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CHAPTER XX.

(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP AND KENT.

FIRST SETTLEMENT-THE HAYMAKERS-A PRIMITIVE MILL-EARLY FACTS AND SETTLERS-CONTEST FOR THE COUNTY SEAT-LOW PRICE OF PRODUCE- FIRST BURYING GROUND-REEDSBURY- ORGANIZATION-FIRST LAW SUIT-CACKLER'S GEESE-IMPORTANT PRIMITIVE INDUSTRIES-FINE WATERPOWER-THE MANUFACTURE OF GLASS-THE TWIN VILLAGES 1N 1827—THE RIVAL TAVERNS- EARLY MERCHANTS, ETC., ETC.-PROGRESS OF IMPROVEMENT-ZENAS KENT-FRANKLIN LAND COMPANY-THE CANAL OUTRAGE- FRANKLIN & WARREN RAILROAD-INCORPORATION -INCREASE OF BUSINESS- STANDING ROCK CEMETERY-NAMES. AGES AND DEATHS OF SOME EARLY SETTLERS-JOHN BROWN-BRADY'S LEAP-PRIMITIVE SCHOOLS AND RELIGION-SKETCHES OF THE CHURCHES-FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS-ODD FELLOWSHIP-OTHER ORDERS AND SOCIETIES.

FRANKLIN was the first civil organization effected in what is now Portage County, after the admission of Ohio as a State in 1802, it being formed the same year. Originally it comprised the whole of the present Portage and parts of Trumbull and Summitt Counties. The present territory of Franklin, Town 3, Range 9, containing 16,000 acres of land, was purchased in 1798 by Aaron Olmsted, of Hartford, Conn., for 12 1/2 cents per acre, and in 1803 Ezekiel Hoover and Ralph Buckland were employed to survey it into lots. As

432 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

early as 1803, before there was a settler or a clearing of any kind, Benjamin Tappan, of Ravenna, and others from Hudson, had cut a road through the township from Ravenna to Hudson, and built a bridge over the Cuyahoga River about four yards from the spot where Capt. Brady made his famous leap in 1700. The late Christian Cackler, then a lad of thirteen years, passed over this bridge with his father in 1804, on their way to the southeast corner of Hudson, where they settled.

About the let of November, 1805, John Haymaker, his wife, Sally, and their three children, Jacob, Eve and Catharine, came into the township from Warren, where they had located a year previously, having come from Pittsburgh, Penn. They were of German descent and members of a large comma. tion of that name in central and northern Pennsylvania, many of whom are still residents of that State. The father of John Haymaker had prospected through this section of country during the spring of 1805, and liking the looks of Franklin, generally, purchased from Olmsted's agent a tract of land covering the present site of Kent's mill. Arriving at the Cuyahoga John and his family took possession of a rude cabin, left by the surveyors in 1803, which stood just west of where the upper bridge now is. This but had been used for several years indiscriminately by the Indians as a stable for their horses, and as a shelter by the deer and other wild animals, and was almost a foot deep with excrement, which had to be shoveled out before occupation: During the time they occupied this hovel the Indians came around them in great numbers, as the headquarters of the red skins was at the Falls of the Cuyahoga, and on a small stream in what is now Streetsboro Township. One day while the Haymakers were occupying this cabin, a few Indians came there and the squaw, as usual, took her pappoose from her back, and stood the board to which it was attached against the logs, as they never took their chit: dren into the houses of the whites except in very cold weather. After the mother had gone in, a wild hog came through the brush, and grasping the Indian baby ran off with, it. The mother hearing the noise ran out and rescued her babe, but not until the infuriated hog was badly beaten.

In the spring of, 1806 George Haymaker, brother of John, and their father, Jacob, came in. Jacob built a house on the west side of the river near where Kent's mill now stands. In April of this year Samuel Burnett was employed by Judge Quimby, of Warren, to make a clearing on Lot 65, and to. receive as payment eighty acres of land in that vicinity. He made a clearing and put up a cabin with the assistance of the father, Christian Cackler, but he did not remain there long, as Judge Quimby died and Burnett failed to get his eighty acres. During the following fall Frederick Haymaker came in and purchased a tract of land that included most of the upper village. Frederick, also, was a son of Jacob, and was a man of fine educational and natural abilities. He had served as private secretary to the brilliant but unprincipled Aaron Burr, on the famous expedition for which he was tried for treason, and is said to have possessed the secret reasons and motives and plans of his superior, but he never divulged a word in regard to them; the facts, known to no one else, dying with the faithful secretary. Frederick was the father of twenty. seven children, having been married three times. The Haymaker family, owned about 600 acres on the present site of Kent.

During 1807 the Haymakers built a small mill, the stones used for grining being those known as "hard heads," and were prepared by Bradford K logg, of Hudson. The mill, of course, was a very rude affair, and was before it was entirely finished. Crotched poles were planted, upon which oth poles were placed, and a roof thus formed. A coarse cloth was used by

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as a bolting-cloth. This primitive affair was a great convenience, and was used, with very little improvement, for several years. Andrew Kelso was the miller. From the fact that this mill was located here the name, Franklin Mills, as designating the village, originated, for in time the settlement became known through the mill, it receiving patronage from a large section of the surrounding country.

The first white child born in the township was John F., son of John and Sally Haymaker, this event occurring September 11, 1807; Emily, a daughter to the same parents, was born November 26, 1809. The first death was that of Eve Haymaker, the wife of Jacob, and father of the first settler, John, and his brothers George and Frederick. Jacob died in 1819, John in 1827, George in 1838, Frederick in Trumbull County in 1851, and Sally June 15, 1869, at the advanced age of ninety-four years, having lived in the township sixty- four years.

During the summer of 1807, after the organization of the county, there was a very heated competition to secure the county seat for Tappan's town mills. Benjamin Tappan, of course, wanted to gain the prize and brought much influence to bear; but Olmsted, the proprietor of Franklin, and John Campbell, although a resident nearer Ravenna, endeavored to secure it for the Haymaker settlement. Campbell was instructed by Olmsted to offer to the Locating Committee a plat of ground for the public buildings, and to give them the necessary assurance, also, that he would defray the expense of erecting a Court House and Jail. A beautiful site was selected by Campbell on a rise just north of where now is Standing Rock Cemetery, and it was deemed certain by all concerned that the county seat was secured, but Olmsted returned to his home in the East and died, leaving all his unsold lands to his grandchildren; so, when the committee came to make the necessary arrangements, they had no title to the land. Thus, Kent lost the county seat, but she. fully makes up for it in natural advantages, and bids fair to outstrip her rival in population, as she has in manufacturing.

In 1811 Jacob Reed moved into the township from Rootstown, where he and his brothers Charles and Abram had settled in 1804. Reed purchased the little mill from the Haymakers and improved it roofing and side-boarding it. From this old miller the settlement came to be called for several years Reeds- burg, but, he selling out in 1816 to William Price and George B. DePeyster, the mill was again very materially improved, and the name Reedsburg was dropped, the original designation of Franklin Mills being generally adopted.

The old burying-ground in which Eve Haymaker was buried in 1810 was donated by one of the Haymakers and contained about two acres of land. It was used until Standing Rock Cemetery was laid off, and in that old and hallowed ground lie the remains of many of the early settlers.

In 1814 Christian Cackler was married to Theresa Nighman, the ceremony being performed by Frederick Canis, of Rootstown. This was the first wedding in Franklin Township, and when we consider that nearly ten years had elapsed since John Haymaker had cut his first tree there, it will be seen how slowly the settlement grew.

In 1814 Elisha Stevens erected a saw-mill, the first in the township, which stood upon the spot where was afterward erected the Lane foundry. Up to this time very little timber was used except in the rough. As soon as Stevens got his mill in operation the settlers actually built frame houses.

The township was organized in 1815, and an election held, at which twelve votes were cast, he voters being Amass Hamlin, Elisha Stevens, George Haymaker, John Haymaker, David Lilly, Hubbard Hurlbut, Jacob Reed,

434 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

Alexander Stewart, Adam Nighman, William Williams, Christian Cackler, Sr. and Andrew Kelso. This was the entire voting popuration in 1815. The officers elected were: Trustees, Amasa Hamlin, Elisha Stevens, George Hap/ maker; Clerk, Hubbard Hurlbut; Justice of the Peace, John Haymaker; Jacob Reed and John Tucker were the Judges of Election.

Not long after the organization, the first lawsuit in the township occurred. It was a case for damages instituted by Christian Cackler, whose geese had trespassed upon the lands of David Lilly, and was a reversal of the ordinary mode of procedure. Lilly killed several of Cackler's geese while destroying his (Lilly's) oats, and was sued therefor, and forced to pay for them, the Justice holding that there was nothing in the law to prevent a goose from destroy/ ing a man's oats, but that there was a penalty for killing the same goose, even if caught.

Some time in the twenties a couple of cases arising from the ultra-religious sentiments of a few of the early settlers, occurred, which created a great deal of feeling. A man named Brown, who was working at one of the mills, wed out on Sunday, having no other time through the week to do so, to gather n few chestnuts for his little ones. He was observed by the son of Deacon Andrews, informed upon, as a Sabbath-breaker, and fined $1 and cos* About the same time Jacob Stough and Sylvester Babcock, of Ravenna, drone through the settlement and the next day were arrested at the instance of a felt low named Russell, who was studying for the ministry. The teamsters were on their way home from having delivered some goods to Zenas Kent. They were also fined, but the good people of .Franklin Mills went to Stough, ant told him that if he would cowhide Russell they would foot the bill, in order to clear their township of such fanaticism, and Stough did it, yet there was ne one to make complaint against him for the act, so just was considered the drubbing he administered to the pious man.

The present officers are named as follows: Justices of the Peace, Isaac Russel, John Bentley, N. L. Barber; Constables, Oliver Newberry, John F. Clarks Trustees, Willard Moody, S. W. Burt, William Bassett.

In 1818 Joshua Woodard moved into the township from Ravenna and commenced erecting, in conjunction with Frederick Haymaker, who removed to Beaver, Penn., a number of buildings. They put up a woolen factory, dye-house, cabinet shop, turning-lathes, and a number of dwell' houses; also a hotel. Haymaker & Woodard continued in partnership about 1826, when they dissolved, the former taking the mill property, and latter the hotel and other buildings. In 1822 Woodard had formed a partnership with Benjamin F. Hopkins and David Ladd, who built a glass factory near where the upper mill now stands. They also built a tannery on the side of the river, near the upper bridge; a woolen factory, saw-mill and ash one mile east of the village, on the Breakneck Creek, and a woolen factory anvil-mill in the lower village, and opened a stock of goods in the basem of the house of George B. DePeyster. In addition they erected a number private dwellings, and did a large business till 1831, when the firm dissol and divided their property.

The settlers in the township in 1820 were: S. Babcock on Lot 1; S. Shurtliff, on Lot 2; W. R. Converse, Lot 6; G. Haymaker 10; D. McKim, 11; E. Pimbers, 12; S. Andrews, 13; A. Shurtliff, 16; S. Jennings, 19; R. Shurtliff 21; A. Loomis, 22; S. Clapp, 23; W. Newberry, 24; C. Newberry, G. B. DePeyster and W. Stewart, 25; T. Wallace, 27; J. Henderson, T. Williard, S. McMillen and J. Woodard, 30; B. Clark, 31; H. Moore, R. Moore Granger, 32; J. Stewart, 38; E. Dewy, 39; H. Hurlbut, 40; E. Stevens, 42

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D. Williams, 8; A. Hamlin, 49; W. Bassett, 50; Widow Price, 51; J. Day, 52; . John Haymaker, 59; D. Lilly, 69; D. Greer, 73; and A. Stewart, 79. The above named appear on a chart of the town made by Selah S. Clapp.

In 1824 James Edmunds, and Henry Park and his brother, built a glass factory on land now belonging to the Cackler estate, and for about ten years ending in 1831, William H. Price and George B. DePeyster had in operation in the Lower Village a gristmill, saw-mill, forge and trip-hammer and a hemp factory. They also ran a general store and did a fine business. They manufactured scythes, axes, forks and many other articles of iron and steel. DePeyster was at this time appointed Postmaster of Franklin Mills, that being the official name of the office, although the twin settlements were known respectively as Upper Village and Lower Village. The name Carthage was afterward applied to the Upper Village. Postmaster DePeyster kept his mail matter in a cigar box, and 25 cents was the usual moderate fee of Uncle Sam for carrying a letter a reasonable distance.

A sad event dissolved this enterprising firm of Price & DePeyster. In 1831 Mr. Price went to New Lisbon, where he procured a large grindstone to be used in his factory, and was on his way home, having the heavy stone upon a wagon. It was in February, the ground being covered with ice, and through some jolting or jerking of the wagon the stone slipped off and fell upon the unfortunate owner, inflicting such injuries that he died shortly afterward. Another misfortune in connection with the Price & DePeyster mills came in March, 1833, in the shape of a tremendous freshet that swept everything before it, carrying away the entire mill property and inflicting an almost irreparable loss upon the proprietor.

In 1831-32 Frederick Haymaker sold his property, consisting of 100 acres of land and a fine water power in the Upper Village, to Pomeroy & Rhodes, who built a grist-mill, woolen factory and a cabinet shop, and set up turning- lathes, which they operated for several years. About this time J. C. Fairchild purchased the tannery put up by Woodard and others and ran it for some years. Mr. Fairchild erected the first brick house in town, it being a small building south of the John Thompson residence on the west side of the river, and in this building was born the son who became Gov. Fairchild of Wisconsin.

With the enumeration of the above industries, we are brought to what might be termed the end of the first era of Franklin, or rather Kent, although the settlement was not known as yet by that name, it being called Carthage for the upper, and Franklin Mills for the lower settlement. It will be noted that the tastes and enterprise of the original settlers of Kent ran strongly in the direction of manufactories, and it is very remarkable that, with a population so sparse, so many mills and factories should rise, considerable in size, too; yet, what she has since accomplished in this way make her original efforts appear pigmean.

From an address delivered at the seventh annual meeting of the Portage- Summit Pioneer Association, by Rev. W. F. Day, the following facts are gleaned. In 1827 the spot now occupied by Kent contained two villages, having each about half a dozen families. They were known originally as Upper Village and Lower Village, but, in addition the upper one bore the classic title of Carthage, whilst the lower was Franklin Mills, the postal station. The name Carthage, however, died out, and until the present appropriate name was adopted, the villages were ,called Upper and Lower respectively, and Franklin Mills, collectively. The first house built in Upper Village about that time was by Eber Phelps, on the site where now lives S. P. Stinaff.

436 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

Another small house stood a few rods below Phelps, and was occupied by the Frosts. The third, and more pretentious building was erected by Frederick Haymaker, a part of which is still standing. The fourth house, as you come down, was the residence of Rev. William Foljambe. This house was on the street just west of the upper bridge, and has been down many years. He owned a cow that knew when Sunday came as well as her master, and would pack off to where they held services on that day with the human regularity of those early church-goers. The animal, doubtless, knew when Sunday came by connecting the fact of wagons collecting together, all of which contained hay or straw for the use of the horses that hauled them, and to which she would make her way and filch a good feed. The fifth house was the Woodard Tavern, owned and kept by Joshua Woodard, and is the present Dewey place Another, and the sixth house, stood a few rods west of the tavern. Passing southward through the woods to a point a few rods south of where the Episcopal Church now stands, you come to the residence of William Stewart, whose daughter Maria became the wife of Hon. Marvin Kent. In the Lower Village was located the Lincoln Tavern, on the opposite side of the way a small house, and to the east was the residence of George B. DePeyster, who was Justice of the Peace for several years, and a Judge under the old county system. Franklin, for many years after the date mentioned, had no lawyer or scribe, and DePeyster drew up all documents requiring the peculiar and nonsensical phraseology of the law—his "hereunto attached," "fetch, bring convey the body of," and his " for, and in consideration of and by," being deemed absolutely essential to the legality of any paper between man and man. On the opposite side of the street was the residence and store of Capt. Price, and on the brow of the hill above the grist-mill was a small building in which was kept a store by Samuel Foljambe, now of Cleveland. There were two dams to the river, each village having one. The upper dam was nearly against the Woodard Tavern, but was afterward moved a few rods farther down, where a grist-mill was built. The lower dam was across the river, a little above the present location of the flouring-mills, and a flouring-mill, the only one in the two villages, stood near the site of the present mill, whilst on the other side of the rive was an oil-mill. In the Lower Village was a saw-mill. There was also a small glass factory, a woolen-mill and a tannery, these, added to the others, with possibly the addition of two or three small houses, constituted the two or three small houses, constituted the two villages.

Woodard's Tavern, and Lincoln's Tavern, were great rival hostelries. They were each kept by more than ordinarily shrewd men, and both of the proprietors were accommodating and pleasant hosts, coming fully up to the standard of knowing " how to keep a hotel." And they both exerted their powers to obtain custom, using all fair means to divert travel one from the other. There were two roads of travel between Ravenna and Cuyahoga Falls. About one mile west of Ravenna was the Black Horse Tavern. There the road to Cuyahoga Falls divided. The northern route, starting off where it now does, ran about where the present road does, save that it crossed directly between the lakes, instead of turning to the north as it does. After reaching the Woodward and Tavern it dropped south a few rods, when it turned west across the woods and came out near John Perkins' place. The other road, after leaving the Black Horse Tavern, crooked around somewhat, though running in the same general direction as the present one, until, within about a mile of the town, it turned off to the southwest, crossing the Cuyahoga on-a bridge a little below the grist-mill, then continuing on until it intersected the other. One road, therefore, was the road to Woodard's, and the other to Lincoln's, and the

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strife between the rival tavern-keepers was which should succeed in turning the travel at the Black Horse Tavern, or at the Perkins place. They had handbills and signs eulogizing their respective houses, each showing conclusively why his route was the best for general travel, and why the other was a great deal farther, a great deal rougher, and entirely unfit for any sane man to think of taking, unless compelled to do so. The Cleveland & Pittsburgh stage was then running, and the great point was to get the stage route. Sometimes Lincoln would induce the stage company to run by his route, and then Woodard would get them to adopt his. The matter was finally compromised by running on the Woodard road from the Black Horse Tavern to Woodard's, when the stage would then drive down to Lincoln's, and then on west. About the date 1827 Jairus Cassius Fairchild came into the Upper Village, built a house opposite Woodard's, and opened a tannery on the other side of the river. He then built the brick store which Was taken down some years ago, that being the first store in the Upper Village. A Mr. Root was associated with him. There were then two stores in the Lower Village, but shortly afterward a Mr. Button opened a store in the Upper Village, and Carthage for a time ran ahead of its rival. This store was in the south end of Woodard's Tavern, but the proprietor dying, G. D. Bates, now of Akron, carried on the business.

No doubt it was the fact of there being two distinct dams, that two villages grew up so close together, but when the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal Company destroyed the water-power, and especially when the brick buildings, owned respectively by Zenas Kent and Joy H. and Nelson Pendleton, were erected, all competition ceased, and everything has moved harmoniously since.

Outside of the villages there were, possibly, about twelve or fifteen families, and taking these with those in the villages, gave a population of not very far from 125 souls in the entire township. The following in regard to those outside of the villages is gleaned from a source considered to be as accurate as can be obtained at this late date. There may have been a few others who afterward passed away and became forgotten. In the northern section Jacob Lilly lived on the east banks of the East Twin Lake; John Haymaker was occupying the Olin place, half a mile or so below, where the roads fork. Edward Farnham had a small clearing on the east side, and Paul Davidson on the west side of ,the lake; a little further down was the settlement of Amasa Hamlin, whose wife, familiarly called Aunt Sallie, was a "holy terror" to the young men who attended "meeting" where she did, for if the pious old lady would detect any one of them whispering or misbehaving, she would march over to where he sat and take a seat beside him. As everybody knew what Aunt Sallie meant by that, the unfortunate offender became "spotted" forever after. In the northwestern part of the township lived the Cacklers; John Dewey lived where he died some years ago. In the eastern part of the town, Barber Clark, a Moore family, the Busts, the Clapps, Deacons Andrews and McBride, Timothy Wallace, Andrew Kelso, Alexander Stewart, Adam Nigh- man, Hubbard Hurlbut, Elisha Stevens, and a few ohers also were residents.

KENT.

In May, 1832, Zenas Kent and David Ladd purchased the Price & De Peyster property, the mill on which had been swept away the preceding February, they paying for the entire site $7,000. The property consisted of 300 acres of land, blending the fine water-power of the Cuyahoga. In the course of a year Mr. Kent bought his partner's interest, and continued the improvements. In 1836 Mr. Kent and Messrs. Pomeroy & Rhodes sold their entire

440 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

interests, the first for $75,000, and the latter for $40,000. Kent received in cash $25,000, and P. C. R. $30,000 from the Franklin Land Company. The parties buying were known as the Franklin Land Company, which in the year following transferred its interest to a company incorporated as the Franklin Silk Company, the following gentlemen being the members: Norman G. Baldwin, Truman P. Handy, Alexander Seymour, David H. Beardsley, Sherlock J. Andrews, John A. Foote, Solomon L. Severance, John S. Potwin, Seth W. Crittenden, Flavel W. Bingham, of Cleveland; Augustus Baldwin, John B. Clark, Van R. Humphrey, of Hudson; Elisha Beach, Nathan Button, of Franklin; Theodore Noble, of Middlebury; Zenas Kent, George Kirkham, George Y. Wallace, of Ravenna; Frederick Wadsworth, of Edinburg; and James W. Wallace, of Boston. This company made great improvements. They erected the fine stone dam and the wooden bridge, where now stands the fine stone bridge, and seemed to lay out a splendid future for Franklin Mills. The company contracted with the canal company to build the dam, but, as the canal people, besides controlling the water at this point, were interested in the then rival town of Akron, they diverted nearly the entire volume of the Cuyahoga to their canal, ostensibly for navigation purposes, but really to furnish water-power to Akron. This was a terrible blow, as well as an outrage on the st struggling, yet plucky and enterprising people of the twin villages. The property of the Silk Company depreciated, it became embarrassed, their circulating notes were retired, and it finally went into insolvency. But, fortunately, by legal process and purchase, the property fell into the hands of a man whose stamen and ability were equal to the emergencies. This man was Zenas Kent, who did all in his power to revive the flagging interests and to recover from the effects consequent upon the loss of the water-power to the villages. In 1848 the property was sold to Henry A. and Marvin Kent, who for thirty-five years, have been engaged in promoting the interests of the now consolidated villages. They erected a large cotton-mill, but through the failure of Eastern parties to fulfill their obligations in the matter, the factory was not stocked. Glass works were erected, and other enterprises inaugurated, but the village languished until the completion of the Franklin & Warren Railroad, now the New York, Lake Vie & Western, lately known as the N. Y., P. & O. R. R. This great road was a conception of the brain of Marvin Kent, who early was that the future would require a great thoroughfare to run diagonally across Ohio, and he ceased not his labors till he heard the whistle of the first passenger train of the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad as it approached Franklin Mills on the 7th day of March, 1863, in which year the name of the dupex villages was changed to Kent, in honor of the projector, executor and President of the now colossal railroad system. The location of the principal shops at Kent, and it being the termini of two divisions, gave a marked stimulus to the village, and it being the geographical centre of the road, an elegant depot and dining-rooms, to which H. A. and M. Kent donated grounds valued at about $10,000, were erected.

John Brown, of Harper's Ferry fame, came into the adjoining township of Hudson with his father in 1805, and moved into Franklin Mills in 1835, being then thirty five years of age. He built a house which he intended opening as a boarding house, but failed in his venture through some cause or another. The house still stands in Kent, and was used some years ago by a party for the very purpose Brown intended it. Brown & Thompson's addition to Franklin Village was platted by John A. Means, surveyor, in 1838, and recorded October 22, that year. This embraced twenty-one acres, extending from the bend of the river to the east line of Township Lot 12, and from the north line of Township Lot 12 to the south line of same lot. This plat was vacated. The

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Island tract and extension to. Water Street of forty-five acres was purchased by Marvin Kent from Capt. Heman Oviatt, to whom it was conveyed by John Brown. The descriptions on the original plat, now in Marvin Kent's possession, are in John Brown's handwriting.

On May 7, 1867, Kent was incorporated, and the first Mayor elected was John Thompson. Five Trustees, corresponding to Councilmen, were also selected, they being C. Jones, James Glass, Joseph. Bethel, E. A. Parsons and A. D. Power. The Recorder was John P. Catlin.

1867, John Thompson, Mayor; John P. Catlin, Recorder. 1868, John Thompson, Mayor; L. H. Parmelee, Recorder. 1869, E. W. Stuart, Mayor; H. G. Allen, Recorder. 1870, S. P. Wolcott, Mayor; D. H. Knowlton, Recorder. 1871, S. P. Wolcott, Mayor; J. P. Hall, Recorder. 1872-74, Isaac Russell, Mayor; A. C. Hind, Clerk. 1874-76, Charles H. Kent, Mayor; Frank Woodard, Clerk. 1876-78, Charles H. Kent, Mayor; N. B. Rynard, Clerk; 1878-82, James Woodard, Mayor; W. I. Canis, Clerk. 1882-84, 0. S. Rockwell, Mayor; W. L Canis, Clerk. 1884, W. I. Canis, Mayor; Robert Reed, Clerk.

The official list for 1884-85 is as follows:

Mayor, W. I. Canis; Clerk, James Wark; Marshal, W. H. Palmer; Street Commissioner, Charles Anglemyer.

Councilmen.-A. C. Hind, Thomas Lyons, Robert Christian, G. T. Case, John Cross, B. F. Hargreaves.

Board of Health.—George Rouse, H. T. Lake, F. L. Dunning, H. M. Foltz, Dr. E. W. Price, Dr. J. S. Sweeney; Oliver Newberry, Health Officer; H.. K. Foltz, Clerk.

Board of Education.—E. A. Parsons, Robert McKeon, Thomas Egbert, I. L. Herriff, A. L. Ewell, C. S. Brown.

On October 26, 1875, the Council authorized the purchase of a Silsby engine, hose cart, hose, etc., for the sum of $3,400. In March, 1876, the Fire Department was organized as a department of the village.

The issue of bonds for $6,000, money required to make additions to the triple-arched bridge at Kent, over the Cuyahoga at Main Street, was authorized March 25, 1877.

The cemetery bonds were issued last year for cemetery purposes.

The first school in the township is said to have been taught in the winter of 1815-16 by Abner H. Lanphare, of Brimfield, in a small cabin that had been erected by a Mr. Rue in 1811, but just where it stood has now been forgotten. In the summer of 1817 the inhabitants erected a building, regardless of religious proclivities, to be used as a meeting-house for all sects, and for school purposes. It stood on the east side of the river near where Dr. Crain used to live. Among the early teachers, in addition to Lanphare, may be mentioned Amasa Hamlin, who taught awhile more for accommodation than pay; also Miss Orpha Curtiss, and a Miss Thayer. Up to about 1830 there was only one schoolhouse here, the one built in 1817, and one teacher. The growth of educational interests since that time is shown by the following statistics:

Franklin Township Schools.—Pupils enrolled, 66 boys and 64 girlsi 5 schoolhouses valued at $6,670; Revenue in 1884, $4,780.58; expenditures, $3,524.48.

Franklin Union School District. —Pupils enrolled, 387 boys and 406 girls; 8 schoolhouses valued at $50,000; revenue, $19,461, in 1884; expenditures, $13,417.20.

There is one of the finest educational buildings in the State to accommodate the excellent union schools, under he able management of Prof.. A. B. Stutzman, Superintendent of Instruction of the city. The Principal is Miss

442 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

Anna M. Nutting. The teachers are Mrs. A. L. McClellan and Misses Stella M. Pearson, Addle E. Stewart, Georgie Gladding, Nellie Jones, Nellie Gettys, Belle Bradley and Anna Christian.

Religious services were held at an early day, but just exactly where and when is not now definitely known, nor is it certainly remembered who preached the first sermon in he township. Rev. Shewell is thought by many to have been the first to expound the Word of God in this portion of the wilds% ness, and others think that Rev. Shadrach Bostwick, a Methodist Episcopal minister who came to Deerfield in an early day, came up here about the first. Rev. Joseph Badger preached in Mantua as early as 1802, and it is altogether probable that he addressed the settlers here as elsewhere afterward. Red Caleb Pilkin was also quite a noted Congregational minister, and it is m than likely he preached here at an early day. But the Congregational Church has the earliest documentary evidence and must be accorded first place.

Congregational Church.—By an arrangement entered into between the authorities of the Congregational and Presbyterian Churches, a plan of union an was adopted by which in a community where there were a few of each they might unite in a common society and thus sustain religious services when neither could have done so alone. There being a few Congregationalists and a few Presbyterians scattered through the township, they came together June 18, 1819, and organized themselves into a society under the care of the Portage County Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church, the following persons being the members: Samuel Andrews, John and wife, Samuel L. Andrews, J Jones and wife, Mrs. Roxana Newberry, Mrs. Amos Jared Thayer and Mm Loomis. They held public services in the schoolhouse, and had occasional preaching from missionaries till 1825, when Rev. George Sheldon became their pastor. Mr. Sheldon was a young man of quick perceptions and a high order of intellect, but extremely sectarian in his religious views, so much so that he would not at first fraternize with other denominations, but this wore off in time and he became a portion of the community like anybody else. He built a large two-story frame house about midway between the villages, just north of the Kent residence, which was the finest house for the time in this section. He remained with the church till 1831, when the congregation was without a pastor until 1836, at which time Mr. Sheldon was tail) called to the pastorate. In the meantime the society had erected the neat brick edifice which was dedicated in the year named. In 1839 Rev. S. W. Burritt was with called as their pastor. During the pastorate of Mr. Burritt a remarkable revival occurred and a large number of persons were converted, among whom was W. F. Day, afterward a well-known preacher. These meetings were in charge of Rev. Avery. Burritt was reserved in his manner, and thereby failed to attract the sympathies of his entire flock. At one of their "confessional " meetings some of the members honestly made it known that they did not like their pastor, which so shocked the good man that he resigned his charge, went to Cleveland, and abandoned the ministry. The church was then without a minister for some time, when Mr. Bates, who also taught an academy here, took charge. Rev. Ira Tracey came in 1846, and Rev. John A. Seymour from 1852 to 1856. In 1858 the new church was built, during the ministrations of Rev. T. M. Dwight. In a short time after this came Rev. John C. Hart, who was followed by Rev. D. B. Conkling in 1868; then came Rev. A. C. Barrows. The present pastor is Rev. Chase. The church is in a very fair condition.*

*A story is related of Mr. Sheldon by his son, who is now a residentof St. Lours. Conversing with a friend one day he remarked that he would never believe or trust a man who drank whisky. The friend appeared to acquiesce in this view, and went farther still by the statement, "I wouldn't believe a man who swears, unless itbe Zenas Bent."

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Methodist Episcopal Church. —Not far from the date of the organization of the Congregational Church, the Methodists came together and formed a class and held occasional meetings. In 1822 the Deerfield Circuit was formed with Rev. Ezra Boothe and Rev. William Westlake as the preachers, and Franklin was one of their charges. Then came Revs. Dennis Goddard and Elijah H. Fields. In 1824 Rev. Ira Eddy and Rev. B. O. Plympton were the pastors. These gentlemen found the society in a terrible wrangle. Some claimed to be members and others were denying it; so, after one of the preachers had listened to their disputes, he took the church records and throwing them into the fire, told the people that if they wanted to be members of the Methodist Episcopal Church they would have to join over again. This cut the Gordian knot, and harmony was restored. The society in its reformed condition, consisted of the following persons: Amasa Hamlin, wife and two sons, Hubbard Hurlbut, wife and son, Jacob Lilly and wife, John Dewey and wife, John Perkins and wife, Rev. William Foljambe and wife, Samuel Foljambe and a Mrs. Burgher. The society worshiped for several years in the schoolhouse, but in 1828 they fitted up a small building, which of late years is known as the Morris House, a little above S. P. Stinaff's, on the opposite side of the road. This was really the first church building in the township, being used exclusively for religious purposes, although it was afterward used as a schoolhouse. The Methodists occupied this building until they erected their regular church in 1840. Some strong preachers held forth in that first little building, and among those may be mentioned Rev. Charles Elliott, who was Presiding Elder in the early days. He was an Irishman and full of wit. On one occasion when holding class meeting, several of the penitents expressed great desire to leave this wicked world and go to Heaven. Elliott stopped one of them short and said that as far as he was concerned he wanted to go to Heaven when his time came, but just now he wanted to go home to Phoebe, his wife. Father Eddy was also a strong character. With Eddy in 1825 was associated John Summerville, who was followed by Revs. Philip Green, Peter D. Horton, E. H. Taylor, George W. Robinson, J. W. Hill, J. C. Ayers, Cornelius Jones, C. Moffitt, Thomas Carr, John E. Aikin, Wilder B. Mack, John McLean, Aurora Callender, Hiram Gilmore, William Stevens, W. S. Warallo, Edward J. Kenney, Alfred G. Sturgis, E. J. L. Baker, W. F. Wilson, L. D. Mix, D. M. Stearns, I. H. Tackett, E. Reeves, J. McLean, A. Burroughs, J. L. Holmes, A. M. Reed, W. H. Hunter, M. H. Bettes, T. B. Tait, W. M. Bear, W. A. Matson, S. Heard, L. W. Ely and a host of others of recent date. Mr. Jones, who was here in the early days, is remembered for his almost angelic temperament. Wilder B. Mack was one of the most graceful of pulpit orators, and Alfred G. Sturgis was considered a very impressive and eloquent man. The church has a good membership and is in a very prosperous condition, with a large Sunday- school. The present pastor is Rev. J. E. Smith.

Church of the Disciples of Christ. —The next church in the order of its organization is the Disciples, which was formed into a regular society in 1827. They encountered very bitter opposition at first, more so than any Protestant denomination of the century. The violence of the opponents of the teachings of the Campbells was one of the most unaccountable features of the early religious days, but this violence and opposition was met by the sturdy blows of a number of powerful expounders, in the persons of such men as Revs. Walter Scott and Studevant and Bosworth. Churches which disagreed in everything else joined hands in attempting to put down the efforts of this sect, but, like all persecuted causes, it thrived upon the very weapons hurled at it. The society at its organization consisted of Selah Shurtliff and wife,

444 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

Lydia Shurtliff, Desire Shurtliff, Luman Shurtliff, Naham Smith and wife Seth Corbett and wife and William Converse. The following have been pastors of this church: Revs.. A. Sturdevant, C. Bosworth, A. B. Green, Moore, T. Munnell, Griffin, Cronemeyer and one or two others. They have a neat and comfortable church edifice and are doing a good work after the concentrated opposition offered them. Disciples Church was organized under State law, December 12, 1853, with George Van Selah, S. C. Clapp and James G. Wallace, Trustees, and Eleazer W. Crane, Secretary.

Protestant Episcopal Church. —Previous to 1835 there had been a number of Episcopalians in the township, but there was no organization as a church. In the year named, on October 11, Rev. A. Sandford formally instituted. A church, the services being held in the red schoolhouse in the Lower Village, at which time the following persons became members: Edward Parsons, Levi Stoddard, Francis Furber, Thomas Cartwright, Lucius M. Lattimer, George B. DePeyster, David McBride, Asa Stanley, Chauncy Newberry, David Frazier and Tileman Wagoner, being the male members and representing heads of families. Asa Stanley was Senior Warden and Edward Parsons, Junior Warden. The Vestrymen were Levi Stoddard, Francis Furber, Thomas Cartwright and George B. DePeyster; L. M. Lattimer was Clerk. The present church building was consecrated June 12, 1838 by Bishop McIlvaine, Rev. Orin Miller was the first Rector, serving from 1834 to 1841. The Rectors following the last date have been: Revs. G. S. Davis, A. Bronson, A. Phelps, S. Hollis L. L. Holden, S. S. Cheevers, J. F. Curtis, T. Taylor, W. H. Capers and A. J. Brockway. They have no Rector at the present time.

Baptist Church. —Not far from the year 1835 a small Baptist society was formed in Franklin, but the members were very few, the Knowlton family being the principal adherents. This denomination, strong in many localities, for some reason or another has never succeeded in gaining the foothold most of the other churches have, although the sparse membership has consisted of some of the most excellent people. For years they were without preaching at all, and have generally been very irregularly supplied. This church was reorganized March 14, 1875. The original members were L. Twitchell, E. B. Smith, W. H. Van Horn, R. Dillon, A. Newton, George Botham and George Botham, Jr., Rev. Lambert Twitchell preaching gratuitously for it for four or five years, during which period they erected a very neat, though small church edifice. The society is on a better footing than it ever has been, and they now have stated services, Rev. M. N. Smith being pastor.

Free-Will Baptist Church, of the Rapids, elected D. B. Crafts, Clerk; A. R. Crafts, Ariel Proctor and Oscar Chamberlain, Trustees, and John Bartholomew, Deacon, at its reorganization.

Universalist Church. —There being a Universalist Church established at an early day in Brimfield, the members of that denomination in Franklin attended divine service there, Alvin Olin and family being about the first who held to that faith in the township. On the fourth Sabbath of May, 1866, an organization was effected. A reorganization of the Franklin Universalist Conference took place March 3, 1867. Alvin Olin, P. Boosinger and J. D. Haymaker, were elected Trustees; A. M. Shuman, Treasurer, and Nelson Olin, Clerk. Among the members were Ransom Olin, J. G. Whitcomb, T. H. Marshall, Mary R. Haymaker, Eliza Wright, Mary J. Parsons, Mary Boosinger, Almira Russell, A. Merrill, Mary A. Furry, Sybil Bradley, Effie Parsons and Rhoda Boosinger. The pastors of the church have been Revs:, Andrew Willson, J. S. Gledhill, Edward Morris; the present pastor is Rev. R. B. Marsh. The church building, costing $17,000, is a tasteful and commodious structure, and is

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 445

free of debt. It was dedicated in 1868. They have a membership of about 200.

St. Patrick's Catholic Church. —This church was organized in Kent in 1867, by Rev. P. H. Brown, at the time pastor of Hudson, Kent then being one of the out-missions under his charge. Forty families comprised the church organization at first, but in after years it has run up to about 100 families. The church edifice was erected in 1868, at a cost of $12,000, and is practically free from debt. They have a very tastefully laid out cemetery. The priests in charge have been Revs. P. H. Brown, W. J. Gibbons, J. P. Carroll, J. D. Bowles, Fathers O'Neill, Louis Braire, and Rev. J. T. Cahill. In February, 1885; a priest was appointed for this parish.

Evangelical Lutheran Church. —For several years past there have been a number of persons holding to the tenets of this church, and have had occasional preaching to them by ministers of this denomination, but during the year 1884 they built a very neat little structure in which Rev. Mr. Paulsgrove preaches for them. It is, though small in numbers, an active and zealous helper in the work of the Lord.

Free and Accepted Masons.—Rockton Lodge, No. 316, F. & A. M., was organized in the fall of 1858, and worked under dispensation till October 21, 1859, when a charter was granted by Horace M. Stokes, M. W. G. M.; J. N. Bust, D. G. M.; James Williams, S. G. W.; George Webster, J. G. W.; John D. Cadwell, G. S. The first officers of the lodge were A. M. Sherman, W. M.; W.L. Holden, S. W.; J. S. Fisk, J. W. The late Gen. L. V. Bierce, P. G. M., was deputized by the Grand Lodge to institute this lodge, which he did with imposing ceremonies. The membership is 160: In 1870 the lodge built a fine hall at a cost off $6,000, which is 85x45 feet inside of all.

Odd Fellowship. —Brady Lodge, No. 183, I. 0. 0. F., was charted July 10, 1851, by the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, S. Craighead, W. G. M. ; Spencer Shears, D. G. M. ; W. F. Slater, G. W.; Alex. A. Glenn, G. S.; Mark Pritchard, G. T. The charter members were Asa Douglass, J. C. B. Robinson, Charles H. Kent, M. P. Husted, W. I. Knowlton and David L. Rockwell. The order has a very fine hall, finely decorated and finished, and a membership of 103.

Knights of Honor—Cuyahoga Lodge, No. 316, K. of H., was chartered June 30, 1876, by the Supreme Lodge of the World, J. N. Ege, S. D. The charter members were G. S. Howden, Robert McGhee, A. C. Hines, N. W. Gregg, E. B. Smith, W. R. Emery, F. W. Root, A. D. Clark, W. H. Van Horn, A. B. Bertram,, E. Herman, E. M. Jones, E. Parkinson, W. M. Stokes, A. D. Orr, J. T. Wishart, George Fulsinger, John Stouffer, D. H. Plump, J. S. Smith, M. A. Norris, W. I. Cook. They have seventy-six members.

Royal Arcanum, No. 106, was chartered June 13, 1878, with twenty-seven members. The chief officers or Regents were W. W. Patton (1878), J. D. Davis, M. A. Norris, I. L. Herriff, 0. S. Rockwell, N. J. A. Minnich, Martin Holdridge and N. B. Rynard. The Secretaries were J. 0. Judd, James Wark, M. A. Thorpe, Orlando Thorpe, L. C. Reed, W. R. Jones and A. B. Stutz- man. The number of members at present is forty-six. The financial standing of the lodge is good.

A. H. Day Post, No. 185, G. A. R., was organized December 11, 1882, and was chartered December 30, 1882, and named in honor of the late A. H. Day, of the Seventh Ohio Infantry. The charter members were James Crane, L. G. Reed, N. B. Rynard, F. L. Allen, C. P. Rodenbaugh, M. L. Robinson, F. B. Allen, G. A. Furry, J. S. Sweeney, W. M. Stokes, B. A. Brewster, B. W. Fessenden, Sam Dobbins, D. P. Holcomb, A. D. Clark, A. C. Hinds, A. P. Powell,

446 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

E. Minnich, L. N. Raw, John Rubbins, H. W. Kirk, B. F. Hargeaves, C. H. Barber, Hugh B. Deads, F. H. Vickers, H. L. Atkins, Leander Johnson, W. E. Greanfield, L L. Heriff, R. McGhee, Ed. Wells, William Hopson, W. H. Van Horn, H. M. Foltz, George Harter, F. L. Punning, Thomas May, A. A. Rogers, S. J. Rouse and Robert Smith. F. L. Dunning was First Commander in 1882 and 1883. J. S. Sweeney was elected in 1884, and Robert McGhee in 1884-85. N. B. Rynard was First Adjutant; F. B. Allen, Second Adjutant, in 1883-84, and Ezra Fowler in 1884-85. The members not mentioned in the foregoing record are John Bechtel, George Meacham, M. B. Norton, William Tucker, 0. W. Myers, M. N. Smith, H. H. Snyder, M. V. Merrill, P. Y. Barnes, George L. Andrews, Jefferson Thomas, W. H. Fergurson, C. D. Ruggles, J. S. Cook, H. H. Holden, L. L. Johnson, M. C. Clark, J. H. Howell, J. M. Irwin, Charles Waldron, John Fitzpatrick, John Allman, A. B. Stutzman, Charles S. Tyson, D. Baker, Frederick Myers, Henry J. Shook, H. D. Sawyer, John Cross, John Willeston, W. Champney, George Gangle, John I. Hastings, 0. Champney, G. Bertholf, Phil. Ulm, Ezra Fowler, Levi Reed, S. Cuthbert, S. B. Bailey, Paul Clark, L. M. Chapman, Dallas Moulton, George Moon, L F. Wilcox, H. 0. Barton, W. S. Nickerson, C. A. Nickerson, H. W. Gridley, William Miller and Moses Owen. This is one of the most progressive posts in this district.

Franklin Township sent to the army of the Union 161 soldiers, twenty-six of whom either fell before the enemy or died in the service.

Kent Dramatic and Literary Association gave the first entertainment in February, 1885. The drama adapted was " Green Bushes," in which the following-named members appeared: F. H. Vickers, W. Donaghy, B. F. Hargreaves, A. C. Hind, T. D. Ruggles, R. McKeon,Thomas May, A. Wilder, A. B. Bertram, Thomas May, Jackson, Harry Vickers, Alexander, W. Stratton, Jones, Holmes, Hastings, McNeal, Davis, Russell, Miss Polly May, Miss Maud Jackson, Miss Rose Green, Mrs. Thomas May, Miss Emma May, Miss Bertha Hargreaves and Miss Ada Minx. Robert McKeon is Secretary and Treasurer.

Franklin Manufacturing Company was also organized June 16, 1851, for the purpose of manufacturing cotton, wool and flax. The Kent brothers, S. Huggins and A. H. Allen held 4,000 shares of $50 each. This company was in reality, formed for the purpose of holding the water-power of the Cuyahoga River at this point, and other property, such as the woolen-mills, saw-mill, etc.

Franklin Cotton Mills Company was organized June 13, 1851, with Zenas, Charles and Marvin Kent, Sylvester Huggins and Fred Whipple, incorporators. There were 6,000 shares, yielding a capital of $150,000. This was organized for the purpose of manufacturing cotton. Gen. James, of Providence, was one of the projectors. The cotton industry was never established, as the plant was not supplied under the contract.

Joseph Turner & Sons Manufacturing Company was organized March 20, 1880, with Joshua Turner, Mrs. Martha Turner, Jonas Hey, John G. Turner and Alice H. Hey, members. The object of this association was the manufacture of alpaca cloth and other textile fabrics. The capital was placed at $100,000. In 1878 the firm of Joseph Turner & Sons leased the old cotton factory from H. A. & M. Kent, introduced English machinery in 1879, and inaugurated the manufacture of alpaca early in 1879, employing seventy-five hands. The firm now employs 120 bands annually. There are 114 looms and 1,800 spindles. The machinery is valued at $50,000. The buildings are some of the finest devoted to industry in the Western Reserve. John G. Turner is President, and Joshua Turner is Secretary and Treasurer.

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FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - 449

Kent Woolen Company was organized February 4, 1867, with Marvin Kent, R. Dyson, H. L. Kent, E. L. Day and E. P. Williams, members. The capital was placed at $20,000. This company's mills were destroyed by fire in 1867. A building was moved to the site of the old woolen-mills, which is now used as a warehouse by W. S. Kent.

Franklin Glass Company was organized June 13,1851, with Charles H. and Marvin Kent, H. M. Grennell, George W. Wells and Horace Sizer, stockholders. There were 800 shares, aggregating $20,000. Joseph Lyman was a member of this company. The works were built in 1849-50.

Day, Williams & Co., Rock Glass Works, were established in 1864 by Ed. L. Day and Charles T. Williams. The works were erected by Kent, Wells & Co. in 1849 and 1850, and purchased in 1864 by the present owners. The industry employs 100 men annually; the capacity of the works is 70,000 boxes.

Franklin Glass Company was founded January 24,1873, with Eben Applegate, Henry Brooks, Lewis C. Haler, Alex. Papa, Philip Demuth, William L. Snyder and B. W. Jones, members, for the purpose of manufacturing window glass. The capital stock was placed at $50,000. This company never erected buildings.

The New York, Pittsburgh & Ohio car shops were formed at Kent in 1861, and the buildings completed in 1862. Marvin Kent donated the land on which the shops stand. The number of men employed is 194, a decrease of 300 in the working force within a few years. The buildings and location are peculiarly adapted to a great industry like this. The Superintendent is S. B. Smith, and shop clerk, J. P. Hall.

Franklin Lath Machine Company was formed February 25, 1859, with William Merrill, J. S. Fisk, M. Kent, C. Peck, Jr., H. Ewell and A. M. Sherman, members. The capital stock was placed at $20,000. This company erected buildings on Water Street, and carried on the manufacture of machines. Mr. Merrill, the inventor, gained control of this industry and carried on the business for some years.

Railway Speed Recorder Company was organized November 2, 1875, with the following members: J. B. Miller, William W. Wythe, J. H. Holway, A. L. Dunbar and W. H. Stevens. The capital stock was placed at $250,000, and the location of factory at Kent, with branch office at Meadville, Penn. W. H. Stevens, President, and A. L. Dunbar, Secretary and Treasurer, 1875-77. E. A. Parsons was elected Secretary in 1877. In 1878 A. L. Dunbar was elected President and re-elected annually since that time, while Mr. Parsons has served as Secretary and Treasurer. The Directors since 1877 have been William W. Wythe, J. Miller (now Superintendent), E. A. Parsons, A. L. Dunbar. J. T. Blair was a Director until 1879, when Charles Miller was elected. This industry employs fifty hands. The value of annual product is placed at $80,000. Buildings. and machinery are valued at $37,000. To J. B. Miller is due in great measure the success of this enterprise. He it was who perfected the Recorder, and placed before the company's salesmen a most useful and reliable invention.

The Center Flouring Mill Company was incorporated February 13,1850, with Edward Parsons, Robert Clark, Jr., Alvin Olin, James Woodard and Thomas Earl, Directors, and 141 stock-holders. The capital subscribed was $10,000, increased to $20,000 in 1852. Thomas Earl was General Manager, and under this management the industry was transferred to Dr. Earl's son, who rented it to various parties. The buildings were used for milling purposes until their destruction in the winter of 1,884.

The Peerless Roller Mills were established by C. A. and S. T. Williams in

450 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

1879. In this year a brick building was erected and machinery placed therein at a cost of about $40,000. In 1882 an addition was made to the mills at a cost of $5,000. There are sixteen sets of rollers used in this mill, with a capacity of 200 barrels per day. The number employed in all departments of this industry averages twenty-five. Their shipping business is confined to the Eastern States.

The Kent Mills, now operated by George Barnett, give employment to three men. Machinery for grinding new corn, chopping and flour manufacture has been introduced.

T. G. Parson's planing-mill was established in 1888 by Porter Hall and Ed. A. Parsons, in what was known as the Old Mill. About seven years ago the old building was moved to the present site, and a new building erected. This industry gives employment to eight men.

Franklin Steam Saw-mill is now operated by J. S. Sweet and M. M. Smith and was built in 1884. This firm deals largely in all kinds of hardwood lumber, sash, doors and blinds, etc.

Kent Carriage Works are operated by H. George & Bros.

Kent National Bank, successor to the Franklin Bank, of Portage County (founded by Zenas Kent), was chartered in 1864. This charter was renewed August 31, 1884, to continue until 1904. Marvin Kent is President, W. S. Kent, Vice-President; Charles K. Clapp, Cashier, and W. H. C. Parkhill, Clerk. The capital is $100,000, and surplus, $20,000.

Kent Savings and Loan Association was organized July 23, 1873, with Charles H. Kent, H. Y. Bradley, Theo. C. Bradley, Byron B. DePeyster, John Thompson, Henry Megan and David L. Rockwell, members. This company ceased business.

City Bank. This Banking Company was organized with D. L. Rockwell, President, and M. G. Garrison, Cashier. The capital is $50,000.

The Continental Hotel, in the City Bank Block, is the leading hostelry at the village. It is well conducted by Capt. Crane and Mr. Lewis.

The new Collins House, opposite the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad depot, is managed by Capt. Ezra Fowler.

The New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio restaurant is one of the leading houses of that class in Ohio.

In early days the pioneers devoted themselves to the task of building up a town on the Cuyahoga, with remarkable energy. Not, however, until the various enterprises were taken hold of by Marvin Kent, did the theories of progress put forward by the old settlers assume practical shape. In 1848-49 many of those great industries which make the town their home were conceived, and shortly after those busy hives of manufacturing industry were constructed. The master-hand, in those pretentious beginnings of a manufacturing town, was Marvin Kent. A decade later we see him leading in railroad building, and succeeding not only in constructing the great road know known as the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio Railroad, but also in securing the car the and machine shops of the road for his town on the Cuyahoga. The great sum of money which he dedicated to public enterprise, has been repaid by the fact that everything he sees around him— a thousand sons of industry earning fair pay, and numerous trains exchanging people and products between the East and West—may be considered the result of his enterprise. In tendering this reasonable tribute to Mr. Kent, the historian takes great please also, in being able to make the statement that the actual operators of great manufacturing industries of the village are just employers and enterprising citizens.

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The township, in addition to the Cuyahoga River and some smaller streams, contains several beautiful lakes. The two largest are known as the East Twin Lake and West Twin Lake, and are places of considerable local resort during the warm season, as they afford fine fishing and comfortable camping-grounds. Pippin Lake is in the northeast, Stewart's Pond to the west of Twin Lakes, and several smaller ponds or lakes dot the township, but the most noted is Brady's Lake, about one mile and a half east of the village.

About 1790, according to what is deemed the best authority upon the matter, Capt. Samuel Brady, a noted Pennsylvania Indian fighter, who followed that profession through all this section of country, performed the feat within the bounds of what is now Kent, which for daring, determination and muscularity, stands unparalleled in the annals of the early times. It appears he and a few companions had pursued a marauding party of Indians westward across the Cuyahoga, but the red skins being re-enforced by their friends, turned upon Brady, who, seeing their superior numbers, advised his companions to disperse singly, and every man take care of himself. But the Indians knowing the desperate character of Brady, and anxious to glut a long-standing revenge upon him for the many severe punishments he had inflicted upon them, pursued him only. Brady knew every point of importance in this section as well as the Indians, and so made for the narrowest part of the Cuyahoga, which was and is not far from the upper bridge in Kent. To this spot the Captain ran with the speed almost of a deer, for he was a man of herculean frame, and as active as a cat. The Indians could have shot him easily. but they wished to capture him alive for the purpose of having one of their devilish orgies around the torturing body of their great enemy, but their inhumanity over-reached itself. They had no idea of the latent powers of Brady, and thought that as he neared the rushing stream at the Narrows he would be compelled to surrender. They "reckoned without their host," however, for when the desperate man came in sight of the river he quickly made up his mind what to do. He knew that to be captured was to die a cruel and lingering death, and the dark rolling stream that rushed through the narrow gorge, twenty-five feet below the banks, was more welcome to him than the knife and faggot of the savage; besides, there was a chance for life and escape. By the time he had arrived within fifty feet of the river he knew what to do, and with a mighty effort and the speed of despair he fairly flew through the air, and with a tremendous spring cleared the chasm as clean as an English thoroughbred leaps a ditch. So wonder-stricken and dumbfounded were the savages at the boldness and agility of their supposed victim, and so unprepared were they for his eluding them, that they stood speechless and tactless for a moment, but soon realizing that he would escape, sent a volley of rifle-shots after him, one of which took effect in his thigh, but did not disable him. NIA a wretch among the lot had the hardihood to duplicate the feat of the gallant Brady, and they had to make their way to the crossing on the regular trail, nearly a mile away, by which time the Captain had gained the little lake now so appropriately known by his name.. The Indians saw him go in that direction and still hoped to capture him, but when Brady came to the lake he swam under water some distance to the trunk of a tree that had fallen in, and clinging to the submerged branches, held his mouth in such position as to obtain air. The Indians seeing him enter the water and not reappear, supposed he was drowned; Two of them walked out upon the, very tree to which he was clinging, even coming •close enough for Brady to ascertain what they would say, he understanding the Indian dialect. The joy he experienced when he heard them say that he was drowned none will ever know, and when

452 - HISTORY OF PORTAGE COUNTY.

he found them gone, climbed out of the tree and made his way safely homeward. From the evidence of a man who was at this famous spot in 1804, it is ascertained that the distance from rock to rock was about twenty-one feet; the side upon which ho alighted being about three feet lower than the other.

The statistics of crops and produce for 1884 deal only with the township outside the town of Kent. Such statistics have been carefully compiled from most authentic sources. While they show the condition of the township in a fair light, they must not be considered a complete review of township values or ,productions. Acres under wheat, 1,323, bushels, 15,319; rye, 30 bushels from 1 acre; oats, 733 acres, 29,295 bushels; barley, 15 acres, 400 bushels; corn, 729 acres, 15,337 bushels; 8 bushels of broom corn; 1,277 acres of meadow; 1,964 tons of hay; 259 acres of clover; 348 tons of hay and 51 bushels of seed; 127 acres of potatoes yielded 15,529 bushels; milk, 45,810 gallons sold for family use; 73,708 pounds home-made butter; 400 pounds factory butter; 70,426 pounds of cheese; 8 pounds of maple sugar and 408 gallons of syrup from 1,286 tappings; 473 pounds honey from 41 hives 20,703 dozens of eggs; 1 acre of vines; 7,115 bushels of apples; 30 of peaches; 51 of pears; 7,639 pounds of wool; 524 milch cows; 233 dogs; killed 88 sheep and injured 8; animals which died of disease, 58 bogs, 83 sheep, 22 cattle and 8 horses; acres cultivated, 6,788; pasture, 2,180; woodland, 1,211; waste, 598; total, 10,777 acres. A reference to the history of manufacturing industries will convey a good idea of their value. Total population in 1850 was 1,750, including 753 youth; in 1870, 3,037; in 1880, 4,141, including Kent Village, 3,309. Present population estimated, 4,350.