History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 140

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 140

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" Dissolve the Union, mar, remove The last asylum that is known,

Where patriots find a brother's love And truth may shelter from a throne.

" Give up the hopes of high renown, The legacy our fathers willed,

Tear our victorious eagles down, Before their mission is fulfilled.

" Dissolve the Union, while the earth Has yet a tyrant to be slain,

Destroy our freedom in its birth And give the world to bonds again.

"Dissolve the Union, God of Heaven, We know too well how much it cost; A million bosoms shall be riven Before one golden link is lost."

Many times during the years 1856 and 1857, our boy patriot was called out before school and visitors to recite this ode, a portion of which is here given -recite it because he did it so well he rejoiced in its grand national sentiments-his heart beat in unison with its expressed patriotism, the brightness of his eye and the color upon his boyhood cheek, told how enthusiastically he drank at these foun- tains of national existence. And now that his spirit has fled, who is there to doubt but that with this banner in his heart he was found in 1862, enrolled among the magnificent army of patriots who fought at Knoxville, Kenesaw, Resaca and in the siege of Atlanta. Three years of service in the 19th Ohio Battery in the great war of the Rebellion, christened the boy into manhood, unobtrusive of its merits, but nevertheless recognized. Before the war, in the year 1859, he entered the Mahoning Railroad shops as an apprentice machinist, under his subse- quent Chief in the Fire Department, James McNeil, as foreman. He served in these shops until August 1862, the date of his enlistment. After his discharge from the army, which occurred June 20, 1865, he

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was engaged for a short time in the railroad shops here and with Taplin, Rice & Co. until in 1868, when he entered the employ of the city. He died with his armor on in the thirteenth year of his serv- ice for the city, faithful to the last, his life stands a shining example of his ability, his integrity, his worth. A silent captain among men-he led, they followed. An indefatigable student, he was at the same time an accomplished mechanic. Theory enticed him along her intricate paths, yet he never lost sight of the real, the practicable, and to-day all over our city and all through this department, are to be seen examples of his handiwork. Like a great balance wheel in motion, he moved steadily forward, stopping not at trifles nor moving more rapidly from mere imagination and without cause. Thirty- seven year from the cradle to the grave. Thirty- seven years onward, upward ! Thirty-seven years and this star has risen to its zenith, blotted out in its pathway at midday, it hath fallen into the grave beneath our feet, and now, as the shadows of life point toward the east, with joined hands around this open tomb, we pledge anew our faith, our love, our hope in all that makes man immortal, as found in the remembrances of the life and character of our dead brother. We bow our heads in sorrow at the taking-away of our friend, and as we turn our footsteps away from this tomb, we exclaim in one voice, surely the ways of Providence are inscrutable and beyond finding out. James Stanford, as at the rising of the sun, we bid thee a glad welcome, as through the journey of life we stood near thee, loved and admired you, so now we, in our constan- cy of friendship, although with broken hearts, stand around thy grave at this final separation, and bid thee, noble hearted, grandly gifted, true hero, all hail and farewell.

FERDINAND SCHUMACHER, manufact- urer, Akron. Ferdinand Schumacker was born in Celle, Hanover, on March 30, 1822, where he attended school until he was 15 years old, at which age he had completed the High School course ; he then went to Harburg, where he worked five years as an apprentice in a whole- sale and retail grocery, receiving no remunera- tion during that time. In 1842, he commenced clerking with his father, and continued for two years, when he went to Hanover, and clerked in the extensive sugar refinery of Egestorf & Hurtzig, for about six years, his salary at first being $150, and finally $200 per year. In 1850, in company with his brother Otto, he emi- grated to the United States. He bought 46 acres of land in Euclid, twelve miles from Cleveland, where he farmed for a year and a half, at the end of which time he left the farm in charge of his brother, and came to Akron, where he at once formed a partnership with Theodore Weibesahn, and, in company with him, kept a fancy goods, toy and notion store

in the basement of P. D. Hall's store. After eight months he retired from this, and started for himself a small grocery store in the site of the First National Bank ; this was attended with success, and he continned with it until 1863. In 1856, he rented water-power on the Ohio Canal, on North Howard St., and put in the necessary machinery for inaugurating a branch of manufacture, which steadily grew in value, and which was the manufacture of oat-meal ac- cording to ideas received by him as to the proper method of making palatable food out of the grain of the oat, while learning the grocery business in his native country. Into this, his adopted country, he introduced excellent oat- meal, by substituting machinery, driven by power, for the hand-mill he had been accus- tomed to see used by his employer in Germany. His experiment was successful, and the next year apparatus for pearling barley was added to what were appropriately called "German " mills, and the year following that, greater ca- pacity was given to the mill itself, by increasing the water power. In 1863 the Empire Barley Mills were built, which were enlarged in 1876. He built, in 1879, an elevator for the storage of grain. In 1872, the first mill burned, but within thirty days after the fire, a new struct- ure, known as the present German Mills was begun, and quite finished early in 1873. He bought the Cascade Flouring Mills in 1868, en- larged and supplied it with modern machinery. The capacity of the Barley Mills is 1,000 bush- els per day; of the Cascade Mills, 250 barrels of flour; of the German Mills, 250 barrels oat-meal, consuming about 3,000 bushels of oats, in ad- dition to which large quantities of pearl cracked wheat and feed are turned ont. His three mills give employment to about 120 men and women, and the business amounts to $1,000,- 000, or more, annually, extending to all parts of the country, all of it being under his personal direction, and with but one traveling solicitor. When he began, all the oat-meal in this country was imported from Canada and Europe, but at present the importations of this valuable food are trifling in amount. The secret of his success is perseverance, energy, and his determination to excel in the quality of his goods, being quite dissatisfied with any- thing short of excellence in the way of machin- ery. On Oct. 7, 1851, he was married, 'at Cleveland, Ohio, to his cousin, Miss Hermine

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Schumacher, of Bevern, Brunswick, Germany, by whom he had seven children, five of whom are deceased. Louis and Adolph are living. He has been a Prohibitionist since 1870, has given support to the various churches, and has been a member of the City Council.

AVERY SPICER, Akron, Ohio. Avery, oldest son of Miner and Cynthia (Allen) Spicer, began life's voyage on Oct. 26, 1799, at Gro- ton, New London Co., Conn., since which time he has rowed steadily and carefully up-stream. He attended school but little in Connecticut, his family moving from there to this site when he was only 12 years old, at which time they were the only white settlers where Akron now stands, although there were three white families at Middlebury. Here he started to school, in company with six sisters, the schoolhouse being a frame building, at Middlebury, built by his father ; his first teacher there was named Skinner, whom Mr. Spicer remembered as a very severe man, priding himself more on being a "master " than a teacher. On arriving here, his father bought 260 acres on the present site, none of which, at that time, was cleared. The three white families then in Middlebury were Aaron Norton, Rial MeArthur and Capt. Hart. Mr. Spicer's father lived in McArthur's house for about four days, when he moved into a cabin, built of round logs, with no chinking ; there was timber all around the house. Deer came in sight of the house frequently, and it was not an unusual occurrence to see bears. Mr. Spicer recalls one occasion when, on going to a neighbor's, he saw what he had at first supposed to be a hog standing on his hind feet, but which he soon discovered to be a bear; his dog, which accompanied him, ad- vanced and received the " hug," in which affec- tionate embrace he left him, while he soon lengthened the distance between them and himself. It was about a month after this occur- rence, that a dog's prolonged barking attracted his attention, and on investigation he found the disturbance to be at a hog-pen. Securing a candle and a gun, he and his father followed the dog, and discovered a bear, at which he took aim and fired, but it escaped. He re- turned, and, on finding the hog dead, hastened to build a fire to protect it, but the bear suc- ceeded in stealing it away before he accom- plished his purpose. The next morning, he sought and found them, killing the bear with

gun-shot. They had great difficulty in obtain- ing salt here at that time, and, after being here two years, he, a boy of 14, led a horse to Cleve- land, and returned on foot with a bag of salt, having been gone four days. The year follow- ing he took a horse, loaded with three bags of flour, to the Liverpool Salt Works, at Rocky River ; for about fifteen miles of the way he had no guide but blazed trees, and when in the woods night came on, he tied the horse and went to sleep on the bags. Before morn- ing the wolves began to howl, and he slept no more that night. One morning, as he was just about to start a fire in his father's house, blow- ing the embers, he saw a rattlesnake coiled up about one foot from his hand, and to escape he threw himself backward, and when the light shone up struck the snake with the shovel, and then sprang on the bed in the dark, the fire having gone out ; the snake was not killed, but badly hurt; it was but one of the many which were then existent. When they settled here, Indians were plenty. After Hull's sur- render, Mr. Spicer's father enlisted and went to Cleveland, from which place he was sent back as Captain, with about 100 men in his com- mand ; he established a guard line from old Portage to new Portage, and part way to Cleve- land. Subject was at Hudson when Perry won his memorable victory, and he distinctly heard the guns. He reverences greatly his name. While his father was in Cleveland, during the war of "'12," his mother went each night, taking her family with her, to lodge in the home of Amos Spicer, who had settled in Cov- entry Township ; and one morning, on return- ing home with subject and his cousin, Pierpont Spicer, she discovered that the door had been opened, and supposing it had been done by Indians, they made cautious reconnaissance. Pierpont, on going to the loft, sprang down and said he saw Indians in bed. All three ran from the house, but Mrs. Spicer, being unable to go swiftly, found a treasure in her boy, who slacked his gait to accommodate hers. On reflection, they all returned, and subject cau- tiously and tremblingly started up the ladder leading to the loft, followed very closely by her whose mother-heart bade her now urge him on, and now restrain him, which she did by gentle pushing or pulling at his coat, according as she grew brave or fearful. On reaching the loft, however, they found no one, although

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there was evidence of some two or three per- sons having occupied their bed, who, no doubt, were some of Hull's men, and not the looked- for Indians. At the age of 21, he began earn- ing his own living, working for his father two years at "truck and dicker," which employment brought him but $7 per month. Later, he be- came foreman of a large number of hands on the Ohio canal, furnishing stone for its locks. In this he engaged for one season, and, in 1824 or 1825, he and his uncle rented a saw- mill and sawed lumber for the locks for a period of two years. He was boss of the hands who built the log bridge across the Cuyahoga, east of Mustle's, being paid the same amount they received, which was 31 cents per day. He married, on Sept. 3, 1826, Miss Harriet King, daughter of Joshua King, who settled on the Cuyahoga in 1810. Harriet was born on Sept. 27, 1810, and is said to have been the first white child born on the Cuyahoga from Portage to Cleveland. After his marriage, he bought forty acres of land at $8 per acre, on the south- ern part of his father's farm, to which he made additions until he owned seventy-five acres, which he farmed until 1837. The first wheat he raised sold for 30 cents per bushel. In 1837, he bought 150 acres of land in Coventry Township, making additions thereto until he owned 366 acres, which he farmed with good success, keeping a dairy for several years. He was Trustee of Coventry Township for many years. In 1857, he moved to his present place, corner of Spicer and Carroll streets, Akron, where his father formerly lived. He was Infirmary Director of this county for fif- teen years, serving during the construction of the present building. He has five children living, viz., Cynthia, wife of George Cogshall, of Akron ; Austin A. (see sketch in Coventry Township), of Coventry ; Harriet, wife of James T. Trowbridge, of Akron; Harrison M., farmer in Coventry ; and Ella C., wife of Charles Parmenter, of Waltham, Mass. Four children are deceased, viz., Isaac A., who died in California in his 23d year ; Sarah C., who was the wife of John Newton and died in Mich- igan, and Olive and Oliver, twins, who died when 5 months old.

JOHN F. SEIBERLING, Akron ; oldest son of Nathan and Catharine (Peters) Seiberling, was born March 10, 1834, in Norton Township, this county, where he spent his youth, having

common and high-school advantages. In 1856, he came to Akron, and for two years engaged in the drug business. He returned in 1858 to Norton Township, and there ran a saw-mill for some two years, and, while working in the mill, became interested in the improvements of mow- ing and reaping machines, and, lacking favora- ble opportunities, constructed a machine which he brought out in 1859. In 1860, he experi- mented with this machine and named it the "Excelsior." In 1861, he took out his first patent-the main feature being the "dropper," which was the first made or conceived. From 1861, he gave his whole time and attention to the business, going to Doyleston, Ohio, where he established a manufactory which is still in operation. He experimented every season, and, in 1861, he invented the side-brace bar coupling, and, in 1862, the horizontal folding finger-beam. He was the first to discover the adjustable reel, which he did in 1870, or thereabouts. In 1875, he brought out the empire table rake,

* and in 1880, the single-wheel reaper. * *

He worked at Doylestown, until 1864, when he went to Massillon, where he established a manu- factory, remaining one year. In October, 1865, he came to Akron and organized the firm of J. F. Seiberling & Co., for the manufacture of the " Excelsior," from which firm he withdrew in 1869. In 1871, he organized the Akron Straw Board Company, located at Middlebury, of which he is still a member, now being the President and Treasurer of the same ; to this, by means of his own inventions, he has added several new improvements. In 1875, he com- menced the building of the "Empire," a new machine with new features, which was invented by him during the time not engaged in manu- facturing. The commendable features of the " Empire " are numerous, but it is especially valuable because of its strength and durability (the gears being inclosed, and all the parts made of iron), and the new principle making light draft and little noise. The present ca- pacity is 5,000 machines per year, which meet a ready sale. In 1880, he purchased the old "Excelsior" works, and the business is con- trolled by himself, he being President and gen- eral manager. In September, 1859, he married Miss Catharine L. Miller, of Norton Township, and of this union there were nine children, all of whom are living, their names being as fol- lows : Anna E., Frank A., Charles W., Cora D.,

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Hattie M., Grace I., Kittie G., Mary B. and Ruth. The subject of this sketch has been a member of the School Board ; he is a member of the English Lutheran Church, and is now Trustee.

ROLIN W. SADLER, lawyer, Akron ; was born to James J. Sadler, July 7, 1856, in Cen- terville, St. Joseph Co., Mich .; eleven years later, moving to Bryan, Ohio, where he re- mained two years, followed by a two years' stay in Wauseon, at both of which places he attended school. In 1871, he entered Baldwin University, and remained one year, when he entered Mt. Union College, from which he grad- nated in 1874, after which date he engaged in teaching for some time. In the summer of 1876, he came to Akron, entering the law office of Edgerton & Kohler, as student, and was ad- initted to the bar in 1878, since which time he has been in active practice. Although young, he is a competent lawyer, and owes his success mainly to his own efforts, as, indeed, do nearly all truly successful men. On Sept. 15, 1880, he married Miss Carrie M. Comstock, of Bed- ford, at which place he was engaged a few years ago as Principal of the schools, previously having served in like capacity in the Reading. Mich., schools. The old firm name, Edgerton & Kohler, is changed to Kohler & Sadler. His father, James J. Sadler, was born in New York City, and moved thence to Pennsylvania, after which he came to Stow Township, where he grew to manhood, receiving his education in Twinsburg Institute. He began teaching at the age of 17, engaging in that vocation in dif- ferent parts of Summit Co., and at Middlebury. He is now Superintendent of the public schools of Stanton, Mich. He has six children, of whom Rolin is the second son.

LOUIS B. SCHNEIDER, hardware mer- chant, Akron. Frederick A. Schneider was born in Altona, near Hamburg, Germany, and immigrated to Pennsylvama at an early day, where, when quite a youth, he became engaged in mercantile pursuits. His father was a Cap- tain in the regular German army, and gave him a good education in German, French and En- glish. In Pennsylvania, he engaged in book- keeping for a large house in Philadelphia, and teaching school ; subsequently kept a hardware store at Chambersburg, where he met and mar- ried Miss Rebecca Faber, who bore him nine children, viz., Mrs. Chas. Cranz, and Mrs.

Judge G. W. Raff, of Canton, Ohio ; Anton G., of Akron ; F. A., of Omaha ; Louis B .; Edward F. (deceased), who was an Adjutant under Gov. Hayes ; Mrs. Henrietta R. Wallace, of Canton, Ohio; Mrs. W. J. Broatch, of Omaha, and Emma S. (deceased). In 1828, the father of subject moved to Canton, Ohio, where he en- gaged in the hardware business, and was very successful. Positions of trust were given him. among others, that of Mayor of Canton. He died in 1867. His fifth child and third son, Louis B., was born in Canton, Ohio, Nov. 15, 1834, where he lived until he was 16 years of age, at which period he came to Akron, where he engaged his services as clerk in the hardware store of C. Cranz & Co., retaining his position seven years. In 1858, he went to Omaha, Neb., where, for two years, he con- ducted a hardware store for his father, and then returned to Summit County, where he established a store of his own at Mogadore, which he managed for three years, at the end of which time, he established and conducted another at New Portage, which continued in operation but two years, both adventures being successful. In 1865, he came to Akron, and re-entered the store of Charles Cranz, this time as a partner, which for ten years he continued to be, and in 1875, he bought out the store, having since done a good business. In June, 1859, he married Miss Emma L. Welch, of Mogadore, and they have two children-Flora M. and Faber E.

JAMES B. STORER, Postmaster, Akron ; son of W. B. Storer ; was born in Akron Jan. 22, 1839, where, until he was 17 years of age, he attended the public schools, after which he learned the jeweler's trade, serving with W. H. Fallmon, and for a short time with H. S. Ab- bey. He was subsequently engaged in an iron store for a year, when the war broke out, and he enlisted as soon as the news reached Akron. being among the first on the roll of Co. G, 19th O. V. I., and was in service three months, rising, in the meanwhile, to the rank of Sergeant. He re-enlisted in Co. H, of the 29th O. V. I., en- gaging in the battles of Winchester, Port Re- public, Cedar Creek, South Mountain, Antietam. Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mount- ain and Mission Ridge. He was appointed Ad- jutant and recruiting officer, and recruited al- most every man present with the regiment in December, 1863, as veterans. In May, 1864,

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on the Atlanta Campaign, in the first engage- ment at Rocky Race or Dug Gap, he was wounded by a minie rifle-ball, which struck his spinal column, which resulted in paralysis of his legs. He was carried from the field, and lay in the hospital at Nashville for three months. He was discharged in November, 1864, and aft- er almost a year he was able to walk with the aid of crutches. Then he purchased a jewelry store at 116 Howard street, in which he still retains an interest, the firm name being J. B. Storer & Co. In June, 1870, he was appointed, by President Grant, Postmaster of Akron, for a term of four years ; re-appointed in 1874, and again in 1878, by President Hayes. On Jan. 11, 1864, he married Miss Lucy M., daugh- ter of Gibbons J. Ackley, of Akron. She bore him one child, a daughter. He is a member of the G. A. R.

EDWARD W. STUART, lawyer, Akron ; son of Sylvanus and Caroline M. (Whittlesey) Stuart, who were natives of Connecticut, was born in Washington Township, Litchfield Co., Conn., on May 9, 1840, and two years later came with his father's family to Erie Co., Ohio, where they still reside. He is the oldest of their two children, his sister being now Mrs. Helen M. Gibbs, of Salina, Kan. Until he was 18 years of age, he farmed during vacations from school, and in 1858, he entered Western Reserve College, from which he graduated in October of 1862, the graduation of the class having been postponed because of their enlisting in the service. About seventy students formed Co. B, 85th O. V. I., and served, doing guard duty, four months, after which, for a period of four years, he was engaged in teaching. He was two years the Principal of Shaw Academy, of Collamer, Ohio. In 1866, he was admitted to the bar at Cleveland, having made law a study for four years. He commenced practice at Kent, Ohio, with S. P. Wolcott, Esq., con- tinuing there until May, 1870, when he came to Akron, there forming a partnership with C. P. Humphrey, which continues. In April, 1871, he was elected City Solicitor, which office he held until January, 1877. In October, 1876, he was elected Prosecuting Attorney of Summit Co., and acted in that capacity two terms. In May, 1864, he married Miss Harriet Whedon, of Hudson.

LOUIS SEYBOLD, editor Germania ; born on Sept. 22, 1854, in Hohenschwangan, Bavaria.

Attended the Gymnasium at Ellwangen, Wur- temberg, Germany. Came to America in 1873, and lives in Akron since 1875. Has been musical director of the Akron Harmonie, from 1876 to 1879, and accepted the editor- ship of the Akron Germania in 1878. Married in 1879, to Louisa Doppstatter, of Akron ; has wife and one child.

FRANK J. STARAL, business manager of the Beacon, Akron. The subject of this sketch is a son of John and Julia (Podstatny) Staral. He was born Feb. 25, 1847, in the town of Beroun, Bohemia, where at the age of 12 he learned book-binding. He pursued this calling in his native town until 1865, when he came to the United States of America and erelong found employment in Cleveland, Ohio. Here he worked at book-binding about four years. He came to Akron Jan. 1, 1869, to assume the duties of foreman in the bindery of Lane, Can- field & Co. Mr. Staral held the same position in the Beacon Publishing Co., organized in 1871, until 1875. By his thrift and energy he became a stockholder in 1871. When the stock passed into present hands in 1875, Mr. Staral, with a larger share of stock, became its book-keeper, and succeeded Mr. J. H. Auble as business manager in 1877 ; a position he has since ably filled. July 10, 1877, he married Miss Bertha Weisenberger, of Cincinnati, Ohio. Of this union there is one son.

ALOIS STRAUB, musical instruments, Ak- ron, Ohio ; is a son of Alois and Magdalena (Gudfried) Straub, and was born Sept. 11, 1826, in Baden, Germany. He learned cabinet-mak- ing at 14 years of age, and after working two years, he began to work on musical instruments in Fernbach, which he continued for four years, when he entered the German Army. After leaving the army, he came to the United States, arriving at New York in the latter part of the summer of 1849; he went to Philadelphia ; and remaining in different parts of Pennsyl- vania until October 1851, he came to Akron, Ohio, and worked a short time in a cabinet- shop. He commenced the manufacture of musical instruments for Horton & Rose, which he continued about five years, when his health failed, and, in the spring of 1857, he was em- ployed as a traveling salesman for the company. About the year 1861, he began dealing in in- struments on his own account, it being the first music store in the city, and about 1870-71,

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 140

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