History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 120

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 120

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SARAH was born Jan. 3, 1812, and was the first one of the children born in Ohio. She mar- ried James M. Hall, March 22, 1832. She died Jan. 27, 1877.

HIRAM was born Sept. 14, 1814 ; he came to Akron in 1840, and, with Jacob Allen, his brother, erected in succession a woolen mill on Cherry street, the old portion of City Mills and brick mills, now occupied by Allen & Co., first used as woolen factories ; he erected the block north of the Beacon Block, and which burned in 1871, when he immediately put up the pres- ent one. He died Sept. 21, 1878, unmarried.

CHRISTIANA (Allen) Caldwell, the youngest of ten children, was born Jan. 30, 1822 ; she came to Akron in 1840, where she still resides in a pleasant home on Broadway.

ALBERT Allen, the son of Levi Allen and the grandson of Jesse Allen, Jr., was born March 12, 1827, in Coventry Township, where, until he attained his majority, he was employed at farm- ing and clearing, after which he learned mill- wrighting under John S. Gilerest, of Spring- field, and engaged in plying his trade for a period of nine years. In 1856, he built for

J. & J. Allen & Co., the Allen Mill, and was employed as manager of the same for ten years. In 1867, in company with Alexander H. Commins, he purchased the Stone Mills, which then had but four runs of stone ; they conducted a successful business under the firm name of Commins & Allen, which contin- ned up to the time of the death of Mr. Com- mins, in 1880, since which time the firm name has not been altered. The mills do an entirely merchant business, and grind from two hundred and fifty to three hundred barrels of flour per day. In the spring of 1881, the mills were changed to the Hungarian process, which en- larges the capacity of the mills to four hundred and fifty barrels of flour per day.

FRANK ADAMS, President and Superin- tendent of Akron Sewer Pipe Company, Sixth Ward ; was born in Windsor Co., Vt., July 5, 1819, and is the son of Benjamin and Betsey (Crowley) Adams, who were natives of Massa- chusetts, and were married in Vermont, where they had moved with their parents when young. In 1838, they came to Ohio, the journey being made by a wagon to Troy, N. Y .; thence by canal to Buffalo ; thence by lake to Cleveland : and thence to Norton Township, in what is now Summit Co., where they settled on a farm pre- viously purchased ; they farmed there about ten years, when they removed to Akron, where they lived a retired life until his death, which occurred Nov. 22, 1849; Mrs. Adams died about twenty years later. They were members of the M. E. Church for more than forty years, and took an active interest in all church affairs. Frank remained at home until within a few months of his majority ; his education was confined to a limited attendance at the district schools. Upon leaving home, he went to live with his brother-in-law, Mr. Samuel Manning, who was publishing maps, and with him re- mained two years, in the printing department. He then engaged as clerk in the post office at Akron, remaining one year, when he left, and. at the expiration of another year. he returned to the post office, remaining this time two years, when he engaged in the map business, forming the partnership of Manning & Co., and remained one year. when the firm became AAd- ams & Egleston, the latter buying out Man- ning. They continued until the spring of 1848. when their building was destroyed by fire. which necessitated a dissolntion of the firm and

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the discontinuance of the business in Akron. He then took an active part in the campaign, and was Treasurer of the Whig Club. In March, 1849, he was appointed Postmaster of Akron by President Zachary Taylor, and held the of- fice during his administration and that of his successor, Millard Fillmore. After retiring from the post office, he opened a hat store, which was burned in the spring of 1855. In May following, he purchased an interest in the business of Merrill, Powers & Co., and, in 1859, the firm became Hill & Adams, which contin- ued until 1868, when the business was merged into a stock company, known as the Hill & Adams Sewer Pipe Company, and, in January, 1871, Mr. Hill retired, and the corporate name became, as now, "The Akron Sewer Pipe Com- pany," of which Mr. Adams was made President, also Superintendent, which offices he still re- tains, having held them from the first for- mation of the stock company. During the war, Mr. Adams served as a member of the School Board, member of Council, Treasurer of School Board, Corporation Treasurer, and Treas- urer of the Soldiers' Relief Fund. He was married Jan. 21, 1846, to Miss Sarah J. Gale, a native of Vermont, who came to Akron when young, with her parents. She died Jan. 11, 1863. They had three children, two living, viz., Julia Latham and May Perkins, both of Akron. He was again married, Sept 2, 1863, to Mrs. Janetta L. Murphy, formerly Miss Hart ; they have two children, viz., Frank H. and Belle M. Mr. Adams was a Whig up to the formation of the Republican party, and a Re- publican since that time. He has been a mem- ber of the Episcopal Church for twelve years.

ISAAC C. ALDEN, Treasurer of Whitman & Miles Manufacturing Co., Akron, Ohio ; is a son of Henry and Abbie C. (Smith) Alden, and was born Nov. 20, 1851, at Bridgewater, Mass. When very young, the family moved to Abing- ton, Mass., where he went to school until he was 15 years old, and then entered a wholesale dry goods store in Boston, remaining two years. In 1869, he entered the knife manufac- ory at Fitchburg, which place he held until 1872, when he came to Akron and was made Assistant Treasurer of the Whitman & Miles Manufacturing Co., and, in 1877, he was made Treasurer of the concern. He was married, Dec. 10, 1874, to Miss Emma L. Gifford, of Fitchburg, Mass.

ANGELO ANDREW, of R. L. & A. Andrew, Akron ; was born Feb. 1, 1846, in Boston Town- ship, this county ; he lived at home until 17 years of age, when he was apprenticed to the printer's trade with the Akron Beacon. After serving two years, he went to Cleveland and worked on the Ohio Farmer until Aug. 23, 1864, when he enlisted in Co. H, 177th O. V. I., and served until the close of the war, taking part in all the engagements in which his regiment partici- pated. On his return from the army, he fol- lowed the business of painting, in Peninsula, for three years ; he then engaged as clerk in the same village, in a general merchandise business, for a period of five years. He then came to Akron and worked at his trade with his brother, and, in 1877, formed the partnership indicated above. Their business is confined to wall paper decorations for public buildings and residences, which they handle by the wholesale as well as retail, and all kinds of painting, em- ploying from six to twelve skilled workmen. Their store is 22x66 feet, with two stories and a basement ; church and hall decorations are a special feature of their business. Aug. 14, 1873, he married Miss Lizzie Warburton. a native of Northampton Township ; they have three children-Maybelle. Frank and Bessie.

R. L. ANDREW, of R. L. & A. Andrew, Akron. R. L. Andrew, senior partner of the firm of R. L. & A. Andrew, is a native of Bos- ton Township, this county ; his parents, Robert and Ann A. (Tubbs) Andrew, were natives of England ; his father came to America in 1838. and lived with a brother in Boston, Summit Co., Ohio ; in the following year, he returned to En- gland and married, returning to Boston with his wife in 1840 ; here he followed the trade of orna- mental painter, remaining in Boston until 1873. when he moved to Akron, where he has since re- sided. Mrs. Andrew died in Akron Oct. 3, 1879. R. L. Andrew was born May 24. 1841. the eldest of three children ; he lived at home, learning the trade of his father, and clerking at Penin- sula and Akron for some five years until 1862. In June of this year he enlisted in the S5th O. V. I., Co. B. and served four months, taking part. in the meanwhile, in the engagements at Prentiss. Miss., and Vickburg. In August, he enlisted in Co. H, 177th O. V. I., and served to the close of the war with the rank of Sergeant ; he was present at the battle of the Cedars, the engagement at Shelbyville Pike. Town Creck,

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and was present at Johnston's surrender. Re- turning home after the war, he engaged as clerk in the store of E. H. Cole, at Peninsula. He subsequently went to Michigan and clerked in a store in Iona, then at Marshall, and finally at Ann Arbor, for E. B. Thompson & Sons, who moved their business about as indicated. Oct. 6, 1869, he came to Akron and took up the business connected with his trade of orna- mental painting. In 1873, he built the present store property, 240 East Mill street, where he has since conducted his business. Jan. 1, 1877, he formed the partnership with his brother An- gelo. Sept. 6, 1866, he married Miss Emerancy Hall, a native of Northampton ; she died April 3, 1879. Two children were born to them, both deceased.

JOHN H. AUBLE, real estate, insurance, railroad, steamship and foreign exchange agent, Akron, Ohio ; was born Dec. 2, 1842, and is a son of Daniel and Susanna (Orwig) Auble, na- tives of Mifflinburg, Union Co., Penn., where our subject was born. His parents came to Ohio in 1854, and settled near Wadsworth, Medina County. He worked on a farm until 15, when he entered the store of E. G. Loomis, at Wadsworth, as a clerk, until July, 1861, when he was made a partner, under the firm name of Loomis, Auble & Co. He was doing a prosperous business, when he enlisted in Co. I. 103d O. V. I., Ang. 2, 1862. Soon after en- listment he was detached as Clerk A. G. O., under Maj. Gen. A. J. Smith, and served in the army of Mississippi ; was in active service first against the rebel Gen. Kirby Smith, in Ken- tueky ; at the siege of Vicksburg, with Gen. Sherman, on the Yazoo, and Grant at its final surrender. He was in the Missouri campaign under Rosecrans, with Thomas at Nashville, and in Gen. Scofield's department during the last months of service. He was mustered out with his regiment at Camp Cleveland, June 24, 1865, and returned home. He was at once employed as salesman by M. W. Henry & Co., of Akron, where he remained five years, and, in 1871, engaged in the real estate, insurance, foreign passage and exchange business. In January, 1875, he took the business manage- ment of the Beacon Publishing Co., leaving it in the fall of 1877 with its financial condition greatly improved. He is Secretary of the Akron Coal Co., operating rich mines in Guern- sey County. In May, 1880, he was appointed

agent for the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad, a position he still holds. He was married in August, 1870, to Miss Harriet E., only daughter of Rev. W. F. Day, D. D., for- merly of Akron M. E. Church. They have five children-Anna Helen, Susie Orwig, Hattie Day, Bessie Norris and John Henry, Jr.

J. PARK ALEXANDER. The subject of these lines was born to John and Mary (Scott) Alexander on Aug. 7, 1834, in Bath township, Summit Co., Ohio, where he worked on a farm until the age of 18, attending district school and the academy at Richfield. At the age of 20 he went to the normal school at Marlboro, entering the engineering class under Prof. Holbrook, being a class-mate of Prof. Menden- hall. Having completed an engineering course, he was, in 1856, employed in the public schools of Akron, where he taught two years. In 1865-66, he bought the present site of his fire- brick manufactory, then used as a manufactory of stoneware, being, at that time, a small con- cern. He enlarged the buildings, and at the same time contracted for such an amount of stoneware as twelve or fifteen manufactories of Summit county could make. The aggregate amount of some years was two million gallons of ware. He established a warehouse at De- troit, maintaining it eight years, and one at Chicago five years. In 1867, he began manu- facturing fire-brick, which he has greatly im- proved in quality. In 1875, he succeeded in obtaining a patent for the manufacture of a nearly pure (98.78) silica brick from white pebble. This was the first business of the kind in Ohio. They make about one and one-half million brieks per year, employing twenty men in the making, and a large number in the hand- ling of them for market. In 1872, he bought two oil refineries in this city and ran them, in connection with the Standard Oil Company, for five years. In 1858, he was elected Secretary of the Summit County Agricultural Society, holding the position for five years, which were followed by seven years in the presidency of the same, during which time (1858 to 1870), great improvements were made in the society. In 1868, he was elected member of the State Board of Agriculture, and, in 1872, Treasurer of the same. He was made member of the City Council in 1865, and, with the exception of two years. has continued such. being for the past eight years President of the same, and witness-

CITY OF AKRON.

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ing during that time all the public improve- ments, the city having grown from 3,500 to 20,000 inhabitants. Religious and educational institutions have repeatedly been the recipients of his munificent gifts. On Sept. 5, 1860, he was married to Miss Martha D. Wright, of Tall- madge, Ohio, daughter of Francis H. Wright, of which union there were eight children, one of whom, George B., is dead. Those living are Clara W., Helen B., Grace F., Mattie D., Bessie H., J. Park, Jr., and Alice S.

DAVID S. ALEXANDER, agricultural im- plements, Akron, Ohio ; is a son of John and Mary (Scott) Alexander, both of whom were born in Washington Co., Penn., and were mar- ried in 1828. In February, 1831, they came to Ohio, and settled in Bath Township, where he had previously bought 175 acres of land, upon which was some improvements. He followed farming there for several years, and, about 1840, began to import fine sheep (Saxon breed) from Washington Co., Penn., of the MeKeever stock, driving overland. He was for some years a prominent breeder and wool-grower, and brought into the county the first flock of Spanish merinoes. He died in 1856, aged 58, and his wife in June, 1880, at the age of 80 years. They had four sons, of whom David, the subject, was the oldest, and was born July 7, 1829, in Washington Co., Penn., and was an in- fant when the family came to this county. He grew up on the farm in Bath Township, receiv- ing his education in the schools of Bath, and attending school in Akron from 1847 to 1849, under Gen. Leggett, now of Cleveland. At 24 years of age, he commenced business for himself, and, in 1851, bought the farm of J. P. Baldwin, and for eleven years followed grain and stock farming successfully. In 1861, he came to Akron, and bought several lots on "Ely Tract," and commenced dealing in sheep, but dogs were very destructive to them, and he quit the business. In 1871, he began to deal in agricultural implements, which he still con- tinues. His establishment was destroyed by fire in 1879, entailing upon him a loss of $12,000. In rebuilding, he fell from a scaffold and broke his thigh. In June, 1853, he mar- ried Miss Sarah C. Hale, a daughter of William Hale, of Bath Township. Five daughters were born to them. Lucy J. was the wife of C. R. Grant, of Akron, and died June 8, 1880. Three brothers of subject died when young ; those

living are David S. (subject), Joseph H., J. Park and William G., who is a commission merehant at Toledo, Ohio.

FRANK M. ATTERHOLT, lawyer, Akron, son of John and Emeline (Williams) Atterholt, was born Dec. 19, 1848, near New Lisbon, Ohio, where he lived on a farm until he was 14 years of age, in the meantime attending school, and then entered the New Lisbon High School, which he attended for three years. At the age of 17 he began teaching, and continued some twelve years, spending his summer vacations in the National Normal School of Lebanon. He graduated from Mt. Vernon College in 1870, having entered three years previous. He was for three years Superintendent of the Colum- biana Public Schools, and for some time editor of the Independent Register of that place. In the Medina Normal School of 1872 he taught mathematics, and in 1873 was made Principal of the West Salem Public Schools, which posi- tion he retained for five years. In June, 1878, he began the study of law under the direction of Upson, Ford & Baird, and pursued his studies with them two years, being admitted to the bar on Oct. 5, 1880, at the session of the Supreme Court at Columbus, and has since been in practice here, having moved here in 1879. He was married to Miss Mary E. Beard, of Columbiana, Ohio, Dec. 31, 1872 ; she was a teacher in the public schools of that place. She bore him one child, a son.

O. C. BARBER, Vice President Diamond Match Co., Akron. The subject of this sketch is a native of Middlebury, now Sixth Ward of Akron, Ohio. He was born April 20, 1841, and is the fourth of eight children born to George and Eliza Barber, who were natives of Connecticut and Ohio respectively. George Barber was born in the year 1804. His par- ents, Ezriah and Ann Barber, moving to Onon- daga Co., N. Y., when he was 1 year old, and where he remained until he became of age, his schooling was confined to a few months each year at the district schools of his neigh- borhood. At the age of 18, he was appren- ticed to coopering, and worked for three years. In the year 1826-feeling the same pioneer spirit that had actuated his parents and grand- parents before him (he being a descendant of a family that came to this country from En- gland in 1620)-he thought he would take a look at what was then considered the far

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West, i. e., Ohio, and, after a few years' travel through the State in the clock business, he finally settled down at Middlebury, where a considerable milling interest was well estab- lished, and where and at Akron he followed his trade until the year 1845, when he began the manufacture of matches, being one of the first to take up the business in the West. Meeting with indifferent success at first, owing to the great difficulty of distributing the goods he manufactured. There being no railroads at that time that would transport matches, it was nec- essary to distribute his product by wagons. In the year 1852, feeling somewhat tired of the struggle, and the necessity of a rest, he con- cluded to retire from the business, and traded his fixtures and factory for a hotel at Middle- bury, and was appointed Postmaster of Middle- bury, under Pierce's administration. Of this he tired in about one year, and again engaged in the manufacture of matches and buttons, the latter part of the enterprise proving unprofit- able was soon abandoned, and he again gave his entire time and attention to the manufacture of matches, the facilities for which were in- proved from time to time, to keep pace with the growing demands of the trade ; and from making matches by hand in a barn, step by step the business was so increased that in the year 1880, the business was conducted in build- ings that, if on one floor twenty-two feet wide, would be over one mile long, and in which are made enough matches every twenty-five days, if placed end to end, to span the earth, and from which the Government received for inter- nal revenue stamps over $2,000 per day. Our subject, who is the only surviving son of the founder of this immense business, was raised in his native village, and received a course of study in the common schools. The circum- stances of the family early ushered him into business affairs, thus at the age of 16, he began selling matches for his father, operating in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan and Pennsylvania, in which States, through his activity and industry, the reputation of the Barber match soon became well-established. In the year 1862, the entire management was left to his dictation, from which time the success of the enterprise became more marked. Very much of this success Mr. Barber attributes to his associate and active business friend, J. K. Robinson, who about this time took charge of introducing the goods into

new markets, as well as the taking charge of the markets where the reputation of the goods were established, and no man in the entire West is better or more favorably known to the job- bing grocer trade of the country than Jack Robinson, as he is familiarly dubbed by his many friends. In 1864, the business was merged into a stock company, known as the Barber Match Co., of which George Barber was the President and O. C. Barber the Secretary and Treasurer, and John K. Robinson was General Agent. In January, 1881, the company had by far the largest and best equipped match works on this continent. The same enterprise that had made it what it was, suggested to Messrs. Barber & Robinson the propriety and economy of consolidating all the match companies of the States into one ownership or one company, and through them and other active manufacturers, a consolidation was made of twenty-eight of the leading manufacturers of the country, un- der the name of the Diamond Match Co., with a capital of $2,250,000, of which William H. Swift, of Wilmington, Del., is President ; O. C. Barber, Vice President ; and William B. Gates, of Frankfort, N. Y., is Treasurer. The business of this company is conducted or man- aged by these officers, as an Executive Com- mittee. with co-ordinate powers, the subject of this sketch having charge more directly of all the company's factories in the States west and south of Pennsylvania ; the sales depart- ment in the same territory being in the charge of John K. Robinson. O. C. Barber married Miss Laura L. Brown, of Akron, Oct. 10, 1866. By the marriage there have been two children, one of whom is living, viz., Anna Laura : Charles H. is deceased.

JOHN RICHARD BUCHTEL, manufact- urer of reapers and mowers, Akron, whose por- trait appears in this work, was born Jan. 18, 1822, in Summit Co., Ohio. He was the son of John Buchtel, a farmer, and the grandson of Peter Buchtel, who was a native of Penn- sylvania, whence he moved to Ohio in 1809, entering service here as a soldier in the war of 1812, and dying in the army. He engaged in farming when a youth, with no opportunity of obtaining other education than such as he could acquire by himself, so that, when he at- tained his majority, he could with difficulty write his name. At that age he began to work land on shares, continuing it for several years,

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until at length he was able to purchase a small farm of twenty acres. Finally disposing of this, he bought a farm of 160 acres in Coven- try Township, Summit Co., Ohio, which he im- proved and lived upon until 1854, when he sold it, and purchased a farm in La Porte Co., Ind., purposing at the time to remove there, and continue farming. Before doing so, how- ever, he modified his plans and entered into the employ of Ball, Aultman & Co., of Can- ton, then just beginning to make and introduce very extensively the "Ohio," and afterward the " Buckeye " mower and reaper. continuing as their agent until the spring of 1856. The film was burnt out soon after, and made an assign- ment to him for the benefit of its creditors. They obtained an extension, and he gave them such important aid that the firm, C. Aultman & Co., was again on a sccure foundation. In 1864, he succeeded in persuading the Canton manufacturers of the "Buckeye" machines, to build a manufactory at Akion also. and he superintended the construction of the neces- sary buildings, and purchased a one-sixth inter- est in the new establishment. By the following spring they began manufacturing their ma- chines in the new buildings. The next year the business was organized as a stock company, of which he was elected President. This com- pany has over $1,000.000 of paid-up cap- ital, and $500,000 surplus. Its works have capacity for building over ten thousand ma- chines annually. The Akron Iron Company, with its large rolling-mills and fine blast furn- aces, and the Akron Knife Works. of the Whit- man & Miles Manufacturing Company. for the production of knives and sickles for mowers, grew indirectly out of the establishment of the Buckeye works ; and the Akron paper-mill of Thomas Phillips & Co., the rubber works, the the chain works, and many other flourishing industries, owed very much to Mr. Buchtel for their location in Akron. He was an officer of the Canton incorporation of C. Aultman & Co., a Director of the Akron Iron Company, of the Bank of Akron, and of the Weary. Snyder &

Wilcox Manufacturing Company, besides many smaller business interests. In politics a Re- publican, and in temperance matters a prohibi- tionist; he was the candidate of the latter party for Secretary of State of Ohio, in 1874. He was appointed by Gov. Hayes, and con- firmed by the Senate, one of the Trustees of

State Agricultural College, and was a member of the executive committee during the erec- tion of its buildings. Throughout the war of Secession, his services to the community were simply invaluable. When others deemed the obstacles to filling up the quota and escaping the draft to be insurmountable, he, by his di- rect and supervisory efforts obtained the appor- tionment laid upon his town. In religious be- lief, he is a stanch Universalist, but neverthe- less contributed for the erection of every church built in Akron, after he began to take an active part in affairs. The crowning work of his unstinted liberality was reached in the establishment and endowment of Buchtel Col- lege, Akron. an institution under the control and patronage of the Universalist denomina- tion of Ohio. As the outgrowth of three 1 years of earnest thought and persistent effort. the corner-stone of this college was laid July 4, 1871, Horace Greeley delivering the address of the occasion. Besides donating at the out- set, his library to the institution, he from time to time contributed toward its completion and permanent endowment, until his gifts. in this direction. amounted to over $100.000. This college, at first an experiment, steadily made its way forward until it holds a place of ac- knowledged merit among the most flourishing institutions of the West. His generous contri- butions to the Akron Library Association. of which he was President, did much to place that organization upon a permanent basis. It may be safely said that he gave away all he carned, and was a great public and private benefactor. In 1844, he married Miss Eliza- beth Davidson. and their union is without issue. In 1877. Mr. Buchtel went to Athens Co., Ohio, where he purchased for the Akron Iron Company, on the line of the Hock- ing Valley Branch Railroad, 1,400 acres, com- prising some of the richest deposits of coal and iron in the State. During the same year, the railroad company located a station on these lands, and in honor of his efforts to de- velop the mines, they named the station Buch- tel, and later. the post office there received the same name. As purchaser, projector and gen- eral manager of the company during the past four years, he has made five openings and es- tablished large furnaces, which combined. re- quire a force of over four hundred men to operate, with a mining capacity of 1.000 tons

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 120

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