HISTORY OF MEDINA COUNTY - 394
CHAPTER - VIII.
MEDINA VILLAGE—LAID OUT AS THE COUNTY SEAT—ITS GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT—MANU- FACTURERS—THE GREAT FIRES—INCIDENTS—RELIGIOUS AND EDU-
CATIONAL—SECRET SOCIETIES. ETC.
MEDINA. the seat of justice of Medina is situated on the Cleveland Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Railroad. near the geographical center of the county, and is twenty-four miles south of the city of Cleveland. It was originally called Mecca. and is so marked on the early maps of the State, from the Arabian city famous in history as the birthplace of Mahomet. Some years later. it was changed to its present name of Medina, being the seventh place on the globe bearing that name. The others are Medina, a town of Arabia Deserta, celebrated as the burial place of Mahomet : Medina, the capital of the Kingdom of Woolly, West Africa ; Medina; a town and fort on the Island of Bahrein, near the Arabian shore of the Persian Gulf ; Medina. a town in Estremadura. Spain ; Medina. Orleans County. N. Y., and Medina. Lenawee ,County. Mich. At present, Medina contains about 1.400 inhabitants.
The village of Medina was laid out in 1818. The plat is dated November 30. of that year, but was not recorded until January 6, 1820. The following is written upon the margin of the original document "A plat of land situated in the township of Medina. given by Elijah Boardman to the county of Medina." As I stated in the preceding chapter, most of the land in Medina Township belonged to this Boardman. who was a native of Connecticut. When the county was formed. and Medina selected as the seat of justice, Mr. Boardman made a donation of land to the county for that purpose. The original plat comprised 240 lots. or about 237 acres. which was the donationmade by Boardman. At the public sale of lots, Nos. 1. 2. 3 and 4 were reserved by the county for the public buildings. John Freese was Recorder at the time the town was laid out. and the record of the plat is in his handwriting. Abraham Freese was County Surveyor. and surveyed and laid out the future capital of the county. Since the town was originally laid out. numerous additions have been made, until Medina now covers ground enough for a city of 5.000 inhabitants. The first house built within the corporate limits of Medina was a log building put up by Capt. Badger, on the present site of the Barnard Block He also put up another house near by soon after the erection of the first. and these were the first buildings erected in the new town. The first building put up by Badger was kept as a tavern, the first in the town of Medina, and was opened for the accommodation of "man and beast," in the fall of 1818. Mr. Badger was unmarried at that time, and a man named Hickox lived with him. and together they kept tavern. The first court held in Medina County was in the second story of this log cabin. This humble frontier tavern was a place of great resort. It was the great news emporium of the neighborhood. The people gathered here to exchange their bits of gossip with each other. and to elicit from traveler guests the fullest digest of the news of the day. Here, also, announcements were made of the logging-bee; the house-raising, the dance ; and. when the public met to arrange for a grand hunt, they deliberated in this old log tavern. It was within its hospitable walls that the older members of the eommunity occasionally dropped
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in. and. basking in the genial glow of the wood fire we had no coal then ; it had not been invented). and with a well-filled pipe, and a glass of toddy. perhaps, the merry song or thrilling frontier story went round the circle. The frontier tavern was a jolly place, and. that they have become obsolete. the more is the pity. Another of the early taverns of Medina was the Chidester House. This was the stage house, after a line was established from Cleveland to Wooster and Columbus. and. like the frontier tavern. was a place of considerable resort. About stage time. everybody docked to the tavern to see the stage come in. just as the boys of the present day gather at the depot about train time. to see who can swear the biggest oaths. chew the most tobacco. squirt out the greatest quantity of juice. and use the most obscene language. As the stage rattled up with the blowing of the horn. and the prancing of the " fiery, untamed steeds." the people stood around open-mouthed. ready to pick up any stray scrap of news from the outside world. The Chidester House was long a famous stopping-place. and a well-known tavern in this section of the State. Medina is well supplied with hotels at present. the " American." the "Union" and the ̊ Brenner." being the principal houses of entertainment.
The first goods sold in the new town was by a man named Shoals. who opened a small store in 1819. He built the first frame house in Medina. which was designed for a store house, and. in which. upon its completion. he opened a stock of goods. and for several years kept up the business. His store stood upon the present site of the court house. The next stores were kept by Sherman Bronson. and a man known as Judge Smith ; but which of the two was first in the mercantile field is not known, but it is believed that Bronson was first. Both, however, were early merchants of the place. A post office was established very early, and Rufus Ferris was appointed by the Federal Government as its representative in this department. He kept the office at his residence, which was in the north part of the town. The mail was brought from Ravenna, sometimes on horseback and sometimes on foot, the earlier trudging through the forest with the mailbag on his shoulder. stopping at Medina on his way to Norwalk. After the opening of the turnpike from Cleveland to Wooster and the establishing of a stage route. the mail was brought by the stage. Dr. B. B. Clark succeeded Ferris as Postmaster. Capt. Greene. the present Postmaster. and his gentlemanly clerks, will probably turn up their fine Grecian noses. as they recall the small and insignificant establishment from which theirs has sprung. It would now require several men to carry all the mail that passes through the Medina office in twenty-four hours. From this small start, and everything must have a beginning, the town grew apace, was burned down, grew up again, was again burned. and still again, Phoenix-like, it rose from the ashes. In a copy of the Ohio Free Press. and Medina County Advertiser, of December 17. 1833. the following advertisements appear. which show something of its business at that early period of its existence : B. Durham. store ; A. D. Kinney, a minor ; the Medina Lyceum ; dissolution of copartnership ; G. W. Howe, druggist and doctor ; Oviatt & Bronson ; Leonard & Harris, hatters ; King & Gunn, pork dealers ; Leonard Case. lawyer ; Smith & Seaton, cabinetmakers ; B. Durham, a column advertisement of a new store ; stray heifer ; Administrator's Notice ; Blannot & Wilder, boot and shoe makers ; James Brown, tailor ; Mansion House, W. R. Chidester, proprietor ; new tannery. by King & Shaffer ; stray heifer ; for sale. by D. Northrop ; Administrator's Notice ; marble tombstones, by Nathan T. Clark ; carriage making, by Sylvester Hawkins ; ashes. Oviatt & Bronson ; new goods. King & Gunn ; Smith, Root & Owen, merchants ; L. T. Searle. lawyer ; for sale, by
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Peak & Sargent ; new goods, by Oviatt & Bronson ; stray ox ; saddle and harness makers. Woodham & Rawson ; new goods, by Peak & Sargent ; for sale, by Oviatt & Bronson ; E. H. Garrett. boot and shoe maker ; advertise- ment of Ohio Register and Anti-Masonic Re-
view ; new blacksmith establishment, by Hayward & Olin ; notice, Blannot & Miller ; Hayes' baker and roaster, by Chauncy Gilbert ; saddle and harness. by E. Dorgin ; tailoring, by J. J. Ruetzers ; patent ploughs, by Peak & Sargent. The Gazette, of May 10. 1872. says : "As a proof of Medina's business, we give the following statistics : Four dry good stores ; seven grocery and provision stores ; one hardware and crockery store ; three drug stores ; two clothing stores ; two millinery stores ; two stove and tin stores ; one paper store ; two jewelry stores ; six shoe stores and shops : two tailor shops ; two cabinet shops ; two furniture stores ; one photograph gallery ; a score of sewing machine agencies ; three hotels : one saddle and harness shop ; one marble factory ; two paint shops ; one printing office : one carriage factory ; one wagon factory ; three blacksmith-shops ; one foundry ; one machine shop ; one flour and feed store ; one coal-yard ; three lumberyards ; two planing mills ; one saw-mill ; one feed-mill ; two meat-shops ; one brick-yard ; two livery stables ; two dentists ; nine lawyers ; seven doctors ; four preachers ; four churches ; a fine schoolhouse ; two barber-shops ; one telegraph office ; one railroad depot two cheese factories, and flourishing lodges of' Masons. Odd Fellows and Good Ternplars."
In the primitive days of the town. the people had their social gatherings, and all passed off very harmoniously. Their log-rollings. their house-raisings, and such little affairs were well attended, and good-fellowship prevailed throughout. Capt. Badger gives the following account of the first Fourth of July ever held in Medina : "In 1819, the Fourth of July came. as it hadcome in former years, and it was resolved by the citizens who lived near, that it should be observed with appropriate honors. In the morning, a long pole was cut, and stuck in a hollow beech stump where the old court house now stands, and on its top, streamed gloriously and unrivaled in the air, a bandana handkerchief. being the best fac simile of the nation's flag that could be found and used. Those who participated in that memorable celebration were myself. R. Ferris. B. B. Clark, Caleb Chase, Erastus Luce. Thomas Currier and perhaps some others. We drove forks in the ground, prongs upward, then laid on pole-stringers, then put on crossties, and covered the whole top with peeled bark, on which we set some provisions. and. standing up around our hastily rigged and sumptuously piled table, discussed past events and the future prospects of our nation. our State and our county. Good whisky. being one of the necessary articles on such a day, was bountifully furnished and plentifully drank as a beverage. Sentimental toasts were drank. and always responded to by three hearty yells, and as many drinks of liquor. Whisky, sweetened with homemade sugar. constituted the drink that was handed around in the fashionable circles in those days. In the evening. we returned to our cabins highly gratified with the glorious celebration of the nation's birthday. We, on that day. gave names to all the streets or main roads that then centered in the village, by which names they are still called." It was thus that the pioneers enjoyed life in the wilderness. There is little doubt that the participants in that backwoods celebration, never, in after years. enjoyed one more thoroughly than they did on that occasion.
In 1820, the Fourth was celebrated in Medina on a far more extended scale than that of the previous year. A great many additional pioneers had come into the county. The people in every township in the county, and a great many townships that were not in the county—and
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perhaps never will be—were invited to come and bring their provisions with them, thus making a kind of donation party on a big scale. By noon, there was a large gathering and a cordial greeting ; the dinner was of the best the country then afforded, and all fared sumptuously. As on the previous occasion. sweetened whisky was the drink of the day, and, as the population had greatly increased, this time it was made in a washtub, and a pretty big one at that. As often as it was drained it was refilled, and from that memorable tub—more memorable than Diogenes' tub—every person dipped in his tin cup and drank to his entire satisfaction. Many of the more sturdy men took it raw, declaring the sugar spoiled the flavor of the whisky. and. in consequence, the ground flew up and knocked quite a number of them down before night. "It was," said one who participated, " a glorious day at the court house." Speeches were made, the Declaration of Independence was read, Hail Columbia and Yankee Doodle were sung, and " the day we celebrate " was celebrated in glorious style. The next year another and still more extensive celebration was had in the town. but our space will not permit a description of all these old-time Fourths, and so we will call it a " go," and pass on.
The public buildings of the place were built at the expense of the county. As we have stated elsewhere, Capt. Badger took the contract to clear off the public square, in 1819, and the first session of court was held in the upper story of his tavern. As the county settled up. the village grew in proportion. The first court house—the old brick on the opposite corner from the Barnard Block—was built, and a jail reared its somber head near by, as mentioned in another chapter. In 1835, the village attained to sufficient importance to ad mit of being incorporated, and for this purpose a special act of the Legislature was obtained, as the law then required, and thus Medina became an incorporated town. But, as the records were all burned in the great fire of 1870, we are unable to give any particulars connected with its incorporation, or any of the first officers. Nor could we obtain the name of the first Mayor. The affairs of the corporation are managed at present by the following gentlemen, viz.: Joseph Andrews, Mayor ; Hiram Goodwin, Clerk ; William F. Sypher, Treasurer ; S. Frazier, Marshal, and George Heyden, G. W. Lewis, P. C. Parker, Albert Munson, R. I. Saulsbury and R. S. Shepard, Councilmen. The town was now one of dignity, with a Mayor and Board of Common Council, and put on considerable style, used a great deal of red tape and did things up in good order generally.
One of the memorable events in the history of Medina, was the great sleigh-ride of 1856. This was for the prize banner, and originated by a certain township turning out on some particular occasion a large number of four-horse sleighs. First one township and then another captured the prize, until it finally became a county matter. attracting the attention of Summit, Cuyahoga and Medina Counties. In the contest. Medina turned out 140 four-horse sleighs (no other kind were admitted into the contest) ; Cuyahoga 151. and Summit 171, making 462, all told, and giving the prize to Summit County. The sleigh-ride of 1856 was to regain the prize. Each township made up its company, and all met at Medina on the appointed day, and, when marshaled in force, numbered 181 four-horse teams—being ten more than Summit had when she captured the prize. From Medina, the cavalcade of sleighs proceeded to Akron in good order, where they were fittingly and appropriately received by the authorities. All passed off harmoniously and without accident, and Medina brought back the prize, which was presented to the committee appointed to receive it, in eloquent terms. Thus ended one of the most remarkable sleigh-rides on record.
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But few towns in the State have been so unfortunate in the way of fires as Medina. Indeed. it has become quite cosmopolitan from the number of its conflagrations. It has been burned and rebuilt and burned and rebuilt again. Its last great fire was almost as calamitous, when everything is taken into consideration. population. wealth and resources. as was the great fire which followed it the next year. to Chicago. The first destructive fire in Medina occurred on the evening of April 11. 1848, twenty-two years before the last one. It broke out in the shoe store of Barney Prentice. in what was known at that time as Mechanics' Block." It spread rapidly in all directions. From its beginning place. it went north. west. east. south: north, laying Judge Castle's corner in ashes ; south, taking Mechanics' Block, one room of which was occupied by Prentice. another by Loring. a tailor, and another by Mr. Bostwick, a tinner, and the dwelling by Peak. It stopped here for the want of buildings to burn. Going west it took in a house, standing where the Gazette was in the second fire years after. owned by Mr. King, and back of Mechanics' Block. a large building owned by Judge Castle. Crossing from this to Blake's building. it went south and east ; south. destroying the printing office of Mr. Speer and a house owned by a carpenter; east, taking Chidester's hotel and outbuildings. and Dr. Munger's house and barn, and Mr. Canfield's barn. In all. six business houses. four dwellings, two barns ; total. twelve buildings. There was. at' the time. no fire company. but a hook and ladder company had been formed. Many. however. were not available. as the rules of organization were imperfect, and so the fire-fiend had pretty much its own way. The losses by this fire were heavy. considering the size and business of the town. Summed up. they were something about as follows: Judge Castle's loss was a couple of two-story frame buildings, valued at $9,300. and insured in the Medina Mutual Fire Insurance Company for $2,800. He was able to save about $3,800 worth of goods. together with forty-six barrels of pork. Hon. H. G. Blake lost a two-story frame building. with law office and fixtures. valued at 87.000. and insured in same company mentioned above. for $3,000. Chidester lost a two-story frame building ; Charles Bostwick's share in the Mechanics' Block. $1,800 insured in same company for 8600 : Mr. Loring 's share in same block. 8900. insured for 8 300 in the same company. The total loss, in round numbers. was about 840.000. which. as seen. was but partially covered by insurance. and that in a company that. at the time. was insolvent. or so nearly in that condition that we believe very little of the insurance was ever paid. The effect of this fire was the erection of a better lot of buildings than the town had possessed before, as many of those burned were old, rickety wooden buildings, and were replaced by substantial bricks.
It was in the great fire twenty-two years later, that the town suffered the greatest destruction of property. The alarm sounded on the night of April 14. 1870. calling the people unceremoniously from their virtuous couches, and. in a few short hours, almost the entire business part of Medina was in ashes. much of it for the second time. The fire started in an old wood building, a part of which was occupied as a barbershop. by one Frank Charis. and owned by C. E. Bostwick. Says the Gazette : When the fire was first discovered. it could easily have been extinguished by a few buckets of water. but, by the time these were procured. it was beyond any such fragile Means of control. It spread rapidly over the burned district of' 1848. and. reaching out on either side. house after house was licked into the flames and consumed. The heat was intense. and the air filled with flying sparks and burning cinders. It leaped across the street and caught the Phoenix Block. which was soon blazing from roof to cellar." This block contained Boult's
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dry-goods store. McDowell's drug store. Blake & Woodward's law office with Phoenix Hall in the upper story. The Whitmore Block. on the east. followed next ; then the International Hotel. and. after burning barns and outbuildings in its rear. it stopped in this direction for want of further available material. West of Castle's corner, it spread to the Gazette then to Barrow's cabinet-shop. when it stopped on that street. South from Phoenix Block. it took in several frame buildings. viz. : Asire's dwelling and cabinet-shop. Eagle Hotel. and then stopped in that direction. and. nearly opposite. it stopped at Seaton's grocery. " Thus far." says the Gazette. the fire was confined to the burned district of 1848, but it did not stop here. It crossed the street into the Selkirk Block. and from there spread rapidly north along the west side of the square. taking every building but two on the street." Those burned were Goodwin & Hinman and Lampman. in Selkirk Block; Dr. S. J. Smith's drug and book store : Dr. Murray's and J. B. Young's offices. up stairs ; Tiffany & Co.'s drug store : Root's jewelry store ; Sanders & Sturges' tin store : with Walker's and Robinson's offices. and Sachet's photograph gallery. upstairs : D. A. Wells' jewelry store ; S. H. Bradley & Son's hardware store ; A. Matteson's grocery ; J. W. Biaust's shoe store ; Humphreville Block. Dr. Hard's office. Coramercial Bank. Sypher's shoe-store. and G. W. Hobart's grocery-store. when it wore itself out and stopped in this direction. There were no lives lost in this calamitous event. but several parties were more or less injured.
The Gazette. in summing up the results of the fire, says : " The number of buildings burned, including all stables and barns, amount to about forty. A great many others caught fire, but were saved by the superhuman efforts of the people. At 3 o'clock A. M.. A. W. Horton mounted a horse, and went to Seville. where there was a hand engine. Some sixty or seventy men responded. and were soon on theirway to Medina. where they did good work in keeping the fire under, as it was about subdued when they arrived. They remained as long as there was need of their services. The following table of losses, and owners of destroyed property is taken from the Gazette's report of the fire :
William Asire. total loss about ............................$7,000
Insurance ..................................................................900
A. Andrews, loss in money and clothes, about..........300
H. G. Blake, total loss about ................................10,000
Insurance ................................................................8,000
J. M. Beebe lost household furniture, value not
known.
J. A. Rettig lost property to the amount of.................300
C. E. Bostwick, total loss about .............................2.300
J. B. Beckwith, total loss about..................................500
Dr. J. L. Bean, total loss about ...................................700
E. Brenner 'hotel), total loss about...........................2,500
H. Bradley & Son, total loss about ..........................9,300
Insurance .................................................................5,500
A. Blackford, total loss about....................................6,000
Insurance ...................................................................1,000
G. A. L. Boult, total loss about ..................................8,000
Insurance ...............................................................4,000
G. D. Billings (Dentist), total loss about ..................700
Mrs. Maria Bennett, total loss about .........................100
Mrs. H. M. Butter lost furniture and clothing.
John Barrow, total loss about ............................1,500
J. W. Blanott lost hoot and shoe store.
C. Castle, total loss about ..................................4,300
Insurance .................................................................2,000
W. H. Canfield, total loss about ..................................200
Frank Charis, total loss about ......................................300
Commercial Bank, loss about ...................................1,700
E. J. Fenn was insured for $3,000 and received
for loss ....................................................................460
J. H. Greene (Gazette). loss about .............................4,000
Goodwin & Hinman lobs over insurance......................600
A. Griesinger, loss over insurance ...............................800
A. Houck (International Hotel), loss about ...............6,500
J. W. Hatch total loss about ......................................1,000
8. Humphreville loss about .......................................2,000
High a Bradway total loss .........................................6,000
J. F. Hobart, insured for $700 and received for
loss .........................................................................100
George IV. Hobart, loss above insurance about ...........800
Mrs. U. M. Johnson, loss above insurance about .........200
L. Leon. insured for $5,000. and received for
loss ..........................................................................730
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S. P. Lampman, loss $500, no insurance.
Odd Fellows, on furniture in hall, insured for
$400, received .....................................................$100
J. P. Miller, insured for $1,000, saved goods
amounting to $3,000, loss ...................................2,000
McDowell Brothers, loss over insurance..................3,500
Dr. P. E. Munger, loss $100, no insurance
Dr. L. S. Murray (no insurance) ..................................300
A. Matteson, total loss over insurance, about........... 1,300
0. & S. S. Oatman, loss about $2.000. no insurance.
A. I. Roots jewelry store, loss over insurance............1,000
Renz & Brenner, total loss about...............................5,500
Insurance ...................................................................1,000
Dr. J. W. Robinson, total loss about ............................500
No insurance.
W. O. Sanders, total loss about .................................4,500
No insurance.
R. P. Seaton. insured for $1,000. received for
loss ..........................................................................302
Selkirk Bros., loss about ............................................4,000
No insurance.
H. Shuler, loss about ......................................................700
No insurance.
W. H. Sypher, insured for $300, and received.................100
William Shakespeare, tailor's tools, loss about..................50
Dr. S. J. Smith, loss over insurance ..............................2,500
L. W. Sacket (photographer). loss .................................1.500
No insurance.
Tiffany & Co., insured for $6,000. loss..........................2.500
B. Woodward, loss ...........................................................500
No insurance.
D. A. Wells, insured for $t00, received for loss................750
H. J. Walker, loss over insurance ..................................1.200
P. Warren (American House), loss over insur-
ance ..................................................................................200
J. B. Young, loss about ..................................................1.000
No insurance.
Mrs. J. Whitmore. loss over insurance ...........................1,300
The people of Medina. although their town was. for the second time. laid in ashes, did not sit down in idleness. but went to work at once in good. hard earnest. For the purpose of rebuilding the town. an association was formed and duly incorporated by filing the necessary papers with the Secretary of State, with a capital of $100,000. known as the Medina Building Association," and with the following incorporators : H. G. Blake, John Rounds. S. H. Bradley. A. W. McClure. N. H. Bostwick. H. J Walker. A. I. Root and W. C. Bradway. Thit association was formed in imitation of a similar one at Chardon. Ohio. a town that had been recently burnt. and rebuilt by means of a building association. The Medina Building Association. however. did not amount to anything. and soon went by the board. Upon looking civet the ground. and their financial balances. the people found themselves able to rebuild without the assistance of an association. As early as in May. several of the sufferers had commenced the work of rebuilding, or at least of clearing away the rubbish. preparatory to laying the foundation of their new structures. Among these were McClure & Bounds. A. I. Root. W. O. Sanders. S. H. Bradley. H. G. Blake. Houck & Son. A. Griesinger. Renz & Brenner. and High & Bradway.
The Gazette, of July 15. 1870. contains this notice of the preparations for rebuilding the burnt district : "From the start. Mr. Blake announced his determination to rebuild Phoenix Block. Messrs. Rounds & McClure. learning that Mr. Tiffany was not intending to rebuild. bought his lot for the purpose of putting up a block. A. I. Root. Sanders & Sturges. and S. H. Bradley also announced their intention to rebuild. This secured buildings to cover ground which had been occupied by the Ainsworth Block. Matteson's lot was purchased by Mr. Boult. and then the ground-work for the new Union Block was complete. Shortly after. Dr. Smith purchased the Selkirk lots—south corner of the square—large enough to accommodate two stores. One of these has been sold to E. J. Fenn. who will build next summer. Thus in a short time after the disaster. arrangements were made which would' secure the rebuilding of that side of the square this year. as far up as the Humphreville lot. Shaw, Lewis and Pancoast have bought this lot. and, in connection with J. F. Hobart. have made arrangements to build Commercial Block. Thus the
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west side of the square has been disposed of and will be re-built this summer. Nearly as encouraging state of things exists in the burnt district south of the square. Mr. Chamberlin bought the Castle corner, and. with Mr. J. P. Miller. one-half of that block will be finished this season. the other half next year. The Messrs. Outman are intending to put up a building for their meat market. The Mechanics' Block. by Renz & Brenner. and Griesinger. is being built upon the last lot of the burnt district. Across the street. the Eagle Hotel is nearly rebuilt." So far as adding to the beauty of the town. the great fire. like that of Chicago. was beneficial. inasmuch as it was the means of building of it up with a much better class of buildings than generally found in a place the size of Medina. All the blocks and buildings alluded to in the foregoing sketch have been put up. and are of a character any town may well be proud of. Union Block. on the west side of the square. presents a front of 131 feet, and is from 60 to 100 feet deep. two stories high. It is divided into five stores. and was finished March 1. 1871. The brick was burned here for its construction. and the lumber and lime bought in Cleveland. It is a block creditable alike to builders and owners. and cost. in round numbers. about $23.000. Mechanics' Block was commenced in June. 18700 ; the brick was furnished by E. Hale. of York. It is forty-four feet front, sixty feet deep. with tin roof. and cost about $7,000. It is a handsome business block. and is owned by Renz & Brenner. and A. Griesinger. Commercial Block was commenced in August, 1870. T. D. Allen was the architect. and McMullen Brothers the contractors. It is seventy-four feet front by fifty feet deep, built of brick. two stories high, and cost some $12,000. It is one of the handsomest blocks in the city.
The Phoenix Block is another of the fine structures. that. like its memorable namesake. arose from the ashes of the great fire. Referring to its history. the Gazette says : The corner of the square, occupied by the imposing new three-story brick block of Hon. H. G. Blake. has an eventful history. In early years. it was the emporium for the trade of the neighborhood, and. at the present day, holds its own as a business center. The fire of 1848 swept off the frame buildings which had accumulated there. and they were replaced by a handsome brick block, by Mr. Blake, who was then as now, the owner of the corner, and then, as now, public-spirited. energetic and liberal." This block was destroyed again by the fire of 1870. but efforts were made at once for rebuilding it. It occupies a space of 7 5x88 feet, is of brick, three stories high, with basement under entire building. The first story is divided into stores, one room of which is occupied by the Phoenix Bank. The second story is mostly offices. while the third story is divided into two large halls : one of them. and an elegant one it is. is used by the Odd Fellows ; the other, Phoenix Hall. 44x88 feet. is a very fine theater, well furnished with stage, scenery. etc., and will comfortably seat 500 persons. Many other blocks and substantial buildings were put up after the fire. The Barnard Block, Asire's furniture store. the Brenner House. and a number of others. These fine buildings, as we have said. give to Medina an elegant appearance seldom found in a town of 1,500 inhabitants.
In February, 1877, another fire occurred, which. for a time, caused the greatest alarm and anxiety. The Empire Block and two or three other buildings adjacent were burned, resulting in a loss of several thousand dollars. The fire. however, was subdued and did not spread beyond the buildings mentioned. Great wailing and lamentation " was heard in consequence of there being no organized fire department beyond a bucket brigade. It seems strange, that with all these fires. the people did not sooner wake up to the necessity of a well-systemized fire department. But, on the
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principle, apparently. that the lightning never strikes twice in the same place. this all-important move had up to this time been neglected. But the of repeated reminders of their negligence, finally aroused them to a sense of the emergency. and, in July, 1877. the Council authorized the issuance of bonds to the amount of $3,000 for the purpose of purchasing a fire engine. and made the following appointments in the newly created department. viz.: E. Brenner, Chief Engineer : 0.M. Jackson. First Assistant. and Samuel Scott. Second Assistant. In August of the same year, a two-horse engine was purchased. and arranged so that it could be drawn by men also. It is known as "No. 4 Silsby Rotary Steam Fire Engine." and was built at Seneca Falls. N. Y. Three streams of water can be thrown. with a capacity of 425 gallons per minute. It was furnished completely and performs effective service with very low steam. The hose cart. purchased at same time, carries 500 feet of rubber hose. all in good style and shape. Thus the Medina fire department is fully organized. and ready to meet the fire fiend with some show of advantage.
Medina, as a manufacturing town. does not make any great pretensions. There are. however, a few establishments that do that kind of business, and hence require some notice in these pages. Among the manufacturing establishments. past and present we may notice the stone and hollow ware factory, cheese factories. jewelry factories. Root's bee establishment carriage factory. foundry, planing-mill, grist-mill. etc.. some of which have passed away among the things that were. The stone and hollow ware manufactory, is one of the most extensive industries in Medina. The buildings were erected in the fall and winter of 1874-75. and business operations commenced in the early spring of 1875. The original proprietors were Thomas Jones. D. M. Thomas and John Smart, of Troy, N. Y. The establishment is a three-story brick. 68x21 feet, consisting of store. furnishing-room, engine-room. mill-room. etc. There is an average of some thirty-five hands employed, and a large amount of work is turned out annually. It is now owned. we believe. by W. H. Bradway. The cheese factories are also an extensive industry in Medina. as well as in the entire county. A factory was erected in 1866. by R. M. McDowell & Bro., which did a large business. The Gazette. of September 2. 1S70. said : "Each year since it started. there has been an increase in its business. The milk of 700 cows is received daily and made into cheese. the daily receipt being 14.000 pounds of milk. which is made up by seven hands." The Excelsior Cheese Factory was built in 1873–74. on the site of the factory which had been burned. It is a frame building. with brick basement walls. and is owned by C'. B. Chamberlin & Co. The main building is 28x82 feet, and was erected at an aggregate cost of $3.000. It has a front office and receiving-room 12x20 feet. and engine-room on west side which is fire-proof. The manufacturing room is 20x30 feet and contains three vats. a water reservoir and water pipes. The press-room is 12x28 feet : the dry-room is 28x40 feet. with basement of same size. The capacity of the establishment is sufficient to work up the milk of 1.000 cows. turning out a large number of cheeses daily.
The grist-mill of O. C. Shepard was built in 1872. The grist-mill is 30x40 feet. the saw-mill is 20x60 feet. and the engine-room is 27x37 feet : the engine is forty-five horse-power. The grist-mill contains two run of buhrs--one for wheat and one for corn. There is every convenience for handling and unloading grain. and the saw-mill has all the modern improved machinery, together with the circular saws. one of which is fifty-four, the other thirty, inches in diameter. The planing-mill of W. H. Wood & Co.. formerly owned by Warner & Smith. and built by them in 1874, is a large institution.
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and gives employment to several hands. The carriage factory of Stoaks & Bergey was quite an establishment, but has been burned since the work of preparing this history has been in progress.
The manufacture of silverware by D. A. Wells was at one time a large business in Medina. He used a considerable amount of silver in the work turned out. which consisted of tea. table. dessert. mustard. sugar and cream spoons : also pie. cake. butter knives. forks, oyster ladles. etc.. with a variety of other articles. From four to six hands were employed. and a large business was done for a number of years. but in the beginning of 1873. Mr. Wells failed. and the establishment was closed. A. I. Root also carried on an extensive business in the manufacture of silverware. previous to his embarkation in bee culture, to which he now devotes his attention. as noticed elsewhere. His business consisted in the manufacture of silver spoons. knives, chains. rings. etc.. etc.. and as much as 4.500 pounds of gold and silver were used in a single year when his business was in the zenith of its glory.
A bubble that rose very suddenly to the business surface of Medina. and as suddenly burst. was the " Manchester Oil Company." It was regularly organized with John Sisler. President ; A. C. Conger. Secretary : Levi Stump. Treasurer ; David Stump. General Superintendent, together with five other citizens of Manchester. who constituted the company. The company leased 300 acres of land from Truman Arthur. Rev. Clark, Freeman Stoddard. Lucien Clark, Martin A. Harding and Mr. Aply. This land was on Rocky River. three miles north of the village, and preparations were at once made for sinking a well. The work of boring was commenced in due time. and at a depth of 248 feet below, the surface. oil was obtained, in what was supposed paying quantities. The requisite machinery was put in and about a barrel per hour was pumped out, whileit was verily believed that when fully in running order, it would yield fifty barrels a day. This set the country. and the town on fire (figuratively), and the oil excitement was raised to the highest pitch. People believed that Medina County was literally floating in a lake of petroleum. The oil produced by this well was of a superior quality. and sold readily at $15 per barrel on the ground. Gas issued from the well in such a quantity as to admit of its being used profitably. The water that came out with the oil was strongly impregnated with salt. Those owning land in the immediate vicinity considered their fortunes made, while the entire community saw the most unbounded prosperity ahead. resulting from "strikin' ile." But alas for human calculations. The enterprise failed as suddenly as its short career had been brilliant. The flow of oil ceased, a hole was bored to a considerable depth, which proved a bore (a joke). a large sum of money was left in the hole. together with the machinery used, and the company retired from the " Rocky River Oil Regions " in thorough disgust. Alas !
The most extensive establishment. perhaps, in Medina. is the apiary of A. I. Root. He commenced the culture of bees in 1865. in a very small way. and somewhat as an experiment. The motive that led him into the business is thus told in his book upon the subject of bee culture : "About the year 1865, during the month of August, a swarm of bees passed overhead where we were at work, and my fellow-workman. in answer to some of my inquiries respecting their habits, asked what I would give for them. I, not dreaming that he could by any means call them down, offered him a dollar, and he started after them. To my astonishment, he, in a short time, returned with them hived in a rough box he had hastily picked up and at that moment I commenced learning my a b c in bee culture. Before night I had questioned, not only the bees, but every one I knew, who could tell me anything
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about these strange new acquaintances of mine. Our books and papers were overhauled that evening. but the little that I found only puzzled me the more, and kindled anew the desire to explore and follow out this new hobby of mine. Farmers. who had kept bees, assured me that they once paid, when the country was new; but of late years they were of no profit. and everybody was abandoning the business." Mr. Root, however, who possesses a mind of his own, and. as he says, "some headstrong notions," went to Cleveland a few days after securing his swarm of bees. and. visiting the book stores, looked up all the works on the subject. The one which to him seemed to contain the most valuable information on the subject was a work by Langstroth, the German bee culturist. With the facts contained in this book. he set out in the business in earnest. He now has one of the most extensive establishments of the kind in the country. As his business increased. and he learned more fully the habits and nature of bees. and the best modes of' their culture, his ideas were given to the public through the columns of the Bee Journal. when, finally, to more fully meet this end. he printed a circular. giving in it all the facts and information of which he had become possessed. This circular eventually grew into a quarterly publication. issued at 25 cents per annum. This was changed into a monthly. called Gleanings in Bee Culture and published at 75 cents. In 1876. it was enlarged. and the price raised to 81.
From the small beginning mentioned. the business has wonderfully increased. and at the present time Mr. Root has seventeen acres of ground tastefully laid out and arranged in the most excellent manner for the purpose for which it is designed. The following description of it is given by himself: "The apiaries cover about two and a half acres : there are seven of them, which will accommodate 5100 hives. We have at this writing (1879) 228hives. mostly employed in queen-rearing. Three or four boys and girls are constantly employed in rearing and shipping queens. Others are employed in making the hives and implements, while others still are employed on the Journal and making this book. In fact, there are now seventy or eighty of us altogether. Almost every trade and industry is represented in the building and on the grounds. We have all kinds of wood work. a tin-shop, carpenter-shop. blacksmith-shop. machine-shop, printing office. book-bindery. sewing room, paint-shop. varnishing and japanning room, a room where the comb-foundation is made. a room where leather is worked considerably in making smokers. and. indeed. we have almost everything except a grog-shop." But this establishment must be seen in order to thoroughly understand the working of it. The building is a modern brick, large and commodious. and is in keeping with everything else in this model establishment.
In connection with the manufacturing interests and commercial growth and prosperity of Medina. a few words upon the banking institutions may not be out of place. The first institution of this kind established in the village was what was known as " The Land Company's Bank." with David Icing as President. This bank was established prior to 1840, and was a . bank of deposit merely. and not of issue. At another time. a private bank was operated by Canfield & Ladd. but after several years' business. they failed in June. 1861. In the latter part of 1812. the First National Bank of Medina was organized. with a capital stock of $50,000. The officers were : L. B. Nettleton. President: W. W. Pancoast. Cashier: and Olney Allen. Daniel Ford. L. C. Sturges. H. Jones. L. B. Nettleton and W. W. Pancoast. Directors. This institution grew out of the old Commercial Bank. a private bank organized after the failure of Canfield K, Ladd. In May. 18 4. the First National Bank suspended operations.
The Phoenix National Bank was organized
PAGE 405 PICTURE OF W. H. WITTEN
PAGE 406 BLANK
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in the beginning of 1873. It succeeded the old Phoenix Bank, a private institution. The capital stock of the Phoenix National is $ 50,000. with the privilege of increasing it to $200.000. The President is J. H. Albro. R. 31. McDowell. Cashier. At the organization, however. H. G. Blake was made Cashier. and R. M. McDowell, Assistant Cashier. but. upon the death of Mr. Blake. Mr. McDowell succeeded him as Cashier. The Directors of the organization were J. H. Albro. John Rounds. S. G. Barnard, B. H. Wood. H. G. Blake, N. T. Burnham. R. M. McDowell. A. H. Hawley. and C. J. Warner. This bank is still in operation. and is the only banking institution in the town at the present time. It has good rooms and office in the Phoenix Block.
The educational history of Medina dates back almost to the laying-out of the village, and was inaugurated in the proverbial logcabin schoolhouse. the first temple of learning erected in the town. This was so similar to that given in the preceding chapter of the early schools of the township. that it is unnecessary to repeat it here. At an early clay, and long before the establishment of the present common-school system, select schools were held in Medina, also female schools. high schools. common schools, and. indeed. all kinds of schools. As early as 1841, we find an advertisement in the county paper. of "Medina Female School," by Miss Charlotte A. Weld. It is announced that she will open her school at the residence of J. W. Weld, in the village of Medina, on the 19th day of April. 1841, for the instruction of Misses and young ladies, in the following branches. to wit: " Reading, writing. spelling, geography. English grammar. natural philosophy. chemistry, algebra. Latin, and the rudiments of French, mental philosophy and geometry." The terms for this vast array of studies, were from $1.50 to $3.50 per quarter, according to the studies pursued. A postscript is added to the advertisement. in which parents are notified that full pay will be required for all pupils who attend so much as one week, unless their absence shall he caused by actual sickness.
In 1845, we notice an advertisement in the Democratic-Whig. of Mr. and Mrs. Barnes, for a select school, " in the building two doors north of Hiram Bronson's store," where " all branches will be taught on moderate terms." In the same paper of October 6. 1847, is an advertisement of William P. Clark, of " Medina Select School." in which " all elementary branches will be taught. together with instruction in French. German and music by Miss Jane F. Bradford." In 1856, S. G. Barnard advertises " a select school for those desiring to qualify themselves to teach." for which the class will be charged 84 each for the term. Thus the cause of education advanced by degrees, and the common-school system was perfected. Facilities were improved and enlarged in Medina, until they reached their present state of perfection.
The imposing, and even elegant. school building of Medina was completed and opened for the admission of pupils in the fall of 1872. It was begun in 1871, and the board, which was at the time composed of John Rounds, A. R. Whiteside and L. B. Woodward, determined to build it themselves, believing they could do it cheaper than outside contractors. The design of the new Wilding was drawn by T. D. Allen, architect. and, when it was erected, according to his plans, made, as all must acknowledge, a very handsome school building. The board, however. after proceeding with the work fora time. concluded they had captured a big, white elephant, and finally let the contract to complete the building, to William Hickox. of Medina, who agreed to finish it. pay for the work already clone by the board, and all for 819,000. The building is of brick, with cut-stone basement—two stories above basement—which is of itself eight feet high. The first story is thirteen feet, and the second story fourteen feet, surmounted by a galvanized iron cornice four and one-half
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feet wide, tin roof, galvanized iron window caps, etc. The dimension of the building is 84 feet fronting west, by 64 feet deep, with a tower 16 feet square in the front center, surmounted by a belfry and spire. The basement contains four rooms,, besides a hall ten feet wide, for coal, wood, and playrooms. The first story contains four large schoolrooms, entered from main hall through cloakrooms, and each room has a small one for the accommodation of the teacher. The second story contains two large schoolrooms, with a recitationroom for each ; also a room for Principal, connected with which is an apartment for books and apparatus. The rooms are fitted up with the latest improved furniture, well heated and ventilated. The halls are ten feet wide, with grand staircases from basement to second story. Upon the whole, it is a temple of learning of which any town may well be proud.
Medina Village forms a special school district, and the following are the statistics gleaned from the last report of the Board of Education :
Balance on hand, September 1, 1879..............$ 2.629 07
State tax ................................................................597 00
Irreducible fund ......................................................38 37
District tax for school and schoolhouse pur-
poses ..................................................................4,916 71
Fines, licenses, etc ................................................248 62
Total ................................................................$ 8.424 77
Whole amount paid teachers ...........................$ 1,881 00
Amount paid for superintending .........................1,000 00
Paid interest on redemption of bonds..................3,452 88
Amount paid for fuel, etc .......................................642 00
Total expenditure ..............................................$ 6.975 88
Balance on hand, September 1, 1880 ................$ 1,448 89
The roster of teachers for the present year is as follows : Prof. W. R. Comings, Superintendent ; Miss Josephine Manning, Assistant Superintendent ; William A. Fitch, A and B Grammar and Music ; Miss Kate Hills, Junior Grammar ; Miss Delia E. Alden, Third Primary ; Miss S. M. Wasburn, Second Primary ; Miss Bertha A. Barnard, First Primary.
The Medina Normal School was an institution that, for several years, was carried on in the village of Medina. and was of considerable importance while it lasted. It was established in 1872, by H. N. Carver, who embraced in his catalogue of branches all those usually taught in schools of this character. A special department was included for those desiring to qualify themselves as teachers. In reference to this institution, the Gazette. of August 29. 1873, says : " The theory of instruction is in accordance with the times. its central idea being to teach habits of thought. which will be not only available in the school life, but of universal application in the life outside. There is a great deal of loose talk in educational circles. about this matter of learning. to think with clearness and accuracy. It is true that no appliances which can be devised, can possibly discipline a mind so that it shall be strong. active and serviceable. unless that mind takes the work upon itself with the earnest determination to use all the powers already possessed. for the fullest development of its possibilities. But it is no less true that the instruction of one who has thus disciplined himself and who is thoroughly familiar with the best methods of exciting mutual activity, and directing it in proper channels. are eminently more valuable than the best efforts of a mere professor of books." At the close of the third year of this school. Prof. Carver published the following report of its successful operation : " The classes pursuing the studies of the scientific course have numbered from ten to sixteen : those of the classic. from four to eight, and. almost without exception. the work throughout has been of the most thoroughgoing kind ; the class in calculus. for example, have mastered every topic as discussed by Loomis. with collateral topics from other authors. Olney. Robinson. etc., sufficient to assure themselves of their ability to read and master these authors at their leisure. The same general course has been pursued in the
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other branches of mathematics, and in all the sciences. The other classes in the common branches, bookkeeping, etc., have done equally well ; and, judging from a long experience, I think it would be difficult to find a body of young people who have done a year's work more substantially than have the pupils of our school " Notwithstanding this flattering report of its general working, the school began to decline, and, about the year 1877-78. was finally and permanently closed.
Christianity received the early attention of the citizens of Medina, and led to the establishment of church societies, while yet the population of the place consisted of but a score or two individuals. The first church organized, perhaps. was St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Medina. It comprised the parish formed by Rev. Mr. Searle, mentioned in the previous chapter. and, although the first church was built in the township some distance from the village, yet. as the latter increased in population. the church was moved to the village. Among the original members of this church were Capt. Badger. Sheldon Welton. Eben Welton and wife. J. Welton. Noah Bronson and wife. Rev. Searle and wife, George Warner, James Warner and wife. and perhaps others. Upon the organization of the society in the village. services were held in the court house, until a building was erected. The exact time of the erection of the building is not known at the present date. The edifice is a frame. and, upon its completion, was dedicated to the service of God by Bishop McIlvaine. Rev. William Granville was Rector at the time of the dedication ; Rev. Searle was the first Rector of the church. and the original organizer of it. The next Rector after Mr. Searle, was Rev. Alva Sanford, who was followed by Rev. William Granville in 1833. Rev. Mr. Stamer and Rev. Mr. Kennedy each was with the church for a year or two ; then came Rev. George Davis, who served for about twenty-five years. Thepresent Rector is Rev. Mr. Culloch ; and the church has a membership of about ninety, and a good Sunday school is maintained throughout the year. Capt. Badger is perhaps the only one of the original members of this church now living, and, from him, most of its history was obtained.
The Congregational Church of Medina was originally organized in the township. as was St. Paul's Episcopal Church. It dates its organization back to 1817. as given in the preceding chapter. Soon after its formation. a church was built at Bagdad, but the increase of population of Medina was the means of bringing the church to the village. The first church. a brick edifice. was built in Medina in 1833—the cornerstone being laid in August of that year. The usual box of relics was placed in the cornerstone, but, when the building was torn down recently, the box had disappeared, leaving no trace behind. When the church was built, Rev. Simeon Woodruff was Pastor. Since his day, the Pastors have been nearly as follows : Rev. Samuel Lee, from Vermont, came in the fall of 1834, and remained until July 1837, and was succeeded by Rev. Talcott. who remained about a year, when Rev. B. C. Baldwin came. He died here in 184, and Rev. I. Hart succeeded, remaining one year ; then Rev. William Baldwin for one year. followed by Rev. F. H. Brown. who remained about six years. Rev. D. A. Grosvenor came next, and remained some six years; followed by Rev. G. W. Palmer, who stayed about two years, and was succeeded by Rev. Howenden, who also stayed two years ; then Rev. Dempsey was with the church one year, when he died. Then came Rev. C. N. Pond, who remained three or four years, succeeded by Rev. E. J. Alden, remaining five years ; then Rev. A. T. Reed, who stayed about five and a half years. He was succeeded by Rev. H. J. Ryder, the present Pastor. A new church edifice is now under contract to be finished by the 1st of August,
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1881. The old church has been torn down to make room for the new one. and the society holds its meetings in Phoenix Hall. There are at present about 150 active members. A flourishing Sunday school is maintained under the superintendence of Mr. A. I. Root.
The following incident in the history of this church, occurred during the spiritual supervision of Rev. Mr. Brown, and is related by one of the old members. Mr. Brown was a man who was remarkably fond of a fine horse and a good dog. and it is said that he could discover the good and bad points of a horse as quick as the most experienced turfman. To such an extent did he carry this trait. as to elicit the remark from an old parishioner one day. that. "Parson Brown's father spoiled an excellent horse jockey in his effort to make a preacher." Mr. Brown was the owner. at different times. of good horses. and. while possessor of his best one, perhaps. a circus came to Medina. When the cavalcade of "calico " horses made the grand entrance into town. the Parson was (by chance. of course). out driving, and, apparently unconscious of his position. had dropped into the rear end of the procession, and thus passed through the principal streets. until a member of his flock. somewhat ashamed of the part his Pastor was playing. met him on a crossing. and asked him if he had " joined the circus." This, with other acts of his, caused dissensions in the church, and efforts were made to obtain the preachers resignation. This he declined to offer, and instituted proceedings in the church against a number of the unruly members. Having, by some means, a majority of the members on his side, he was enabled to manipulate matters according to his own wishes. To give character to the proceedings. he had procured the services of an old minister (who, it is said. had reached second childhood) to sit with him during the trial as assistant moderator. One day. when about to "call off" for dinner, the moderator, Mr. Brown, invited Deacon Northrop " to lead in a short prayer." The following is said to be a verbatim copy of the prayer offered by the Deacon on that occasion : Oh Thou who knowest the hearts of all men. we pray thee forgive whatever savors of Popery in the moderator, or of servility in the church, Amen." Finally. the church succeeded in getting rid of their troublesome Pastor, and has flourished in peace and harmony ever since.
The Methodist Episcopal Church was originally organized about 1819-20. They built a little church in South Medina at a very early day, which was used until the erection of the present edifice, in 1859. which is a substantial frame building. They sold the old church building. which was converted into a private residence. After passing through different hands, it was finally moved up near the Union Hotel. and was burned some years ago. Rev. Mr. Farrah is the present Pastor of the Methodist Church, and has in his charge about one hundred members. A flourishing Sunday school in connection with this church. under the superintendence of Mrs. Parmalee, is well attended. There is. or was. an organization of Protestant Methodists in Medina, but of them we were unable to learn anything definite.
The Baptist Church of Medina was established on the 23d of August. 1833. The original members were Eden Hamilton. T. 31. Fenn and Mary. his wife : James H. Holcomb and Lucy, his wife : Stephen Bonnel and Harriet, his wife : Anson Hamilton. Sarah Hamilton, Anna Hamilton. Elizabeth Hamilton. Eunice Graham, and Adelaide and Maria W. Fitch. Elder J. Newi ton was the first minister, and began his labors February 20, 1S34. and was succeeded in the following August by Elder James Hoovey, who was succeeded September 30,1836, by Elder Asa Straight. Next came Elder Jesse Mason, June 17. 1837, and was followed by Elder Mudaman January 11, 1839, and he in February by Elder Corwine. and he by Elder Clark in Octo-
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her following, and he by Elder D. A. Randall in May, 1840. He continued until June, 1843. when Elder Solomon Dimick came ; Elder Randall again succeeded him March 1. 1844, and Elder Torbett followed him on June 1, 1846, remaining until March 5, 1853, when Elder M. Shank took charge. In March. 1860, he was followed by Elder J. W. Covey. and he by Elder Smith Goodwin, March 3. 1861 ; Elder J. A. Davis succeeded him July 4, 1863, and Elder J. V. K. Seeley succeeded him June 10, 1865. He remained until November 1, 1872. when Elder J. B. Sutton came as supply. remaining until May 3. 1873. when Elder Bickward came as supply. Elder G. W. Nead followed him October 1. 1874. and remained until November 30. 1878. when Elder Randall came back for the third time—this time as supply. November 23, 1880. Elder W. T. Galloway came, and is still in attendance. The first building was commenced in the fall of 1845. the corner-stone being laid on the 11th of September, by T. M. Fenn. (Previous to this. the society worshiped in the old court house.) The frame was raised April 4. 1S46. and the building completed and dedicated. August 12. 1847. It is a frame building. and cost in money $1,650. besides much of the work. which was donated by members. At present, there are about seventy-five active members. A good Sunday school is carried on, of which Charles B. Hord is Superintendent : the average attendance is eighty children.
The Church of the Disciples is of recent organization. being formed in 1877. by Elder T. D. Garvin, of Columbus, as the Disciples' Church of Medina." The cause which led to its being established grew out of a great revival held here in the fall of that year (1877), in which there were some fifty or more conversions. The organization was effected with forty-two members, and Union Hall was the place of worship. Elder George Peckham was the first regular Pastor, the present one—the Rev. Mr. Garvin. brother to the one mentioned above as the organizer of the church. The society has recently completed the most beautiful church edifice in Medina. It is built of brick, is of modern architecture, and was dedicated to the worship of God in the latter part of the year 1880. It has a large membership, and a flourishing Sunday school.
A Catholic Church was organized some ten years ago in Medina, with a small membership. It is visited by priests from Liverpool and Grafton. A neat little frame church was built about 1877-78. What the membership is at present. we were unable to learn.
A church was organized years ago in Medina by the Universalists. The circumstances which led to its formation were as follows : Rev. J. F. Avery. a Congregational minister, announced upon a certain time, that he would preach in Medina on the subject of Universalism. This caused the Universalists, to speak in the slang of the period, to " get up on their ear," and so they went to work and organized a church society. They commenced a church edifice on the northeast corner of the public square, which was never finished, as the society was short lived, and was disbanded in a few years. The United Brethren bought the unfinished building. but their membership dropped off in a year or so. and their organization ceased. and the building was sold to the Free-Will Baptists. who finished it. They used it for a short time, but they became numerically weak, and finally disbanded. The building was again sold, and has since been used as a business warehouse.
The secret and benevolent organizations, kindred in spirit and in works to the Christian Church. come now appropriately in order. Freemasonry, the most ancient of all the secret orders, is also one of the most honorable. Of all its mysteries: there is nothing in it more wonderful than its perpetual youth. Human governments flourish. and then disappear. leaving only desolation in the places where their glory used
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to shine. But the institution of Freemasonry, originating so long ago that no history tells of its beginning. has survived the decay of dynasties. and the revolutions of races, and has kept pace with the marvelous march of civilization and Christianity. The institution was planted in Medina in a very early day. following close in the wake of religion itself.
Medina Lodge. No. 58. A., F. & A. M., was organized in 1820. by M. W. John Snow, Grand Master and W.. Abram I. McDowell, Grand Secretary. The following were the charter members, and among them will be recognized many of the earliest settlers of the town and county : Rev. R. Searle, Rufus Ferris. Seth Blood, Noah M. Bronson, Lathrop Seymour. W. L. Peets. Julius Chidester. Ransom Clark. Lemuel Thayer, Jason Hubbell. B. M. Atherton, Abraham George, F. A. Atherton, George L. Chapman and Abraham Freese—the latter gentleman being named in the charter as the first Worshipful Master. The lodge suffered during the Morgan excitement of 1828-30, and was forced to suspend work for a time in consequence. At the time it became extinct, A. Miles was Worshipful Master. The paraphernalia were all given over to John Freese for safe keeping, who was the Secretary. While the Lodge remained dormant. Mr. Freese died. and the property fell into the hands of enemies. Subsequently, the jewels and some of the books were restored, but the charter was " forever lost." as was in the death of the man of Tyre. On the recommendation of the committee in the Grand lodge to whom the matter was referred: the charter was reissued in 1843, since which time the lodge has flourished. It has now about ninety active members. and is officered as follows : D. Hinman. Worshipful Master ; E. G. Hard. Senior Warden ; F. B. Clark, Junior Warden : T. S. Shaw. Treasurer : E. J. Fenn. Secretary : H. F. Handy. Senior Deacon ; N. W. Piper. Junior Deacon. and W. O. Sanders. Tiler.
Medina Chapter. No. 30, Royal Arch Masons, was organized under authority of M.. E.. W. B. Hubbard, Grand High Priest, and E.. B. F. Smith. Grand Secretary, and was chartered as a regular working Chapter. October 22, 1845—the first meeting being held January 29, 1846. The charter members were Nathaniel Eastman, Stephen V. Barnes. Philo Welton. D. H. Weed, Nathan High. Samuel Shaffer. Alex. Beatty, Augustus Pardee and E. J. Bruce. The charter designated Nathaniel Eastman as the first High Priest ; Stephen V. Barnes. King, and Philo Welton, Scribe. The membership at present is forty-two. with the following officers: Hiram Bronson, M. E.. High Priest ; P. C. Parker, E... King ; C. P. Chamberlin. E... Scribe ; Aaron Sanders. Treasurer ; T. S. Shaw, Secretary, and W. O. Sanders, Tiler. Since the organization of the Chapter. the following members have served as High Priests : Nathaniel Eastman, one term ; D. H. Weed. one term ; Alfred Davis, one term ; Hiram Bronson, six terms ; John A. Rettig, fourteen terms ; W. J. Foot, two terms ; A. C. Smith, two terms ; O. S. Codding. one term ; Orlin Oatman. one term ; J. K. Bergey. two terms. and Aaron Sanders, one term.
Medina Council No. 48. Royal and Select Masters, was organized October 12, 1867, by Will M. Cunningham. Grand Puissant of the Grand Council of Ohio, and John D. Caldwell, Grand Recorder. The first officers were Th. Ill. John Rounds. Grand Master ; Ill. John A. Rettig. Deputy Grand Master. and Comp. G. W. Noble, Principal Conductor of Work. The records show twenty-two members and the following list of officers : Th.. Ill... John A. Rettig. Grand Master ; Ill. Orlin Oatman. Deputy Grand Master : Comp. E. J. Fenn, Principal Conductor of Work and W. H. Hayslip, Recorder. Mr. Rettig has an extensive Masonic experience. and is the only man we have ever known. or even heard of, who has been regularly elected to. and served out, the
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terms as Worshipful Master of two Lodges at the same time. He was Master of Litchfield Lodge, No. 381. and of Wadsworth Lodge, No. 385, and a member of Medina Lodge, No. 38, all at one and the same time, performing faithful service in all.
Morning Star Lodge, No. 26. I. 0. O. F., was instituted January 18. 1844. by Thomas Spooner. Special Deputy Grand Master. The charter members were S. B. Logan. S. H. Bradley. Jo Whitmore, H. G. Blake. C. A. Drake and H. Torbett, all of whom are now dead, except S. H. Bradley. The first officers were: S. B. Logan, N. G.; Jo Whitmore, V. G.; and S. H. Bradley. Secretary. The present membership is forty-six, with the following officers : Aaron Sanders, N. G.; William Witter, G.; and G. D. Billings, P. and R. Secretary.
Medina Encampment. No. 33, I. O. 0. F., was instituted January 14, 1849, by William S. Johnston, S. P., Deputy of the State. The following were the charter members : E. L. Warner, S. if Bradley, Alfred Davis, Jo Whitmore, W. L. Terrill, C. B. Prentice and Charles Hubbard. The first officers were : J. Whitmore, C. P.; A. Davis. H. P.; S. H. Bradley, S. W.; E. L. Warner, Scribe; C. Hubbard, Treasurer. and W. L. Terrill, J. W. There are eleven members on the roll. officered as follows : Aaron Sanders. C. P.; J. S. Mason, H. P.; N. Piper, S. W. ; A. Griesinger, J. W. ; R. W. , Clark, Scribe, and G. W. Hobart, Treasurer.
Medina Tribe, No. 48. I. O. R. M., was organized under charter granted by the Grand Council of the Improved Order of Red Men, signed by William Percy, Grand Sachem, and countersigned by George B. Means, Chief of Records, and dated 15 Sun, Buck Moon, G. S. D., 378. This branch of the Tribe met at Sanders' Hall, on the 24th Sun. Beaver Moon, G. S. D. 378, and kindled its first Council fire. Deputy Sachem George B. Means being present, who ordered an election. About fifteen palefaces petitioned for dispensation. The following officers were elected and duly installed by the Deputy Sachem : Sidney J. Smith, Sachem ; John A. Rettig, Senior Sagamore ; H. G. Blake, Junior Sagamore ; J. N. Robinson, Prophet ; H. J. Walker, Chief of Records ; J. F. Hobart, Keeper of Wampum ; W. H. Hickox, Brave ; and J. H. Greene, Satrap. The Tribe kindled the Council Fire, in ample form, each seven suns, and added a great many members, until the 15th Sun, Plant Moon, G. S. D. 390, when the great fire burnt their wigwam, with all the valuable treasures it contained, viz.: the "Execution Tree," " Prophet's Stump," " Outer" and " Inner Wickets," etc. The Grand Council agreed to furnish a new charter whenever a wigwam should be provided. None, however, has yet been secured, and hence the Improved Order of Red Men of Medina, have gone to the " happy hunting-grounds."
In all time and in all countries, there has been, co-extensive with man's existence, some mode of disposing of the dead. " Let us bury the dead out of our sight," said Abraham, and this mode is, to-day, the prevailing custom in civilized lands. The cemetery of Medina was the necessity of the time in which it was located, and is now almost in the central part of the village. It contains many of the pioneers of the county, some of whom were laid away to rest in that silent spot, when Medina was but a sickly hamlet. It is to be regretted that the cemetery was not originally laid out, at least a mile further from the town, as a continued growth will, sooner or later, render this a necessity. It is quite a lovely spot, and many pretty stones and monuments mark the spot where slumber the loved and lost. Peace to their ashes.