History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 35

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 35

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At the annual meeting in January, 1870, a committee was appointed to select grounds to be purchased by the society, the committee reporting to the Directors March 15, 1870, the propositions which had been made to them, as follows : S. W. Bartges, thirty-five acres of the Mallison farm, on Wooster avenue, at $500 per acre ; S. H. Coburn and Samuel Thornton, thirty acres, south of city limits and west of Main street, at $400 per acre ; A. C. Voris and E. Steinbacher, twenty-six acres, on the south line of city and east of Main street, at $500 per acre ; Messrs. Falor and Allyn, such portion of their lands on the north line of Coventry Township as the society might need, at $400 per acre ; and Mr. J. H. Kramer, a tract of

203

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

twenty acres along the Ohio Canal, south of city limits, at $250 per acre.

June 4, 1870, at a meeting of the society, called to consider these several propositions, the vote to purchase grounds was reconsidered, and the matter for the time being was dropped.

October 24, 1870, another resolution to pur- chase grounds forthwith was adopted, and the committee, consisting of Edward Cranz, of Bath, James Hammond, of Copley, and David S. Alexander, of Akron, were, on motion of King J. Ellet, of Springfield, instructed to pur- chase the Coburn and Thornton tract, at a price not to exceed $400 per acre. At the annual meeting, January 18, 1871, the minutes of the October meeting were amended so as to show that a resolution offered by William Wheatley, of Richfield, was adopted, authorizing the com- mittee to look around and purchase grounds which, in their judgment, would be for the best interest of the society ; the committee in the meantime having purchased of James McAl- lister thirty acres off from the east portion of his farm, on the north side of the Medina road, one mile west of Akron, at $200 per acre, with a cash payment of $2,000. February 14, 1872, committee reported grounds all paid for, with a balance due the Treasurer of $153.94.

A very considerable number of the members and patrons of the society, both in the city of Akron and in the eastern, northern and south- ern townships of the county, dissatisfied with the location which had been selected, had so agitated and discussed the question, that, at the annual meeting of the society, held January 20, 1874, after quite a stormy debate, a resolu- tion offered by Mr. Jacob H. Wise, that it was impracticable for the society to use the Mc- Allister grounds, and that a committee be ap- pointed to sell said grounds and secure others, accessible by railroad running through the county, was referred to the officers of the so- ciety, with instructions to report at the next annual meeting. At an adjourned meeting, held February 7, 1874, a resolution was adopted that Nelson V. Wadsworth, of Hudson ; John H. Christy, of Akron ; Jared Barker, of Bath ; King J. Ellet, of Springfield ; Daniel Hine, of Tallmadge ; James Hammond, of Copley ; and Dennis Treat, of Tallmadge, constitute a com- mittee to report to the Directors at their next meeting what, if anything, should be done in the matter of disposing of the McAllister

grounds and purchasing others. April 9, 1874, the committee submitted a majority report in favor of retaining and improving the grounds owned by the society, and a minority report in favor of disposing of those grounds and pur- chasing the Fouse tract, near Bettes' Corners, northeast of Akron, the majority report being adopted by a vote of ten to six. October 7, 1874, the Directors resolved, by a vote of eight to five, to proceed, at once to improve the Mc- Allister grounds. January 20, 1875, at the annual meeting of the society, the officers of the society, to whom was referred the resolu- tion offered by Mr. J. H. Wise, at the previous annual meeting, reported in favor of purchas- ing the Fouse tract, Mr. Fouse submitting a proposition to sell fifty acres to the society at $200 per acre. Mr. A. T. Burrows also sub- mitted a proposal to sell forty-five acres of his land on the "Chuckery," at $400 per acre, or the whole tract at $450 per acre. A ballot on grounds resulted as follows : Burrows tract, 336; McAllister grounds, 218. March 6, 1875, Dennis Treat, John H. Christy and Stephen H. Pitkin were appointed a committee, by ballot, and empowered to purchase the Burrows tract and sell the McAllister grounds. April 24, committee reported that they were unable to either buy or sell. A resolution was then adopted, appointing Dennis Treat, of Tallmadge, and William Wheatly, of Richfield, who, with a third man, to be selected by them from with- out the county, should finally decide the matter.

May 24, 1875, Mr. Treat reported that Hon. R. P. Cannon, of Portage County, had been se- lected as the third member of the committee, and that a tract offered by Mr. Jacob H. Wise, on the "Chuckery," had been agreed upon by a majority of the committee, Mr. Wheatly dis- senting ; but that, since his return home, Mr. Cannon had receded from his action, and de- clined to make any further report. A resolu- tion was adopted, authorizing the committee to call to their aid lIon. J. P. Robinson, of Cuya- hoga County, and that the committee, as thus constituted, proceed to locate grounds. June 19, 1875, Mr. Treat reported that the committee had failed to agree upon a location. Mr. Wheatly reporting that the committee had failed for want of effort, Mr. Treat not aiding him (Mr. W.) in urging Dr. Robinson for an opinion. Letters from Dr. Robinson were read, coun- seling the society to meet and agree upon a

204

IHISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

location. The following resolution was then adopted :

Resolved, That all of the Directors meet June 26, and view all the grounds offered, and then meet at the Secretary's office for a final vote.

June 26, 1875, the Directors visited the Long, Allyn, Howe, Powder, Fouse, Burrows, Wise, Alexander and McAllister tracts, and adjourned to July 3. At the adjourned meeting, July 3, 1875, the Directors proceeded to ballot for lo- cation, with the following result: First ballot -McAllister, 7 ; Fouse, 5 ; Burrows, 2; Allyn, 1; Powder, 6-21 votes. Second ballot-Mc- Allister, 7; Fouse, 2; Burrows, 1; Alexander, 1; Powder. 10-21 votes. Third ballot-Mc- Allister, 7; Fouse, 3; Alexander, 1 ; Powder, 10-21 votes. Fourth ballot-McAllister, 8 ; Fouse, 3; Wise, 1; Powder, 9-21 votes. Fifth ballot-McAllister, 8 ; Fonse, 1; Wise, 1; Pow- der, 11-21 votes. The Powder tract having thus received the majority of the ballots cast, it was ordered that the President and Secretary proceed to close a contract for said tract, con- veying to the owners thereof the McAllister grounds, and executing the necessary papers to secure to them the balance of the purchase price, $5,000.

The grounds thus selected, derisively called the "Powder Patch," from the fact that the works of the Austin Powder Company, now of Cleveland, were originally located thereon, is a tract of forty-five acres, in the valley of the Little Cuyahoga River, and within the corpor- ate limits of the city of Akron. It is contigu- ous to both the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio, and the Cleveland, Mount Vernon & Columbus Railroads, while the track of the Valley Railway, from Cleveland to Canton, which originally ran on a high trestle, directly through the grounds, has been thrown around the southern edge of the inclosure, thus doing away with one of the main objections which was urged against their selection, while adding very greatly to its accessibility and conven- ience in the transportation of stock and visit- ors to and from the fair. It is a romantic and picturesque spot, with the ever-limpid waters of the Little Cuyahoga, meandering through them from southeast to northwest, while in- numerable large springs, on the adjacent hills, furnish an abundant supply of water for artifi- cial lakes, fountains, etc ; the name of " Foun- tain Park " having been given to the grounds

by common consent. A substantial high picket fence incloses the grounds, and commodious floral, commercial, agricultural, mechanical, domestic and dining halls and offices have been erected ; an abundant supply of cattle-pens and stables have been provided ; one of the finest half-mile trotting tracks in the State has been built; an extensive covered stand with ample seating capacity, erected; thousands of hitching posts provided ; ornamental trees and shrubbery planted, and the preliminary work done toward making "Fountain Park," not only one of the most convenient and beautiful fair grounds in the State, but, as contemplated improvements are completed, one of the most desirable pleasure resorts in Summit County.

The first meeting held upon the society's own grounds, in October, 1875, notwithstanding the bitterness of feeling that had been engen- dered in regard to their selection, was a very decided success, as has been each subsequent yearly exposition of the society, the growth and steadily increasing popularity of its annual fairs, being well illustrated by its semi-decennial gross receipts, from 1850 to 1880, which, in round numbers, were as follows : For 1850, $327; for 1855, $903; for 1860, $2,100; for 1865, $2,800; for 1870, $3,698; for 1875, $5,014; for 1880, $7,444. This munificent in- crease of patronage, has not only enabled the society, besides paying its heavy running ex- penses, premiums, etc., to go steadily forward with the improvement of its grounds, and to pay the interest and very considerably reduce the principal of the debt incurred in the pur- chase of the original grounds, and the erection of the necessary buildings thereon, but has warranted the management in purchasing be- tween seven and eight acres of additional land at $200 per acre, the fair grounds, proper, now covering an area of something over fifty-two acres. In 1876, the constitution was so amended as to give a Director to each ward of the city of Akron, thus making the present number of Directors of the society twenty-four.

The space assigned to this chapter not per- mitting a detailed statement of the proceedings of the successive annual meetings of the society during its entire history, we can only give, in brief, the name, place of residence, and term of service, of the several gentlemen who have filled the offices of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, from 1860 to the pres-

205

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

ent date (1881). Presidents-Perry C. Caro- thers, Tallmadge, 1861, 1862 ; Horace P. Can- non, Twinsburg, 1863, 1864 ; J. Park Alexan- der, Akron, January, 1865, to March, 1870, when, tendering his resignation, John R. Buch- tel, of Akron, was elected to fill the vacancy ; James Hammond, Copley, 1871 to 1874, inclu- sive ; Dennis Treat, Tallmadge, 1875, 1876 ; John F. Moore, Copley, 1877, 1878, 1879 ; Ste- phen H. Pitkin, Portage, 1880 ; Simeon Dick- erman, Northampton, 1881. Vice Presidents- Charles Coe, Norton, 1861, 1862, 1863 ; Den- nis Treat, Tallmadge, 1864, 1865, 1866 ; James Hammond, Copley, 1867 to 1870, inclusive ; Dennis Treat, Tallmadge, 1871 to 1874, inclu- sive ; John F. Moore, Copley, 1875, 1876 ; King J. Ellet, Springfield, 1877, 1878; Wellington Miller, Norton, 1879, 1880, 1881. Secretaries- James Mathews, Akron, 1861, 1862 ; J. Park Alexander, Akron, 1863, 1864; Hiram Viele, Akron, elected for 1865, but resigning, James Atkins, Akron, appointed to fill vacancy ; Jon- athan Starr. Akron, 1866, 1867 ; Othello W. Hale, Bath, Secretary ; Hiram S. Falor, Cov- entry, Assistant Secretary. 1868 , George W. Crouse, Akron, Secretary ; Hiram S. Falor, As- sistant, 1869 ; Hiram S. Falor, Secretary, 1870 ; Stephen H. Pitkin, Portage, 1871 to 1879, inclusive ; John H. Christy, Akron, 1880, 1881. Treasurers-John R. Buchtel, 1861, 1862 ; Ja- cob H. Wise, Akron, 1863 ; George D. Bates, Akron, 1864 to 1870, inclusive ; John H. Christy, Akron, 1871 to 1875, inclusive. Mr. Christy resigning September 15, 1875, John J. Wagoner, Akron. appointed to fill vacancy ; John H. Christy again elected for 1876, but again resigning September 6, 1876, William B. Raymond, Akron, elected to fill vacancy, and re-elected for 1877 : Herbert A. Peck, Tall- madge, 1878 to 1881, inclusive.

A considerable number of the people of the western, northwestern and southwestern por- tions of the county being dissatisfied with the selection of the "Powder Patch " by the Sum- mit County Agricultural Society, and honestly believing that the location was not only ineli- gible and inconvenient, on account of the bro- ken nature of the ground, but absolutely dan- gerous for stock, because of its proximity to railroads, formed themselves into a joint-stock company, with a capital of $5,000, leased the Hall grounds, recently vacated by the old so- ciety, and, refitting them in good style with

new buildings, fences, sheds, etc., under the name and style of the "Summit County Fair Association," held a very successful fair of four days in September, 1875, with James Ham- mond, of Copley, President ; Frank A. Foster, of Copley, Vice President ; Wellington Miller, of Norton, Secretary ; and Philander D. Hall, Jr., of Akron, Treasurer. Vigorous efforts were made by the officers and members of the organ- ization to make the "Summit County Fair Association " one of the permanent institutions of the county, and its second exhibition, in September, 1876, was also reasonably success- ful. Exhibitors and visitors, however, not par- ticularly desiring to contribute equally to the support of two rival fairs so near together in point of time and locality, and the new grounds of the old society rapidly growing into public favor, the interest in the " new fair on the old grounds " gradually died out, and the associa- tion disbanded, its affairs being placed in the hands of a receiver for liquidation. The " little unpleasantness " in regard to the selection of grounds by the old society having given way to general good feeling among the agriculturists, manufacturers, merchants and other fair pro- moters and supporters, it may be safely pre- dicted that all will henceforth vie with each other to make the Summit County Agricultural Society and its truly delightful grounds the model institution of its kind in Ohio.

The great distance of the extreme north- eastern and northwestern townships of the county from the county seat, together with the remoteness of contiguous townships in adjoin- ing eounties from their respective county seats. led to the formation of prosperous and spirited union fair organizations in the localities indi- cated, some twenty-five years ago. In 1851, the people of Richfield organized a township soci- ety, under the name and style of "Richfield Agricultural Club," the annual exhibitions of which became so popular that, in 1858, six other townships, viz .: Bath and Boston, in Summit; Brecksville and Royalton, in Cuya- hoga, and Hinckley and Granger, in Medina, united with her in an association known as the " Union Agricultural and Mechanic Art So- ciety," which was admirably managed for a number of years, the grounds being leased for the period of ten years, and the building, fenc- ing, etc., being largely done by voluntary con- tributions. On the expiration of its lease, the

206

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

association re-organized as a stock company, and purchased the grounds previously occu- pied, increased vitality and activity following the re-organization for several years. As the county fairs, however, of Summit and adjoining counties, increased their attractions, the inter- est in the local organization began to wane, and the society disbanded in 1875, selling its grounds and closing up its affairs in 1876. At Twinsburg, also, after a township exhibition upon the public square for two or three sue- cessive years, there was organized a " union fair" association, composed of the townships of Twinsburg, Hudson and Northfield, in Summit County ; Aurora, in Portage County, and Solon and Bedford, in Cuyahoga County. The first meeting of the society was in Septem- ber, 1856, and, like the Richfield association, its annual fairs were, for many years, very suc- cessful and popular, the society owning its own grounds of some thirteen acres. The patrons and promoters of this fair being largely inter- ested and engaged in dairying, and other kin dred industries, a succession of dry and unpro- ductive seasons, together with the decease and removal of a number of its most active sup- porters, so dampened the ardor of its remain- ing members that the meetings were at length discontinued, the last fair of the society being held in September, 1871, the grounds being sold and the affairs of the society closed in 1872.

The Summit County Agricultural Society failing to accept the very liberal proposition which had been made by the people of Cuya- hoga Falls for the location of the county fair grounds at or near that place, a number of the citizens of that and adjacent townships organ- ized a Union Fair Association in 1859, and fitted up grounds, about a mile north of the village, on the Hudson Road. The first regular fair of the society was held September 1, 2 and 3, 1859, and was in every respect a first-class exhibition, both in point of display and at- tendance, netting its projectors some $600 over and above expenses. In addition to the usual list of premiums offered for cattle, horses and other farm stock, agricultural and mechanical products, domestic manufactures, etc., especial encouragement was given to matters pertaining to the turf, many local celebrities in the way of high and fast steppers being attracted thither. The managers, however, failing to secure the attendance of the intended "big card "-the

then greatest of American trotters, Flora Tem- ple-for the regular fair, arranged for a meet- ing on the 28th day of October, the same year, at which that renowned animal was pitted against another reputed very fast nag, "Ike Cook." The weather proved to be unpropitious and the track heavy, but though the attendance was meager, the match came off on time, the Beacon of November 2 recording the result as follows : " Flora Temple, 1, 2, 1 ; Ike Cook, 2, 1, 2. Time-First heat, 2.28 ; second heat, 2.34 ; third heat, 2.33. This enterprise proved a losing venture, absorbing nearly, if not quite, all the profits of the September fair. Again in 1860, September 5, 6 and 7, the regular annual fair of the society was held, also being reason- ably successful, though little more, if any, than paying the running expenses. The third an- nual fair was held upon the grounds of the society September 23, 24 and 25, 1861. The war of the rebellion was then upon us, and military displays at local fairs became very popular. The show was a very fine one, but the attendance was small, except on the last day, the military display and competition drawing together quite a large crowd. There were pres- ent the Bath Guards, Capt. Schoonover; the Buckeye Guards, of Copley, Capt. Sackett ; and the Cowles Tiger Zouaves, from Bedford,. Cuyahoga County ; the latter, however, a very fine company, being excluded from competition for the prize by reason of being one member short of the required number. After a drill of thirty minutes each, the first prize, a silk flag, was awarded to the Bath Guards, and the second, a worsted flag, was awarded to the Cop- ley Guards. At the conclusion of the drill, a fantastic cavalry company, consisting of some seventy-five or eighty horsemen (representing the secesh army), came upon the grounds, and after skirmishing around awhile, to the infinite amusement of the crowd, were finally sur- rounded, and the entire company taken pris- oners, by the three companies of " regulars," assisted by the Tallmadge Artillery, Capt. Barnes, and the Young America Gun Squad, of Cuyahoga Falls, who performed the battery service of the occasion. The military and a large number of invited guests were given a free dinner upon the grounds, by the members of the society and the citizens of Cuyahoga Falls, and vicinity. Though a success as a show, this third fair was a financial unsuccess,

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

207

the receipts being less than the disbursements, and war matters and other enterprises engaging the attention of its promoters, no further meet- ings were held, and the affairs of the society were closed.

The writer trusts that no apology is needed from him for the space devoted to the subject of the Agricultural Society matters of Summit County. A careful perusal of the foregoing pages not only forcibly illustrates the value of harmony and unity of purpose, in all efforts to

promote the public welfare, but also clearly shows the inestimable worth of such associa- tions, as educators of the people, not alone in matters of husbandry, manufactures and sim- ilar sciences, but also in a social and moral point of view ; for who does not acknowledge the benign influences arising from the friendly mingling together of the masses of the people from time to time, in such pleasant and cheer- ful gatherings as the annual fairs of the Summit County Agricultural Society have grown to be.

CHAPTER II .*

THE EARLY INHABITANTS-A CLASSIFICATION OF THE MOUND-BUILDERS' WORKS-PRE-HISTORIC OCCUPATION AND REMAINS OF SUMMIT COUNTY-SKETCHES OF THE INDIAN TRIBES -CUYAHOGA VALLEY INDIANS DURING THE BORDER WARS.

"Fought eye to cye, and hand to hand, Alas ! 'twas but to die!

In vain the rifle's deadly flash Scorched eagle plume and wampum sash- The hatchet hissed on high ; And down they fell in crimson heaps Like the ripe corn the sickle reaps.'

the remote past ages of life upon the earth. at a period that lies wholly within the prov- ince of conjecture, and upon which the light of sleepless inquiry fails to fall, a strange and semi-civilized people, whose origin, customs and final fate are enshrouded in comparative obscurity, inhabited almost the entire territory of the Western Continent. All attempts to un- ravel the mystery enveloping their peculiar lives meet with an uncompromising rebuff, save where the fast-decaying remnants of their works cast a feeble ray of light on the otherwise im- penetrable darkness. The first thought that enters the mind of the antiquarian in this de- partment of research, is, Whence originated this peculiar people ? So far, no satisfactory answer has been reached. Though many emi- nent men have devoted the best years of their lives in endeavoring to discover the origin of man, or, more specifically, the origin of the Mound-Builders, yet no word of encourage- ment comes from the past to cheer on the pa- tient, tireless worker. Accepting the Mosaic account of the creation, we are led to believe that the Mound-Builders were the lineal de- scendants of Adam. When they came to *Contributed by W. A. Goodspeed.

America, or how, does not alter the significance and unquestionable correctness of the statement. There were but two persons-Adam and Eve- created, and from them, if we accept the record of Moses, have sprung all the countless hosts that have ever peopled the earth. If the Mosaic account of man's origin be rejected, we are still in darkness, on the sea of conjecture, tossed by the wild waves of doubt and unbelief, without helm or compass and with no land in sight. This perplexing situation is to be met, and what can be said ? Is the race of man descended from the lower animals, and through them as inter- mediate states ? or did it spring as a separate growth from the common mother of life-the Earth ? Had all life, both animal and vegeta- ble, a common origin, or was each species, of whatever kind, created apart from its fellows ? In either case, whence originated the primitive germ or seed from which life first sprung ? Was it created by a new condition or relation of its composing clements-by a new relation of the natural laws under which the elements united and quickened into life ? In the proc- ess of the development of natural laws, acting under new conditions, upon the simple organic and in-organic elements, did that remarkable phenomenon occur, by which the primitive germ of life was created. If so, why is not a repetition of the creative process possible ? Ilas the tide of evolution swept beyond the point at which the conditions of elements and relations could originate life ? Is it not true

208

HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

that spontaneous generation, at one stage of evolution, might have been possible, and that it also, at a later period, might have become extinct from natural causes ? All these ques- tions are pertinent in discussing the origin of the Mound-Builders ; but no definite answer is received, and even the manner and time of their appearance upon this continent, by whatever means, are problems for coming generations to solve. The most interesting point to be deter- mined regarding these people is, Whether they were created originally in America, or are the descendants of pre-historic Asiatics, who crossed over by way of Behring's Straits. Neither side of the question can be answered. The majority of anthorities agree in saying that the Indians had no knowledge, traditional or otherwise, of the Mound-Builders, except what was derived from their works. They denied having any knowledge of the crection of the approximate 10,000 mounds scattered throughout the State, or of the limitless number scattered throughout the continent. It is urged that, inasmuch as the Indians kept no record of events, their mea- ger and short-lived traditions could not cover the lapse of time since the Mound-Builders' oc-

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

History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 35

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