History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 89

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 89

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The first woolen factory in Cuyahoga Falls was erected near where are now the shops of Turner, Vaughn & Taylor. This factory was burned-the incendiary was spontaneous com- bustion. There was an oil-mill which was run by Penfield & Starr, adjoining the woolen fac-

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tory at the time of its destruction, which was saved ; but this has "gone where the woodbine twineth." In 1834, a foundry and trip-hammer shop was built by Mr. Vaughn, on the south side of what is now the stone bridge, where the saw-mill stands ; but this was burned and never rebuilt. Just south of this was a car- riage-shop carried on by Isaac Lewis. The building was afterward changed to a paper- mill, and run by George E. Clarke in com- pany with his nephew, Seymour; but like others of its class, it, too, has passed away. In 1834, Ogden Wetmore and B. R. Manches- ter built a foundry and machine-shop near where the brick paper-mill now stands. They ran the foundry for about two years, when Manchester's place was taken by L. W. Butler. In 1835, the machine-shop was leased by the Messrs. Bill, who afterward purchased the prop- erty and used it until 1843. when it was de- stroyed by fire.

In 1845, the Messrs. Bill put up a brick build- ing for a foundry and machine-shop, but, for the purpose of renting it to J. M. Smith & Co. for a paper-mill, they erected a small shop on the other side of the street for their own nse. The lease of this company was for ten years, but, before its expiration, they were succeeded by Harrison & Hanford, who purchased the property and added to it till it became what was known as the Empire Mill. This came into the hands of Hanford Brothers, who ran it until 1872, when it burned down. The Messrs. Bill took into copartnership James Chamber- lain, and their shops were run for several years under the firm name of Bill & Chamberlain. To accommodate their increasing business they removed the shops first built, and put np large buildings opposite the Empire Mill. There were some changes in the proprietorship from time to time, but the shops were kept running until the fire of 1872, when they disappeared with all their contents. A paper-mill, built by T. L. Miller, once stood on the east side of the canal. This was run by steam. It was sub- sequently occupied by Caleb Howard, but fell into decay and was taken down. Among the " ancient institutions " of Cuyahoga Falls was a distillery. A portion of the buildings con- nected with it afterward were appropriated by the Taylor Wire Cloth Company. The " deadly worm " has long since disappeared.

A lard oil and candle factory was started in

Cuyahoga Falls in 1842, by George A. Stanley and Henry Holbrook, in the first building north of what is now the covered bridge on the west side ; but the enterprise was soon abandoned. Among other early industries undertaken, but which was of short continuance, was a starch factory, by Birdsey Booth, at the spring on the bank of the river, near the present mill of Mr. Hinde. Another one was by G. & I. L'Hom- medieu, near the depot, a sandpaper and glue factory, under the management of Mr. Smith. Still another was a pump factory, on the cast side, carried on by R. S. Williams. In 1852, there were in the village three paper-mills, two oil-mills, two forges, one webbing factory, one fork, hoe and tool factory, three machine-shops one saw-mill, one fork and hoe factory, two grist-mills, one flax factory and one shovel factory.

In 1854, Cuyahoga Falls had three paper- mills in operation, and another in process of erection. They consumed 675 tons of the raw material, making 525 tons of paper annually. In them were employed eighty persons. They consumed $9,000 worth of chemicals and colors annually. There were two oil-mills, consuming 16,000 bushels of seed annually, making 30,000 gallons of oil. There was one forge for manu- facturing car-axles, consuming from six to seven hundred tons of pig-metal, and making about five hundred and fifty tons of axles annually. The establishment employed from twenty to twenty-five men. There were three foundries and machine-shops. One of them consumed from 300 to 400 tons of stock, manufacturing about $75,000 worth of machinery annually, and affording constant employment to about thirty men. There was also a steel-fork mann- factory, which turned ont, on an average, 100,- 000 forks annually, consuming twenty tons of cast-steel, and employing from fifteen to twenty hands ; one shovel-factory, which made six dozen shovels daily ; one grist-mill, one tool- factory, two tanneries, one ashery. two flax- mills, and one distillery. as previously men- tioned. This last-mentioned " institution " con- sumed 75,000 bushels of grain annually. mak- ing 30,000 gallons of high-wines. It furnished food for 3,000 hogs, "and drink for ten times that number."

In 1876, there were in operation within the corporation one foundry. one rolling-mill, two grist-mills, two saw-mills, a rivet-factory and

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clay-mill, a wire-factory, wire-weaving works, a large foundry and machine-shop, a small machine-shop and town-clock factory, two pa- per-mills, another partly erected, an extensive sewer-pipe factory, two potteries, a planing- mill, a tannery, a tow-bagging mill and a tile- factory.

Having thus briefly outlined the rise and progress of the manufacturing industries of Cuy- ahoga Falls, many of which "were, but are not," the attention of the reader is asked while we recount the story of such as are now in ex- istence.

The buildings of the Variety Iron Works of Turner, Vaughn & Taylor consist of the main building, 36x74 feet ; an L-shaped attachment, 32x76 feet ; and a wing, 36x72 feet-each con- taining two stories and a basement. The first shop upon the place where these buildings stand was used by a man by the name of Kel- ley as a chair-factory. Mr. Lawson used it for the same purpose for some time afterward. This was replaced by one built by Vaughn, Hunt & Co., which was removed to give place to the Variety Iron Works, founded in 1856, by the firm of Turner, Parks & Co. Mr. Parks and Mr. Wetmore afterward retired. The re- maining members were succeeded by Turner. Parks & Taylor, and the latter, in 1879, by Turner, Vaughn & Taylor, the present proprie- tors. The buildings of this firm are equipped with the most perfect machinery known in all the departments of iron and wood working, op- erated by water, aggregating seventy-five-horse power. The specialties of this house are im- proved steam engines, grain-cleaning machin- ery, mill-gearing, wire-working machinery and clay-grinding machines, which latter article is patented by this firm. They constructed all the wire-drawing machinery of the extensive Cleveland Rolling-Mills, and have made ma- chinery for every wire-mill in the United States. with but a single exception, and are now super- intending the erection of similar machinery in England. In addition to the leading products enumerated above, they also manufacture steam, hydraulic and screw presses for sewer-pipe, paper-mill, flour-mill and clay-mill machinery, iron and brass castings in great variety to order ; Russia, sheet and galvanized iron and zine screens, light cast-iron pipe for heating by steam, flange-pipe, etc. They have also facili- ties for sawing every description of lumber to

order, and for grinding flour, feed, etc., for cus- tomers as required.

The Falls Wire Manufacturing Company are located in Cuyahoga Falls, on the bank of the Cuyahoga River. The main building is of brick, 40x85 feet, three stories and a basement, with a wing 30x55 feet, well supplied with improved modern machinery and appurtenances for the production of every grade of iron and steel wire. The production of this article, in all its forms and sizes, furnishes an interesting sight to the curiosity-seeker. Regarded as a promi- nent article of commerce, entering largely as it does into a variety of industrial pursuits, its manufacture forms no insignificant item in the manufactures of the village. The works were first known as the Falls Wire Mill, operated by the Falls Wire Company, a stock company or- ganized in 1873, for the manufacture of iron wire. This company was succeeded by the Falls Wire Manufacturing Company, organized in 1879, with an authorized capital stock of $100,000. The waters of the Cuyahoga River furnish the power (65-horse-power), to turn the machinery. There is here produced annually over one thousand tons of the various sizes of finished wire. The trade of this company is principally in the West. They make a specialty of wire for fine purposes, such as spring-wire for woven-wire mattresses, the extra grades of tinned wire, and broom and binder wire. On the evening of March 31, 1881, since the fore- going was written, these works were largely destroyed by fire. They will, however, be im- mediately rebuilt, with but a few weeks' inter- ruption of the business of the company.

The peculiar adaptability of the clay deposits of Summit County for the manufacture of pottery has been spoken of in another chapter. Ohio stoneware has acquired an extensive reputa- tion. The Cuyahoga Falls Stoneware Factory was founded about eighteen years ago by the firm of Thomas & Harris. Thomas Brothers are the present proprietors. The building oc- cupied by this company is a two-story structure, 36x120 feet in size, and is furnished with a complete and thorough outfit of machinery es- pecially adapted to the manufacture of the line of articles turned out, consisting of churns, butters, paus, Dutch pots. jugs, preserve jars, fruit jars with label tops, covers, stove tubes, etc. The capacity of the factory is upward of 300,000 gallons per annum, valued at not less

CUYAHOGA FALLS TOWNSHIP.

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than $15,000, the demand for which is principally in the States of Michigan, Illinois and Indiana. Their manufactory is on the corner of Main and Broad streets.

At the corner of Front and Portage streets is the business house of L. W. Loomis. It was founded in 1864, under the firm name of Loomis & Co., with L. W. Loomis, H. E. Loomis, and Smith & Harington, of New York, as partners. Since 1868, it has been under the sole control and management of L. W. Loomis. A specialty of this house is the manufacture of tinware, for which purpose a large force is employed. A number of wagons are kept on the road dispos- ing of the manufactured stock.

The clay banks of Summit County are uni- versally acknowledged to be superior to any in the United States for the manufacture of sewer pipe and similar articles, and the class of goods manufactured here have a national reputation. The value of these immense deposits of clay is estimated at nearly $2,000,000 a year, and, as the variety and extent of these important arti- cles of commerce is continually on the increase, without any perceptible diminution of the raw material, there can scarcely be a limit to this great and important source of wealth and pros- perity. At Cuyahoga Falls, the manufacture of sewer pipe is extensively carried on by George C. Germain. The works now conducted by him were founded in 1865, by Lewis, Fosdick & Camp, and, after passing through a number of changes in proprietorship, came into the possession of James II. Cooke in 1877. Mr. Cooke has since died. The trade has consider- ably increased, and now extends all over the United States from Maine to Minnesota. Mr. Germain occupies a spacious and commodious building four stories in height, covering an area of 40x180 feet, with convenient yards ad- jacent. The works are located on the banks of the Cuyahoga River, where they have water- power equivalent to eighty horses, using one sixty horse-power and one twenty horse-power wheel. The works are supplied with the most approved and latest styles of machinery, and appliances especially adapted to this branch of industry, and for capacity, extent and general excellence of appointments, as well as for su- periority of productions, will compare favorably with any similar establishment in the State. He turns out every variety of straight, bent, elbow, slant and branch pipe, with elbows,

angles, ring joints and sockets of a superior quality. The pipe is vitrified by the chemical action of salt while in the process of burning, which renders it impervious to the action of steam, gas and acids, and is particularly notice- able for fine finish, durability and uniformity. On the site of these works there once stood an oil-mill, built by Cyrus Prentiss. It was after- ward used by Henry Wetmore to make linseed oil, till 1863, when it gave place to the works before mentioned.

The Cuyahoga Paper Company was organized in 1875. Their first building occupied was the one built for a grist-mill by Yockey, Vantine & Co. This mill was run for the manufacture of flour for some years ; but was finally purchased by J. M. Smith & Co., and changed to a paper mill. Soon after, it was burned down. Another mill was immediately erected in its place, which was run by Harrison & Hanford, until that one was also burned to the ground. Again it was built, and used by the gentlemen last mentioned, until bought by the Cuyahoga Paper Company. This company went into possession in 1875. The last-named firm was organized by Robert R. Peebles, George Dow and George Sacket, for the purpose of manufacturing wrapping and colored papers, the latter article being used for posters, handbills and tobacco labels principally. In 1879, Mr. Dow and Mr. Sacket retired, and J. M. Loeser, A. S. Dentsch and S. Levi entered the firm. They occupy a number of buildings on the banks of the river, which are supplied with improved machinery, especially adapted to this branch of business. The capacity of the mills are 8,000 pounds a day. The motive power of the works is supplied by steam, and the water of the river.

One of the largest and most complete manu- facturing establishments of its kind in the United States, is that of P. H. Standish, de- voted to the production of chains and chain machinery, and wrought saddlery hardware of every description. These works were established at this place in 1878, and comprise at the lower works one main building 30x50 feet, three stories in height ; one blacksmith-shop 30x75 feet, and one 20x100 feet; a building 16x35 feet, used as a japanning and trimming depart- ment, and a coke shed 28x30 feet. The upper works consist of one main building 50x200 feet, with two additions, one 50x30 feet, the other 20x50 feet. All of the buildings are thoroughly

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equipped with most perfect and complete ma- chinery, much of which is of Mr. Standish's own invention, and protected by letters patent from the United States Government. Water-power, equivalent to 100 horses, supplies the motive power required. The leading productions of these works are every description of harness coil, agricultural and wagon chains and chain machinery, patent wrought swivels, rings, hooks, lap rings, lap links, S-hooks, dees, tees, staples, snaps, clips, finch buckles, japanned harness rings, buckles, etc. The demand for these arti- cles is principally in New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Chicago, St. Louis, Bal- timore, Fort Wayne, Evansville, and in fact all over the United States. Mr. Standish came to Cuyahoga Falls from St. Louis.

The attention of farmers throughout the country has of late years been called to the importance and the advantages of a thorough system of underdrainage by means of drain tile, and it has been demonstrated that for sloughs and swampy places this system is no longer an experiment, but an absolute necessity for profitable and practical agricultural and hor- ticultural purposes. Underdrainage, when good tile are used, is a permanent and valuable im- ment, and the old adage that "Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well," is as applicable to this case as to any other. The Cuyahoga Falls Drain Tile are made from a very superior quality of potters' clay, the same which has obtained a national reputation in the manufacture of the celebreted Akron Sewer Pipe, and it is admitted to be the best clay in the United States for this and similar purposes. The tile are smooth, strong, well made and well burned. The firm of Camp & Babb first en- gaged in the manufacture of these tile, but the works are now owned by H. B. Camp. They occupy two spacious buildings, one 42x70, and one 24x60, supplied with all the requisite ma- chinery, operated by a 120-horse-power engine. They manufacture, in addition to a superior quality of drain tile, roofing tile, building blocks and a variety of other products of a similar description. The building blocks are a recent innovation and invention, and a specialty manufactured by no other house. They are square blocks made hollow, and possess many advantages for building purposes over the or- dinary brick. They are made from the same material as the drain tile. The demand for

roofing tile is principally in the East, and for drain tile at the present time principally in Northern Ohio, although as its merits and ad- vantages become known, the demand is extend- ing through other States. The yearly products of these works are about $10,000 in value.

The planing-mill and factory of Snyder & Blood occupies two spacious and conveniently- arranged buildings-one 36x70, and one 80x36, furnished with planing machines, door, sash and blind machinery of the most approved styles and designs, and all the tools, appliances and machinery pertaining to this branch of in- dustry. The power used at their factories is one thirty-five-horse-power engine and boiler ; and their yearly business, which amounts to not less than $30.000, is principally derived from Summit and adjoining counties. The house was founded in 1876, by the present pro- prietors.

The manufacture of rivets is becoming quite an important industry in this country, and has grown very rapidly within the last few years, especially in the West, where manufacturing of every description is constantly assuming greater proportions, thus bringing into active and aug- menting demand the thousand and one items in the shape of material entering into the con- struction of mechanical appliances and appa- ratus. One of these items of importance-as necessary to manufacturers generally as nails to the house-builder-is the article of rivets. There are in the United States several large es- tablishments engaged in this branch of indus- try, but in no one of them are goods turned out superior to those produced by the Falls Rivet Company.

This concern went into operation in the year 1873. The works, first used as a flouring-mill and sash, door and blind factory, are fully pro- vided with ingeniously devised labor-saving machinery of the most approved mechanism, and thus they are enabled to produce first-class goods with the utmost economy practicable. They use the best Norway iron exclusively in their manufactures, and employ thoroughly ex- perienced workmen. Their marked success in this enterprise is measurably attributable to the high standard of excellence attained by their product, and they are determined to allow none to surpass them in the style, finish and quality of their work. Among their manifest advan- tages is that of favorable location, as regards

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supplying the Western trade, inasmuch as they can reach the Western markets six days in ad- vance of Boston. Their rivets are regarded as "standard " throughout the West, and are shipped as far East as Syracuse, N. Y. There are several large users of these goods in Akron, such as the Whitman & Barnes Manufacturing Company, and Aultman, Miller & Company.

The Falls Rivet Company was recently incor- porated under the State law, with a capital of $100,000. They are working a full force of men, in the manufacture of all kinds and styles of iron rivets, both block and tinned, including carriage, block, machine, tire, hame, belt, coop- ers' and wagon box, riveting burrs, wagon and hinge nails. They guarantee every pound of their goods to be of the best quality. Special- sized or shaped goods in their line of manu- facture are made to order on short notice, and at the lowest prices.

The factory of this company is a commo- dious two-story building, situated on the east side of the river, and is supplied with abund- ant water and steam power, together with every requisite convenience and appliance for the rapid production of the goods made here.

C. Kittleberger's tannery was established a number of years ago by the present proprietor, whose business since that time has steadily increased. The tannery building proper, is 60x50 feet in size, containing two floors ; and the currying building, which is also two stories, covers an area of 24x48. Both buildings are thoroughly equipped with all the necessary machinery and appliances, and one sixteen- horse-power engine supplies the motive power required. Mr. Kittleberger manufactures and carries in stock every variety of calf, kip, up- per and harness leather, making a specialty of the latter article, in which line he has estab- lished a wide-spread reputation. He is at all times prepared to pay cash for hides and pelts at the very highest market rates. His trade, which amounts to nearly $20,000 per annum, extends both East and West, and the products of this tannery meet with a ready sale in all parts of the United States.

The flouring-mill of Turner, Vaughn & Tay- lor, was first built for a planing-mill by Henry Newberry, and was run by him in company with Henry A. Sill. It was soon after leased by Penfield & Starr, who changed it into a pa- per-mill. It afterward passed into the hands

of Henry Wetmore, who, in company with a man named Wright, ran it for a time. But it passed again into Mr. Newberry's hands, who removed the paper machinery and changed it to a grist-mill, for which purpose it is still oc- cupied. It does custom work.

Buildings were first erected upon the dam of what is known as the Chuckery Company, in the south part of the village, for making shov- els, forks, etc. These buildings were slight and soon went to decay. They came, finally, into the hands of John Hinde, who rebuilt them and employed them in making rope and twine. He afterward changed them into a mill for making coarse bagging. The manufactory is now closed.

The Improved Barber and Dental Chair Com- pany, of Cuyahoga Falls, manufactures L. W. Boys' improved quadruple motion revolving barber and dental chairs. The President of the company is H. M. Stanley ; the Secretary and Treasurer, C. H. Reeve ; the Superintend- ent, L. W. Boys. The last named, after sev- eral years of close application to the matter of inventing a barber and dental chair, at length produced the one now being manufactured by this company.

The Blakeslee Manufacturing Company has works on the west side of the river. The com- pany manufactures machine-forged nuts, bridge and tank rivets, forged nut machines, heading machines for heading rivets, track bolts, plow bolts and square or hexagon head bolts.

The grist-mill known as James' Mill, was built for and run as an oil-mill. It is now owned by B. F. Thompson, and stands on the west side of the river. Mr. James, many years ago, purchased the mill and repaired it. He ran it until July, 1880, when it passed into the hands of the present proprietor. The mill does custom work and has two run of stone.

The rolling-mill and forge near by were long the property of Israel James. They are now run by Robert Turner.

The Taylor Wire Cloth Company which manu- factured, for several years, all kinds of wire cloth, riddles, seives and wire goods generally, was incorporated under the Ohio laws, in Feb- ruary, 1874. It is not now operating as a manufacturing company. The pottery of Hol- loway & Hoots, formerly a glue factory, is no longer engaged in the manufacture of stone- ware.

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In concluding this sketch of the manufact- nres of Cuyahoga Falls, it may be said that although its romantic and beautiful surround- ings have given to this locality a wide-spread reputation as a pleasure resort, its various in- dustrial and manufacturing establishments, have contributed in a more practical manner to its fame.

There are many industries in the village besides its manufactories, deserving mention, at least, in a sketch of the "Cuyahoga Falls of to-day." The following may be noted :

Agricultural Implements-Jones & Howe.

Attorneys at Law-J. C. Castle, Charles Fill- ins, E. C. Ruggles.

Bakers-F. Link, Fred Ikins.

Bank-International Bank.

Billiards-Hoyt & James, M. Deafendorf.

Book Binders-A. R. Knox, John H. Brain- erd.

Books and Stationery-F. S. Heath & Co., H. F. Bannard.

Boots and Shoes-John Cook, George Han- son, Henry Plum.

Builders-Harvey Snyder.

Carriage Makers-W. A. Allen & Co., Clay- ton & Reid.

Cigar Manufacturers-T. J. Francisco.

Clothing-H. E. Howard.

Coal and Wood-W. M. Griswold, Phillip Thomas, Thomas Brothers.

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History of Summit County, with an outline sketch of Ohio, Part 89

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