History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 115

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104

USA > Ohio > Summit County > History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio > Part 115

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ings could be seen, and later still, the present frames were erected. As soon as the canal was opened, much native lumber was sent to Cleve- land for ship-building on the lakes, and for shipment to other cities. This no doubt con- tributed to the paying operation of the mills. There were several other mills in the township in early years, both for grinding grain and for sawing lumber. After Mr. Chapin died in 1841, his old mill is said to have been haunted. Strange sounds are said to have been heard there by those who had occasion to pass the old mill during the solemn hours of the night. It was said by the credulous that Mr. Chapin's ghost would wander into the old mill, and a strange noise like the filing of a saw thrilled the hearts of listeners. There was a grist- mill, which did a large amount of grinding, erected at an early day, either at Manchester or near there, but the name of the owner has been forgotten.

Three or more distilleries were erected in the township prior to 1833. A Mr. Wholf built one probably as early as 1820, but this was abandoned about 1830. John Hoy and Mr. Rex each built one as early as 1825, but these were likewise abandoned before 1840. The grain out of which the liquor was manufactured was probably ground at the nearest grist-mills. A certain aspect of respectability was conceded the distiller in early years. Whisky was upon every side-board, and the custom of dram- drinking was universal. It was no uncommon thing for women to indulge in this luxury, and many children may be said to have been raised on the whisky bottle. In view of this fact, and the fact that children largely inherit the appe- tite for strong drink from their parents, it must not be wondered at that the quantity of liquor consumed is so large. That the quantity con- sumed, on the average, per capita, is a great deal less at present than it was formerly is evi- dent to those who have made the subject a study. Liquor will always be drunk so long as there is a demand for it, and the demand will only decrease as the appetite is denied or eradi- cated altogether. People must learn to control their appetites ; until then the problem of intemperance will remain unsolved. The dis- tilleries mentioned had a large custom trade, though it is not remembered whether their products were shipped away or not. They started up about the time the canal was being

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built, as it was seen that an enormous demand for liquor would be made by the canal laborers. There is no neighborhood through which the canal extended that did not have its drunken brawls and fights, often accompanied with seri- ous injury to one or more participants. The expression, " Can drink as much as a boatman," became familiar to settlers living along the canal. It is likely that the distilleries turned out whisky or brandy at the rate of about a barrel per day each. The old settlers speak in high terms of the quality of this whisky. They say " It was no such stuff as we get now-a- days." They also state that there was not as much drunkenness at the "rollings " and " raisings " in early times as there is at present throughout the township. This is probably a mistake. The fact that liquor-drinking was so common removed all cases of debauchery be- yond observance, except the more serious ones. To-day every case is noted and criticised, and the careless comparison magnifies the present number of drunkards. Almost every early settler, soon after he came in, set out a peach orchard, and in a few years enormous quantities of peaches were raised. The prevalence of heavy timber throughout the State modified the climate, rendering this condition of things pos- sible. The distilleries made an excellent quality of peach brandy that was rapidly consumed by the early settlers. In addition to this, large quantities of peaches were dried and shipped East, so long as the demand was lucrative. These distilleries closed as stated, and there has been but one in the township since. This was built in about 1854, and located about half way between Clinton and Manchester. It did not amount to much, and closed at the end of about three years to the joy of all.

Prior to 1860, a well-traveled line of under- ground railroad crossed the township, being confined to what is known as the Chestnut Ridge, with occasional side tracks. Prominent officials on this road were Alexander Russell, James Hile, Harvey Maranville, Washington Heffleman and George Wirt. These men lost no opportunity of assisting runaway slaves to Canada. On one occasion, Messrs. Russell and Maranville were notified that five slaves-two women and three men-were west of Clinton, in the heavy woods on Chestnut Ridge, waiting for food and clothing. They were accordingly supplied, and directed on their course to the

next station. On another occasion, a settler in the township who had come from Kentucky, seeing a negro traveling northward through the woods with a gun on his shoulder, ran after him and took away the gun, saying as he did so, "It's against the law for nig's to carry a gun." Two or three of the men mentioned above informed this settler to return the gun to the negro immediately, or trouble would en- sue, whereupon the fellow reluctantly did so. When questioned as to where the gun was ob- tained, the negro replied that " Massa Wales," of Massillon, had given it to him to kill part- ridges and other game. upon which to subsist while traveling North. Wales was probably train-dispatcher on this road. He was a good one, and no collision has since been computed to his fault. John IIall, of Springfield Town- ship, often took negroes who were closely pur- sued by their masters, and, having concealed them several days at his residence, placed them in his close carriage and conveyed them the en- tire distance to Cleveland, where he saw them safe on board Canada-bound steamboats before he parted from them. This man was a promi- nent official on another line. Mr. Hile was a Methodist, and a poor man. as far as this world's goods were concerned, but in many of the car- dinal virtues, was a millionaire. It is said that " He would run his legs off any time to assist runaway slaves." The reader is cautioned against construing this statement in a literal sense. It simply means that Mr. Hile would fly around the township when escaping slaves were in trouble. The reader is further cau- tioned not to render the last sentence in a literal sense. for Mr. Hile would have been a rara avis indeed, had such a condition of things tran- spired.

Franklin has been the site of four or more villages. The first laid out has already been referred to. No house was built there, and consequently the " village " existed only in the "mind's eye" of the projector. In the ex- treme southwestern part of the township, on the north side of Chippewa River, David Har- vey laid out a village as early as March, 1816. It was platted, and properly recorded at Can- ton, and one or more additions of lots were afterward made. Lots sold quite rapidly, and erelong the village could boast of a popula- tion of about sixty. One or more small stores were built and filled with a small stock of

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goods each. A blacksmith came in, and the sound of his hammer re-echoed through the muddy streets. A carpenter appeared, and began to ply his craft. A shoemaker built a small shop, where "patching " could be se- cured on short notice. He probably kept a small stock of shoes for sale. A tailor also located in the village, and passers-by on the streets could see him sitting cross-legged in his little shop, busily engaged on a suit of clothes for some one of the settlers. It is likely that a saw-mill was started on the river in the village, although this is not certain. The vil- lage, which had been named Savannah, grew quite rapidly-not so much so, perhaps, as " Jack's bean stalk" or "Jonah's gourd "- yet improvements went on until it was seen that the coming canal would not touch the town, in which case the latter would be sup- planted by its more fortunate rivals. The location of the village was not healthful, as some. of the citizens were shaking or ailing almost all the time. In addition to these, other circumstances arose, and, finally, in about 1825, a grand rush was made for Clinton and other points on the canal, and Savannah became entirely deserted. The stores and the trades were the first to leave, and soon after- ward the villagers, seeing the impending fate of their village, likewise "took up their beds and walked." It is stated that, in 1827, no family resided in the village, although several deserted buildings were yet standing. Many of the buildings were taken apart and re- moved, after which they were again put to- gether where they had been conveyed. Thus were the hopes of Mr. Harvey blasted. How- ever, he had cause to be grateful, as his son, William Harvey, who had laid out Clinton in February, 1816, owned valuable property at that place, and as the rush from Savannah was main- ly to Clinton, the loss to the family was not so serious after all. Clinton, from 1825 to 1840, did more business compared with its popula- tion than any other village in Summit County. The village had no sooner been laid out by Mr. Harvey than William Christmas and J. W. Lathrop made additions to it, and industries of various kinds made their appearance imme- diately. Stores were opened, hotels were erected, mechanics and tradesmen appeared, numerous dwellings were built, and finally the rush from Savannah and the opening of the

canal tripled improvements of all kinds, and lifted Clinton to prominence and wealth. The village immediately entered upon a career of prosperity unknown to it before or at present. Three good storerooms were built. and were constantly occupied by fair stocks of goods, in charge of capable salesmen. Tradesmen and mechanies began their needed labors. Black- smiths, carpenters, shoemakers, tailors, gun- smiths, wagon - makers, merchants, doctors, lawyers, butchers, tavern-keepers, liquor-deal- ers, millers, warehousemen, preachers, teach- ers, and a variety of others, entered upon the prosecution of their individual duties. and the village soon gained wide reputation as a lively trading-point. Three large warehouses were built quite early, and the quantity of graiu purchased and shipped north on the canal seems marvelous. All three buildings were 30 feet square ; one was three and a half stories in height and the others two and a half. Mr. Maranville, who kept books and purchased grain for the owners, says, that at one time the i largest warehouse was filled to the roof with wheat, and contained 100,000 bushels, and the other two were almost as full. He says that he purchased as high as 1,500 bushels of wheat from sun to sun, and that several other buyers at the same time did about the same. Farmers from as far west as Mansfield brought their grain to the village. In fact, a large share of the producers in Richland. Ashland, Wayne and Medina Counties sold their grain at Clinton. The presence of so many farmers in the village afforded the merchants an exten- sive trade. From 1840 to 1850 more wheat was purchased at Clinton than at Akron. It is said that lines of teams extending into the country a mile waited their turns to unload, and many a man sat in his wagon patiently waiting until after midnight. An average price of about 40 cents per bushel was paid for wheat. Clinton became a point to which merchants living west in the coun- ties above referred to ordered their goods to be shipped. Upon their arrival by boat, an arrangement was made by which they were de- posited in the warehouses until the owners could send teams for them. A small commission was charged for the storage. Teams loaded with grain, coming from distant villages, returned loaded with goods for the merchants. Corn, clover-seed and other grains and seeds, were

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purchased by parties in the village. The enormous grain trade infused life into every industry in the village. It soon became a great coal center, and large quantities were shipped by boat to Cleveland, to be used on the lake steamers, and to be taken to cities on the lake shore. Large quantities of iron and salt, and leather, and merchandise and other articles, came to the village, to be used throughout the country by the farmers, mechanics and dealers. A large wool business was also done at the vil- lage. A carding machine was started, but, for some unknown reason, abandoned the contem- plated project. Among the merchants have been Mr. Chapin, Hardy & Moffit, John Patter- son, Sorrick and Welhouse, Filson & McCon- nell, Alexander Russell, M. D. Wellman, Henry Davis, John Price, and many others. Mr. Rus- sell kept store many years. He died a few years ago, and his business was gradually closed by his daughter Maggie. Dr. Alexan- der Porter located in Savannah when that vil- lage was at the zenith of its prosperity. Some of the Clinton followers of Eseulapius have been Dr. Chapin, Dr. Richie, Dr. David Chi- chester (the last two keeping drugs), Dr. Ed- wards and Dr. Andrew Oberlin. Dr. William Bowen, of Massillon, practiced in the township, as did also Dr. Dolbear, of Fulton, and Dr. Armstrong, of Doylestown. Charles Rinehart, a lawyer, lived at the village a number of years. Several pettifoggers, the most prominent being Jacob Bradenstine, have also practiced law. A post office was secured about the time the canal was opened. Mr. Rosseter, who kept a small tavern on the bank of the canal, in 1833, was one of the first Postmasters. He made out three different reports for the same time, all of which were returned marked " incorrect." He said to Mr. Maranville, "I've made out three reports, and can't make 'em stick." Mr. Maran- ville assisted him, and the next report " stuek." Some of the merchants employed five or six clerks, although the stock of goods kept on hand was usually not very large. Clinton, like almost every other village, has been in its time a "tough place." Large quantities of liquor were drunk there in early years, and several times the crowds of half-drunken men have taken possession of things. Squads of miners would come to the village, get drunk, and con- vert themselves into beasts generally. The citizens were imposed upon, until, finally, they

sent to Cleveland and purchased a dozen re- volvers, or perhaps pistols, and warned those who were in the habit of creating a disturbance that such conduct must cease. It gradually did. Like all places where miners are in the habit of congregating, fights and drunken brawls have been unpleasantly frequent. The village at its best has had a population upward of five hundred. At present it is about three hundred. Clinton was first laid out on the west bank of the river, but, in 1835, Gorham Cha- pin, on the opposite side, laid out another vil- lage, which he named Orradeen. The lots were so low and wet, however, that but few persons located there, and two years later William and Francis Pumroy laid out the village of Pumroy, on the east side of the river, adjoining Orradeen and a little below it. Here it was that the business centered, and Clinton proper, on the west side, was almost deserted, many of the lots being sold at Sheriff's sale. The post of- fice is Clinton, but, in conveyances of real prop- erty, the names Orradeen, Pumroy and Clinton are employed, depending where such property is located.

Manchester has had, in many essential re- pects, a widely different history. In Septem- ber, 1815, Mahlon and Aaron Stewart laid out the village, platting the same and properly re- cording it at the county seat. Lots were im- mediately sold, and the village began a per- manent and rapid growth. The site was much pleasanter than that of Clinton, and in many respects a better class of citizens located at the former place. Mr. Palmer opened the first store, not only in Manchester, but also in the township, and John Snider opened the first tav- ern. The settlers poured into the neighbor- hood rapidly, many of whom built dwellings in the village, where they resided. Tradesmen mechanics, teachers, merchants, ete., appeared, and by the time the canal was opened through the township, three or four good stores and other in- dustries to a like extent were in good running order. By this time, Manchester had become quite prominent as a trading-point. Its stores were well-conducted, and were capable of sup- plying almost anything in the usual line of merchandise. Its citizens were enterprising and industrious, and withal Manchester was a pleasant place for country people to trade. When the proposed canal became a settled re- ality, Manchester suffered considerably, as

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many of its citizens removed to the more favored villages that sprang up on this highway of wa- ter. It did not die, far from it. It suffered the drain from its vitals, and when the worst had been done, it slowly regained much of its lost strength. Of course, Manchester was never the grain point that Clinton was. Its removal from the canal rendered that out of the ques- tion, besides several industries that were con- ducted with great vigor at Clinton. On the other hand, Manchester enjoyed the absence of many perplexing problems, proposed for the villagers at Clinton to solve. It was never captured by a brutal and drunken mob of reck- less men, nor were its citizens insulted and persecuted. Whisky was sold, and men got be- yond their reason, or in other words, drunk, but beyond a few light skirmishes at times, the citizens enjoyed the blessings of peace. Ad- ditions have been made to the village, and Manchester at its best has had about as large a population as Clinton. Hon. John Hoy lived at Manchester, and Hon. Hugh R. Caldwell at Clinton, both of whom served as County Judges after Summit was created. When this event occurred, or just before it, great opposition was manifested in the township, when it was pro- posed that Franklin should be severed from Stark County, and made a portion of the new county of Summit. The citizens opposed it to the bitter end, and employed every means to prevent it, but without avail. They dreaded the idea of becoming a part of " Cheesdom," as they called the Reserve, and clung with filial affection to " Molly Stark," to whom they were deeply attached. They begged to be let alone, and, like Rachael weeping for her children, re- fused to be comforted because they were not. Notwithstanding their earnest and repeated pro- tests, the dreaded change took place, and went into effect as silently and perfectly as the late financial resumption. Nobody saw any change save in their " mind's eye, Horatio." The Dutch mingled with the Yankees with impunity, and were not harmed. The Yankees visited the Germanic portion of the county, and went back loaded to the muzzle with glowing metaphors in its praise. The change took place without a ripple, and the quiet waters of contentment laughed to scorn the words of prophecy, that had predicted unpleasant and even direful re- sults.

Schools were opened in Franklin at an early

day. The necessity for educating the pioneer children forced itself upon the attention of the early settlers, and, like the ghost of Banquo, would not "down." Some of the adjoining townships had been settled earlier, and had opened school, such as they were, at the time the township was first visited. Large scholars could traverse the long distance through the woods to these distant schools, but the smaller ones were compelled to remain at home until nearer schools were begun, or until they in turn had grown large enough to be trusted on the long journey. It is stated that a small log church had been built at Manchester as early as 1816 or 1817. This building was probably intended both for a church and a schoolhouse. At least, it is remembered that in the year 1817, a young man named Joseph Mishler, of Teutonic descent, taught in this old log building. The room was provided with a goodly number of roughly constructed seats. A large fire-place, capable of taking in a log of almost any dimensions, occupied one end of the room, and a small table was provided at the other, to establish for the teacher a permanent position from which to pronounce decrees, issne commands, and administer condign punishment to offending pupils, or, perhaps, it was intended as an altar, from which some pioneer preacher could thunder the anathemas of heaven upon the hydra-headed forms of infidelity, or pour divine blessings, in golden showers, upon the joyous hearts of the faithful. As was stated, Joseph Mishler was a German, and could handle the glib idioms of his native tongue with fluency and precision. Mr. Mishler had but one personal drawback-he was very homely. It is true he could not help that, al- though it may be presumed that be ruefully contemplated his ugly features in that blessing of civilization-a looking-glass-and wished with all his heart that he could have the priv- ilege of chiseling his nose to a more respect- able shape, of rounding the irregular outlines of his face, or of taking all the features of his face apart and putting them together again after the ideal his aching heart had created. These things are to be presumed. Yet, through- out all his trials, Mr. Mishler remained as homely as ever. One thing is certain, he was a good disciplinarian and a competent in- structor. and his school was liked so well that it was continued from that time onward. Mr.

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Mishler enjoyed the honor of "boarding around." It is no wonder that he was homely, and that gray hairs soon showed themselves in the auburn locks on his brow. " Boarding around" is a direful enough punishment among refined people ; but when that burden is thrust upon the unfortunate shoulders of a pioneer pedagogue by backwoods people, it becomes cruelty unspeakable. This old house was used but a few years, and was then replaced by a larger and better one. One or more other schoolhouses have taken the place of the old one. It is quite certain that school was taught in Savannah, although nothing definite on this point has been learned. Where fifty or sixty people resided for several years, it is not out of place to presume that schools sprang into life. At all events, when Savannah was deserted, a building that had been used there, either for a schoolhouse or a store, was taken apart, con- veyed to Clinton, where it was put together again, and used for a schoolhouse. This building was thus used until about 1836, when a "compromise" schoolhouse was erected about half a mile north of the village. This was caused by the fact that, from the shape of the school district, several families, living about two miles north, were unwilling to go so far to school, and insisted on having the new schoolhouse located nearer their residences. It may be said here that, in early years, schools followed the scholars instead of the reverse. Two other schoolhouses have been built in Clinton. About the time the canal was projected through the township, two or three school districts were formed. As time passed on, these were in- creased, and now Franklin can boast of having many good schools. Mr. Maranville, who located in Franklin in 1833, says, that at that time there were but few competent teachers in the township. Large numbers applied for cer- tificates to the Board of Examiners, and if any were permitted to teach, the grade of the teach- ers' qualification must be lowered. This was done, and persons not familiar with even the rudiments of the fundamental branches became teachers. Mr. Maranville says that, on one occasion, a " teacher" came to him for assist- ance, having become " stuck " on a problem in long division. Teachers assembled evenings and assisted each other on the next day's problems. Spelling schools were numerous, and afforded a great deal of amusement. It is

related that one of the country spelling schools was once broken up by a gang of roughs, and the occasion ended in a pitched battle, although it is probable that some of the participants did not afterward designate the occasion as amusive.

The early church history of the township is almost wholly lost in the shadows of the past, and many dates and interesting incidents re- lating thereto have faded from the memory of the oldest settlers. Many of the early settlers were members of various religious organiza- tions, and these began to meet early at des- ignated dwellings to worship God. It was not long ere the propriety of erecting log churches began to be discussed. Itinerant ministers ap peared in the township as early as 1816, and held meetings in the cabins of the settlers. They traveled over large sections of country, and always stopped to preach where a few were ready to listen. At the close of the services, a collection was usually taken for the benefit of the preacher. Some of these collections did not " pan out " as well as the minister desired. Many of the early preachers were eccentric characters, singularly gifted with a rude elo- quence that fired the hearts of the pioneers. Many had renounced all social ties, save such as bound them to the house of praise and prayer. With hearts overflowing with love for God and humanity, they had come into the wilderness to preach " peace on earth ; good will toward men." They were instrumental in laying the foundation of many of the fine relig- ious organizations that are seen throughout the country to-day. So far as known, the first church was the old log building located at Manchester, as already referred to above, unless

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 115

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848- Publication date: 1881 Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey Number of Pages: 1104

Author: Perrin, William Henry, d. 1892?; Graham, A. A. (Albert Adams), 1848-
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: Chicago, Baskin & Battey
Number of Pages: 1104