(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 1050 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. & Co. succeeding the Tallmadge Coal Co.; Upson & Sons following, and after the doctor's death, June 21, 1863, at the age of 77, the business was continued by Upson Brothers, until, by reason of the substantial exhaustion of the veins they were then working, and the dismantlement of the canal, the business was abandoned, except for purely domestic use and local supply, the mines, in 1887, being under lease to Philip Thomas, and worked to a limited extent by Henry Thomas & Co. It is estimated that there are yet about fifty acres of coal in the township unworked, Mr. Horace B. Camp having recently sunk a shaft upon the Richardson farm, near the southeast corner of Cuyahoga Falls township. By careful computation, it is thought that for fifty years the average output, of the Tallmadge mines was at least 12,000 tons a year, making a grand total of 600,000 tons, a very material factor in the unrivaled prosperity of the township during that period. GEORGE ALLISON,—born in Westmoreland, North of England, in 1822; came with parents to America when about three years old ; after a short sojourn at Middlebury, family started for Galena, Illinois, via the Ohio river, but on reaching Beaver, Pennsylvania, both parents died, leaving their five children among strangers destitute. George found a home with a farmer named Potter, at fourteen being apprenticed to a brick mason named Dellzell. On completing his trade he moved to Tallmadge, near Middlebury, where he has ever since resided. In 1851, '52, Mr. Allison was superintendent of masonry on the C., Z. & C., now the C., A. & C. R. R., and later built the Summit County Infirmary and the Cuyahoga Falls and Kent High Schools, besides numerous brick stores and residences in Akron, at the same time carrying on extensive farming operations in Tallmadge. Mr. Allison's father, George Allison, Sr., was a soldier in the British army, participating in the celebrated battle of Waterloo, where Wellington defeated the great Napoleon. Mr. Allison was married, September 14„ 1843, to Miss Mary L. Bettes, daughter of Captain Nathaniel Bettes, a Revolutionary soldier, their only son, Byron M. Allison, being now the successful manager and secretary of the Akron Fire Brick Company in the Sixth Ward. BLAST FURNACE IN TALLMADGE.—In addition to the abundant supply of coal, above written of, there were also considerable veins of iron ore in the neighborhood, one on Mr. Asaph Whittlesey's land, and another just over the line in Springfield, on the Brittain farm, and perhaps others. About 1844 or 1845 some Welsh gentlemen from Pittsburg, having some knowledge of iron making, erected a blast furnace near the coal chutes of the Tallmadge Coal Company at an expense of several thousand dollars, giving to it the name of Cambria Furnace, the name of the firm being Vinton, Lewis, Reese & Co. On the completion of their stack the furnace was duly started, the blast being run by steam power. Through some defect, or AGRICULTURAL, MECHANICAL, ETC. - 1051 mismanagement, the charge became chilled before fully ready to draw—it is said by persons living in the vicinity, because of the condensation of vapors arising from the foundation of the stack, which had been laid in a very damp location. Be this as it may, the chilled charge being removed after considerable labor and expense, and the stack refilled, the blast was again turned on with precisely the same result. After several similar failures to produce marketable pig-iron—the company, by this time having exhausted whatever means it may have originally had, besides owing the Messrs. Upson some $3,000 for coal and other supplies—the enterprise was abandoned, Cambria Furnace now being a reminiscence, only. LUCIUS W. HITCHCOCK, — born in Cheshire, Connecticut, October 10, 1801 ; common school education; raised a farmer ; in 1822, came on foot to Tallmadge, where he bought a farm, on which he lived over half a century, moving to Akron in 1873. April 20, 1826, Mr. Hitchcock was married to Miss Eleanor Wolcott, of Tallmadge, who bore him seven children—Wolcott Warner, born September 14, 1827, deceased ; Frederick, born July 29, 1829, deceased ; Ellen Arabella, born February 11, 1831, died in infancy ; Elizur, born August 15, 1832, now a physician in Akron ; George Ellsworth, born July 1, 1835, deceased ; Oella Pamphila, born March 31, 1839, now Mrs. Charles Harris, residing in the State of Washington ; and Herbert Paschal, born July 18, 1841, now a successful business man in Akron, as elsewhere noted. Mrs. Hitchcock dying January 11, 1873, Mr. Hitchcock was again married, January 3, 1877, to Mrs. Matilda L. (Randall) Harvey, a native of Newburg, Orange county, New York, and for over twenty years one of Akron's most successful teachers, who still survives, Mr. Hitchcock dying April 2, 1881, at the age of 79 years, 5 months and 25 days. Mr. Hitchcock was in all respects a Christian gentleman and public-spirited citizen. THE CARRIAGE-MAKING BUSINESS.—Tallmadge was for many years favored with one of the most extensive carriage manufactories in the Western country, which added greatly to the prosperity of the village and township. About the year 1827, Mr. Amos Avery opened a small wagon and repair shop at the Center, Mr. William C. Oviatt, of Milford, Conn., having started a custom blacksmith shop in the same locality, about the same time. These gentlemen, associating with themselves Mr. Isaac C. B. Robinson, about 1836, under the firm name of Avery, Oviatt & Robinson, built shops on the southwest diagonal road, and engaged quite extensively in the carriage-making business, Mr. Oviatt claiming the honor of making the first elliptic buggy springs ever made in Ohio, in which he was assisted by Mr. James) M. Hale, now living in Akron, who was a workman in the establishment for several years. 1052 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Later, Mr. Avery sold out to William Smith and Marcus Brundige, the firm name changing to Oviatt, Robinson & Co. In 1841, Mr. Ira P. Sperry succeeded Messrs. Smith & Brundige, the firm name of Oviatt & Sperry continuing for nearly a quarter of a century, when Mr. Samuel J. Ritchie became a partner in the concern, Oviatt, Sperry & Ritchie running the works until the death of ' the senior partner, Mr. Oviatt, February 1, 1869, the surviving partners finally closing out the business in April, 1871. In addition to supplying a considerable portion of Northern Ohio with fine carriages, the firm for many years maintained a' large repository in Cincinnati, at which from $20,000 to $25,000 worth of their carriages were yearly sold. Quite extensive carriage-making operations were also carried on by Mr. James E. Baldwin, Mr. Lucius V. Bierce and others for several years. HON. IRA P. SPERRY, -- born in Watertown, Connecticut, November 24, 1818 ; at one year of age came with parents to Tallmadge, settling ,on farm ; common school education ; 14 to 17, blacksmith's apprentice ; 17 to 20, apprentice to carriage ironer's trade ; at 21, a year in school at Cuyahoga Falls ; then worked for William C. Oviatt two years at carriage ironing, in 1841, purchasing an interest in the works, which, under different partnership relations, he successfully carried on for nearly a third of a century, as elsewhere detailed. In 1870, with his brother, Dr. Willis Sperry, and Mr. Samuel J. Ritchie, he established extensive sewer pipe works in Tallmadge, which, in connection with his son, George P. Sperry, he is still successfully conducting. An early anti-slavery man, Mr. Sperry, in 1858, was elected on the Republican ticket, as Summit county's representative to the State Legislature, ably serving two years. September 27, 1841, he was married to Miss Clarissa Carlton, of Portage county, who has borne him six children—Willis C., born December 12, 1847, now practicing medicine in Julesburg, Colorado ; Charles 0., died in infancy ; Mary A., born July 30, 1853, died in Oberlin, October 17, 1870, aged 17 years, 2 months and 17 days ; George P., born September 30, 1858, sewer pipe manufacturer, Tallmadge; Francis L., born October 22, 1861, chemist for Canada Copper Company, at Sudbury, Canada ; and Henry B., born November 1, 1863, assistant secretary and treasurer of Pennsylvania Sewer Pipe Company, Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. SEWER-PIPE, STONEWARE, ETC.—About the year 1868, Messrs. Charles Tryon, Benjamin D. Wright and Alfred Sperry, under the .firm name of Tryon, Wright & Co., established sewer-pipe works at the center of Tallmadge, the clay for which was found in abundant supply a short distance west of the center, Mr. Tryon's interest subsequently passing into the hands of Mr. Henry M. Camp. In 1871, Messrs. Ira P. Sperry and Samuel J. Ritchie, having closed out their carriage business as stated, in connection with Dr. Willis Sperry, purchased the sewer-pipe works in question, materially increasing their facilities, and filling large contracts in the city of Washington and other municipal corporations, both LATER BUSINESS OPERATIONS - 1053 east and west. Sperry, Ritchie & Co. continued to do a large business, until the works were destroyed by fire in 1878. After an interregnum of about three years, the works were rebuilt by Mr. Ira P. Sperry, and his son, George P. Sperry, and are now (1891) manufacturing from 500 to 600 car-loads of the very best quality of sewer pipe per annum. SAMUEL J. RITCHIE, — born in Boston township, November 24, 1838 ; educated in district schools, Twinsburg Institute and Grammar School of Western Reserve College ; raised on farm, early engaging in lumbering and railroad business ; June 15, 1865, was married to Miss Sophronia Hale, daughter of the late Andrew Hale, of Bath, in 1867, associated himself with Messrs. Oviatt & Sperry, in the carriage making business, in Tallmadge, under the firm name of Oviatt, Sperry & Ritchie, closing out that business in 1871, and engaging in the manufacture of sewer pipe, under the firm name of Sperry, Ritchie & Co., until the burning of the works in 1878. In 1881, Mr. Ritchie became connected with Canadian enterprises—the Central Ontario Railway, of which company he was president—the Anglo-American Iron Company, and the Canadian Copper Company, composed of Akron and Cleveland capitalists, Mr. Ritchie being also the first president of the latter organization, with Mr. Thomas W. Cornell, of Akron, as his successor. Though thoroughly Republican, Mr. Ritchie has never sought or held office, but is zealously exerting his influence in bringing about closer or reciprocal trade relations between the United States and Canada, and by his intelligent advocacy of that cause, has secured the hearty co-operation of Hon. Erastus Wiman, Hon. Benjamin Butterworth and other able statesmen therein. Mr. and Mrs. Ritchie have three children—Lewis Andrew, born October 20, 1867 ; Clara Bell, born April 24, 1869; and Charles Edward, born July 16, 1877. Two or three establishments for the manufacture of stoneware have also existed in the township at different times; the flower-pot works of Charles L. Clark, and the drain-tile works of Messrs. F. B. McNeal and William Seiz being among the later establishments of the kind in operation there. In the days of sorghum culture, some twenty years ago, Mr. John A. Caruthers established a steam sorghum mill upon his farm one mile east of the Center, which, on the decline of that industry was converted into an apple butter factory, which did quite a large business for several years. Mr. Albert A. Viall is the proprietor of a steam saw-mill on the farm adjoining Mr. Caruthers, which being the only mill in the township at the present time has quite a run of business. TRADE AND TRAFFIC.—In the mercantile line, the names of Fenn & Howard, Christopher C. Sturtevant and Charles Clark, Wiswell & Groff, Eleazer C. Sackett, William A. Hanford, Homer S. Carter, Elbert V. Carter, Clement Wright and Benjamin D. Wright are remembered as local merchants, Mr. Clement Wright being the present (1891) genial and accommodating incumbent of 1054 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. the village store, on the corner of the square and the southwest diagonal road. C. C. Conaghan and F. B. Hinman, for many years successful grocers and dealers in meats and other family supplies, having sold their former place at the southeast corner, to the Messrs. Sperry, about 1887 located near the southwest corner of the public square. GEORGE PECK SPERRY,—second son of Ira Peck and Clarissa (Carlton) Sperry, was born in Tallmadge, September 30, 1858 ; educated in Tallmadge public schools, and at Oberlin College ; at 14 engaged as clerk in store of Mr. Clement Wright, in Tallmadge, later entering the employ of Mr. William M. Dee, an extensive sewer pipe dealer in Chicago, remaining in charge of the yards there about two years, returning thence to Tallmadge and taking a position in the sewer pipe works of Sperry, Ritchie & Co., there ; on the destruction of the works by fire, in 1878, he engaged as manager of the sewer pipe works of Mr. James H. Cooke, at Cuyahoga Falls, on the death of Mr. Cooke, in 1880, leasing and successfully running the works upon his own account, until the rebuilding of the Tallmadge factory, in 1882, of which he assumed control, and is now an acknowledged authority in all matters pertaining to the manufacture of sewer pipe in the United States. September 27, 1882, he was married to Miss Jessie R. Stevens, of Glendale, Hamilton county, Ohio. They have three children—Ira Benjamin, born August 31, 1883; Blanche Virginia, born October 18, 1885; and George Hill, born July 13, 1888. TRAVEL, TRANSPORTATION, ETC. — Though the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal was made available for the shipment of coal as before stated, and though the "Akron Branch " railroad (now the C., A. & C.) completed from Hudson to Akron in 1852, traversed the township upon the west side, Tallmadge had no special mea of communication with the "outer world," until the completion the Atlantic and Great Western Railway (now the N. Y., P. & 0.) in 1863. By this road not only is the large output of sewer pipe, and other wares manufactured, shipped to distant points, but it is also a great convenience to persons desiring to get to or from the town by other means than private conveyance. Later, the Pittsburg & Western, now a part of the Baltimore and Ohio aytem, skirting the northern and western borders of the township, has materially added to transportation facilities. CLEAN CRIMINAL RECORD.—During the three-quarters of a century, and over, of its existence, Tallmadge has been exceptionally exempt from startling crimes. not a single homicide having occurred within her borders, nor more than two or three penitentiary offenses, unless in those portions of the township embraced in the villages of Middlebury and Cuyahoga Falls. Some minor irregularities have from time to time prevailed, the most, if not all, of which were traceable to the influence of the village tavern, when A PROUD MILITARY RECORD - 1055 under whisky management, and the outside roughs which such institutions naturally attract, coupled with the dime novel literature, that so seriously poisoned the minds of some of the young men and boys of the township a few years ago. MILITARY MATTERS. The military record of Tallmadge, is second to none on the Reserve. Among the early residents of Tallmadge, who were in the Revolutionary Army, the names of Captain Nathaniel Bettes, who was at the storming of Quebec on the night of December 31, 1775, under the ill-fated Gen. Montgomery, and who, at his death at Bettes' Corners, January 15, 1840, at the age of ninety-four years, was buried with military honors by Akron's first Independent Military Company—the " Summit Guards,"—of which the late Gen. Philo Chamberlin was then captain; Hosea Wilcox, also a participant in the attack upon Quebec; David Preston, who was taken prisoner and for some time confined at the "Cedars," above Fort Ticonderoga; Conrad Boosinger, Capt. John Wright, Deacon Nathaniel Gillett, William Neal, Reuben Beach, Isaac Dudley, Thomas Granger, Ephraim Clark, Salmon Sackett and Alexander Griswold, the latter being captured by the British and for some time confined in the prison-ship in New York harbor. Other early settlers were undoubtedly enrolled in the Continental Army, whose names have not been handed down, but the list already given is sufficiently glorious for a single township. THE WAR OF 1812.—The writer is indebted to Andrew Fenn, Esq., for the following full rosters of the volunteer soldiery of Tallmadge in the War of 1812, and the War of the Rebellion, no soldiers having gone to the Mexican War from that township. Previous to the War of 1812 the "Tallmadge Independent Rifle Company" had been organized with Rial McArthur as captain, and Charles Powers as lieutenant, and the following privates: Almon Norton, Alpha Wright, Justin Barnes, Justin E. Frink, Shubel H. Lowrey, Titus Chapman, Samuel and Lot/Preston, Liberton Dixon, Joseph Tousley, Edmund Strong and Samuel Fogger. On the surrender of Hull's army, at Detroit, in August, 1812, these fourteen men volunteered in a body to go to the defense of the frontier, and afterwards there were drafted from the general militia, six more, as follows: Reuben Upson, John Caruthers, Norman Sackett, Moses Bradford, Asa Gillett and Jotham Blakeslee, who served in various places during the war—twenty in all. THE WAR OF THE REBELLION.—The following named volunteer soldiers and marines represented Tallmadge in the Union army during the War of the Rebellion: George Ashmun, Williston Ailing, Erastus Albert, James Buchanan, Silas W. Bettes, Lorin Barnhart, William Boyd, Jr., Edward Butler, George Blakeslee, H. M. Baldwin, Wellington Bettes, Albert B. Clark, Perez Clark, John Condon, A. S. Carr, T. J. Conley, J. F. Conway, Clinton Chambers, C. C. Caruthers, E. P. Caruthers, William Dimmock, John Davis, Alexander Douglass, Thomas Dixon, David Evans, Thomas Evans, Edward Ellis, George Ellis, E. P. Fenn, J. E. Fenn, John Freeze, Thomas Foley, F. C. Fulkerson, Chris Fisher, Ed. Gearhart, Henry Golden, James Gordon, Otis Graham, James Gaule, John Harris, George Hunter, John Honoddle, Michael 1056 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Honoddle, James Hogarth, George Huber, Rufus , M. Hinman, Ambrose Hine, Frank Huntley, Frank Harter, Henry Hart, E. G. Jones, Norman S. Keller, Richard Limber, Otto Limber, Allen Limber, George Lansinger, Adam Lansinger, William Lyons, S. Mathews, William Murray, John Moore, George C. Monks, James Morgan, Henry McClelland, John McMullin, David McIntire, H. McAlpine, Thomas Owens, John Owens, Henry Packard, Daniel Puff, Alfred Palmer, John Patterson, George Patterson, Henry Patterson, William Price, Thomas Price, Albert Reeves, Ashbel Root, John Randall, Jacob Randall, Frederick Rexford, Clinton Ruckel, William Rinehart, Alfred Sperry, Joseph Spellman, T. W. Screen, Fred Spafford, C. H. Sackett, Daniel Sullivan, James Sangster, H. Stuffier, Daniel Schaaf, John Stinhour, Junius Saunders, S. W. Schenkenberger, D. B. Treat, R. B. Treat, Jr., David Thomas, Adam Taggart, Solomon Upson, C. W. Wick, Amos Wills, Leonard Winkler, 0. 0. Wright, S. E. Wright, J. M. Walto Wesley Wells, William R. Warren, O. E. Whitney, Willis Woodru Henry Woodruff and Charles Young-113 men in all. " SQUIRREL HUNTERS."—Early in September, 1862, the Government became apprehensive of an attempt by the rebels, under General Kirby Smith, to make an attack upon Cincinnati and other river towns, and in the absence of sufficient regular troops in that vicinity to cope with them, temporary volunteers, to respond forthwith, were called for by Governor Tod, Akron and a number of the towns of Summit county turning out in considerable force. These "troops," dressed in every variety of costume known to civil life, armed with every variety of weapon known to domestic gunnery and sport, and without any military training whatever, were called "Squirrel Hunters." The following is Tallmadge's contingent in that "organization:" Dr. Amos Wright, L. C. Walton, William B. Ashmun, G. T. Preston, L. H. Ashmun, D. B. Treat, Joseph Upson, Henry Tilden, J. E. Baldwin, Hon. Sidney Edgerton, (then member of Congress and being at his home in Tallmadge during vacation), C. Callahan, F. H. Wright and J. 0. Curtiss—thirteen in all. The " Squirrel Hunters" were on duty about one week, when, the scare being over (General Smith undoubtedly being intimidated by their presence), they were dismissed by th Governor with thanks, being transported from and to their home and subsisted during their absence at the expense of the State. THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD —In the Spring of 1864, when all the trained forces of the Nation were needed by General Grant for the final struggle, Governor Brough, at a meeting called at his suggestion for that purpose, proposed to the governors of those states that Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin should join Ohio in tendering to President Lincoln 85,000 of the State militia of the several states to serve in the fortifications, or where their services were needed, for the period of 100 days. This tender was accordingly made and accepted. Of this force Ohio furnished 30,000 men, consisting of forty-one regiments, averaging about 730 men each. Summit county's contingent to this force were assigned to the 164th regiment, under Colonel John C. Lee, and mustered in at Camp Taylor May 11, the regiment, 865 strong, starting for Washington May 14. Tallmadge furnished Company D, 164th Regiment 0. N. G., 64 men, as follows: Norman S. Keller, captain; Francis H. Wright, TALLMADGE IN PUBLIC OFFICE - 1057 Jr., first lieutenant, and the following named privates: L. H. Ashmun, Henry Ashmun, Byron Allison, William Bell, Bruce Baldwin, William H. Bronson, S. E. Barnes, C. E. Barnes, F. N. Barnes, H. M. Camp, L. N. Camp, Frank Clark, Chris. Callahan, J. Drake, Thomas Davis, William Denmead, Robert Ellis, David Evans, E. Evans, F. B. Fenn, S. P. Fenn, F. F. Fenn, G. E. Hitchcock, S. W. Harris, Henry Harris, A. A. Hine, John Hier, Ed. Jones, G. F. Lyman, C. A. Lyman, Jef. Limber, Otto Limber, A. F. Means, John McNeal, Atkin Ogle, John Owen, William T. Owen, L. B. Pierce, S. B. Pettibone, L. B. Peck, John Roudebush, William Ripley, Jonathan Sprague, Parmenas Sprague, F. Schenkenberger, C. A. Sackett, B. W. Skinner, Lyman Stone, F. Sperry, Dennis Treat, J. C. Treat, 0. S. Treat, L. Thomas, William L. Thomas, S. C. Taylor, D. A. Upson, H. C. Upson, J. E. Upson, J. S. Upton, Daniel Vogt, H. Westover and George Young. Thus it will be seen that Puritanic old Tallmadge has never acted upon the unpatriotic motto " invincible in peace—invisible in war"—for while she has manifested a good degree of invincibility in the prosecution of the arts of peace, industry and morality, she has, been conspicuously visible, when brave hearts and strong hands were needed to establish or defend those free institutions which have made her own, and the Nation's past and present prosperous condition possible. HONORABLE CIVIL RECORD. DR. DANIEL UPSON.—Besides serving several terms in the Legislature as the representative of Franklin county, before removing to Tallmadge, in 1832, Dr. Upson was elected State senator for Portage county in October, 1836, holding the position two years. RUSSELL H. ASHMUN was Summit county's first county surveyor, elected in April, 1840, re-elected in October, 1840, holding the office three years and seven months. CAPTAIN AMOS SEWARD was elected representative of Portage county to the Legislature in 1834; as representative of the new county of Summit in October, 1842, and again elected (as a "float ") in 1847, giving to that important position three years of faithful service. FREDERICK SEWARD was elected county surveyor in October, 1846, holding the position three years. NELSON B. STONE, in 1841, entered upon the duties of deputy clerk, under the administration of Clerk Lucian Swift, serving in that capacity until 1851, when he succeeded to the clerkship for the term of three years, making in all respects a first-class officer. Portrait and biography on page 260. DUDLEY SEWARD, for several years a resident of Tallmadge, after serving five years as deputy, under sheriffs Janes and Clarke, was elected sheriff in 1852, and re-elected in 1854, thus giving to the duties of that office nine years of continuous service. After a brilliant career, in the War of the Rebellion, in both the volunteer and regular service, Colonel Seward was repeatedly elected justice of the peace for Portage township, holding the position to the time of his sudden death, May 24, 1882. Portrait and biography on page 379. 87 1058 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. IRA P. SPERRY, from infancy a resident of Tallmadge, and one of its most intelligent and enterprising mechanics and business men, was, in October, 1857, elected representative to the State Legislature, being, during the regular session of 1857, '58, and the adjourned session of 1858, '59, an extremely useful and influential member of that body. SIDNEY EDGERTON, while a resident of Tallmadge (having previously served two terms as prosecuting attorney, from 1852 to 1856), was elected to Congress from the Eighteenth District, composed of Summit, Stark and Portage counties, in October, 1858, and re-elected in 1860, giving to the position, during the most critical period in the history of the government, the most faithful and valuable service, supporting . and voting for all the important measures necessary for the suppression of the rebellion, and the preservation of the Union. In 1863, Mr. Edgerton was appointed chief justice of the new territory of Idaho, by President Lincoln, a year later, on the division of the territory, being appointed governor of Montana. Resigning that office in 1865, he returned to Tallmadge, soon afterwards removing to Akron and resuming his law practice. Portrait and biography on page 180. WILLIAM H. UPSON, an early adopted son of Tallmadge, served as prosecuting attorney from 1848 to 1850; was State Senator for Summit and Portage counties from 1853 to 1855; was member of Congress from the eighteenth district (then composed of Summit, Cuyahoga and Lake counties) from March 4, 1869, to March 4, 1873; was a delegate to the Republican National Convention, at Baltimore, which renominated Abraham Lincoln, in 1864, and delegate at large from Ohio to the Cincinnati convention, which nominated Rutherford B. Hayes for the presidency, in 1876. On the death of Chief Justice William White, in March, 1883, Mr. Upson was appointed, by Gov. Foster, to fill the vacancy upon the Supreme bench, holding that exalted position until the following December. On the enactment of the law creating the present Circuit Court system of the State, Mr. Upson was elected one of the Judges for the Eighth Circuit, composed of Summit, Cuyahoga, Medina and Lorain counties, in October, 1885, drawing, by lot, the fractional term of one year, and in 1886 was re-elected for the full term of five years, in which position he is giving the most perfect satisfaction. Portrait and biography on page 172. JOHN W. SEWARD, was elected county surveyor, in October, 1874, acceptably performing the intricate and responsible duties of that office for the full term of three years, and is now one of the township justices of the peace. JOHN C. MEANS, born in Northfield, but reared in Tallmadge, having received a thorough legal training under the tuition of Judge N. D. Tibbals, and successfully engaged in the practice of the law, was, in 1884, elected to the office of prosecuting attorney, which office he administered with energy and ability, until hie sudden death, which occurred at the residence of his mother, in Tallmadge, May 8, 1886, Edwin F. Voris, of Akron, being appointed by the court to fill the vacancy for the balance of the term. ANDREW FENN, ESQ., besides serving as a justice of the peace for many years, was one of Internal Revenue Assessor John E. Hurlbut's most efficient deputies, during and for several years after the close of the War. PRESENT BUSINESS AND OFFICIAL STATUS - 1059 TALLMADGE'S PRESENT OFFICIAL ROSTER (1891).—Trustees, Wylis P. Fenn, Samuel W. Harris, Robert P. Denmead ; clerk, C. C. Conaghan; treasurer, Clement Wright; justices of the peace, Williston Ailing, John W. Seward; constables, William G. Seiz, John Chapman; postmaster, Clement Wright; the latter gentleman having continuously officiated as treasurer of township since 1852. TALLMADGE'S PRESENT BUSINESS STATUS.—George P. Sperry, manufacturer of sewer pipe, dealer in coal, etc.; Tallmadge Drain 'Tile Co. (W. Ailing, F. D. Ailing; F. B. McNeil and W. G. Seiz); Tallmadge Flower Pot Co., C. B. Skinner, manager; A. A. Viall, saw-mill and dealer in lumber; B. W. Skinner, corn and feed mill; W. J. Emmett, wire picket fence; A. A. Hine & Son, threshing and wood sawing; Skinner & Sperry, threshing and wood sawng; W. J. Emmett, threshing and clover mill; W. W. Carter, builder and contractor; W. Ailing, builder and architect; F. D. Ailing, carpenter and builder; Lucius V. Bierce, carriage repairer, trimmer, etc.; Charles Sharp, carriage maker and repairer; John T. Hayden, blacksmith; W. L. Hinman, -blacksmith; John VValter, stone mason; F. B. McNeil, brick mason; W. Wagoner, carriage trimmer; George Geylin, harness maker; John Sieber, shoemaker; L. B. Pierce, nursery and dealer in small fruits and plants; J. P. Howland, nursery, fruit grower, etc.; C. P. Parmelee, vegetables, fruits, etc.; R. R. Lawrence, small fruits and vegetables; W. P. Sperry, dealer in horses, cattle, etc.; W. E. Hinman, dealer in fat cattle; Sidney Newport, butcher; Francis H. Wright, dealer in milk; Henry Thomas & Co., coal miners, and dealers; Thomas Roberts & Son, coal miners and dealers; Thomas Rhymes, greenhouse, dealer in plants, etc.; Parker, dealer in milk and vegetables; Welton, cheese factory; Clement Wright, general merchandise; Conaghan & Hine (C. C. Conaghan and F. E. Hine), groceries and meat market; Carl B. Skinner, general merchandise, telephone station, etc.; practicing physicians—Drs. Willis Sperry, S. St. John Wright; D. E. Fenn, dentist; John W. Seward, surveyor; George M. Wright, attorney; W. E. Miller, agent N. Y., P. & 0. R. R. Co., Wells Fargo & Co.'s Express and Western Union Telegraph Co.; ministers: Congregational, Rev. S. D. Gammell; Methodist Episcopal, Rev. M. W. Dallas, D. D.; Welsh Congregational, Rev. J. P. Davis. CONCLUSION. Thus has Tallmadge played well her part, both physically, morally and politically—in the counsels of the county, State and Nation, and upon the field of battle; and in the brilliant record she has made, as above but faintly set forth, the minor faults and foibles, that have at long intervals slightly beclouded her fair fame may well be graciously overlooked and remembered against her nevermore. CHAPTER LI. TWINSBURG'S BEGINNING—FIRST CALLED " MILLSVILLE "—HOW AND WHY CHANGED—TOPOGRAPHY, RESOURCES, ETC.--FIRST SETTLER A SEVENTEEN YEAR-OLD BOY, WHO BECOMES THE PIONEER FARMER, THE PIONEER DAIRY. MAN, THE PIONEER HOTEL KEEPER, THE PIONEER STAGE PROPRIETOR, T PIONEER MERCHANT, ETC.— SINGULAR COINCIDENTS— EARLY BUILDING- EARLY PRICES, EARLY BIRTHS, EARLY MARRIAGES AND DEATHS— PEDESTRIANISM VERSUS EQUESTRIANISM—BUSINESS AFFAIRS—FATAL MISTAKE ON THE RAILROAD QUESTION—CHURCH MATTERS—SPLENDID EDUCATIONAL RECORD—OVER SIX THOUSAND SCHOLARS IN SIXTY YEARS— WONDERFUL PLUCK AND PERSEVERANCE— STILL HALE AND HEARTY IN HIS NINETY-FIFTH YEAR—MAGNIFICENT MILITARY SHOWING—ENDURING MONUMENT TO T: VALOR OF THE SONS, AND THE GRATITUDE OF THE FATHERS— FULL ROSTER. OF SOLDIERS— CIVIL STATUS—MEAGER CRIMINAL RECORD—NOT QUITE HOMICIDE. TWINSBURG'S BEGINNING. TWINSBURG—the northeasternmost township of Summit county—was, for reasons not now explainable, the last township in the county to be settled. In the survey of the Western Reserve into townships, in 1796, as elsewhere detailed, what is now called Twinsburg was designated as township 5, range 10, and has thus continued to be known upon the records of both Portage and Summit counties. In the distribution of the lands of the Connecticut Land Company, by draft, as already explained, the north and northeasterly portion of township 5, range 10, fell to Moses and Aaron Wilcox; south and southeasterly portion to Mills & Hoadley, and the west and northwesterly portion to Henry Champion. TOPOGRAPHY, NAME, ETC.—Topographically, Twinsburg will average with the townships of the county. It is well watered and drained by numerous springs and runs rising in the highlands on either side and flowing into Tinker's creek, a considerable stream which, rising in Streetsboro and Hudson, traverses the entire township from the southeast to the northwest, emptying into the Cuyahoga, in the township of Bedford. This creek was named by Gen. Moses Cleveland, while making his preliminary survey of the Western Reserve, in 1796, in honor of Joseph Tinker, one of his. most efficient assistants, Mr. Tinker being drowned by the capsizing of one of their boats on Lake Erie, on the return trip by Connecticut, in the Fall of that year. With the exception of certain portions of the bottom lands of the creek, and certain stony ridges both upon the east and upon the west, the soil, generally clay, with intervals of loam, is well adapted to general agriculture, and especially valuable for grazing and dairy purposes. By reason of his large interest, as one of the proprietors of the township, and of the early laying out of a village, at the falls of the creek, some two miles southeast of the center, the name of Millsville was at first given to the township by Mr. Isaac Mills, TWINSBURG—WHY SO NAMED - 1061 senior partner of the firm of Mills & Hoadley, Mr. Mills, presumably being a brother of Gideon Mills, Esq., and Doctor Oliver Mills, well known early citizens of Hudson. SINGULAR COINCIDENTS.—Moses and Aaron Wilcox were twins, natives of North Killingworth, Conn., and at the time of coming into the ownership of that portion of the township 5, range 10, drawn by them, were prosperous young merchants in their native town. They did not, at first, personally visit their new possessions, though a few years later becoming prominent citizens of the township. After considerable settlement had been made, the brothers made a proposition to the settlers, to donate six acres of land at the center for a public square, and $20 in money towards the erection of a school house, for the privilege of naming the township, which proposition was accepted, whereupon the twin brothers, Moses and Aaron, sharing the honor equally, named it ." Twinsburg." It is related of these brothers, as a singular concatenation of events, that besides being born upon the same day, May 11, 1770, educated in the same school, going into business together when grown to manhood, and so near alike in feature, voice and manners, their most intimate friends could scarcely tell them apart, that they married sisters, Huldah and Mabel Lord, of Killing-worth, at the same time, had the same number of children, moved to Ohio together, held their property in common, were taken sick with the same disease on the same day, died within a few days of each other, and were buried in the same grave in September, 1827. TWINSBURG'S FIRST SETTLER.---Though certain settlers in Hudson and Aurora, for the accommodation of the people of those townships, had previously begun preparations for the building of a saw-mill at the falls on Tinker's Creek, erecting and partly finishing a log shanty, and hauling several sticks of hewn timber on the ground for the frame of the mill, the first actual settler in the township, was undoubtedly the late Ethan Ailing, father of Akron's well known citizen, Mr. Ethan Lewis Ailing. Mr. Ethan Alling's father, Lewis Alling, was raised to the occupation of a farmer, in North Milford, Conn., but in the earlier years of the century, sold his farm and engaged in trade in the city of New Haven. This calling was a few years later re-exchanged for a small farm and hotel, four miles west of New 40. Haven. Mr. Alling's first born, Ethan, (born August 13, 1800), after a very limited common school education was, when about fourteen years of age, placed in the grocery store of Loomis & Johnson, of New Haven, as clerk, his father paying his board the first year, and a merely nominal salary being paid him for his services the second year. 1062 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. In the Winter of 1816, '17, the elder Alling sold his farm and other property, mostly taking notes therefor, which (guaranteeing payment) he exchanged with Mills & Hoadley, for 1,000 acres of land in tract 3, township 5, range 10, of Connecticut Western Reserve, consideration $5,000, or at the rate of $5 per acre. A considerable portion of the paper thus guaranteed proving worthless, only about 400 acres of the land thus purchased was finally retained by Mr. Alling. Early in the Spring of 1817, Mr. Alling, placing the fullest confidence in the judgment and ability of the boy Ethan, then less. than 17 years of age, started him with three hired men, Zeri Alling, Rodolphus Wolcott and Lex Johnson, to locate the land, and prepare for the settlement of the family thereon. Young Alling and his three companions started from Connecticut, March 3, presumably on foot, and arrived in Hudson, March 31. Having a letter of introduction from the senior member of the firm of Mills & Hoadley to Esquire Gideon Mills, of Hudson, young Alling and his companions were welcomed by that gentleman, who, the next day, April 1, 1817, went with them to point out the lands from which they were to make their selection. Following the marked line, which Mr. Mills designated the Chagrin road, they at length came to a point which Mr. Mills said was the geographical center of the township, which point was at the present southeast corner of the public square. The lay of the' land at this point, and in the immediate vicinity, was so uneven and forbidding, that young Alling determined to look for a more favorable location. The party accordingly followed Tinker's creek southeasterly to the falls, above spoken of, and thence passed over the hill, for many years past known as the Hawkins farm, and returned to Hudson. The next two weeks were spent by young Alling and his men in clearing a portion of Mr. Mill's slashing, for raising a crop of corn on shares, one or two trips having been made in the mean time into the new township and a location selected on the hill spoken of. In a sketch of Twinsburg, published by Mr. Alling, in 1861, he gives these reasons for locating here, instead of at the center: "First—there we found excellent plow and grass land, water, stone, timber, sugar trees, etc.; second—the water power at the falls was the best for miles around, probably three times the water that there is there now, and we believed that the business would center there as it had centered at Middlebury, and other places, regardless of the center; and I still think there would have been a smart village built up had not the owners, Mills & Hoadley, attempted a foolish speculation by laying out a village and asking from $50 to $200 for lots containing less than half an acre of land, thus shutting out mechanics, etc." FIRST BUILDING COMPLETED.—Young Ailing and his men temporarily took possession of the unfinished log shanty at the falls, above alluded to, April 15, taking with them, as supplies, purchased from Captain Heman Oviatt: one barrel of pork at $25; one barrel of flour, $8; ten bushels of potatoes, $5; one gallon whisky, $1.50; the entire outfit of kitchen utensils being one bail-less bake-kettle, two tin bake-pans, one case knife, one iron spoon and a board two by six feet, intended for a door, but temporarily used for a table; individual jack knives being pressed into service PIONEER BUILDINGS, PRICES, ETC. - 1063 at meal times, with sharpened sticks for forks, and clean broad chips for plates, Mr. Alling being commissary general, and the "chief cook and bottle-washer" of the party. May 20, Elisha Loomis and Lester Davis arrived from New Haven, putting up at " Hotel Ailing," followed by Frederick Stanley, May 31; Lewis Ailing Jr. (younger brother of Ethan), Gideon Thompson and Zenas Ailing, July 1; and by Lewis Alling, Sr., wife, and daughter Elizabeth, Irena Thomas, Amos Cook Taylor and Wilson Whittacus (colored boy called "Tone"), July 27. Up to the latter date mentioned there had been fifteen arrivals in the township, though in the mean time two—Lex Johnson and Lester Davis—becoming disgusted with pioneer life, had taken the back track, thus reducing the colony to a round " baker's dozen." Previous to this, however, young Ailing and his men had erected a commodious log house upon the hill, into which the family moved, on the arrival of father and mother Ailing, Mr. Loomis having meantime built a cabin at the falls, where he also that year erected a saw-mill, long afterwards known as Loomis's mill; Mr. Elias W. Mather erecting a grist mill on the opposite side of the creek, in 1818; a distillery also being erected in 1821 by Joel W. Thompson. Early in the Spring of 1818, the Allings built a frame barn, and later in the same season raised and partly finished a frame house, the first structures of this kind in the township; the first house (of logs) erected at the center being that of Mr. Elijah W. Bronson, agent of the Wilcox brothers, probably about 1820, on the east side of the square, the Wilcoxes building a small frame house for themselves on the north side of the square in 1823. These gentlemen, instead of holding their lands at speculative prices, as had Mills & Hoadley, at the falls, sold their lots adjacent to the square at very low figures, and giving outright to mechanics and tradesmen, to induce them to settle there, so that within five or six years there were from twelve to fifteen families congregated about and near the public square, the Twinsburg postoffice being established in 1823, with Moses Wilcox as postmaster, The Wilcox brothers were thoroughly upright men, but in the purchase of their land they had unfortunately incumbered it with mortgages to the State of Connecticut, while in selling they had in most instances received payment in full. Had they lived, all would undoubtedly have been well, but their early death caused very great embarrassment to those who had purchased under them, and was a very great hindrance to the full development of that portion of the township for a number of years. At length Rev. Samuel Bissell, whose philanthropic labors in the cause of education had become favorably known in the East, interceded with the Connecticut school find commissioner and secured proper relief, after which the Wilcox tract became rapidly settled and improved. PIONEER PRICES.—Provisions, except such wild game as could be secured in the woods, and such vegetables as could be raised, as well as all kinds of merchandise, were very high, Mr. Ailing and Mr. Luman Lane, quoting prices from 1817 to 1820 as follows: Pork, $8.00 per cwt.; flour, $8.00 per bbl.; salt, $10.00 per bbl.; cotton shirting, 3/4 yard wide, 50 cents per yard; calico, 75 cents; coarse woolen. cloth, $3.00; lead, 25 cents per lb.; nails, 12 1/2 cents 1064 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. (and poor at that), Mr. Alling paying transportation on a box of log chains, wedges, etc., from New Haven to Cleveland, $16.00 per cwt. Prices of farm produce were at the other extreme, Mr. Alling, in his memoirs, speaking of having, in 1819, received from Mr. Oliver Brown, of Hudson, twenty-four bushels of the best white seed wheat in payment of $9.00 in money which he had previously loaned him. LUMAN LANE, — oldest son of Philip and Rebina (Nettleton) Lane, was born in Killingworth, Connecticut, October 17, 1796; his six brothers were, Henry, Harvey, Chauncey, Julius, Abner and Nathan, and his three sisters, Lovina, Harriet and Polly. He came on foot from Killingworth to Twinsburg, in November, 1820, settling upon the farm in the north part of the township, where he resided until his death, April 17, 1879. Mr. Lane was married November 25, 1823, to Miss Irena Thomas, who bore him seven children — Charles, Albert, Charlotte, Augusta, Edward, Emeline and Sarah. Mrs. Lane dying, May 19, 1838, (in child-bed, and not from hydrophobia, as has been erroneously stated), Mr. Lane was again married, to Mrs. Emma Parish, a native of Vermont, April 16, 1839, who bore him one child, Mary Philena, the second Mrs. Lane dying June 4, 1879, surviving her husband only one month and fourteen days. Four of Mr. Lane's chil- dren only, are now living—Charles, on ;he old homestead ; Albert, of Hopkins, Michigan ; Augusta, wife of O. O. Kelsey ; and Sarah, wife of G. H. Mills, of Twinsburg. Two of Mr. Lane's brothers—Chauncey and Julius — also settled in Twinsburg, where their descendants still live. TOWNSHIP ORGANIZATION, ETC.—By proclamation of the commissioners of Portage county, Twinsburg township was organized in April, 1819. At this date the voters of the township, according to the recollection of Mr. Luman Lane were: Lewis Ailing, Sr., William Allen, Elisha Loomis, Elias W. Mather, Joel W. Thompson, Josiah Myrick, Noah P. Nichols, N. J. Palmer, Henry Bennett, Amos C. Taylor, Lyman Richmond, Reuben Chamberlain, Frederick Stanley, John Bassett, Samuel Vail, Edwin B. Vail, Homer G. Vail, John Dodge, Isaiah Humphrey, Roman Humphrey, Nestor Hurlbut, Ezra Osborn, Preston Pond, Samuel Alger, Cyrus Hodgskin, N. S. Barnett, Cotton M. Leach, Emery Alger, Elijah W. Bronson, Asa Upson, Orrin Tucker, Leonard Kilbourn, Oliver Clark and Messrs. Perkins, Sawyer, Davis and Darling, whose given names were not remembered by Mr. Lane. There is no authentic record now extant of this first election except that Frederick Stanley was elected clerk; the first commissioned justices of the peace, elected in October, 1819, being Lewis Alling and Samuel Vail. Township clerk: in 1820, Elisha Loomis; in 1821, Elijah W. Bronson; in 1822, Luman Lane. The first marriage was that of Emery W. Alger to Eliza Dodge, by Justice Lewis Ailing, March 19, 1821; the first birth, that of Maria EARLY FATALITIES, PIONEER TRIALS, ETC. - 1065 Stanley, November 23, 1819; the first death, the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Chamberlain, in the Spring of 1819: EARLY FATALITIES.—The decomposition of vegetation (as was supposed) caused by the erection of the dam and the overflowing of the bottom lands of Tinker's Creek, produced a great amount of sickness and many deaths, from bilious, intermittent and typhus fevers, in the vicinity of Loomis's Mill, in the years 1822 and 1823, hardly an adult person living within one mile of the pond escaping an attack, and not more than two of the age of forty years or over recovering the'refrom; among the victims, being Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Alling, who were laid in one grave, September 7, 1823. ETHAN ALLING'S SUBSEQUENT LIFE.—April 24, 1824, Mr. Alling was married to Miss Eliza Blackman, of Bridgeport, Conn., immediately installing her as the mistress of his Ohio farm. In 1825, Mr. and Mrs. Alling went into the dairy business with twenty-two cows, for which they paid $12 per head, marketing their butter in Akron (where the locks of the Ohio canal were then being built) at eight cents per pound, and selling such portions of their cheese as, from imperfect manufacture, did not spoil upon their hands, in Aurora, at five cents per pound; this being the first cheese manufactured in the township for sale. That Fall (1825) Mr. Ailing commenced the erection of a hotel opposite the southeast corner of the public square, moving into it December 6, 1826, and formally opening it to the public by a grand pening ball, on Monday evening, December 25. PIONEER MERCHANT.—Previous to 1829, all articles of merchandise had to be obtained elsewhere, chiefly in Hudson and Aurora. In the Fall of 1829, however, Mr. Ailing commenced keeping a few "necessaries" for sale in addition to the stock of liquors every well-regulated tavern was then obliged to keep, his first investment being $3.50 for snuff and tobacco, his " store " being kept in the six by eight apartment occupied by the bar. Other articles were from time to time added to the stock, until at length a separate building was found to be necessary to accommodate his growing trade. Having sold his two-hundred acre farm, with all its betterments, for $1,500, ($7.50 per acre), in 1831 he rented his hotel to Samuel Edgerly, (afterwards landlord of the American House, in Hudson and the Summit House, in Akron), and moved his family and goods into a building which he had in the meantime erected upon the west side of the public square, placing therein the first stock of goods brought into the township from New York. In 1835, Mr. Ailing built and stocked the commodious store still standing at the northwest corner of the public square, where he continued to do business until 1847, which, in that year, exclusive of salt, flour and farm and dairy products, amounted to over $14,000. In 1848, the business was relegated to his two eldest sons, Francis A, and George Hoadley, the latter buying out the former, in 1851, and continuing the business until his death, in November, 1856, the former having deceased in October, 1854, the store now (1891) being occupied by Mr. Seth R. Hanchett, merchant, postmaster, etc. In October, 1827, on the death of Mr. Moses Wilcox, Mr. Ailing was appointed postmaster, which office he continuously held until 1839—the amount received for postage the first year of his incumbency being $36.01; the last year, $256.67. 1066 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. PIONEER STAGE LINE.—In the earlier years the stage route from Cleveland southeasterly to Hudson, Ravenna, Pittsburg, etc., was through Northfield, on what was then, as now, known as the State road. With the view of enhancing the business interests of Twinsburg, in the Spring of 1828, in connection with Mr. Jabez Gilbert, Mr. Alling bought out the stage line from Cleveland to Hudson, changing the route from Bedford directly to Twinsburg, over what was then designated the turnpike, to the building and maintenance of which the land owners and business men of Twinsburg were liberal contributors. This enterprise was a success, so far as increasing the business of the hotel, and the general prosperity of the town was concerned, the public travel following the stage route, the hotel barns sometimes stabling as many as fifty horses over night, with a corresponding patronage for the hotel itself; though it in reality came very near swamping the enterprising proprietors, Mr. Alling's individual loss, in running the line, being over $600, the first seven months. Subsequently Mr. Alling became the sole proprietor of the line, running it for several years thereafter, if not with profit, yet without serious loss. BENEVOLENCE, DEATH, ETC.—Mr. Ailing died April 22, 1867, aged 66 years, 8 months and 9 days. Though not wealthy, in the modern acceptation of the term, besides his ever generous hospitality, and his liberal contributions to all public improvements and benevolent and patriotic enterprises of the town, Mr. Ailing left an estate of about $40,000, in his will, besides providing liberally for his own immediate family, making quite a number of bequests to worthy but needy friends, and about $5,000 to church, Sabbath school and benevolent purposes; among the latter being a bequest of $300 to the Baptist Church at Twinsburg; $1,000 to the American Sunday School Union; $50 to each church Sunday school in Twinsburg at the time of his decease, to replenish their libraries; to the mayors of the cities of Cleveland and Akron (in trust for said cities), all dividends upon twelve and eight shares, respectively, of the capital stock of the Cleveland, Columbus & Cincinnati Railroad Company, "for the express purpose of rendering assistance, by way of food and clothing, to, and thereby promoting the temporal and spiritual condition of, the poor orphan, cast off and destitute children of said cities, in providing ways and means by which they may enjoy' the blessings of the Sabbath school," etc. Mrs. Alling, though for several years helpless from paralysis, was kindly cared for by her only surviving son, Ethan Lewis Alling. Esq., and his estimable wife, at their home, 113 Prospect street, in the city of Akron, until her death, on the 24th day of April,1889, at the age of 87 years, 8 months and 8 days. PIONEER INCIDENTS.—Twinsburg has no pioneer Indian tradi- tions, the aboriginal denizens of that township having " vamosed the ranch" several years before white settlement began. The usual pioneer exploits with wild beasts, and of individual pluck and daring are still rife among the people, but cannot be here recorded because of the space which the more recent history of the township will occupy in this chapter. A few incidents, however, illustrative of the hardy nature and invincible will of the early settlers, may not be amiss. Means. EARLY MODES OF TRAVEL, BUSINESS, ETC. - 1067 of travel between Connecticut and Ohio, even as late as the middle twenties, were so meager, that it was no uncommon thing for emigrants to make the entire journey, of over 600 miles, on foot, Mr. Luman Lane and Mr. Hanford White traveling in that way in November, 1820, the last 'day of their journey walking 46, miles. THE DEADLY MASSASAUGER.—In 1831, Mr. Luman Lane was bitten on the foot by a massasauger, but his life was saved by his hired man cutting open the wound with his pocket knife and sucking out the poison, though he nearly bled to death before the nearest physician, Dr. Town, of Hudson, could be summoned, and, in fact, suffered more or less pain from it to the day of his death. GREATER ENDURANCE THAN A HORSE.—Mr. Nestor Hurlbut, an uncle of Henry Ward Ingersoll, Esq., of Akron, walked the entire distance between Goshen, Conn., and Twinsburg, five times. On his last trip he made a wager with a man who, was about to set out on horseback, that he would beat him in. Starting at the same time, the horseman, of course, left the footman behind early in the day, but by making a little longer day of it, the footman slept at the same place as the horseman over night. Then, by getting an earlier start in the morning and traveling later at night, they kept along pretty evenly together until near the end of their journey, when the horse, as well as its rider, began to show symptoms of fatigue, and by making a little extra exertion on the "home stretch," Hurlbut actually arrived at Twinsburg about six hours ahead of his equestrian competitor. Even in local travel from town to town, and from county to county, pedestrianism was rather the rule than the exception, the writer, in the latter thirties, having often footed it from Akron to Ravenna,. Aurora, Painesville, etc.; it being related that Mr. Isaiah Humphrey, grandfather of C. P. Humphrey, Esq., of Akron, having purchased an old-fashioned, heavy bull-nosed plow in Richfield, shouldered it and walked the entire distance to Twinsburg, fifteen miles, without stopping to rest. In 1817, Lewis Alling, Jr. (then 15 years old), Zenas Alling and Gideon Thompson, started on foot from Derby, Conn., with 104 Merino sheep, which they drove safely through to Hudson, 650 miles, in thirty days, though between the wolves, the dogs and disease, it proved a poor investment, nearly all being lost. BUSINESS STATUS OF TWINSBURG.—In the two decades, from 1835 to 1855, Twinsburg was decidedly a business town. In addition to the original hotel, then (1835) kept by David Grant, another house of entertainment at the northeast corner of the public square had been erected about 1830, by Otis and Eli Boise, for many years past known as Clark's hotel, and still owned by the widow of its late proprietor, Elmore W. Clark, Esq. Other merchants than Mr. Ailing also abounded, with the average degree of enterprise and success, or non-success, incident to mercantile operations. Mr. Apollos White erected mills, in the northern part of the township, and for many years maufactured large quantities of lumber, the writer having, in the latter thirties and early forties, purchased from Mr. White many thousands of feet of the very best whitewood, oak, ash and hickory lumber at from $6 to $8 per thousand. The village also had its full complement of mechanics, Mr. James Alexander for many years carrying 1068 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. on quite an extensive carriage manufactory; the handling of the large dairy product of the township (under the old process) by Mr. Alling and others, being quite a large factor in the business activity and prosperity of the village; all of which was augmented by the liberality of the people of Twinsburg and other towns along the line, in converting the old mud turnpike from Hudson to Cleveland, into a plank road, sometime in the middle forties, which greatly facilitated stage and other travel, transportation of produce to, and merchandise from, Cleveland, etc., a hotel being established and for many years maintained upon this road, near the northwest corner of the township, by Mr. Ezra Starkweather. THE RAILROAD ERA.—The advent of the railroad into Ohio, however, very materially changed the business aspects and prospects of Twinsburg, in common with many of the other rural villages of the county and State. When the Cleveland & Pittsburg Railroad was projected, the route through Twinsburg was deemed both feasible and desirable, being on the direct line between Cleveland and Ravenna, but, under the mistaken notion that it would be a detriment instead of an advantage, the people manifested so much hostility to the project that the road was finally located three and a half miles to the west of the Center in the township of Northfield, and on to Hudson, largely increasing business there, and building up a rival business point at Macedonia Depot, besides placing the citizens of the township at a disadvantage with their neighbors in the matter of travel and. transportation. Being thus isolated from railroad facilities the commercial and mechanical importance of the village rapidly declined, without any of the compensating advantages to the rural population incident to railroad proximity. But the completion of the Connotton Valley road (now Cleveland .& Canton) through the township, a short distance east of the Center, in 1880, while not very materially increasing the mercantile and industrial operations of the village, is proving otherwise convenient and beneficial, not only as a great means of travel to Cleveland, Kent and Alter points, but also for shipment of the immense product of her several stone quarries, hereinafter more particularly referred to. But the chief value of the road to the people of Twinsburg, in addition to the advantages named, and the ready means thus afforded of supplying themselves with coal, lumber, etc., is the opportunity which it offers to contiguous farmers of daily sending the product of their dairies to Cleveland, milk stations being established at nearly every cross road, and special trains run for that purpose. CHURCH ORGANIZATIONS, ETC.—In chuch matters, Twinsburg has, from the start, held a fair average with her neighbors. Religious meetings were held from the very beginning of settlement, generally in private houses, Lewis Ailing, Sr., and Asa Upson taking turns in leading (when no preacher was present) until the death of Mr. Alling, in 1823, when Mr. Moses Wilcox took his place. In 1822, an itinerant Methodist minister (name not remembered) formed a class, with Emery Alger and Asa Upson as members. In 1821, '22, Rev. John Seward (Congregationalist) preached one-fourth of the time on the Sabbath, after which Rev. William Hanford did likewise for several years; a Congregational church being formed in 1822, with Lewis Ailing, Sr, Robert Hurd RELIGIOUS AND CHURCH MATTERS - 1069 and wife, J. H. Kelsey and wife, Belizer Beach and wife, Julia Ann White (wife of William White), Comfort Nichols (wife of N. P. Nichols), Irena Thomas, Luman, Lane, Hanford White and John A. Wells as members, Lewis Alling, Sr., being chosen deacon. Rev. Samuel Bissell, of Aurora, was ordained as pastor April 20, 1828, being succeeded by Rev. Mr. Hair in 1835. Differences arising, now difficult of explanation, a second Congregational church was organized with Mr. Bissell as its pastor, the pulpit of the first church being successively filled by Revs. Treat, Ward and Chapin until 1843, when the two churches were united with Rev. Robert C. Learned s pastor, followed, April 5, 1848, by Rev. Horace W. Palmer; November, 1853, Rev. Joseph H. Scott; November 21, 1860, Rev. Sidney Bryant, an interregnum of about two years, 1859, '60, being filled by President Pierce and Prof. Hosford, of Western Reserve College, alternately. Successive pastors since, Revs. Andrew Sharp, Post, Charles McNulty, William Haynes and Charles H. Lemmon, present incumbent, whose pastorate commenced March 1, 1890. Present membership 150, Macedonia branch 22, total 178. CHURCH EDIFICES.—In 1823 the Congregationalists undertook to build a small two-story house upon the public square, the upper story to be used as a place of worship and the lower story as a school room, hauling the timber upon the ground for that purpose. Exceptions being taken, a town meeting was called at which it was voted "that the public square shall remain unoccupied by any public building at present." Notwithstanding such action, a one-story house was soon after built, and jointly used as indicated for several years, being twice removed and finally torn down. In 1831, Mr. Bissell, then teaching a select school, was empowered to raise funds and build a house for church and high school purposes, which was located east of the public square and immediately north of the Alling hotel, completed in 1832, the total cost being about $700. The present edifice west of the public square, erected in 1848, originally cost about $3,000, though material improvements have from time to time been made during the intervening years. OTHER DENOMINATIONS.—The Methodist class of two members above alluded to, formed in 1821, expanded into a full church organization a few years later, their first house of worship, near the northeast corner of the, square, being erected in 1832, the present structure on the south side of the square, being built in 1848. Present membership about 112. Present pastor (1891, '92,) Rev. Ira J. Harris. A Baptist society was organized June 15, 1832, and a house of worship built in 1841. April 14, 1843, a Free Will Baptist Society was organized, building a house of worship in 1847. This house was destroyed by fire' and rebuilt, in 1851. This latter society declining in numbers and influence, in 1859 their house was sold to Mr. Riley, who soon afterwards exchanged houses with the Baptists, who have occupied it ever since, the house being located a short distance north of the square, on the Cleveland road. This society has been without a pastor for the past few years, and from deaths and removals is reduced to about twenty-five members, who at present unite in worship with the Congregationalists. 1070 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. EDUCATIONAL MATTERS.—In the matter of education. Twinsburg has, in some respects, the most wonderful record of any township in Summit county, not even excepting that long-time emporium of learning immediately adjoining upon the south, Hudson. While her common schools have fully averaged with those of her neighbors on the Reserve, having now a fine high school building a few rods south of the square, "Twinsburg Institute" stands as a time honored and imperishable monument of what one good, conscientious and energetic mind can accomplish, during a well-rounded lifetime. SAMUEL BISSELL was born in Middlefield, Hampshire county, Mass., April 28, 1797. In 1806, removed with his parents to Aurora, laboring on the farm until 1816, when he began to prepare for college. Entering Yale in 1819, he graduated with high honors, in 1823. Then ensued a rigid course of theological study, amid difficulties that would have appalled an ordinary man, completing his studies in New Preston, Conn., and receiving a license to preach in 1825. Returning to Aurora in 1825, he opened a small select school which he kept till 1828, when he became pastor of the Congregational church at Twinsburg, as elsewhere stated, at the same time conducting a private select school, the first three years in a small log house, and then in the church in which he preached, continuing this dual occupation for seven years. After an absence of about one year, as pastor of the Congregational church at Edinburg, Portage county, Mr. Bissell, about 1840, returned to his double duty of preaching and teaching in Twinsburg. In 1843, owing to the rapid increase of his pupils, Mr. Bissell resigned the pastorate and established "The Twinsburg Institute," which has never missed a term during all the intervening 48 years. On his return to Twinsburg, a small school building was erected by Mr. Bissell a short distance south of the Center, which, after being once or twice enlarged, so as to accommodate 80 or 90 scholars, was still found to be too small to accommodate all who desired to enter the school. Mr. Bissell then purchased the old Alling hotel property, adding to it, upon the south, making the building 102 feet long by 30 feet wide, subsequently adding a three-story 30x30 foot wing, upon the east, and still afterwards annexing the 30 x 60 foot building upon the north, formerly used by him as a church and school house (then called "Lyceum Hall ") and still later, about 1858, annexing another school building on the north. This composite building, or group of buildings, while making no pretensions to outside show, or interior adornment, had at one time over 300 students in attendance, requiring, besides the principal, some seven or eight teachers and assistants to properly TWINSBURG'S GREAT EDUCATOR - 1071 conduct the several classes therein receiving instructions, besides the necessary household regulations for boarding and lodging, perhaps one-fourth of the number in attendance finding homes with the various private families and boarding houses of the village. "Twinsburg Institute" was simply a private individual enterprise--no charter, no $500,000 donation, no endowment funds, but solely the outgrowth of the persevering energy of its liberal-hearted, self-sacrificing founder, and wholly maintained on the basis of the meager tuition fee of $2.00 to $4.00 per term, and the still more meager charge of from $1.121/2 to $1.50 per week for board and lodging. A VIGOROUS NONAGENARIAN.—The venerable principal of this remarkable school, now almost 95 years of age, is still (November 1891), vigorous in both mind and body, except as to impaired hearing. In a letter to the writer, in reply to inquiries about his school, Mr. Bissell, in 1887, said: "As to Twinsburg Institute I have kept no record of the number of scholars, and can only approximate to it, as I find from some of its catalogues and from memory. It has never lost a term from its commencement, and will average 100 a year from 1840, a period of 47 years, making 4,700, and from its beginning, in 1828, not less than 6,000; among them more than 2(X) Indian youth, both from the east and from the west." And to this brief and modest mention of the gigantic labors of this remarkable man, the writer will add that a very large proportion of the instruction and sustenance imparted to the 200 dusky pupils mentioned, was gratuitous, while a goodly number of indigent white youth, of both sexes, were also taken in, boarded and educated free of charge, or on the " manual labor" system, the labor performed consisting of chores, and other light work about the institution, that could have been done by regular hired help at far less cost to the kind-hearted proprietor. As illustrative of the tenacity of purpose of this philanthropic educator, it. may be stated that when, by reason of his open-handed liberality, and the embarrassments growing out of the War, he was obliged to vacate the buildings he had occupied for nearly twenty years, though then seventy years of age, Mr. Bissell resolutely set about erecting another on his own private lot, a short distance south of the public square. This is a two-story stone structure, 33x 77 feet in size. Mr. Bissell himself helping to quarry and haul the stone, and with his own hands framing and putting on the roof, laying the floors and doing all the joiner work, except making the window frames and sash. The walls were laid by a Scotchman, over twenty years ago, with instructions to regard strength rather than beauty, and, adds Mr. Bissell: "The rock of Gibraltar will as soon give way, without an earthquake," though a suit was brought against him, by a neighbor, three or four years ago, on account of its liability to fall and crush his (the neighbor's) house upon the adjoining lot—the old gentleman feeling deeply grieved at being compelled to defend himself from the charge of maintaining a nuisance (his first law suit), in the 91st year of his life, the suit being happily decided in his favor. In closing a letter about his school, Mr. Bissell, in 1887, says: "Circumstances are such, we expect to do but little more by way of giving instruction, and very little more than the name will continue." Mr. Bissell still survives, and in his 93d year delivered an address before the Old Settlers' Association, at Cleveland, July 22, 1072 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. 1889, with twenty of his old pupils on the platform with him, and October 8, 1890, took part in the 90th anniversary exercises in honor of Mrs. Anner Mary (Hudson) Baldwin, in Hudson. Among well-known citizens who have in years past attended Twinsburg Institute are the following: General A. C. Voris; Hon. U. L. Marvin; B. C. Herrick, Esq.; Hon. Henry McKinney, State senator for Summit-Portage district, 1869, '70, since Common Pleas Judge in Cuyahoga county; Hons. D. W. Gage and W. S. Kerruish, of Cleveland; H. W. Ingersoll, Esq., Akron; Hon. E. E White, former president De Pauw University, Ohio commissioner of common schools, and late superintendent schools, Cincinnati; General Lucius Fairchild, ex-member of Congress, ex-governor of Wisconsin, ex-U. S. consul at Liverpool, ex-consul general at Paris, ex-minister to Spain, ex-commander Department of Wisconsin, G. A. R., ex-commander-in-chief of National Encampment G. A. R., etc., etc. JONATHAN E. HERRICK,—one of the pioneers of Twinsburg township, was born in Worthington, Massachusetts, July 11, 1804. At 22 years of age he came to Ohio, then an almost unbroken wilderness, settling in Aurora, Portage county. April 10, 1828, he was married to Miss Phila Clark, of Twinsburg, soon after which he bought a farm in that township, a mile and a quarter south of the village, from which he cleared the forest, and on which he resided over sixty years, in 1845, erecting a fine stone house, one of the best in the township. Mr. and Mrs. Herrick were the parents of five children—Burke C. Herrick, for the past twenty years a successful crockery merchant in Akron ; Earl, now residing in Cleveland ; Electa A., now Mrs. E. L. Ailing, of Akron ; and Olive and Cyrus M., deceased. Mrs. Herrick died May 7, 1889 ; Mr. Herrick, though still retaining his property interests in Twinsburg, is now living with his daughter, Mrs. Alling, in Akron, in the 88th year of his age. Mr. Herrick was for several years one of the trustees of his township, and otherwise active in public affairs, being chairman of the monumental committee, which erected the beautiful soldiers' monument on the Public Square, an engraving and description of which will be found elsewhere in this chapter. TWINSBURG'S PATRIOTISM.—The first settlement being more than forty years removed from the Revolutionary struggle, and several years after the close of the War of 1812, we find no recorded or traditionary history of the participation of any of her citizens in either of those wars, though it is very probable that a number of her early settlers were soldiers in the latter, and probably some in the former struggle; nor is it thought that Twinsburg furnished a single volunteer for the Mexican War, of 1846-48. The township paid some attention, however, to early military matters, keeping the patriotic ardor of New England fully glowing for many years, under the old militia system of Ohio, Mr. Luman Lane recording that Elisha Loomis was captain of the SOLDIERS' MONUMENT, DEDICATION, ETC. - 1073 first military company, Joseph Myric, second and Asa Upson, third. This is all of the early military history of the township that has come down to us. But in the War of the Rebellion-186165—her patiotism and valor was second to no other township in the county, according to population, having furnished a total of one hundred and seventeen soldiers for the Union Army. A MAGNIFICENT TRIBUTE.—Not only were the customary bounties promptly raised and paid to her volunteers, and their dependent families kindly looked after during their absence, but after the close of the War, a splendid monument was erected on the public square, in memory of her fallen, and in honor of her surviving, heroes. This monument, located near the north side of the square, is of the following dimensions : First base (paradoxical as it may seem, the "crowning" glory of the superstructure), is a solid sandstone block, quarried one mile west of the village, containing 358 1/2 cubic feet, and weighing 50,549 pounds ; Second base, also a single block, 120 cubic feet, 16,920 pounds; Third base, 48 cubic feet, 5,768 pounds, all firmly resting upon a solid sandstone foundation. The monument proper consists of seven pieces of handsomely wrought Italian marble, measuring 100 3/8 cubic feet, weighing 18,120 pounds,. the main shaft being surmounted by a splendidly carved spread eagle, the entire height, above the foundation, being 28 feet, and the total cost not far from $2,500. DEDICATION OF THE MONUMENT. July 4, 1867, was truly a gala day for the people of Twinsburg—a triple celebration—the 91st anniversary of American Independence ; the Semi-Centennial of the first settlement of Twinsburg, and the unveiling and dedication of the beautiful soldiers' monument in question. Jonathan E. Herrick, Esq., was president of the day and Horace P. Cannon, Esq., was chief marshal. A mammoth tent had been erected about the center of the square, in which the chief literary and oratorical exercises were held, a free banquet being provided in a neighboring orchard, the central figure of which was a one thousand pound steer, roasted whole, flanked by a very great variety of gustatory viands. The Declaration of Independence was read by Isadore Roskolp, Esq., of Cleveland; Hon. O. S. Griswold, of Cleveland, being the orator of the day. Hon. N. D. Tibbals, of Akron, responded to the toast," Our Citizen Soldiery;" President Henry L. Hitchcock (who had lost a son in the army), to "Our Sons Who Never Returned ;" Dr. H. J. Herrick, of Cleveland (a native of Twinsburg), to "The 68 1074 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Surgeons of the Army;" Rev. S. Bryant to "Woman in the Hospital and Woman at Home;" Edward Oviatt, Esq., of Akron, to "The Day We Celebrate;" S. A. Lane, editor SUMMIT COUNTY BEACON, to " The Press; " Ethan Alling, to " The First Settler of Twinsburg." The exercises were interspersed by the firing of cannon, martial, band and vocal music, and general good cheer, scarcely dampened by the drenching rainstorm which occurred early in the afternoon. INSCRIPTIONS ON MONUMENT. NORTH SIDE.—" Semi-centennial settlement of this town - Twinsburg." WEST SIDE.—" To the memory of our sons who fell during the Rebellion of 1861-65." KILLED IN BATTLE:—Charles Stearns, 7t. regiment, March 23, 1862-22; Edward Bissell, 19th regiment, AI on guard duty, July 28, 1864-24; Dryden Ferguson, 125th regiment Charles Weatherbee. DIED FROM WOUNDS:—Anderson Oviatt, 19t regiment, May 1, 1862-19; Elmore C. Hinckston, 7th regiment, Jan uary 29, 1864-24; Charles H. Springer, 41st regiment, June 2, 18 22. DIED FROM DISEASE:—Warren Wait, 19th regiment, Decembe 4, 1861-18; George Gaylord, July 18, 1862-29; Edwin H. Hanks, 19t, regiment, February 25, 1863-20; George W. Hanks, 104th regimen May 10, 1861; Walter Chamberlain, 177th regiment, February 1 1865-16. CASUALTIES:—Louis Schroeder, 7th regiment, drowned is Fall of 1862-24; E. Thompson, 115th regiment, drowned, Sultana,. April 27, 1865-45; H. Crocker, 115th regiment, killed on cars at Columbus, October 24, 1862-25; G. E. Pease, 10th cavalry, died in Andersonville prison; John E. Carter, 177th regiment, fate unknown. HAVING FRIENDS HERE: Wm. H. Bliss, 63rd Pennsylvania, September 29, 1862; H. G. Bennett, 19th Wisconsin, July 18, 1865-26; Samuel Eells, Iowa cavalry, December 4, 1862-30; Isaac F. Smith, 43rd Illinois, July 16, 1865-41. SOUTH AND EAST SIDES.—List of soldiers who survived: H. J. Herrick, surgeon; 19TH REGIMENT :—Wm. H. Andrews, E. R. Andrews, A. D. Barber, Harlow Bissell, Elmore Barney, Joseph Carter, Milo Corbett, J. Chamberlain, John Dell, Edward Hanks, Sherman Lane, James Malone, D. W. Turner, Albert Upson, Wesley Upson, Geo. Williams, Newton Wait; 115TH REGIMENT:—Fred Barney, H. G. Beardsley, Cassius Baldwin, Samuel Chamberlain, Wm. McKinney, J. C. Smith, C. S. Tyson; 84TH REGIMENT:—Carl Herrick; 177TH REGIMENT:—Geo. Andrews, Henry Bissell, Morris Blodgett, John Booth, Fred Baldwin, Frank Bailey, Wm. Dodge, Monroe Freeman, John Flohr, Henry Flohr, Wm. Flohr, F. C. Hull, Henry Holcomb, Spafford Heather, Clinton Heather, Charles Harlow, Chauncey Lane, Henry Livingston, John Mead, Lyman Oviatt, Edward Powers, Evelyn Parmelee, R. R. Redfield, Thomas Stark-weather, Aurelius Tucker, Wilber Upson, Orville Upson, Sherwin Wilcox, Henry Wait, Nelson Wright; 41ST REGIMENT:—Jarvis Barber, Caswell Barber, John Hansard, Wm. Hansard, Julius Jones, Isaac Lanning, Arthur Mason, Nathaniel Mason, Henry Pratt, Augustus Seymore; 23RD REGIMENT:—John H. Bull, John Chapman; 85TH REGIMENT: — J. C. Coffee; 103D REGIMENT:--Benj. Franklin, David France; 42D REGIMENT:—Pitkin Gray, Benj. Gray; 104TH REGIMENT:—Alton Griswold, Charles Parks; UNKNOWN: