200 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE although people were too young to have seen the destruction, still it was firmly fixed in their minds. The first destructive fire was in 1846 ; the others in 1849, 1855, 1860, 1866 and 1867. In 1838 a rotary engine costing two hundred and ninety-five dollars was purchased. At the time of the purchase of this engine a fire company was formed and its duty was not only to manage the fire but to do police service as well. The citizens of the town were requested to take their place in the bucket brigade. This company had to practice once a month, and after the novelty wore off, the filling of the tub was a laborious task, distasteful to all. THE DREADFUL FIRE OF 1846. Notwithstanding the preparation, this company had no chance to serve in the first fire, of 1846, because the buildings were largely of wood and the fire was under such headway that nothing as small and as inefficient could have much effect upon the burning mass. The fire department did the best it could, but citizens became very much excited and often ran throwing water on the fire from the individual buckets instead of keeping the tub filled, and finally the truck broke and the engine was placed on boxes, where it was worked, but to little purpose. This fire started about eleven o'clock on Monday night, June 1, the alarm being given by the Presbyterian bell, now rather worse for its years of work, but still hanging in the Presbyterian steeple: It originated in the grocery store of Fred Bolemyer, which stood where the Warren Hardware Company now is, on Market street, went down Main street nearly to Franklin, and east on Market to Park (Liberty) and down Park a short distance. Twenty-four buildings were burned, and among them some of the best firms in town lost heavily. A man lost his life in the store of B. P. Jameson. The park was filled with all sorts of merchandise and furniture. The stores of Henry Stiles and Asael Adams, standing just north of Market, on the east side of Park, were saved, although the goods were carried out and more or less clam-aged. Many ladies were in the rank of the bucket brigade and did heroic work in helping to save these buildings as well as the bank. Little insurance was carried in those days and the financial loss was very great. Warren now knew that one thing it must have was an efficient fire department. In July of this same year, 1846, James Hoyt and Oliver H. Patch, upon request of the citizens, went to Cleveland, purchased a Button at the cost of $600. This was the type of hand engine with which we are all familiar. It was a great improvement on the old one. A second-hand engine, bearing the name of "Saratoga," was purchased in 1851 and a company organized. Whether this was an entirely new company, or a reorganization of the old, we do not know. In 1855 another engine was purchased. THE GREAT FIRE OF 1860. Although the fire of 1846 was a dreadful one, that of 1860 was worse, and is always known as "the great fire." Almost the entire business part of the town was destroyed. This fire started in Truesdell & Townsend's furniture factory, located on the south side of Fulton street near Main. A strong wind prevailed and the burning embers were easily carried to the livery stable of Peter Foulk on Franklin street. This time both sides of Main street burned, and several acres were laid in waste. The covered bridge was destroyed and fell into the river. Many houses on Mahoning avenue had the shingle roofs ablaze, the Methodist church was on fire in several places, and Professor James Marvin, then superintendent of the public schools, got onto the roof and saved it by the help of the bucket brigade. Almon D. Webb, the father of Peter L. Webb, did the same thing for the Presbyterian church. Edward A. Smith is the only man now engaged in business who was in business at that   HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 201 time. There were two fire companies, Mahoning No. a and Neptune No. 2.. The former was located on South Park avenue and the second in a brick building located in the small park between city hall and West Market street. Members belonging to the Mahoning No. 1, now living, are John Buchsteiner, James Finn and Michael Goeltz, while of Neptune No. 2-Whittlesey Adams, Judge William T. Spear, Homer C. Reid and William J. Kerr are still living. This fire brought financial distress, but in the long run was good for the town, for, although more than $300,000 worth of property was destroyed, buildings were all re-buiit. Before this, Main street was below grade, and now this was brought up to the right level and a good foundation made. Before two years had passed, all blocks were rebult, all occupied. FIRE OF 1867 AND OTHERS. The fire of 1867 swept away the buildings from the corner of Park, to the building now occupied by Mrs. Kopp. The store on the corner, where the. Warren dry goods store now stands, was used by Charles Boughton as a crockery store, and over this the Misses Foreman had a millinery establishment. These two women carried on a successful business in Warren for a great many years. They escaped from this fire with their lives. They lost their stock of goods, all their clothing and furniture. The women of the town gladly and generously gathered together, made garments for them, and they were soon able, either from their own savings or by a loan, to secure a new line of goods and resume business. They were the leading milliners of the town for many years and during the latter part of their lives occupied rooms at the southern end of the present Union National Bank building. Since that time a number of business places have been destroyed by fire, and now and then a residence or two, but on the whole fires have been few and the department very efficient. FIRST STEAMER. In 1868 the first steamer was purchased. Including a goodly bit of hose, it cost $9,000. It was named for the mayor, I. N. Dawson, and the fire department bore also the same name. In 1881 a new steamer was purchased, costing $4,000. There was no change in the fire company as to name. CITY HALL BUILT. In 1874 the city hall was built at the cost of $40,000. The lower part of this building was arranged for the fire department, and horses were used for the first time to draw the engines, when the company was installed in this building. The erection of the city hall caused a good deal of comment on the part of the older citizens. These men realized the value of the land given by Mr. Quinby to the city, and as most of them had traveled, were well educated, and knew the possibility of this public park, they had guarded the Quinby gift and regretted greatly the sale of the land between the river and Quinby Hill, particularly the part opposite. the city. hall, and they also objected to the construction of the city hall, first because it obstructed the view of the river, but principally because they believed a stable in the lower part of the city building would finally make the building unfit for use. The town has Jived to see the wisdom of the early fathers, and has partially rectified its mistake by taking the fire department out of the building. PRESENT BUILDING AND DEPARTMENT. In 1896 the present fire department building was erected on South Park avenue. It cost about $20,000. In 1899 the Volunteer Fire Company ceased to exist, the present fire company was organized, and the office of chief of fire department created. D. K. Moser was elected chief, and has held that office ever 202 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE since. He has been a very efficient man. The firemen, at this writing, on duty in this building are Chief Moser, Grant Drennen, William Griffith, Dennis Gates and Milton Poulton. As many manufactories have sprung up in the northern part of the city, for several years pressure has been brought to bear for the establishment of a fire department in that section, and in 1908 a building was erected and equipped. The captain in this station is Harry Mills, John Graham and Stanley Johnson being the men on duty. WARREN PUBLIC LIBRARY. In 1814 or 1815 the first library in old Trumbull county was established in Warren. It contained about 1,006 volumes, mostly of biography and history. It was located in the cabinet shop of Mr. White, which stood north of the Presbyterian church. There was little, aside from church and social gatherings, to entertain people, and so this library was a popular institution. Mr. White served as librarian for more than thirty years, and there are many men and women living in Warren today who read those books which were under his care. In the early '40s 'W. N. Porter and Mr. Ide had a circulating library. December 20, 1842, we find in the Western Reserve Chronicle the following : "Wheat, corn, hay, oats, wood, butter, tallow, and most kinds of produce will be received for subscriptions to Porter & Ide's circulating library. Mr. Porter was a cultured gentleman, who had a large and well regulated book store in the room now occupied by the Masters Brothers Grocery Company. In 1848 Jacob Perkins, Dr. Julian Harmon, judge George M. Tuttle and Orlando Morgan, with some others, originated the "Warren Library Association." The books of the first library were transferred to this company and the trustees and patrons desiring to extend the work of the library, opened a reading room in connection with it. George VanGor der was the librarian for three years, and the library was in his father's block, which was afterwards destroyed by fire. Some persons who had contributed books and money to the first association did not exactly approve of this library on the larger scale. However, it flourished for a time. It was sustained by private subscription, and entertainments, especially lectures, were given for its benefit. Among those who gave the lectures were Jacob Perkins, judge Milton Sutliff, George M. Tuttle, Dr. D. B. Woods, and Dr. Julian Harmon. Later the Library Association decided that it could not keep open both reading room and library, and decided to close the reading room and stop periodicals ; to remove the library to the office of M. D. Leggett; to keep it open for the drawing and changing of books on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays of every week ; that the stockholders be taxed the sum of fifty cents and those not stockholders one dollar per year for the use of the library. In 1854 the library suspended and the books were sold at public auction and to private individuals. There were about two thousand volumes and many of them are now to be found in the libraries of the older residents. The people who had objected to the formation of this second library had occasion to say "I told you so," and those who had given books to the first library had reason to feel rebellious when they were sold to the highest bidder. In 1877 some books were gathered together and the nucleus of a new library was established. From the beginning Dr. Julian Harmon had been interested in the library question, and this third library was entrusted to his care in his office on Harmon street. Professor E. F. Moulton was president, Dr. Harmon was secretary, and the library was maintained by dollar memberships. For eleven years this organization was in existence, then President Moulton called meeting at Dr. Harmon's office, on July 1888, to consider seriously the question of a HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 203 library for Warren. The meeting was adjourned a week and twelve or fifteen persons perfected the plans at the office of P. L. Webb. George T. Townsend was chairman of that meeting and P. L. Webb secretary. Marshall Woodford was elected president, P. L. Webb secretary and treasurer; executive committee, Dr. T. M. Sabin, judge D. R. Gilbert, and Mrs. S. W. Parks. So far as we know this was the first time a woman had acted in official capacity in connection with the library association. More women than men were present at this meeting, among them, the Misses Mary Iddings, Maria Heaton, Ella Estabrook, Fanny Hall, Helen Bierce, Mrs. S. W. Park, Mrs. Woodford, and Mrs. W. T. Brown. The name of the Warren Library Association vas retained. The two cases of books which had been in Dr. Harmon's office, were transferred to Mr. Webb's office and he served as librarian for two years. On September 22, 1888, the library opened with two hundred and ninety-four volumes: Ten years later they had 4,000 volumes. This library was opened two afternoons and evenings in the week. No one in connection with this association received any salary, but there were expenses to be met, particularly that of the purchase of new books. The association therefore arranged for a course of lectures, and the committee having this in charge secured a list of responsible persons who agreed to make good, individually, any deficit and to give to the Library Association any profits. The first course was given in 1888 and '89 and the lecture course was continued five years. Eight hundred dollars was realized in this way,' and that sum really made it possible to continue the work. In 1890 the association was incorporated, by Henry B. Perkins, Marshall Woodford, B. J. Taylor, P. L. Webb, S. W. Parks, W. C. Stiles, and W. S. Kernohan. Marshall Woodford was president, B. J. Taylor, vice president; O. I,. Wolcott, treasurer ; T. D. Oviatt, secretary and librarian. From this time on the success of the library was apparent. Mr. Woodford gave a great deal of thought and time to the management of affairs, and when he was suddenly taken away, Mrs. Woodford took his place, acting as librarian. The law of the state of Ohio allowed a tax to be levied for library purposes, and supervision to be had either by the city council or the board of education. The association chose to put itself in the hands of the board of education rather than the council. This body therefore made .the levy and for the first time in its existence, the board of education divided on the lines of men and women, the women voting for the higher levy and the men for the lower. On April 1, 1898, the Warren Free Library became a reality. The first books were drawn that day, and the library was opened to all citizens and residents of school district. During the summer the evening hours were lengthened, the room being open from 6 :30 to 8 :00. The officers of this first Free Library were President, B. J. Taylor ; vice president, W. C. Stiles ; treasurer, P. L. Webb ; librarian and secretary, Mrs. Woodford. In 1896 one hundred and ninety-eight people drew books; in 1898, one thousand and twenty-five. In 1899, the high school library, of two hundred books, was transferred to the Free Library. In 1899 the library had become such an attractive place that people who went there for books, stayed and visited until the trustees voted that no talking above a whisper should be allowed. So well was this law enforced, as long as the library was in the building, that to this day when towns-people open the door of the National American Women Suffrage Association, they begin conversation in a whisper. In 1898 an endowment gift of $3,500 was made the library and the interest from this has served a goodly purpose. In 1878 judge Milton Sutliff left by will $1000 to provide the youth of Warren with a place for entertainment and enjoyment. The phrase relating to this was obscure and for 204 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE that reason, nothing was done with it until, by mutual agreement, George M. Tuttle, the trustee, with the consent of all persons interested under the will, agreed' that this amount might be turned over to the Library Association. The old building which had been used as an academy and which had been occupied by Mr. Sutliff as an office, was turned over to the library, and the 'rents accruing therefrom were used for its maintenance. This had to be done through the city authorities and all were pleased when it was thus settled. When the court house was building, provision was made . on the first floor, west wing, for the library, and here the association established itself in 1897. Mrs. Woodford was librarian at the munificent salary of $300 and her assistants gave their time gratuitously. It thus being determined that the Library Association was a fixture in the community, donations were made to. it of money and of books and those donations have been continued. Mrs. Woodford resigned to accept a position in Oberlin where she would be with her mother and her sister, and Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Cleveland, succeeded her. Miss Smith served two or three years, and upon her return to Cleveland, Miss Cornelia Smith was elected librarian and has served ever since. Too much praise cannot be given to Miss Smith for her devotion and her interest. Under her management, the library has become a place where young and old cannot only receive books, but can be guided to all sorts of references and helpful articles. About 1904 the Library Association decided to accept the offer of Andrew Carnegie to give $28,000 to the library and building was begun in the fall of that year. It was finished in February, 1906. As Mr. Carnegie always requires that the city obligate itself in the expense of maintaining his libraries, the city levied a proper tax. The bill providing for this free library placed the control in the hands of the city authorities. The city now levies 7 mill and last year. this amounted to $3,200. As the library was built on the Sutiff land, and as a provision of the Sutliff will must be carried out, the first floor was made into a hall and named "Sutliff Hall," and the library proper is on the second floor, although part of the rooms On the first floor are used by the library for storage. Within the last year this hall has been used as a gymnasium for boys. The will of Mr. Sutliff provided for both boys and girls. The library now contains over 15,000 books The officers are : President of the board Homer E. Stewart ; vice president, T. I. Gilluser ; treasurer, P. L. 'Webb ; members, S. W. Parks, Homer E. Stewart, Charles Fillius. Mary Perkins Lawton. NEWSPAPERS OF THE COUNTY. The first paper in Trumbull county was known as the Trump of Fame. It was issued in 1812 and has continued under various names until the present time. In 1816 its name was changed to the Western Reserve Chronicle. Sketches of the Trump of Fame and early papers are given in one of the chapters comprising the general history. In 1848 the Trumbull County Whig was established, which later became the Western Transcript In 1853 the Chronicle and Western Transcript joined in the name of the Western Reserve Chronicle and Transcript. Mr. Ritezel was editor and publisher of the Trumbull County Democrat. That paper was consolidated with the Chronicle, Mr. Ritezel being a junior member of the firm. This was in 1861. In a short time Mr. Ritezel became editor and proprietor of the weekly Western Reserve Chronicle and continued in this capacity until 1877, when a stock company was formed He served in the capacity of editor for forty-one years and died in 1882. A daily issue of this paper was started in 1883. The Chronicle now occupies the first floor of the Masonic block. The News Letter was a paper established in 1830 by Thomas J. McLain, Sr., and his HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 205 brother, J. G. In 1839 this paper became the Trumbull Democrat and had several noteworthy editors. The questions raised by the war however shattered the spirit lines of the public parties and William Ritezel, who was then editor of the Democrat, as we have seen, became a Republican. Jefferson Palm was. connected with the News Letter and the Olive Branch and when the Democrat united with the Chronicle the Democrats were without an organ. In 1862 Jefferson Palm founded the Constitution, which suspended publication in the eighties. In 1866 the Warren Record came into existence. It was also founded by Jefferson Palm. It was the forerunner of the present Democrat. The Democrat is a vigorous paper, under the editorship of Horace Holbrook. In 1876 the Warren Tribune was founded, particularly to break into the Garfield popularity in the district. W. S. Peterson was the owner and his two sons were later associated with him. In 1834 William H. Smiley bought the paper and it was a lively sheet as long as he was editor. In 1891 he sold it to Mr. Lampson, who established the daily Tribune. In 1892 it became the property of C. H. Newell and H. F. Harrison. Three years later W. C. Deming and F. E. Russell bought the paper and the Tribune Company was formed. The stock is owned by Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Deming, T. H. Deming and C. B. Rigg. T. H. Deming is editor. This paper is located in the Opera House block. An early paper which did not live very long was the Liberty Herald. The Courtland Gazettte was established in the early seventies, but the plant was destroyed in 1888. The Courtland Herald was established and edited by H. D. Holcomb' from 1888 to '94. H. C. Freeman owned the property for five years, When it suspended. This was in 1899. In 1900 Card C. Hadsell purchased it and is still its editor. The Niles Register was established in 1866 and in 1868 it was changed to the Niles Independent. In 1876 was bought by McCormick and Williams. In 1883 McCormick owned it all and since then his wife, Mrs. Ella McCormick, has assumed the editorship and proprietorship. The Niles News was founded in 1890 as an independent paper, but later became Republican. It has the largest circulation of any paper in Niles. Newton Falls has the Tri-County News, which has a goodly circulation and reputation. THE MASONS AND ODD FELLOWS. The Ancient Free and Accepted York Masons determined, in 1803, to establish a lodge in Trumbull county. This was accomplished the next year, with Samuel Tylee as grand master, under the name of Old Erie Lodge No. 3. The men who were leaders in the community at that time were members of this lodge and it prospered greatly for a time. It became weaker under the growing excitement of the anti-Mason strife and suspended between 1829 and 1833. The charter of this lodge was consumed by fire when the house of Edward Spear, father of William T. Spear, was burned in 1835. In 1854 a party of Masons, who were connected with Old Erie Lodge No. 3, met at the home of one of the members as they had done more or less during the interval, and made application for the charter. Unfortunately, the name of Erie Lodge No. 3 had been taken by some other lodge, and they were obliged to take a new name, but later the old one was restored to them. This order has always prospered and now occupies a beautiful building of its own on the corner. of Pine and Market streets, opposite the City Hall. A lodge of Odd Fellows was organized in 1844, but in 1846 most of their paraphernalia was burned in the fire ; but the order was reinstated at the old American House, now Dana's Institute. The shattered belongings of this 206 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE lodge were gathered together and with the help of lodges from dozens of cities, the body was put upon its feet again. The war, of course, had an effect upon this organization, as upon all others, but it has always had a good standing in this community. Mr. William H. Stiles, either by will or by instructions to his trustees, planned for the erection of a block, provided the Odd Fellows would occupy the second story. This they gladly did and moved into their new spacious quarters May 1 1906. This building is opposite the court house on Park avenue. TRUMBULL COUNTY ARTISTS. A number of Trumbull county citizens have made their mark in the artistic world. Foremost in Kenyon Cox, the son of J. D. Cox, who is mentioned in connection with the Warren schools. This artist now lives in New York City, and enjoys an enviable reputation among artists and art schools. His wife is likewise an artist. John W. Bell, the son of Reuben Bell. had decided talent in painting, and some beautiful productions of his are in Trumbull county homes. Mr. Cox studied abroad and had every advantage, but Mr. Bell was not so fortunate, and developed his talent largely in New York and eastern cities. His specialty was autumn landscapes. He did some very good work in water color. He married Ella, the daughter of Dr. Metcalf, who likewise had artistic tastes and who was successful in marketing his pictures. He had the truly artistic temperament and cared little for the financial part of picture painting. A. T. Millar, a resident of Cortland, a student of Mr. Bell, afterwards studied in New York and Europe, and now does very creditable work. He lives in New York. John Crawford was the first of Warren's artists, and had good ideas of colors. He died when very young, giving great promise. William F. Porter had decided artistic tastes, but did not make this his profession. NILES. The early history of Weathersfield and Niles, in a certain sense, is identical. Although Niles is but five miles away from the county seat, the two towns are as much unlike as Portland, Oregon, and Portland, Maine. The difference will not be noted here for want of space, but it might be well to say that there has always been more or less contention and jealousy between the two towns, just as there has always been between individuals or politicians (seldom are there two United States senators of the same political faith from the same state, who do not manifest this spirit) but, strange to say, although the Niles politician has discredited the Warren politician, and the Warren newspaper has passed unnoticed the Niles newspaper, and so on, the women of Warren and Niles, from the earliest time to the present, have been friendly, s pathetic and sociable. The first iron made west of the Alleghanies was smelted in a little furnace constructed at the mouth of the Yellow creek, in Poland, about 1802. Theophilus Eaton was a deputy governor of the British East India Company. He possessed both wealth and influence and in 1637 he brought a Puritan colony to Boston. He had had the advantage of travel, an although the rest of the company were think ing about religious liberty, his mind iv largely on founding a commercial community. John Davenp0rt was the spiritual leader this company, and Mr. Eaton convinced the reverend gentleman that it would be as mu of a spiritual advantage as a commercial a vantage to move on to some fertile spot when there was a good harbor. Both these men felt they would not like to get under the control of the government of Massachusetts, and so they settled on Long Island Sound, and named their town New Haven. Of course, they soon saw they would have to have a civil government, and Mr. Eaton was elected governor for many years. The descendants of Theophilus Eaton were HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 207 possessed of his spirit and eventually crossed the Alleghanies. There were four brothers who remained in Trumbull county, James, Daniel, Reese and Isaac. Another brother, wen, although he came here, did not stay. Kidney ore was found on the surface along Yellow creek ; wood was plenty with which to make charcoal, and the creek was sometimes navigable for rafts, so that the astute Eaton brothers, James and Daniel, built a crude furnace and began the manufacture of iron. here is still standing, in Struthers, the lower part of this brick foundation. Since men have piled up riches, millions upon millions, in the Mahoning valley, through the manufacture of iron, it seems as if this first spot upon which it was made should be marked with an appropriate monument of some kind. However, this sort of sentiment the transplanted Yankee does not seem to have, although his New England cousins have it in a great degree. JAMES AND DANIEL HEATON. James Heaton, who began the manufacture of iron in Mahoning county, early sold his interest in this Struthers furnace to his brother, Daniel, and with his brother, Isaac settled in Howland in 1805. Isaac spent all his life in Howland. He was identified with its interests. He liked its people. He had two children, Maria, and a son, who afterwards practiced medicine in Warren. He was justice of the peace for many years and was known as "Squire Eaton." It was the intention of the Heatons to establish a commercial town in the wilderness of Turmbull county, and after a time. James built a small furnace at the mouth of Mosquito creek in 1809. Isaac helped in this enterprise, but continued his residence in Howland. James built a cabin on Robbins avenue, just beyond the bridge, in a spot which is called by the old residents, "Circleville," and it is still standing. After a time, James sold his interest in the first furnace to some men of the neighborhood, and from that time on, although there were several sales made before much financial gain was had, that neighborhood has been the life of the iron manufacture of Ohio. Daniel Eaton was in a certain sense the best known of the brothers. People of his time said he was "as odd as Dick's hatband" ; his descendants' say the same thing of him. He was a liberal in belief, and yet he called his friends "brother" and "sister." He attended no church, and yet entertained ministers and missionaries. He sympathized with the Mormon leaders and entertained them at-his house, not because he believed in Mormonism, but because he disbelieved in oppression. He was a student of political affairs so far as they touched the financial, and in the latter part of his life, espoused an 0riginal and peculiar theory of issuing paper money. He despised shams, was a good hater, and a believer in temperance in those intemperate days. Each township seemed to have had a man, or a woman who made the stand for temperance early, and Daniel Eaton was that man in Weathersfield. He was about to raise a building, and when the men found out he was not to give them whiskey or alcohol of any kind, they left the premises. This happened over and over again in all the counties of the Reserve, but usually the building was raised by old men of the family and boys of the neighborhood. In this case, Mr. Eaton called to himself the women of his family and neighborhood and with their assistance got up the frame. This was, so far as we know, the first building in Trumbull county raised by women. Josiah Robbins and his wife, Electa, dispensed hospitality to all travelers and visitors of the vicinity. Mr. Robbins was a temperance man, as was Dan Eaton. They were the exceptions of their times. Wine was served ordinarily at all sorts of dinners, and every household had whiskey on the sideboard or mantlepiece where people were allowed to help themselves. Maria Robbins Ingraham says : "My father signed a temperance pledge soon 208 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE after his first marriage." Dan Eaton drew up a pledge in 1813, which obligated all the signers to entire abstinence from all intoxicating liquors. Laura A. Luce says : "This pledge remained in my grandfather's, family until 1842 or '43 when a traveling lecturer begged that it might be given to him as it was much the earliest pledge of the kind that he had ever seen. The pioneer women who signed this pledge were Phebe Blachly, Naomi Eaton, Sarah Drake, Katie Barnes, and Margaret Eaton. I have heard my grandmother say that liquor was served at all huskings and quiltings, and her cheeks would burn and her hand tremble when she passed the social glass without partaking." At one time Mr. Eaton ran for office. His name was Daniel Heaton. The tickets were printed "Dan Eaton." One of his descendants says that for this reason he was counted out. Later he had the legislature change his name to Dan Eaton, so, although the other brothers retained the name of Heaton, he was Known as Eaton. Someone at the time playfully said, that as Mr. Eaton wished to have his name sound like his brothers', he dropped the "h" in order that the English in the valley might call him by the proper name, that is, put on the "h" when it was not there. He was senator from Trumbull county in 1813, and a member of the lower house in 1820. Bowen Heaton settled on the Luce farm in Weathersfield and moved to Illinois in 1836. James Heaton was as strong a man as Daniel, but not so radical. He was powerful physically, and employed all spare moments in reading. People wondered that he should be a Whig when he was interested in the iron business. He acquired rights on the Mosquito creek, built a dam, a grist mill, cabin for his workmen, and a saw mill. In 1807 he had a forge in operation about where the B. & O. railroad crosses the creek. For a time he got his pig iron for his blooms at the Yellow creek furnace, but about 1812 he built a blast furnace, a little east of the present high school building. This was owned by his children and his grandchildren and went out of blast in the '50s. His son, Warren Heaton, was early as sociated with him. Before this, however, McKinley, Dempsey & Campbell rented the furnace, and in 1842 McKinley and Reep rented it again. McKinley moved to Poland in 1842 He was the father of William McKinley, the president. He went to Poland partly to secure educational advantages for his children. Had he remained in Niles, in the iron business, his son probably would have been one of the rich. and prosperous men of the vicinage. However, he would not have been president, but it is better to be alive than to be president. FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN NILES. The daughter of James Heaton, Maria, was the first white child born in Niles. When she was a little thing, about 1809, "following an old English custom, her father carried her to light the first fire in his new charcoal, blast furnace, and to give it her name. It was known as the 'Maria Furnace' until it went out of blast fifty years later." This Maria was the pet of the family, although pets of those days would not consider themselves pets were they living now. She went to school in Howland township, then in Warren, then in Kinsman, and finally, at Little Washington, Pennsylvania. In 1818 her father built the house now standing on the south side of Robbins avenue at the head of the hill, owned by W. B. Mason. It was built after the colonial style so much in vogue in Virginia and was among the attractive homes of the county. Here many years later, Frank Mason, who has made a reputation in the diplomatic service of the United States, lived, and here his brother and his genial wife reside. .Maria Heaton, when she returned from school, gave a Halloween party, which was attended by the young people of the neighborhood, among them Charles and Henry Smith, of Warren, John Crowell of the same place, and Josiah Robbins of. Youngstown. Among the things to eat was a turkey, and Mr. Robbins, al- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE- 209 though quite young, was. asked to carve it. This he (lid in such a way as to meet the approval of James Heaton, and after the refreshments were served, and the dancing begun, people noticed what a beautiful couple Josiah Robbins and Maria Heaton were; and when he was leaving the house Mr. and Mrs. Heaton asked him to call again, which he did. In the following March, they were married, and this home became their home until it was sold to Ambrose Mason. Maria Heaton, as Mrs. Robbins, lived in this house all her mar-tied life. She died in 1835, and her husband later married Electa Mason, the sister of Henry, Hiram, Harriet (Mrs. Reeves). So much affection for and connection with the early families was there, that when Electa Mason's eldest daughter was born she was named Maria, after her father's first wife, Maria Heaton. "NILES" NAMED. After a time the little manufacturers started near the mouth of the Mosquito creek grew and became a hamlet. It stood east of Mosquito creek and north of the Mahoning river, including the Main part of the business portion now. It was laid out in 1834 by James Heaton and his son, Warren.. The former gave it the name "Niles" from the Niles Register, published in Baltimore, Maryland. This Register was Mr. Heaton's standby. Warren in 1832 built a house in this town, and a few other dwellings existed. In 1844 the establishment of the Ward Rolling Mill brought a number of workmen, so that in 1850 there were about a thousand persons there. It is said that the bar iron manufactured by James Heaton in 1809 was the first of the hammered bar proced in the state of Ohio. MANUFACTORIES OF NILES. Niles has always continued to be a manufacturing place, and below is given a list of the present principal industries : The Thomas Steel Company, manufacturers of sheet steel ; W. A. Thomas, president and manager. The Empire Iron and Steel Company, manufacturers of sheet steel ; George D. Wick, president. The DeForest Sheet and Tin Plate Company, manufacturers of sheet steel ; Wade A. Taylor, president and manager. The Standard Boiler and Plate Iron Company, manufacturers of oil tanks and structural iron; E. A. Gilbert, president and manager. The Niles Car and Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of electric. cars ; Frank C. Robbins, president and manager. The Ohio Galvanizing and Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of ice and garbage cans ; F. F. Bentley, president. The Stanley Works, manufacturers of door bolts, butts and hinges ; John H. Fellows, resident manager. The Harris Automatic Press Works, manufacturers of high speed automatic presses ; G. D. Kirkham, president. The Fostoria Glass Specialty Company, manufacturers of electric bulbs ; E. A. Cross, president. The Refilled Lamp Works, manufacturers of electric lamps ; A. E. Mace, superintendent. The Carnegie Steel Company, manufacturers of pig iron ; M. J. Scammell, superintendent. The Bostwick Metal Lath Company, manufacturers of metal lath ; W. G. Hurlbert, president and treasurer. The Niles Iron and Steel Roofing Company, manufacturers of metal roofing ; G. B. & F. C. Robbins. The Sykes Metal Lath and Roofing Company, manufacturers of metal lath ; R. G. Sykes, president. The Niles Forge and Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of forgings ; H. J. Robbins, president. The Niles Fire Brick Company, manufacturers of fire brick ; T. E. Thomas, manager. Vol. I-14 210 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE The town of Niles became incorporated about 1865, and H. H. Mason was elected mayor in January, 1866. SCHOOLS OF NILES. There were several private schools in Niles in the early '40s. Dr. and Mrs. Blachley founded a school which was attended by nonresident pupils. Amy Eaton had a select school which accommodated boarders. She was well equipped for teaching. Under her tuition Josiah Robbins, John Heaton, and David McKinley prepared to enter Allegheny College. We find .the following interesting document in connection with the public schools of Niles : Friday, September 16,1842. Pursuant to previous notice the house holders in District No. 8 in Weathersfield township, Trumbull county, Ohio, met for the purpose of electing three school directors, the meeting being called to order by appointing William McKinley, Jacob Robinson and James Dempsey to the chairs. They then proceeded to the election of officers. After canceling the votes given it was found that William McKinley was elected school director for the term of three years ; Jacob Robinson for the term of two years and Dr. Miller Blachly for the term of one year. The said directors then proceeded to select one of their number for district clerk and treasurer which ended in the appointment of William McKinley to that office. This done the oath of office was administered by James Dempsey, Esq. Meeting adjourned. WILLIAM MCKINLEY, District Clerk. In 1869 the Union school district was formed and the board consisted of six members. They were Josiah Robbins, T. Calvin Stewart, William Campbell, S. D. Young, William Davis, and William C. Mann. Josiah Robbins was elected president. The Central high school building was finished in 1871, and the first graduation was in 1875. There was but one graduate, Frank Robbins, who entered Hiram College. The following needs no explanation ; "The good-will of the authorities and the community is shown in the reappointment of Miss Hyde at an advance in salary amounting to $.50 per month, and perhaps, also, in that the lady was not paid even a part of her salary in bar iron." Number of pupils enrolled, 1,410. MCKINLEY'S BOYHOOD. Trumbull county is proud of the fact that William McKinley, Jr., was born within its limits. Niles is greatly gratified that this martyred president first saw the light there. During the McKinley campaign a New York 'paper asked the author of this work to write an article on McKinley's boyhood. Knowing the family well, she thought it would be wise to consult the mother and sisters about the pranks of the son and brother upon whom the eyes of the world were then turned. She learned that he was always kind to the family, that he never quarreled as did other children, that he did not dislike church, that he liked to go to Sunday school, that he never fished on Sunday, that he liked to study, felt bad when school was out, did not care for the rough games of boys or the coarse talk of older men, preferred to stay in the house and read or play with his sisters to the more energetic life of boys. Fix it as she could, the author could make nothing out of this gentle life that could not be misconstrued by the opposing political press men. She knew the other side would call him "goo-goo" and she never sent the article. The fact that he liked books and quietude, made him a good student and consequently a favorite with his teachers. MCKINLEY'S TEACHER, "SANTA ANNA." One of the first of these teachers was Albe Sanford. J. G. Butler, Jr., says he was locally known as Santa Anna. He came to Niles soon after the Mexican war and had charge of the little white schoolhouse for a HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 211 number of years. He was called "Santa Anna" from some supposed resemblance to the great Mexican general, possibly because of his peaceful nature. He was a character and his methods of discipline were unique, running entirely to ridicule. It was his delight to make a girl sit between two boys, or boy between two girls, as punishment. This sometimes happened to young McKinley. He liked it. The more girls, the better. It is related by all McKinley's people that he was genial, bright, got his lessons, recited them well, and behaved himself generally. The only mannish sport he seemed to care for was playing soldier, and then his cap was of paper, and his sword of wood. The family moved to Poland when he was about ten years old and there he spent the rest of his school days. One of his early teachers, Maria Bolin, now Mrs. Kyle, now lives in Niles and remembers with pleasure when William was one of her pupils in the old frame schoolhouse at the corner of Main and Church streets. His sister, Annie, lived in Niles the first twenty years of her life, except for a brief period and taught school in Canton for thirty years. The following memorandum shows how full was the life of Ohio's gentle president : Born at Niles, 1843. Educated, public schools, Poland Academy, Allegheny College. Taught school. Enlisted as a private, 1861. Was commissary-sergeant, second lieutenant, first lieutenant, captain ; served on the staffs of Hayes, Crook, Hancock; brevetted major by Lincoln, 1865 ; acting adjutant general ; studied law at Warren ; went to Albany law school ; admitted 1867 ; settled at Canton ; prosecuting attorney 1869 ; congressman 1876 ; 212 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE chairman of the ways and means committee. In favor of Sherman for president in 1888 convention ; Blaine in 1884 ; Harrison in 1892 ; nominated for president in 1896 ; assassinated at the Pan-American Exposition in 1898. When years have passed and the times of today will be to the people then as Jefferson's administration is to us, two facts will always be told of President McKinley ;—one the constant devotion to his invalid wife, to whom he wrote, telegraphed or sent flowers every day. he was absent from her, and whose first word when he realized he was wounded was for her ; and his act in regard' to the Spanish-American war. He had been in a war and knew what it meant. He was determined there should be none in his administration. However, the politicians at the other end of Pennsylvania avenue screamed for war and got it. Undoubtedly, their descendants political will declare McKinley weak because he did not prevent it. How easy it is to declare others weak ; how hard it is to be strong ourselves ! A picture of the house in which McKinley was born is given here. It has been moved. twice, at least, and now stands midway between Girard and Niles, on property owned by Lulu Mackay Wers. This property has just been put upon the market and bears the name McKinley Heights. ILLUS seven churches CHURCHES OF NILES. In 1814 a Methodist class was formed in Niles. In 1870 a church was erected which was used until 1908, when the present beautiful commodious structure was built. In 1838 an attempt was made to organize Weathers-field Presbyterian church, and it was accomplished in 1839. Niles was one of the townships which was not stirred by the revival of 1820 and 1828. It was not until 1840 that the Christian church was organized. The first church was built in 1843 and the building improved forty years later. In 1894 the present church was constructed at a cost of $16,000. A Baptist church was organized in 1868. St. Stephens' Roman Catholic church has always been a strong one—so many residents of Niles have been and are Romanists. Ther have been parochial schools for years and a orders of the church are in good condition. The Welsh Presbyterians erected a church in 1872 at the cost of $6,000. Before this society had a church of its own it met in the house belonging to the Cumberland Presbyterians. It, like several of the other churches, has a small membership. The Episcopalians have a pretty little church on Robbins avenue above Vienna street. In the early history of Trumbull county there was a party of Mennonites in Bristol. They were strong, substantial people, but with the passing of the older generation, they weakened and then ceased to exist. There was also a society of Dunkards in Bristol. This, too, was short-lived. SNAKES AND A TORNADO. No history could be written without mention of two occurrences in Braceville which every writer has noticed, the tornado, and the battle of the snakes. Howe, the historian, gives an account of the latter in which he says that Mr. Oviatt, an old gentleman, having been informed that a number of rattlesnakes were in a certain tract of the Wilderness, after asking a number Of questions as to whether there was a ledge and a spring inthe vicinity, planned to go to the spot about the last of May and "have some sport." Armed with sticks, forked and straight, they proceeded to the ground. In a few moments they were surrounded by rattlesnakes. The fight began, the snakes beat a retreat, and when they reached the top of the hill, the ledge was fairly covered with them. The same were collected in heaps and they were found to number 486. Some of them were as large as 214 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE a man's leg below the calf, and five feet in length. They were rattlesnakes and black snakes. After this adventure men from adjoining townships visited these grounds until eventually the snakes were all made away with. The tornado is usually written up from papers left by Franklin E. Stowe. This destructive wind storm occurred on July 23, 1860. Two clouds were noticed, one going south and the other east. When they came together, a dark body seemed to fall, which swept over a certain territory as far as Pittsburg. The wind twisted off great trees, lifted barns, destroyed houses, killed people and animals. The railroad station, and a grocery store of Lucius Wood, the station agent, were raised several hundred feet high, revolved together and went all to pieces. The station had freight in it, one being a box of hardware, containing bolts, buckles, etc. One bolt was found stuck in a tree to the depth of an inch a mile and a half from the starting place. A handsaw was carried a mile. A freight car already loaded, standing on the track, was totally demolished; another car was carried 500 feet and splintered all to pieces. Seven hundred dollars, which was in the express office, was blown away and never found. In some houses, William Benedict's, for instance, the roof was blown off, rails and boards were fastened into the siding, while the clothing in drawers was carried completely away and never found. The line of the storm went down the Mahoning, struck the corner of Lordstown and Warren. When it reached the lower part of Trumbull county it began to rise, and as it rose all sorts of debris were dropped. The number of killed and injured was never known. EARLY DEBATES AT WARREN. One of the interesting associations early in 1800 in Warren was the Young Men's Debating Society. Men who afterward distinguished themselves in professions, politics and science were members of this pioneer society. Of course, all of them have long since passed away, but it is amusing to see some of the subjects which they debated upon, for instance : "Does sound policy demand that there should be a greater amount of attention turned to manufacturing in the United States of America ?" "Has precept a greater influence over men than example ?" "Is self-interest the ruling principle in all nations of men?" " Has beauty in women more influence over men than virtue ?" "Is a drunkard a greater injury to a community than a slanderer ?" "Is a doctor of more benefit to a community than a lawyer ?" EPHRAIM BROWN AND FAMILY. The old log house which Ephraim Brown, of Bloomfield, built in 1815 was five years later made into a handsome home, and it now stands as it was then. The bricks used in it were brought from Warren. The window frames are in good condition and hold the glass, with few exceptions which was put in them in the beginning. The stone steps, somewhat worn, are still in use. At one time it was thought to change them, but Mr. Fayette Brown said too many good friends had come and gone over those steps to make any change now. The house is beautifully kept. The walls of the guest chamber are covered with blue and white paper; which looks as if might have been put on a year or two ago In reality it has been on the walls eighty-two years. The color is a delft blue and white. It was made before paper was manufactured in rolls, and it was put on in squares. The hangings are the same color and equally clean, although they are not quite so old as the paper. The muslin curtains and bed canopy have been replaced, but they are exactly the same in style, shape and material as the original. In this room are some engravings of Leicester and Mrs. King (Charles Brown married Julia King), and some Japanese etchings. In one of the other chambers is a stove, one of the HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 215 first brought into the county. It has. been used since 1840 and shows no signs of giving out. Of the nine children of Ephraim and Mrs. Brown, but one, Anne F., is living, and a charming woman she is. Miss Brown says she never remembers getting tired of having her mother read to her, and that she and her brothers and sisters often got up at four o'clock in the morning in order to have her mother read until breakfast time. The Brown children had an advantage of a peculiar kind of education, since most of the cultivated visitors to this part of the country stayed with them when passing through. Joshua R. Giddings was often in their home, and stopped there on his return to Washington after his resignation. Mr. Brown was a member of the Ohio house of representatives and the senate. This house was one of the stations on the underground railway, and abolition and politics were talked here. Meetings of many kinds were held in this house. REEVES FAMILY OF HOWLAND. Mrs. William Beebe (Ella Reeves) writes so entertainingly of her family in the Howland chapter of the "Memorial to Pioneer Women," that we quote liberally from it. The Reeves family was an important one in Trumbull county, and any glimpse of any home life depicts the really history of the time better than general statements : "Sarah Quinby, daughter of Samuel and Achsa Park Quinby, came to Howland in 1803, riding her Narragansett mare across the country from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, where her home had been since her marriage with John Reeves in 1799. Their first child, Arthur Tappan, bore a distinguished name. The cabin upon the present Reeves place had been put up the previous year on the two hundred and fifty acres of. land, but one acre of which was cleared of the virgin forest. The linen chest was fitted with wooden legs for a table, and the furniture consisted of loom, wheels, reels and a dresser to contain pewter plates. With these all in place in one room, Mrs. Reeves was well supplied. The next spring two orchards of small trees were set (yet standing), one on the present Kinsman place and the other opposite the location of the cabin where on March 10, 1804, the first white child was born in Howland, and named Samuel Quinby, and rocked in a sugar trough. Apprenticed to learn carding and spinning, his active brain carried him to New York city, where in April, 1845, he died, leaving a daughter, Eugenia. In 1806 the birth of Abner Reeves was the occasion for buying a cradle, in payment of which a ten-hundred-thread linen shirt was made, the flax grown, spun, woven, and the shirt made by Mrs. Reeves. Spring work prevented delivery of the desired article. So she insisted upon her husband carrying the baby while she managed to convey the cradle home on horseback, a distance of sixteen miles through the four-mile swamp and along a bridle path. There was no wagon road at that time. The cradle yet rocks the babies in the family. 'Tis made of polished walnut, dove-tailed together, four feet long, and fitted with a top. •Mrs. Reeves was married when she was fifteen, had twelve children, and lived to be ninety-four years old. Many of her - children lived to old age, and her home was the home of her son John. Most of her children and grandchildren became successful and useful citizens." Her husband was in the war of 1812. He left in such a hurry that she had to haul in the oats. She hid her copper kettle under a stack, "buried her spoons and waited two days in hourly expectation of being murdered by the Indians." John Reeves, Jr., married Harriet Mason, whose brothers Henry and Hiram and sister Mrs. Josiah Robbins were among the most substantial citizens of Niles. Mr. Reeves was identified with the history of Trumbull county in the '40s, '50s and '60s, holding the office 216 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE of treasurer, and he died on his seventy-ninth birthday. He is buried in the cemetery across from the old Reeves home, where his parents and some of his children lie. Mrs. Reeves was a woman of education, refinement and with a lovable nature. Only two children of this large family survive, Ella, Mrs. William Beebe, who probably knows more about the history and the personnel of Trumbull county than any other person, and the youngest chiid, John, above referred to. Sarah, the third child, who married James R. Lamb, and died a year or so ago, was one of the loveliest characters of the Reeves and Mason families. Her mother called her the "peacemaker." She was ever ready to do her duty in the home of her childhood, of her sisters or in her own. She was a mother to her niece, Mary, and withal had such excellent business judgment as to make a business success of her life. The grandson John now lives on the homestead farm, and he has a son, John, who at this writing is a member of the senior class of the high school. She has great-grandchildren living in Warren and Cleveland. Hartford's best known citizen was Fanny Dana Gage, who wrote under the pen-name of "Aunt Fanny" and who was one of the leaders in the Woman Suffrage cause. She was a fine talker, and wielded a forceful pen. There are preserved in this county addresses which she made to Congress, and letters which she wrote to prominent senators and legislators. When the century has rolled around, and the question of woman's advancement has been studied, it will be found that Mrs. Gage played a part in the solution of that question greater than any of her townsmen could imagine, and greater than her contemporaries realized. Probably no more brilliant party of men ever left the east for New Connecticut than the party of which John Kinsman was a member. Among these were Simon Perkins, of whom we have read so much in different parts of the history ; George Tod, one of the ablest jurists and citizens Trumbull county had: Josiah Pelton, the pioneer of Gustavus ; Turhand and Jared Kirtland, who were among the most industrious and public-spirited of our citizens ; John Stark Edwards, Trumbull county's first recorder and an able lawyer, and Calvin Pease, who, as judge, citizen and companion, had no superior. His sons, Calvin and Charles, afterwards conducted a store in Warren where the present Colonial hotel stands. This party organized itself into a society. When they stopped for the night they held mock trials, and amused themselves in that way. Any one familiar with Judge Calvin Pease's career can see his spirit pervading this party. The party was on horseback, except the Kirtland brothers, who had a wagon and horses. Ebenezer Reeve was also of this party. He had been induced by Mr. Kinsman to come out here, and as he was weak-kneed about the venture, Mr. Kinsman proposed that paid twenty dollars a month during his he be absence, and forty dollars in case he did not like the country. In case, however, he did like the country, lie was to exchange his land in Connecticut for land in Kinsman. NEWTON FALLS. In the early history of Trumbull county, "Newton Falls" bid fair to rival Warren. Because of the water power, many residents of Trumbull county took their business there, although a goodly number of them later returned to Warren. In 1802 Alexander Sutherland, from Pennsylvania, settled on Duck Creek, at the place later known as "Duck Creek Corners." His son James carried the mail from Warren to Canton when there was no house between his father's and Warren. Many a night has this lad trudged through the woods until almost morning, carrying in a handkerchief the little mail for the settlers of Newton township. Jesse Halliday, the father of Mrs. King and Mrs. D. B. Woods, in 1803, paddled a canoe HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 217 from Warren up the south line of Newton. He went aground in the rapids near Newton, and decided that if there was that much force in the water, it was a good place to stop and build a mill. He therefore put up a little shanty and the next year his mill was going. A few months later a road was opened to Warren by Way of the Ledge. Newton Falls of today is a thriving village. (Loaned by the Tribune.) CHALKER HIGH SCHOOL, SOUTHINGTON. Just now it is attracting much attention because the Hydro-Electric and Gas Company has bought the mill sites and erected thereon plants from which power will be used to generate electricity, which will be sold to cities, villages and individual clown the valley. SOUTHINGTON. Mr. Newton Chalker, now of Akron, formerly of Southington, the home of his family for several generations, is much interested in the educational facilities of his home town, which never had a good high school. He therefore erected the building, a sketch of which is here given, the lower room being used for the high school and the upper for the public library and auditorium. The township of Southington then erected on the same lot another school building for the children of the lower grades. These were completed in 1907. They stand at the center of Southington and are the pride of the inhabitants. As this is being written a soldiers' monument, a present to the town, is being dedicated. RUTH (GRANGER) SUTLIFF, VERNON. The most remarkable woman who founded a home in Vernon in 1804 was Ruth Granger, wife of Deacon Samuel Sutliff, who came 218 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE from Hartland, whence came so many of those hardy pioneer mothers. Deacon Sutliff assisted Rev. Badger to organize many of the early Congregational churches of the Western Reserve, and held the office of deacon in the church until his death. Mrs. Sutliff was a relative of Gideon Granger, postmaster general during the administration of Thomas Jefferson, and was descended from a family distinguished for patriotism and intellect. With no means of obtaining an education, she did what but few of those busy women thought of doing—taught herself, and assisted her, sons when they commenced their studies. Her six sons honored her and the place of their birth by their lives. From their mother these boys inherited strong intellectual qualities, and four of them became lawyers. Milton graduated at Western Reserve College ; he was state senator and chief judge of the supreme court of Ohio. Levi was admitted to practice in all the courts of this state. Calvin G. was a partner of Milton, and later of Hon. John Hutchins, now of Cleveland. These three located in Warren, Ohio. Flavel died young. Hon. A. G. Riddle made him one of the characters of his story of northern Ohio, but with a slightly altered name. Mrs. Sutliff's attainments were varied, and Judge King, who was acquainted with her, said she was the strongest-minded woman he ever knew. Her knowledge of history was extensive, and she was a woman of great piety, the Bible, Milton's poems and Pilgrim's Progress being among her favorite books. Owing to her strict observance of the Sabbath, a bear escaped being killed. Thomas Giddings saw one near the east of where Mr. and Mrs. Sutliff lived, and went to the house to get a gun. Mr. Sutliff was at church and his wife would not loan it because it was Sunday. She entered the higher life in 1844. MECCA-DIXIE-EXPLODED OIL BOOM . In the '60s no township in Trumbull county was as well known in the United States as Mecca. The Yankee pronunciation still prevailed to a goodly degree, and more people called this township "Meccy" than "Mecca." The early settlers knew that oil existed in this vicinity, because it was often present in wells and springs. The early inhabitants used it sometimes for burning, and a few of them collected enough for the market and sold now and then a few gallons. The early farmers of Mecca were always more or less chagrined when evidences of oil were seen, because it really hurt at that time the value of land. The first oil was pumped on the land of William H. Jeffries, in West Mecca. The product obtained was a very thick oil, valuable for medicinal purposes and for refining. In consistency it was between a light weight of vaseline and glycerine. As soon as the Jeffries well was proved, speculators came in from all parts of the country. Property was sold at fabulous prices. Wells were sunk, houses in great numbers were put up. Warren hotels were filled with speculators who visited Mecca for investigation. All the conditions of an ordinary western mining camp were present in this township. Men seemed to lose their heads and determined on making money in one way or another. Selling liquor in violation of the law was common, and at least one or two men, who in their old age have been respected citizens, at that time paid fines for this violation, and two of them served sentence in our county jail. The jailer was, of course, lenient with these men and they were allowed to go about town in the evening, provided they occupied themselves in the daytime. There was nothing for the speculators to do in the evenings in so rural a region as Mecca, so all sorts of gambling was indulged in. It looked as if "Dixie," the name given to the oil vicinity, would be the city of Trumbull county. However, the oil was not present in sufficient quantities to pay for extracting it, and soon "Dixie" became a deserted village. Most of the houses were sold for small sums to people in Warren, who trans- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 219 ported them to the latter place on runners in winter, and some of them were left to go to decay. OLD-FASHIONED "TRAMPS." In Mesopotamia township the land in one portion is 1,172 feet above the sea level. This makes this township the highest in the county. It has the best water of any township in the county. One of the early settlers of this township was the grandfather of A. S. Smith. The son of this pioneer, Edmond, lived to a great age and before his death wrote a history of Mesopotamia. He arrived there when a small boy and lived and died on the farm, which his father had purchased. He knew all of the settlers as they came and went, and his tale, primitive as it is, is exceedingly interesting. Although written many years ago, the ink is still bright and the writing plain. We quote from this interesting old manuscript, not because it contains anything extraordinary, but because it gives us insight into the ordinary life of the ordinary people of that time. Mr. Smith says : "Well do I recollect in June, 1806, when I was at school, the day of the total eclipse, what was said concerning the darkness. Some thought the end of time had come. The fowls and birds went to roost for the night and no one could tell what the cause was, as there were no astronomers among us and almanacs were not to be had. When the darkness began to pass off, the fowls began to crow and in a short time all was right, and it looked like early in the morning." Never was there anything more thrilling than the account which this young Smith gives of his fights with wild animals in Mesopotamia. Reading imaginary bear stories and real ones is quite different. After young Smith had a little "schooling" he knew that he must try to support himself. He says : "While I worked at jobbing I did anything could get to do. In 1819 I worked for Chambers and Whitcomb. They had taken a job to make the turnpike from Warren to Champion, six miles. I hired out to them for ten dollars per month in grubbing and clearing out the timber and brush, so they could plow and scrape the dirt in good shape to travel on ; and while there I was taken with a pain in my side by grubbing and chopping, and I 'had to quit work, and came home. When I got home father had a man, a Mr. Cook, that was a shoemaker. My brother had a little girl, and I told Mr. Cook that if he would cut out the leather and show me, I would try ,to make her a pair of shoes. He m did, and I made them, and Mr. Cook told me that if I would go with him I would soon learn to make good shoes. I did so and worked for him till he had finished the work he had engaged for the winter. At that time every man that had a family had to buy leather to shoe up the family and then get a shoemaker to come to his house and make the shoes. This was called whipping the cat? At that time we could not get shoes anywhere. "The next winter I went with Mr. Cook, and worked as long as he had work. I had improved so that I could make coarse shoes. At this time, when we went around whipping the cat, we got 37 ½ cents for thick shoes and thick boots and a dollar a pair for thin ones. In this way I worked in the winter at shoemaking ; my father was a carpenter and joiner, and I got the use of his tools and used to work with a carpenter in the summer. I got so I could lay out a frame building. After several years I had saved sixteen dollars in cash, and I shouldered my pack and went back to Whitestown, New York, where I was born. I expected to get work, but there was none to be had, so I walked all the way back—that is eight hundred miles. Today a young man who walks ten miles, talks about it forever." This little taste of travel made young Smith long for more and it is probable that no one in 220 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE Trumbull county at that time covered as many miles, and few white men walked as many miles as he. In 1824 he helped to drive cattle over the Pennsylvania mountains to Philadelphia. For this he got twenty dollars and had to pay his own expenses coming back, but as he walked it was not a very expensive trip. He had only been here a little while when he decided to go to Massachusetts. "We went to Fairport on a steamboat called 'Superior,' " continues the narrative, "the second boat built on Lake Erie. The first boat was called `Walk on the Water, but did not run very long before she hit the shore. . We went out to the boat in a skiff because she could not. get in over a bar in the mouth of the river ; took us twenty hours to go to Buffalo. I then shouldered my pack and started on foot. Got a stage part of the way and canal boat part of the way. I worked with my uncle repairing woolen mills at seventy-five cents a day for a few weeks,. but as there was not any carpenter business and shoemaking to do, I took my pack and stick and started for Ohio." After numerous trips of this, kind Mr. Smith says : "The next thing for me to do was to stop tramping, settle down and lay up something for a rainy day, and so I married Polly Lee, of Farmington, and brought her to my father's house, as I was the only child then living, and here we have lived all our lives." ONE OF THE COUNTY'S OLDEST WOMEN. One of the oldest women in Trumbull county is Charlotte Ursula Cleaveland, of Braceville. She is in her ninetieth year. She was a niece of Moses Cleaveland and is connected with many important families of New England, such as John Adams. Her father was Camden Cleaveland, who married Elizabeth Adams, an aunt of the present Whittlesey Adams, so that she was not only connected with the families of New England, but of New Connecticut as well. Her sister, Harriet, married Auren Taft, of Braceville, who is connected with the family of President Taft and Frederick L. Taft, the able attorney of Cleveland, who was a delegate to the convention which nominated his kinsman in 1908. CHARLOTTE CLEAVELAND'S RECOLLECTIONS. Charlotte Cleaveland lives with her niece, Olive C. Taft, and in a recent letter to the author says : "My first recollections of school life were going with an older sister to a log schoolhouse in Youngstown township. There was a large fireplace in one corner of the house with benches around it for the small scholars to sit on. These benches were made of split logs, had holes bored into them, into which small poles were put for legs. The benches were so high that my sister had to lift me upon them. There was a row of similar benches around the sides of the house for the larger scholars. When we wanted a drink we had to go to the spring for it. There were several of these springs along the bank near the schoolhouse. The teacher had one, the boys one and the girls one. I do not remember how the teacher got the water he drank, possibly he had a gourd. These were used in those days. The boys laid flat down on their stomachs and drank out of the spring and the girls made cups of folded leaves from which they drank." JOHN BROWN, JR. Another Trumbull county man known throughout the United States at the time was John Brown, Jr. He married Weltha Hotchkiss, of Gustavus. Later he moved to Vernon, went to Kansas, and finally died at Put-in-Bay. When his father went to Harper Perry, the son was suspected of being in conspiracy with him and the authorities sought to arrest him. When the United States marshal reached Jefferson, Brown's friends told him that at least a thousand men would resist his arrest, as he was in no way guilty, whereupon the marshal withdrew. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 221 A WARM WHIG PARTY.. Mention has been made several times in this chapter of Mr. Irwin Ladd, who resides in Warren and who probably knows more about the history of that city than any other person, excepting Mr. Whittlesey Adams. Mr. Ladd was a wide-awake boy and took interest in and remembered the doings of his boyhood. He has in his possession a badge of white silk on which is printed an eagle and under it the words : "Clay and Barclay. Old Trumbull; she's calm in her slumbers, but terrible in her waking moments." This badge was worn by the Whig residents of Trumbull county, who attended a mask convention held by that party in Cleveland in 1844. Mr. Ladd was then a boy and he says that on the morning, of the 14th the party left Warren in two-horse wagons, stopping at Garrettsville for their dinner and at Bedford for their lodging. Mr. Ladd was a printer's boy. Of course, they had the usual exciting time of a trip of this kind and left Cleveland in the evening. When they reached Bedford they found no place to stay; a great rain came up and they hurried their wagons into a barn, only to find there was no roof over it. They were a wet and bedraggled lot when they reached their home town, but the enthusiasm of the meeting was not as damp as their clothes. Clay was presidential nominee and Barclay the gubernatorial. MARY DARROW OLSON. Mary Darrow Olson, who recently died in Chicago, was one of. the strongest women Trumbull county ever had. Her family lived in Kinsman and her father, who was a man of much education and great thought, was part of the time her tutor. She studied diligently in the schools of her vicinity and later went to Ann Arbor and Allegheny, graduating from the latter. She was one of the founders of the O. S. I. L. O. society of that college. She early began life as a teacher in the schools of Kinsman, Vernon and Wayne and, later, in Youngstown and Champaign. In 1884 she began teaching in the Chicago schools ; was principal at one time of James McCosh school and continued in that service twenty-five years. Ella Flagg Young, superintendent of the Chicago schools, says that she was one of the most competent teachers Chicago ever had. She was married late in life to O. C. Olson. GREENE. One of the interesting places in Greene is the old cemetery. A man named. Isaac Sirrine went up to Ashtabula county and brought back his own tombstone, marked, except the date of his. death. He said he composed the following original epitaph, but this is too familiar to the readers of this history for them not to know where it came from : "Here at last the old man lies ; Nobody laughs and nobody cries. Where he's gone and how he kares, Nobody knows and nobody cares." Alter he died his brother James, on reading this, felt rather sorry, and ordered the following cut beneath the verse : "But his brother James and his wife, Emmaline, they were his friends all of the time." This same Isaac Sirrine had three daughters who died of consumption. This is their epitaph `Strange as it seems, but still 'tis so, Here lies three daughters all in a row ; All cut down right in their prime, The daughters of I. and M. Sirrine." There was a very nice old man living in Greene who had an enormous wen on his head. It was so noticeable that none could see him without remembering him. This is the epitaph upon his gravestone : "Our father lies beneath the sod, His soul has gone up to his God ; We never more shall hear his tread, Nor see the wen upon his head." CHAPTER XX. LORAIN COUNTY. Lorain county has within its borders not only some of the most widely known industries but one of the most widely known educational institutions in the United States. Although Oberlin College is ostensibly under the control of the Congregational church, its influence has become so strong and widespread that it is ranked with the best of the universities of the country, irrespective of the auspices under which they are conducted. FIRST SETTLEMENT IN COUNTY. The first actual settlement made in Lorain county was in 1786, when the Moravian Missionaries on their way from Detroit to their old home on the Tuscarawas, located at the mouth of the Black river. After a few days the chief of the Delawares sent them warning to depart, and they thereupon settled on the Huron river, two miles north of Milan. They remained at that point five or six years, when they were driven away and found permanent asylurn in Canada. In 1807 a trading post was established at the mouth of the Black river by Nathan Perry, and about three years afterward a number of settlers from Vermont made a clearing at this point and established themselves there. In 1808 Columbia's first settlers arrived, and those of Ridgeville, Amherst and Eaton, mostly from Waterbury, Connecticut, came in 1810. Among the early settlements made in Lorain county was that of Jacob Schupe. He came to the Black river in 1811, and a little later moved to a point on Beaver creek about two miles north of the present village of Amherst. In the fall of 1816 William Ingersoll and family from Berkshire county, Massachusetts, made the first settlement upon the present site of Grafton. The first settlers where Wellington now stands were Ephraim Wilcox and Charles Sweet, employees 0f Frederick Hamlin, who had purchased his land of one of the original proprietors of the township, Ephraim Root. The town of Avon received as its first settler Noah Davis, in 1812. The original proprietor of Huntington was John Laborse, a native of the town by that name in Connecticut, and its first settler located in 1818. Henry Champion and Lemuel Storrs were the original owners of LaGrange township, and the former conveyed his share of the two-thirds, in 1825, to Eleazer Goodrich, of Hartford, Connecticut. Nathan Clarke, one of the first to obtain land of Goodrich, settled at the village of LaGrange on November 14, 1825, and Mr. Baker and his two sons first located on the present site of Pittsfield. The above mentioned pioneers comprise the earliest settlers who came to make their home in Lorain county outside of the larger centers of population, such as Lorain, Elyria and Oberlin. HEMAN ELY AND ELYRIA. The war of 1812 interrupted settlement in this county as it did in all the counties of this territory, and it was not until 1816 that the nucleus of the village of Elyria was formed by the arrival of a Mr. Beach, who settled with his family in the western por- - 223 - 224 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE tion of what is now the town site. The place cannot be said to have been founded, however, until the coming of Henan Ely from West Springfield, Massachusetts. He had purchased of the Connecticut Land Company about 12,000 acres of land lying around the falls of the Black river, and in March, 1817, arrived to take possession of his purchase and prepare for its improvement. Building a dam and erecting a grist and saw mill on the east branch of that river, he set about energetically to lay out the village, which, in his honor, assumed the name Elyria. It should be stated that the first persons to arrive on the scene of the Ely improvements were three men whom the judge had sent ahead in January, 1817. They were Roderick Ashley, Edwin Bush and James Porter. They, walked the entire distance from Massachusetts to the Western Reserve, carrying axes on their shoulders. When Mr. Ely arrived in March they had made quite a clearing in the forest for the building of the town. James Porter, the Irishman of the party, remained in Elyria, acquired property, built houses, and died there ; his associates, however, returned to their homes in New England. The village 0f Elyria was soon laid out, and some time in the succeeding year, 1818, Mr. Ely moved into his residence, which he occupied for years afterward—the first frame house erected in the village. This residence has been described as a building "forty-five by forty feet, two stories, with cellar under the main part ; kitchen in the rear ; fireplace in every room, and brick oven in the kitchen. No stoves were known at that time. The siding of the house was made from a single whitewood tree cut on the place near a bend in the road. A large barn was built at the time. Invitations were sent to Ridgeville, which was settled before Elyria, and both frames were raised on the same day." In the fall of 1818 Mr. Ely returned to his home in West Springfield, being a passenger on "Walk-on-the-Water," the first steam- boat which ever plied Lake Erie to Buffalo On October 10 he married Miss Celia Belden, who returned with him to the new village of Elyria. As the Ely home was not then completed, for some time the young couple occupied a log house. Mrs. Ely was a woman o lovable disposition and it was to the deep grief of her many friends that she did no long enjoy the home which she helped t make ; she died in 1827, leaving two sons, He man and Albert. ELYRIA, THE COUNTY SEAT. Lorain county was formed December 1822, from portions of Huron; Cuyahoga an Medina counties. During the same session o the legislature which passed the creative act a committee was appointed to locate the county seat. In February, 1823, after having visited Sheffield and Black River, Elyria was decided upon, and stakes were driven for the location of the courthouse on the 14th of that mouth. Mr. Ely agreed to furnish a suitable building for county purposes until a permanent one could be provided, and bound himself to pay $2,000 toward the erection of the courthouse. A one-story frame building was erected o the corner of Cheapside and Main stree which served as a temporary courthouse. THE DIFFERENT COURTHOUSES. The first c0urt in Elyria was held on May 24, 1824. In 1828 a permanent county building was erected in the center of the public square. It was a two-story red brick building, with four large pillars in front and surmounted by a cupola. The courtroom was on the second floor and the county offices on the first. This old courthouse remained in use from the time of its completion in 1828, until it was replaced by the present elegant stone building, completed in 1880-1. THE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY. In the basement of the present building a the rooms and the . museum of the Lorain HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 225 County Historical Society. The Indian and old-time relics, as well as publications, which comprise the collections, are of such value that the society has well-grounded hopes of securing more suitable quarters for their-preservation in the near future. It is entirely fitting that the officers of this society should all be women, as it . was called into existence, in 1888, by the intellectual and enterprising ladies of the town, who formed a temporary organization that year to represent their sex at the Centennial Exposition held in Columbus, Ohio. It was in the old courthouse that Mr. Ely served for a number of :years as associate judge, and obtained the title by which he was generally known, "Judge" Ely. He died in 1852, and up to the very last took the deepest interest and the greatest pride in the improvement of the town of which he was one of the recognized founders. COUNTY INFIRMARY. The County Infirmary is located in Carlisle township. In 1866 the site of 161 acres was selected, and the .original building completed two years afterward. Bonds to the amount of $5,000 were issued by the county, in 1905, for the erection of a modern addition. It was completed in the following year, at a total cost of $8,500. ARTEMAS BEEBE'S FAMILY LIFE. Of the party who accompanied Judge Ely to this locality in February, 1817, was Artemas Beebe, an expert carpenter and builder. The second house to arise on the site of Elyria, after Mr. Ely's residence, was built by Mr. Beebe on the first lot purchased in the village, opposite what afterward became known as the Ely Homestead. It was a large tw0-story frame building, with an ell, and was used for many years as a tavern and stage office. In the early times Beebe's Tavern was the acknowledged center of social life for the entire village of Elyria, as it was the general Vol. I-15 stopping place for travelers seeking western homes and for lawyers and judges, as well as the lounging place of the villagers themselves. Beebe's Tavern was long what may be called the general "news exchange," and, in a way, became the political headquarters of the county. During the first year of business Mr. Beebe had a partner in his tavern venture, but from 1819 to 1835 actively conducted it himself. In 1820 he returned to his home in West Springfield, Massachusetts, where he married an old acquaintance, Miss Pamelia Morgan, of that place. One of their daughters (the late Mrs. Mary Beebe Hall), who afterward became widely known in the community as a woman of literary ability and social distinction, not long before .her death issued an interesting booklet entitled "Reminiscences of Elyria," wherein she described the journey of the young couple to their Elyria home, as well as the appearance of the primitive house in which they commenced their married life. "On October 4, 1820," she says, "Mr. Beebe was married to Pamelia Morgan, of West Springfield, Massachusetts, and started for their western home with a span of horses, and c0vered wagon filled with all possible articles required for housekeeping (necessities largely)—a big brass kettle to use over the fire for all domestic purposes ; brass andirons, candlesticks, warming pan to heat the beds ; foot stove to use in riding, or sitting in cold rooms ; bed linen and. wardrobe. For four long weeks this young couple journeyed on through mud and various mishaps of overturned wagon and contents, and landed in Elyria to begin their home-making in a large and unplastered house. They were welcomed by Captain Cooley and family, who had occupied the house, after it was finished, up to Mr. Beebe's home-coming with his wife. This home contained large fireplaces in all the living rooms and a larger one in the kitchen, with oven and crane ; a big stone hearth and plenty of wood to burn, and great back logs 226 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE for foundation, for fires were always buried at night, as matches were not known. "The arrangement of this home was typical of many others of the early times, with fireplaces and ovens. Occasionally the 0vens were built outside under a shed, with a big stump used for foundation. This big fireplace deserves a passing notice, and I always feel sorry for people who never have known how much pleasure is associated with it, as it, with the oven, were the only cooking arrangements. A large iron bake kettle, with a lid, would be utilized at times in the corner of the big hearth. What a delight for a child to site and watch the process. With live coals from the fireplace under and over, biscuits, gingerbread and johnnycake were done to a turn. Once a week the oven would be heated and filled with bread, pies, and cake. What anticipations of coming good things ! Beefsteak on gridiron in front of the fire, with live coals to broil it (never such steak) ; spare ribs or turkey on a cord in front of the fire, turned and basted until fit for a king ! How pretty a row of apples looked roasting ; how nice corn popped, and what fun to crack hickory nuts on the stone hearth (for it did not crack it), and eaten in the evenings. Basketsful were gathered and spread on the garret floor, making a winter's supply for family and friends. Sweet cider, too. Stomachs were not recognized; one never heard of appendicitis. There were rhubarb and castor oil in the house, and peppermint in the lot, if one needed remedies in emergencies. "In 1835, having built a house on the corner of Broad street and East avenue, Mr. Beebe rented the tavern to George Prior, brother-in-law of Mr. Ely's, and removed to this home, which has been the homestead and is still occupied by the youngest daughter. In 1847 Mr. Beebe completed the Beebe House, at the corner of Park and Main streets. At the time of its building; no town of the size of Elyria could boast of such a fine substantial hotel ; an ornament to the town and a credit to the builder, who wished to furnish suitable accommodations for the increasing population of town and country It was built and kept as a temperance house, so long as owned by the family. Gatherings from town and country were entertained in the large parlors and dining room ; also sleigh rides and banquets. The fourth floor was the Odd Fellows' Lodge for years. The dancing hall for private parties made this hotel the center for social life." These two families—the Beebes and the Elys—have the joint honor of being the central forces around which the infant village of Elyria marshalled its forces and became fairly established as a growing community. EARLY POST ROUTES. In 1818 the post route was established between Cleveland and lower Sandusky, and Elyria became one of its stations, with Mr. Ely as postmaster. These official duties were not especially wearing upon his vigorous physique, as the mail for the first year was carried but once a week, and after that, for some time, twice weekly ; but even these accommodations were considered something unusual before the year 1820. judge Ely continued to be Elyria's postmaster for fifteen years, and in 1833 was succeeded by John Matson. The postmastership was not lucrative enough to warrant any political fight over it, but the mail route itself was considered by the pioneer business man as something quite desirable. In 1826 Mr. Beebe and Ezra Adams became proprietors of the route, and in 1827 the form went to Washington and, through the influnce ence of Mr. Ely and Elisha Whittlesey, seured the contract for carrying the mail from Cleveland to Freemont. He also established a stage line between these two points, and as his six-passenger coach was the first to appear in this section of the Western Reserve it created fully as much excitement as did the first railroad train which ran through the same country a quarter of a century later.   HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 227 ARTEMAS BEEBE AND FAMILY. Artemas Beebe died March 29, 1880, in his eighty-seventh year. He was essentially a shrewd business man, with such hearty ways and unaffected sociability that any enterprise in which he participated was bound to move. He was one of the, original stockholders and directors of the Lorain Bank, in 1847, and was one of the chief promoters of the institution during his many years of active business life in Elyria. Mr. Beebe was not only a successful business man, but an honest citizen and a man of strict integrity, and, during the latter years of his life, is firm supporter and liberal contributor to the cause of Congregationalism. At one time he gave a complete library to the church, and local religious and moral movements owe much to his good will and hearty assistance. His wife, who was a constant and lively assistant in all his good works, died in 1878 in her eightieth year. Mr. and Mrs'. Beebe -left five children: Henry, then a resident of Put-in-Bay; Artemas, who died at Elyria ; Mary, eldest daughter; Sarah Turner, of Chicago; and Pamelia N., who still lives on the old homestead. Miss Beebe is president. of the Lorain County Historical Society, and widely known in the community, both for and what she is herself and as the. only local representative of this fine pioneer family. ELYRIA'S PIONEER EVENTS AND INSTITUTIONS. As the commencement of any institution or movement is the most interesting period of its history, there is here presented a list of Elyria's pioneer events and institutions, with little regard to time or classification. The first birth in the township was that of Henry Beach, who was born in a little hut, two miles west of the village, on 'September 10, 1817. Soon after the birth of Henry Beach, a son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Enos Mann, which was the first child born within the limits of Elyria. The father was a manufac turer of wooden bowls in the village and a friend of Judge Ely. The proud mother proposed to Mr. Ely that he stand as Godfather to her infant and allow him to be christened Ely Mann. It was generally understood that any native son who received the name of Ely would bring into the family fifty acres of land, as a gift from the judge ; but Mr. Ely declined the honor upon this occasion, as he feared to establish a precedent and become land poor. It is of record that Mrs. Mann died on March 9, 1823, and was the first person buried in Elyria cemetery. FIRST CHURCHES. The first church erected in the village. was that of the Presbyterian society, and the edifice was dedicated on February 11, 1834. The society itself, however, had been organized in the log schoolhouse November 25, 1824, more than ten years previous. Rev. Daniel W. Lathrop became its first pastor. In 1824 the Methodists of the village formed their first society and in 1831 built the first parsonage in town. At first members of this denomination met in private houses, but afterward rented the "yellow schoolhouse" and erected a frame building on Second street. They occupied the latter until 1850, when they built a small brick church, which was replaced in 188i by the fine structure now occupied. The Baptists formed an early society and erected their first brick church in 1839, on the corner of Second street and the Park. In 1833 the old church was torn down to give place to the present one of modern construction and arrangements. The Congregationalists were also early in the religious field and in 1848 erected a Gothic stone church on the corner of Second street and the Park, which at the time was the most beautiful religious structure in Elyria. This has since given place to an even more elaborate edifice on the corner of Court and Second streets. St. Andrews Episcopal church 228 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE was organized in 1837 and the Disciples, in 1832. The Roman Catholics established themselves in Elyria during 1852, through the labors and ministrations of Father Healy. They first purchased property on the corner of Fourth street and Middle avenue and built thereon a large frame building and parsonage. These old structures have since been replaced by a fine modern church, a parochial school building, and a substantial parsonage. The W. C. T. U. of Elyria originated in the temperance movement, which reached Elyria in its full force during the early seventies. This community witnessed some of the most striking episodes in the widely known crusade, which swept over the west at that time. Locally it resulted, as stated, in the organization of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, which has accomplished much direct good and has also introduced temperance literature into the public school curriculum of the place. In 1888-9 rooms were fitted up in the village for the accommodation and entertainment of young men, who would otherwise aimlessly roam the streets. This project was absorbed by the Young Men's Christian Association, which is still strong and progressive. The first school in Elyria was organized during 1819 in a log house on the hill, on the east side. In 1827 the well-known Yellow School House was built on the site of the present opera house. The land upon which it stood was donated by Judge Ely, who also erected the Elyria high school building in 1831 and leased it to the trustees for a term of years. SCHOOLS, NEWSPAPERS AND BANKS. The first newspaper published in the village was the Lorain, Gazette, issued in 1829 by A. S. Park, who came for that purpose from Ashtabula, Ohio. The office was a one-story frame building on Main street, and Frederick Whittlesey, a leading lawyer, was first editor. Mr. Park acquired control as publisher, in 1834, and Mr. Whittlesey co tinued in practice at Elyria until 1854, whe he became a resident of Cleveland. The oldest living editor in the village is now F. Reefy, editor and publisher of the Democrat. The Reporter was established in 1841, and was succeeded by the Telegram, which is an evening daily. The latter, with the Republican, is now published by the Republican Publishing Company. The Elyria Chronicle, the last of the local newspapers to be established, was founded in Ig0'. The Lorain Bank, already mentioned, was established in 1847, in Beebe block, and was the first institution of the kind in Lorain county. From this small beginning, through a long and complex series of changes, a consolidation has developed as what is no known as the National Bank of Elyria, wit a capital of $250,000, of which George H. Ely is president. The Savings Deposit Bank was organized in 1871. The present corporation known as the Savings Deposit Bank and Trust Company has a capital of $200,000. The fourth existing bank in Elyria, controlled by the Lorain County Banking Company, was organized in 1896 and has a capital of $50,000. PUBLIC LIBRARY. Elyria is indebted for its fine public libra to Charles A.. Ely, a son of the judge, who was born May 2, 1829. His early life was spent in the village and he became a well-known business man, whose talents as a mechanic and manufacturer were especially noticeable. In 1850 Mr. Ely married Louisa C. Foot, of Cleveland, who was deeply interested in the library project and materially assisted her husband in its furtherance. The library was established in the Ely block during 1870, but its first collection was almost entirely destroyed by fire, and the present library was opened to the public in May, 1874. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 229 THE ELYRIA OF TODAY. The present city of Elyria is a substantially built and attractive city of 12,000 people, containing prosperous business houses and numerous manufactories, both of early and recent establishment. The origin of its industries has already been noted in the early portion of this article and described—the erection of Judge Ely's old saw and grist mills of Main street. ELYRIA'S INDUSTRIES. The Lorain Iron Company, established in 1832, is one of the oldest and largest of Elyria's industries, and among others of long and substantial growth may be mentioned the following: The Automatic Machine Screw Company, Topliff and Ely Company, Crafton Stone Company, and the Federal Manufacturing Company, the latter turning out chiefly bicycle saddles and tool bags. That Elyria is truly a growing industrial center is evident from the new industries which have been started since 1900. The most important of these are the Dean Electric Company, which was established in 1904, and has a payroll of $30,000 monthly, including nearly 600 employees; the Garford Company, founded in 1906, with a monthly pay roll of $35,000, and over 600 employees, and the Lorain Iron & Steel Company, founded in 1902, employing 410 hands, who receive $20,000 monthly in wages. The plant of the Garford Company is in the heart of the new factory district of Elyria on the east side. It occupies 120,000 square feet of floor space and is one of the best equipped factories in the country for the building of high-grade automobile chassis. The famous Studebaker-Garford cars are thus equipped, and several of the individual members of the Studebaker Company of South Bend are large stockholders in the Elyria concern. The Columbia Steel Company turn out cold rolled steel straps and sheets for automobiles, and the Weston Automatic Ma chine Screw Company manufactures various products used in the construction of automobiles, bicycles and gasoline engines ; so that, altogether, Elyria is a very important point in the business of manufacturing the most modern machines in the classes mentioned. In fact, there are few specialties in metal work or machinery which are not turned out by her factories. To make this statement even more evident, additional mention may be made of the plants of the American Lace Company (transferred to Elyria after the fall of Zion City, and managed by Dowie's former superintendent, Mr. Stephenson), and the Liquid Force Company, organized in 1908, with a capital of $250,000 and engaged in the manufacture of a tonic by that name. Altogether, within the last decade nearly twenty distinct industries have been established in Elyria. These plants employ over 2,500 hands, and disburse more than $1,600,000 annually. The shipping facilities of Elyria are remarkably complete. It is claimed, and not denied, that it stands fourth in the quantity of freight handled on the Lake Shore road between Buffalo and Chicago. Thirty passenger trains run daily over this line and the Baltimore and Ohio, while direct communication, through its well-equipped electric lines, is maintained with Cleveland, Lorain, N0rwalk, Oberlin and other important points throughout the Reserve. Moreover, it is a city of substantial and attractive residences, and in every way gives outward assurance that it is the dwelling place of citizens who have come to stay and assist in building up the community. In fact, there are few cities of its size in the middle west which have so small a proportion of that very undesirable element known as the "floating" population. To summarize the attractions of Elyria and its strength as a city, it may be stated that its forty manufacturing plants have a monthly pay roll of $200,000, and its four banks a total capital 0f $500,000, with deposits of more than $5,500,000. It has an ample police force, 230 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE well organized fire department, with three stations, and a public school system patronized by nearly 2,500 pupils. Elyria has twelve miles of paved streets, with more in process of construction, and its thirty-five miles of sewers compose the first complete sanitary system under the new statute. Natural gas is furnished its citizens, as well as electric lighting by both incandescent and arc systems. Its pure and abundant water is drawn from a large municipal pumping station on Lake .Erie, eight miles to the north, where SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, ELYRIA. the supply is both filtered and softened. Much of the credit for Elyria's present status as a municipality should be given to its progressive Chamber of Commerce, which has reached a membership of 400. Like most of the other patriotic cities of the Western Reserve, Elyria has also a beautiful Soldiers' memorial in public square. ELYRIA'S FINE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM. Its twelve churches and nine public schools should also be placed in this class of general benefactors, and its large and splendidly organized high school is worthy of special comment. The 280 students attending this institution are under the training of sixteen reg lar and three special teachers. Its curriculum includes not only the regular studies common to all high schools, but a thorough course in manual training, and its chemical and physical laboratories are especially well equipped. Upon the spacious high school grounds there are really three distinct buildings. The largest structure is of stone, massive and attractive in appearance ; this is connected by a covered bridge with the newly constructed building of brick. This, although less imposing in appearance, is considered by experts as one of the most complete and modern illustrations of school architecture and convenience in Ohio. Beyond these connected buildings is a brick structure, devoted entirely to the manual training classes, and still beyond is what is known as the Franklin, one of the primary public schools of the city. Besides Franklin, are the Hamilton, McKinley, Lake Avenue, Jefferson and Ridge schools, in other sections of Elyria. Outside of the. high school, the enrollment of pupils amounts to over 1,900. Perhaps the finest building in Elyria is the Masonic Temple block, which was erected in 1906 at a cost, with site, of $100,000. Elyria has one of the finest municipal water plants in the Western Reserve, and this fact adds another element to her strength as a favored industrial center, as well as a home city. All through the great drought of 1908 when many factories were closed on account of lack of water, not one of the Elyria plants ever shut down from the want of that supply. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 231 Transportation facilities of the place are also adequate, through the service afforded by the Lake Shore and the B. & O. railroads. Not only do they afford convenient transportation for her factory products, but they tap the coal regions of the south, thus making the fuel for manufacturing purposes abundant and cheap. OBERLIN COLLEGE. Probably there is no municipality in the United States which is more distinctively and completely a college town than Oberlin. Two sides of the large and splendid public square of the place are occupied by stately and beautiful college buildings. This is also the campus of Oberlin college. The other two sides of the square or campus are given up mostly to business houses. As the college has an attendance of 2,000 students, and the entire population of the city does not exceed 6,000, it is plain to be seen that the trade and prosperity of the entire community largely depends upon the students of the university. The merchants of the place are therefore deeply interested in the college catalogue's and note with pleasure or disappointment the increase or decrease of the collegiate attendance. The past year has been especially encouraging, both to the management of Oberlin college and the business men of the city, as there has been an increase of nearly 400 in the enrollment of students. COLLEGE AND CITY FOUNDED TOGETHER. In view of the fact that the progress of Oberlin city and Oberlin college is so intimately associated, a narrative describing the origin of this splendid school of higher learning will also describe the founding of the city itself. The plan of both originated with Rev. John J. Shipherd, who was serving in 1832 as pastor of the Presbyterian church at Elyria. His associate in the educational enterprise was Philo P. Stewart, a former missionary among the Cherokee Indians of Mississippi, but at that time residing with Mr. Shipherd's family. Although Mr. Stewart became the strong busi ness force which eventually resulted in founding Oberlin college, the majority of pioneer residents of the Western Reserve still persist in chiefly remembering him as the inventor of the old fashioned Stewart stove. Messrs. Shipherd and Stewart so laid their enterprise before Messrs. Street and Hughes, of New Haven, Connecticut, that the eastern capitalists made a pledge of S00 acres of forest land in Russia township, Lorain county, to establish a foundation fund for the proposed college. In November, 1832, the two enthusiastic young men from Elyria—stich close friends, yet so different in habits and temperament—set forth from that place to select a site for the university campus. In addition to fixing upon the 500 acres now covered by the beautiful campus and magnificent buildings of Oberlin college, they purchased a section of land in Russia township at $1.50 an acre, which was resold at $2.50, thus providing the first fund for the foundation of their school. The origin of its name is thus described : "There had recently been published in this country an account of the self-sacrificing life of John Frederick Oberlin, a German pastor among the French and German population of a valley on the borders of Alsace and Lorraine. His spirit and achievements seemed so like those which were desired for the new colony that his name was given to it by the founders." The spirit of altruism which was with Ship-herd and Stewart in the beginning has continued to this day. People who joined the early colony were asked to sign a covenant which provided first for the removal to Oberlin for the express purpose of glorifying God and doing good to men ; secondly, to hold their property personally ; but to pledge its use to community interest ; thirdly, to hold no more property than they believed they could profitably manage, as God's faithful stewards ; fourthly, that they would gain as much as possible and all above that used for necessities should be appropriated for the spread of the 232 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE gospel ; fifthly, that they would eat only plain food, renounce bad habits, in which were included the drinking of liquor, tea or coffee and using tobacco ; sixthly, pledge to dress plainly, to refrain from wearing tight clothes and all ornaments ; seventhly, that they would build simple homes and have simple furniture and carriages ; eighthly, that from Christian principle would provide for widows, orphans, sick and needy; ninthly, that they would educate their children; tenthly, do all possible for Oberlin Institute ; eleventhly, that they would sustain the gospel at home and among neighbors ; twelfthly, "We will strive to maintain deep-loved and elevated personal piety, to provoke ,each other to love and good works, to live together in all things as brethren, and to glorify God in our bodies and spirits, which are his." Women, as well as men, signed these articles, and Mrs. Shipherd and Mrs. Stewart were equally anxious for and interested in the success of Oberlin, as were their. husbands. THE HISTORIC ELM. The founders of Oberlin did not leave their matters in the hands of land agents, but mounted their own good horses, at Elyria, and were soon picking their way carefully through the thick forests which then covered the site of the future college and town. Finally they reached an especially quiet and peaceful portion of the thick woods, tied their horses to a beautiful elm tree, and, with unaffected piety, fell upon their knees and prayed for the Divine blessing upon their project. Arising, they were about to stake out the 500 acres comprising their purchase, when a hunter pushed his way through the forest and informed them that he had just seen a black bear and her two cubs approach the tree to which they had tied their horses, but that after curiously sniffing around them for a few moments the mother had left their steeds unmolested. Messrs. Shipherd and Stewart considered this a good omen for the success of their educational enterprise, and the elm tree beneath which they prayed still stands on the southeast corner of the college campus. It is carefully fenced, and guarded as almost a sacred object, and is known to everyone far and wide as the Historic Elm. The radical difference in mental makeup of these two noble Christian men never interfered with their lasting friendship, or the unity of their work in the establishment of Oberlin college. The reason for this harmony in all their labors and relations was that each thoroughly understood the other. The following extract of a letter from Mr. Stewart to Mr. Shipherd, written when Oberlin College was in its infantile stage, is illustrative of this statement : HISTORIC ELM, OBERLIN. "You acknowledge that you are constant inclined to go too fast, and I acknowledge that I am disposed, from the same cause, to go too slow. If this be true, a word of admonition now and then from each other may be salutary. But after all, I would not have you like me in your temperament, if I could. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 233 I think we may balance each other and become mutual helps." FIRST OBERLIN COLONIST. In the spring of 1833, the first Oberlin colonist arrived upon the site of the future college and village. The locality at the time was covered with heavy beech and maple and such other trees of northern Ohio as the oak, elm, ash and hickory. The people who took possession of this wild tract, under the leadership of Messrs. Shipherd and Stewart, were a number of Christian families gathered chiefly from the New England states, with a FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, OBERLIN. few from New York and northern Ohio. They came with the double purpose of establishing a colony devoted to the promotion of Christian education and to make desirable homes for themselves and children. The first colonist to arrive upon .the ground, Who was already a resident of Lorain county, was Peter P. Pease. On April. 19, 1833, he pitched his tent on what is now the southeast corner of Oberlin campus, and a few days afterward erected a log cabin a short distance away. FIRST COLLEGE BUILDING. The college as an institution opened on December 3, with thirty-four students, and until the completion of its first building, Oberlin Hall, a short time afterward, the students were distributed in the homes of the colonists. Its first college structure was a plain two-story frame building, thirty-five by forty feet, located on the south side of College street, nearly opposite the Historic Elm. This pioneer building passed from college ownership about 1860, was afterward used as a carpenter shop and burned in 1886. The first school term covered the winter of 1833-4, ending with an attendance of tweny-nine men and fifteen women. The first Ladies' Hall was completed in 1835, and used for thirty years, or until the erection of the second hall in 1865. The old building was then divided into five dwelling houses, some of which are still occupied. FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. The First Congregational church was founded April 2, 1834, by Oberlin colonists 234 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE and Oberlin college, the first regular class from the collegiate department which joined the society being organized in the following October. The church building, which still stands, was completed in August, 1844, and the fact that at that time it was the largest religious edifice west of the Allegheny mountains will give the visitor of today some idea 0f the magnificence of those old churches, as compared with those of the present. Of course, the church has undergone many interior changes and improvements, and is very dear to both those who knew the Oberlin of the old days and those who have become connected with it by later ties. The first Congregational church is still considered peculiarly the home society for Oberlin college and Oberlin people. It is of a plain style of architecture, the plans upon which it was built being suggested by the beloved President Finney, who had in mind the famous Broadway Tabernacle of New York. Until 1860 its audience room was the scene not only of religious gatherings, but of college and town meetings. In that year, when the congregation was divided to form the Second church, its membership was 1,540. THE BIG TENT AND CINCINNATI HALL. Another widely known and popular structure connected with Oberlin College was the so-called Big Tent, 100 feet in diameter, which was erected on the campus principally for the holding of religi0us meetings, and for the gathering of larger college assemblies than could be accommodated by Oberlin Hall. The tent had a seating capacity of 3,000 and among the many gatherings which filled it to overflowing was that of 1841, when three young women received the degree of A. B.—the first time that such an honor had been conferred upon women in the United States. The Big Tent afterward passed into the ownership of the Anti-Slavery Society, and was the scene of many tumultous gatherings when Oberlin was such a noted abolitionist center. At an early period, attendance at the college had reached such proportions that it became necessary to provide students with other boarding accommodations than those they could secure. from the already crowded homes of Oberlin citizens. .For this purpose the college management erected Cincinnati Hall, a rough one-story building 144 by 24 feet, and because of the material from which it was mostly constructed it was popularly known as Slab Hall. This was occupied by as many male students as could be crowded into it until about 1840, when more suitable boarding accommodations had been supplied. The home for the president, known as Finney House, was completed in 1835. From 1891 to 1904 it was used for laboratory purposes and torn down in 1905 to make way for that magnificent structure, the Finney Memorial Chapel. What was known as Mahan-Morgan House was also completed in 1835 and stood on the site of Warner Hall. Walton Hall, also a men's dormitory, was finished during that year, and was destroyed by fire in 1864. Thus mention has been made of the earliest buildings which formed the nucleus of the present splendid array of college buildings. PRESIDENT MAHAN. Taking up the general historical thread, it should be stated that the first president of Oberlin College was Rev.. Asa Mahan, who was elected January 1, 1835. He assumed his .official duties on May 1, being a graduate of the theological seminary at Andover, and coming directly from western New York. He remained at the head of its affairs until August 28, 1850. The month after President Mahan's election the trustees of Oberlin University incorporated what was then a very radical provision to its . constitution, providing for the admission of students irrespective of color. Since that time, in the face of many years Of bitter criticism and opposition, this HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 235 provision permanently stood. The liberal spirit evinced at this early date has permeated not only the college, but the entire community, and it is one of the interesting features of the town, so noticeable today, that representatives of the colored race are everywhere treated with the utmost courtesy and consideration. The natural result has been mutual respect and politeness, and the teaching of a forcible object lesson, to those who still. insist that the two races cannot live peaceably in the same community. In May, 1835, the month that President Mahan came to the college, was organized the theological department. This was in full working order by December of that year, with an attendance of thirty-five students. The strength of the other departments was as follows: Collegiate, thirty-seven ; women's department, seventy-three, and preparatory, one hundred and thirty-one. The important part to be played by the women of Oberlin College became early evident. In July, 1835, they formed what was known as the Young Ladies' Association of Oberlin Collegiate Institution, afterwards merged into the Ladies' Literary Society, and in February, 1836, the college authorities founded a woman board of managers. Other events which marked distinct steps in the progress of Oberlin College during the presidency of Professor Mahan may be mentioned as follows : The first issue of Oberlin Evangelist in January, 1839, and the organizati0n of the Dialetic Society (later the Young Men's Lyceum and the Phi Kappa Psi) ; in October of that year the formation of the Philomathesian Society; now Phi Delta, and the organization of the Oberlin Musical Association, in 1847. The latter was changed to the Oberlin Musical Union in May, 1860, and during the sixty-three years of its. existence has given one hundred and forty-eight public concerts. During this period (on February 17, 1846), the village of Oberlin was also incorporated. LUCY STONE AND ANTOINETTE BROWN. Lucy Stone, of Massachusetts, one of the earliest and most eloquent of the pioneers in the equal rights movement, graduated from Oberlin in 1847. During her four years' course, she supported herself, partly by teaching in the long vacations and partly by doing housework in the Ladies' Boarding Hall at three cents an hour. She was an active propagandist of antislavery and woman's rights doctrine among the students, and was regarded as a dangerous character by the more conservative professors, although, as one of them, said to her many years after, "You know we always liked you, Lucy !" Antoinette Brown of New York, who afterwards became the first ordained woman minister, was also an Oberlin student, and she and Lucy Stone organized there the first debating club ever formed among college women. The young men had to hold debates, as part of their work in rhetoric. The young women were required to be present, in order to help form an audience for the young men, but they were not allowed to take part. Lucy Stone was intending to lecture and Antoinette Brown to preach. They wanted the practice in public speaking. They and some others petitioned that the girls should be allowed to share in the debates. With many misgivings, the authorities allowed them to take part in one. It proved an unusually brilliant 0ne, but the faculty decided that it was contrary to St. Paul for women to speak, and that it must not happen again. An old colored woman who owned a small house, and whom Lucy Stone had taught to read, consented to let them meet in her parlor. Coming by one and two at a time, so as not to attract notice, the debating club used to assemble there and discuss all sorts of high subjects. In summer they sometimes met secretly in the woods. When Lucy Stone graduated, she was in. vited to write an essay to be read at commence- 236 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE ment, but she was told that one of the professors would have to read it for her, as it was not proper for a woman's voice to be heard in public. Rather than consent to this, she declined to write it. Many years after, when Oberlin celebrated its semi-centennial, she was invited to be one of the speakers on that great occasion. PRESIDENT FINNEY. Professor Mahan was succeeded in the presidency by Professor Charles Grandison Finney, on the 25th of August, 1851. President Finney commenced his connection with Oberlin College as its first professor of theology in June, 1835, and was identified with its faculty almost continuously until his resignation as president, August 19, 1865. His most noteworthy absence was in 1849, when he went to England as an Evangelist. He resigned his well-performed duties at the age of seventy-three, and died in 1875. His daughter married Hon. J. D. Cox and added greatly to her husband's success, both in his educational and political life. She was a brilliant woman. FINNEY MEMORIAL CHAPEL. President Finney left an enduring mark on the policies and broad usefulness of Oberlin College; and his prominence as one of its builders is also proclaimed in the massive and beautiful memorial chapel which stands on the southwest corner of Lorain and Professor streets, on the site of his former official residence. It was erected by his son, Frederick Norton Finney, of Milwaukee, and dedicated June 21, 1908, on the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of the college. It is built of gray Amherst sand-stone, cost $135,000, and has a seating capacity of two thousand. There was a marked increase in the attendance during the first few years of Professor Finney's administration, and by 1853 the enrollment had reached 1,305, of which number 716 were men. In 1851 the scholarship fund was formed, amounting to $85,000, while FINNEY MEMORIAL CHAPEL, OBERLIN COLLEGE. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 237 1854 was an active year in the formation of men's literary societies, and also marked the Establishment of the Library Association. In 1856 the second women's literary society (the Aelioian) came into existence, and in 1859 the ladies formed both literary and library associations. The literary and library associations of both men and women were eventually consolidated (in October, 1874), resulting in the formation of the Union Library Association. At that time the number of volumes at the disposal of the association was 3,058. This number had increased to nearly 10,000 in 1898, and in March, 1908, when the Union Library Association formally passed over its collection to the college, the library amounted to nearly 15,000 bound volumes. THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY. In January, 1905, Andrew J. Carnegie had made an offer of $125,000 for a library endowment fund, providing the college secured $100,000 to add to his donation. The amount was raised in June, 1906, and in March, 1907, Mr. Carnegie promised $25,000 additional for a building, upon the condition that the college secured $20,000 as a further endowment. Not to trace the steps more in detail which led to the founding of the Carnegie Library of Oberlin College and the erection of its magnificent home, it may be stated that the dedication of the structure occurred on the 23rd of June, 1908. The building, which is of Amherst sandstone, is on the northeast corner of Professor and Lorain streets, is one hundred and thirty-five by one hundred and ten feet; and cost $155,000, of which Mr. Carnegie gave all but $5,000. On the first floor are special rooms for readers and wardrobe accommodations; on the second floor, spacious and convenient reading rooms and the librarian's offices; on the third and fourth floors, the library proper, with various departments connected with the college and seminary ; and on the fifth and sixth floors is temporarily stored the magnificent Olney art collection. OBERLIN IN THE CIVIL WAR. President Finney's administration included the Civil war period, during which the splendid spirit and patriotism exhibited by the student body materially interfered with the growth of the college. On April 20, 1860, not long after the firing on Ft. Sumter, more than four hundred and thirty students applied for admission to Company C, Seventh Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Only eighty-one, the maximum of the company, were received. A second company was promptly organized and filled to its maximum, and a few- months after Company C enlisted Oberlin College and vicinity sent another company to the Forty-first Regiment. In the second year of the war still another company was raised in the college and village' to join the One Hundred and Third Regiment, and not long afterward, when Cincinnati appeared to be threatened by the Confederate cavalry, every student in the college able to bear arms marched to the defense of that city. Although the service of these so-called "Squirrel Hunters" were not required, their prompt action showed their manly spirit and they returned home with honor ; but hundreds of Oberlin students there were who saw actual service on the battle field, and many cheerfully sacrificed their lives to the Union. An inadequate testimony to this patriotism is the soldiers' monument which stands opposite the campus. VICTIMS OF THE BOXER UPRISING. More eloquent even than the soldiers' monument and even more illustrative of the spirit and purposes of Oberlin College, is the Memorial Arch at the main entrance of the campus from the west, which was dedicated on March 14, 1903, in honor of certain missionaries, many of whom were Oberlin graduates, who suffered :martyrdom in 'g00 during the Boxer uprising in China. In this horrible massacre by eastern fanatics, thirteen adult missionaries and five children were killed, and all but four 238 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE of those who suffered martyrdom were former students of Oberlin, or members of their families. The arch was the gift of D. Willis James, assisted by the students and friends of the college. PRESIDENT FAIRCHILD. Succeeding President Finney was Professor James Hains Fairchild, who became head of Oberlin College June. 26, 1866, and resigned his office June 24, 1889. In many respects he exerted the strongest and most continuous influence upon the welfare of the university of any one personality, as his connection began almost from the first term and continued until his death, March 19, 1902, or a period of over sixty-seven years. President Fairchild was a native of Stockbridge, Massachusetts, having been born November 25, 1817. In 1818 his parents moved to Brownhelm, Lorain county, and he early began his studies. The .family took up a residence in Oberlin in 1840. Nancy Hains Fairchild was bound her boys should have educations. She realized, to study well, that they must be well nourished. At that time the Grahamites were plenty and she did not believe in such meager fare. She was induced to take charge of a boarding hall, so that others might have advantage of her table. She accomplished her desires. Three of her boys became college presidents—one at Oberlin, one at Berea, Kentucky, and one at the State Industrial College of Kansas. She lived to a good old age, and died at her Brownhelm home. At the age of twelve young Fairchild entered a classical school, beginning the study of Latin in the following year; In July, 1832, he graduated from the Elyria high school, then under the presidency of Rev. John Monteith, and there became interested in the project which resulted in the establishment of Oberlin College. In. May, 1834, he was enrolled as a member of its first Freshmen class, consisting of four students—himself, his brother Henry, and two others. Professor Fairchild completed the entire four years course, and at the age of twenty graduated in the first class ever PETERS HALL, OBERLIN COLLEGE.   HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 239 sent out from Oberlin College. He then completed a theological course in 1841, and taught for several months near his old home in Brownhelm and in Chautauqua county, New York. A short experience as a preacher in southern Michigan preceded his return to Oberlin College. While still an undergraduate he had become connected with its faculty, teaching Latin, Greek and theology, and upon his permanent return to his Alma Mater he became a tutor both of theology and Hebrew. In 1842 the Languages were added to his other branches, and in 1844 he assumed the chair of mathematics. He continued as professor of the latter until 1858, and in the following year was appointed associate professor of Theology and Moral Philosophy, at a later date assuming the full professorship. For some years before President Finney's resignation, in 1865, Professor Fairchild had assumed most of the burdens connected with the presidency of the college, although his official title was Chairman. In June, i866, he was formally elected to the presidency, being at that time in his forty-ninth year. No man could have been more thoroughly equipped for his official duties, as he had been identified with every department of the college excepting that of chemistry. He continued as president of the college until 1889, when advanced age and failing strength forced him to resign, although he retained the chair of Theology and Ethics until the day of his death. The growth of the college was necessarily slow for a number of years after the Civil war, so that by 1873 its enrollment had only reached 1,371, or slightly greater than that of 1853. There was little change in the actual attendance up to the time of President Fairchild's death, and a few facts remain to be stated which fall within the period covered by his presidency. In July, 1870, the trustees of Oberlin College voted in favor of an alumni representation in their board, and, in pursuance of this decision, one member was selected from the Seminary and two from the College departments. They have since been recognized as corresponding members of the board of trustees, although denied the right to vote. In the following year, November 15th, at the third meeting of the National Congregational Council at Oberlin, the cornerstone of Council Hall was laid, and since has been occupied by the department of Theology. OBERLIN COLLEGE REVIEW FOUNDED. The first issue of the Oberlin College Review is dated April 1, 1874. The publication was originally a semi-monthly, but became a weekly in 1889, and has since been the only accredited organ of the college. The first article of the first issue, by President Fairchild, was entitled "A Visit to Waldbach, the Home .of Pastor Oberlin." The other events connected with the development of Oberlin, which fall within the presidency of Professor Fairchild, may be mentioned as follows : The organization of the College Glee Club and the Y. M. C. A., in November, 1881 ; the establishment of a philosophical course in the curriculum in 1886, which carries with it the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy; the founding of the Slavic course in Theology during 1887, and the completion of Peters and Talcott Halls during the same year. PRESIDENT BALLANTINE. Prof. William Gay Ballantine succeeded to the presidency in January, 1891, having for the preceding thirty years filled the chair of Hebrew of the college faculty. He resigned in June, 1893. During this period the Anti-Saloon element of Oberlin assumed organized form, through the meeting of the Oberlin Temperance Alliance in May, 1893. Upon that date its members gathered in the Spear library of the college and organized the Anti-Saloon League, 240 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE whose first public meeting was held in the First Congregational Church on Sunday, June 4, of that year. PRESIDENT BARROWS. Rev. John Henry Barrows assumed the presidency in November, 1898, and continued at the head of the college affairs until his death, June 3, 1902. He was the first president of that institution to die in office, his decease occurring about two months after the passing away of his predecessor, President Fairchild. It is probable that no president of Oberlin College enjoyed so cosmopolitan a reputation as Dr. Barrows, his name being honored by scholars and religionists of two hemispheres. He first came into world notice as president of the great Congress of Religions at the Columbian Exposition, and afterwards extended his fame by the profound lectures in the promotion of religion which he delivered from Calcutta, India, to San Francisco, California. As a preacher, orator, scholar and college executive he had few equals in the United States. PRESIDENT KING. In November, 1902, Prof. Henry Churchill King succeeded Dr. Barrows, being inaugurated May 13, 1903. He first became connected with Oberlin College, as a tutor, baying served as Professor of Philosophy for six years previous. He was already widely known as an author, and since becoming the head of Oberlin College has been honored TALCOTT HALL, OBERLIN COLLEGE. with the presidency of the Religious Ed tional Association. NEW DEANS CREATED. Among the innovations introduced during the administration of the present incumbent is the creation of the offices, Dean of the Seminary (in 1903) and Dean of the College of Women (in 1904) ; and deans have also been established for the Conservatory of Women and the Aademy of Women, who are person- HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 241 ally responsible to the college management for the administration of its rules. In 1904 was created the office known as Assistant to the President, the special duties of which are to increase and conserve the material equipment of the college. GREAT ENDOWMENT FUND. More important than anything which has been mentioned, however, in the establishment of Oberlin College on a broad and liberal educational basis, is the founding of a great WARNER HALL, OBERLIN COLLEGE. endowment fund, which was begun in June, 1900. At that time, during the reunion of the college alumni, pledges were received for the raising of a general endowment fund amounting to $72,000, as well as for the founding of a $10,000 scholarship. Not long, afterwards the Oberlin College Living Endowment Union was organized as a medium through which to receive all such contributions. The receipts from friends of the college were so generous that by December, 1901, the fund amounted to $500,000. This sum included $200,000 offered by Mr. Rockefeller, upon the condition that the college raised $300,000. The completion of the second half million endowment fund was announced in June, 1906. To be more exact, the total was $501,608, and included the following items : Andrew Carnegie, for the library building, $125,000; fifty-six donors, in behalf of the library endowment, $100,000 ; an anonymous Boston friend, for increase of teachers' salaries in college and seminary, $100,000; Miss Anne Walworth, for the establishment of the Slavic department of the Theological Seminary, $75,000. Another munificent gift which has fallen to the good fortune of Oberlin College within the last few years, is the bequest made by Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Olney, of Cleveland. This is known as the Olney Art Collection, and is valued at $150,000, being temporarily installed on the third floor of the Carnegie Library building. The period from 1900 to 1909, in the general progress of the college, was mainly marked by its great growth in the College of Vol. I-16 242 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE Arts and Sciences, the attendance in this department having more than doubled during this time. The total attendance of the college is now about 2,000, the women outnumbering the men two to one. WARNER HALL. Several magnificent buildings which go to make up what is known as Oberlin College, deserve more special mention than they have received. Warner Hall was originally constructed through the generosity of Dr. and. Mrs. Lucien C. Warner, of New York, for a conservatory of music. Three years afterward a large wing to the north was added, and in 1903-4 the building was entirely remodeled. A fine organ is the most striking feature of its musical equipment, which was, installed in 1902 and is the gift of Harold Kimball, the well-known manufacturer of instruments at Rochester, New York. Sturges Hall, erected in 1884; was designed to provide accommodations for the women's literary societies in the college, and is named for Miss Susan M. Sturges, who is the principal donor. Since 1907 this has been used for recitation purposes by the College of Arts and Sciences. The Spear Laboratory, erected in 1885, was the gift of Rev. Charles V. Spear, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, and for many years was used for college laboratory purposes. Since the completion of the Carnegie Laboratory, in 1908, it has been utilized for the Zoological department. In its main entrance hall is a bronze memorial tablet erected to the memory of Prof. Albert A. Wright, who for thirty-one years held the professorship of geology and natural history. PETERS HALL. Peters Hall, one of the finest buildings in the college group, was completed in 1887, mainly through a donation of $50,000 from Hon. Richard G. Peters, of Manistee, Michigan. It is a massive two-story building and contains the recitation rooms of the College of Arts and Sciences. The most striking architectural feature is a grand central court, extending two stories into the interior of the building and surrounded by the lecture and recitation rooms. It also contains several beautiful class gifts, such as an ornate fireplace, casts taken from the Parthenon frieze, and a strikingly life-like portrait of Professor Barrows. In 1887 the two largest dormitories for women were erected, which are known as Baldwin Cottage and Talcott Hall. In the former is also the home of the dean of the College of Women, and the latter contains the headquarters of the deans of the Academy of Women and College of Women. There are other minor dormitories, some of which face the college campus and others are scattered throughout the resident portion of the city. Two other large and beautiful college buildings were completed in 1901, namely—the erance Chemical Laboratory, founded by Lo H. Severance, of New York City, and the Warner Gymnasium, which is for the sp physical training of men. Another institution, which comes within radius of the college's broad activities, the Oberlin Contagious Hospital. Tow the support of this institution, whose options, fortunately, are not continuous, the col, lege makes an annual appropriation of $79. THE VILLAGE OF OBERLIN. Within the narrative descriptive of the establishment and development of Oberlin lege has been briefly noted the founding of colony which eventually expanded into the village of Oberlin. Mention has been made of the first settler on the site of the town, Peter Pinder Pease, who cut the first tree March 15, 1833. SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES. Four years after Oberlin College was chartered by the state Legislature, the first public 244 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE school house was built on the cornor of Main and Lorain streets, on the site of the First Congregational church. In 1851-2 the pioneer brick building donated to school purposes was erected on Professor street, opposite the college campus. It originally contained four rooms, later two rooms were added, and eventually it was purchased by the college and became known as Cabinet Hall. In 1873 the corner-stone of the present. high school building was laid, and the structure was dedicated in the following year. It contained fifteen rooms, and the present enrollment of the 'school is three hundred and fifty. There are three other public schools in the village, with a total enrollment of one thousand, namely —the Centennial, North Pleasant street and Prospect street schools. The Oberlin public. school system is naturally of the highest grade, and embraces not only the commonly taught branches, but a kindergarten, especially equipped for the training of teachers. Although not included in Oberlin's public system of education, mention must be made of the Oberlin Business College and the Oberlin Telegraph school, as institutions which have brought great credit to their originators and to the community at large. They are both among the oldest and most successful institutions of this character in the Western Reserve, the school of telegraphy being one of the oldest of the kind in the United States. It was established in 1861 by S. S. Calkins, and its first manager was Chester H. Pond, inventor of the automatic fire alarm which is now a feature of the fire service as found in every progressive city of the country. Considered as a religious community, Oberlin is preeminently a Congregational town, the establishment of the First and Second Congregational churches having already been briefly noted. From the establishment of the First church in 1834, for a period of nearly forty years, its pulpit was filled by Revs. John J. Shipherd and Charles G. Finney, presidents of Oberlin college, assisted by Professors Asa Mahan and John M0rgan: In the autu 1873 Rev. James Brand became the succes of President Finney, and for the first ti the church enjoyed the services of a pastor Who gave his entire time to its interests. Dr. Brand continued as pastor for nearly twe six years, or until his death, in 1899, and t e present pastor, Rev. J. W. Bradshaw, coin• menced his labors in the autumn of 1900. The Second Congregational church Organized May, 1860, and the building which it n occupies was dedicated in October, 1865. Its pastors have been Rev. N. W. Fairchild, Rev. William Kincaid, Rev. Robert G. Hutchins, and Rev. H. M. Tenney. From the first this church has been closely identified with the conservatory of music of Oberlin college, Professor Rice, so long a director of the co servatory, serving for many years as its chorister. Both the Baptists and Methodists are also strongly organized in Oberlin, the first church of the former denomination be founded in 1874. The Catholics establish themselves at an early day, and it is record that in 1863 Father Thomas Halley occasionally said mass in the home of Philip Col, a section hand on the Lake Shore Railroad. Later Father Louis Molan looked after the spiritual welfare of the Oberlin Catholic his regular church being at Elyria. He succeeded by other faithful priests, but a regular chapel for the accommodation of the woshipers was not dedicated until 1900. The local church is now known as the Sacred Heart parish. The colored Baptists of Oberlin have quite a strong society known as Mt. Zion church. Besides the religious organizations already mentioned there are the Rust Methodist and the Christ Protestant Episcopal churches. OBERLIN CEMETERY ASSOCIATION, Oberlin has eight tracts of public grounds including golf links, tennis courts and Westwood Cemetery. The first tract set aside for a cemetery consisted of about two acres of HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 245 Morgan street between Main and Professor streets, and was leased by the college to a society formed to take charge of the cemetery not long after the school was founded. These grounds, however, were always considered but temporary, and in July, 1861, the citizens of Oberlin held a meeting to consider the subject of a new cemetery. This resulted in the formation of the Oberlin Cemetery Association and the purchase of a beautiful wooded tract of nearly twenty-eight acres lying about a mile southwest of the village: It was not until July, 1864, that the grounds were sufficiently improved to be solemnly edicated as a burial place for the dead. CLUBS AND SOCIETIES. For many years Oberlin has supported numerous lodges identified. with all the well established secret and benevolent orders, and has always been remarkably prolific in the organization of clubs and societies founded and promoted by women. The first of the latter was known as the Oberlin Sorosis, organized in October, 1897. In planning its line of work and arranging its constitution the New York Sorosis, mother of all such women's literary clubs, gave most valuable assistance. Mrs. W. C. Bunce was the first president of the local club, which is limited in membership to twenty-five. The Oberlin Women's Club was organized in 1901, and includes in its activities, as a somewhat unusual feature, the encouragement of all movements calculated to better the village in a public way, as well as a cooking school which has become incorporated into the public school system. The Associated Charities of Oberlin was organized more than twenty years ago, and, although its work has been conducted by both men and women, the latter have always formed the dominant element. The Grand Army of the Republic at Oberlin is represented by Henry Lincoln Post, No. 364, and has received its name in honor of one of the bravest and most popular members of Company C, Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was present in all the battles of his regiment up to December, 1862, when he was obliged to resign his commission as first lieutenant and return to his home in Oberlin, where he died July 1, 1863. Of the one hundred members of Company C, thirty-one lost their lives in battle, seven by disease, and one by accident ; so that Henry Lincoln Post may be said to have been established in special honor of the self-sacrifice manifested by this splendid company of. Oberlin soldiers. Both students of the college and citizens of the village entered its ranks, and gave up their lives in the service of the Union Army. THE OBERLIN-WELLINGTON RESCUE CASE. The reputation of Oberlin as a radical antislavery community was greatly enhanced in 1858 by its connection with what has gone into national history as the Oberlin-Wellington Rescue Case. This constituted nearly the last attempt to recover a negro fugitive in Northern Ohio, under the law of 1850. John Price, a fugitive slave from Kentucky, had been some time in Oberlin, when by a ruse he was seized by the United States marshal and his deputy, accompanied by two Kentuckians, and driven over to Wellington, eight miles away, where he was made a prisoner at Wadsworth's hotel, the design being to take him south by the first train and re-introduce him into slavery. It happened that at the time there was a large crowd at Wellington, attracted by the occurrence of a fire, and as soon as they received word of the state of affairs at Wadsworth's hotel, with reinforcements from Oberlin, they surrounded the temporary prison and rescued the fugitive. The grand jury of the United States district court thereupon indicted thirteen persons in Wellington and twenty-four in Oberlin—all leading citizens—for aiding in the rescue, their cases being called at Cleveland on April 5th. The Wellington defendants, who were considered more as assistants than principals in the rescue 246 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE of the slave, were each fined twenty dollars and costs and sent t0 jail for twenty-four hours. Simeon Bushnell, of Oberlin, and Charles H. Langston, a colored man of the same place, were convicted and sentenced—the former to sixty days in prison and a fine of $600, and the latter to a $100 fine and twenty-days' sentence. Twelve of the Oberlin men remained in jail at Cleveland, but all of the prisoners, it is said, had a rather enjoyable time. The result of these convictions was to arouse the people throughout northern Ohio who were opposed to the institution of slavery, and on the 24th of May an immense mass meeting was held at Cleveland to give public expression to this sentiment. Hon. Joshua R. Giddings, Governor Chase and others addressed the meeting and the feelings of the community were aroused to a high pitch of excitement. Visitors came in throngs from all parts of the city to see the prisoners, sympathize with them, and make their imprisonment comfortable. One of the most remarkable demonstrations was in favor of Mr. Fitch of Oberlin, who had been superintendent of the Congregational Sunday-school there for sixteen years. The children, numbering four hundred, came to Cleveland in a body, filling the jail and the corridors during their visit to their beloved superintendent. On the 6th of July the last of the Oberlin prisoners were released from the Cleveland jail, and, on their arrival at their home town on the same clay, were escorted to the First Congregational church, where until midnight the people of the village gave way to their pent up enthusiasm in the form of song and prayer. Although they thus suffered martyrdom to the cause, they had the satisfaction of receiving the plaudits of the public in general. Albeit that Oberlin has acquired her chief distinction as an educational, moral and religious center, it is to be noted that she was the first municipality in Lorain county to organize a Board of Commerce; now there is scarcely a community of a thousand people and none which pretends to support a name for enterprise or progress which has not organized among its citizens a board of this nature. The Oberlin Board of Commerce was founded in February, 1895, and its object is, of course, to interest its citizens in the improvement and permanent betterment of the town, and to spread about its needs, as well as its strong points. Outside the Board of Commerce, Oberlin's chief mouthpiece as a village are its two newspapers—the News, established in 1860, and the Tribune, which was founded in 1894. Oberlin has two well conducted financial institutions under the control of the State Savings Bank and the People's Banking Company. The former was organized in 1904 and the latter in 1906. OBERLIN AS A CORPORATION. Oberlin was incorporated as a village February 17, 1846, and all of its departments, especially that of public education, are now thoroughly organized, although its fire department and water works system were not established on a modern basis until 1887. It is said that Oberlin's first hand engine was brought to the village about 1845. In 1869 appeared the first steam fire engine, which, with the old hand machine, did service for a number of years. Up to the year 1887 the only means of water supply for fire purposes were several large cisterns dug in various sections of the town, and the last of these remains of the old days was filled in only two years ago, upon the occasion of the paving of Lorain street. In September, 1887, the pumps for the present waterworks system were tested and pronounced good, from which time dates the founding of Oberlin's present system. The fire department and the water works system progressed hand in hand, and at the present time they are all that is necessary for public protection and a pure water supply. For the construction of the water works the town of Oberlin raised HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 247 $55,000 and the college donated more than $5,000, the balance of the $120,000 which represents the total investment being raised mostly from water assessments. The source of the supply is the east branch of the Vermillioh river, the water being taken from a point about six miles southwest of town Sand distributed to users by natural gravity. Like all the waters in the middle west derived either from the surface or wells, the supply is hard and not adapted to either domestic or boiler use. In 1905 the department installed a plant for softening the water, using as reagents lime and soda ash. This is one of the first municipal supplies in the world to be softened by this process, although there are hundreds of industrial plants in this country and thousands in Europe using it. During 1908 two very large municipal plants introduced the process—one at McKeesport, Pennsylvania, and the other at Columbus, Ohio. The Oberlin plant has been able to reduce the total hardness of the water to three or four grains per gallon, or the same as rain water stored in a brick cistern, and the supply can be used with entire success in water tube boilers. FOUNDING OF LORAIN. Mention has been made of the temporary residence of the Moravian Missionaries at the mouth of the Black river and of their precipitate departure from that locality because of the warning which they received from the Delaware Chief. So far as known, this was the first time that the white man lived within the limits of Lorain county and upon the site of the present city of Lorain. Twenty years afterward, Nathan Perry built his trading post at the mouth of the river, and a few rears later he was joined by several Vermonters. Not until 1817 did Heman Ely found his colony around the falls of the Black river, and start the future settlement of Lorain on its upward course. In his early manhood, Judge Ely had spent some time in the province of Lorraine, France, and his pleasant recollections of his residence in that charming and romantic country induced him to suggest the name for the new county which was organized in 1822. It will be noted, however, that the French spelling has been contracted and Anglicized into its present form, Lorain. EARLY SHIP BUILDING AT LORAIN. The settlement at the mouth of the Black river, which also took that name, assumed early importance as a point favorable both to the expansion of industries and transportation facilities. In 1836 various vessel owners in this locality formed what is known as the Black River Steam Boat Association, and in the same year the settlement incorporated itself as the village of Charleston. Not long after, the place reached the height of its early prosperity, its standing being based both upon its importance as a port of entry, as well as a ship-building center. Its progress in the latter industry is evident from the fact that in 1837 there had been launched from the J. N. Jones shipping yard, east of the river mouth, its first steamship, the "Bunker Hill," When this craft started for Cleveland to be fitted with machinery, it was accompanied by any amount of local pride. Ship-building had commenced at the mouth of the Black river, or upon the present site of Lorain, as early as 1819, when the schooner "General Huntington" was built and launched by F. Church. Other ship yards were established in the village, so that by the early thirties the industry was well founded. Among the families who became best known in this line were the Joneses—Captain A. and his sons, William and B. B., and F. N. Jones. The same year which witnessed the launching of the "Bunker Hill" marked the completion of the steamer "Constellation," which was turned out from the ship yard owned by A. Gilmore. The boilers for this boat, which were installed at Lorain, were hauled from Pittsburg by six yoke of oxen. Preceding 248 - HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE and during the Civil war, the leading shipbuilders of Lorain were W. S. Lyons and William Jones, whose yard was upon the east branch of the Black river, nearly opposite the present immense plant of the American Ship Building Company. During the .advent of the railroads to Lorain, in the early seventies, the ship yards of the place were busy, almost night and day, turning out the style of marine craft which were used in those clays. During the later years of this period they were mostly vessels of from three to four thousand tons, and built at a cost of from one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand dollars. In 1873 the steamer "Egyptian" was built at Lorain. It was a craft of seventeen hundred tons burden, and at the time was considered a "wonder" of the Great Lakes. THE RAILROADS COME. Notwithstanding Lorain's importance as a commercial and shipping port, the actual population of the place was less than five hundred in 1872, when the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley and Wheeling Railroads (now the Baltimore and Ohio) first brought it into connection with the productive coal regions of the south. These lines also made connection with the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Road at Elyria, thus insuring cheap' transportation for the iron ore of the northern Peninsula of Michigan, as well as the products of the Pennsylvania steel mills. The great lumbermen of Michigan and Wisconsin also soon discovered that Lorain's new railroad facilities would enable them to get their products to the eastern markets much more .expeditiously than via the Great Lakes, and the Big Four, Northern Ohio, Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Chicago,. Wheeling & Lake Erie and other lines secured connections with the rising city,. with the result that its ship-building and its marine commerce first seriously declined, and then, for a number of years, were almost at a standstill. The revival came with the era of modern steel ships, resulting finally in the establishment at Lorain of the great American Ship Building Company, in 1898. AMERICAN SHIP BUILDING COMPANY. South Lorain, which is a city by itself, although it has no existence as a corporation, has as its nucleus and virtual supporter the AMERICAN SHIP BUILDING COMPANY'S DOCKS, LORAIN. HISTORY OF THE WESTERN RESERVE - 249 great works of the Lorain Steel Company. These two industries have been the leading forces in the present-day. upbuilding of that city, and together they employ 12,000 of the 14,000 employees connected with the various industrial plants of the city. This immense industrial population is rather more than one-fourth of the entire city. The first boat completed by the American Ship Building Company was the steel steamer, "Superior City," which was launched April 3, 1898, and at that time was the largest vessel ever built on fresh water. This mammoth boat was 450 feet long, with 28 feet depth of hold, would carry 7,000 tons, and was especially designed for the ore trade. It was but the beginning of the construction of a great fleet of steel freight carriers which were launched from the ship yards of the American Company, and whose modern facilities enable it to turn out within fifty days a vessel exceeding in size and capacity the then famous "Superior City." The company's plant, which covers twenty acres, one-half mile from the harbor's mouth on the east shore of the Black river, now turns out an average of a dozen ships every year, costing from $260,000 to $300,000 each. This immense business is capitalized at $15,000,000 and employs over 2,000 men, disbursing more than one and one-half million dollars annually in wages. Although the "Superior City" was a freighter of immense proportions and capacity, it would not be considered in this day a really modern exhibition of lake marine architecture. It is generally considered by lake men that the first modern freighter equipped with up-to-date steam machinery was the "Augustus B. Wolvin," which was launched from the Lorain Yards, April 9, 1904. An idea of the efficiency of modern machinery in handling freight may be gained from the statement that 10,000 tons of ore have been handled in seventy minutes. The total capacity of the yards of the American Ship Building Company at Lorain is sixty-four boats, ranging in tonnage from 2,500. to 12,000. The Lorain dry docks are among the largest in the United States, covering an area of 724x125 feet. The sloping sides of the docks are composed of four-inch oak planks, and 5,000 piles form their foundations. The gate which forms the river end of the dock is built of steel and is 82 feet wide. On each side of the dry docks are huge berths, which admit of the construction of vessels over seven hundred feet long and which are also used as slips in which to launch them. It should be added that this company's operations embrace not only the plant at Lorain, but also two large ship yards in Chicago, as well as two in Cleveland and one each in Buffalo, Detroit, Boston, Superior, Wyandot and Milwaukee. THE GREAT LORAIN STEEL WORKS. The Lorain Steel Works operates what is known as the National Tube Company, originating in the great plant formerly located at Johnstown, Pennsylvania. The historical flood of 1889 almost completely destroyed the plant in. Pennsylvania, but several years afterward it was rebuilt on an even larger scale. The management, however, decided that Lorain was a more favorable point for the manufacture of steel, chiefly on account of its superior transportation facilities, and secondly because it was nearer the source of ore supplies. The steel works were therefore moved to this point in 1894, and were originally devoted to the manufacture of steel rails. The specialty now is steel tubing of all kinds. The great bulk of the piping used by the Standard Oil Company is manufactured by the South Lorain works. The National Tube Company employs nearly 10,000 hands, who receive-$5,600,000 annually in wages, which of itself is sufficient explanation of the remarkable expansion of South Lorain. The greatest improvements in that section of the city are mostly promoted and accom-