History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 62

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 62

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As a city, we are at the present in the midst of an era of active and great improvement. The telephone system has been in operation less than two years, and the city is radiated in every direction by its wires. It has passed beyond the experimental stage, and from an interesting novelty has become almost a neces- sity. Akron was the first place in the State, excepting three or four of the largest cities, to possess the telephone. Under the charge of the private company which owns and controls this system, are lines now in successful opera- tion from Akron to Tallmadge, a distance of four miles; Akron to Doylestown, fourteen miles ; Canton to Massillon, eight miles, and a line nearly constructed between Akron and Can- ton, twenty-two miles. When this is com- pleted, Tallmadge, Akron, Canton, Massillon and Doylestown will, for the first time in his- tory, be on speaking terms with one another. To this circuit will in time be added Cleveland and Cuyahoga Falls, and eventually a number of other places.

In the winter of 1879-80, Akron was ae- corded the privilege of a free postal delivery, and early in the succeeding spring the system was carried into execution, to the great satis- faction of every one.

Akron is a pioneer in the matter of utilizing electricity as a means of lighting streets, and is the first city of the world to adopt the methi- od of high masts for that purpose. It is yet too early to predicate the means or the method a success or otherwise, but certainly the begin- ning augurs well for the future. A new city hall is nearly ready for occupancy ; the needs which this will supply have been long and se- verely felt.

A system of water-works of the most im- proved type is well on toward completion. It is being put in by a private company, upon which falls the entire responsibility, expense and hazard. We are now promised the turn- ing on of the water by the 1st of June next, and when it comes it will assuredly meet a hearty welcome from all our citizens. Besides this, a complete plan of sewage has been de- vised by our city Civil Engineer, and the nee- essary work is now being done. A new paving with stone to replace the worn-out Nicholson has been ordered upon East Market and Mill streets, and before many months, in all probability, several other streets will be repaired in the same manner. With all these progressive steps, Akron yet enjoys the unique position among eities of being wholly free from debt. It is to be hoped that this blissful state of things will continue.

Two more improvements seem earnestly de- manded in the near future. One of these, at least, will doubtless soon follow. We mean the hiding from sight that long-time eyesore- the ditch where was once the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal-alike obnoxious to the nostrils and deleterious to the health of our people. The initial steps toward so desirable a result have already been taken in the City Council, in a resolution to the effect that the old canal bed should be conduited from Tallmadge street to its end at Mill street.

The other is the introduction of street rail- ways, and we confidently predict that not many years will elapse before that also will be chron- ieled among the manifold advantages of Akron.

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

CHAPTER IX .*

CITY OF AKRON-ITS MANUFACTORIES-THEIR RISE AND PROGRESS-THE REAPER WORKS SEWER PIPE AND POTTERIES-MILLS, OATMEAL, ETC .- OTHER INDUSTRIES.

"The bellows-puff, the hammer-beat, the whistle | finish and style, and in great demand in the and the song,

Told, steadfastly and merrily, toil rolled the hours along."-Street.

T' "HE first steps taken to inaugurate manu- facturing within what are now the corpo- rate limits of the city of Akron were by Jo- seph Hart in 1807. This movement was com- menced in whatis now the Sixth Ward, Middle- bury. Mr. Hart began, during that year, the erection of a " grist-mill." He soon sold one- half the land he had purchased to Aaron Nor- ton, and the two completed the structure in partnership, finishing their work in 1809. For many years this mill did the work of the sur- rounding country in the way of grinding-as did " Bagley's Factory " the cloth-dressing and carding. The projecting of the Ohio Canal gave an impetus to the manufacturing interests of Middlebury-mills, factories and mechanical shops springing into existence ; but Akron, on the canal, when once under way, brought a sad discomfiture to the village eastward. In 1831, Dr. Eliakim Crosby conceived the project of bringing the Little Cuyahoga from Middlebury round to Akron, thus creating a fine water- power. No sooner was the project conceived than it was undertaken ; the "Cascade mill- race " was dug and the Stone Mill put in operation. Thus was started on its astonish- ing career of prosperity the manufacturing in- terests of Akron proper. Middlebury lan- guished for awhile ; its factories closed, and the " grinding ceased." However, in the course of time, mechanical establishments began to increase and its water-power was improved. In the end, the pottery business gave it a per- manence, so that now the Sixth Ward is em- phatically a manufacturing ward of the eity.

Among the prominent industries of Middle- bury, nearly thirty years ago, was the carriage manufactory of C. A. Collins, which then turned off goods to the amount of $20,000 an- nually. Their carriages were of " the highest

Southern and Southwestern States." Irislı, McMillan & Co. had an extensive machine shop, " where all kinds of machinery were man- ufactured." Their building was three stories high, and about three hundred feet long by forty wide. This firm averaged, in manufactured ar- ticles, about $14,000 a year. Their fire-engines were superior to those made in Eastern estab- lishments.

- " The pottery business," says a writer of that period, in speaking of the manufactories of Middlebury, "is carried on extensively. There are three devoted to the making of ordinary stoneware, one to the manufacture of stone pipes and pumps, and one to Liverpool ware. The clay is procured from Springfield, and the ware is of the best quality. The pipe for pumps or water drains, is made in joints of twenty inches, and by shoulders and cement are put together so as to present an entirely smooth inner surface. They are glazed inside and out, to prevent decay of the pipe and an unpleasant taste to the water. They are des- tined to supersede all metallic pipes.

" The potteries," continues the writer, "fur- nish 80,000 gallons of the manufactured arti- cles annually, which average five cents a gallon. There is also a cabinet-shop in this town (Mid- dlebury), which turns off an immense number of articles in its line. Every operation, from jacking an oak board to vaneering the choicest mahogany, is done by machinery. Rawson, Goodale & Co. have a woolen factory which employs a large number of hands and turns off a considerable amount of broadcloths, satinets and flannels. These goods are taken to the New York market, the Ohio mark taken off, and then, by the merchants, returned to Ohio and sold as European manufacture. The de- ception is a harmless one, as their goods are decidedly preferable to those imported. There is also a comb and button factory in Middle- bury, one of fanning-mills, and several for mak- ing lucifer matches." Such was the state of

*Contributed by C. W. Butterfield.

Ver Schumacher

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CITY OF AKRON.

manufacturing industries in what is now the Sixth Ward of Akron, something more than a quarter of a century ago.

From 1831, when the first mill was built in the village of Akron, to 1854-a period of twenty-three years-the manufactories of the place had largely increased both in number and importance ; but the great want was a speedy transportation. Says the writer already quoted: " When our immense beds of stone-coal, iron and pottery shall have an opening to market ; when our flour, by a speedy transportation, can come in competition with the New York and Eastern production ; and when the milk from our dairies can be sent almost warm to the New York market, then Akron will indeed be not only the child of promise but of fulfillment."

In 1857, there were in Akron two woolen- factories, five flouring-mills, a steam engine factory, a blast-furnace, a mineral paint mill, a card-factory, and an extensive stove-factory, besides a number of smaller works. The next seventeen years showed a large increase ; for, in 1874, there were in the whole city, two woolen-mills, two paper-mills, seven flouring- mills, four foundries, one rolling-mill, one blast-furnace, one forge, three planing-mills, two manufactories of reapers and mowers, one of pearl barley, one of oat-meal, one of knives and siekles, one of rubber goods, one of chains, one of matches, and three machine shops. There were, also, one manufactory of boilers, two of plows, one of woolen goods, one of horse hay-rakes, one of stoves, one of iron fences, ten of stoneware, and one of blank books.

There is now, probably, no city in the United States of the same population, presenting such a diversity of manufactories as Akron. The receiving and shipping facilities enjoyed by the manufacturers of the city may be regarded as one of the important factors in their progress and prosperity. The magnificent water-power is another noteworthy advantage; and the abundant supply of cheap fuel from the neigh- boring coal-banks is still another. The market is stocked, at all seasons, with cheap farm prod- uce ; house rents are reasonable ; in fact, all the expenses of living are very moderate. The city has already three railways. This gives competing lines East and West, and insures the lowest rates for fare and freights.

In no department of the mechanic arts, it is safe to say, has more marked progress and im-

provement been made within the last quarter of a century than in that of labor-saving farm machinery. The problem of how to construct the most economical and effective mechanism for the consummation of a given purpose in the arena of agricultural enterprise, has for a series of years been made the patient and unremitting study of some of the most talented of Ameri- can inventors. While admiring a beautiful and perfect piece of machinery, the creation of some master mind, how little conception has the beholder of the many months and even years of studious application, of persistent experi- menting, of scientific induction, that were in- volved in the successful development of it. This is known only to the inventor himself, and it is in entire accord with the doctrine of com- pensation that he should reap the legitimate reward for his incessant toil and pre-eminent skill. That this reward, in its fullest measure, is due to Lewis Miller, of Akron, inventor of the Buckeye Mower and Reaper, will be con- ceded by every one acquainted with his inven- tions. The fact that the machine is to-day, in its essential principles and mechanical construc- tion, the same as when originally brought out -in 1855 -- is assuredly an emphatic tribute to Mr. Miller's genius. Of course, minor improve- ments have from year to year been made upon it-here a little and there a little-but its main features remain the same.

These machines were first manufactured in Canton, Ohio, by the firm of C. Aultman & Co. In 1863, the works in Akron were started as a branch of the Canton house. There is now another branch, located in Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Taken together they rank among the largest works of the kind in the world. They are mak- ing at Akron sixty-five machines a day, and have shipped an average of three car loads a day since the middle of December, 1880. From this writing (March, 1881) until July following, the average will be about eight car loads a day. The works comprise in Akron a main building, 450x50 feet, with four floors ; a warehouse, 50x200 feet, having also four floors ; a mold- ing shop, equivalent to 150x70 feet, one floor ; engine and boiler-rooms, 50x40 feet, two floors ; a blacksmith-shop, 30x200 feet, one floor ; an old wood-room, 50x100 feet, having three floors ; a new building, 265x60 feet, with four floors ; a new engine-room, 20x30 feet, one floor ; a repair room, 30x50 feet, two floors ; an

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

iron warehouse, 35x116 feet, and an office build- ing, 40x80 feet, with three floors ; the total area of the buildings being 243.900 feet, or upward of five and two-thirds acres. These buildings are thoroughly equipped with very complete machinery, especially adapted to this kind of business, and operated by steam-power supplied from engines of colossal proportions. The machines are sold all over the United States ; but, the principal demand is from the wheat-growing districts west of the Mississippi. At the works in Akron are now manufactured the Buckeye Mower ; the Buckeye Single Reap- er ; the Buckeye Combined Mower and Drop- per, rear delivery ; the Buckeye Combined Mower and Table Rake, side delivery ; the Buckeye Harvester, for hand binding; the Buckeye Twine Self-Binder, and the Buckeye Wire Self-Binder.

The firm of Anltman, Miller & Co. was or- ganized in 1865, with a capital of $300,000, since increased to $1,000,000, for the exclusive purpose of manufacturing these machines. The headquarters and main works of the company are located at Akron.

But the "Buckeye " is not the only mower and reaper manufactured in Akron. The " Empire," made by J. F. Seiberling, at his works in the city. belongs to the lighter class of machines, and is now sold in every State and Territory in the Union. In its construction numerous improvements have been made since its first introduction into the market. It has been thoroughly tested in all kinds of grass and grain. and on all conditions of ground, with gratifying results. For compactness, simplicity, lightness of draft, ease of manage- ment and beauty of finish, it ranks deservedly high. The Empire Mower and Reaper Works were established in Akron by Mr. Seiberling in 1875. Their capacity is now 7,000 machines a year. The Empire works turn out a mower which is a two-wheeled, front-cut machine ; to this can be added, at any time, a reaping at- tachment. This consists of a separate finger- bar, with either the dropper or Empire side- delivery table-rake, or sweep rake. Mr. Seiber- ling also manufactures the Empire Harvester and Binder, which is a new member in his family of machines. The buildings of Mr. Seiberling are those of the old Excelsior Mow- er and Reaper Works, located immediately east of the depot of the New York, Pennsylvania &

Ohio Railroad, on Forge and Lincoln streets. They consist of a foundry, 110x95 feet ; a main building, 45x180 feet ; a warehouse, 45x90 feet, and a blacksmith-shop, 35x40 feet. The steam engine which supplies the motive power of the works is of eighty-horse-power.

That such a prosaic subject as the manufact- ure of shirts should have been made so highly poetical, under the magic touch of an English poet, as to immortalize his name, is strange in- deed ; but such is the fact, for

" With fingers weary and worn, With eyelids heavy and red, A woman sat in unwomanly rags, Plying her needle and thread ; Stitch ! stitch ! stitch ! In poverty, hunger and dirt, And still with a voice of dolorous pitch, She sang the 'Song of the Shirt.''

That is to say, it was wonderfully sung by Thomas Hood, as every one knows. But men- tion of the two factories in Akron will not be made in verse ; nor will the way their owners do business be chronicled in harmonious num- bers. The office and factory of George W. Wright & Co. are located at No. 112 South Howard street, on the third floor. These gen- tlemen do excellent work, and are the sole man- ufacturers of the patent diamond neckband, which is used in all their shirts. The other factory is upon the same street, at No. 167, and is owned by Sperling & Roberts. They make first-class goods of four grades.

The manufactory of Frank D. Howard, who makes plows, cultivators, field-rollers, road scrapers, farm bells and other articles, is on the corner of High and Mill streets. This manufactory was first started in 1869, by A. Rice & Co., and continued under that name un- til 1872. when the firm changed to Benjamin & Howard, and, in 1877, the present proprietor became sole owner. The premises occupied by the business covers a space of 120 feet on Mill street and 115 feet on High street. The build- ing consists of a two-story brick with basement, 35x70 feet, used as a factory, sample and sales- room and office ; a foundry, 40x50 feet ; a blacksmith-shop, 20x30 feet ; and an engine- room, 15x20 feet, with sheds and warehouse for storage of material and stock. A forty-horse- power steam engine is used in driving the ma- chinery. Mr. Howard makes superior chilled iron and steel plows, in which he has a large trade. In the foundry department, car wheels

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CITY OF AKRON.

for coal cars are the chief product. The trade of this house extends throughout Central, Northern and Eastern Ohio. Western Pennsyl- vania, and the Eastern and Western States.

In the Scriptures, carriages or chariots are frequently alluded to. Upon the flight of the the Israelites out of Egypt, they were pursued by Pharaoh with six hundred chariots, all of which were swallowed up by the Red Sea. Chariots and carriages were used mostly by kings and grandees on state occasions. The Greeks and Romans had chariots, but, strange to relate, it was so late as the sixteenth century (1550) that carriages were introduced into France ; and at that date only three were known in Paris, then quite a large city. Since taste enters so largely into the construction of mod- ern vehicles, and their price brings them to the doors of many, the manufacturing of them has become general. There are in Akron four car- riage manufactories, where goods of that kind can be obtained second to none in the country.

C. A. Collins & Son have the oldest estab- lishment for manufacturing carriages in North- ern Ohio. It was commenced in 1837, by C. A. Collins. All styles of open and top buggies, fancy carriages, spring wagons and sleighs are made by this firm. Their works are located on the corner of Main and Church streets; their repository is on the " old gas works" property. An addition 30x50 feet, three stories high, has recently been made to their buildings.

Another manufactory of carriages in Akron is that of John Heppert, at the corner of Mar- ket and College streets. Mr. Heppert com- menced in this line in 1858, in the Sixth Ward, then Middlebury. He now occupies as office, salesroom and repository two floors of the spacious building, 50x50 feet in size, at the cor- ner of the streets just mentioned. He turns out some of as fine carriages, road wagons, buggies, express wagons and other vehicles as are to be found in this section of country.

A third manufactory of carriages is that of Charles Vogt, who commenced business in that line in 1876, at the corner of Main and Middle- bury streets. Mr. Vogt has good manufactur- ing advantages and a prosperous trade. The old wood department and paint-shop measure 35x 70 feet, and the smith-shop 30x45 feet. These are now store buildings. His new and com- modious brick structure is used as an office and wareroom on the first floor. The second floor

is occupied as a paint room and repository. This building is on the northwest corner of the streets before mentioned, while the old build- ings are on the southwest corner. His new frame building in the rear of the brick is used as a blacksmith -shop.

In addition to the mannfactories of carriages before described, there is one belonging to Har- pham Brothers, in the Sixth Ward, at 102 High street ; but this firm is employed more espe- cially in the making of wagons. They do a large and thriving business and their work is first-class.

The large establishment of the Whitman & Barnes Manufacturing Company makes nothing but articles appertaining to agricultural imple- ments. This company is the outgrowth of two others : the Whitman & Miles Manufacturing Company of Akron, and George Barnes & Co., of Syracuse, N. Y., and was formerly con- ducted as a branch of a Massachusetts house, founded a number of years ago. The capital stock of the Whitman & Barnes Manufacturing Company is $500,000. The works at Akron are very extensive, and consist of a number of buildings erected and fitted up expressly for the rapid and perfect prosecution of this par- ticular branch of industry. They make mower knives, reaper sickles, sections, spring keys, guard plates and other articles of this nature. The demand for their goods extends from the rugged and rocky hillsides of New England, across the fertile prairie lands of the Mississippi Valley to the sunny slopes of the Pacific coast. They export large quantities to England, France and Germany. The annual business of the Akron branch of this corporation is fully $500,000. Two immense engines of 150-horse- power each are used at these works. The com- pany has a smaller branch house at Canton.

The tobacco trade is one of the most exten- sive in the United States. whether we regard the extent of the capital invested. or the num- ber of hands to whom it gives steady employ- ment. The use of " the weed " is very general, notwithstanding the theories put forth by cer- tain medical writers concerning its bad effects upon the system, and the practice of smoking is on the increase, while chewing is perhaps scarcely holding its own, and snuff-taking is a thing of the past. Cigar manufactories are multiplying all over the country. There are no less than ten in Akron : Freudeman Broth-

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HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

ers, 165 South Howard street ; M. H. Hart, 125} same street ; Holstein & Golberger, same street (No. 155) ; Louis Walde, near the fair ground ; John Lotze, 707 South Main street ; Benjamin MeNaughton, 916 East Market street ; J. Mengendsorf, 125 South High street ; H. F. Shrank, 258 West Market street ; Peter Lang- endorf & Brother, 927 South Howard street, and John F. Weber, 164 same street.

There are two tanneries in Akron. The Ak- ron Tannery is the property of James Christy & Sons, and is located on Howard and Main streets. The business was founded here in 1842, by the present senior member of the firm, and, from a comparatively small beginning, has steadily increased to its present extent and magnitude. The firm now occupies as office, storeroom and finishing department, four floors of the spacious new brick structure, 38x60 feet, at the intersection of Howard and Main streets, with a two-story building, 40x100 feet, the first floor of which is used for the storage of bark, and the second as a dry-room for hanging hides, and a two-story tannery building, 80x80 feet. They have all the latest improved machinery in the various departments of their extensive establishment, and manufacture every deserip- tion of leather of superior grades, and the most excellent qualities, making a leading specialty of fine harness leather, which latter product has attained a national reputation for its uniform excellence and reliability.

John H. Christy is the owner of the other establishment. He is the successor of J. H. Christy & Co., who started the business in Akron in 1849. At that time, the firm pur- chased the tannery at the corner of Howard and North streets, which had been erected ten years before by Christy & Sawyer. The busi- ness continued under the firm name of J. H. Christy & Co. until April, 1849, when, by purchase of the company's interest, John H. Christy became sole owner. The building, oceu- pied for storing and displaying goods, and as an office and salesroom, is a three-story brick, at 109 Market street. In rear of this is a brick warehouse, three stories high, 25x40 feet, with slate roof. Upon the site of the old tannery, an elegant one of briek, three stories high, 100x100 feet, is erected. The leather manu- factured is harness, upper and calf. The trade of the house extends throughout all parts of the United States.

Beds have come down to us from the " ages primeval." An easy couch for the weary or siek-what is more comfortable ?

" When thoughts

Of the last bitter hour come like a blight Over thy spirit, and sad images

Of the stern agony, and shroud and pall,

And breathless darkness, and the narrow house, Make thee to shudder and grow sick at heart ;"

When disease has laid us upon a sick bed, and our bodies racked with pain, what greater boon than an improved spring bed-bottom for our couch on which to lie ? F. F. Hale manu- factures Champion spiral spring bed-bottoms at 206 Mill street. He began business in April, 1880. H. Limbert also makes goods of this description on Summit street. He manu- factures, in addition, patent swings.

The Akron Steam Forge Company was orig- inally a partnership concern, established in 1865, but, in 1879, it became an incorporated company under the above title, with a capital of $60,000. The area of ground owned by the corporation is ten acres, and the works oe- eupy a space of 60x265 feet. These buildings have a fine appointment of mechanical appli- ances adapted for the special work performed here. In the axle-shop are four steam ham- mers-one 4,000-pound upright, taking steam both ways; two halves, each with hammer- head weighing 2,000 pounds, and one with head of 1,500 pounds ; five heating furnaces, and every requisite modern convenience com- mended by thorough experience.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 62

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