History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 80

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 80

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A church building resulted from this action, and was erected upon the site chosen, but the bond of union in this project trenched too much upon the orthodox notions of such men as Mr. Hudson, Owen Brown, Benjamin Whe- don and others, and they decided to build for themselves. Timbers for the frame work were brought upon the ground, but they laid upon the ground near the schoolhouse for nearly two years while the people wrangled over the proper site. In March, 1818, the Congregational so- ciety, having decided to build a place of wor- ship on their own account, selected the site now occupied by the town hall. The building com- mittee consisted of Benjamin Whedon, Moses Thompson and Heman Oviatt, with Augustus Baldwin as Treasurer. Owen Brown was the contractor, and was two years in completing the building, which cost upward of $5,000. It was dedicated on March 1, 1820, and, in the old New England style, was for several years without the means of warming it during the cold season .* In 1865, this building was aban- doned for church purposes, and served, under the name of Thompson's Hall, for public gath- erings until 1878, when it gave place to the town hall. The present brick edifice on Aurora street was projected in 1863. and completed some two years later, at an expense of $10,000, in addition to the cost of lot and furniture.

The Union Church building, the result of the effort above mentioned, was used in common by the Universalists, Methodists, and any oth- ers that desired to have a hearing. Among others remembered as preaching here, are John Campbell and his son Alexander. The Meth- odists finally built a place of worship on Aurora street, and the "Free Church " was after awhile sold and used for a blacksmith-shop.

The Methodist Episcopal Church was organ- ized in 1828, with Daniel Gaylord, Moses Draper, Perley Mansur and their wives as early members, with others. In 1846, their building which stands on Aurora street was erected, Mr. F. W. Bunnell being the contractor. What the contract price was is unknown, but the con- tractor received $1,600 in addition to contribu- tions of labor, etc., on the part of subscribers.

* Elizur Wright relates an incident of his early going to church which illustrates the difficulties attending the early wor- ship here. He says: "I remember taking my brother-in-law llanford's old gray horse, and taking my wife upon the horse behind me. She'was not used to this way of riding, and when the horse began to flounder in the mud of the bottoms near the green, she became alarmed, and alighting in the mud, lost one of her shoes."

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HUDSON TOWNSHIP.

The first pastors in the new house were Rev. D. Prosser and Rev. Pinney. The church has suffered severely by removals and death, and gradually dwindled in numbers, until there is now no regular service held in this church building on the Sabbath. The last entry npon the church records is as follows : "I, Thomas Hickling, came to Hudson from Massillon, in the boundary of the Pittsburgh Conference, on April 4. 1873, to reside and do business, and found the society in a very indifferent condition, without any regular means of grace, and, being an ordained local preacher, volunteered my services and found them appreciated." There were then twenty-seven members.

Early in the year 1840, a few residents of Hudson Township, desiring a place "where the worship of God could be conducted according to the primitive usages," proposed the organiza- tion of an Episcopal Church. Henry O'Brien and Frederick Brown were the leaders in this movement, and finally invited T. B. Fairchild, of Cuyahoga Falls, to come to Hudson to preach. The call thus extended was accepted, and Mr. Fairchild held the first services in this year in the Congregational meeting-house. The second service was held in the room over Kent & Brewster's store, and continued there until late in the fall of 1840, when, by the con- sent of the authorities of the Methodist Church, their services were held there. Dur- ing the following spring, Mr. Fairchild, with Rev. George S. Davis, of Franklin, conducted services bere alternately every two weeks. During the summer, each of the clergy of the Northwest Convocation arranged to give two Sundays to Hudson. The services were then transferred to the " brick academy," and, with a view of forming. a regular parish. the follow- ing document was circulated for signatures : "We, whose names are here affixed, deeply impressed with the importance of the Christian religion, and wishing to promote its holy influ- ence in the hearts of ourselves, our families and our neighbors, do hereby associate ourselves under the name, style and title of the Parish of Christ Church, Hudson, County of Summit. and State of Ohio. And by so doing, do adopt the constitution and canons of the Prot- estant Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Ohio, in communion with the Protestant Epis- copal Church of the United States of Amer- ica." Thirty-seven names were secured to this

paper, among which were those of Henry O'Brien, A. A. Brewster. Frederick Brown, Arthur Sadler, David O'Brien, Dr. Israel Town and others, nearly all of whom were heads of families. July 11, 1842, an organization was effected and services were regularly held in the old brick academy until it was sold. when services were again held over Kent & Brew- ster's store. At a meeting of the Vestry on January 6. 1846, discussed the necessity of a church building ; Rev. A. Phelps. the Rector, offered $100 of his salary toward the object, and a building committee, consisting of A. A. Brewster, David O'Brien and Joshua Hertzell, was finally appointed. A lot on the public square was secured, plans were drawn by S. C. Porter, and the corner-stone laid by Rt. Rev. C. P. Mellvaine, D. D., Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio, in April, 1846. It was completed in five months, and the opening services conduct- ed on the 25th of September, 1846, by Bishop Mellvaine. The church was free from debt ; provided with an organ through the exertions of the ladies of the church and the liberality of Mr. Brewster, and a bell as the gift of D. H. Arnold, of New York. In 1847, Mr. Phelps resigned his pastoral charge of the church to engage in the church school, which had been in contemplation some time, preaching one-half the time until August 1, 1848, when Rev. T. B. Fairchild was again invited. and accepted. He continued with the church until 1856, when he again resigned, and removed from town. The pulpit was temporarily supplied by Rev. L. L. Holder until June 1, 1859, when Mr. Fairchild was a third time invited to preach here. He accepted. and continued until 1870. when he resigned to accept a call to St. John's Church in Kewanee, Ill. The succeeding Rectors have been Rev. Robert A. McElhenney. 1871-72; Rev. Albert B. Putnam, 1873-74, and Rev. S. W. Garrett, October 4, 1874, and the present incumbent. In 1849. the town clock was pre- sented to the society by Mr. Brewster ; in 1875, a new vestry-room was added. at a cost of $350 ; in the winter of 1876. a cabinet organ was purchased for the Sabbath school at a cost of $100 : and in May. 1878, a new organ was purchased for the church at a cost of $700. There are about one hundred members at present.

The St. Mary's Catholic Church of Hudson dates to about the year 1858, when the present

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small place of worship was built. Before this date, the Catholics of this section were visited monthly by pastors resident in Cleveland. The first priest to locate in Hudson was Rev. P. H. Brown, who remained five years ministering to the wants of the few scattered and poor peo- ple he found professing his faith. Mr. Brown died in Cleveland in 1879. He was succeeded by J. Hannon, who held charge for nine years, when he moved to Youngstown. Rev. A. Pag- anini succeeded, him but remained only a year. He is at present located at Eagle Harbor, Mich. In July, 1877, the present Pastor, Rev. P. HI. O'Mara, took charge of this church. Improve- ments have been added under each succeeding Pastor, and to-day the little church building, though not a very imposing structure, is neat and comfortable. Cuyahoga Falls and Penin- sula are also attended by the Pastor at Hud- son. The members of St. Mary's Church are generally farmers, some of them among the most substantial in the county. The church has recently purchased three acres of land in the corporation for cemetery purposes.

The common school preceded the church in Hudson one year. This project needed no out- side assistance, and was established in 1801. The work of the founders was eminently characterized by thoroughness, and Mr. Hud- son is found, on his visit to Connecticut, pur- chasing a library for public use, fashioned upon the old custom of the East. He expended $100, not an inconsiderable sum in that time, and on his return sold shares in his library among the settlers in Hudson, Aurora and Mantua. This library has long since passed away, but its nat- ural snecessor still occupies its place in the community in a public library for the Union School, which was established in 1871. The first school building was a rude log structure, located on the east side of Main street, on the public green, a little below Mr. Buss' store. A second was built a little south of this, and sub- sequently a frame building was erected on the other side of the street but in the near vicinity. The first school was taught by George Pease and the second by Miss Patty Fields. The third was taught by Miss Amy Cannon, of Aurora, in the southeast quarter, near John Oviatt's residence. Among the early teachers are re- membered Titus Wetmore, Martha Filer and Benjamin Whedon, the latter teaching in 1807. Schoolhouses were erected in various parts of

the township, as the convenience of the grow- ing population demanded, until, in 1825, the Township Trustees divided the township into five school districts, the first at the center, second in the northwest, third in the southwest, fourth in the southeast, and the fifth in the northeast. In 1827, another district was added, in 1830 one more, and, in 1838, District No. 1 was di- vided and others erected, making a total of nine districts in the township. In 1855, the two cor- poration districts were united, under the law of 1845, and the joint district set off as an inde- pendent one. The schools were graded, Misses Sabin and Birge being the first teachers under the new dispensation. In 1857, another school building was erected at the end of the old brick house then in use in the southern portion of the corporation, and a third teacher added. Mat- ters worked harmoniously in this way until 1863, when the north corporation district with- drew from the union arrangement. The State School Commissioner decided against the val- idity of this action and the two districts re- united. The school facilities did prove sat- isfactory to a large part of the citizens, and an agitation for a high school began to be made. In 1865, therefore, a lot, No. 13, was bought of Mr. Porter, on which to erect a suitable struet- ure for school purposes. In 1867, $5,000 was voted for a schoolhouse, but, on receiving plans and bids, it was found insufficient for the pur- pose, and $1,500 more was asked for and granted by the people in 1868. The contract was let to G. W. Church, for $6,225, and completed and accepted by the Board of Education on the 18th of November, 1868. The proceeds of the school- houses and the sale of part of the lot, supplied the board with additional funds for furnish- ing the schoolrooms. In 1871, the new build- ing was found to be too small for the accom- modation of the district. The Seminary build- ing, on Baldwin street, was secured for a part of the scholars, and is still used, though the board is seriously considering the question of building a new house. The question in regard to the removal of the Western Reserve College has suggested the feasibility of securing one of the college buildings in case of their becoming vacant, has caused a delay in taking measures to secure a more suitable building .*

* Among the students of Hudson's common schools may be mentioned Rev. Leonard Bacon and John Brown, both of whom have gained a national reputation.

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HUDSON TOWNSHIP.

The intellectual activity occasioned by the presence of a college in the village has given rise to repeated attempts to furnish a school for that class of youth for which the college made no provision. The history of these efforts, and especially that which sought to es- tablish a school for young ladies in Hudson is nearly co-extensive with that of the college. In 1827, Mrs. Nutting, wife of tutor, afterward Prof. Nutting, opened a school for young ladies, Mrs. Raymond, sister of Rev. Mr. Hanford, opening the parlor of her residence on what is now Aurora street, for the schoolroom. This was the pioneer effort in the cause of female education in Hudson. Prof. Nutting gave in- struction in the higher branches of English study, and Mrs. Nutting in the common branches, embroidery, painting in water colors, etc. Her pupils were from the families of Rev. Messrs. Pitkin and Coe, Dr. Thompson, Esquire Brown, Capt. Ellsworth and others. There was also considerable patronage from neigh- boring towns. This school was contimmed with varying success for several years, and was finally superseded by a select school, opened in the building just south of Farrar's Block, by a Miss Eggleston, from New York.

About 1832, a small school building was erected by subscription on land which was owned by Rev. Mr. Doolittle, Capt. Oviatt and Judge Humphrey. In 1833, Miss Upham, sister-in-law of Rev. Mr. Doolittle, commenced a school for young ladies in this building. This school numbered thirty or more pupils, and was liberally patronized from abroad.

In 1834, H. H. Gross came from Comecti- cut and opened a school on Aurora street, which was well patronized and encouraged him to erect in front of his schoolhouse a brick build- ing which has become generally known as the " Brick Academy." This was a two-story building with a basement, and was erected in 1835 at an expense of $3,000. The basement was designed for a primary school, the first story for a boys' school, and the second story for a young ladies' department. This building was subsequently purchased by a joint-stock company of the citizens of Hudson, and was furnished rent free to the teachers who depended on the receipts from tuition for their salaries. This institution was styled the Hudson Acade- my. The first teacher in the female depart- ment was Miss Smith, who afterward married

Lyman Hall, Esq., of Ravenna. In 1840, Miss Eunice Towne was employed in this depart- ment, and taught fors omc time with great acceptance. Her successor was Miss Re becca II. Dana, now Mrs. Atwater, of New Haven.

In the spring of 1843, Miss Mary Strong be- came Principal of the school, and brought to its management such distinguished ability that the school which at first numbered not more than twenty pupils increased in interest and patronage until it often numbered sixty or more pupils. In 1845, Miss Strong erected a two-story frame building on the west side of Main street. In the following year, she opened the spring term of her school in the new edifice and chris- tened it Hudson Female Seminary, the old " Brick Academy " in the meantime falling into the hands of the corporation school board. The seminary remained under Miss Strong's superintendence until the spring of 1854, when her health failed, and the school was suspended. During the continuance of this school there were three female seminaries in Hudson ; the "Hud- son Young Ladies Seminary," by Mr. Grosve- nor, and the "Seminary for Ladies," by Mr. Phelps, in addition to Miss Strong's school. These, save the latter, were boarding and day schools, and, for a time, received a liberal pat- ronage from the towns on the Reserve.

The " Hudson Young Ladies' Seminary " was opened in 1843 by Rev. Mason Grosvenor, in a building on the east side of the public square. Mr. Grosvenor gave instruction in Latin and mathematics, and his sister, Miss Lucy Grosve- nor, presided in the schoolroom and gave instruction in the common branches of study, drawing, painting, etc. In 1845, Miss Grosve- nor married, and the school was discontinued until the autumn of 1846, when Mr. and Mrs. Skinner, from Massachusetts, re-opened it. The next spring Miss Charlotte Lee took charge of the academic department, and Mr. and Mrs. Messer of the boarding-house. The school continued until about 1852. The third of these seminaries was opened under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, in 1849, by Rev. Mr. Phelps. The building occupied as a school- room, is now occupied as a blacksmith-shop by Mr. Farwell, on Aurora street, the boarding- house maintained in connection with the school now being used by Mr. Farwell as his residence. Miss Dever was Principal of the academic de-

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partment until 1851, when the school was dis- continued.

In 1853, Mr. J. W. Smith prepared a suite of rooms in the third story of the Pentagon for school purposes, furnished them with improved furniture ordered from Boston, visited the seminary at South Hadley, Mass., and se- cured the services of Miss Elizabeth Burt, as Principal, and became personally responsible for the expenses of the school. This seminary was well sustained for about two years, when the general business failure in 1855 closed the school. In the fall of this year, an association of gentlemen, citizens of Hudson, was formed, who purchased the school furniture, rented and repaired the " Hudson Female Seminary " build- ing, and sent to Mount Holyoke Female Semi- nary for a teacher. In response to this appli- cation, a Miss Everett came on and assumed the direction of the school. This lady lacked that " susciter in modo," which is conducive of the highest success, and, at the expiration of the academic year, the association found itself in debt, and the school greatly reduced in num-

bers. Then came a time chiefly remarkable for the short tenure of office, on the part of the teachers. Not less than five had charge of the school in four years, and, though most of them were competent and efficient teachers, such was the depressed condition of things in Hudson that the school made poor returns for the labor expended upon it.

In 1860, Miss Emily Metcalf assumed the charge, and a few years later purchased the building, and moved it to its present site on Baldwin street. The course of study was en- larged, and the school, for the greater part of thirteen years, received a flattering patronage. The advance of the high school system, the general opening of colleges to women, were causes that began to make an unfavorable effect upon the seminary in Hudson, and in 1873, it was again suspended. After the lapse of an academic year, it was again opened by Rev. B. W. Hosford, whose daughters con- ducted it for one year, when it finally suspended. The building is now used by the Board of Edu- cation of the independent district of Hudson .*

CHAPTER XV.t

HUDSON TOWNSHIP -THE WESTERN RESERVE COLLEGE-ITS LOCATION AT HUDSON-EARLY SUBJECTS OF AGITATION -DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS - PREPARATORY SCHOOL - LIBRARY, APPARATUS, ETC. - THE REMOVAL.

TN 1801, when there could not have been 1,500 inhabitants on the Reserve, a petition to the Territorial Legislature by Rev. Joseph Badger, the only minister on the Reserve, ex- cept one, and the only one from Connecticut, praying for a charter that steps might even thus early be taken to found a college. The petition was not granted, but the petitioners bided their time.

Ohio was admitted to the Union as a State in February, 1803. The first Legislature convened on the 1st day of March. On the 16th of April, an act was passed incorporating the " Erie Literary Society." The preamble of the act declares that : " Whereas, it has been rep- resented to this assembly by certain persons associated under the name of the Erie Literary Society, that a number of proprietors of land

+Compiled by J. Il. Battle, from a history by President Carroll Cutler.

within the county of Trumbull are desirous to appropriate a part thereof to the support of a seminary of learning within said county, and that the intent of such donations cannot be carried into effect without the interference of the Legislature, by incorporating a Board of Trust for the reception and management of any property, real or personal, that may be given for said purpose and for the establishment and direction of such seminary, as soon as funds sufficient shall be collected-Be it enacted, etc."

The first name in the list of corporators is David Hudson, and the last Joseph Badger. Trumbull County at that time embraced the whole Reserve, and the population was prob- ably less than three thousand. The intention of these Trustees was to establish an academy

*The matter pertaining to the seminaries of Hudson has been compiled chiefly from a sketch prepared in 1868 by Miss Emily Metcalf.

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HUDSON TOWNSHIP.

or college, with President, professors, instruct- ors, library and apparatus, and the act gave them full powers to hold property, erect build- ings, have a common seal, fill their own vacan- cies, and do all those things usually done by such corporations.

The small and scattered population, wholly occupied in clearing the land, making roads and gaining a livelihood, could evidently do but lit- tle for the endowment or patronage of such an institution as yet. But they showed their wis- dom and proved themselves true sons of Con- necticut, by thus early taking steps to establish the higher institutions of education. Common schools were of course established in all the scattered settlements, as fast as the numbers of the population would allow. Social libraries were early founded in many places. The Erie Literary Society received some gifts of land, by way of endowment. With the avails of these lands an academy building was erected in 1805, at Burton, and in that or the following year, the school was opened-the first of its kind in Northern Ohio. This school was maintained more or less continuously until 1810, when the building was burned, as was supposed, by an incendiary. In July, 1806, Mr. William Law, of Connecticut. a large land owner on the Re- serve, donated to the society 1,130 acres of land, to revert, however, to his heirs, if the college should ever be removed from Burton.

It had become obvious that the sparse popu- lation could not support an academical school continuously. After the loss of the building, therefore, the Trustees were slow to move for a new one. The war of 1812, came on speedily, and produced as serious an effect on the pros- perity of the Reserve as on that of any other part of the country. The educational move- ment was retarded with all other good causes. After the war, in 1817, the Trustees determined to erect another building, and open the school so soon as a suitable instructor could be found. They resolved " that the Principal should be a graduate of some American College." In May, 1820, the school was opened under the instruc- tion of Mr. David L. Coe, a graduate of Williams College, and continued in operation under its charter until 1834.

It is probable that the chief movers in the Erie Literary Society were the landowners, with an eye to speculation ; but their movement was earnestly seconded by the clergy. In February,

1817, the Presbytery of Grand River, which embraced nearly all the Presbyterian and Con- gregational ministers and churches of the Re- serve, formed itself into a society " for the edu- cation of indigent, pious young men for the ministry, within the limits of the Presbytery." They say that, " considering the destitute situ- ation of many churches and congregations among ourselves, as to the means of religious instruction and edification, and the great and increasing call for ministerial labors in many parts of our land and the world at large ; con- sidering that at the present day there is a call for special efforts according as God has pros- pered His people, to raise up men to go forth" into the extensive fields which are now becom- ing white to harvest ; and, considering the im- portance of some general plan of operation, whereby many indifferent places may be enabled to act in concert, and bring their small scattered sums into a common stock, that they may be expended to the best advantage ; the Grand River Presbytery think it important to form a general society " for the purpose.

They adopted a constitution, elected Trustees and a Treasurer, and endeavored to stir up the people to form auxiliary societies. The next year, they published an address to the " friends of science and religion," urging them to enter into this work. Young men were already com- ing forward to avail themselves of the aid thus proffered. These beneficiaries pursued their studies privately with some one of the ministers, more commonly with Dr. Giles H. Cowles, of Austenburg ; Rev. John Seward, of Aurora ; Rev. Caleb Pitkin, of Charleston, or Rev. Harvey Coe, of Vernon. After the school at Burton was re-opened, they studied there.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 80

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