USA > Ohio > Medina County > Wadsworth > Wadsworth memorial; an account of the proceedings of the celebration of the sixtieth anniversary of the first settlement of the township of Wadsworth, Ohio > Part 11
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The following natives of Wadsworth served their term of three years in the 41st Ill., and left an honorable record : John Baughman, John Loutzenheizer, John Wilhelm.
Paul Baughman,
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WADSWORTH MEMORIAL.
They were in the battles of Fort Donaldson, Shiloh, Cor- inth, Holly Springs, Vicksburg, and Fort De Russey.
The following citizens also served in the war; enlisted in other counties and States :
Joseph Lile, Reg. 104, O. V. I. Edward Hunt, 66 86, «
William Freeborn,
66 125 - 66
V. A. Clark,
1, O). Artillery.
Charles B. Curtis,
Curtis Waltz, Musician, *
FK Navy,
Illinois.
Joseph Tyler,
LIenry Boger,
Wisconsin.
Russel Griswold,
O. V. I.
Samuel Wise,
James Wilhelm,
Daniel Wilhelm,
..
6.
Benjamin Wilhelm,
66
Abijah Hodgeman,
.6
66
IIenry Mendenhall,
66
66
Charles O. Pacher,
6 .6
P. V. Wilkins, Capt., Rev. S. C. Goss, Sergt.
Reg. 102, " 90,
66
The above 72 names are all that were reported for this work previous to going to press (Feb. 20). Should any others be ascertained, they will appear in an appendix.
R. Thompson,
.6
John Hunsburger,
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WADSWORTH MEMORIAL.
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PUBLIC PRESS.
In the year 1866, a weekly newspaper, called the Wads- worth Enterprise, was established by John A. Clark and George A. Root. The first number was issued May 4, 1866. At the end of the first year, Mr. Clark purchased his partner's interest, and continued the publication alone till 1870, when Mr. Emmanuel Lowry became a partner for the term of one year ; since which time Mr. Clark has been the sole proprietor. The present weekly circulation of the Enterprise is about 1000.
In November, 1872, Mr. George C. Bennett started a monthly juvenile paper at Clark's Corners, in Wadsworth township, called the Young Folks' Gem. The publication office was moved in December, 1873, to Sharon Center. By offering premiums and advertising, he secured a sub- scription list of 125,000. Mr. Bennett died March 20th, 1874. Mr. Clark, editor of the Enterprise, purchased the Gem of the administrator of Bennett's estate, and moved it to Wadsworth. Since that time its circulation has doubled, having at this time (Feb., 1875), 250,000 subscri- bers.
Mr. Clark has erected a commodious brick building, of three stories, with a basement for engine, with two cylinder presses, on which the Enterprise and Gem, and another monthly entitled Funny Things, are printed. All- other monthly, published at Poe, in this county, called the Scholar, is printed at this office. There is also a job office for all kinds of printing attached. The establishment gives constant employment, in its various departments of business. to upwards of 30 persons; and by its facilities for publication, advertising, and job work, and by its pub- lications going to every part of the Union and making the place known, is doing much for its prosperity. The Gem is taken in every State and Territory of the Union, has a large circulation in Canada, and is supposed to have a larger sub- scription list than any other juvenile paper in the world.
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WADSWORTH MEMORIAL.
WADSWORTH OF THE PRESENT.
The preceeding sketches close the past history of the town, and bring it up to the present time. It remains to briefly sketch the present aspect of the place, its business and resources, and future prospects.
It may now be set down as one of the growing villages of the State, destined to be in the future a place of impor- tance, and become extensively known. It is a railroad center for a large section of country. The near vicinity of the coal-mines has made it a good location for manufac- turing, and extensive manufactures have sprung up. Of these we will mention some of the more prominent.
MANUFACTURE OF AGRICULTURAL IMPLEMENTS AND MACHIN- ERY.
In 1865, a company was organized for this purpose, con- sisting of Silas P. Chandler, II. Z. Chandler, E. G. Loomis, E. H. Loomis, George Wise, A. K. Pennypacker, and H. G. Folger, under the name of the Wadsworth Machine Company. A large building was erected near the depot, and fitted up with steam-works, and furnace for casting, with all kinds of machinery necessary for manufacturing threshing-machines, horse-powers, sceders, horse-rakes, plows, cultivators, harrows, and all kinds of farm machin- ery ; together with farm wagons and sleds, and all kinds of castings in common demand. It has usually employed about 30 hands, and its machinery is extensively known, and sales extend into other States.
In 1872, S. P. and H. Z. Chandler purchased the interest of all the other partners, and the business has been carried on under the name of S. P. Chandler & Bro. In October, 1874, the building was burned with all its appurtenances ; but the insurance upon it of over $26,000 was promptly paid, and it is now being rebuilt on an enlarged scale, with the design on the opening of spring to enlarge its opera- tions beyond what has been done heretofore.
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MANUFACTURE OF PAINTS.
This business was started in 1873, by a company con- sisting of H. Z. Chandler, Philander Chandler, E. G. Loo- mis, Abiel Briggs, and George Kingsbury, and a large business in the manufacture of paints established. The factory is now owned and carried on by H. Z. Chandler and William C. Burt.
SASH, DOOR, AND BLINDS
Of this department of business there are two manufac- tories, with sawmills attached. In 1867, J. G. Kulp, Sam. Nash, and Ephraim and Christian Hunsberger erected the larger factory near the depot. It is now owned by J. R. Laux. J. S. Oberholtzer, and Paul Wall. In the different departments of the business it employs from 12 to 15 hands.
In 1870, Abraham Yoder commenced the same business on the site of the old Loomis & Beach sawmill. It is now owned by , a company consisting of A. Yoder, T. W. Screene, H. Hard, and D. Noll, under the business name of Yoder, Screene, & Co. Both establishments do a large business for the town and adjoining country.
SPRING BED-BOTTOM MANUFACTORIES.
There are three establishments for the manufacture of spiral wire spring bed bottoms. The business was first begun by P. C. and E. J. Hard, on a principle of fastening the spring patented by Dr. Hanson Hard. Dr. Hard him- self afterwards carried on the business about a year, and since that time W. N. Eyles and William Freeborn have continued the business at the old stand. They manufac- ture about 2,000 bed bottoms per annum. They also make spiral springs for chairs, and spring cushions and spring seats for wagons.
In 1873, the Wadsworth Spring Bed Bottom Company was formed for manufacturing with a spring fastening
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patented by P. C. Hard. In 1874, P. C. Hard bought the shares of all the company. The business is now carried on by P. C. and E. J. Hard. They send off 5000 per an- num. They also do a large business in the manufacture of single spring cots for hotels, boarding-houses, college rooms, etc.
There is also another shop of more recent origin, by D. S. Greenwald.
All of these manufactures are of the same style of spi- ral wire; their principal difference being in the mode of fastening the springs, which each is able to demonstrate to their customers is better than all the others.
CARRIAGE MANUFACTURES.
This business was started about 1838, by George Beach and H. J. Traver, and has been continued at the old stand since that time, under the names of H. J. Traver, Traver & Co., Stevenson, Browning, & Steele, and since 1872 by A. P. Steele and L. E. Browning as the firm of Browning & Steele. The establishment gives employment to about 20 hands, and will compete with any similar one in the beauty and finish of its wagons and carriages.
From 1867 to 1873, Josiah Andrews carried on the wag- on making business at the old stand formerly occupied by his brother, Capt. Edward Andrews, deceased. In 1873, he enlarged the business by adding the manufacture of car- riages. The establishment, though new, has obtained a good reputation. It gives employment to about 10 hands.
WADSWORTH WOOLEN MILL.
Proprietors, William Aspinall, Robert Aspinall, and Hiram Yockey. Firm address, Aspinal, Yockey, & Co.
This establishment manufactures all-wool goods, such as cloth flannels, blankets, jeans, satinets, and all varieties of stocking yarn. The machinery consists of one wool-pick- er, five carding-machines, and one spinning-machine. It
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employs 4 hands in this department. Average amount of wool used per day, 80 pounds. The weaving room con- tains 7 narrow cloth and flannel looms, and one broad blanket loom. Amount of flannel per day from one loom, 40 yards ; cloth, 25 yards ; blankets, 25 yards ; one hand to each loom. The stocking yarn machinery consists of one twister and one doubler, each employing one hand. The finishing department contains one dyer to dye wool, flan- nel, and yarn ; one finisher to finish bolts and goods ready for market; one wool-scourer to clean all the wool. Num- ber of hands employed in all the departments, 18. The amount of wool consumed per annum is about 8,000 lbs.
ORGAN MANUFACTORY.
In 1874, Messrs Solomon Werley and James Scott com- menced the manufacture of reed organs. Their work is of superior quality. They claim for their organs superiority in quickness of speech, and power. They are young men, without large capital, doing their own work; but their business, for a new enterprise, is prosperous. Their work is receiving favor and gaining ground, with promise of future success.
MARBLE WORKS.
A manufactory for monuments and furniture marble was commenced in April, 1874. It is doing a prosperous business, making excellent work.
There are also the usual shops which every village de- mands, among which are the shoe shops of Lyon & Funk, Pfeiffer & Hunsberger, Koplin, A. C. Beck & Son, and M. Bender; the harness shops of W. E. Beardsley and Joseph Rech ; and cigar manufactory of Yoder & Gun- saulis.
FURNITURE.
There are two well-stocked furniture stores, with cabi-
1
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WADSWORTH MEMORIAŁ.
net shops attached. Those of Jonas Wuchter, and Ephra- im Kremer.
MERCANTILE.
The whole number of retail stores of all kinds, large and small, is a little over thirty. Of these, there are the gen- eral retail stores of dry-goods, groceries, and queensware, of Daykin & Hilliard, and of L. S. Gilbert, with large as- sortments of goods; the clothing and merchant tailoring establishment of Durling & Woodward, first established by James K. Durling, James Daykin, and John J. Wood- ward; and that of H. Bolich & Co .; each doing an exten- sive business.
The hardware and iron store, establised in 1865 by E. Benedict and C. T. Clifford, has been owned by C. T. Clif- ford alone since 1867. He has built up a large hardware trade where before the people went to Akron for all goods in that line. Since that time, S. T. Franks & Son have opened a full store of the same kind, and Kreider Brothers another for the sale of stoves and tinware. What in 1865 seemed a hazardous business for one firm, has now grown into a large and prosperous one for three.
The grocery stores of I. G. Griesemer, of Nice & Foster, of Nice and Hunsberger. and of S. Burr, are doing a good business.
There are two watch, clock, and jewelry establishments, by C. H. Wood and M. C. Burdoin. Two flour and feed stores, by R. N. Hickox, and E. Stucker. The drug store of W. P. Curtis, with a large and full assortment; and that of J. D. Ross, also well supplied. There are also two millinery stores, by Miss E. J. Fisher, and Mistresses Cha- pin & Wilcox.
PASTORS OF THE CHURCHIES.
Rev. Edward Brown, pastor of the Congregational church, was the fourth son of Judge Frederick Brown,
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'who is often mentioned in the pioneer portion of this his- tory. He was born in Colbrook, Ct., Nov. 1st, 1814. He came with the family to Wadsworth in May, 1816, and spent most of his early years here. Was educated at Western Reserve College. Hudson. Removed to Indiana in 1840, and engaged in teaching in Peru and Logansport, and as principal of Lagrange Collegiate Institute, Ontario. Ind. Studied law with Stuart & Biddle, of Logansport, and practiced as an attorney and counselor at law in Lima. Indiana, Otsego, Michigan, and Whitewater, Wisconsin ; in all about 9 years. Left the legal profession for the min- istry, and commenced his labors at Wautoma, Wisconsin, in 1852. Was ordained at Green Bay, Jan. 13th, 1853. Preached at Wautoma. Waukau, Fond du Lac, La Crosse, La Crosse Valley. Wis., and at Zumbrota, and Medford, Min- nesota. Commenced his labors at Wadsworth Aug. 8th, 1874.
Rev. S. C. Goss, pastor of the Reformed church, was born in Basil, Fairfield county, Ohio, in July, 1841, and entered upon his collegiate studies at Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, in August, 1857, graduating in June, 1862. Hc enlisted in the 90th Regiment, O. V. I., in the following August, and served as a private for two years ; after which he returned to Tiffin and began his theological studies, graduating in May, 1866. Was licensed at the synod at Galion, in the same month, and in August of the same ycar came to Wadsworth, and was ordained in October, 1866.
Rev. S. B. Leiter (Reformed) was born April 19th, 1809, and reared near Leitersburg, Washington county, Mary- land, and educated for the ministry at the theological in- stitutions of the Reformed church located at York, Penn- sylvania. He was licensed by the Maryland classis in 1835, and ordained at Hagarstown in November of the same year. Was sent West soon after by the Board of Missions, and located at Mansfield, At the end of 9. years
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he moved to Rome, Richland county, where he lived five years ; then moved to Navarre, Stark county, where he re- sided for 18 years, coming to Wadsworth in April, 1868, preaching in each of those places. His present charge is Emmanuel's Church. He received the honorary degree of D. D. from Heidelberg College.
Rev. C. F. W. Cronemeyer, pastor of the Church of Christ (Disciple), was born in Detwold, Germany, April 4th, 1840. Emigrated to America in 1855. Graduated at Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pa., in 1865. Ordained to the ministry at New Baltimore, Ohio. Has labored in New Baltimore, and Streetsborough. Came to Wadsworth and commenced his pastoral work July 1st, 1872.
Rev. A. Pollock, pastor of the Methodist E. church, was born March 17th, 1837, in Washington township, Richland county, Ohio. He is of Scotch-Irish descent. He entered the ministry in the fall of 1861. His fields of labor have been Port Clinton, Clarksfield, Milan, Medina, Richfield, Penfield, and Wadsworth. Received a classical education in a private school.
Rev. E. Hunsberger, pastor of the Mennonite church, was born in Montgomery county, Pa., in 1814, and com- menced preaching in that place in 1850. He removed to Wadsworth in 1853.
PHYSICIANS.
Dr. C. N. Lyman, son of George Lyman, was born in Wadsworth, Mar. 9th, 1819. Studied with Drs. G. K. Par- dee and E. Kendrick. Graduated at Medical department of Transylvania University, Lexington, Ky. Commenced practice in Wadsworth in 1843.
Dr. N. S. Everhard, seventh son of Jacob Everhard, was born in Chippewa, Jan. 8th, 1841. Studied with Dr. A. Everhard, Ripon, Wisconsin. Graduated at Cleveland Medical College. Commenced practice in Wadsworth in 1868.
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WADSWORTH MEMORIAL.
Dr. W. A. Briggs, son of Abiel Briggs, was born in Sharon, Jan. 22d, 1848. Studied with Dr. Lyman. Grad- uated at the Medical Department of Michigan University. Commenced practice in Wadsworth in 1871.
ATTORNEYS AT LAW.
Aaron Pardee, the youngest of the Pardee brothers, prominent among the pioneers of Wadsworth, son of Eb- enezer and Anna Pardee, was born in Skeneateles, N. Y . Oct. 8th, 1808. Came to Wadsworth in 1824. Engaged in farming when a young man, but studied law in his leisure hours, until he acquired such a knowledge of it as to enti- tle him to admission to practice in the courts of the State. He was admitted to the bar in 1837. Since that time he has followed that profession in Medina county. He has been twice elected to the Senate of the State; was the first Mayor of Wadsworth village ; President of the School Board, and Justice of the Peace ; was Asssessor of Inter- nal Revenue, by appointment of President Lincoln.
Henry Pardee, second son of Aaron, born in Wads- worth, was connected with his father in legal business for several years. He is now Auditor of the county, at Medina.
George K. Pardee, fourth son of Aaron, was born in Wadsworth, 1840. Studied law with his father, and has been engaged in the profession since 1871.
Pulaski C. Hard, fourth son of Cyrus Hard, was born in Wadsworth, May 19th, 1831. Studied law with William Cunningham, Esq., at Canal Fulton. Graduated at the National Law School, Balston Spa, N. Y., in 1852. Com- menced practice in Wadsworth, 1853.
WADSWORTH BANK.
This institution was established March 14th, 1873. with a capital of $50,000. Its present officers are : W. P. Curtis, J. K. Durling, H. Z. Chandler, E. G. Loomis, J. Lytle, Di- rectors ; John Lytle, President; A. L. Corman, Cashier.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF NORTON TOWNSHIP.
The history of the country or which Wadsworth is the center, especially its pioneer history, can not be properly given without a brief sketch of each of the four adjoining townships. As in the early times the eastern part of Wadsworth formed one community with the western and northern portion of Norton ; the western with Guilford, and the southern with Chippewa ; while the early settle- ment of Sharon was largely made up from Wadsworth- we shall devote a brief space to each, with such biograph- ical sketches of the more prominent of the early settlers of each as can be obtained.
The town of Norton, lying cast of Wadsworth, with it made up the original town of Wolf Creek, Portage county. On the organization of Medina county, it formed the southeastern township. It was named from Birdseye Norton, one of the original proprietors of the land. On the organization of Summit county, Norton, with all in the 12th range of townships, was set off from Medina county.
The first white man who had a habitation in the town- ship, was the same John Holmes, or " Indian Holines," who resided previously for a short time in Wadsworth. He had his cabin, guarded by four savage dogs, on Wolf
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Creek, when the first settlers came in 1811. His squaw wife was the pioneer in female medical practice, being a celebrated "Indian doctoress," in roots and herbs.
Holmes' account of himself was that he was a native of England. That he was in youth a clerk in a French trad- ing establishment in Montreal, and was sent to Detroit with a small stock of goods to dispose of at a treaty coun- cil. That his goods being stolen, he was afraid or ashamed to go back, and took up his abode with the Indians.
The first settler was John Cahow, from Maryland, who came with his sons, James, William, George, and Thomas, in. 1810. The next were James Robinson, from Otsego, N. Y., and Basil Cahow. In 1811, Hinsdale Bates, with his sons, Lyman, Dennis, Talcott, and Curtis, settled south of Johnson's Corners. In 1812, his sons Nathan, Lyman, and Dennis, took up the land around what has from that time been known as Bates' Corners.
In 1813, Theodore H. Parmelee, from Goshen, Ct., and Henry Van Hyning, from Mohawk Valley, N. Y., with his sons, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Thomas, Henry, Andrew, and Sylvester.
In 1815, Peter Waltz, jr., John O'Brien, Samuel Baker, Phineas Barnes, Benjamin P. Hoadly, Ambrose Palmer, Elisha Hinsdale, Seth Lucas and sons, Samuel, Harry, Seth, and William.
In 1816, Joseph Helmes, Ephraim Roberts, Mills and Ezekiel Richards, Charles Lyon, and Abel Irish.
In 1817, Dr. Miles Clark, and his brother, Judge Lyman Clark ; Levi Canfield and sons, William, Levi, and Dr. Eli- sha ; Elias Hurlbutt, William Holmes, Joachim Wilson, Silas Bronson, Phineas Bronson ; Joseph Way and sons, Levi and Joseph ; Joseph D. Humphrey, and John Hall ; Samuel Green and sons, Alanson, William, Almon, and Philander ; Peter Mills and William Carpenter.
In 1818, Clement Clark and son, Levi Clark; Hazehial and William Ward.
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In 1819, Jonathan Taylor and Chauncey Gilbert built a sawmill on Wolf Creek, in the northeast part of the town- ship. In 1825, James Taylor, brother of J. Taylor, was killed by a sawlog rolling over his body.
In 1828, Thomas Johnson built the Mill on Hudson's Run, at what is known as Johnson's Corners. In 1832, he built another on the same stream, below the first. In rais- ing this mill, Denuis Bates was accidentally knocked off the top, and instantly killed.
New Portage, first laid out as a village by Ambrose Palmer and Ephraim Roberts, was at an early day a flour- ishing village for so new a country. In 1823, Dr. Miles Clark, and one or two partners, set up a manufactory of glass, which did considerable business, but was suspended on his death in 1827.
The vicinity of the great swamp, and of the marshes of the Tuscarawas and Wolf Creek, made the people of the place peculiarly subject to malarious fever, almost entire families being swept off. For a time, in 1824, only Dr. ( lark and his brother were able to take care of the sick. In 1826, so great was the sickness that the village was al- most entirely deserted. The draining of the Tuscarawas marshes by the completion of the Ohio Canal, and clearing up and draining of the swamps in subsequent years, re- moved the cause, so that it has been healthy in later years.
Among the early settlers who took part in the Revolution, not before mentioned, were Henry VanHyning, Hinsdale Bates, Samuel Baker, Phineas Bronson, Silas Bronson, Phineas Barnes, Cato Mead, Hosea Wilcox.
The first settlers coming just before the war of 1812, were in continual fear of being massacred by the hostile Indians, those in their vicinity seeming to be waiting the issue to decide on which side to array themselves.
It is related of John Cahow that he built a small stock- ade around his house, and his only window was a hole through the logs, opened and closed by a thick sliding
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plank. VanHyning and Kirkum had bought their lands in 1812, but remained, the first in Northampton, and the other in Stow township, till after Perry's victory on Lake Erie, and the defeat of General Proctor and Tecumseh by General Harrison. The facts related by them in after years will illustrate the anxiety felt by the pioneers in those days.
News had come of the British fleet on Lake Erie, bring- ing troops to destroy Cleveland and overrun Ohio, and it was expected that, should they land, the Indians would rise and come upon them, to exterminate by indiscriminate butchery.
Kirkum and Judge Wetmore, then living at Stow Lake, had their goods packed and teams ready, to start at the first warning of defeat. Couriers had been stationed from Cleveland to Canton, to give the first news. Sept. 9th, news came that Perry was on his way with his improvised fleet, to meet the enemy. I will give VanHyning's story as told by himself, when nearly 100 years old, to Charles Coe, from whom I have it :
"I was, on the morning of Sept. 10th, plowing upon a high hill, in Northampton township; and I heard in the northwest a low sound, like a distant cannon-shot. Soon I heard it again. Soon the third. I stopped my team, and climbed a tree to look and listen. In a few minutes the sounds came so frequent that I knew the battle had begun. I unyoked my oxen, and hurried to the house. My wife was weaving. Said I, Woman, the battle has begun. I have heard the cannon. I will take old White and ride to Wallace's tavern (Northfield, about 12 miles), and get the first news. If word comes to you that we are defeated, have the boys yoke the oxen to the wagon, put on what goods you can, cut your piece from the loom, and start for Canfield, and I will overtake you.
"I went to Wallace's, and, with a room full of men, sat up till 1 o'clock, when a man rushed in, yelling, ' Hurrah !
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Perry's whipped the British " We all sprung up, and hur- rahed at the top of our voices. I swung my old hat till I tore off the brim. At daylight I started for home. I found my wife at the loom. Says I, Weave on, woman, weave on ! we are victorious! Now, boys, we'll get ready and move to Wolf Creek."
But few remnants of the original families remain in the township. For that reason it has been found impossible to get at many facts and names of its early history. The township is one of excellent land, with extensive mines of coal in the southwestern portion, and quarries of building stone in the northeastern. It has within its area, six small villages : New Portage and Dennison on the railroad, Bates' Corners, Norton Center, Johnson's Corners, and part of Western Star. In those there are five church edifices, and commodious schoolhouses.
HISTORICAL SKETCH OF CHIPPEWA TOWNSHIP.
The township of Chippewa, in Wayne county, lies south of Wadsworth, and the line of the Western Reserve. This line in pioneer times was called the " Congress Line," and by those south of it, the " Yankee Line."
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