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 50
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
441
PORTAGE HERITAGE
ice. They had an organization but no regular pastor until much later.
PASTOR STORRS
The Congregational church was es- tablished in 1822 by the cultured and devout Rev. Chas. B. Storrs. A Sunday school was formed there in 1825. Mr. Storrs was popular and remained un- til he joined Western Reserve College at Hudson, later president there. A church building was erected in 1837.
The Methodists held their first reg- ular services in 1824, with Rev. Ira Eddy in the pulpit. He preached here as part of his circuit. The church was regularly organized in 1831 with Rev. Cornelius Jones as pastor. Services were held in a log cabin two miles north of the village. Meetings were held in taverns and school houses un- til the first church building was com- pleted in 1832.
Ravenna Presbyterians organized a church about 1830 and later erected a church building on South Chestnut St. Later the building was used by Congregationalists.
The Disciples of Christ organiza- tion was effected in 1830 after con- siderable opposition from members of other denominations. William Hay- den organized the congregation and Abiel Sturdevant was first elder. Reg- ular meetings were held afterwards but the formal church organization did not come until 1860. Their first building was erected in 1844. A 1837 newspaper stated that Ravenna then had three churches and two clergy- men.
CATHOLICS ESTABLISH CHURCH
There were many settlers of the Universalist church in the vicinity, but these had no regular place of worship until 1842 when a building was dedicated. It became necessary to
remodel it in 1877. This stood on the corner of Chestnut and Spruce Sts. Rev. Andrew Willson was long a popular pastor of this church. He died in 1911.
After the C & P Railroad was built, many Irish laborers remained in the vicinity. To care for their spiritual needs, a congregation was formed, later becoming the Immaculate Con- ception Catholic church. Father Mc- Gahan of Akron was the first regular clergyman to say mass. This was in 1854. Without a regular meeting place, other priests came more or less regularly for several years. Among these were Frs. Walsh, O'Connor, and Brown, the latter of Hudson. Father O'Connor started a move to build a church and in 1862, the cornerstone was laid for the new church. Father Brown served both Kent and Raven- na simultaneously and in 1878 Father Bowles became the first resident pas- tor.
Grace Church, Episcopal, was or- ganized in April, 1865, with a mem- bership that included many of the business and professional leaders, by Rev. Levi Holden. The church build- ing on W. Cedar St. was erected in 1873 and consecrated in 1883. Various rectors have been in charge and the church continues today.
The churches named above domin- ated the scene for a long period but in more recent years other denomina- tions have organized and have flour- ishing congregations.
Ravenna churches today include Congregational, Immaculate Concep- tion (Catholic), Disciple, Methodist, Christian Science, St. Paul Lutheran, Allen Chapel (A.M.E.), Assembly of God, Calvary Mission, Church of God, Church of the Nazarene, Community Baptist, Grace Episcopal, Grace
442
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Gospel, Live Wire Baptist, Mt. Cal- vary Baptist, Pentecostal Church of Christ, Pilgrim Rest Baptist, Raven- na Baptist Temple, Saints of Christ, Seventh Day Adventist, True Vine Pentecostal, United Church of God. Oakwood Chapel (A.M.E.) was built in 1888 and long served as a religious center for colored people.
BRANCH STATE BANK
In common with other early Ohio communities, banking facilities were at first quite meager. Much of it was in the hands of private bankers. After state banks were established, branch banks were instituted. In 1847 a branch of the Ohio State bank was established at Ravenna with a capital of $103,000. Stockholders were David J. Beardsley, Robert C. Campbell, Sylvester Beacham, Rufus Paine, Seth Gillette, F. W. Seymour, and Henry Dwight, the latter of New York. R. E. Campbell was the first president, and H. D. Williams, cashier.
In 1863 the First National Bank was formed, which took over the af- fairs of the state Branch Bank. F. W. Seymour was the first president and Ezra S. Comstock was the first cash- ier. Directors included Seymour, E. P. Brainerd, Silas Crocker, Henry Beecher, Newell D. Clark and J. L. Ranney.
The Second National Bank of Ra- venna came into existence in 1864, with a capital stock of $100,000. First directors were George Robinson, E. T. Richardson, D. C. Coolman, E. W. Coffin, Robert King, Eli King, and H. L. Day. George Robinson was the first president and W. H. Beebe the first cashier. This bank has had a long and honored career.
Robinson, King & Co. was a private banking house, formed in 1857 and it continued in business until 1864,
when it merged with the Second Na- tional Bank.
The Ravenna Savings & Loan was formed in 1872 and continued in busi- ness until 1879. Many years later the title was revived and this firm is still active today with F. G. Halstead, president, and A. W. Walter, secre- tary-treasurer.
The County Savings & Loan As- sociation was formed in 1916 and during its life time has been instru- mental in promoting a vast amount of home building. Some of the men con- nected with its formation and growth were H. L. Spelman, H. R. Loomis, W. J. Dodge, R. D. Laughlin, P. L. Frank, W. W. Stevens, J. F. Babcock and J. C. Yeend.
FRATERNAL NOTES
In the world of fraternal organiza- tions, Ravenna has always been well represented. In Masonry, Unity Lodge No. 12, F. & A. M. was one of the first of its kind in the state, being in- stalled in 1810. Tyrian Chapter, No. 91, R.A.M. was organized in 1864 with nine members. Richardson Coun- cil, No. 63, R. & S. M. came in 1876. The Masonic bodies completed a fine new temple on Walnut St. in 1925.
Ravenna Lodge, No. 65, I.O.O.F. was chartered in 1865. Ravenna En- campment, No. 129, I.O.O.F. was chartered in 1870. Ravenna Council, No. 376, Royal Arcanum, was organ- ized in 1879. Foresters of America was organized in 1891. David McIntosh Post G.A.R. was set up in 1883.
Of the older business and profes- sional leaders of Ravenna especially well remembered are such men as H. Y. Beebe, the Coolmans, father and son, and D. M. Clewell. The Coolmans were hotel men and railroad builders. Mention could also be made of John C. Beatty, who came to Ravenna in
443
PORTAGE HERITAGE
1855 and for a period of nearly sixty years was a force in the community. He was a leader of the county Re- publican party at the height of its power. He married the daughter of Judge H. L. Day. In his political con- tacts he was a personal friend of Gar- field and Mckinley. For many years a merchant, he served as county treas- urer and Ravenna postmaster as well as on various state boards, and was on the Ravenna School Board 30 years.
Another Ravenna man of business acumen and energy was Henry W. Riddle. He came to Ravenna in 1860 as a woodworker but soon with his brother-in-law took over the business that employed him. The fame of the Merts & Riddle factory, later the Rid- dle Coach & Hearse Co. was wide- spread. As he prospered he began to erect business buildings as an invest- ment and at the time of his death had a dozen of Ravenna's leading struc- tures in his name.
DEVELOPS VELOCIPEDE
In his early days he was a great salesman, taking long lines of new buggies out on country roads, far and near, and selling them. He was ap- parently tireless and was interested in anything new. At the time of his marriage in 1866, he had started the construction of a high wheeled sulky, dropping his work only long enough to marry, then back to work. Among the things he helped develop was a two wheeled velocipede, and made the first in this vicinity. He never could ride one, but Mr. Merts rode one. showing it at fairs, where it attracted great attention.
Mr. Clewell was a merchant in which business he was quite success- ful, and was an unusually public spirited man. He was much interested in schools and education and present-
ed flags to each building of the city. He was also president of the Portage Savings & Loan Co.
H. Y. Beebe was a delegate to the convention that nominated Lincoln and he was on the train carrying Lin- coln to Washington for his inaugura- tion.
FAIR IS IMPORTANT
Portage was long strictly an agri- cultural county and for that reason took a great interest in agricultural fairs. Ravenna, of course, was the site of the county fair, with local fairs elsewhere.
The Portage County Agricultural Society was organized in 1825 and held a fair in that year at Ravenna. Old histories point out that it was located on Jonathan Sloane's 15-acre lot on East Main St., and that Seth Harmon of Mantua received a $3.00 prize for best corn displayed. Officers were Joshua Woodard, Pres., Elias Harmon, First Vice Pres .; Owen Brown, Second Vice Pres .; Frederick Wadsworth, Corresponding Secretary; Samuel D. Harris, Recording Secre- tary; Wm. Coolman, Jr., Treas .; Jon- athan Sloane, Auditor.
This fair was held annually for five years, then suspended because of a drouth.
The fair was re-organized in 1839, with William Wetmore as president. By that time the state was beginning to aid and regulate fairs. In 1841, the fair was held on the court house grounds. Then the drouth and crop failure of 1845 led to another suspen- sion.
The state gave more aid and en- couraged fairs and the county Agri- cultural Society was re-organized a- gain in 1846 and a fair held. But the first permanent fair grounds of 20
444
PORTAGE HERITAGE
acres were not leased until 1859, and a race track added.
For the next ten years there was in- different interest. The Civil War was fought and finances were again low. But Ravenna people, led by H. Y. Beebe, raised money and kept the fair going. In 1879 the society leased new grounds, comprising 22 acres just north of the old grounds on Freedom St., and there fairs were held with regularity for the next fifty years. New buildings and equipment were added and horse race meetings were held at other than fair dates. The fairs always came in August or September. One of the largest in attendance was that of 1890 when 20,000 people were in attendance.
HANNA ASSISTS FAIR
New special attractions appeared about the turn of the century. Bal- loon ascensions became popular, with parachute jumps. Other "dare devil" exhibitions came on because "people wanted something new". But in 1909, many of the buildings were destroyed by fire. Lafayette Smith, H. W. Camp- bell and C. R. Sharp and F. M. Knapp were among the secretaries or execu- tive officers. For a time no fairs were held.
About this time Dan R. Hanna, then a county resident who was in- terested in the fair though he was a Cleveland business man, came to the rescue. He contributed money and became president. The grounds were enlarged to take in about 47 acres. Interest increased and very large crowds pressed in to witness aeroplane flights as attractions.
Hanna initiated a bond sale, taking $10,000 worth himself. He also lent his bank credit for money to operate the fair. But he got into personal dif- ficulties and in a moment of anger
foreclosed on the fair property to re- deem his bonds. Another group of county men then bid the property in and got the fair going again. It is said the fair venture cost Hanna about $25,000 personally. In 1916, voters de- feated a $20,000 bond issue for fair purposes.
By 1917 the first World War was on and a "Military Day" was a fea- ture. Girl's sewing clubs and canning clubs were beginning to display their work. In 1918, when the war was at its height, the fair also took a strong military complexion, with parades of veterans, auxiliary organizations, Boy Scouts and others in line.
The fairs then continued annually, but about 1925 public interest began to diminish. Changes were made with night fairs and automobile races in 1929 as added features. There were "Beauty Pageants" and folk dancing, and also a free attendance day. But in 1929 the fair was entirely free. It was the last of the county fairs for Portage County.
H. W. Riddle was then president and F. M. Knapp secretary. It was also a time when many other county fairs had to discontinue because of poor interest.
COMES TO END
On August 23, 1932, fire of un- known origin swept through the grounds, taking eleven buildings. In 1946 and 1947 an attempt was made to hold a fair under private manage- ment, with the use of tents instead of buildings. The grounds were later sold and now is known as the Fair- lawn Allotment, a residential section. Altogether, 94 or 95 agricultural fairs were held in Ravenna in a little over 100 years. It now seems unlikely that the Ravenna fair will ever be revived.
In the '80's and '90's and the fore
445
PORTAGE HERITAGE
part of the present century public band concerts on summer evenings were a popular part of Ravenna life. Concerts were from the old stand in the court house park, or from special- ly constructed stands nearer the street. Well remembered leaders in- cluded Jay Hatch, E. F. Robison, and A. W. Walter. Di Loretta's Italian band sometimes played.
Ravenna has had its share of dis- tressing accidents and mishaps during its life time, but none were worse in extent or nature than the Erie Rail- road wreck of 1891. On the evening of July 3 that year east-bound pas- senger train No. 8 was standing at the station, waiting for the train crew to repair the engine whistle. A flag- man had been sent back, but he was not in time to stop a freight train which had come up rapidly and ploughed into the rear of the pas- senger train. Of the passengers, 19 were killed and 23 injured in varying degrees. The dead and injured were taken to the Etna House which was made into a temporary hospital and morgue. Most of the passengers of the rear car were glass blowers on their way home to Corning, N. Y. after a visit to Findlay, Ohio.
For many years Ravenna had an important seed growing and distri- buting business, known as the Ford Seed Co. It was founded about 1880 by Frank Ford, who had been a pho- tographer. After his death it was op- erated by his son, J. H. Ford and later by others. The business was located on North Chestnut St., south of the cemetery. It is said that Ravenna be- came a first class postoffice because of the large Ford business.
Telephone service came to Raven- na in 1882 when a few instruments were installed in business offices by a
local company. Later, a few lines went into homes. Service expanded grad- ually. In 1903, all the independent lines in the county were consolidated as the Portage County Telephone Co., by H. L. Beatty. The Bell Telephone Co. also established a system and in 1921 the Portage County system was taken over entirely by the Bell com- pany.
Electric light service was started in Ravenna in 1889, but it was quite a few years after that before the utility was in general use. At first, electricity was used almost entirely for lighting.
HOSPITAL STARTED
In 1894, Dr. W. W. White, who had located in Ravenna earlier, es- tablished a private hospital on East Main St., and in 1904, put up a modern hospital on North Chestnut St. on the site of the present postof- fice. Dr. White brought in the best surgeons and gave good service. The hospital operated until 1932 when it was bought by the county and made into the Robinson Memorial Hospital. More in detail will be found about hospitals in another chapter.
A street grading and improving program was started in the '90's though the first pavement did not come until 1898. This was East and West Main St.
The postoffice began rural delivery in 1902, with three carriers. City mail delivery came on in 1908. In the same year the town had natural gas service.
In 1915 the County Detention Home was located on West Main St. In that year the Portage County Health and Child Welfare League was formed, Mrs. A. D. Robinson, presi- dent. Its object was to aid unfortunate children.
446
PORTAGE HERITAGE
The Ravenna Civic League was or- ganized in 1907, its purpose being beautification and improvement.
The Ravenna township school was built in 1915 and township school work centered there.
In 1918-19, many residents were hit by the influenza epidemic.
Catholics built a new parochial school in 1910.
NEW ORGANIZATIONS
In 1916, the Ravenna Visiting Nurse Association was organized. First Community Chest came in 1921.
Ravenna American Legion Post was organized in 1920. First commander was Perry H. Stevens. The Legion Drum and Bugle Corp came in 1929.
The Junior Chamber of Commerce was organized in 1941.
Ravenna Kiwanis Club was organ- ized in March, 1921. V. W. Filiatrault was first president and R. D. Worden, secretary.
The Ravenna Shoe Company had a factory on North Chestnut St. at the Erie tracks as early as 1891. This con- cern did a good business for a few years, then discontinued operations. The Colonial Lamp Co. then occupied the building and continued until op- erations were moved to Warren. This building was an unusually large wooden structure.
Industries listed in Ravenna about 1905 included the Riddle Coach & Hearse Co., The A. V. Williams Co., The Cleveland Worsted Mills Co., The John F. Byers Machine Co., John- son & Co., The Buckeye Chair Co., The Manhattan Electrical Supply Co., The Ravenna Furnace & Heating Co., and Albright & Lightcap, and Mish- ler Marble Works.
Not long after this came the Brown-
Dan R. Hanna, Portage County benefactor.
ing Foundry Co., the Jones Bros. Structural Steel Co. and the Mackey Truck & Tractor Co. The Jones Bros. Co. remains in business today. In 1917, The United Foundries plant was erected along the Erie in northwest Ravenna.
Monarch Alloys plant was establish- ed in 1931 by E. P. Carter. Soon after that the Perfection Piston Ring Co. was organized, which was succeeded by the Sta-Warm Co. on North Chest- nut St. The Erway Memorial Vaults Co. business also flourished.
WET AND DRY ELECTION
The most important event of 1908 was the contest on whether to close all saloons within the county. After a heated campaign, voters cast their bal- lots to close saloons by a vote of 4305 to 3121 in the county. The saloons went out of business. In 1915, under
447
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Original Ravenna Congregational Church building.
a new law, Ravenna voted dry again by a vote of 727 to 655. The county voted "dry" on the state-wide prohi- bition issue in 1918.
Ravenna, though a city interested in culture and education, was without formal, centralized library facilities until 1925. In that year Judge C. A. Reed, a prominent civic leader and a descendant of one of the county's pioneer families, gave $25,000 to build a public library, to be main- tained by the public. This building was erected on East Main St. at Wal- nut, and served its purpose admirably. As the town grew, more facilities were needed and in 1955, Judge Reed's daughter, Mrs. R. D. Waller, made a gift of $100,000 to build an addition to the library. This addition was finished in 1955. The original building was 30 x 60 feet and the addition, 34 x 58. Miss Estrella Daniels is present librarian.
As mentioned elsewhere, Ravenna had volunteer fire fighting organiza- tions, supported mainly by private
enterprise, from and early day. After the town was incorporated in 1853, the organization became a public matter. In 1870 it got a new Silsby fire engine at a cost of $6,000. There have been a number of disastrous fires. One of the worst was in 1871, when the Merts & Riddle Carriage Works and a number of adjacent buildings were burned with a $40,- 000 loss. The Riddle Coach & Hearse Co. buildings burned in 1903 with a loss of $250,000. In 1911, the historic Empire Co. buildings burned. Loss, $75,000. Fair grounds buildings were destroyed in August, 1932, with great loss. Another important fire was that which destroyed the old Greer-King- Strough Tavern.
For a time after 1900, traveling companies sometimes exhibited a new invention called the moving picture, using hired halls for the purpose. In 1906, L. G. Bundy started a perman- ent picture show on North Prospect and about that time, John Porter also opened one. Bundy was followed by A. F. Lee and his brother Van. The present "movie" theater, The Raven- na, was erected in 1929.
Reed's Opera House, East Main St., provided a place for the early stage shows which came frequently. Etta Reed, daughter of G. P. Reed, came to be an accomplished actress in New York and married her co-star, Corse Payton. For years they did a big busi- ness. At one time she had her own theater in Brooklyn and is credited with having started the "Tea Hour" after matinees.
Ravenna's first golf course was laid out in 1926 by Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Strickland adjacent to the Maple Grove cemetery. They operated it un- til 1946 when it was taken over by W. W. Moore.
.
448
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Mark Davis "Auto Shop", Ravenna, 1907. Said to have been first sales and service station garage in county.
Today there only a few pieces of real estate in the county which are still owned by descendents of first settlers. One of these is owned by Ralph Hinman in North Ravenna, which was settled by his great grand- father, Lathrop Reed.
Eliza Frazer Evans was the only woman postmaster in Ravenna. This was at an early date.
Flouring Mills in Ravenna have been the Ravenna Mills and the At- lantic Mills. A mill was operated by Seymour Olin.
In the past two or three decades, Ravenna has established itself as a center of the manufacturing of rubber accessories and sundries, no less than five plants being in operation now. Of these, the Oak Rubber Co. has been in operation since 1916, being founded by John W. Shira and Paul Collette. It employs about 200 hands and is called the "world's largest man- ufacturer of rubber balloons." The
White Rubber Co. has also been in business for many years. Its main product is high voltage rubber gloves for electricians. Sterling Smith is president. The Pyramid Rubber Co. on S. Prospect St. and Freedom Road is another rubber plant of steady operation. It is said to be the world's biggest manufacturer of baby bottle nipples. Cyril Porthouse is president. The Paeco Co., headed by S. I. Kaplan and the Enduro Co., whose president is H. A. Lower, make small rubber household and industrial accessories. The Duracote Co. is located on North Diamond St.
A Ravenna Rubber Co. was started about 1916, also. The McGrath Co. operated from 1918 to 1920. Other early firms were the Ravenna Rubber Products Co., and the Rayon Rubber Products Co., both around 1920. The Supreme Rubber Products Co. ceased production in 1922. The Cascade Tire & Rubber Co. was organized in 1921
449
PORTAGE HERITAGE
and ran for a time. The Arnold Rub- ber Co. was another.
Civil War veterans organized David McIntosh Post No. 327, G.A.R. in 1883, named in honor of the old mi- litia general who left money for the county flag fund. Over the years the post was active in the observance of Memorial Day and in other patriotic activities. Its last surviving member was Gibson R. Braden who died in 1938, after which the post became in- active.
Ravenna's population had increased quite steadily over the years at about the same rate, one decade to another. Statistics for the past 100 years are: 1850, 2,239; 1860, 3,000 (est.); 1870, 3,423; 1880, 4,224; 1890, 4,000 (est.); 1900, 4,003; 1910, 5,310; 1920, 7,218; 1930; 8,019; 1940, 8,538; 1950, 9,857. Estimate 1956, 11,500.
One of the men who exerted much influence on Portage County affairs around 1900 and for fifteen years thereafter was Dan R. Hanna. He was in business in Cleveland, but main- tained a beautiful estate at Cottage Hill. This estate embraced several hundred acres in eastern Ravenna and western Charlestown townships. Han- na made it into a show place. He selected this location because it had once belonged to his uncle, Daniel P. Rhodes. Mr. Hanna was much inter- ested in having improved roads built, in the county fair and in improving methods of farming. He was instru- mental in forming the Portage Im- provement Association and gave liber- ally to further its objectives. He paid half the expense of building a road from Ravenna city to his Cottage Hill estate. After Hanna's departure in 1915 the place was taken over by John Pew, whose son was interested in cattle raising. Later it was bought
Ford Seed Co. headquarters - Land- mark on North Chestnut St., Ravenna.
by Congressman Chester Bolton and is now owned by Frank R. Fageol. It lies at the geographical center of the county. It is said that altogether Mr. Hanna spent over $100,000 for Port- age county roads, fairs, and other pub- lic purposes.
POPULATION CHANGES
In its first century of existence, Ra- venna's affairs were pretty well dom- inated by the New England, or "Yan- kee" element. They were most num- erous. Pennsylvanians and Virginians came in, followed by Germans. Build- ing of the canal and railroads brought the Irish and more Germans, with Poles and Hungarians later. For some reason, possibly because of the town's name, many Italians began to arrive in the latter part of the 19th century. In 1917, an Italian Directory for Ra- venna, put out by Anthony Searl, stated that 140 Italian families lived in Ravenna-about 1,000 people out of a population of about 7,000. To- day the population is pretty well in- tegrated.
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.