History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 73

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 73

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414

HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

Near the close of the Pontificate of Pope Gregory XVI, there came into the village a Presbyterian minister by the name of Delavan. and the Presbyterian pulpit being vacant, he, Mr. Delavan, was temporarily employed. He at onee commenced preaching sermons and publishing articles in the newspapers against the Catholic Church, and especially against Pope Gregory XVI. The irreverent boys about town gave him the sobriquet of - Pope Greg- ory," which fastened itself upon him until he was better known by that name than any other. Flis articles were replied to with great spirit and ability by Finnegan, over his initials. His familiarity with the history of the Church, and his quotations from the Fathers, accompanied by translations, surprised everybody, and the Presbyterian minister found his match. lis perfect discomfiture by the Irish cooper did much to prevent his being permanently em- ployed by the Presbyterians.

At the time Mr. Delavan left, a most amus- ing incident occurred. A meeting had been called by the Presbyterians to determine wheth- er they would employ him, F. M. Keith. Esq., then of the law firm of Pease & Keith, being his warm friend and a member of the church. On the evening of the meeting. he went into the office and had a conference with Mr. Keith, after which Messrs. Pease. Keith and two students went to the church. the students to see what would become of " Pope Gregory," under the championship of their preceptor. When the vote was taken upon employing Mr. Delavan permanently, there was but one in his favor. After the elose of the meeting, he again went to the office and found one of the students in, and at once asked him if " there was a good degree of unanimity in the proceedings ?" " Oh yes," replied the young man. " It lacked but a single vote of entire unanimity." Mr. Delavan seemed delighted and left for his lodgings, and encountered Mr. Keith on the way, who gave him the facts. Mr. Delavan left the next morn- ing, and Timothy had the field.

In 1840, the Catholic residents within what might be denominated the Massillon Mission, or St. Mary's Mission, and who are really the pioneer Catholics, were Frederick Ertle, Nicholas Smith, Andrew Paul. Christian Witt, Nicholas Ileiser. John Frease. Anton Vogt, John Boerner, John Yungbluth -- commonly called Young- blood -lohn Yungling, Francis Miller. John

Kutcher, George Seifert, George Ress. Thomas Kegler, George Hoke, Adam Hamersmith, Mar- tin Bauman, Peter Runser, Magdalena Bamber- ger, Margaret Frease, Nicholas Bamberger and some others whose names cannot be ascertained. Few of these pioneers yet remain ; prominent among the survivors are Christian Witt, John Boerner. Anton Vogt and Adam Hammersmith.

In the summer of 1840, for a short time Father Peter MeLaughlin, was at Massillon, making his home with Timothy Finnegan. Father Peter, as he was called by those whose acquaintance justified such familiarity, was one of the most genial gentlemen ever at Massillon in the service of the church. His truly Chris- tian character will ever be regarded with affec- tion by all who knew him. The last known of him was that he had a parish in Milwaukee.

At the date last mentioned, the Catholics of Massillon and vicinity, extending to MeDonald- ville, in Jackson Township. Richville, in Perry, Brookfield, in Tuscarawas. feeling that they should have a church edifice and grounds sur- rounding it, purchased the premises where now stands the magnificent structure known as St. Mary's, or Neue Katholishe Mutter Gottes Kirche, in Massillon, Ohio, and which when completed will eclipse anything of the kind in Northern Ohio. The photograph, by Haring, shows what will be the elegance of the build- ing when it shall have received its finishing tonches.

On purchasing the premises, which were then far north of the city limits. the few Catholies of the mission proceeded to build a church edifice, which they accomplished under the guidance and supervision of various priests, who were sent here, and St. Mary's grew and prospered until 1852, when their church was destroyed by fire, the work of ineendiaries. Stricken, but not disheartened. they rebuilt and enlarged the building, and continued to use the repaired structure until a few years since, when they tore down the okl building, that with its repairs, had for more than thirty : years served them, and have gotten their new building in a condition to be used. The new building was commeneed by Father Koehn, but his health failing, he was transferred by Bishop Gilmour to another field of labor, where he soon ended a useful life. On his leaving the parish of St. Mary's, Rev. Father Kuhn took charge, and has since remained. There

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are nearly three hundred families connected with the church, with which they have a large school. by the enlargement of the city limits ; the buildings and churchyard are on the corner of Cherry and Mill streets. a loca- tion well adapted to the wants of the large membership.

('linton Lodge. No. 17. Ancient. Free and Accepted Masons, This institution com- menced work under a dispensation granted by Right Worshipful William J. Reese. Grand Master of the State of Ohio, in 1836. and continued so to work until the 22d day of January. 1837. when a charter was granted to George D. Hine. W. M .: Joseph G. Hogan. S. W .: S. Buckius. J. W .; Asa Rice. Treas .; George W. Swarengen. See's : Conly Hunter. S. D : Britton Edwards. J. D .: Andrew Robertson, Tiler.

There were many others in the neighbor hood who had not affiliated with the craft. their being no working lodge within their reach. For forty-five years Clinton Lodge has sustained itself. and is now about to erect a new and commodious ball, having used the present one since 1810. Its pre sent officers are : G. W. Blanchard. W. M .; Frank Strobel. S. W .: D. L St. John. J. W .: J. R. Dangler. Treas .; F. A. Brown. Sec'y : J. C. Harwood. S. D. Howard Garrigues. J. D. J. M. MeEwen. Tiler. Of the orig. inal members who obtained the charter and organized the lodge, not one remains

Iliram Chapter. No. IS. of Royal Arch Masons, was organized by charter from the Grand Chapter of Ohio. 1839. The first of- fieers were . George D. Hine. M. E. H P .: T. Dunham. E. K .. Jesse Rhodes, E. S .. John E. Dunbar and others. Associates. The present officers of the Chapter are George W. Hathaway. M. E. II P .: Charles II. Tinkler. E. K .: G. Liv. Ryder, E. S .. J. V Harwood. Capt. Host: B. F. Cline. P. S .: D. J. Kirk land. R A. Capt .: D. L. St. John. Third Vail ; A. P. Wiseman. Second Vail : D. At- water. First Vail ; J. R. Pangler Treas .: C. H. Garrigues. Seep ; J. M. MeEwen. Guard

A Commandery of Knights Templar was or- ganized under a charter issued Oct 16. 1812. Its original officers were W. J Reese. G. D Iline. K. Porter, John Barney, Joseph B Heuzey. Sylvanus Buckius, Thomas Hine and

George A. Kellenberger. Its present officers are . R. V Hampson, E. C .: Frank R. Webh. Generalissimo : James HI. MeLain, Capt. Gen .. James R. Dunn. Prelato ; ( II Tinkler. W .: W. II. Kirkland. JJ. W: G. Liv Ryder. Warder : J. R Dangler, Treas .. G. W. Blanchard. Rec .: Luther Hicks, Standard Bearer : J. Robbins, Sword Bearer : JJ. Me. Ewen. Sentinel.

Sippo Lodge, No. 18. 1. O. O. F., was in- stituted August 30. 1815. Charter members F. T. Hurxthal, James S. Kelley, George Miller. Joseph Culbertson, John Wisner. First officers : James S. Kelly. N. G .. George Mil ler. V. G .: John Wisner. Sec'y : Joseph Cul bertson. Treas. Present officers . (. 11. Mong. N. G .: C. E Taylor. V. G .; Charles T. Higginbotham. R. Secy . II C. Brown. P. Sec'v.

Eureka Encampment. No. 21. 1. O. O. F. was instituted August 13. 1817. Charter members George Miller. William C. Earl. (. A. Brobst, Pomeroy Baldwin. Samuel Oberlin, William H. Bahney, William S Wann. N. S. Russell. F. W. Parmelee. First officers : W. 0. Earl. C. P .: George Miller. II. P .: J. J. Hofman. S. W .; Pomeroy Ballwin. 1. W .. I. H. Brown. Scribe : Samuel Oberlin, Treas. Present otlicers : Henry Suhr. C. P .: C. W. Kline, 11. P .: 0. 11. Mong. # W .: Thomas Laviers. JJ. W : H C. Brown. Seribe ; N. S. Russell. Treas.

Massillon Lodge, No. 184. 1. O. O F., was organized July 11. 1871. Charter members . Conrad Gessner, Louis Stilke. Frederick Loef- tler. Henry Nalter, Joseph Slebaugh, Frede- rick Buckel. Charles Zupp. Christian Blaker. Frederick Beck. First ottieers . Conrad Gess- ner, N. G .: Louis Stilke, V. G .: G. F. Buckel. Seex : F. Loeller. Treas. Present officers . John Kapp, N. G .: Philip Baldauft. V. G ; Val- entine Kroenerich. Sec'y : Julius Koehnle. P. Sec'v.

There is a large and flourishing German lodge, and is composed of representative Ger mans.

Perry Lodge. Knights of Pythias, was insti- tuted June 30. 1875. the following persons being charter members . Henry Alterkruse. Alexander MeLaughlin. I. C. Cole, Isaac 1']- man. Vietor Burnet. George W. Earle, Herr- man Mayer, George Goodheart. Z. T. Baltzley, R. A. Walker, S. S Whisler. Orlando Martin,

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

Henry Waggoner, E. N. Seeley, Turenne Goetz, W. F Harshey. W. G. Curry, Henry Peters, W. (. Poe, D. Kitchen. R. Hay, Robert Lormer. Jolm Lun. On the organization of the lodge, the following persons were elected to the sev. eral offices: Isaac Ulman, O. C .; Z. T. Baltzley, V. C .; S. S. Whisler, P .; H. Mayer, M. of F .; L. C. Cole, K. of R. &. S .; H. Altekmer, M. of E .; A. Mclaughlin, M. at A .; Orlando Martin, T. G .; Turenne Goetz, O. G .; G. W. Earle. D. D. G. C. The institution has progressed until it numbers seventy-live members, and is now governed by the following officers : D. A. Henney, C. C .; M. C. Young, V. C .; John Spuhler, P .; Alexander MeLaughlin, M. F .; %. F. Baltzley, M. of E .; U. H. Minnick, K. of R. & S .: John Martin. M. at A .; A. Matthews. I. G .: T. Goetz, O. G.

The year 1836 opened upon Massillon with one of the saddest events of its early history, in the death of Gen. Gardner Field, which occurred on the road between Massillon and Canton. Gen. Field was driving to Canton in his sulky, and by some mishap fell from his seat, and was found with his skull fractured, and beyond the reach of medical aid. Hle was taken to Hawk's Hotel, in Canton, where he died.

Gen. Field was largely connected with the business and social interests of Massillon, and his loss was severely felt for a long time. As an indication of the public feeling and pub- lic sentiment on the occasion of his death, the following proceedings were had, as shown by the obituary notice of Gen. G. Field, pub- lished in the Massillon Gazette, January 9, 1836 :

DEATH OF GEN. G. FIELD.

In our last was mentioned the accident which happened to Gen. G. Field, of this village.

We have now the melancholy duty to perform of recording his death. Be expired in Canton. on Friday evening. on the Ist day of this month. in the thirty-fifth year of his age, about ten hours after the accident. The manner in which he was thrown from his carriage is not known beyond the border of a conjecture, as he was riding alone and none sufficiently near to witness the commencement of the scene. The vehicle was proceeding over a smooth part of the road, there was no running off, yet he was found dragging between one of the shafts :uid the wheel by which his head was so horribly mashed that he never after uttered a word. In the death of this man society has sustained a shock from which it will not easily recover. The community at large will feel it, and will regret it the more that he has been snatched away in the flower of his years,

in the spring-time of his career of usefulness. The calamity, however, must be felt with greater poign- ancy of grief and sorrow by his family and con- nections, by having by so lamentable an occurrence their late happy homes changed into grief and mourning, and the smile of peace and comfort giv- ing way to the tear of family affliction. The mem- ory of the deceased will long continue engraven on the recollections of many; but no condolence can materially lessen the sorrow of domestic wor.

The deceased was the son of Waterman Field. of New Berlin, Chenango County, New York. In the spring of 1827, he came to this State, and en- gaged as an engineer on the Ohio Canal, in which service he remained until about three years since. when he left it to engage in business in this town. Ile had held for the past year the office of Collector of Tolls on the Ohio Canal at this port, and only a few weeks previous to his death was elected Briga- dier General of the Militia in this county.

Among the active, industrious and enterprising citizens by whom Gen. Fiehl was surrounded. none were more so than himself. He enjoyed in an emi- nent degree the confidence of his neighbors and fellow-citizens, and in the characteristics of prompt ness, energy and activity in all operations which he undertook, either for individual or public benefit. no one excelled him; and being amiable in his de- portment, conciliating and just with all, and friendly beyond the usual acceptation of the term, his death will be mourned by all, and his worth, now that he has gone, will be more fully appreciated and his loss more sensibly felt. He has left an amiable and in- teresting widow and an infant son to deplore his sudden and untimely end and their irreparable loss. Ilis remains were brought to this place on Saturday last, and were buried on the following day with mili- tary honors, and, notwithstanding the extremely un- pleasant weather, a large concourse of people at- tended his funeral. A meeting of his friends and acquaintances was held the evening preceding his burial to express their regret on the occasion, and to make arrangements for the funeral, the procced- ings of which as furnished to us, read as follows:

At a meeting of the citizens of Massillon con- vened at the house of William M. Folger, on Satur- day evening, the 2d inst., for the purpose of making necessary arrangements to pay the last tribute of respect to their late valuable fellow-citizen, Gen. Gardner Field, Alexander McCully, Esq., was called to the Chair, and A. G. Hammond appointed Secretary. The object of the meeting having been brietly stated by the chairman, the following resolu- tions were unanimously adopted.

Resolved, That in the melancholy and sudden death of our highly esteemed fellow-citizen, Gen. G. Field, society has sustained an irreparable loss, and his numerous acquaintances, a warm and gen- erous friend.

Resolved, That this meeting tender to his widow, relatives and family connections, their deepest and most sincere sympathies, and that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to communicate these resolutions to them. (Whereupon D. Jarvis, P. Handy and William M. Folger were appointed said committee).

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Resolved. That the following gentlemen be re qnested to act as pall bearers, viz. . D daryjs. H. B. farris, 11. Wheeler, Jr .. .. G. Hogan, Alexander MrCulty, John Everhard, William M. Folger and S. Burkins.

Resolved, That the fellow .citizens of the deceased be requested to wear crape on their kft arm, while attending his funeral obsequios.

Revolred. That (. K. Skinner, Osee Welch, M. D Wellman, F. Murathal. P. ( Hull and George Harsh be a general committee of arrangements.

Resolved, That the proceeding of this meeting be published in the papers of the county.

ALEXANDER YOU'LLLY.

A. G. HAMMOND. Secretary. Chairman.

The year 1815, while it was the year for or- ganizing the Union Schools of Massillon, wit- nessed an event of a different character. and one that will never be forgotten while any one lives who witnessed it. For the purpose of sup- plying the village with pure water and creating a water power of immense value to the pro- prietors, the " Massillon Rolling Mill Company " purchased all the land immediately adjoining Sippo Lake, about three miles northeast of the village, and, by means of a dam across the out- let of the lake, created a reservoir of water covering about 1.100 aeres, fed from the lake and some small springs, and which was as fine a body of water as is usually found. In addi- tion to the purposes sought to be accomplished by the rolling mill company. the State became a party to the enterprise for the purpose of using the water for the Ohio Canal, which is near ninety feet below the surface of the lake. The plan proved to be a success in every ro- speet, and could the reservoir have been per- mitted to remain, the benefit the city would have derived can hardly be estimated.

Almost as soon as it was built and filled. and before it was possible for any evil effects to have arisen from the accumulation of so large a body of water. a hue and cry was raised against it because of alleged malaria arising therefrom. and thereby prejudicing the health of the neighborhood. Threats of its destruction were made, but as they could not be traced to any reliable source, and considering the effect upon the city, involving property and life. as the whole lower part of the city would be swept away, no one supposed that the neighborhood either of the city or the reservoir contained any person who would be guilty of such an outrage.

On the night of the 22d of February. 1845. which had been selected because of its being the anniversary of the birthday of Washington.

and the opening of the Tremont House. then much the largest hotel in this section of the State south of Cleveland. arrangements were made for a dance in the spacious dining hall of the hotel. Parties were present from all the prominent places in the neighborhood. including Akron, Wooster, Canton and Cleveland, and the occasion was, as it was intended to be, one of the grandest festivals that Massillon had ever witnessed. The rolling mill company, who were the owners of the hotel, had spared neither pains nor money in its construction or appoint- ments for the purposes for which it was erected. and taking its name from the " Tremont " House, of Boston, Mass., it was intended by the proprietors that the Tremont of Massillon should be to that city what the Tremont of Boston was to the " Hub of the universe." hence its opening was signalized by extraordinary efforts on the part of all concerned.

While the dance was at its height and all present were in the full tide of enjoyment. "the sound of revelry " was husbed. and . whisper- ing with white lips" took its place; the roaring and hissing of the torrent up the valley tok! but too truly that the reservoir was coming. The dam had been blown up with powder, and suddenly the whole body of water was put in motion, having a fall of ninety feet before it reached the level of Main street. in Massillon. The effect of a breast-work of six to eight feet of water moving down the little channel of Sippo Creek can hardly be imagined. It had been known for a long time that the 22d of February had been selected for the grand open- ing of the hotel, and that occasion was un- doubtedly selected by the misereants who blew up the dam as one in which not only property in the city could be destroyed. but a destrue- tion of human life could and woukl be effected. to the greatest possible extent. and why no lives were lost is a question that cannot be answered. The designs of the conspirators were completely foiled in that respect. The loss of property was simply immense. The solid gravel street between the south end of the stone block and the north front of the hotel. which stands on the southeast corner of Tre- mont and Erie, as far east as the corner of Tremont and East streets, was swept away. Reaching Erie street, it swept that away also, taking with it the large and well-built three- story brick warehouse, owned by the Rolling

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HISTORY OF STARK COUNTY.

Mill Company, occupied by J. L. Reynolds as a wholesale grocery store. Of this building " not one stone was left upon another," nor was one dollar of the stock saved. The flood swept through the street to the canal, and through both banks of the canal, and up and down the canal, with a resistless force. filling the base- ment of all the warehouses, crushing in the doors on the canal side, and floating out every - thing that would float. Such packages as were too heavy to float were swept into the river, and went down with the current. The south end of Tremont Block, better known as the "stone block," a three-story building of cut stone, built in the very best manner, by the late Francis Worthorst, was swept out as though it had been a cot house, and to this fact may be attributed the safety of the hotel. Before reaching the hotel, the current took a northerly course, striking the end of the stone block, and while it retained sufficient force to wash away the earth from the cellar walls of the hotel, it had not force enough to disturb the wall. As the water fell, the cellar wall was exposed from the lowest foundation stone to the brick work. A critical and careful examination by experts showed the walls to be uninjured. The entire lower part of the city, south and west, was completely submerged, and what the loss was has never been completely ascertained. Among the greatest losers were the heavy wholesale grocery firm of J. Watson & Co .; Fenner & MeMillen, wholesale groceries and dry goods; the Rolling Mill Company, the damage to which consisted in injury to real estate, loose property carried off by the flood and damage to buildings.

Since that memorable night, thirty-three years have passed away, and whatever is written of it now must be transcribed from memory. At the time, dreadful as was the calamity, and it was worse than all the fires the city has ever experienced, no record can be had that gives a detailed account of the losses. Many who were great losers have passed away. Death and removals, in the absence of records, tend largely to increase the difficulties attendant upon the obtaining of correct local history.

In April, 1830. Capt. James Allen, of Canton, who had served his apprenticeship to the "art preservative of all arts" in the office of the Ohio Repository, at Canton. came to Massillon with the material for a newspaper, and rented

the upper room of a building on Main street, immediately east of the store of I. Brown & Co., abont where now stands the drug store of Mr. Ph. Morgenthaler. The material that he bought included all that was necessary to get out a paper such as was gotten ont a half a century ago. The press on which the paper was to be and was printed, was an old Ramage press, so old and dilapidated, that the inventor, himself, Adam Ramage, would hardly have recognized it as a copy of his invention. It, with the other material, was brought into the county in 1827. by that veteran printer, now gone to his long rest, Joseph Wilkinson White, a printer who had started more newspapers in Ohio and elsewhere in the United States west of the River Ohio than any man. living or dead, except Sam Pike. When Mr. White brought his printing material to Stark County, he was bound to start a paper to support the Adminis- tration and re-election of John Quincy Adams, then, 1828, being in its last year ; but falling in with several influential Democrats at Canton. he concluded to start a paper at Paris, in this county, then a little hamlet, in the support of Gen. Jackson. He did so. and his paper, the Ohio Democrat, lived and flourished until after the Presidential election, when it was removed to Canton, but did not flourish there. Capt. Allen was in some way connected with it, and finally became the owner of the establishment, and brought it to Massillon at the time named, and, with Dr. John Townsend, started the Mas- sillon Gazette. It was printed on a small super- royal sheet. Massillon at that time had possi- bly five hundred inhabitants, when the Massil- lon Gurette, by Allen & Townsend, appeared in April, 1830. The political tidal wave that car- ried Hen. Jackson triumphantly into the Presi- dency had scarcely subsided ; the ground-swell after the storm was still rolling, everybody was Democratic save a few who inherited the faith of the Federal fathers, and, under these circum- stances, the Gazette, without any particular principles, started. Townsend soon withdrew from it. Allen, one of the most genial men ever connected with the Stark County press. and of remarkable ability as a writer, and whose colloquial powers were rarely equaled, and a practical printer withal, was unable to make the Gazette a success. The Democrats of Mas- sillon, under the lead of Alexander McCully. bought out the paper, and it went into the hands

CITY OF MASSILLON.

419

of Bernard & McCully. Bernard being a prac- tical printer.

In the autumn of 1831, Allen was elected to the Legislature, and did not return to Stark County from Columbus. When the Legislature adjourned. he went to Cincinnati, obtained a berth on a steamboat as clerk, for a time, and finally brought up as editor of the old Cincin nati Republican, then published by Looker & Reynolds. He remained there until the estab- lishment changed hands and he became pro- prietor, and the firm was Allen, Looker & Dis- ney. familiarly called Dick Disney. Allen was a man of fine presence and engaging manners, and with a thorough knowledge of English literature and English history, he was able to write an article on almost any subject with little preparation. His tine physique gave him, while he resided in Cincinnati, the sobriquet of " The Six-foot Two," which was really his height, and admirably proportioned, by means of which, as a military officer, he was enabled to present an ap- pearance which was envied by many an officer who served with him. His paper, the Republi- can, went down. Allen remained in Cincinnati until 1836, when the Texas fever broke out. He then raised a company in Cincinnati that was armed, equipped, and provided with the muni- tions of war in almost every respect. and, tak- ing passage on a steamboat to New Orleans, thenee to some Texan port, they went into the contest " to extend the area of freedom," but like almost all of Allen's schemes, his Texas adventure was a failure. The company was disbanded in Texas. Allen and Sam Houston, afterward Senator from Texas in the United States Senate, could not agree, and Allen came home to Stark County, like Francis the First, of Austria, having lost everything but his honor. The citizens of Massillon, of whom the writer was one, recognizing his talents, got together the material for a newspaper, and again set him at work as the editor of the Guette. revived, after many changes, as noticed elsewhere. Still the phantom, snecess. was just ont of his reach, and his second attempt to conduct a newspaper was a worse failure than the first, seven years before, and he went to Columbus to edit the Daily Journal, which was simply another fail- ure. When the memorable campaign of 1810 came around, Allen, Sage & Beveridge started a paper at Columbus called the - Straight-out Harrisonian." a campaign paper, which, with

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History of Stark County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 73

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