannan was connected with the schools as teacher thirteen years, and is now teaching in the same building. Miss Temperance Dunn and Miss Sarah R. Folger. ten years each. Miss Dunn is not now living and Miss Folger holds a prominent position in the " Mann" High School, at Toledo, where she has taught many years since leaving the high school here. For nine years last past Mrs. L. D. Pinney has been Principal in the high school, where her la- bors have been distinguished by marked success. The Union Schools of Massillon. whether con- sidered in the past or present, need no praise from the historian. For the third of a century, they have been making their own history, and have written it ineffaceably upon the character of the scholars. Young men and women who have graduated there and become teachers, entered the learned professions, graduated at the U. S. Military and Naval Academies, and

397

CITY OF MASSILLON.

have arisen to honorable distinction, and some are achieving honorable distinction in the serv- ice of the State and United States.

During that long period the school has taken no steps backward. Under the present as well as the past management of the Board of Edu- cation and teachers its march will be as it has ' been onward to greater improvement and greater excellence. Its present Board of Education is composed of the following gentlemen : John G. Warwick, Silas A. Conrad. Henry Beatty. Will- iam B. Humberger. William H. Justus and John R. Dangler.

The following is the corps of teachers : Super- intendent. Prof. E. A. Jones : Principal High School, Mrs. L. D. Pinney ; Assistant, Miss Cassie Reamer ; Grammer School, Mr. John Ellis. Miss Emily Brainard, Miss Mary Dieter. Mr. Jacob Graybill and Mrs. Laura Taylor ; Secondary. Miss Susie Graybill, Miss Mary Merwin, Miss Ella Hershey, Miss Laura Ware, Miss Viola Pepper : Primary. Miss Rachel Elsass. Miss Sallie Brannan, Miss Bell Willi- son, Miss Lillian Ulman, Miss Reilly, Miss Ada Hollinger. Miss Louisa Strobel and Mrs. C. Moore ; German, Mr. Philip Wilhelm : Music. Prof. Whelpton.

In 1838, when Hon. Matthew JJohnson was a member of the House of Representatives in the State Legislature, an act of incorporation for the town of Massillon was obtained. and an organization was had which lasted until 1845. when in answer to numerous petitions the art was repealed, and Massillon was not known as a municipal incorporation until 1853, when un- der the provisions of the general act regulat- ing towns and cities, it was again incorporated, and at the first election, held on the 28th day of May. 1853. being the first election under the proceedings to incorporate the village, Samnel Pease was elected Mayor. G. W. Williams, Re- corder and Hiram B. Wellman, Isaac H. Brown, Thomas Met'ullongh, Valentine S. Bockius and Warren C. Richards, Trustees. and they consti- tuted the Council of the incorporated village of Massillon. On the 31st of May next succeed- ing the election. the persons above named met at the office of H. B. Wellman, and were duly sworn according to law by Robert H. Folger, Justice of the Peace, and the Council of the in- corporated village was organized in due form of law, which organization continued until the 17th of March. 1868, when by act of R. B.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 69

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