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 56
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
The Western Reserve Band of Windham was organized by James Snow in 1876. In competition with other bands, 1884 and 1885, they took one second and two first prizes; in 1889, they took first prize for playing music they had never seen before, at sight. They were in the parade at the dedication of Garfield's monument in Cleveland, and the opening of the old Arcade. They accompanied the Ohio National Guard to Chicago for the dedication of the World's Fair grounds in 1892. They accompanied the G.A.R., the Masons, and other lodges to various cities.
June, 1817, Deacon Isaac Clark brought $500 worth of goods which he placed on sale in his log house: tea $1.50 per pound; pins, 25 cents a paper.
Sally Higley (Mrs. Benjamin Hig-
496
PORTAGE HERITAGE
ley) manufactured the skins of deer into gloves and mittens, and became such an expert that for many years, she was called upon to make all the wedding gloves worn by bridegrooms of Windham and adjacent settlements.
Near 1830, there were two stores at Mahoning Corners: those of Zenus Bierce, and F. W. Savage. In 1834, John A. Skiff opened the first store at Windham Center on the present site of Clarkie's Restaurant. The same year, William C. Adams opened a store on the corner now occupied by the American Legion.
BUSINESS ACTIVITY
In the 1860's, with the coming of the railroad Windham was on a direct shipping route. E. B. Higley saw the advantages of this spot and built on the present location of the Post Office. Two years later, he added a cheese factory and a large curing house. Store and factory being operated by the same owner made a desirable trading place where farmers could exchange their dairy products for goods.
This store continued for many years. Later owners were Thomas Moses, Higley and Bosley, and Pound and Thomas. It burned twice and was re- built. In 1888, it was sold to Sheldon and Reed. 1896, it became Sheldon and Seymour. After Mr. Sheldon's death in 1910, Mr. Seymour bought his partner's interest and continued the business. Windham was one of the largest shipping posts for maple syrup in the United States.
In the '60's, Robert Higley offered land for a flour mill which was built south of the Erie tracks; operated several years by Sylvester Conant, then by J. S. Poultney.
It was later bought by Sheldon & Seymour and used for storage. 1915, Mr. Seymour equipped it for a feed
mill and operated it along with his other business.
1926, Mr. Seymour sold his mill in- terest to William Ziff, two years later Mr. Ziff sold to Walter Cook who afterward sold to Henry Paul and Sons. They bought the coal business of F. B. Colton and ran both until the coming of the Arsenal.
The store was sold to George Shriv- er, who a year later sold to Clarence Chaffee. 1934, he sold to Hugh Parker, a Freedom merchant. Mr. Parker made many improvements and he became Post Master. The whole building was converted into a post office.
OTHER STORES
The building on the southeast corner of Main and Center Streets was built by Henry Canfield for a cabinet shop. He afterward sold it to William Noble who fitted it for a dwelling and store. Then Ichabod Andrews bought the place and rearranged it for a hotel. Reeve Hughes, B. F. Lovett, V. J. Baab, Frank Roberts, L. C. Wil- liams, Hudson Randall, each ran the hotel for a number of years. Mr. Ran- dall later used it for a dwelling house.
It was sold to Cal Pinney in 1922, and he opened a meat market; soon sold to E. P. Streader, who operated a grocery and meat market. 1926, came J. S. Burkhart; 1928, William Cook; then J. J. Lewis. After Mr. Lewis' death, it was sold to the Robert Gar- retts who are operating a busy, suc- cessful grocery.
Diagonally across on Center Street is Carl Jorgensen's super-market.
E. A. Lehman came to Windham in 1877 as a harness maker. Within a year, he built the shop on the north side of Center Street where he con- tinued his business for about sixty years. This building later became Miller's Shoe Shop.
497
PORTAGE HERITAGE
The first restaurant was opened by Harry Lloyd who continued in that business for several years.
William Adams, on the northwest corner of Main and Center Streets, sold to J. A. Morgan about 1844. We read that Mr. Morgan and his brother, E. P. Morgan, erected the present building on this site in the late 1840's or early 1850's. Scott Bros. operated the store here at one time. 1872, John Harrison came, and sometimes by him- self, sometimes with a partner, ran a general store until 1890, when he was followed by Lenhart & Stein who stayed until 1897. The place has since housed various businesses and lodges.
SILICA IS VALUABLE
The building on the northeast corner burned in 1866. 1875, Henry Noble built on this site and establish- ed a hardware and grocery store. He sold to H. A. Wadsworth in 1886.
In 1898, E. W. Mallett purchased a part of Wadsworth's stock and open- ed a store doing a prosperous business in hardware, stoves, furnaces, plumb- ing, roofing, etc. He later erected the building where Lawrence Lewis now has his Woodwork & Supply Shop, and moved his business there.
Davidson J. Waite was an expert in the handling of meat. His sons, Pearl and Jay, opened the first meat market in town in 1883.
In those days, Theron Wales ran a wagon shop on Center Street.
Hunt Bros. came near the same time and had a saw mill south of the Erie Railroad. Chauncey Hunt con- tinued there until 1915.
In 1915, H. J. Alford built the first Windham greenhouse at the old Al- ford homestead. F. H. Rose, who is now located there, has made many im- provements.
Some years ago, it was learned that
the rock deposit in the northeast corn- er of Windham and the southeast corner of Nelson is the hardest of its kind known in the United States. This has led to the commercializing of the product.
The present company, the Industrial Silica Corporation, owns over a thou- sand acres of this land, has two quar- ries, employs about 65 men, uses modern equipment, diesel engines and cranes.
The sand has many uses and is ship- ped to many cities. Some is used to make a floor material called Silicrete for which the company holds a patent.
The village was incorporated in 1893 with 300 inhabitants. The town hall, built in 1868 has been enlarged and modernized.
Cement walks replaced earlier board walks or gravel in 1907; electric street lights, inspired by F. A. Eberwine, re- placed older lights in 1910; the first fire truck bought in 1923; the old school house built in 1883; a new brick school house in 1927.
ARSENAL WANTS LAND
In August, 1940, men came to all those owning land south of the Erie Railroad asking options, finally say- ing the government wanted the land but they knew not why. This took about two-fifths of the township and contained some of the best farms.
Then options were taken up and people given thirty days to vacate. What a tumult in their hearts! They wondered where they would go, how they would pay and how they would harvest late crops!
Loads of household goods; loads of hay, grain, or machinery followed by cattle, horses, or mules; cars of de- jected looking people made moving out a heart-breaking sight that brought tears.
498
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Then it became known the land was for an arsenal. People rushing in caused many to say Windham re- sembled a western boom town. Every one possible took roomers and board- ers, trailers appeared in door yards and vacant lots.
Often automobiles and trucks were lined bumper to bumper from the Methodist Church to the Erie Rail- road. Traffic became such a problem that a new stop and go traffic light was installed at the center of the town.
The contract for building the ar- senal was given to the Hunkin-Conkey Construction Company. The Govern- ment declared the land to be under strict security regulations. A high fence was built around it; gates and guards installed. The state highway running through it was closed.
Rumors of taking more land, or perhaps the whole township kept people in a state of unrest until the spring of 1942 when options were taken for the housing project. Some families were obliged to move away; others surrendered all but the land on which their buildings stood.
Then there really was an upheaval: the cutting and uprooting of beautiful trees, digging ditches for waterworks and drainage, and making of roads.
HELP NEWCOMERS
The Government again gave the contract to the Hunkin-Conkey Con- struction Company and ordered 2000 family units to be built. The project is a short distance east of the center and was built each side of route 303. It bears the name Maple Grove Park.
After the housing was decided, each church appointed a committee to help the new comers to become a real part of Windham. These committees with representatives of the Travelers' Aid
and other county organizations plan- ned the Social Federation which tried to include representatives of township trustees, village council, school board, and all societies, lodges, and clubs of the town. They planned and called and entertained. Later the work was given to the churches.
The first renters were construction and munitions workers. When many of them moved away, G. I. students attending Hiram or Kent State came. Later nearby industries learned to refer newly hired workers to Wind- ham for housing.
Very few of the project buildings south of route 303 were ever rented. They were taken down and moved to Detroit or other parts of the country.
The village council was much in- terested in buying this vacant land of the government and getting an in- dustry located there. Three men, James Purdy, George Jewett, and Eu- gene Goodin-a little more daring than the others-volunteered to try to raise the necessary money. They were approved by the council, all of whom were in favor of the plan.
This committee was successful and in 1950, Harbison-Walker were plan- ning to locate here. The company built a large plant and began manu- facturing in March, 1952. They make refractories (fire brick) used mostly in coke ovens and open hearth furn- aces and also by some glass industries. They have their own quarry at Nel- son Ledges.
The plant is run on the push but- ton system: everything done mechan- ically. They employ about 200 men.
NEW CHURCH COMES
A portion of the vacant land was sold for a shopping center but that has not materialized. The new Catho-
499
PORTAGE HERITAGE
lic Church, St. Michaels, is built on the part of the land which was donat- ed to them.
In the spring of 1954, the govern- ment announced its desire to sell the Maple Grove Housing project to the highest bidder. It was bought June 1, 1954 by Philip and Nathan Seltzer of Philadelphia who own several other similar properties. They paid $1,355,- 000 and plan to spend $2,000,000 on improvements.
More than half the 180 buildings that comprise the 1006 family units have been shingled; concrete front steps with wrought iron rails will be added. Contracts for the installation of natural gas service lines and equip- ment have been let. Future plans in- clude greater shopping, playground and recreation facilities.
In addition to dwellings in Maple Grove project, the government erect- ed buildings for administration, fire department, an auditorium, and stores. It also erected a school building of 23 class rooms, an auditorium, a cafeteria, supply rooms, and office rooms.
The brick high school building erected in 1927 was recently enlarged by the addition of many rooms with modern equipment. Windham now has one of the finest schools in the county. Much credit is due R. Brown Jenkins, superintendent here for sev- eral years, who went to Washington to interest the government in the town's greatly increasing number of scholars.
Tragedy struck Windham the night of Nov. 1, 1951 when the Methodist Church, built in 1884, burned to the ground. The whole township mourn- ed.
The Methodist people with their pastor, the Rev. Warren Tropf, and lay leader, Harry Croghan, though
deeply grieved, began planning a new building. Sunday services were held in the auditorium of the grade school.
Today, 1955, their beautiful new church stands in the old place on the green near its sister church, The First Congregational. The Methodist con- gregation observed a week of conse- cration for their new building May 1 to 8 with special meetings by the various groups. The final dedication took place Sunday, May 8, 1955.
GROWTH IS RAPID
There were before and there are today garages, filling stations, and many interested in trucking. New homes are being built and new stores are opening. It has been reported that between 1940 and 1950, Windham made the greatest gain in population of any town in the United States, namely one thousand per cent.
Late in 1956 proceedings were un- der way for the establishment of a National bank for Windham.
It opened in 1957.
In recent years the town again has a weekly newspaper-The News.
Only a few of the descendents of the first sixteen settlers still live in Windham. Of these Chaffee Birchard, Chloe Ann Taft Small; Francis Taft and children, Robert and Marjorie, are descendents of Nathan Birchard.
Descendents of Isaac Clark are Ray Clark, Francis Clark and children; Ruth Ann Clark White and baby, Marcie Ann; Martha; Edward Wil- liam.
From Ebenezer Messenger are New- man Chaffee and his daughter Joan Chaffee Clark and her daughter, Anna Marie.
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
Descendents of Alpheus Streator are Joe Pinney, his daughter Ruth
500
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Ann Pinney McManus and children, Patricia, Michael, Timothy and Den- nis Reid; daughter Helen; son James.
Descendents of Benjamin Higley include Josephine Higley Mallet, Car- rie Walden, Ray Clark, Francis Clark and children; Maxine Isler Lutz and children; Rosalie Isler Griswold and children and Mrs. Mae Goodrich Curt- iss, also a descendent of Thatcher Conant. She lives in a house built by the Higleys.
Township officers are :- Trustees, Olin B. Bright, Caryl Griswold and Elmer Ball. Clerk, Newman Chaffee. Constable, Mitchell McGuire.
The Windham Fire department was organized in its present form in 1923. Funds were raised mainly by public subscription. Lee Chaffee was the first chief.
The settlement of Windham town- ship has been celebrated three times. The semi-centennial in 1861 was not- ed with a gathering on the Jagger farm, now inside the arsenal grounds. The centennial (1911) was observed quite extensively with a full week of jollification. Parades, music, speeches, displays and the like were on the pro- gram. The 125th anniversary was ob- served in 1936 with another gathering and similar program.
The Congregational church has ob- served like anniversaries, as well as the one hundred and fortieth.
Printed matter about Windham and its people is found in booklets issued in connection with the various cele- brations; the Welcome to Windham booklet; a history of the early settlers by Cathaline Alford Archer and a pioneer church history of the Con- gregationalists. The high school has also issued booklets of historical nature.
The township has furnished many
soldiers. In later years: three to the Spanish American War; about 35 in various camps, training units and in active service during War I. 102 were named on the Soldiers' Roll of the township for World War II.
E. S. Woodworth was at one time representative to the State Legislature.
Rev. Stowell Bryant, a descendent of the pioneers, was pastor of The First Congregational Church for nine- teen years. He had preached in Bos- ton, Baltimore, Mckinley's church in Washington, D.C., and Chicago. His health failed and he came home to his father's farm, grew stronger, preached as supply, then as regular pastor. He loved the whole community and treat- ed his congregation as his own big family. He was friend to all, helping with the most common tasks or going with township officials to Columbus to help put through needed legisla- tion.
Grist mill operated by Kent family in Kent, known as Lower Mill.
501
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Kent State University
Kent State University, now one of the state's important educational institutions, spans a lifetime existence of less than 50 years. It came into being as the result of unusual con- ditions at the beginning of the century. Ohio was lagging in providing means for teacher training, or at least many thought so. When pressure was put on the state legislature, this body in May, 1910, passed an act establishing two teacher training schools-one in north- east and one in northwest Ohio. This was the real start of Kent State. Few, if any, other institutions have had so much permanent impact on the county.
Kent was selected as the site for one of the new "normals" by a committee designated by the governor. Kent was announced as the location Dec. 20, 1910, and the legislature ap- propriated $50,000 for the first building-Merrill Hall. W. S. Kent donated 53 acres of land for the school campus.
The first Board of Trustees was composed of E. F. Moulton, Warren; James P. Seward, Mansfield; J. A. McDowell, Mansfield; F. A. Merrill, Kent; and P. W. Doyle, Hudson. Moulton was president; Seward, secretary; and Merrill, treasurer.
More land was bought and further appropriations made by the legislature. Merrill Hall was completed in 1912.
After considering many candidates the trustees elected Dr. John E. McGilvrey of Macomb, Ill., as first president. He took charge that year. First school operations were in the form of extension work in 25 centers in Northeast Ohio but when buildings were completed, work centered there. Enrollment the first year was 291. In succession came the administration building, Moulton Hall and a heating plant. More students came and the faculty was enlarged. In World War I some S.A.T.C. courses were set up. The early years were marked by considerable dis- sension in the faculty. Dr. McGilvrey was involved and in 1925 he resigned and Dr. T. H. Winters took charge temporarily. The next head was Dr. David Anderson, a Penn State professor, but he remained only two years, be- ing succeeded in 1928 by Dr. J. O. Engleman, an exper- ienced public school administrator from Illinois.
Dr. John McGilvrey, first president.
The institution grew rapidly. The Wills Gymnasium and Rockwell Library buildings went up, as did a training school building. The faculty was also expanded.
Public sentiment for college status was heard early in the '20s, but not until 1929 was the state legislature sufficiently interested to authorize the change. Then Kent was made a
502
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Dr. J. O. Engleman
liberal arts college. The change brought more year-round students, particularly men. Dr. Oscar Williams became dean of the Liberal Arts College and Dr. John Blair dean of the College of Education. E. C. Stopher was made Registrar.
Enrollment increased from 600 in 1927 to 1,065 in 1931 and in 1935 the legislature was persuaded to author- ize operation of the school as a university. In 1938 Presi- dent Engleman retired, being succeeded by Dr. Karl Lee- brick of Syracuse University. In 1943 Dr. Leebrick resigned to enter the army. Dr. Raymond Clark served as acting president for a time and the trustees selected Dr. George A. Bowman who had been superintendent of the Youngs- town schools.
World War II took away most young men students from the campus but in 1942 arrangements were made with the army for pre-flight training for the air force. Several hundred young men were quartered here. The students composed the 336th College Training Detach- ment. For two years the institution had a distinctly mili- tary flavor. After the war several hundred students were enrolled in R.O.T.C. training courses.
The so-called G.I. Education Bill of 1945 had a sur- prising effect on Kent State. Many G.I.s flocked to the hill. Enrollment soon topped 5,000. Further expansion became necessary. Stopher Hall, Engleman Hall and the immense Physical Education building went up, soon followed by the Student Union building and new dormitories for both men and women. The Student Health building with its well-equipped dispensary came in 1950.
Dr. Geo. A. Bowman, president in 1957.
In 1950 national fraternities and sororities began to take over local groups and the University is now well represented among the best. New customs and new institutions ap- peared on the campus.
To help meet the national post-war demand for education, a branch of the University was set up at Canton in 1950, later discontinued and now being revived.
The building program continues. As this is written the giant new Training School and Terrace Hall dormitories are in use. The expansion program necessitated the purchase of many acres of land adjoining the old holdings to the east and south of the original campus. The Library has undergone extensive re-building. A new Speech and Music building is now being planned.
PORTAGE HERITAGE
503
-Youngstown Vindicator picture.
View of Kent State University from the air.
The board of trustees today is composed of J. R. Williams, Otto Korb, Robert Dix, Robert Stopher and C. H. Lake.
President Bowman, who came in the difficult war years with a later swiftly increasing enrollment, brought orderly direction and a more normal procedure. Today finds him guiding a well-balanced and efficient machine for education.
At this time Kent State University is an institution with buildings and equipment valued at over $22,000,000. On the campus of over 300 acres stand 19 buildings of various sizes and uses. The university also owns an airport of 250 more acres, with buildings. In ad- dition to the more than 300 members of the teaching force, approximately 400 more persons are employed for administrative, secretarial and custodial work.
Today Kent State has an enrollment of nearly 8,000. Its rise from the woods and corn- fields of Portage County of a few decades ago to become one of the important universities of the country is one of the marvels of the time.
504
PORTAGE HERITAGE
Hiram College
The College which stands on the hill at Hiram has given valuable service in the field of education to the people of this and adjoining areas for more than 100 years. In some ways unique, it has, for one of the smaller colleges, been out- standing and has attracted wide attention nationally. It brought education here at a time when there was very little to be had beyond district school.
Disciple churches had been strong in northern Ohio and members generally felt that a higher education of some kind was needed. Meetings were held and a decision made to found the school. In 1849 Hiram was selected as the site because of its central and healthful location, its beauty and quiet atmosphere. The people themselves raised the money, what there was of it. They thought $5,000 or $6,000 was enough to found a college. In 1850 a state charter was obtained, a building went up in 1851 and Western Reserve Eclectic Institute was on its way. There was an eight-acre campus.
Dr. Paul H. Fall
Its first curriculum was on a par with those of high schools and academies of today. The first principal was A. Sutton Hayden, a minister who had no particular education of his own. Hiram people gave a great deal of help, both physically and financially.
The Institute was popular from the start. More students arrived than the single building could accommodate, or than could be housed in the village. It was long before the con- fusion ended, but Hayden finally got things organized. What seems odd today was that the school had a "Primary Department" and in its first six years many little folks learned their A.B.C.s there.
Among the first students was James A. Garfield. There was dissatisfaction with Hayden and he was succeeded by Garfield, who had gone on to Williams College. Garfield left an indelible mark on the college. When he went to war he was succeeded by H. W. Everest. who was followed by J. M. Atwater, C. W. Heywood, and A. J. Thompson.
The Institute became a college in 1867 with Silas W. Shepard as president. It still re- tained its preparatory training work. This continued until 1911.
Shephard was president but one year. J. M. Atwater took charge again, but in 1871 there arrived one of Hiram's ablest presidents-B. A. Hinsdale. He remained ten years, leaving to head Cleveland city schools. In 1882 Bailey S. Dean was acting president, then G. H. Laughlin came, followed by Prof. Bancroft as acting head.
505
PORTAGE HERITAGE
There were always drives to raise money but somehow they got it. In 1888 the trustees called in as president Eli V. Zollars who had a reputation as a "money raiser." He was energetic and forceful and got funds. It was strictly a church school and the churches sup- plied the money. Regular endowment came slowly.
A ladies dormitory was added but not until 1889 did another hall arrive, with a new Y.M.C.A. building in 1896, partly used for class work. This building burned in 1934 but was immediately re-built. Meantime Colton Laboratory, Stephens Observatory, Gray Hall, the Library and other buildings had been constructed.
Following President Zollars came James A. Beattie, Professor Wakefield (acting) and C. C. Rowlinson. The year 1907 saw the arrival as president of Dr. Miner Lee Bates, an alum- num, who remained 22 years. He was popular and energetic, re-organized the faculty and was also a "money raiser", increasing the endowment.
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.