USA > Ohio > Summit County > Twinsburg > Twinsburg, Ohio, 1817-1917, Part I History, Part II Genealogies > Part 14
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THE LADIES OF THE MACCABEES
A flourishing hive was organized here in 1899 by Deputy Melva Caswell. The original membership of thirteen was soon increased to fifty-three, including a team of twenty-four well drilled guards. The Great Commander once pronounced this the best country hive in Ohio. A change in assessments caused the loss of some members, and the present number of members is the same as at the organi- zation of the hive. Death has claimed three members whose death claims were promptly paid upon presentation. Among those who have contributed largely to the activities of the hive have been the late Mrs. Charles Wilson and Mrs. A. J. Brown.
A GROUP OF INCIDENTS
THE WILCOX TWINS
It was inevitable that much of romance should connect itself with the unusual in the lives of the Wilcox twins. It is probable that much of the impossible told concerning them had some foundation in fact and there is abundant evidence that their twinship possessed some uncommon features. Mrs. Augustus Ellsworth, daughter of Aaron Wilcox, is authority for the statement that the twins were like one soul in two bodies, that what one knew the other also knew, that their agreement in opinions concerning all things reached even to politics and religion. Once when Aaron had been to Connecticut on a long visit he returned unexpectedly at night. He lived in a log house back of where Charles Wagner now lives. Moses lived in a log house opposite where Mr. Pottinger lives. A daughter of Moses went to her uncle's house and found that he had returned. She hastened home and told her father. "Yes," he said, "I know it; he came at ten o'clock last night." And so it proved, though his only means of communication was telepathy.
One can easily imagine many situations in which their remarkable likeness in appearance might have led to peculiar situations, but it seems certain that the similarity must have been in more than personal appearance, judging from this incident. At one time one of the twins could not make his usual weekly call upon the young lady he was then courting. He asked his brother to go in his place. The brother con- sented to do so and spent the evening very agreeably while the girl was in total ignorance as to the fact that he was not the twin who usually came.
In naming the town they perpetuated the fact of this feeling of inseparability and in the public square the people of Twinsburg have, not only a beautiful park, but a mem- orial of a singular psychic condition.
SHOOTING STARS
In 1833 there was a very unusual meteoric display, such as had occurred about three times in the preceding century. The people on the Solon road were more religious than scientific. At least they believed in preparedness and,
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A GROUP OF INCIDENTS
thinking the end of the world had surely come, they gathered at Aaron Post's, where Charles Schmalzle now lives, and held a prayer meeting. Orrin Tucker lived next door, where Mrs. Bonner now does. They strongly urged him to join them and spend the remaining time in prayer. But he was either better read or more observant than they and refused. After further urging he finally said, "Boys, when I see Venus start I'll come." He had evidently noticed that the fixed stars and planets were all in their proper places.
THE DROUGHT OF 1845
Once a century is sufficiently frequent for such a con- dition as existed in 1845, "the year of the great dry spell." For many weeks no rain fell; streams became dry; crops were ruined; pastures left bare as the road. At first, the farmers thought such a condition could not long continue. They daily drove their cattle long distances for water or hauled water to them. Later many herds were driven to the southern part of the state where they remained until relief came. As the condition began to become serious only the least valuable of the herds were disposed of, but later animals valued at $80.00 or thereabouts were sold for $5.00. Had it not been for the many good springs with which Twinsburg is abundantly favored much more suffering would have resulted.
THE FLOOD OF 1913
So recent was this occurrence that it seems little an event of a past century. The fact that the township has a considerable elevation makes the matter less worthy of mention from the point of damage suffered. On Easter Sunday, March, 1913, a gentle rain began to fall. This rain continued, increasingly heavy, for three days. Of course, like all other streams, Tinker creek overflowed her banks. The W. & L. E. railroad, like nearly all other railroads in Ohio, suspended operations for a time. Much inconvenience was experienced, and some damage done along the creek; culverts were washed out, cellars flooded, fences carried away. But when Twinsburg's condition was compared with that of many other towns in Ohio her people felt they might well be thankful for an uncommonly fortunate place of habitation.
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THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
In general, the Western Reserve inclined very strongly toward the abolition of slavery in those stormy years pre- ceding the Civil War. Hudson was the boyhood home of John Brown and, at a later time, he gathered and stored some of the "sinews of war" within the confines of Summit Co. But the fact that Twinsburg's public school building was torn down by the Loco-focos because it was being used for anti-slavery meetings shows plainly that the friends of abolition did not have all things to their own liking. For many years previous to the war politics seethed with accusa- tions and recriminations. That the escaping slaves had many friends here was well known, and that a branch of the underground railroad was operated through Twinsburg was an open secret. Probably slaves were sometimes secreted in Twinsburg but commonly Twinsburg's activity was ex- pressed by the zeal of some of her citizens in conveying the refugees from Hudson, or elsewhere, to points north of town. Some of the citizens were subjected to suspicion because of their well-known attitude favoring putting right above an unjust law, and in later years there were mild rumors to the effect that some men, never suspected of complicity in the business, were really very efficient servants of down-trodden humanity. It is a sad time in a nation's history when men feel they cannot rightly obey the country's laws; but when war raised its ugly head Twinsburg showed her love of country was sincere and earnest.
THE GREAT SLEIGH RIDE OF 1856
The unusually good and long continued sleighing in the winter of 1855-56 led to many local sleighing parties. Con- siderable neighborly rivalry was stimulated and this led to a series of contests among neighboring townships. A rude flag, ridiculously embellished, soon became a prized posses- sion. Solon, the first town to gain the flag, was deprived of it by Twinsburg, the first town in Summit Co. to win it. This victory required sixteen four-horse teams of Twinsburg. The flag was successively won by Bedford, Brecksville, Royalton, Boston, Independence, Hudson and finally Rich- field with seventy-three four-horse teams. The excitement had become so intense and widespread that it was deter-
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mined to make a final, tri-county contest. This was held March 15, 1856, Summit county winning with one hundred and sixty-two four and six-horse teams. A few days later Medina county sent one hundred and eighty-two similar teams to Akron. They took the flag with them back to Medina county, but through a veritable sea of mud. A string of bells used during this contest may, during the sleighing season, still be heard merrily jingling along the Macedonia road.
CEMETERIES
A matter usually ignored until necessity compels attention is that of a proper place of burial. For several years after the settlement of Twinsburg burials were made on the farms. But such an arrangement was far from satisfactory, and did not appeal to a people of New England birth and training. Accordingly the township bought an acre of land northeast of the square for a public burying ground. The first burial made there was that of Lucretia Hull who died September 9, 1823. This burying ground sufficed until in the middle forties. In the winter of 1845-6 there was some agitation regarding a new cemetery but no action was taken by the town.
Mr. Ethan Alling was convinced that a different arrangement was timely, and accordingly purchased of Park B. Clark and others one and a half acres of land a short distance southwest of the public square. After grading, fencing, and allotting, he planted locust trees. June 1, 1846, he offered at public sale the lots of Locust Grove cemetery for from three to six dollars per lot. But few lots were ever bought until necessity arose for their use.
At first Mr. Alling proposed to give lots to those who were unable to purchase a place for burying their dead, but becoming convinced the privilege was abused he substituted the plan of selling a single grave, letting the town bear the expense. In 1855 he proposed selling one quarter of the ground to the town for such a purpose but the voters rejected the plan.
In 1860 a new fence became an imperative necessity, and it was thought stone would be both cheaper and more durable than iron. The owners of lots in the cemetery were asked to state what they would contribute toward the expense that would be incurred in building a fence according to the following specifications: "Fence to contain four courses of stone, and to be 5 ft. 6 in. high, including under- pinning, to-wit: Ist, or foundation stone, 2 ft. square; 2d course 18 in. bed and 16 in. thick; 3d course 15 in. bed and 14 in. thick; 4th course 12 in. bed and 12 in. thick. Should enough be subscribed the work will be done the coming
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LOCUST GROVE CEMETERY
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CEMETERY LANE
THE HOTEL
THE SECOND ACADEMY BUILDING
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CEMETERIES
season. Surplus funds, if any, accounted for. No fence, no pay. Signed, Ethan Alling."
Subscriptions amounting to $1140 were secured and the work was commenced the last day of March. The entire work was completed by November 17, 1860, at "a cost of $1,079.66." A strip of land 3 ft. wide was bought upon which to build the fence, bringing the cost of the improve- ments, including road and repairs, to $1850.
The first burial, July 5, 1846, in Locust Grove Cemetery was that of James Henri, the oldest man in town at the time of his death, he being 83 years of age. By December 31, 1860, there had been 221 interments. There were 318 deaths in Twinsburg from July, 1841, till December 31, 1860, of whom 108 were under 5 years, 9 over 80 years, and one over 90 years. Of the 221 who were buried in Locust Grove Cemetery by 1860 we know the causes of deaths of about one-half. Of these 34 died of consumption, 26 of old age, 5 of dropsy, 4 of typhus fever, 3 of heart disease, 2 of cancer, and one of smallpox.
In 1870 Mr. Lewis Alling deeded the driveway to the township, and in 1889 the town acquired possession of the cemetery, Mr. S. H. Lane, Mr. C. B. Lane, and William Rudd being the township trustees. By 1903 the cemetery had become so crowded that the town, M. Roniger, C. E. Riley, and W. C. Prentiss being trustees, bought a strip of land to the south containing one acre. Soon after the town came into possession of the roadway, land to the east of it was purchased and in 1872 the vault built thereon.
More recently the driveway was made wider and other- wise improved. The beautiful hard-head work at the en- trance was done in 1907, the late Gardner Parmelee having the contract for the work.
Twinsburg takes pride in a well-kept resting place for those who are done with life's toil. Many are brought here from other places for burial. To them, in death as well as in years long gone, Twinsburg is home.
DEVELOPMENTS OF RECENT YEARS W. S. LISTER
It was the writer's privilege to come into the life and affairs of Twinsburg in the spring of 1908. There was little to suggest the former activity and glory of the town. The "Founders" had all gone, and their prowess and many other sterling qualities were but memories to the remaining few who remembered them. The Bissell Institute and the towering figure of its proprietor were no more, and the thrill which the presence of the students of this school gave to the town was no longer felt.
According to accounts of the town's activities in its earlier history, there was much that reminds one of rural life as it was made to appear by poets and fiction writers of a generation or two gone by. If the halo and charm attaching to country life, as depicted in story books, ever had any justification in fact, this justification was furnished in the life actually lived in Twinsburg between the years 1830 and 1870. But from about 1870 on the currents of life moved too swiftly for communities like Twinsburg, that were near large cities. They couldn't even stand still without becoming a sort of backwater. Stagnation became inevitable.
It was characteristic of such communities, after having passed through the period between 1870 and 1900, that the population was predominantly composed of the aged and the middle aged. Few young men were to be found. When they reached early manhood or even advanced boyhood, they sought the larger spheres of life in which to work out their destinies. This flight by the young men caused a like move- ment among the girls or left them behind to face spinster- hood.
Twinsburg, in 1908, showed marked effects of this hegira of young men and young women.
The town, however, was quite ready to make emergence from its quiescence of several decades, as is attested by the rapidity with which it moved to effect its transformation. It is difficult to go back in memory, even so short a time, and reconstruct conditions as they existed in 1908, and it is not essential; but as the writer has been requested to tell the story of Twinsburg's later development, it may be proper
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to set out here, and with approximate order, some of the principal things that have come to pass in that time:
I. An unified telephone service, with local capital and local exchanges.
2. A library providing free books and magazines, and a reading room.
3. A centralized school, in place of the old sub-district plan.
4. A water system, serving almost every householder, in and about the center, so organized as to be a community utility.
5. A bank, with purely local capital, directed by responsible citizens, and devoted to the interests of the community.
6. Pavement completed from Akron to Cleveland, inauguration of bus service, reproducing the stage- coach lines of the early days.
7. Electric light and power service, making possible street and house lighting, and bringing to everyone within the limit of the service lines the possibility of affecting many labor-saving conveniences at slight cost.
To attempt a full statement of the facts surrounding the accomplishment of each of the above enumerated improve- ments, would require the space of this entire volume. The principal facts are within the knowledge of many, though there are some misconceptions in the minds of the people of the community generally with regard to some of them. For the benefit of future generations, and in order that there may be available to every one an exact statement of facts, which can be verified by documentary and living witnesses, the following brief summary is deemed to be justified :
THE HUDSON TELEPHONE COMPANY
Mr. James W. Ellsworth, under date of October 20, 1907, made a proposition to the village of Hudson, whereby, under certain conditions, he offered to provide said village with sewer and water systems, and with an electric lighting plant, the principal condition attaching to said offer being the removal from the streets of said village of all overhead wires. This offer was duly accepted by ordinance of the
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council of said village passed on the tenth day of December, 1907, and negotiations were opened with the Central Union Telephone Company, operating the Bell lines, and the Akron People's Telephone Company, operating the in- dependent lines, with a view to having their wires placed in underground conduits. The village representatives and the said Telephone Companies were unable to agree. A boycott of the Telephone Companies was attempted, but accom- plished nothing that was helpful. It was the cause, however, of the service being greatly neglected.
In the summer of 1909 the writer approached Mr. W. C. Wood, the present manager of the above company, a practi- cal telephone man, and, together with him, worked out a plan for meeting the situation. This plan involved the formation of The Hudson Telephone Company, the purchase by it of the Bell and independent properties, and compliance with the requirements of Mr. Ellsworth's proposition. It further involved the raising of $25,000.00 of capital, through the co-operation of some of Hudson's public spirited citizens. It required more than a year's time in which to consummate the transaction, owing largely to the fact that Mr. Ellsworth was in Europe and some of the proposals had to be sent to him for approval.
Not since the installation of the telephone in Twinsburg in 1882 has the town been without telephone service, but, in many particulars, the results were only indifferently satis- factory. Some of the difficulties encountered are indicated by the fact that immediately previous to consolidation there were sixty instruments operated under the Bell system and seventeen under that of the Akron People's.
The result of this accomplishment gives Twinsburg, as well as Hudson, a telephone service that is equal to the best, having available to each of her one hundred and twenty-six subscribers, through one instrument, connection with every telephone user in the country. It also gave Twinsburg a local switchboard, which brings it into closer touch in case of trouble, and tends to facilitate the service.
THE SAMUEL BISSELL MEMORIAL LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
The above institution was brought into existence follow- ing a number of meetings, held in the fall of 1909 and the
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winter of 1910, to consider the needs of the community. A committee was appointed to make a survey and report. This committee comprised the following: Rev. Alfred Walls, Rev. W. R. Blackmer, A. W. Elliott, L. G. Bean and W. S. Lister. The report of this committee, recommending "that a library association be formed, and that arrangements be perfected for housing a library in connection with one or other of the places at present open to the public," was approved.
The association was formed at a meeting held at the Congregational Church in the spring of 1910, and the follow- ing officers were chosen: President, W. S. Lister, Vice-Presi- dent, E. A. Parmelee, Secretary, A. W. Elliott, Treasurer, L. G. Bean, Librarian, Rev. W. R. Blackmer.
More than one hundred people joined in making up a fund in excess of $600.00, which fund was used in equipping and furnishing a room in the building of Mrs. Amanda Tucker, and on May 7, 1910, the Library was formally opened. Miss Mary E. Downey, then state library organ- izer, was present at the opening, and spoke.
For a short time a charge was made for the issuance of books but, by arrangement with the township trustees and the board of education, this was dispensed with, and levy is now made by the trustees for maintenance, and the board of education makes contributions for the purchase and repair of books.
The library is in great need, however, of assistance, outside of the help it receives from the taxing authorities, and it is to be hoped that some of the citizens will find it in their hearts to make provision for it by will or otherwise.
There are 2475 volumes on the shelves of the library, of which 900 are fiction. There are seventeen magazines con- stantly available on the tables. The library room is open from eight a. m. to eight p. m., and is well patronized and fully appreciated.
The present officers are as follows: President, W. S. Lister; Vice-President, Ray Bissell; Secretary, Miss Edna Chambers; Treasurer, A. R. Mountjoy; Librarian, Miss Lena M. Carter.
Annually, on the 22nd day of February, the Association meets to hear reports of officers, and to elect new officers.
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To these meetings all the families resident in the township are invited, and the adult members thereof present at such meetings are entitled to vote. A dinner is served by the ladies of one or other of the churches. Good music is pro- vided, and usually a speaker from outside the township. The attendance at these meetings has seldom been fewer than one hundred.
THE CENTRALIZED SCHOOL
This change was brought about in the year 1910, through the fact that the small sub-district school buildings were generally in poor condition, and changes were required to be made in the center building owing to the action of the State in condemning the same, because of improper or in- sufficient means for heating and ventilation.
The Board of Education at that time had the following membership:
P. P. Evans, Dr. R. B. Chamberlin, O. H. Bennett, Frank K. Doubrava and Mrs. W. S. Lister. The Board recommended centralization on the ground that it would render unnecessary further expenditures on the small out- lying buildings, would justify a greater outlay for the center building, and was in line with progressive ideas obtaining generally.
Following a mass meeting held in the town hall at which both sides were presented, and much feeling mani- fested, the question was submitted to the voters on June 4, 1910. The result showed about two-thirds of the electors voting favoring centralization and about one-third thereof opposing it.
Accordingly, the center building was reconstructed to care for all the children of the township, except those from the Dell District, which, by consent of all parties was left out of the centralization scheme, and in September of 1910 the school opened under the new arrangement.
In consequence of centralization it soon became ap- parent that the school grounds were entirely inadequate. An opportunity offered for acquiring a little over five acres of land between the school building and Tinker's Creek, but the Board of Education was not in funds to take advantage of it. Upon learning of this situation, Mr. C. E. Riley, Mr.
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C. B. Lane and Mr. O. H. Bennett offered to purchase the said land and hold it for a reasonable time for the benefit of the schools, and with the right in the Board of Education to acquire the property at any time for the sum of $800.00 (the purchase price), with the understanding that interest on this sum and the taxes would be paid, for the use of the land. In accordance with this arrangement the property has ever since been held in the name of C. E. Riley, trustee, for the above purpose. It is to be hoped that the time will soon come when these public spirited men may be relieved of this burden.
THE WILCOXTON WATER COMPANY
Twinsburg people for many years boasted of its ledges, and of the springs issuing therefrom, but few communities were so poorly supplied with water conveniences until the completion of the present system in the fall of 1912. This lack caused the writer, soon after his settlement in Twins- burg, to canvas the springs of the neighborhood for a source of supply that might be available for use and justify develop- ment. This canvas established the conviction that the spring now used is the best single source of supply, as the flow is fairly constant throughout the year, the water is reasonably soft and the elevation above the center about 80 feet.
The chief difficulty was, of course, financial. After consideration of various possible methods of procedure, the writer decided to lay before Mrs. Celestia E. Wilcox, the owner of the above spring, the entire matter of furnishing the town with a water system. Mrs. Wilcox's response, after full consideration, was most generous. She accepted without qualification the method outlined, and signed the following proposal which was submitted to her:
"Twinsburg, Ohio, Oct. 4, 1911.
Mr. W. S. Lister, Twinsburg, Ohio.
Dear Sir:
Following our several conversations, I hereby offer and agree upon the formation of a corporation (hereinafter referred to as the "Water Company") by April 1, 1912, with a subscribed capital of not less than $2,000.00, having for its purpose the supplying of water to the people in and about the center of Twinsburg Town-
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ship, Summit County, to grant and convey to such corporation a perpetual right in and to the water flowing from the large spring on the 70 acre tract of land owned by me, and situated on the East side of the highway leading from Twinsburg to Solon, upon the conditions and subject to the restrictions following, to-wit:
I. Sufficient water shall be left flowing from said spring to meet all requirements for watering farm animals in pasture on said 70 acres of land.
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