USA > Ohio > Portage County > Portage heritage; a history of Portage County, Ohio; its towns and townships and the men and women who have developed them; its life, institutions and biographies, facts and lore > Part 11
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91
CHAPTER VII
Horse and Buggy, But Strong
There never is any hard and fast line of demarcation between activities of various periods and eras, but be- ginning about 1880, the day of wider mechanization for Portage County ac- tivities really set in. It was still a horse and buggy age, of course, but such now simple things as bicycles, buggies and gasoline engines had come on and set men thinking about something else. They were thinking, in particular, about buggies and wag- ons powered by steam or gasoline. They were experimenting and hop- ing, but without decisive results for another 20 years. The balloon ascens- ions at county fairs also aroused thoughts of controlled travel through the air. But of more immediate im- portance was the continual improve- ments of machinery used in daily work.
Two MORE RAILROADS HERE
Here in Portage County, residents were then looking toward another railroad then working its way along. It proceeded up through Paris, Charlestown, Ravenna, and Franklin townships, slowly and with many dif- ficulties. The years 1882-83-84 and 1885 passed before the county was traversed. This line later was the P & W, and in 1893, it became the present Baltimore & Ohio.
Up from the south came the Con- noton Valley Line, Canton to Cleve- land, opened in 1881. Later it was
known as the Wheeling & Lake Erie, and the Nickle Plate. The county was now well provided with railroads.
Portage County entered this period swelling with pride. James A. Gar- field, former head of the Hiram "In- stitute", then a state senator, and later its congressman, who had served as a general in the war, was nominated for the presidency and elected. Though he had moved his home from the county, he was always regarded as a local man and still is so held. When his career was brought to a close by assassination, grief nowhere greater than here in Portage County where most of his earlier friends and associates still lived. Portage County was his home for a longer period than any other place. This man with a great heart and brilliant mind, who rose from poverty to a high estate, is still regarded as the county's brightest jewel.
INSTALL WATERWORKS
The county was growing again af- ter a period when population had stood still. In 1880, over 27,500 peo- ple called Portage County their home. More "foreigners" were coming in, including Poles, Hungarians, and oth- ers who later were given the derisive names of "hunkies" or "bohunks", now happily forgotten. There were also a few Jews, usually peddlers or owners of small stores. Streets of towns and villages were still lighted
99
100
PORTAGE HERITAGE
by oil or gas lamps, but in Cleveland, they were experimenting with the new electric "arc" lights. In Ravenna, citizens voted in 1885, to tax them- selves for $75,000 to construct a water- works system. The water supply was to come from "Mother Ward's Wash- tub", now Crystal Lake. This meant a water supply available for fire fight- ing. A new "steamer" and more mod- ern equipment was added. Ravenna had the "Phoenix Fire Co." and the "Alert Hose Co." both volunteer out- fits. Each rendered annual reports.
County Civil War veterans finally got themselves organized in the G.A.R. system, a post being establish- ed in Kent in 1882, and one in Ra- venna in 1883. Mantua post also or- ganized in 1883.
Ravenna was still much interested in glass making, The Ravenna Flint Glass Co. being organized in 1882 and the Crown Flint Glass Co. in 1883, but about that time the Enter- prise Glass Co., already there closed down. Several small machine shops there also got under way.
An event of lasting importance in 1885 was the publication of the His- tory of Portage County, under the
direction of R. C. Brown.
ELECTRIC LIGHTS TWINKLE
Though Garfield had died in 1881, the papers in 1882 were still giving a great amount of space to the trial of his assassin, Guiteau, who clearly was insane. Guiteau was executed in the latter year.
Newspapers were advertising wool- en shawls (and Paisleys), carriage robes, horse blankets, red underwear, and crochet materials.
An "Uncle Tom's Cabin" show was advertised in Ravenna as a "Great Combination Show", one feature of which was an "Electric Light Exhi- bit", produced right on the stage. An- other feature was a group of Jubilee Singers. And in 1881, the Fisk Jubilee Singers gave a show, in which Fred J. Loudin took a part.
In this era, people talked as much about the high cost of living as they do now, though living was consider- ably cheaper. Eggs were ten or twelve cents a dozen and other things in proportion. Even in towns, house- wives usually made their own bread and did their own washings, the hard way. "Bakers bread" was coming on, but many distrusted it because "it
Length Of Brady's Leap
Early county historians made much of the feat of Captain Samuel Brady, the Penn- sylvania Indian fighter, in jumping across the Cuyahoga River to escape pursuing redskins. Some pretty fanciful and inaccurate writing has described this event, but most authorities say it occurred about 1780. Christian Cackler, Jr., earliest Portage writer, says that Brady had helped pursue Indians through this county to Wetmore's Pond, near Cuyahoga Falls. There the Indians surprised and chased the whites. Brady was cornered along the Cuya- hoga but escaped by leaping across the river at the gorge in Kent. Cackler says the jump was not over 21 feet and was made from a high bank to one three feet lower on the op- posite side. Though shot in the leg Brady made his way to a lake where he hid under a tree. The lake is now called Brady Lake. But the amazing leap for life caught public fancy and the story has lived long in the lore of the frontier.
101
PORTAGE HERITAGE
First Hiram College building as it appeared over tree tops in 1860.
didn't taste right" and some thought it caused indigestion. Canned veget- ables were brought on, with the same distrust. They said canned food was "doctored up", and probably some- times was. In town, families were like- ly to buy a quarter of beef in the fall to cut up and preserve, or to hang up and cut from it, when put up in a cool place, like the garrett.
SUNDAY COMICS START
The egg woman, and the butter woman, were regular callers at homes with their wares. Some families had buckwheat cakes virtually every mor- ning during the cold months, with a "sponge" kept in the cold pantry for quick starts.
Tobacco chewing among men was common and grocers kept several brands of "plug" tobacco ready to cut
up as required by the purchaser. The buyer usually carried his "plug" in his hip pocket.
City newspaper brought out Sun- day editions and colored "comics" made their appearance. Older people will remember the "Limekiln Club" feature, the "Katzenjammer Kid" and others. Parents sometimes forbade their children to read these comics as being too worldly. The Palmer Cox Brownies and the Buster Brown fea- tures became famous.
Many families had bread and milk suppers after the usual heavy Sunday dinner.
The standard way of livening up public celebrations was with a bon- fire and they had good ones-some- times impromptu.
The modern funeral home was still unknown. Funerals were conducted
PORTAGE HERITAGE
from churches or homes. Embalming, as known today, was just coming into practice. Widowed women wore black hats, veils and dresses and were ex- pected to continue mourning for six months or a year. Bereaved husbands also wore evidence of mourning and black arm bands for mourning came on.
SPECIAL TEACHERS EMPLOYED
Superintendents were being hired for smaller schools, but high school courses had already been set up at Ra- venna and Kent Union schools. "Elo- cution" teachers were also being placed in schools, together with sing- ing teachers and sometimes special penmanship instructors.
Milk was being routed by farmers away from cheese factories and sent to cities. In 1881, the C & P "milk train", Ravenna to Cleveland, carried 1800 gallons of milk daily, or 200 cans of the white fluid.
In 1882, B. A. Hinsdale, the learned and able president of Hiram College, became superintendent of the Cleve- land schools, remaining in that capac- ity for fifteen years, and later becom-
ing a professor at the University of Michigan.
Portage County continued to vote Republican, including the support of James G. Blaine against Grover Cleve- land, but when Cleveland was elected, Republican male quartets sang "Four more years of Grover, Then we'll be in the clover."
School teachers and other literary minded people formed The Chautau- qua Reading Circles, though the local tent chautauqua entertainment cours- es did not come until 25 or 30 years later. There were lyceums and literary societies, including Shakesperian clubs.
"East Lynne" was a favorite drama for presentation by dramatic societies.
SPRING ELECTIONS HELD
In 1882, Wahoo Bitters for stomach trouble was advertised and a new creamery, the Spring Hill, was being erected two miles north of Ravenna. Local elections were held in April and notices of party nominating cau- cuses were printed before hand. Coun- ty conventions nominated candidates for county offices.
College By-Passes Kent
In 1869-70, the Universalist church, then strong in this section, was looking for a location for a college to be established. Kent was a candidate. Negotiations were handled by Marvin Kent. One day he announced that he had signed up an agreement whereby Kent would be the location of the college. A few days later he announced that the college deal was off. He said that Hon. John R. Buchtel had offered the college $100,000.00 if the institution were located in Akron. It was to be called Buchtel College. Later it became Akron University.
Had the college been located at Kent, this situation would have barred Kent State University from Kent, such were the rules under which the institution was to be es- tablished.
Another version was that John R. Buchtel drove to Kent where his buggy became stuck in the mud which angered him so that he influenced the selection of Akron.
103
PORTAGE HERITAGE
"Watch out for lightning rod sharpers," ran a notice in the Republi- can-Democrat.
A Kent writer was very angry be- cause the Franklin Township trustees, all Republicans at that, had appointed a Democrat as township clerk to fill the vacancy casued by resignation of Republican clerk, James Wark.
The superintendent of the county infirmary reported that sixty-eight persons were in his care.
As an aftermath of the Civil War, pensions for veterans began to assume considerable proportions. These ran from $100.00 per month for total dis- ability, down to a few dollars a month. Actual need was the test, but a great many of the veterans drew a pension of $12.00 per month. Such a veteran who lived in the rural sec- tions and kept a garden, a cow, pigs, and chickens, could get along with his pension for cash money, and many of them did so.
An activity then important, was rag carpet making by women. In 1884, Sarah Wells of Randolph pro- duced 685 yards of rag carpet on her loom.
TALKING BY WIRE
The years 1884-85 was a "hard time" period, but in 1885 the Raven- na Polo team played the Kent Polo team and won, 3 to 2.
A card was displayed in the shop of the Crown Flint Glass Co. at Ra- venna as required by law, and in other shops as well, notifying all that no person was required to work more than 60 hours a week, nor could any- one work there under 12 years of age.
In this era the telephone reached Portage County to stay. Ravenna got telephones in 1881, and in 1882, the Midland Company started an ex- change in Kent, and in the same year a "long distance" line was strung to Stow to connect up with the outer world.
Manufacturing had been done mainly in small shops, employing a few hands. Some continued to grow, and there was a variety of products. It is of interest now to read figures put out by the state labor department in 1888, on employment in Ravenna and Kent in that year. In Ravenna, the Diamond Glass Co. employed 58 hands; Ravenna Woollen Mills, 55; Quaker Mills, 83; Ravenna Glass Co., 83; Johnson Box Co., 5; Merts & Rid- dle, 50; with a scattering of others.
In Kent, Turner & Sons employed 175; The Erie Shops, 320; Parsons Lumber, 10; Williams Mill, 30; Rail- way Speed Recorder, 88; and a num- ber of small plants.
In addition to these, there were about 40 cheese factories scattered
Canal boats proceeded in a leisurely manner. So did their business. W. K. Witter, who was a clerk in the Prentiss store in Ravenna in the early forties, says the canal company ,which did considerable freight business, had no local office. When a canal boat captain with goods for Prentiss, arrived at midnight, he tied up the boat, walked to Witter's house and got him out of bed. They then went to the canal and checked the freight, after which Witter paid the bill and the boat went on.
104
PORTAGE HERITAGE
throughout the county, each employ- ing two or three persons. The cheese manufacturing business in Portage County, though, had then about reached its apex.
ENTICEMENT FOR INDUSTRY
In this time, towns were trying to attract factories and offered induce- ments which ended disastrously. In 1890, Kent citizens voted to bond the town for $100,000 for a fund to foster industry under a law which permitted bond issuance for park "and other improvement." The following ten years saw a dismal record of negotia- tion and repudiation, small factories which soon petered out, default on bond interest in the end. Before all was settled the program had cost $223,000 with little to show for it, although upon the ruins of various enterprises some businesses were built which later were of permanent value.
In 1885, a Portage County Humane Society was formed to deal with cruel- ty to animals and cruelty to children.
In 1884, a Ravenna newspaper thought it worth while to mention the fact that "two Italian children are attending grade school."
These were the days of the roller skating rinks which achieved great popularity and their doings were re- ported in the papers regularly. Dorcas Societies were in existence and ap- parently were quite active in their
field. Newspapers carried a puzzle corner. Boys and girls read the Youth's Companion, or Golden Days and later the American Boy.
JAIL IN POOR SHAPE
ยท The Byers Machine Co., organized in Ravenna in 1873 were doing a large business in general repair work. There were more sheep raised in the county and wool merchants did a good business. Steam heat for build- ings was new and dealers were push- ing its use. Two Deerfield merchants one year bought a total of 275,000 pounds of wool.
In 1885, the county grand jury, in its report, condemned the condition of the county jail. It has done so reg- ularly since then.
The county's first telephone ex- change was put in operation in Ra- venna in 1882-83 and was reported as "making steady progress."
New songs which became "popu- lar" were being put out right along. Among these were: "Little Annie Rooney", "Wait Til The Sun Shines Nellie", "After The Ball", "The Bow- ery", "I Don't Want To Play In Your Yard", "Sweet Marie", "Where Did You Get That Hat", "Take Back Your Gold", "Just As The Sun Went Down", "Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay" and "On The Banks of The Wabash."
In the '90's, something else that was new by way of entertainment,
In 1890, President E. V. Zollars instituted a "ministerial course" at Hiram College. Many students were enrolled in the course and most of these did supply preaching for various Disciple churches each Sunday. Some had regular charges. Each Saturday after- noon, so many students left the campus carrying suit cases or over-night bags, that it was almost an exodus in proportion.
105
PORTAGE HERITAGE
appeared. It was the phonograph ma- chine. Agents had their machines at the county fair, where by paying a nickle, you could insert some tubes into your ears and listen to the music made by the phonograph.
CHARITY WORK SCATTERED
Probably hearts beat in sympathy for the poor and unfortunate at that time as in any other, but organized charity was not conspicious. Help for the poor was mostly on the individual basis, and a family of means would have its own people to help. People then knew more of the joys of person- al charity. On the other hand, there were church and other women's soc- ieties which worked ardently to help the unfortunate. There was little of the fund raising drives that were to be seen later. At that time charitable groups known as Dorcas Societies were active and did much good local- ly.
In the rural sections, there still ex- isted the institution known as the
"bee", where all worked together for a common objective in help. It might be a "wood bee" to provide fuel for a needy family, or a "sewing bee" with a similar purpose. The old custom of having "barn raisings" still held, al- ways accompanied by prodigious din- ners with plenty to eat and drink. With poor organization and much ex- citement, it is a wonder that more men were not hurt, than there were.
In the towns there had been fire fighting organizations of a sort. With the coming of water supply systems with underground pipes, now there was better protection. But in the country, there was little protection whatever. When a house or barn caught fire, it usually burned down. Continued incidents of this kind made owners think of insurance, but all in- surance, both fire and life, was still in elementary stages and was not yet fully accepted by the public.
THEY ROLL THEIR HOOPS
Country preachers, who struggled
An Early Operation
Dr. Joseph DeWolfe of Ravenna gained fame for performing an operation on a case of strangulated hernia in 1825-one of the first if not the first anywhere. But another interesting operation took place in Franklin Township, about the same time. James Hay- maker was taken ill with a swelling in his neck. Local doctors could not help him. He was virtually given up as lost. It happened that at that time a Dr. Stocking, a noted surgeon from the East, was visiting relatives in Brimfield. He was called in and declared that the only help would be through an operation. He would do it. Others, including Dr. DeWolfe, were extremely skeptical. As the patient suffered so greatly, the family told Stocking to go ahead. Chloroform was then unheard of. Four doctors held the patient as Dr. Stocking pierced the swelling with a double-bladed lancet. Out spurted blood, pus and a small feather which in some way had entered the throat. James Haymaker recovered and lived for many years after that. He was the son of James Haymaker, once postmaster at Meadville, Pa., and reputedly private secretary of Aaron Burr.
(This incident was told to Mrs. Charlotte Weaver by Judge DePeyster who was present at the operation.)
106
PORTAGE HERITAGE
along with very low salaries, were forced to welcome the "donation par- ties" for them, in order to get along.
By way of entertainment, there was the stereoscope, the magic lantern and crokinole. Boys rolled their hoops. Parlors were kept darkened and closed, to be opened only when company came.
Casters with salt, pepper, vinegar, etc., were on every table, and the kit- chen stove had a "reservoir" for hot water. People drank tea and coffee from a saucer and cups had no handles.
Men took up pointed shoes, often of patent leather. They wore stiff bosomed white shirts with detachable cuffs. Ladies carried parasols and fans, and their hats were works of art with ostrich feathers, flowers, and ribbons.
It became a fad for young fellows to play the mandolin, as they later did the ukelele. They wore high chok- er stiff white collars, and blazers with vertical stripes. Strawberry festivals were popular, and plenty of firecrack- ers and other fireworks were the rule for the Fourth, which were in no way restricted.
MEDICINE MAN HERE
Now gone and nearly forgotten is the medicine man, who during warm- er weather worked on the street corn- ers. Sometimes it was from a wagon in a vacant lot usually with music as an attraction, his "spiel" was the lure
that brought money for his nostrums, under the gas light. Sometimes entire companies were used.
On the farms, the owners often cut a second crop of clover, from which they threshed out clover seed for their own use.
Only sports or depraved persons smoked cigarettes. Merchants adver- tised three grades of sugar-brown, coffee (light brown) and crushed.
A man could buy a two-pants suit of clothes for $12.50. Wooden Indians stood before cigar stores and little boys spent their pennies for shoe string licorice and peppermint candy, or barber pole sticks of candy.
BRYAN STIRS 'EM UP
Of all the political campaigns since the Hard Cider Campaign of 1840, none were quite so heated and excit- ing as the Mckinley-Bryan president- ial campaign of 1896. The fact that Mckinley lived in nearby Canton, added zest to the contest here. Bryan made the silver question his main is- sue and voters split up on this ques- tion. Here, as elsewhere, party lines were broken. They argued learnedly about it though it is doubtful if many really understood it. Friendships were broken and sometimes churches and lodges were divided on the new issue. The county was flooded with cam- paign speakers of various degrees of ability. Mckinley remained at Can- ton and special trains from Portage
Dr. George Sadler of Ravenna directed that his favorite riding horse, Rocket, should lead his funeral cortege. His wishes were carried out. Nearing the cemetery Rocket be- came excited, reared and fell backward on the carriage bearing the officiating clergyman, and crushing it.
107
PORTAGE HERITAGE
County carried his followers there to hear him talk in his famous front porch speeches. But Bryan visited this county and spoke briefly at Ravenna. Both parties had mammoth all coun- ty parades. The Democratic party pa- rade included horsemen on sixteen white horses with one yellow one, to emphasize the "sixteen to one" silver slogan. Probably what actually in- fluenced voters more than the silver issue, was Mckinley's advocacy of high tariff and thereby a "full din- ner pail."
In the '70's and '80's the W.C.T.U. and others were active in combatting the open saloon and advocating tem- perance. Sometimes the W.C.T.U. wo- men knelt in prayer in the dusty street before a saloon, asking God's help in subduing the evils of the liq- uor traffic. In 1881, an old church building in Garrettsville was blown to pieces by an explosion of gun- powder. This act was attributed to "whiskey apologists" by members of the church, as an act of retaliation, against temperance organizations.
GAY TRAVEL OUTFITS
One of the tragedies of this era was a wreck on the Erie Railroad, near the Ravenna station in July, 1891, wherein 19 persons were killed and 23 hurt. One passenger train was "tel- escoped" by another freight train. Many of those killed were glass blow- ers from the city of Corning, New
York, on excursion and on their way home.
This period might be considered the height of the horse-and-buggy life. Nearly everyone owned a horse, whether in town or country. For the well-to-do, it meant a two horse team. To own a phaeton or surrey was some- thing special. Occasionally, sports with four-in-hands could be seen. A rubber tired buggy was a novelty.
Accessories to horse-and-buggy travel were many. These included lap robes of many kinds and styles (or- nate or a horse blanket or buffalo robe); fancy buggy whips and whip sockets; mud guards; hampers and trunks; and what not.
By 1885, the use of the high-wheel bicycle was at its peak. About that time the "safety" bicycle was brought out with two wheels of equal size. They had rubber tires-hard ones at first, then cushion or pneumatic tires. From that time on, bicycling was a veritable craze. Bicycles racers were people of importance. Wheel clubs were formed and Sunday outings were popular and numerous. It was a favorite ride from Ravenna to Kent, or vice versa. The situation remained until the gasoline buggy appeared.
NINETIES NOT SO GAY
After the year 1900, someone or- iginated the expression "The Gay Nineties", which is still used quite generally, as if it were a period of
Zeb Rudolph of Hiram was the father-in-law of James A. Garfield. When word reached him that Garfield had been nominated for the presidency, he took the news calmly and remarked, "I hope no harm will come of it."
108
PORTAGE HERITAGE
happiness and unusual good times. But to those who lived in that period and later never saw anything particu- larly gay about it, at least it was no different. Certainly those who went through the "hard times" of 1892 and 1893, and another in 1896-97, saw nothing gay about the '90's. But, life was beginning to be a little easier and the age of mechanization was coming on. Music and ways of entertainment were increasing and coming on in lighter vein.
The brief Spanish American War was another event that stirred people of the county. As a war, it was the shortest of all American conflicts, lasting less than six months, although the Philippine war dragged on long- er. There was yet no draft but num- bers of Portage County lads volun- teered for service in both army and navy. Some lost their lives, but the war as a whole was merely a stir of excitement. William R. Day, a native of Ravenna, was President Mckinley's secretary of state when a peace treaty with Spain was finally signed. The war came quickly, and was quickly forgotten.
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.