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 9
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As an illustration of the difference between the old and the new in the lifetime of one generation, it may interest the readers of these pages to inform them that Julius Richards, mentioned above, introduced from the East what was then (1823) a great improvement in the construc- tion of coffins; fastening the lid with screws instead of nails, and with hinges above the breast to let the top down. The initials of the name, and the age, were also set with brass-headed trunk nails.
A fact has also been related to the compiler, since clos- ing the pioneer history, that will come in well at this point. On the death of Mrs. Julia Loomis, near Western Star, in 1820, Mr. J. Miller, in making the coffin, could find but 18 nails in Wadsworth ; and Mr. Phineas Butler, on the night before, by the light of a torch, drew out 14 more from the boards of his new house. Those nails he had brought with him from Onondaga county, New York.
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WADSWORTH MEMORIAL.
WADSWORTH FROM 1840 ro 1860.
The next twenty years after the pioneer era were the least eventful in the history of the town; the farms being cleared up, and the known material resources developed, there was little scope for new enterprises. The most that could be expected of a country village in such circumstan - ces is that it should hold its own. And it is here that the value of right beginnings in a new settlement is always seen. When the novelty of pioneer life has passed away ; when the differing races have begun to coalesce, and a gen- eration grown up together have become harmonious; if that generation have not deteriorated, the fruit testifies for the seed planted. In this we see the value of the planting of churches and the founding of schools. in the inception of a settlement ; for, though the population may gradually change, still their influence is felt upon succeeding genera- tions.
Every one who has gone through the vicissitudes of pio- neer life is aware of the fact that its tendency is to beget a spirit of adventure. to the extent that comparatively but few of the first settlers of a frontier town, or their chil- dren, whose carliest impressions were amid the adventur- ous beginnings, are known to remain and spend their lives there. Especially is this true of those of Anglo Saxon, or Celtic origin. So that the same individuals are often found among the adventurous frontiersmen in two or more States ; often moving on till old age overtakes them upon the frontier.
The compiler of this work is himself an illustration of this. Though returning after an absence of nearly thirty- five years, to be the chronicler of the place where he spent his youth, during the interval he has been no less than six times, and in four different States, among those who would be accounted pioneers of the settlement. Even on his way to address the pioneer meeting, the history of
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which has been given, he was solicited to stop in another State, where he spent the first ten years and address a sim- ilar gathering, on the same week, being claimed as a pio- neer there also.
The rapid opening of the States of the interior, west- ward of Ohio, became an incentive to new emigration, to such as had been among the first settlers, or their children who had grown up while as yet all things were new. This period was consequently marked by great changes of pop- ulation ; so great that many names of the old families that counted not a few upon the poll books and muster rolls, nearly or quite disappeared. Particularly was this true of the New England portion. Selling out and moving on the front wave of civilization, and their old homes passing into the hands of the wealthier, but more conservative Teuton- ic race, or what are sometimes termed "Pennsylvania Ger- mans," till the proportion of the two races was reversed. This also seriously affected the original churches, particu- larly the Congregational and Methodist, which through these causes became, during this period, almost extinct ; while a large church of the German Reformed denomina- tion, and another of the Mennonite. the members of both being chiefly of German descent, attracted the major part of the church-going population, till the revival of business by the location of the railroad and the discovery of the coal-mines, brought again members of those two denomin- ations, and a resurrection of their churches. During that period also, the old Wadsworth Academy was suspended, and the octagon building occupied for that purpose was converted into a church.
In the early part of this period, 1842, the present church edifices for the Disciple and Congregational churches were erected. The architect of both was George Hinsdale, son of Capt. Elisha Hinsdale, and brother of Albert Hinsdale. He was a young man of good education and superior ability. He was taken sick before the first was finished,
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and died before the last was completed. His last work was the drafting of the design for the singers' gallery in the Congregational church. His funeral was the first held in the Disciple church.
The years 1844 and 1848 were memorable for a malig- nant epidemic that visited the township, carrying off by death a large number of its inhabitants. It prevailed very extensively in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Michigan, and was known as malignant erysipelas, or erysipalatus fever. The following description, written by Dr. C. N. Lyman, one of the physicians who treated for the disease, may be valuable for a historic reference, both as to the disease and its treatment.
WADSWORTH, JAN. 25. 1875.
Rev. E. Brown, Dear Sir.
In compliance with your request, I send you a brief de- scription of the epidemic by which this town was visited in the years 1844-48. Yours truly,
C. N. LYMAN, M.D.
During the year 1844, there occurred within the limits of the township, an epidemic of erysipelas, very severe in its character and fatal in its results, selecting for its vic- tims some of the best of our citizens of adult age. It was confined mostly within the limits of the township, though extending somewhat into the townships of Norton and Chippewa. It began in the month of January, and con- tinued until the following August, when its virulence sub- sided, with occasional manifestations until the winter of 1848, when it reappeared in the east part of the towns of Guilford and Montville, with its accustomed fatality, and again made its appearance in this township, marking as its own a number of our prominent citizens.
Its mode of attack was almost always in the form of in- flammation of the throat and fauces, with a disposition to migrate to other parts of the body, usually selecting the serous membranes. Sometimes, however, the muscular
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and adipose tissues would be the seat of the metastatic attack. The change from the throat to the point of attack would be sudden, and for a few hours the patient would flatter himself that he was convalescent, when a rigor and restlessness would supervene, telling, too often fatally, that the hope was only a delusive onc. When the serous membranes were the seat of the disease, the formation of pus was a rapid process, the patient frequently dying with- in three days. A post-mortem examination would disclose the serous cavities filled with pus. When the muscular and adipose tissues were the seat of the disease, pus was formed in enormous quantities if the patient survived long enough. Frequently, however, death supervened too rap- idly for this process to mature.
That portion of the epidemic which occurred in 1844 was most successfully treated by large and rapid depletion, some patients requiring to be bled to faintness, two or three times within thirty-six hours. This was markedly the case when the serous membranes were involved. When the other tissues were the seat of the disease, bleed- ing was not of such manifest utility. Some cases were so rapid as to call for the directly opposite treatment, and they were as rapidly fatal.
When the disease reappeared in a severe form in 1848-49 bleeding and depletion was not tolerated at all. In the few cases in which they were tried, in the commencement of the outbreak, theresults were so unsatisfactory that those measures were abandoned immediately. This latter mani- festation of the discase showed less predilection for the serous membranes than the former. In the first epidemic, with a population of about 1200, there were 124 well- marked cases, 25 of which proved fatal. The later epi- demic was spread over more territory, but the proportion · of deaths to those attacked was greater. Since that time it has not appeared in an epidemic form.
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WADSWORTH MEMORIAL. WADSWORTH FROM 1860.
This period of fifteen years marks a new era in the his- tory of the place. The era of growth and development, comprehending :
1. The discovery and opening of the coal-mines.
2. The location of the Atlantic and Great Western R. R.
3. The general revival and enlargement of business, and the erecting of manufactories.
4. The building of a fine structure for the education of the youth, and the establishment of a system of graded schools.
5. The founding of a College.
6. The revival and enlargement of the churches.
7. The part taken by citizens of Wadsworth in the great contest for the nation's life.
8. Last, but by no means least, the successful establish- ment of the public press.
We will consider each in their order. First,
WADSWORTH COAL-MINES.
At an early day bituminous coal was known to exist in some parts of the township, before all its uses or its truc commercial value were known or thought of. . More than fifty years since. small quantities of coal were found in va- rious localites. in digging wells.
About 1829, coal in beds. cropping out near the surface. was found both in the northeastern and southeastern por- tions of the township; and small quantities for several years were mined for domestic use, and the limited manu- facturing of the region. But the location of the Atlantic and Great Western Railroad, bringing these mines into connection with the great coal markets afforded by the cities and extensive manufactories of the State, not only made them sources of wealth, but by developing an exten- sive business added greatly to the growth and prosperity of the village, and of the township at large ; a village by .
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itself having grown up, composed of a population wholly connected with the mining and shipping of coal, at Silver Creek, the point of shipment, a mile and a half southeast of the depot. The first mining of coal for commercial purposes commenced at that point, in Feb .. 1869.
The amount of coal sent off by railroad daily from the Humphrey & Coleman bank, Silver Creek Station. and from the Wadsworth mines. a little farther southeast, is ascertained to average from 400 to 500 tons per day.
Coal-mines have been opened in four localities in the township. The Humphrey & Coleman mines. the Wads- worth mines, the Town-line mines in the northeast corner (the bed extending into four townships. The coal of this mine is of a superior quality, and being remote from the railroad, is mined wholly for home consumption. in the villages of Western Star, Wadsworth. and Bates' Corners, and the country around). The Stony Ridgemines have abundant supplies, but. are not at present worked. Large portions of the Silver Creek mines. that have their outlet in the township of Chippewa, are also located in this township.
The first shipment of coal at Wadsworth was soon after the completion of the railroad, in 1863; brought from the Silver Creek mines in Chippewa, in wagons. till the com- pletion of the branch road. Those mines are the most ex- tensively worked of any in the vicinity-their annual exports amounting to about 100,000 tons. Since the com- pletion of the Tuscarawas Valley R. R .. they have ceased to forward at Wadsworth.
ATLANTIC AND GREAT WESTERN RAILROAD.
This road is a continuation of the New York and Eric road. Like that road it is of broad guage. It runs from the Erie road, starting at Salamanca. N. Y., and terminat- ing at Dayton. Length, 389 miles. By an arrangement with the Cincinnati, Hamilton, and Dayton road, a third
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rail was laid, by which the trains of the A. and G. W. road are run into Cincinnati. The road was completed in May, 1863.
Distance from Wadsworth to Salamanca, 216 miles.
" New York, 629
" Dayton. 173
66 6. 66
" Cincinnati, 232
The passenger and freight receipts at the depot average over $100 per day. The out-going freights, $50.
Closely connected with the location of the railroad, and owing chiefly to this, has been the rapid growth of the town into a place of extensive business. The existence of the coal-mines, and the desirableness of the location as a center of business, had much to do in determining the lo- cation of the road here, rather than farther south. The height of the land north determined its location south of the original and present center of business, and built up what is known as South Wadsworth-the seat of the prin- cipal manufacturing interest.
INCORPORATION OF THE VILLAGE.
The increase of population after the opening of the rail- road soon rendered it expedient to secure an incorpora- tion. Especially was it thought desirable for the benefits to be derived for school purposes.
The movement commenced in 1865. The papers were drawn up by Aaron and H. C. Pardee. Esqs., Dr. C. N. Ly- man acting as agent for the people. Owing to a mistake in dates, it became necessary to make a second publication, so that it was not consummated till 1866. First election, April 4th. The first officers under the corporation : Aaron Pardee, Mayor ; J. C. Houston, Recorder ; C. N. Lyman, Wm. F. Boyer, John Lytle, W. T. Ridenour, and Luman P. Mills, Trustees.
The boundaries of the corporation are run somewhat irregularly. Its longest dimensions, from north to south,
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about one and one-half miles; and from east to west. about a mile; the whole area, 896 acres of land; a little over one and one-third square miles, or about one-twenti- eth of the township.
The incorporation of the village necessitated the erec- tion of a building for council room, police court, jail, etc. This was provided by designing a plan for a township hall for holding elections and public meetings, with rooms for post-office, council hall, and "lock-up;" the last two in consideration that a larger proportion of the tax would be paid by people living upon the corporation.
This was to be submitted to a vote of the people of the township ; the form of the ballot being :
For building Town Hall-Yes.
For building Town Hall-No.
The question to be decided by the majority of votes cast.
There was great opposition manifested against the meas- ure by people living off the corporation ; but it was car- ried in a legal form, in a manner somewhat amusing.
The printed tickets had upon them: "For building Town Hall-" leaving it for each voter to add his yes, or no. Neglecting to do this, or scratching out the words, made it equivalent to no vote. It is related that about six- ty voters of the township indignantly scratched off the words "For building Town Hall," which instead of being a vote against, made it simply a nullity. So the majority vote was For building Town Hall. A convenience that probably no one in or out of the corporation now regrets. It was built by township tax, in 1867, at a cost of $5,000. It is a substantial brick structure, two stories high. The lower story has a commodious front room for the post- office, and back of it the room for council room and police and village justice's courts, and a room for securing pris- oners, or lodging vagrants; or, in common parlance, " tramps."
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REVIVAL, AND ENLARGEMENT OF BUSINESS.
With the completion of the railroad, a large and active business sprang up. Real estate rose in value. Building ots, both for business houses and residences. were in great demand, and the village was enlarged, and surveyed into streets and lots. Merchants, manufacturers, and trades- meu saw this to be a desirable point.
Previous to that time, the place could support but about two retail stores. and manufacturing was confined to one wagon and carriage shop, one match factory. tannery. blacksmith shop. cabinet shop. shoe shop, and sawmill.
The place then supported one physician and one lawyer. There was one old, dilapidated schoolroom ; and though there were four church buildings, two of them were not statedly used. But from that time a change came over the place. With the revival of business there was also a re- vival of enterprise, and new channels of business began to be opened. companies for mining and manufacturing to be formed, whose operations were not confined to the town, but in some cases extending even into other States.
The growth of business has from that time been steadily forward; increasing till the retail business has required the erection of two extensive brick blocks, and other buildings; till the retail establishments for dry goods, for clothing, fancy goods and millinery, groceries, hardware boots and shoes, drugs and medicines, furniture, flour and feed. harness and leather. watches and jewelry. cigars and pipes, etc., now exceed thirty.
Since that period, also. a large and beautiful structure has been erected for school purposes. and graded schools of à superior order established ; a College founded, and now in operation under an able board of instructors; a large printing house established. with two improved cylin- der presses constantly running. for newspaper and job work, from which one weekly and three monthlies are reg-
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ularly printed ; the weekly with a circulation of 1,000, and the monthlies, respectively, of 250,000, 10,000, and 2,000.
There are now three physicians and three lawyers, six or- ganized churches (five within the corporation), with set- tled pastors and commodious houses of worship.
Of all these particulars a fuller description will be given subsequently.
PUBLIC EDUCATION.
Before giving an account of the present educational facilities, it may be well to refer to the efforts of former years to make provision for the education of the youth of the town.
As stated in the pioneer history, Miss Harriet Warner heads the list of teachers, having taught a private school in her father's house, in 1816. Marcus Brown first teach- er of a pubic school, in the winter of 1816-17. The early settlers from New England and New York had enjoyed the benefits of schools in their Eastern homes. and were not the ones to suffer their children to grow up in igno- rance. The German portion were tenacious of the Ger- man language, and though they were desirous of educating their children, most of them for several years preferred to support German schools.
Before the establishing of a complete school system by the Legislature, the inhabitants of the Western Reserve inaugurated in each town a voluntary public school sys- tem. Then log schoolhouses were built by private labor, and an annual school-meeting was held. and what was called a school committee was appointed to provide teach- ers for the winter and summer schools, usually of four and tive month's duration. Those who sent paid by the nun- ber of days of each scholar's attendance. When the teach- er was a resident it was not uncommon, in the scarcity of money, for such as could pay in no other way to repay the teacher by work on his farm, in summer, day for day.
He who imagines those teachers, in the pioneer age, a set
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of ignoramuses, is entirely mistaken. The best education and talent were always in demand, and the teachers, schools, and scholars of that day when books were scarce, and when none of the modern facilities were in existence, would compare favorably with those of the present, tak- ing into the account the altered circumstances. Though books were scarcer, and the course of studies lin:ited, there was a thoroughness in teaching and in the absence of anything to call off' the attention of scholars, and an eagerness to learn that will always surmount all difficulties.
Of the early teachers of Wadsworth, the writer can viv- idly recall those who inspired their scholars with a desire for knowledge; and the old copies of Webster's Spelling- book, American Preceptor, Columbian Orator, and Eng- lish Reader (read over and over for want of variety), with Dabol's Arithmetic, Morse's Geography, and Murray's Grammar, with their time-soiled pages testified to thor- ough use and earnest study.
Those old teachers, Sherman Loomis, George Lyman, Lemuel North, and John Nesmith, deserve particular men- tion. It would be difficult at this time to find a better rhetorical reader than Lemuel North, or one who inspired his scholars with a loftier ambition than did either of those worthies. And not a few who have made their mark as scholars, and in the learned professions, received their first inspiration in those log-house seminaries.
In 1830, while the first Congregational church was being finished, a plan was suggested by Frederick Brown, and unanimously approved by the society, to give the use of the house free for a select school, on condition that the young men who desired such a school should provide the seats and desks, so prepared as to be convenient for use either for schools or public meetings. The plan was ac- cepted by a sufficient number, the house finished, and a meeting called to provide for such school. F. Brown, Chairman; Dr. G. K. Pardee, Secretary. A committee
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was chosen, consisting of George Lyman, William Eyles, and Horatio Warner, to employ a teacher and make arrangements for the school.
George W. Barnes, a student of Western Reserve Col- lege (from Medina), was employed as teacher. The school was advertised, both in the neighboring papers and by posters, under the name of Wadsworth Academy. Such schools were held in the winter's, till in 1834 John McGreg- or, a native of Scotland, a graduate of St. Andrew's Col- lege, Glasgow, came to the place and proposed to teach such a school through the whole year. His proposition was ac- cepted, and he continued as teacher, with one year's inter- val. till the year 1847.
In 1837 Wadsworth Academy was incorporated, and the octagon building erected for that purpose.
We sometimes meet with a man of brilliant mind, who seems to have been born with a mission : successful in one direction and in that one alone. Yet that success so marked as to out-distance all competitors. Such a man was John McGregor. He seemed to have been made for a teacher. In those days the fame of Wadsworth Academy, which was simply John McGregor with a house to teach in, extended far and near, and was known even beyond the limits of the State. But few teachers have had so many pupils who have been successful in after life, mainly through the impulse given to them by one mind. His method was simple, perfectly natural, yet inimitable. Graduates of a modern normal school would have found much to criticise in the order he kept. But what cared the enthusiastic Scotchman, so long as his scholars were daily drinking in his instructions and catching his enthusiasm, while their lessons were not conned over, but learned till they knew that they knew them ?
He scorned all codes of rules for the government of his scholars. " You are gentlemen and ladies," he would say ; " you have come here for one purpose, and that alone. It
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is your school, not mine, and you will see to it that noth- ing shall call me from the one work of giving instruction. I rely solely upon your own self-respect and sense of pro- priety and honor." It was very rarely that he reproved. but if it had to be administered it left a scar. But such was his simplicity of heart, and sincerity, that if on reflec- tion he thought he had done any injustice to a pupil, he would voluntarily ask pardon before the whole school. He loved and took a pride in his pupils, and his pupils loved and were proud of their teacher.
Among the educational means of an early day, the pub- lic libraries formed no small part. The first circulating library was obtained in 1822. In the winter of that year, Judge Brown having returned on a visit to Connecticut. obtained by donation from his old neighbors in Colebrook, a good collection of valuable books, which he brought home in a chest, in a one-horse wagon, a journey of 600 miles, in the month of February. These books formed the nucleus of a circulating library, in charge of a society of ladies, called the Wadsworth Female Library Association : of which Mrs. Chloe S. Brown was President ; Mrs. Polly Eyles, Vice President ; and Mrs. Clymena Loomis, Libra- rian. This library association continued several years.
In 1823. another and larger library was established in the eastern part of the town, called the Wadsworth Farmers' Library. Of the first named library, two volumes are still held as relics. One, Josephus' Annals, by E. G. Loomis : the other, Bunyan's Holy War, by E. Brown. After- wards, a library association with a more extensive collec- tion of books, was formed at the Center; Dr. G. K. Par- dec, Librarian.
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