(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE)




1100 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


the two meetings, and expressing the belief that the ticket "will meet the approbation of a majority of the sober, candid and respectable citizens of Portage township" said


"As to any distinction between different classes of citizens, your committee beg leave to state, that it was agreed, and we believe met with the approbation of a large majority of those present, that all honorable pursuits, whether professional or mechanical, where industry or moral deportment renders them worthy of public confidence, were equally deserving the suffrages of this Association. * * * It is true our citizenship does not extend back as far as the days of keg money, when the votes of a whole township could be bought with a churn of egg-nog ; when we were ruled by a set of men who have left a stigma upon this place that nothing but time can remove. * * * We lay aside all political prejudice, and party feelings, and act solely with reference to the promotion of justice, virtue and morality."


MARSHAL MILLS DEMURS.—Major Mills, who had held the office of township constable for several years, and was then village marshal, and also, by appointment, a deputy United States marshal, took exceptions to Mr. Miller's remarks — especially the "keg money" and the "egg-nog" portion thereof—and in a long reply, among other things, said:


"You must not think, Sir, to screen yourself from the severe castigation which you so richly merit, and with impunity trifle with the feelings of those that are but little inferior to yourself, in points that constitute the man. Citizens ! you have heard the charge, are you prepared to meet it? Is the charge true or false ? If true, submit in silence ; if not, spurn it as you would the deeds of the midnight assassin."


MR. MILLER'S REJOINDER.—In his column and a half rejoinder, Mr. Miller goes back at Mr. Mills thus:


“For what reason do I so richly merit this severe castigation, Mr. M.? Is it because I have for years past been co-operating with others to put an end to those abominable practices? Or is it because reference is made to practices and transactions of which the gentleman dare not attempt a denial?"


MECHANICS' TICKET DEFEATED. — The inharmony indicated in the foregoing extracts, brought defeat to the ticket nominated by the mechanics, a "People's" ticket, composed of both Whigs and Democrats, being elected as follows: William B. Mitchell, Miner Spicer and John Sherbondy, trustees; Samuel A. Wheeler treasurer; Franklin C, May, clerk; Isaac Newton, Moses Cleveland and Warren H. Smith, constables; William E. Wright and Erastus Torrey, overseers of. poor; Horace K. Smith, Joseph Cole and Constant Bryan, school inspectors.


WHAT SHALL BE DONE WITH THE FUNDS?—In the Journal, of April 20, 1837, A. R. Townsend, assistapt secretary, announces that a meeting of the Mechanics' and Workingmen's Association will be held on Monday evening, May, 1st, "for the purpose of taking into consideration the disposition of the funds now in the treasury." The result of this meeting is not recorded, but one thing is sure, the custodian of the " funds " did not abscond with them to Canada, or squander them on "margins."


THE CARPENTERS UNITE.—May 11, 1837, the Journal contains this notice:


"The members of the Carpenters' and Joiners' Society of Akron, are requested to meet at the school house, South Akron, on Thursday 16th inst., at early candlelight, at which time committee on prices will present their price-book for adoption, and transact such other business as may be thought proper.

E. N. BANGS, Sec'y of said Society."


LABOR AND POLITICS - 1101


AGAIN IN POLITICS.—The American Balance of September 21, 1837, publishes this notice:


"The mechanics and workingmen of Portage township, are requested to meet at the school house, in South Akron, on Monday evening, September 25, 1837, at 6 o'clock, to take into consideration the propriety of calling a county convention, to make a ticket to be supported at the next election by the mechanics and workingmen of Portage county. By order of the President.

N. FAY, Secretary."


The meeting was adjourned until the evening of September 30, but there is no record as to whether a separate workingmen's ticket was put in nomination or not, though if there was it failed of success, the regular Whig county ticket being elected.


"INNOCUOUS DESUETUDE."—From this time on, for fully eight years, the mechanics and workingmen of Akron, so far as political action or general organization is concerned, remained quiescent, though the different trades, such as carpenters, painters, etc., would occasionally combine to regulate prices for work, but these combinations the unstable and precarious sheep's gray—pot-metal —shinplaster—truck and dicker system of payment, heretofore detailed, would render of very short duration.


In 1845, however, there seems to have been a " movement all along the line," in the direction of bettering the condition of labor, not only for better and more stable pay, but for a shorter day.


STRIKING CARPENTERS.---The BEACON, of April 9, 1845, says:


"There has been a strike among the carpenters of Cincinnati. They turned out in a body, with music. They demand $1.50 a day, in cash, instead of $1.25 in orders."


The $1.25 per day, then paid for skilled labor in Cincinnati, was considerably higher than the average in the western country at that period. In this vicinity, in the early forties, competent mechanics (single men) could be hired at the rate of $100 per year, and board, and paid in orders on stores, and other "truck," at that; the same grade of workmen, having families and boarding themselves, commanding from $18 to $20 a month, only, with the same kind of pay; common laborers receiving from 50 to 62 1/2 cents per day, and finding themselves. One of the present solid men of Summit county—Mr. Peter Lepper, of Springfield, then about 20 years of age—in

1845, sawed, split, and carried up two flights of stairs for the writer, a full cord of stove wood, for fifty cents (a little under current rates, perhaps, because of his being paid in cash, instead of store goods); a reminiscence that Mr. Lepper delights to recall whenever he and the writer chance to meet, Mr. L., perhaps, considering that hard-earned half dollar the chief corner-stone of the magnificent farm and other valuable possessions of which he is now the owner.


STRIKING MILL OPERATIVES.—The BEACON of May 28, 1845, chronicles a strike in a Pittsburg iron mill, for an advance of one dollar per ton; and in October of the same year, speaks of "a great excitement in Pittsburg and Allegheny in consequence of a turnout, or strike, in the factories of the latter city, on the demand for a ten hour day, in which there had been disorderly and mobbish demonstrations, with considerable damage to property, though it was believed that most of them would soon return to work under the former system."


1102 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


A few months later is the announcement of a strike of the workmen on the new Brooklyn, N. Y., dock, for higher wages, and fewer hours of labor, the new hands employed by the contractor being driven from their work by the strikers; the military being called out and one of the strikers killed; the house of one of the contractors being fired by the mob and destroyed. Wonderfully like the strike operations of 1891, isn't it ?


AKRON OPERATIVES TRY IT ON.—In the temperance paper, the Cascade Roarer, published by the writer, under date of November 11, 1845, is this announcement:


"The hands in one of our factories struck for higher wages last week. They generally receive their pay in woolen cloth, and as they cannot get as much for it at the stores, by two shillings per yard as they were obliged to allow for it, they entered into a solid compact, refusing to work until the price was lowered, and yesterday not one of them would throw a shuttle."


THE TEN HOUR SYSTEM.—In the issue of December 9, 1845, the writer, in speaking of the "Ten Hour System," editorially said:


"A great many employers, manufacturers and others, have recently been inquiring into the system, and it appears are indicating a determination to be foremost in effecting a reformation of the slavish drudgery to which many mechanics and others are now subjected, without decent tutu(' for recreation and enjoyment."


After alluding to a similar movement in England, the writer added, in closing:


"We hope that among the manufacturers of our own country, a reform may be set in motion, which will also bring about these good results."


MASSILLON TAKES A HAND IN.—On the 5th of May, 1846, a general strike of the .mechanics of Massillon is announced, " who in a body refused to perform any more labor until a reformation is effected," and who, in a circular, called upon their brother mechanics in the United States to assist them in carrying out their measures—the ten hour day, and cash payments. The Massillonians became so enthusiastic that they not only formed a compact organization, similar to the modern trades' unions, but sent missionaries into other industrial towns and villages, to work up an interest in the good cause.


MECHANICS' ASSOCIATION IN AKRON.—Two of their missionaries, Messrs. Dodd and Mathews, addressed a large meeting of our mechanics, at Military Hall, on the evening of June 23, 1846, resulting in the organization of the "Mechanics' Association of Akron," with David F. Bruner, president; Jeremiah Crissman and William S. Painton, vice presidents; H. G. Allen, recording secretary; D. G. Sanford, corresponding secretary, and James M. Hale, treasurer.


So rapid was the growth of the society that a delegation of nearly 100 members attended the spirited celebration held by the Massillon Association, on the ensuing Fourth of July, chartering a canal boat for that purpose, and marching in procession, with appropriate music, banners, mottoes, etc. An oration, or address, appropriate to both the day and the cause, was delivered by Reuben McMillan, Esq. (father of Mrs. D. E. Hill, of the Sixth Ward), then a prominent manufacturer in Massillon—a former partner of Messrs. David and Jesse Allen, in Akron, and afterwards senior member of the firm of McMillan, Irish & Co., for several


LABOR AND LITERATURE - 1103


years extensive manufacturers of wool carding and spinning machinery in Middlebury.


ON A STRICTLY COLD WATER BASIS.—In reporting this celebration, the writer, in his Cascade Roarer, said:


"The exercises were conducted on strict cold water principles, and, to their honor be it said, the mechanics would not let a grocery keeper establish a stand upon the grounds, for the sale of even small beer, gingerbread, etc."


And in the same issue, under the head of " We go for Reform," the writer editorially said:


"An interest of no inconsiderable extent, has been awakened in our village, and now, while the ball is in motion, let us urge all to take an energetic interest in keeping up the motion. Let it not be an ephemeral excitement. The cause is well worthy the unceasing exertion of all classes. If the contemplated victory is achieved, it will promote the happiness, as well as the interest, of the merchant, the lawyer, the doctor, the employer, the mechanic and the laboring man. It is a fact, if there is any virtue in civilization, that the more mankind are elevated, the better calculated are they to .advance the happiness and the prosperity of the great human family."


MECHANICS' LIBRARY.—To show with what promptness and kindliness the well-to-do people of Akron responded to this movement, not only were the demands for the ten hour day, and cash payments, generally acceded to with a good grace, by employers, but a movement was immediately inaugurated for the establishment of a Mechanics' Library and Reading Room, and a system of lectures, debates and other literary exercises, for the special benefit of the laboring classes. To the library fund Judge James R. Ford and Colonel Simon Perkins, each contributed $50.00, while many other liberal donations, both in money and books, were made, resulting in the accumulation of some 250 volumes of the best scientific and miscellaneous works of the day, for circulation, and a large, number of the best periodicals of that period for the reading room, which was open on stated evenings for the use of members of the Association, and other contributors to the library and reading fund.


ANOTHER POLITICAL TWIST.—March 3, 1848, a meeting of the workingmen of Portage township was held at Trussell's Hall, for the purpose of forming a Working Man's Ticket, at which it was


"Resolved, That this meeting recognize as workingmen only those who gain their subsistence by manual labor.


"Resolved, That this meeting set aside all party feuds, prejudices and feelings, and that-we form a Working Man's Party."


At an adjourned meeting, held at the same place, March 11, a preamble and resolvtions were adopted as follows:


" WHEREAS, We are thoroughly convinced that working men and working women, have never held that station in society to which their high calling entitles them—being naturally the most independent as well as the most useful part of the community, and ought to stand first and foremost in all that pertains to the good of society, the elevation of the human family and the councils of a free, intelligent and happy people ; Therefore,


"Resolved, That we will throw off all party political prejudices, and will unite for our mutual good and protection against the encroachments of wealth, aristocracy and a few unprincipled office-seekers, who act only for their own aggrandizement."


1104 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


A committee on nominations, consisting of E. N. Bangs, J. M Hale, W. B. Storer, C. G. Hayes, J. Crissman, S. A. Lane, D. Kirby; James Holmes and J. H. Hand, reported the following ticket, which was adopted:


For trustees, W. B. Storer, David Miller, John Ayres; for treasurer, Zebulon Jones; for clerk, Tilman Waggoner; for assessor, John Sherbondy; for constables, Hiram Force, eremiah Crissman, Asa S. Mariner; for justice of the peace, Joshua C. Berry.


This ticket was duly elected, and on the 26th day of May the following ticket for corporation officers was placed in nomination by the mechanics and laboring men of Akron:


For Mayor, James Holmes; for recorder, David G. Sanford; for trustees, Ansel Miller, David F. Bruner., James M. Hale, Nathaniel Finch, Benjamin McNaughton; for school directors, James B. Taplin, William M. Dodge.


By invitation a couple of young lawyer4 of the village made addresses at the nominating meeting, as appears by the following card published in the American Democrat, of June 1, 1848:


"The mechanics and working men of Akron, desire to express their thanks to Messrs. Edward Oviatt and Charles G. Ladd, for their instructive speeches, on Saturday evening, at Trussell's Hall, and especially for their explanation of the laws of nations and of the qualifications necessary for workingmen to have, before they can go on a foreign mission, or represent their constituents in the Senate of the United States."


This labor ticket, however, was defeated, the following mixed or people's ticket being elected : Mayor, Israel E. Carter; recorder, Arad Kent; trustees, Ansel Miller, John M. Cutler, Nathaniel Finch, George W. Bloom and Benjamin McNaughton; school directors, Harvey B. Spelman and James S. Carpenter.


FIRST LEGAL TEN HOUR DAY.—This item in the American Democrat, of September 7, 1848, so far as the writer is advised, announces the first legislative action in favor of the ten hour day in the United States:


"THE TEN HOUR LAw.—A law restricting the hours of labor to ten hours a day, has been passed by the Legislature of Maine, in accordance with the wishes of the mass of operatives in that State. Thus is the good work going forward. Thus will the masses be induced to contend for their rights in such a manner as to teach the money owners that their labor is of equal, and even greater importance, than mere money wealth."


THE FINAL OUTCOME.—The radical changes in the nature of Akron's industries—the woolen factory, with its "sheep's gray legal-tender currency," having entirely disappeared—and the improved methods of performing and rewarding labor, that have taken place within the past forty years, has also brought corresponding changes in the nature and objects of labor organizations, in the process of which the old Mechanics' Associations, here and elsewhere, became obsolete. The fine collection of books constituting the library of the Akron Association, was generously turned over to the Board of Education, and became a part of the Ohio School Library, of Akron, for many years maintained by Legislative authority and State aid, the whole being subsequently merged in the present splendid Free Public Library of the city of Akron.


THE LESSON INCULCATED.—Though there still exists a vast amount of unrest among the laboring classes, of the country, those of Akron and Summit county, by a close analysis of what has been


EARLY AND MODERN LABOR CONTRASTED - 1105


here and heretofore written, will see that their condition and advantages are infinitely superior to those of their brethren of half a century ago, and that, with the same degree of economy and abstemiousness which we were then obliged to practice, they might, from the present emoluments of their yearly toil—excelling even their existing condition of comparative independence—soon achieve "capitalistic," if not "monopolistic" eminence and power.


70


CHAPTER LV


AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY IN CALIFORNIA—INDEPENDENCE AND ANNEXATION OF TEXAS—WAR WITH MEXICO—CONQUEST OF CALIFORNIA— CAPTAIN JOHN AUGUSTUS SUTTER—GOLD FIRST DISCOVERED IN HIS MILL RACE—THE CAPTAIN UTTERLY RUINED BY GOLD HUNTERS AND SQUATTERS—PENSIONED BY CALIFORNIA, IN HIS OLD AGE—THE WHOLE WORLD EXCITED—AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY EARLY ON THE MOVE—THE PLUCKY " FORTY-NINERS" — THE GREAT EXODUS OF 1850—PRETTY FULL LIST OF LOCAL ADVENTURERS—INCIDENTS OF THE JOURNEY, THRILLING, LUDICROUS AND SAD—DEATHS FROM CHOLERA AND OTHER CAUSES—UPS AND DOWNS OF CALIFORNIA LIFE—FORTUNES EASILY MADE AND AS EASILY LOST—A CHAPTER FULL OF PRESENT AND REMINISCENT INTEREST TO ALL.


ACQUISITION OF CALIFORNIA.


TEXAS, formerly a part of Old Mexico, under the lead of General Samuel Houston achieved her independence, and established a separate government, in 1835. Though acknowledged as such by the United States, England, France and other foreign nations, Mexico herself refused to sanction the claim, and when, in December, 1845 the "Lone Star" was .formally annexed to the United States, Mexico sought to reclaim the valuable territory of which she was being despoiled by force of arms. This precipitated the War of 1846, between the United States and Mexico, resulting not only in the relinquishment of the claim of the latter to the territory in dispute, but also in the cession to the United States of the immense territories of. New. Mexico and California, though early in the war the latter had been taken possession of by Generals Fremont and Kearney, and Commodores Sloat and Stockton,


CAPTAIN JOHN A. SUTTER.—Among the limited number of adventurers into California, previous to its conquest by, and cession to, the United States, was Captain John A. Sutter, a native of Switzerland, who, emigrating to the United States in 1834, had made his way via Santa Fe, to the Pacific slope, and having procured from the Mexican Government a grant for a large tract of land, covering the present site of Sacramento City, building a fort and making other improvements, had established himself as a stock grower and dealer in furs, hides, etc., surrounding himself with quite a following of Mexicans and native Californians, and giving to his ranch the name of "New Helvetia." During the war his services to the United States troops were invaluable, and at its close Captain Sutter sought to do all in his power to aid and encourage immigration both from the States and Europe, not only with the view of advancing his own personal interests, but also of . developing the agricultural and commercial resources of "Uncle Sam's" newly acquired possessions.


FIRST GOLD DISCOVERIES.—To this end, in the Fall of 1847, he commenced the enlargement of the saw-mill which he had previously built, some distance above his fort, in doing which, while


FIRST GOLD DISCOVERIES IN CALIFORNIA - 1107


deepening the tail-race, in February, 1848, the man in charge of the work, named Marshall, observing yellow glittering particles .among the sands of the race, submitted a portion of them to Captain Sutter, who in turn procured an examination to be made by such metallurgists as were available at San Francisco, who pronounced it gold of superior quality.


The news of the discovery spread like a prairie fire, and in a very brief period of time almost the entire population of San Francisco, and of the territory, were delving for the precious metal. As soon as vessels could reach other portions of the world, the wonderful stories told caused innumerable expeditions to be fitted out, and before the end of the year tens of thousands of adventurers, from almost every country on the globe, were ransacking the placers and gulches of California for gold.


CAPTAIN SUTTER UTTERLY RUINED.


So helpless was the hapless Captain Sutter, in the then chaotic state of public authority and government, that his entire domain was staked off into claims and taken possession of by squatters, and the Captain himself would have been reduced to beggary in his old age, but for a pension of $3,000 per year, which was afterwards granted to him by California, he having settled in Pennsylvania in 1873, dying there in 1880, at the age of 77 years.


SUMMIT COUNTY EXCITED.—The golden reports began to reach the interior portions of the Western States, by the middle of the year 1848, and by the Winter of 1848, '49, expeditions of greater or less magnitude were projected in most of the principal towns in the Ohio and Mississippi valleys for the new Eldorado, the greater portion going overland, across the plains and mountains, others by water, via the Isthmus of Panama, while a few ventured upon the longer, but less perilous trip around Cape Horn.


Akron and Summit county were not, of course, to be left in the lurch in the scramble for gold, and in the Spring of 1849, companies for the overland journey were organized as follows:


The first company, styled " The Akron Mining Company," started on the 7th day of March, 1849. It was composed of Lewis P. Buckley, John 0. Garrett, Arza Kellogg, Russell Abbey, Ira Rose, Erhard Steinbacher, George Ayliffe, J. R. Gilbert, J. L. Gilbert, Charles Gressard, Henry S. Long, John Decker, Gilbert Carr, Louis Philtendorf, and P. Fisher—fifteen souls in all.


ROUTE AND MODE OF TRAVEL. — Having provided themselves with substantial wagons, harness, camp equipage, clothing, bedding, and such needed supplies as they could obtain here, including of course, a full quota of rifles, ammunition, etc., they were driven, by hired teams, to Wellsville, from whence they proceeded by steamer, via the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, to St. Louis, and from thence, by another steamer, up the Missouri river to Independence, where they completed their outfit by the purchase of such animals—mules or oxen—as they deemed best adapted to the successful accomplishment of the long and perilous journey before them—horses and mules in about equal number being selected.


"THE MIDDLEBURY MINING COMPANY." — The second company to leave, two weeks later, bearing the above title, was composed as


1108 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


follows: Thomas B. Hickox (father of the late Mrs. Henry H. Brown), Increase Sumner, Samuel Newton (father of Mrs. John. Johnston), Frederick A. Nash, Nelson Palmer, William A. Ostrom, George W. Rhodes, Aaron S. Cleveland, of Middlebury, J. W. Olmstead, Nelson Waite, Francis Watt and James Evans, of . Hudson, and E. Brooks, Samuel Farber and Samuel Brittain, of Elyria, also fifteen in number. This company, similarly provided as the first, and proceeding by the same means and route, on reaching Independence, fitted themselves out with ox teams, with such saddle horses as they needed, the bovines, if not quite so fast, proving quite as reliable as the equines, in accomplishing the journey.


BY THE ISTHMUS ROUTE, ALSO.—March 19, 1849, John Scupholm (or as usually called, John Addy), Jeremiah Yockey, Clark Elliott, Henry Prior, and a Mr. Benum and son, of Cuyahoga Falls, and at about the same time Nicholas Rector (brother-in-law of General George W. McNeil), Porter C. Rector, James G. Dow, Lucian B, Raymond, Charles G. and Thomas Caldwell and several other Akronians started via New York, the Isthmus of Panama, etc., for the same destination.


Though the overland route bristled with perils and hardships, the Isthmus route was, at that early day, far worse. There was, of course, abundance of transportation from New York, and other Atlantic ports, to the Isthmus, but the rub was to get from the Isthmus to San Francisco. There were, at that time, but two regular steamers plying between Portland, Oregon, and Panama, with long intervals between arrivals and departures, while coastwise sailing vessels on the Pacific were also few and far between,


Unscrupulous proprietors and agents of transportation lines upon this side would assure all applicants that there would be no in securing passage from Panama, as several steamers, which had been sent around the Horn, would surely be there in time to accommodate all. The transit of the Isthmus itself was filled with perils, hardships, disease and death. Arriving at Chagres, the only mode of travel to Gorgona, thirty miles, was in open boats, slowly poled or paddled up the Chagres river by nearly naked natives. From Gorgona to Panama, thirty miles further, the emigrant had to foot it through narrow, deep-worn mountain trails and almost bottomless marshes; the natives acting as pack-horses for the transportation of baggage, and sometimes of humans, upon their hacks.


Finally arrived at Panama, then came the " tug of war." Waiting for days, and sometimes weeks, for a chance passage, their money rapidly diminishing for subsistence, many despairing of reaching California alive, would retrace their steps, while others, overcome by exposure and disease, would simply lie down and die.


MR. NICHOLAS RECTOR'S RETURN.—About the middle of April, 1849, Mr. Nicholas Rector returned to Akron, the account given by him adding very greatly to the anxiety of those whose friends had gone by that route. When he left Panama there were over 3,000 emigrants awaiting transportation, and hundreds daily arriving, and not a vessel in the harbor. Passage tickets on the expected steamers around the Horn, as well as those already upon the coast, were held at from $600 to $1,200, a sum beyond the ability of the majority to pay, necessitating the securing of cheaper


HARDSHIPS OF THE ISTHMUS ROUTE - 1109


transportation, or returning to their homes disgusted, as did Mr. Rector.


AKRON PLUCK AND PERSEVERANCE.—Yet the majority of those who did not die upon the Isthmus, or upon the overcrowded vessels, upon which they finally did secure a passage, managed by “hook or by crook" to "get there."


As a sample of pluck and perseverance, under the most appalling difficulties, the bitter experience of three Akron gentlemen may properly here be cited. Messrs. James G. Dow, Lucian B. Raymond and Porter C. Rector, after remaining upon the Isthmus several weeks, and until their individual funds were nearly exhausted, finally, by pooling their resources, managed to secure passage upon an old schooner. She was a poor sailer, at the best, and being laden largely beyond her capacity, and beset by head winds, calms, etc., her progress was very slow indeed, and, after being on the ocean nearly three months, and being reduced to nearly starvation rations, Messrs. Dow and Raymond, with many others, went on shore and footed it nearly a thousand miles up the coast, begging their scanty daily subsistence from the sparse and not at that time very hospitable Mexican population, and getting into San Francisco considerably in advance of the old tub in which they started, Mr. Rector, and others who remained on board, diving the last ten days out, having to subsist almost wholly upon wormy and mouldy beans.


THE GREAT EXODUS OF 1850.—Reserving, for the present, a description of the experiences and ,hardships of the "overland" journey, we will only say of the Forty-niners from here, that, so far as known, all got safely through, though all did not realize their fond expectations of rapid wealth, while some laid down their lives in their efforts to secure a competence for themselves and families.


In January and February of 1850, Messrs. John 0. Garrett, Russell Abbey, Samuel Newton, and one or two other members of the companies above named, returned, via the Isthmus, some of them bringing such favorable accounts of their own and others' success, that the " yellow fever" soon began to rage, THE BEACON, of February 27, 1850, in speaking of the intention of Messrs. Garrett and Abbey to return, editorially saying:


"About thirty of our best citizens expect to start overland for California within three weeks. They go under the lead of Mr. Garrett, and several will be accompanied by their wives. A number of our citizens also go by the Isthmus.”


It should be added that in the intervening year, transportation facilities between Panama and San Francisco had very greatly increased, while mule locomotion had been added to the western portion of the transit across the Isthmus, though the horrors of that portion of the journey were not entirely obviated until the completion of the Panama Railroad, in 1855.


THE GRAND CAVALCADE.—THE BEACON of March 20, 1850, under the heading "California-Bound," said:


"Nearly 200 persons have left Akron and Summit county, during the past week, via St. Joseph, Missouri, and a number more are making their arrangements to go. A large proportion of the whole number have hitherto been residents of Akron and among our most useful citizens—chiefly


1110 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


mechanics. About forty wagons left on Thursday last, making a fine procession. The streets were crowded with the friends of the fearless adventurers, and many hearts ached as parting words were uttered, and the train disappeared amid‘,the roaring of cannon. Several females were in the company, and Mr. Garrett, the leader, who recently returned from Sacramento, took his whole family, intending to make a permanent settlement in California."


To show that Akron was not alone a sufferer, in the loss of "useful citizens," the same issue contains a clipping from a Massillon paper to the effect that a company of about the same size left Massillon the same week. And so it was all over the Western states, and in fact the whole country, it being estimated that some 200,000 crossed the plains in 1850, besides the large contingent who went from both the East and the West via the Isthmus, to say nothing of the immense influx from almost every other civilized and semi-civilized country on the globe.


A ROSTER OF THE CALIFORNIA-BOUND.—It will, of course, be quite impossible to furnish a stricly accurate list of all who composed the Akron and Summit county wing of this Grand Army, but from a list furnished THE BEACON by Mr. Garrett, and the writer's recollection of the names of those composing his own company, who left a week later, and other data at his command, an approximately correct- list from 1850 to 1852 is as follows:


Russell Abbey, 0. H. P. Ayres, John Allen, George Andrews, Lewis Anser, C. Ayliffe, Levi Allen, Edwin Allen, John Allen, Martin Asper, Stephen Ayres, John Ayres, Cordelia M. Ayres, Orrin H. Ayres, Hiram J. Ayres, Thomas Ayres, Allen Ayres, Henry Anson, William B. Ashmun, William C. Allen, Samuel B. Axtellr Augustus G. Babcock, A. B. Bradley, Harvey •Baldwin, Noah Baldwin, Michael Breem, William Barker, George Best, Milton Briggs, Hugh Boyd, William E. Bradley, Henry Baker, G. Bates, M. Bishop, John Biddle, E. Beach, L. Bradley, David H. Bliss, Ephraim Bellows, P. Bealeg, Alexander Brewster, Daniel Balch, John W. Baker, William Baird, Butler, G. C. Briggs, wife and sister, E. Crain and wife, Charles Curtiss, 0. Bell, Truman Barnett,. James Birge, Edward Brown, James Boyle, Adam Bergert, George Bechtel, Samuel Britton, George Beckwith, William Barr, John G. Carpender, James Christy, Archibald Christy, Robert Carson,- Edward Cummings, S. Chandler, John Cook, Charles Carner, A. Coke, Robert Cochran, George E. Clark, E. Cooke, A. Chapman, L. M. Comstock, Warren Clark, S. Chandler, James Coggeshall, Orion Church, John Cutshaw, Elihu Chilson, S. M. Cobb, E. P. Cook, Gilbert Carr, L. B. Curtiss, John Cross, Orrit. Cooke, Linus Culver, E. Comstock, Jerry Conrad, Abraham De Haven, L. Davis, Edward Dugan and wife, B. F. Dickerman and wife, Miss Maria Dickerman, - Davis, John Devin, C. C. Dewey, John Dulin, Samuel Dulin, - Dixon, William Denaple, Perrin De Puy, J. C. Dickerman and wife, John and Edmund Dunn, Lyman Davis, D. Everett, E. Fry, Jesse Felt, John Falor, William Finch, Jonathan F. Fenn, A. Fenn, Theodore Fenn, Richard Fassett, C. G. Field, B. B. Green, N. Geer, John Gatz, Peter Graffleman, S. Gibson, John T. Good, W. Gunder J. Gardiner, John 0. Garrett, wife and five children—Emily, John Jr., Hiram, Sarah and Henry—D. C. Gillett, William H. Garrett, J. B. Gibbons, Edwin Gilson, Eli Goodale and wife, George M. Griffin, George W. Greeley, J. B. Gleason, Jacob Good, Calvin Hall, Seth Hamlin, John Hamlin, Adam Hart, David Hanscom, Lewis Hanscom,


SUMMIT COUNTY'S GOLD-SEEKERS - 1111


James Holmes, M. Hennessy, C. Holflemany, John Herman, C. J. Hays, E. Hull, John Hill, P. Hickox, C. Harkins, Calvin Holt, Bruce Herrick and wife, Captain Richard Howe, Richard G. Howe, William Howe, H. Hestler, E. Hays, Walton Hulin, Dr. Mendal Jewett, James R. Jewett, Henry Jewett, William Ives, John Johns, J. S. Jones, William B. Judd, William H. Jones, Janes, Rees Jones, Peter Jahant, Z. Jones, George F. Kent, Horace Kent, Henry Kenyon, John Krytzer, R. C. Kimball, Levi Kryder, Adam Kempel, Lewis Kilbourn, John Kidder, Joseph Kidder, David Kirby, B. Kirby, John E. King, Charles Kempel, Hallet Kilbourn, Edward Kilbourn, Oscar Kilbourn, John Kuhner and wife, Calvin Kidder, A. Kilbourn, , King, Leroy S. Kidder, Chris. Killifer, Samuel A. Lane, J. H. Leavitt, H. Lye, H. C. Lacey, George Lillie, William Lewis, William Lamb, Gilbert Lanphier, Albert Lanphier, B.Lockwood, 0. C. Lee, James M. Livensperger, Burton Lockwood, Jonas Leach, Giles L'Hommedieu, J. J. Myers, Norris Miller, N. May, W. D. Myers, George McKay, John McKibben, William Meese, W. B. McCune, Michael Metzler, D. Marshall, James McKelvey, Felix Morgan, Andrew Martin, F. Masters, Nathaniel Morton, S. D. McNeal, John D. Miner, W. D. McClure, Henry McMasters, Daniel Martin and son Henry, James M. Mills, W. Mayer, A. McDonald, William T. Mather, James M. Moore, Ithiel Mills, Mrs. McArthur, W. Moses, Dr. L. Northrop, Owen O'Neil, James O'Neil, James Newing, Marvin Oviatt, Wallace Nelson, George Orcutt, Stephen Neighman, A. Nixon, Mason Oviatt, Orlen Newcomb, Judson Olmstead, John Pendleton, Levi Post, John Patterson, Moses R. Paine, Luther E. Payne, A.. Packard, Jr., M. Porter, Daniel Powles, S. S. Peck, Benjamin Peart, Powers, H. B. Pomeroy, S. E. Phelps, J. T. Powers, Elijah Poor, J. Rhinie, Daniel Richmond, James Root, Leonard Root, J. Reynolds, Jonathan Remington, George Richey, Frank Rumrill, J. Radick, Samuel Rattle, William Rattle, E. Randall, Robbins, Edward Robin' son, Alonzo Rogers, Caleb Smith, Frederick Steese, Thomas Smith, George W. Smith, Hiram Stott, John Stine, J. W. Sherwood, William Shaw, S. L. Shaw, Christian Scriber, William Smagg, George Sumner, F. Sumner, King Smith, John Stineberger, David Santora, J. Spicer, S. Sparhawk, R. B. Smith, B. Stanton, W. B. Stone, Joseph Spiker, S. Snow, Richard Smetts, William Smetts, Ira P. Sperry, Alvin N. Stone, John C. Stanley, Warren H. Smith, David Simpson, William Sinclair, A. J. Smith, J. M. Sheppard, Edward Sumner, --Sizer, William Smith, Seth Sackett, Julius Stock, D. R. Stoffer, 0. E. Shepard, John Teucher, H. Taylor, William A. Taylor, William J. Taylor, Charles W. Tappan and family, Charles 0: Turner, Leander Titus, William Thompson, George Wells, R. Weitz, N. White, Leander Washburn, Miss Lorinda Washburn, M. A. Wheeler, Jesse Widoe, J. Wohmein, Mayer Weil, H. Willard, Mrs. Willard, Theodore Willard, H. 0. Willard, J. D. Whitney, H. B. Williams, D. Wright, 0. Wright, Judge Samuel A. Wheeler, Thomas Wilson, Elijah, Frederick and Henry Wadsworth, Orrin

L. Walker, Jefferson Walker, Edward Waite, Philo E. Wright, Benjamin D. Wright, Wm. H. White, A. Wood, J. W. Wilbur, Benjamin K. Waite, Henry S. and Solomon Whetstone, F. P. Warren, Joseph Wallace, Cyrus Wirt, David H. Wood, Wm. Walling, J. Waggaman, Henry C. Wadhams, Theo.Williard and wife, Geo. York, L. Y. Young, A. Vaughn, J. M. Yocum, J.Vickers, Dorsey W.Viers, H. S. Vaughn.


1112 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


Included in the foregoing list of fully 350 names are several residents of contiguous counties, who joined the Akron companies in crossing the plains and mountains, in 1849, '50, as well as quite a number who made their way to the Pacific Slope the two following years, during the writer's sojourn there, but doubtless omitting many whom he did not meet or have knowledge of. It may thus be safely stated that not less than 400 people went from Summit county to California during the years 1849 to 1852, while hundreds of others have wended their way thither, for business or pleasure during the intervening' forty years. All who started, however, did not live to reach their destination—King, Stineberger and Smith, of Akron, Finch, of Richfield, and Cook, of Cuyahoga Falls, dying at or before reaching St. Joseph, and a number of others dying en route upon the plains or ocean.


It is proper to remark here that the majority-of those who left this vicinity, in the Spring of 1850, enrolled themselves under the banner of Captain Garrett, by reason of his experience of the year before. Others, however, organized or united with smaller companies, the sequel showing that while proximity to numbers, en route, was an element of safety in passing through the territory of hostile Indians, moderate sized companies were more readily handled, more harmonious and more successful in overcoming the difficulties of the journey, and averting disaster to themselves and their animals, the liability to, and magnitude of, which will faintly• appear in what follows.


The writer, with some forty-five or fifty others from Akron and vicinity, starting a week later than Captain Garrett's Company, by the same route and means, reached Wellsville, March 22, 1850, where, with wagons, horses and other property, we embarked on the steamer " North River," for St. Louis, the river transit occupying just six days.


OVERLAND THROUGH MISSOURI.—Satisfying ourselves on inquiry that, owing to the backwardness of the season, we had a whole month to spare before it would be safe to start out upon the plains, and that mules and other needed supplies could be bought cheaper at St. Louis than at St. Joseph, we determined on making the journey through Missouri, some 350 miles, by land, instead of water, both as a matter of economy and accustoming ourselves and our animals to the work before us and them, as well as to enable us to remedy any defects of outfit we might discover before passing beyond the bounds of civilization.


Several members of the company had taken horses With them from home, but such mules as were needed had to be purchased there. The majority of the mules in the market were " green," or unbroken, and to say that the boys had lots of fun breaking them, would be drawing it mild, our present veteran drayman, Uncle "Dick" Smetts, at one time getting a whack upon the abdomen, from a pair of hoofs, that threatened serious results for several days, and at another time dislocating his shoulder in wrestling with a mule; while the dignified Judge Wheeler was doubled up like a jack-knife, and the serious-minded Deacon Jonathan F. Fenn, at one end of a lariat, with a gyratory mule at the other end,. was straightened out like a whip-lash; and even the writer himself, getting a severe tap upon the knee that produced a painful limp for several days, and at another time, incredible as it may


OVERLAND THROUGH MISSOURI. - 1113


appear, a pair of heels passed in such close proximity to his face as to knock off his wide-brimmed hat, without hitting his nose!


The price of mules varied from $65 to $85 per head, for green, and from $90 to $100 for those broken to harness. The mess to which the writer was attached, consi&iting, besides himself, of James Holmes, Robert Carson and John McKibben, bought two span of well-broken mules at $90 a head, which, with our four equally well-broken horses, taken from home, made us a most excellent team, and that, too, without the wear and tear of muscle and temper, to which the purchasers of the unbroken animals were subjected, to say nothing of the detriment of the breaking-in process to the animals themselves.


GENEROUS HOSPITALITY.—Having shipped the bulk of our provisions and luggage by steamer to St. Joseph, we were in readiness for a start from St. Louis, on- Saturday, March 30. Meantime Mr. William P. Fenn, a former resident of Tallmadge, then the proprietor of an extensive dairy farm, six miles west of St. Louis, and directly upon our route, had invited the entire company to spend the Sabbath with him, which invitation was cordially accepted, and right royally were we entertained.


On Monday morning, April 1st, we started on our journey, Mr. Fenn and one of his men kindly accompanying us far as St. Charles, a distance of twenty miles. Here we crossed the river, and, upon the north side of the Missouri, pursued our way leisurely to our final starting point, St. Joseph, then the extreme western verge of civilization.


UNDUE FASTIDIOUSNESS. -- The many interesting incidents encountered in that slave-cursed State cannot be here given, for want of space. One, only, as bearing upon the later trials and privations of the journey must suffice. On the supposition that provisions of all kinds could be readily obtained from the plantations we might pass, we took very little with us, but found that, so far as bread was concerned, we could obtain none whatever, -except in two or three villages which we passed through; every meal, from bread up, as in all other slave States, being literally prepared from "hand to mouth." Our wagon being in the lead, -one day, we stopped at a way-side horse-power grist-mill, and bought half a bushel of coarse-ground corn meal. Judge Wheeler coming up, as I was pouring the meal into our provision chest, exclaimed: "Lane, what in the world are you going to do with that?" "Make it into griddle cakes," I replied. "But how are you going to manage to sift it?" inquired the Judge. "Cook it without sifting," I replied. "Well," said the Judge, contemptuously, "You can eat, coarse-ground, unsifted corn meal, if you like, but I was better brought up!" Before we get to our journey's end, we shall see.


ORGANIZING FOR THE JOURNEY. — We arrived at St. Joseph, March 25th, finding that Captain Garrett's train, with about forty wagons and 160 men, had started out upon the plains some two or -three days before. Loading up our supplies, which had been forwarded by water, we ascended the river about five miles, and, crossing over, encamped on a high bluff, in the Indian territory, where we remained a few days, visiting town daily, to put the finishing touches upon our outfit, one indispensable item of which was as much corn and other feed as we could haul upon our


1114 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


wagons, or pack upon the backs of our loose animals, for their subsistence, from the fact that not a single spire of the green grass that had been depended upon for that purpose, was yet visible.


Deeming thorough organization of the first importance, a meeting was held on the morning of April 27th, of which Captain Richard Howe was made chairman and S. A. Lane, secretary. At this meeting Captain Howe was unanimously elected captain of the train, Judge Samuel A. Wheeler, assistant, and Henry Anson, sergeant of the guard. James M. Mills, Ira P. Sperry and Jonathan Avery (of Adrian, Mich.) were appointed a committee on rules, who, the same evening, reported the following:


"Resolved, That we recommend that this division of the California emigration be named Howe's Train."


"Resolved, That, for the protection of our train, no member shall dis charge a gun in camp, or put the same loaded and capped either into tent or wagon, without being so ordered by the officers of the train.


"Resolved, That each member stand guard as his name appears on the roll, and the captain shall have power to increase or diminish the guard as circumstances may require.


"Resolved, That the train shall be formed as the captain may direct.


"Resolved, That if other persons, with wagons, wish to join the train, the company may elect or refuse, as a majority may determine.


"Resolved, That three hours be the time of standing guard, from o'clock until daylight, to be divided into three equal watches, and that the roll be formed by taking one name in turn from each mess, as given in, the names to be taken in regular rotation, in the formation of the guard."


The list as given in, and the several messes originally constituting "Howe's train," were as follows : Richard Howe, Edwin Gilson, Edward Waite, J. S. Jones, George Wilcox, Samuel A. Wheeler, Richard Smetts, William Smetts, Richard G. Howe, Augustus G. Babcock; Ira P. Sperry, Benjamin D. Wright, Philo E. Wright, Alvin N. Stone; James M. Mills, Henry Anson, Henry McMasters, William Denaple; John T. Good, John Cook, Michael Metzler, J. Waggaman; James Holmes, Samuel A. Lane, Robert Carson, John McKibben; John G. Carpender, Leander.Titus, Felix Morgan, A. Nixon; Warren Clark, J. Vickers, Daniel Martin, Henry Martin; Owen O'Neil, James O'Neil, John Patterson, William Shaw, Hugh Boyd; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Dugan, Mr. and Mrs. John Kuhner; Jonathan F. Fenn, Leonard Root; Walton Hulin, James Boyle, (from Trumbull county); Elihu Chilson, J. M. Sheppard, William Thompson; Jonathan Avery, Moses L. Gore, Philip Roberts, Henry Price, Morgan Brazee, P. 0. Cook (the latter six from Adrain, Mich.); 56 persons, with 85 head of horses and mules, all told.


It should be properly added, here, that besides the messes, above enumerated, a German by the name of George Bechtel, who had been employed in the warehouse of Mr. P. D. Hall, went through upon his "own hook," with a single mule, upon which was strapped his blankets and provisions, picking up, kernel by kernel, the corn wasted by our own and other trains, on which his own mule was kept fat and sleek, while other animals, by the thousand, succumbed to the rigors of the journey and the scantiness of their feed.


THE " MILITARY " TRAIN.--While the great mass of the wagons of the emigrants were covered with white or brown canvas, it so happened that the most of ours were covered with black rubber


ROUTINE TRAVEL AND CAMP DUTY - 1115


cloth, which fact, together with the circumstance that that prince of drummers, Henry McMasters, had his drum along, and our Trumbull county neighbor, Hulin, an equally skilled musician, had his fife with him, upon which instruments they would awake the echoes of the plains and mountains with soul-stirring martial music, nearly every evening, gave us the title, among our neighbors of the "Military Train," and possibly afforded us immunity from disturbance by the hostile Indians through whose hunting grounds we were obliged to pass, from which so many trains that year and the year before were annoyed and despoiled of their animals and other property, and often of their lives, upon the journey.


CAMP DUTY-STANDING GUARD, ETC. — B ut notwithstanding this supposed immunity, we by no means relaxed our vigilance. In a mess of four, two were assigned the task of caring for the animals, one as cook and the other as general utility man, by courtesy called the "chambermaid," whose duties were to pack and unpack the wagon, set up and take down the tent, make beds, gather fuel, water, etc. The captain, or his assistant, having by riding ahead secured a proper camping ground—usually selected with reference to proximity to feed and water—at about 6 o'clock would conduct us into camp. The wagons were arranged in circular form, with our tents between, and our camp-fires on the inside. On getting into position, the first care was for the animals, which were securely tethered by lariats attached to iron pins driven into the ground, the teamsters being sometimes obliged to go quite a distance to find good pasturage.


Meantime the cook skirmishes around for fuel and water, kindles his fire and prepares his meal, while the " chambermaid " unpacks the wagon, pitches the tent, unrolls and adjusts the bedding, sets the table, etc.—the latter piece of "furniture" consisting of a piece of oilcloth, about four feet square, spread upon the ground, the "crockery" consisting of tin plates, tin tea and coffee pots and cups, iron spoons, knives, forks, etc., with the frying pan in the center, surrounded by pans of rice, beans, bread, stewed apple, etc., from which each messmate, sitting flat upon the ground, helps himself, without stint or ceremony. And such appetites r Little wonder that the writer increased his avoirdupois over thirty pounds on that journey, fatiguing and wearing as it was.


At eight o'clock the stock is gathered up and securely picketed inside the ring, and then to bed. And we had beds, too. First rubber blankets spread upon the ground, then light cotton mattresses, woolen blankets, comforters, feather pillows, etc., and making it a rule to regularly undress, as if at home, except in cases-of supposed danger, stress of weather, etc.


The night was divided into three watches—from eight till eleven, eleven till two, and from two till daylight—when the'camp was aroused by the firing off of the guns. Regular beats were maintained around the camp, at times a very hazardous operation, as was evidenced by the fact that a number of the guards of other trains were killed by Indians while thus on duty, either from sheer savage wantonness, or for purposes of plunder by stampeding the stock, as was frequently done.


The routine duty of the morning was, first, for the teamsters to, get the stock to the feeding grounds, the cook meantime preparing


1116 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


breakfast, while the "chambermaid" rolled up the bedding, struck the tent, packed the wagon, set the table, etc. The morning meal over, the dishes were washed and packed, the animals gathered in and tackled, and everything made ready for a start—the team first in readiness being the leader for the day; a halt of from one to two hours being made in the middle of the day for baiting our animals and ourselves.


COMMISSARY STORES, FUEL, COOKING, ETC.--Our main reliance, in the provision line, was cured side pork and sea biscuit, what have since, in war parlance, come to be known as " sow-belly" and -"hard-tack," though each company was provided with such .4‘ luxuries," as the taste and purses of its members might suggest or warrant—corn meal, flour, dried beef, dried apples and peaches, coffee, tea, sugar, cheese, etc.


The most of the cooking was done over the open camp-fire, and was, of course, more or less seasoned with flying dust, and flavored by odors of the different kinds of fuel accessible to us—dry grass, weeds, green sage-brush, buffalo " chips," etc., for often, for hundreds of miles, not a twig or splinter of wood was within our reach; the "chips," by the by, being about the best fuel encountered upon the journey.


The writer's own mess was provided with a small two-story sheet-iron stove, with oven, boiler holes, etc., by which we were enabled to provide a variety of bakery goods—biscuits, short-cake, gingerbread, apple-pies, etc , that but few of our neighbors could indulge in—the writer officiating as cook through Missouri, and Mr. James Holmes upon the plains.


INCIDENTS OF THE JOURNEY.—To re-produce even.the brief daily record of the journal kept by the writer, would occupy more space than could be given to it here. A few of the more salient incidents therefore must suffice. We left our camp upon the bluffs at precisely 10 o'clock on the first day of May, to the pluck-inspiring music of the fife and drum, our first objective point being Fort Kearney, 300 miles distant, on the Platte River, which we reached May 16, having averaged about 20 miles a day. Though we were almost at the head of the emigration that year, a record kept at the fort showed that 1,952 wagons and 6,152 souls had preceded us.


For the first two weeks, so backward was the season, we had to rely principally upon the corn and other feed carried with us, by the aid of sickles, hatchets, knives, etc., converting the prairie grass of the year before, mixed with middlings, into "chop" which the animals devoured with great avidity and seeming relish. Those who did not thus take along feed, had to depend solely upon this dry grass for the subsistence of their stock, which soon began to be painfully manifest by the constantly increasing number of dead animals along the route.


DEATH ON THE TRAIL.—On our fourth day out we saw our -first grave, that of a man from Michigan, who died the year before. At the head of the grave was a small board giving name, age, residence, date of death, etc., the mound being surmounted by the huge branching antlers of a prairie elk, with its 'prongs firmly implanted in the ground. This grave, on a knoll several rods from the road, had a deep-worn path to, and from it, indicating that nearly every passing pilgrim to the land of gold, paid a visit thereto, an unavoidable sadness pervading


INCIDENTS UPON THE PLAINS - 1117


the minds of all who viewed it, lest in the long and perilous journey before them, they or their friends might share the fate of the one who had thus fallen at the very outset of the journey. The sight became a very familiar one, however, as we proceeded, many others of those who died the year before, from cholera and other diseases, with many fresh mounds under which were quietly sleeping those who, but a few days before, were as eagerly pursuing thqir quest for gold as ourselves.


BUFFALOES BY THE MILLION.—Soon after leaving Fort Kearney, we struck the buffalo pasture grounds, "chips" for fuel being plenty, but for several days none of the animals in sight, except an occasional herd in the distance, seen from the bluffs. The day after leaving the fort, towards night, a solitary buffalo was descried a mile or two to the left, towards the bluffs, and our cook shouldered his rifle and sauntered off that way, thinking to get a crack at him, and then make his way towards the train. We went into camp at about the usual hour, in a small ravine, a short distance from the road, but no Holmes put in an appearance. The " chambermaid " got supper, the animals were duly cared for, bedtime arrived, but still no Holmes. By this time the camp was thoroughly alarmed. The drum was beaten and guns were fired to guide the wanderer into camp, but still he came not. Thinking that he might have got bewildered in some of the gulches of the bluffs, a searching party was organized, which, armed with lanterns, guns, drum, fife, etc., started for the bluffs. Finally, at about eleven o'clock, and just before the return of the searching party, the lost one came slowly marching into camp, almost utterly exhausted. It appeared that on returning to the road about where we would be likely to be encamped, we were not in sight, being in a ravine as before stated. Inquiring at another camp for the " military train," he was told that we were behind, and back he walked several miles, when he was told that we were ahead, and ahead he went to be again and again told that we were to the right or to the left, finally striking a company who told him that early in the evening the beating of a drum and the firing of guns was heard in a given direction, when he marched right into camp. The unsuccessful searching party soon returned with sorrowful countenances, but when they learned that the lost was found, their sorrow was turned to joy, and tired as he was, and as we all were, an impromptu midnight jollification was held over the happy outcome of the adventure. Holmes kept pretty near home after that.


ANIMALS FRIGHTENED OFF.—Three days later, while lying by for lunch, an immense herd of buffaloes was discovered to be bearing directly down upon us from the north. All hands made a rush for the teams, but before all could be secured six head had pulled their lariat pins and escaped—two mules belonging to Mills and Anson, and two mules and two horses belonging to Kuhner and Dugan. The two former were recovered during the afternoon, but the four latter, after a thorough search of a day and a half, being nowhere to be found or even seen, 'it being stated by old buffalo hunters, that domestic animals thus frightened, will run with, and become merged in the herd from which they are endeavoring to escape. Having two large horses left, by such aid as was afforded them by other members of the train, the unfortunate couple, with


1118 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


their wives, were enabled to pursue their journey without much inconvenience.


A NEAT MECHANICAL OPERATION.—We were now far enough upon our journey to require occasional repairs upon our wagons. Several spokes had been broken out of one of the hind wheels of Wheeler's wagon, while it was becoming musically evident that the tires upon all of the wheels of our wagon needed to be re-set; but how could it be done, with no wood or coal, no bellows or anvil or other appliances with which to cut and shut the tire? But the skill of the practical carriage-maker and blacksmith at the head of the Tallmadge mess, Mr. Ira P. Sperry, was adequate to the occasion. Having previously supplied ourselves with the necessary timber from the crippled wagon of another train which was being dismantled, taking advantage of our involuntary delay while searching for the missing stock, stripping the tire from the wheels in question, new spokes were speedily adjusted to the one, and to compensate for our inability to contract the diameter of the tire, the diameter of the wheel itself was increased by tacking thin tapering strips to the outer surface of the felloes. Then the proper expansion of the tire was effected by the use of buffalo "chips" for fuel, and, when in place, contracted by the waters of the near-by creek, giving to the wheels, when cooled, as sound a ring as when first turned from the shop in old Tallmadge.


" SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS."—During our day and a half sojourn, as stated, numerous buffaloes passed near us, and the hunters of our party gave chase, killing from twelve to fifteen of them, so that our entire train fared sumptuously upon fresh beef, so long as it could be kept from spoiling with the appliances we had. Of course we could use but a small portion of the slaughtered animals, some of them being too far from camp to be brought in, while other portions were given to the members of contiguous trains. Immense herds were also seen browsing upon the north side of the Platte, while many similar herds crossed our path, and were seen upon either hand, for several days, so that it is safe to say that we saw millions of the shaggy-maned bovines within the distance of 100 miles on this portion of our journey.


PERILS OF THE MURKY DEEP. — About 100 miles from Fort Kearney we came to the forks of the Platte, and passing up the left bank of the South fork about forty miles, crossed the river, and over a succession of steep ridges into Ash Hollow, on the North Platte. The South Platte, where we crossed it, was about half a mile in width, but the ford being diagonally across, just about doubled the distance. The water was about three feet deep, and extremely muddy, from the washings of the soft rocky-earthy bluffs through which it runs higher up. It is the South Platte that gives its muddy character to the main Platte, which, in turn discolors the Missouri and the Mississippi, both the North Platte and the upper Missouri and Mississippi, being as clear as crystal.


The South Platte, at the crossing, had a rapid current and a quick-sand bottom, with the exception of narrow bars of solid ground from fiteen to twenty rods apart. Once in the stream, men and animals had to keep moving, from one bar to another, or the sand would wash out from under their feet and down they would go. The animals, as well as the huthans, instinctively realized the danger, and pulled for dear life, though an occasional one,


"DISTANCE LENDS ENCHANTMENT TO THE VIEW." - 1119


weakened by travel and poor care, would sink down exhausted, and have to be pulled through by his companions, being sometimes drowned in the operation.


SUBLIMELY BEAUTIFUL.—The country between Ash Hollow and Fort Laramie, 150 miles, was lovely in the extreme, the broad and fertile valley of the river, being flanked on either side by high bluffs, to which, in the clear atmosphere of the region, distance lerkt the most delightful enchantment. These bluffs, as we approached and passed them, presented the appearance of turreted castles, handsome villas and magnificent cities, with their domes and spires, but a few miles distant, but which in reality were from twenty-five to fifty miles away. An occasional isolated fragment, standing out in bold relief, would attract the curiosity and incite a visit from the emigrant.


The first of these was called " Court House Rock," which, as we approached, strikingly resembled the regulation stone court house, with a lofty dome upon its summit, two or three miles from the road, over a seemingly perfect level prairie. It was visited by thousands, mostly on foot, who found that instead of two or three, it was seven or eight miles from the road, with deep ravines, and one or two considerable streams of water intervening. With several of our company, on muleback, I visited the " Court House." We found it to be an irregular soft, clayey lime-stone formation, three-fourths of a mile around the base, and from 150 to 200 feet high, the " dome " being an almost perpendicular shaft of some forty-five or fifty feet in height, and fifteen feet across the top. Thousands of names of emigrants were carved upon the surface of this rock, from base to top of dome, the only one recognized by the writer being that of "William Smagg, Akron, Ohio, May 17, 1850," just ten days before our visit, indicating that our train and Garrett's were making about the same time.


Thirteen miles beyond, "Chimney Rock," five or six miles from the road, is also visited by thousands. This was a conical mass of rock, about 150 feet in height, with a perpendicular shaft of 100 feet or more, rising from its center, giving it, from a distance, the appearance of a huge factory smoke-stack.


Thirty miles beyond, we arrive at and pass through, a romantic chain, called " Scott's Bluff," which has been seemingly but a few miles ahead for four or five days, and twenty miles further brings us to Fort Laramie, 600 miles from St. Joseph, which we reached on the morning of May 30, having maintained an average of twenty miles per day, including the Sundays and other occasional clays that we did not travel.


Though for the most part our road has thus far been seemingly almost upon a dead level, along the valley of the Platte and its tributaries, we have been gradually going up hill, Fort Laramie being 4,770 feet higher than the Gulf of Mexico, and at the base of the far-famed Rocky Mountains.


PROPERTY VALUES UPON THE PLAINS —About fifeen miles this side of Fort Laramie, by the sliding of our wagon, in passing over a sideling gulley, one of our hind wheels was turned inside out, but we were fortunate in securing another wagon, from another company, for the moderate sum of $20. Transferring our luggage to the new purchase, we hauled the crippled wagon to the fort, with the view of getting it repaired, if possible. We indeed found


1120 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


a repair shop there, but as the fellows running it wanted $20 for filling the wheel, and would not promise to do it for two or three days at that, we sold them the wagon that we had paid $90 for, three months before, for the paltry pittance of $12, and pushed ahead, with the plainer and lighter, but stronger one purchased as above stated. A few days later we had the pleasure of seeing our familiar old wagon pass our camp, and on inquiry learned that its then owners had traded a still heavier wagon for it, and paid $35 to boot.


THE JOURNEY A TEMPER TESTER. — The overland journey was admirably calculated to develop the perverse and selfish instincts of human nature. If, as was often the case, companies found themselves overloaded with provisions or articles which they had thought to carry through for use on the other side, or concluded to abandon their wagons, tents, etc., and pack the rest of the journey, the universal practice was to destroy what they could not sell. Wagons would be chopped to pieces or burned; tents torn into shreds, gun-barrels bent, chains, and iron and steel implements sunk in the streams, etc., it being reported of a well known Akron lady, that, finding she must dispense with her cherished flat-irons, she hurled them with her own hand, into the middle of a near-by river.


So, too, little differences of opinion in regard to train management, care of stock, selection of camping ground, lying by or' going ahead on Sunday, etc., would develop into angry quarrels, that would not only cause some very circumspect people, when at home, to use extremely " sulphurous" language, but to frequently break up messes, and sometimes entire companies, each member thereafter going it upon his own hook; broils of that character not infrequently terminating in bloody and fatal fights, or life-long bitter enmities.


Our little company was comparatively exempt from that class of disasters, and though splits were sometimes imminent, with a single exception the messes of "Military Train" remained intact to the end. The exception alluded to was the sudden falling out between Mr. and Mrs. Kuhner and Mr. and Mrs. Dugan, the cause of which was never fully apparent to the rest of us.


On the Sunday morning after the unfortunate loss of their animals, as above detailed, while we were encamped on the Platte river, getting into some trivial controversy, Kuhner's "Dutch" became excited and Dugan got his "Irish" up to such an extent that, before any of us were aware of what was going on, they had divided all of their effects, cutting and sawing right down through the center of the top and body of their splendid rubber-top wagon and converting it into a couple of bob-tailed carts. Previous to the loss of their animals, as stated, Kuhner had purchased from an Indian trader, for his wife to ride on, an Indian pony, which he now harnessed up with his large horse to the cart, made from the forward portion of the wagon, while Dugan, mounting his horse, rode some ten miles to the bluffs, where he secured a couple of pine pole's, out of which he constructed shafts to the hinder portion, and with these unique rigs they continued on with the train, the rest of us giving the women frequent rides on our own wagons, and also helping the late belligerents over the hard spots on the journey.


POISONOUS WATERS AND GRASSES - 1121


CALIFORNIA PRICES ALREADY.—From Fort Laramie, the snowcapped peaks of the Rocky Mountains are distinctly visible, and their chilling influence, these last days of May and first days of June, uncomfortably apparent, for though in midday the sun shines bright and warm, the nights are sufficiently cool to form ice from an eighth to a quarter inch in thickness upon our water-buckets and the shallower streams of water of the vicinity. Passing..over a spur of the Black Hills, forty miles brings us again to the valley of the North Platte, which we follow, between lofty ranges of solid granite, about eighty-five or ninety miles.


At this point, 125 miles from Fort Laramie, we cross the river, which, earlier and later in the season, is easily fordable, but during the melting of snow in the mountains the current attains a depth and velocity that renders the fording process impracticable. Hitherto, in such an emergency, emigrants had, at great risk, ferried themselves and their effects over in wagon boxes, or on improvised rafts, as best as they could, the animals and many of the men, having to swim for it, many lives and much property being lost in the operation. But this year parties from the fort had established a ferry here, having five boats rudely constructed from the large trees found along the river bank at this point, and propelled across by the current, by means of cables stretched across the stream, and kept in proper tension by windlasses on either side,—the width of the river being about 300 feet. The ferriage fee was only four dollars per wagon, and twenty-five cents for each animal, the humans being generously crossed without charge.


At the ferry we found, upon a tree, the names of Hallet Kilbourn, Frederick Wadsworth, David H. Bliss, and several other Akronians, under date of May 27, showing that we were all making about the same speed, as it will be remembered that Garrett's train started ten days ahead of us, and it is now the 6th day of June. Many other names and messages were here and elsewhere inscribed upon the trees and rocks, indicating to following friends. the progress that was being made, and the welfare of those ahead of them.


POISONOUS WATERS, GRASSES, ETC.—A few miles from the ferry we started upon our heaviest climb, thus far, over the divide between the Platte and the Sweetwater, a distance of about sixty miles. In the intervening valleys between the two rivers, we for the first time strike the poisonous alkaline springs and meadows, so fatal to the animals of the emigrants. In one place we passed what, as we approached, looked like a lake of milk, but which proved to be a solid bed of what was found, by experiment, to be a fair quality of saleratus. In these valleys were innumerable poisonous springs, almost side by side with springs of pure and wholesome water, requiring the utmost vigilance, on the part of emigrants, to prevent disaster to themselves and stock, as evidenced by the hundreds of dead horses, mules and oxen visible to both the optic and the olfactory organs, on every hand. Emigrants of the year before, who had suffered from this cause, had thoughtfully posted cards indicating the more prominent of these poisonous spots, but many others were not thus indicated. One afternoon, while riding one of our ponies and leading two of our mules, I turned aside into what appeared to be a patch of nutritious


71


1122 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.


meadow grass, while the train passed on. Allowing the animals to graze half or three-quarters of an hour, I started forward to overtake the train. Soon after reaching the road, I discovered that the pony I was riding was sick. He would stop, crouch nearly to the ground, retch as if trying to vomit, and groan as if in great distress. Hastily transferring the saddle to one of the mules, I pushed on as rapidly as possible, but soon found that both of the mules were affected the same way. Thanks to Mr. Russell Abbey, from his experience of the year before, we had provided ourselves with antidotes—tartaric and citric acids. On reaching the train, which had gone into camp, we drenched the three animals with a solution of the acid, and in fifteen minutes the mules were apparently as well as ever, and the pony a good deal better, though it was several days before he entirely recovered.. Later on, when the very best water we could procure was more or less impregnated with alkali, we made free use of the acids in question, with great benefit to our animals and ourselves, our company getting through with every head of stock we started, with, excepting those frightened off by buffaloes, as heretofore stated.


"INDEPENDENCE ROCK "—" DEVIL'S GATE," ETC.—Soon after reaching the Sweetwater, a beautiful stream about six or eight rods wide, and from two to four feet deep, we cross to the north bank, and halt for lunch under the shadow of "Independence Rock "—a solitary mass of granite 1,800 feet long, 360 feet wide, and from 300 to 400 feet high, so named not only because of its standing on the level plain of the valley, independent of the neighboring chain of mountains, but also because one of the earliest trains that went through to Oregon celebrated the Fourth of July at its base, and planted the Stars and Stripes upon its summit.


This rock was literally covered—not with patent medicine advertisements, as perchance it may be now—but with the names of thousands of emigrants, inscribed in every variety of style, color and material—white, red and black paint, tar, lampblack and grease, chalk, charcoal, etc., some being even chiseled into the hard granite.


A short distance beyond Independence Rock, is what is denominated the "Devil's Gate." A sharp spur of the mountain, around which the river originally ran, perhaps being undermined by the current, had apparently split off, the outer portion filling up the bed of the river, and forcing the water through the cleft in the rock. The sides of the cleft were some 400 feet in height, and, being considerably narrower than the channel of the river on either side, the water rushes through with considerable force, and a roar resembling that of Niagara Falls at a distance.


MOUNTAIN SHEEP, GOATS, ETC.—Camping over Sunday, just beyond the "Devil's Gate," a number of our boys clambered to the top of the mountain, several thousand feet, where they saw range on range beyond, with broad, heavy timbered valleys between, which seemed the more singular from the fact that there was not a tree or shrub in the valley of the Sweetwater, except the odoriferous sage-brush. Many mountain sheep and goats were seen by the boys, but they were unable to approach sufficiently near to get a shot at them.


ON THE SUMMIT OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS - 1123


GOLD EXCITEMENT EXTRAORDINARY.—At this point, also, great excitement was produced by the discovery of what seemed like innumerable particles of gold among the sands of the Sweetwater. The first impulse was to wash out a few thousands and return, but when it was found that the shining particles were much lighter than the sand, and would all float off on attempting a separation by washing, that project was abandoned and we concluded to push forward to the Pacific slope, where we could shovel up the big lumps.


SNOW-CLAD MOUNTAINS.—Leaving the " Devil's Gate" on Monday morning, June 10, we follow the general course of the Sweetwater nearly three days, fording it several times, passing between snow-capped mountains, and over a number of high ranges, on the top of one of which we found an almost level sandy plain, sixteen- miles, without water; on another of about the same dimensions, several creeks and marshes, and snow drifts.


On the night of June 12, while encamped on Willow creek, we were visited with a furious storm of sleet and snow, and on the morning of June 13, found the water in our half-filled tin water-dish frozen solid. It was a curious sight, that, to see bright and fragrant flowers sweetly blooming on the icy margins of these slowly melting snow-banks, where a person could easily gather a snow-ball with one hand and a beautiful bouquet with the other.


"SQUEEZING THROUGH" THE SOUTH PASS.—Crossing the Sweetwater for the last time, a short ten miles brings us to what was then, axed perhaps still is, known as the "South Pass" of the Rocky Mountains, and, what may seem singular, the five miles on either side is almost a dead level, and the road quite sandy. Indeed, so gradual is the ascent and descent, that the emigrant only knows that he has.really passed the summit, when he finds the waters of Pacific creek running in the opposite direction from those he has lately been traversing.


And what of the pass itself? Instead of a narrow, rough, zigzag fissure through craggy rocks, it is a broad plain, eighteen or twenty miles in extent, north and south, our road being near its southern verge, and 'skirting along huge drifts of snow on the northern slope of the lofty mountain range to the south of us.


At this point we are 960 miles from St. Joseph, and 7,490 feet higher than the Gulf of Mexico, the extreme rarefaction of the atmosphere not only rendering it extremely difficult for men and animals to properly inflate their lungs, or to walk or work without panting, but also making it almost impossible to do any cooking, particularly beans and rice, water boiling at so low a temperature, as to have very little impression on that class of edibles.


DIVERGING ROUTES.—Eighteen miles beyond the pass, the road forks, the right being the old Oregon trail, via Fort Hall, and the left the Salt Lake road, the travel being about equally divided between the two routes. The most of Garrett's train, as we learned by cards posted at the fork, had taken the Salt Lake route, but our train, by a nearly unanimous vote, kept the old trail.


Three miles from the fork is the Little Sandy river, and six miles beyond the Big Sandy, after crossing which is a stretch of fifty miles, without water, and called a desert, though grass is

abundant. Kept advised as to what was before us, by guide-books, compiled by parties who made the journey the year previous,


1124 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY.



we took along as much water as our rubber tanks and other vessels could contain, thus obviating the serious suffering from thirst that would otherwise have occurred to ourselves and stock.


MORE JUMBO FERRIAGE CHARGES.—Getting down, by steep and difficult grades, from the plateau just described, we came to Green river, one of the principal tributaries of the Rio Colorado. The river was sixteen rods wide, and ordinarily fordable, though dangerous at the best, from the rapidity of the current, but now, from the melting snows, it was from twenty-five to thirty feet deep. Here, ten days before, Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Herrick, of Akron, lost their entire stock of provisions and other property, as did also many others, together with considerable loss of animal and human life.


But this year, just before our arrival, some Mormons from Salt Lake, and an Indian trader, had established a ferry here, with two boats, or rafts. Unlike the North Platte ferrymen, they had no cables, steering their crafts across with paddles, as best they could, landing fully a quarter of a mile below, and, after unloading, towing the boats up stream, with a yoke of oxen, a sufficient distance to enable them to strike the landing from whence they started. The process was slow, from two to four days being required for the several companies to reach their turns. We reached the ferry on Sunday, June 16, about 1 o'clock P. M., not being able to remain in camp through the day, as was our custom, for lack of water as above stated, and our turn at the,boats did not come until Tuesday morning.


The ferry charges were $7 for each wagon, and $1 for each head of stock, owners gratis. There being no feed along the narrow margin on the east side, the stock had to be taken to the west side for pasturage, the larger portion being made to swim the river, though many of the weaker animals were thereby lost, the tendency being to get confused, on reaching the middle of the rapid current, swimming round and round until exhausted. Our mess had taken along a small cow-bell, by the sound of which such of our animals as were permitted to run loose were taughtto follow. Taking this bell across to a spot where we wanted our stock to land, and gently tinkling it as the animals were headed into the stream, they followed the sound straight across, and landed without an accident or hitch.


SNOW-STORM--PACKING MANIA, ETC.—On this Sunday night, June 16, though we have descended 1,240 feet, since leaving the South Pass, there is a fall of about five inches of snow, though the most of it disappears in the warm sunlight of the following day. It is now forty-seven days since we left St. Jo, and we are just about half way. Feeling that his progress is too slow, a sort of mania here seizes the emigrant to abandon his wagons, and tents, and pack, or else to lighten them up to the narrowest verge of safety, so as to enable him to increase his speed. Hence, not only large numbers of wagons, harnesses, tents, etc'., were converted into pack-saddles and fuel, but clothing and other necessaries and conveniencies thrown away, and surplus provisions sold to such as were already short, the supposition being that by performing the last half of the journey in thirty days, instead of consuming a month and a half, as on the first half, a third less provisions would be needed to carry them through. On this