(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) AKRON'S NEWSPAPERS - 225 Standard until his death, December 29, 1853, after which it was published for some time by his two sons, Thomas and Horace G. In the Spring of 1855 the office was sold to H. P. Abel, and the Standard re-established, issuing a small daily. The experiment was not successful, and both the daily and the weekly were soon suspended. In the Winter of 1855, '56, Mr. W. D. Bien bought the office and revived the paper under the name of the Summit Democrat. In the Winter of 1859, '60 the office passed into the hands of J. Hays Webb, who, just before the Presidential election of 1860 removed the materials to Canton, where, under the title of the True Democrat, it was run until the Spring of 1864, when it returned to Akron, and, under the title of Summit Union, run until the close of the Brough-Vallandigham campaign, in 1863, when the paper was discontinued and the office taken to Ravenna. The Cascade Roarer.—March 15, 1844, while the Washingtonian temperance reform movement was at its height, the Buzzard was revived as a temperance paper by the writer and Mr. Isaac Chamberlin, Jr., Mr. Chamberlin a few weeks later transferring his interest to Mr. William T. Coggeshall, afterwards a literary writer of considerable repute, State Librarian under Governors Chase and Dennison, from 1856 to 1862, and minister to Ecuador, South America, under President Johnson until his death, from consumption, in the Summer of 1867. The name of the paper was changed by Messrs. Lane & Coggeshall to the Cascade Roarer, partly because that portion of Akron in which it was published was still known by its original name of " Cascade," but more particularly because of its radical cold water signification. Through the vigorous and incisive writings of Mr. Coggeshall, and the efforts of Mr. Lane, as a traveling temperance lecturer and solicitor, the Cascade Roarer attained a weekly circulation of about 2,500 and a considerable general as well as local repute. Tee-Total Mechanic.—July 21st, 1846, Mr. Lane sold his interest in the Cascade Roarer to Mr. James S. Drew, a practical printer of Massillon, and as there was at that time considerable agitation among the mechanics of the country for the establishment of 10 hours as a day's labor (instead of the 12 to 14 hour day day then in vogue), and for cash payments, instead of the order and "truck and dicker" system described in a former chapter, the name of the paper was changed as above by Messrs. Drew & Coggeshall. The Tee-Total Mechanic was successfully published for about three months, when it was merged with a larger paper, similar in character, published in Cleveland, under the name of the Temperance Artisan, the last issue in Akron being under date of October 24, 1846. The Free School Clarion.—In 1846, our late well-known citizen, Dr. William Bowen, then a resident of Massillon, commenced the publication of a ringing educational journal in that village—a four column quarto—under the above title. The latter part of 1847, Dr. Bowen was succeeded in the publication of the Clarion by the well-known educator, Lorin Andrews, of Massillon, and M. D. Leggett, Akron's first school superintendent, under the Akron school law, and its publication continued simultaneously at Massillon and Akron. This arrangement continued a few months only, Mr. Leggett's connection with the Akron schools 15 226 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. ceasing some time in 1849, when the conduct of the Clarion was relegated entirely to Mr. Andrews, at Massillon, its subscription list being afterwards transferred to the Ohio Journal of Education at Columbus, now the Ohio Educational Monthly, published by Dr. S. Findley, in Akron. The Summit County Journal.—At the close of the war, two former BEACON boys, Albertis L. Paine and Denis J. Long, in September, 1865, established a Republican weekly newspaper under the above title, with Judge James S. Carpenter as editor. Ably edited and neatly printed, the Journal was reasonably successful, but on the purchase from Messrs. Beebe & Elkins of their remaining one-third interest in the BEACON, as above stated, in January, 1867, the Journal was discontinued and its subscription list, good-will, etc., transferred to the BEACON. The Akron City Times.—January 20, 1867, a nine column weekly Democratic paper, under the above title was started in Akron, by Mr. J. C. Loveland, that gentleman being fresh from the editorial chair of the Clyde, (Ohio) Times, a radical Republican paper, which he had published during the war. Mr. Loveland, besides his recent political somersault, had the bad taste to immediately commence a bitter personal warfare against the editor of the BEACON, moving his antagonist to obtain the loan from its then proprietor, of the files of the Clyde Times, during Mr. Loveland's conduct of that paper, from which copious extracts were made from week to week, dealing such vigorous blows upon the heads of his new political backers, that they incontinently threw him overboard, and in August, 1867, the office was transferred to Mr. George C. Crain. April 28, 1868, R. S. Bean & Co., succeeded Mr. Crain, who in turn transferred the Times to S. L. Everett & Son, in October of the same year. The father dying some two or three years later, the son, Sebastian L. Everett, ("Don," as he was familiarly called), continued the publication with considerable vigor until 1873, when it was transferred to Mr. Richard H. Knight, with his son Clarence R. Knight, as editor. November 23, 1882, Edwin Myers, a practical printer from Wooster, entered into partnership with the elder Knight, the younger Knight still in the editorial chair. February 23, 1882, that veteran editor and publisher, of Wooster, E. a Eshelman, Esq., purchased Mr. Knight's remaining interest and assumed editorial control of the Times, March 1, 1885, Mr. 0. D. Capron succeeded Mr. Eshelman to a half interest in the concern, the firm name of Messrs. Myers & Capron being " The Times Printing Company," Capt. W. B. Taneyhill being employed as editor, in which position he was succeeded by Mr. Frank S. Pixley. February 24, 1886. July 6, 1887, Mr. Capron sold his interest to Mr. Pixley, and May 8, 1888, Messrs. Myers & Pixley sold the concern to "The Akron Publishing Company," of which Mr. J. M. H. Frederick was president and Mr. M. J. Gilbo secretary and treasurer, Mr. Pixley officiating as editor until the organization of the Republican Publishing Company in 1889, when Melville Wright and Frederick G. Frease became its proprietors, with Mr. Wright as business manager and William B. Taneyhill as editor. The City Times, besides vigorously supporting the political party in whose interest it is AKRON'S NEWSPAPERS - 227 published, is a most excellent family newspaper, and enjoys a healthy circulation and a liberal advertising patronage. The Akron Germania.—This paper, as its name indicates, is published in the interest of the German speaking population of Akron and vicinity. It was founded in the Fall of 1868, by Mr. H. Gentz, but transferred to 'Prof. C. F. Kolbe early in the following year. In September, 1872, it was transferred to the "Akron Paper and Printing Company," with Stephen Ginther as business manager and Paul E. Werner as editor. In October, 1875, Mr. Louis Seybold was employed as editor, and in 1880, the " Germania Printing Company" was formed, with Mr. Paul E. Werner as business manager. In November, 1881, the paper was again transferred to Prof. Kolbe, and in April, 1882, leased by Prof. K. to Louis Seybold, who conducted it till January 1, 1884, when it was sold to Hans Otto Beck and George Billow. In July, 1887, the " Germania Publishing Company" was incorporated with a capital of $15,000. which company was reorganized September 27, 1887, with Paul E. Werner as president; Louis' Seybold, secretary; Hans Otto Beck, business manager and treasurer. The Freie Presse.—A new candidate for popular German and business favor, was started in December, 1836, by the " Freie Presse Publishing Company," with Albert Fernitz as president; Julius Kroffke, secretary and treasurer, and Louis Seybold as editor. Mr. Seybold vacated the editorial chair in September, 1887, after which time the Freie Presse was under the editorial control of Mr. Kroffke, until it was merged in the Germania, May 15, 1889, the present officers of the reorganized Germania Printing Company being: Paul E. Werner, president; Kenyon B. Conger, treasurer; Louis Seybold, editor; Julius Kroffke, business manager. The Akron Daily Argus.—In March, 1874, the Akron Daily Argus was started by H. G. Canfield & Co., with Elder John F. Rowe as editor, a semi-weekly edition also being issued. It was an independent paper and ably edited, securing a fair circulation and a liberal share of advertisements. The paper passing to the subsequently formed "Argus Printing Company," by a majority vote of the stockholders, was, in September, 1874, changed into a Democratic sheet, with "Don" Everett, formerly of the City Times, as editor. March 20, 1875, the Argus passed into the hands of its former editor, Elder John F. Rowe and his brother, Frank M. Rowe, a practical printer, who, under the firm name of Rowe Brothers, again changed its character from a political to an independent paper. This arrangement continued until December 25, 1876, when the concern was purchased by Mr. Carson Lake, by whom it was again given a Democratic bias, thus continuing under Mr. Lake's lively management, until July 1, 1879, when the office and fixtures were purchased by Messrs. Paul E. Werner and B. F. Nelson, by whom the Argus was discontinued. The Sunday Gazette.—This was a six-column quarto, devoted to general and local news, literature, miscellany, religious intelligence, society matters, etc. It was started in December, 1878, by Mr. Paul E. Werner, as publisher and proprietor, Carl F. Kolbe, as editor. July 26, 1879, it was consolidated with the daily and weekly Tribune established at that time by Werner & Nelson, as 228 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. stated below, and the name changed to the Sunday Tribune, but after two or three issues again changed to the Sunday- Gazette. After the dissolution of the firm of Werner & Nelson, and the discontinuance of the Tribune, February 2, 1880, the Gazette was continued by Mr. Werner, in connection with the Germania until September 25, 1880, when it was purchased by Mr. Carson Lake. January 8, 1883, the paper was transferred to Fred C. and Isaac Jennings Bryan, who, under the name and style of the " Sunday Gazette Company," successfully edited and published the same until May 10, 1885, when I. J. Bryan became its sole proprietor, under whose editorial control it was equally successful. June 23, 1887, Mr. Bryan sold the Gazette to Mr. Frank S. Pixley, and on the 7th of July, 1887, it was transferred by Mr. Pixley to the Times Printing Company of which he was then a member. May 8, 1888, the Gazette passed into the hands of the "Akron Publishing Company," with the Akron City Times, as above set forth, the name being changed by the new proprietors to the Sunday Telegram, and subsequently to the Sunday Republican, which title, under the proprietorship of The Akron Printing and Publishing Company it still, bears. Daily Telegram-Daily Republican.—The Akron Publishing Company, then proprietors of the Akron City Times, and the Sunday Telegram, as above stated, in 1889, commenced the publication of the Daily Telegram, later the same year, changing it to the Daily Republican, by the newly organized Republican Printing Company, of which Mr. Kenyon B. Conger was president, later being consolidated with the Beacon Publishing Company, as already stated, under the corporate name of The Akron Printing and Publishing Company. The Akron Commercial.—This was a nine column folio monthly, commenced in the Spring of 1874, by Capt. J. J. Wright, formerly, for several years Akron's efficient Marshal, as well as a plucky and faithful soldier during the entire war-1861-65. The Commercial, as indicated by its name, was principally devoted to advertising and commercial matters, though giving with each issue a large amount of interesting miscellaneous and local reading matter. With the intention of removing to Dakota, about 1884, Mr. Wright disposed of his printing material, and the paper was discontinued. The People's Monthly.—This was a five column quarto monthly. It was started in May, 1883, by Robert H. Behan, a practical printer, as an "Independent Home Journal for Family Reading." Under Mr. Behan's management it was fast working its way into popular favor, until failing health compelled its relinquishment, the Monthly being transferred to F. C. and I. J. Bryan, publishers of the Sunday Gazette, by whom it was continued until the Spring of 1885, when it was sold to Capt. J. J. Wright, late publisher of the Commercial (who had, in the meantime, changed his mind about going to Dakota), by whom it was published until the Summer of 1889, when, by reason of ill health of the proprietor, it was discontinued. The Akron Daily News.—This was an independent Republican paper, published by Walter E. and Frank Wellman, from about 1881 to 1883. It was an ably conducted and spicy sheet, and will chiefly be remembered for the part it took in the Congressional AKRON'S NEWSPAPERS - 229 campaign of 1882, in which it opposed the election of the regularly nominated Republican candidate, Hon. A. S. McClure, and supported the Democratic candidate, Hon. David R. Paige, who was elected. Though securing quite a large advertising patronage and circulation, it fell into financial embarrassment, and after one or two changes of proprietors, was discontinued. South End News.—In September, 1884, John M. Sauder & Co. commenced the publication of a six column monthly folio, under the above title, with Mr. P. P. Cherry as editor. It was nonpolitical, especially devoted to the interests of the "South End," and attained a circulation of 2,000 copies, at 25 cents per year, and though self-sustaining, other duties claiming the attention of the proprietors, the paper was discontinued in April, 1886, and the material sold to Cleveland parties, and removed thither. Trade and Labor Journal.—About 1884, Frank R. Newell and Irving C. Tomlinson, practical printers, opened a book and job office, at 112 Howard street, (second floor), from which office there was published, for the period of about one year, a spirited labor paper, which attained quite a large circulation, but not proving remunerative to its publishers was discontinued, and the materials transferred to other parties. The Issue.—During the political campaign of 1885, L. B. Logan published a small Prohibition paper under the title of "The Campaigner," which, after the election, was continued as the organ of the Prohibition party, under the name of "The Issue," one year and two months, when it was suspended, but afterwards resumed for a short time in Youngstown. Daily Star-Itemizer, etc.—In the Spring of 1888, George W. Grames commenced the publication, in Akron, of a small Democratic daily, under the name of the Daily Star, which continued to scintillate with considerable brilliancy for a month or so, when its name was changed to the Itemizer, but though conducted with fair ability, the principal "item" necessary to its permanence —cash—was lacking, and it, too, departed hence, "to be with us no more forever." Daily Illuminator. —During the political campaign of 1886, a small daily paper, bearing the above title, with Mr. William Cub-bison as editor, was published in the interest of certain of the labor organizations of Akron, but after the close of the campaign, it was found to be both politically and financially non-profitable, and its "luminosity" suddenly ceased. Ohio Educational Monthly.—In January, 1852, The Ohio Journal of Education was inaugurated by the Ohio Teachers' Association, with a committee of six of the well-known Ohio teachers as editors, Dr. A. D. Lord, of Columbus, being the local manager. The journal was a 32-page monthly, quarto in form, price one dollar per year, and became the official organ of the State School Commissioner on the creation of that office in 1853. In 1855 Rev. Anson Smyth became the manager and editor in chief, succeeded, on his election to the commissionership, a year later, by Mr. J. D. Caldwell. In 1858 the late William T. Coggeshall (formerly of Akron), then State Librarian, was appointed editor, with Mr. John Ogden as canvassing agent, Hon. E. E. White succeeding Mr. Coggeshall, as editor, in 1861. Though ably edited and acquiring quite a large circulation, the losses from credits on subscriptions 230 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. and advertising, and the expense of canvassing and collecting, rendering the management by the association undesirable, the Journal was transferred to Dr. D. W. Henkle, the name havin previously been changed to the Ohio Educational Monthly and the price advanced to $1.50. Dr. Henkel removed the Monthly from Columbus to Salem, Columbiana County, and at his death it was bought by Dr. Samuel Findley, late superintendent of Akron Public Schools, and, commencing with the February number, 1882, the office of publication has since been in Akron. Dr. Findley at once so popularized the Monthly that its circulation doubled in a year and a half, moving the Doctor to increase its size from 32 to 48 pages, and the Ohio Educational Monthly, now on a sound financial basis, is not only the oldest, but probably the best educational journal in America. American Farm News.—This, "A Journal Devoted to Farming and Manufacturing," is a four column 16 page monthly, richly illustrated and handsomely printed, started by the American Farm News Company, with Solon L. Goode as manager and W. A. Connor as advertising manager. The Farm News was commenced in January, 1888, and, at the extraordinary low price of 27) cents per year, it has already (July, 1891) attained to a circulation of about 100,000 copies, monthly, with a very liberal share of live and profitable advertising. The Farm News is now owned and published by The Akron Printing and Publishing Company. The Advance.—June 7, 1877, Robert Shilling commenced the publication, in Cleveland, of a small daily, with a five-column weekly edition, under the above title, as an organ of the National Greenback Labor Party. In May, 1880, the daily edition was suspended, the weekly being transferred to Salem, Columbiana County. An Akron edition was also printed at the Salem office. In August, 1880, Mr. John P. Burns became its editor and proprietor, and in January, 1881, removed the Advance to Akron, where it was published for a year, and finally discontinued. OTHER LITERARY VENTURES. Almost innumerable other newspaper experiments have been tried in Akron, with greater or less literary and pecuniary success, during the past half century, which we cannot here notice, in detail, even could we remember them all; but as showing their variety, and general character, we briefly mention the following; Rose of the Valley, by Abraham Allison and Asa S. Marriner; Akron Offering, by Miss Calista Cummings; The True Kindred, devoted to Science and Reform, by Mrs. Rebecca M. M. Sanford; Flower of the West, by Allison & Rumrix; The Flail, a Democratic campaigner, in 1840, by Leander L. Howard; the Free-Soil Platform, in 1848, by Hiram Bowen; the Sentinel of Liberty, 1855, printed by H. G. Canfield for an association of young Republicans; the Wide-Awake, Republican campaigner, 1860, by D. C. Carr, S. A. Lane and others; the Summitonian. literary monthly, 1873, by H. G. Canfield; Beacon Magazine, premium for Weekly Beacon, 1873; the Independent, Greenback-Democratic campaigner, 1878, by H. G. Canfield, and others remembered by name only, the Whip, the Sockdolager, the Casket, the Sunny Side, the AKRON'S NEWSPAPERS - 231 School Mistress, the Church Journal, the Fair Organ, the Buchtel College Record, the Buchtelite, the Akron Herald, etc. THE GRAND "ROUND-UP." It will thus be seen, by the returns now in, that if not the exact center of the newspaper world, Summit County has been untiring in her efforts to become such. While some of the publications named were, perhaps, of doubtful utility or propriety, the projectors thereof were unquestionably fully impressed with their importance and necessity. Though scarcely a man, or woman, connected with the periodicals named, has directly made any money out of the publication thereof, while many were considerably out of pocket thereby, their general influence for good upon the community admits of not a question. But for its newspapers, where would Akron and Summit County have been to-day? The liberal use of printers' ink, in advertising to the world our manifold advantages, in advocacy of canals, railroads and other public improvements, in encouragement to trade and manufactures, in the promotion of the cause of education and morality, has hitherto been, and will continue to be, a most potent factor in the advancement and prosperity of the community at large and of the individual citizen. CHAPTER XII. AKRON'S BURIAL PLACES—THE OLD SIXTH WARD CEMETERY, DEDICATED I N 1808—SPICER HILL CEMETERY IN 1813—".DUBLIN" CEMETERY, IN 1825 -AKRON PUBLIC BURYING GROUND IN 1838—AKRON RURAL CEMETERY ASSOCIATION CHARTERED IN 1839—NEW SIXTH WARD CEMETERY IN 1853 —REMOVAL OF SPICER CEMETERY, TO GIVE PLACE TO BUCHTEL COLLEGE IN 1871— REMARKABLE PRESERVATION OF MAJOR SPICER'S BODY— NATURAL AS LIFE AFTER SIXTEEN YEARS' INTERMENT—PURCHASE OF ADDITIONAL LANDS— EXTENSIVE AND COSTLY IMPROVEMENTS— LIBERALITY OF THE PEOPLE —LADIES' CEMETERY ASSOCIATION AND THEIR WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENTS— SUPERINTENDENT'S LODGE AND OTHER SIMILAR PROJECTS—MEMORIAL CHAPEL, THE MOST SUPERB TRIBUTE TO BRAVERY AND PATRIOTISM IN THE UNITED STATES—" GLENDALE" (SO CALLED BY COMMON CONSENT) TRULY A "THING OF BEAUTY AND A JOY FOREVER !" --AKRON'S PUBLIC PARKS, ETC; AKRON'S BURIAL PLACES. THE first public burial ground within the present limits of the city of Akron, was what is now known as the "Old Cemetery," in the eastern portion of the Sixth ward, the land for which, about half an acre, in about 1808, was donated by Deacon Titus Chapman, the grandfather of the present venerable Edgar T. Chapman of the Sixth ward, the donor himself, who died November 18, 1808, being probably the first person buried therein. The use of this cemetery was superseded in 1853 by the purchase of some three acres of ground on East Market street, by a number of the public spirited citizens of Middlebury, under the corporate name of the "Middlebury Cemetery Association," by whom the grounds were surrounded by a substantial fence, planted to evergreens, and tastefully laid out into driveways, avenues and lots 18x21 feet in size, which are sold at from $25 to $50, according to location, the Association also keeping in order, and caring for, the "Old Cemetery" above spoken of. THE SPICER CEMETERY. Akron's second burial place was what was known as "Spicer Cemetery," on the site now occupied by Akron's educational glory and pride, Buchtel College, the land for which, fronting on Middlebury street, about one acre, was jointly dedicated to the purpose by Akron's first pioneer settlers, Messrs. Miner Spicer and Paul Williams, probably about 1813, This ground was used for such occasional burials as occurred in the neighborhood from year to year, during the early settlement of Portage township, and after the building of the Ohio Canal and laying out of the new village of Akron, in 1825, by the people of the village, also, for the burial of its dead, until the establishment of the Akron Rural Cemetery, as hereinafter set forth, in 1838. To this ground was added, by donation from Mr. Spicer, and the purchase from Mr. Nathan B. Dodge, of 88-100th of an acre, in AKRON'S BURIAL PLACES - 233 1854, at a cost of $200, making a total of .two 67-100th acres, both increasing the grounds in width and extending them through to Carroll street, under the auspices of the " Spicer Hill Burial Place ssociation," who neatly enclosed, laid out and beautified the grounds for the benefit of those who already had friends buried there, and such others as chose to purchase lots therein. The site of Spicer Hill Burial Place was one of the most commanding in the city of Akron, and when it was decided to locate at splendid educational institution now known as Buchtel liege, here, an arrangement was made by which the graves were moved to the Akron Rural Cemetery, and, in March, 1871, for the consideration of one dollar, Messrs. Charles W. Brown, Avery cer, Talmon Beardsley, Hiram J. Spicer, and Levi Allen, as stees of the Spicer Hill Burial Place Association, together with the several heirs of Miner Spicer, deeded the lands in question to the trustees of Buchtel College. The sub-soil of the Spicer burial ground was a species of rock, similar to what is known as sewer-pipe clay, excavations having to be made almost wholly with the pick, so that surface water, percolating through the loose earth above the coffin, would be largely retained in the substantially water-tight grave. Major Miner Spicer, the original donor of the ground, died in 1855, being buried in a metallic coffin. On the transfer of his remains to the Akron Rural Cemetery, in 1871, on removing the slide from over the glass at the head of the casket, the friends were greeted with a view of the features of the old Major, in a perfect state of preservation, and looking as natural as when deposited in the grave nearly 16 years before. During the building of the Ohio Canal, the territory north of Tallmadge street, and east of Main street, was largely covered by the cabins of the Irish laborers upon the canal, giving to the locality the name of "Dublin," which it retained for many years, and by which it is still called by many of the older residents of the city. To meet the mortuary necessities of those early days, the plateau north of Furnace street, and west of North High, on the bluff overlooking the Little Cuyahoga river, was appropriated for burial purposes, which was used by the people of North Akron from its commencement, in 1832, until the establishment of the Akron Rural Cemetery in 1838. A portion, only, of the remains buried at the point named were removed to the new grounds, the others remaining undisturbed, where they were originally buried, until they were unearthed by the cutting away of the bluff in question, in grading for the Valley Railway, in 1873, to the great surprise of those who were not aware of the sacred nature of the ground they were plowing through; it even being reported that a pretty well preserved skull thus brought to light was the missing head of William Beatson, the Englishman murdered at Cuyahoga Falls, in 1853, it being known that James Parks, the murderer, must have passed near the place in his flight westward, after leaving the canal boat near the Old Forge, on the night of the murder, as elsewhere detailed. The Spicer burial ground being private property, and the North Akron ground having been hitherto used by mere sufferance, soon after the incorporation of the village, the question of establishing a public burying ground began to be agitated. No official action 234 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Was had however, until June 17, 1837, when a committee was appointed by the Council to confer with Gen. Simon Perkins, of Warren, about the purchase of land for the purpose named, on what was then known as the "Oak Openings," west of the Lower Village, the ground in question being densely Covered with a thick growth of oak bushes, interspersed with an occasional good sized oak tree. Gen. Perkins, when interviewed, proposed to sell to the village four acres of ground at one hundred dollars per acre, and to donate one acre additional, or to give the one acre whether the four acres were purchased or not. November 7, the Council resolved to accept the General's proposition, provided he would divide the purchase money into six annual payments of $66.661 each, which terms being acceded to, on November 13, 1837, the committee was authorized to make contract, plat, etc., but for reasons which do not appear, only three 42-100th acres were purchased and platted. October 27, 1838, the Council purchased from Judge Leicester King three acres additional upon the west side of the plat described, for the consideration of $250, which was soon afterwards platted and made a part of the cemetery grounds. The grounds were laid out into four blocks, 1, 2, 3 and 4, with central latitudinal and longitudinal driveways, 20 feet in width, with entrance on South Maple street, the lots being of uniform size, 10 by 15 feet, with intersecting five and six foot avenues between, the price of lots at first being $3, or at the rate of two cents per square foot. For many years the grounds remained unfenced and unimproved, except the staking out of the lots and the grubbing out of a part of the bushes, and, without superintendent or special care-taker, from its isolated location, extremely favorable to the nocturnal operations of both professional and non-professional "resurrectionists", though in one instance at least, they failed to get away with their booty—the body of Benjamin Tuells, a somewhat dissipated jeweler, weighing 225 pounds, being found on the margin of his grave a morning or two after his original interment, in December, 1847. For many years the persons who officiated as sextons were, successively, Alexander Williams, John Taplin, C. S. W. Brown, Arza Kellogg, etc., for the North Village and Peter Hendrick Centaurus for the South Village, to one of whom application for burial had to be made, the applicant usually being required to produce a certificate of payment for lot, from the Village Recorder, before interment could be legally made, though in the general stringency of the times, and the consequent poverty of the people, this rule was not always strictly enforced, the delinquencies resulting therefrom causing the authorities much trouble, and in many instances necessitating the removal of graves to the pottersfield, and the sale of lots to other parties. There were no "undertakers" nor professional "funeral directors" in those days, the village cabinet-maker, from measurement of the subject, making the coffin to order, of whitewood, pine, cherry, black walnut, etc., stained or varnished, without nameplate or ornament, at a total cost of from $2.00 to $3.00; the sexton's fee, including conveyance of remains by wagon, (there was no hearse until 1840), being from $1.50 to $2.00; the total expense of burying a deceased friend, including lot, being less than $10.00; AKRON RURAL CEMETERY - 235 many times, indeed, the coffin was borne upon the bier, by hands of sympathetic neighbors, followed by relatives and friends from the house of mourning to the burial place on foot. DR. JEDEDIAH D. COMMINS,— born in Charlotte, Vt., July 9, 1790; academic education ; married to Miss Sophia Field, of Wethersfield, Vt., soon removing to western New York, and from thence to Akron, in 1832 opening the first drug store in the village, his original store and dwelling both still standing on South Main street. Dr. Commins was not only a careful and succesful merchant, but was largely instrumental in securing the erection of the new county of Summit and the location of the seat of justice at Akron, and in many other ways advancing the interests of the town and county, and to him is especially clue the credit of inaugur ating Akron's beautiful Rural Cemetery, as elsewhere fully described in these pages. Dr. Commins was well versed in literature and the sciences, in which, as well as on political topics, he was a fluent debater and a ready writer. In politics he was a stanch Democrat and highly influential in the councils of his party, both county, state and national. He was the father of two sons—the youngest, Augustus J. dying October 27, 1837, at the age of 20; the eldest, Alexander Hamilton, surviving his father some 13 years, as elsewhere stated. Mrs. Commins died February 11, 1865, aged 78 years, 9 months, the doctor himself dying, universally respected, November 4, 1867, aged 77 years, 3 months and 25 days. AKRON RURAL CEMETERY. At an early day, however, there were those among our citizens who had a fine sense of appreciation of what was due from the living to the dead, as well as to the better nature of the survivors' themselves. In the archives of the present Cemetery Association, is the following pencil memorandum, in the hand writing of the late Dr. Jedediah D. Commins, written over forty years ago, which not only explains itself, but much that follows: "PRELIMINARY REMARKS." "If the Akron Rural Cemetery should succeed and become what its founders hope, trifling incidents relating to its origin and establishment may be sought for with avidity, in after ages, by those whose ancestors have long been entombed in this cemetery, and it is with a view to gratify this desire that the following remarks are made: "During the year 1837, Akron, although at the time an incorporated town, had no public burying ground, and the one theretofore occupied was unsuited to the purpose, on account of its being wet land, the water frequently standing in the graves to the depth of six inches before the body was deposited, and, besides, the ground was private property. 236 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. "In this state of things one of our citizens, Mr. C. [Mr. Commins, himself]; had the misfortune to lose a son of much promise, just entering the threshold of manhood. Mr. C. could not endure the thought of making this a last resting place for the remains of one who had been so dear to him, and as there was no other, he caused the remains of his deceased son to be inclosed in spirit, and kept them in his own dwelling for more than a year. "In the course of the Summer of 1838, he visited the cemetery of Mount Auburn, near Boston, originally with the view of fixing on the form of a tomb; but while viewing the beauties of that rural cemetery, it occurred to him that a similar establishment might be founded at Akron, and with that view possessed himself with such information as was within his reach, and on his return—having visited a similar establishment at Rochester, on the way—laid the matter before such of the citizens of Akron as he supposed would take an interest in the subject, and was gratified to find their feelings harmonizing with his own. Afterwards it became a subject of frequent conversation. It was at once perceived that we had localities every way suited to this interesting object, and it was considered most proper to ask the Legislature for an act of incorporation and therefore, "At an informal meeting of a few citizens of Akron, in the Autumn of 1838, J. D. Commins was appointed to draw up a charter for the purpose of incorporating a company for the purpose of establishing a rural cemetery at Akron, and also a memorial to accompany it to the Legislature. Whereupon the following petition and charter were drawn up, and being approved, were forwarded to the General Assembly, by Gregory Powers, Esq., member of the Senate, and the charter being sanctioned by both Houses, became the law of the State." The petition, as drawn by Mr. Commins, and duly presented to the Legislature by Senator Powers, January 10, 1839, was signed by Jedediah D. Commins, Erastus Torrey, Ithiel Mills, Joseph Cole, George Babcock, Ebenezer Martin. David K. Cartter, Richard Howe, Dana D, Evans, Philo Chamberlin and Miner Spicer, the petition containing, among others equal cogent, these paragraphs: "The interment of the dead is a subject of great and growing importance, and one deeply interesting to every well regulated community, and can not too early engage their serious consideration. " In our eastern cities corporations have been authorized to establish rural cemeteries on a scale commensurate with the wants of many generations, combining the objects of beauty and health, which, instead of being shunned in consequence of their melancholy associations, have become the most desirable promenades, where, retiring from the busy scenes of life, they can at the same time enjoy the beauties of the garden and rural scenery, inhaling the pure air of the country, and, as it were, commune with those who had once been dear to them, in these cities of the dead. "The situation of our village and neighborhood now admits of a selection of ground sufficiently extensive and beautifully romantic. which a few years will render it difficult, and perhaps impossible, to obtain. " We do therefore pray, etc." THE CHARTER GRANTED. On March 18, 1839, an Act was passed, containing thirteen sections, which we condense as follows: SECTION I. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, That Simon Perkins, Jr., Samuel A. Wheeler, Erastus Torrey, Ithiel Mills, Joseph Cole, Richard Howe and Jedediah D Commins, and such other AKRON RURAL CEMETERY - 237 sons as may hereafter be associated with them, their successors and igns, be and they hereby are created a body politic and corporate, by the ame of " The Proprietors of the Akron Rural Cemetery," etc. SEC. II. The capital stock of this company shall be twenty thousand ollars, which shall be divided into shares of twenty dollars each, ten per nt. of which shall be paid at the time of subscribing, and the residue ereof in such installments as the directors of said corporation shall judge cessary, etc. SEC. III. Provided for the election, annually, of seven directors, all tockholders, four of whom shall be residents of the town of Akron, each ockholder to have one vote for each share of stock owned, and every lot ner to have one vote, in the choice of said directors, the directors, until the election, to be Samuel A. Wheeler, Erastus Torrey, Ithiel Mills, Richard owe, Simon Perkins, Jr., Joseph Cole, and Jedediah D. Commins ; also giving the directors power "to purchase and hold such quantity of land as they y deem proper for the purpose of a rural cemetery, not exceeding fifty acres, and to dispose of the same in such manner as they shall judge proper, having regard to the full objects of said charter," a subsequent section empowering the directors to purchase lands on a credit not to exceed ten years, and to mortgage the same to secure the purchase money, with interest, but for no other purpose ; said lands being declared exempt from all public taxes so long as they shall remain dedicated to cemetery purposes. SEC. VI. Provides that the money arising from the sale of lots, after reimbursing the stockholders, both principal and interest for money expended in the purchase of land and improvements, " shall be laid out in, and forever devoted to, the preservation, improvement, planting and embellishing said cemetery, in such a manner as may be deemed most expedient by the directors, and for the incidental expenses of said cemetery, but for no other purpose whatever," and that " after the stockholders shall have been reimbursed as aforesaid, their stock shall be canceled, and none of said stockholders shall be members of said corporation except in such as own lots in said cemetery and have paid for the same." SEC. IX. Authorizes the corporation to receive and hold "any grant, donation or bequest of propery upon trust, and to apply the income thereof for the improvement of said cemetery, or of any buildings, fences or structures erected or to be erected upon the lands of said corporation, or of any individual proprietor of a lot in said cemetery, or for the repair, preservation, or renewal of any tomb, monument, gravestone, fence or railing, or other erection in or around any cemetery lot, or for the planting and cultivation of trees, shrubs, flowers or plants in or around any cemetery lot, according to the terms of such grant, donation or bequest." ORGANIZATION OF ASSOCIATION. The original stockholders were: Simon Perkins, Jr., Joseph Cole, Jedediah D. Commins, Erastus Torrey, Philo Chamberlin, Ithiel Mills, Richard Howe, Miner Spicer, James R. Ford, Samuel A. Wheeler, William T. Mather, Lucian Swift, five shares each; Frank Adams, four shares; Alvah Hand, Warren Clark, David L. King, Henry W. King, three shares each; David K. Cartter, George Howe, Dana D. Evans, Warren H, Smith, Lucius V. Bierce, Arad Kent, Nathaniel Finch, Rufus P. Spalding, Philander D. Hall, Henry S. Abbey, two shares each; William M. Dodge, Henry Howe, Heman A. Bradley, Ansel Miller, Gibbons J. Ackley, Milton W. Henry, James M. Hale, Hiram Viele, Ezra Leonard, James Sawyer, Harvey B. Spelman, James M. Edson, John H. Chamberlin, Myers, Coburn & Co., Beebe & Elkins, Henry H. Wheeler, Edwin Angel, Lucius S. Peck, one share each. Of the forty-seven subscribers to the stock of the association only five are believed to be now living, (September 1, 1891). 238 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. COL. SIMON PERKINS,—born at Warren, February 6, 1815; September, 1832, married Miss Grace I. Tod, daughter. of Judge George Tod, and sister of the late Governor David Tod ; removed to Akron in 1835, engaging in farming and grow- ing fine stock ; State Senator for Portage County, 1839,'40, and largely instrumental in securing the erection of the new county of Summit ; Representative from Summit 1841, '42, securing passage of bill submitting question of location of county seat to popular vote ; trustee of Portage township ten years between 1839 and 1877 ; charter member of Akron Rural Cemetery Association, and its president and most active promoter from April, 1839, until his voluntary resignation, April, 1880-41 years ; president of Akron's pioneer railroad —the Cleveland, Zanesville & Cincinnati (now Cleveland, Akron & Columbus) from March 11, 1851, to November 3, 1864, and general superintendent till November 4, 18 6 9, sacrificing nearly his entire private fortune in its promotion ; a liberal contributor of lands for parks and public purposes, and of money for all industrial, educational and benevolent enterprises, his death, at the age of 82 years, 5 months and 15 days, July 21, 1887, was universally lamented, Mrs. Perkins having died April 6, 1867, aged 56 years and 6 days, seven of their eleven children surviving them. At a meeting of the directors named in the charter, April 9, 1839, Simon Perkins, Jr., was eleced president; Jedediah D. Commins, secretay, and Samuel A. Wheeler, treasurer. October 17, 1839, a code of by-laws to regulate elections was adopted, and Messrs. Perkins and Commins were empowered to purchase twenty acres of land from Gen. Perkins and Judge King, and to negotiate, with the Council for a portion of the grounds belongin to the town of Akron. November 13, 1830, council committee on burying ground reported adversely to the application of the association for part its grounds, which was adopted. Thus matters stood—the counci continuing to manage its grounds as named, with perhaps some slight additions, and the association, besides purchasing lands, doing little more than to keep its organization intact, until the beginning of 1850, when the negotiations were renewed, resulting in a proposition to transfer the .grounds to the association on consideration that the association assume the liabilities of the town for lands and improvements, make good its obligations to lot holders, pay $60 for its hearse, and transfer to the town stock of the association to the amount of $200, reimbursable as other stock in said company, the transfer being made by Mayor Lucius V. Bierce, February 16, 1850. SUBSEQUENT HISTORY, GROWTH, ETC. We cannot minutely trace, step by step, the progress which, in the intervening forty-two years, nearly, has been made by the association, now pleasurably visible to all. From its first organization AKRON RURAL CEMETERY - 239 in April, 1839, until his greatly regretted final resignation in April, 1880,-41 years—Col. Simon Perkins was the president of the association, the secretary from the beginning, until his death, in 1867-26 years—being the late Dr. Jedediah D. Commins, both of the gentlemen named being unwearied in their efforts to make the Akron Rural Cemetery truly "a thing of beauty and a joy forever." Lands have been added from time to time, until now, (1891) at the total original cost of $18,940.16, the grounds cover an area of 57 25-100 acres, beautifully laid out into romantic drives and walks, with nicely graded lots of diversified shapes and sizes, the whole centrally bi-sected by meandering and sparkling Willow Brook, with its cascades, ponds, bridges, etc. Tastefully arranged shrubbery ornaments nearly every portion of the grounds, while upon private lots are attractive monuments and tablets erected by loving hands in memory of the dear ones there reposing. Approaching the grounds from the city, through Glendale Avenue, following the tortuous course of Willow Brook, with high bluffs and over-Imaging trees on either side, with the superintendent's handsome stone lodge upon the right, the high stone bell-tower on the left and Akron's splendid Memorial Chapel, in honor of her deceased soldiers, in front, nothing can be more sublimely beautiful than the entrance to this truly magnificent city of the dead, with fresh surprises at almost every turn while driving or walking through the grounds. THOMAS WILLS,—born at North- S England, April 23, 1822; learned the trade of florist; at 21 was married to Miss Eliza Martin, and in 1851 they came to America, settling at Cuyahoga Falls, where he worked 12 years as florist and landscape gardener for the late Hon. Elisha N. Sill. During the war Mr. Wills held an appointment under the Government as Sanitary gardener at Chattanooga, remaining there until May 19, 1868, when he was appointed superintendent of the Akron Rural Cemetery, which position he ably filled until October 27, 1879, when he resigned to devote his whole attention to his Park Place green house, which he had meantime established, the Board of Trustees unanimously passing a highly laudatory resolution on his retirement from the position. He did an extensive and successful business, until his death, from cancer of the stomach, August 14, 1886. Mr. and Mrs. Wills were the parents of seven children, four of whom survived him—Alice Amelia, wife of Mr. Hugo Schumacher, treasurer of the Schumacher Milling Company; Bert T., successor to father in Park Place greenhouse; Hannah May, stenographer with Schumacher Milling Co., and Arthur J., clerk in office of The B. F. Goodrich Company. Mrs. Wills is still living. THE SUPERINTENDENCY. On first assuming control, Mr. John M. Martin (father of our resent citizen, Henry 0. Martin, of 415 West Center street), 240 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Akron's pioneer tombstone manufacturer, was appointed superintendent, being succeeded, in 1857, by Akron's pioneer cabinetmaker, the late Mr. David G. Sanford. These early superintendents gave but little, if any, attention to improving the grounds, which matters were looked after chiefly by President Perkins and Secretary Commins, the superintendents aiding purchasers in the selection of lots, overlooking burials, etc. The first regularly salaried superintendent, to devote his whole time to the interests of the association, and the beautifying of its grounds, was Mr. Thom as Wills, theretofore for several years a resident of Cuyahoga Falls, and a thoroughly trained gardener an florist, appointed May 19, 1868, at a salary of $1,000 per year. The value of Mr. Wills' services to the association and th community, is evinced by the action of the board in accepting hi resignation, October 27, 1879, after an incumbency of over eleve years, in the unanimous adoption of the following resolution: "Resolved, That in thus terminating the connection of Mr. Wills wit our cemetery, we desire to express our high regard for, him and our war appreciation of the uniform courtesy and zeal with which he has, during th long period of his superintendency, discharged the duties of his position. At the same meeting, October 27,1879, the superintendency wa tendered to Mr. Albert H. Sargent, of Rochester, N. Y., at the same salary which had been paid to Mr. Wills, $1,000 per year, and the use of the lodge as a family residence, free of rent. Mr. Sargent accepted, and on February 1, 1870, entered upon the duties of the position, which have been so faithfully and efficiently discharged, that at the annual meeting, July 7, 1884, his salary was voluntarily and unanimously increased, by the directors, to $1,250 per annum. TESTIMONIAL TO COL. SIMON PERKINS. After the peremptory resignation of Col. Perkins, as president as above stated, the Board, on reluctantly accepting the resigna tion, April 17, 1880, unanimously adopted the following testimonial: "Sincerely regretting the action of our late President, Col. Slim Perkins, in severing his connection with the association, as an expression o the views of the board, be it " Resolved, That to the devoted attention and unwearied care of Col Simon Perkins, Akron is greatly indebted for our beautiful cemetery, th source of so much pride and pleasure to all our citizens." A cordial invitation was also extended to Col. Perkins to stil aid the superintendent in carrying out the plans and designs h had originated, and also to attend the meetings of the board an favor the members with his advice, at a later meeting July 6 1880, the Colonel being elected an honorary member of the board with an urgent request to attend its meetings. David L. King, Esq., was elected as Col. Perkins' successor t the presidency, April 17, 1880, which position he continuous) filled, with eminent zeal and fidelity, till July, 1891, when he wa succeeded by Mr. Ferd. Schumacher. Board of Directors, elected July 6, 1891: Ferd. Schumacher John R. Buchtel, Jeremiah A. Long, Alvin C. Voris, Edwin P Green, John Wolf. After the death of the original secretary, Dr. Jerediah D. Com mins, November 4, 1867, Charles R. Howe was elected as his AKRON RURAL CEMETERY - 241 successor in July, 1868, not only giving to the position the most faithful attention during his life-time, but also on his death, December 7, 1875, bequeathing to the association the sum of $5,000 be held in trust, on interest, the income from which was to be devoted to the perpetual care of his own lot and other portions the cemetery grounds. DAVID L. KING,—son of Judge Leicester King, born at Warren, December 24, 1825; graduated at Harvard 1846; read law with King & Tayler in Akron ; 1849 with hi s. brother, Henry W., formed law firm of King & King ; May 1, 1849, married to Miss Bettie Washington Steele, (grand - niece of President George Washington), who has borne him five children, three of whom survive ; 1811 located in Cleveland, but returned to Akron in 1855, in addition to his law practice, as executor managing his deceased father's large landed estate; abandoning the law in 1867, took an interest in, and the secretaryship of, the Akron Sewer Pipe Company, retaining his connection there-with ten or twelve years ; 1882-88 president King Varnish Company, an enterprise resulting in pecuniary disaster ; active in all public enterprises, his energy and liberality have largely inured to the benefit of the city of Akron, the Valley Railway especially being a substantial monument of his indomitable perseverance, while our public schools, our free library, our benevolent associations and our beautiful Glendale Cemetery have all received his fostering care, Mr. King having served as president of the last named organization after the resignation of President Perkins, in 1880, until July, 1891. Albert J. McNeil followed Mr. Howe, as secretary, July 3,1876, being superseded by Albert B. Tinker in July, 1879, followed, in 1880, by Edwin P. Green, with A. H. Sargent as assistant. Mr. Sargent succeeded to the secretaryship in July, 1884, which position, in addition to the superintendency, he has ably filled to the present time. The treasurers of the association, from the beginning, have been Samuel A. Wheeler, 1839-50; Arad Kent, 1850-55; George D. Bates, 1855-76; William B. Raymond, 1876-88; Erhard Steinbacher 1888 to present time. THE LADIES' CEMETERY ASSOCIATION. Soon after the close of the war, in which the ladies, everywhere, had borne so conspicuous a part, by their incessant and self-sacrificing labors for the care and comfort of our sick and wounded soldiers, as detailed in another chapter of this work, ladies of Akron, feeling that the home resting place of their loved ones needed better care and protection, devised the scheme of aiding the cemetery authorities in the employment of a competent person to devote his whole time to the care and improvement of the grounds, and the erection of a suitable home upon the grounds. for the use of the person so employed. 242 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. MRS. MARY INGERSOLL TOD EVANS, — daughter of Judge George Tod, of Youngstown,was born December 8, 1802 ; was married to John L. McCurdy, of Warren, December 25, 1822, who died at Nashville, Tenn., in 1830, leaving three children —William, still living inYoungstown, George Tod, late of Akron, deceased, and Sarah, afterwards Mrs. Parks; also deceased. In 1836, Mrs. McCurdy was married to Dr. Dana D. Evans, of Akron, bearing him three children —all deceased, Dr. Evans dying from blood poisoning in December 1849, in the 39th year of his age. Mrs. Evans was active in all public and private benevolent enterprises, a leading member of the Soldiers' Aid Society during the war, and after several years of highly acceptable service as matron of the Northern Ohio Hospital for the Insane, at Newburg, she organized the Akron Ladies' Cemetery Association, and bent all her energies towards the erection of the Superintendent's Lodge, at the entrance to Glendale Cemetery, which was nearing completion at the time of her death, Fe ruary 2, 1869, at the age of 66 years, months and 6 days. Mrs. Evans was a sister of the late Mrs. Judge James R. Ford, Mrs. Col. Simon Perkins and ex-Governor David Tod. To the late Mrs. Mary I. T. Evans, is undoubtedly due the credit of originating the plan whose munificent and beneficent' results we are about to trace. In the BEACON of July 12, 1866, is a note from Mrs. Evans, invoking the aid of the writer, as editor of the paper, in favor of the project. Mrs. Evans said: "Some of us, whose friends sleep their last sleep in those beautifully situated grounds, cannot afford costly monuments to mark the spot; but none are too poor to plant flowers and shrubs, and we must have these trifling proofs of undying love guarded and protected from the rude hand of the careless passer-by, or the determined one of some who delight in wanton destruction of everything, offering pleasure to the eye. " The Akron. Rural Cemetery Company are expending all their present means in constructing bridges, improving avenues, etc., and it will probably require all the revenue they may have from the sale of lots for some time to come. Shall we not give them a little help? "It is proposed to offer to the public a series of weekly entertainments, such as promise pleasure to those who are willing to patronize us. The first will be a musical entertainment on Tuesday evening next. Mr. Cutter, Mr. Ingersoll and Miss Ashmun have kindly consented to use their best efforts in getting up a musical treat on said evening, and some of our best singers have promised their valuable aid. " We have musical talent of a high order in our city, and I have no doubt that a succession of concerts, varied in character, and interspersed with other pleasing performances, will call out a little money from the plethoric pockets of our favored citizens, and also awake in all a sense of the worthiness of the object sought. "In the absence of the gentlemen who have promised their hearty co-operation, it seems to devolve on me, as the 'oldest AKRON RURAL CEMETERY - 243 inhabitant, to present this subject to you. Will you have the kindness to give such a notice in the BEACON this week as will serve to call attention to this subject and elicit a hearty response?" At first Mrs. Evans met with much discouraging opposition—let the sexton build or hire his own house as other people did—a burying ground was not a proper place in which to erect a residence for the living— raising money by such worldly and amusement-seeking means for so sacred a purpose was out of character, any way, if not absolutely sacrilegious—let the Cemetery Association make their own improvements, etc. But her plans were heartily approved and ably seconded by her two sisters, Mrs. -Grace T. Perkins and Mrs. Julia Ford, and such other public-spirited ladies as Mrs. Sarah Gale, Mrs. S. H. Coburn, Mrs. J. T. Balch, Mrs. David L. King, Mrs. Sarah T. Peck, Mrs. William H. Payne, Miss Anna Perkins, Miss Emma G. Townsend, Mrs. George Raynolds, Mrs. N. D. Tibbals, Mrs. G. T. McCurdy, Mrs. George T. Perkins, Mrs. Henry H. Brown, Mrs. Henry Gale, Mrs. Charles Rawson, Mrs. Hiram. G. Fuller, Mrs. Henry S. Abbey, Mrs. Dr. E. Angel, Mrs. L. K. Miles, Mrs. Alden Gage, Miss Grace Perkins, Miss Abby Sloat, Miss Laura Balch, Miss Abby Carpenter, Miss Nellie Smith, Mrs. James Christy, Mrs. John H. Christy, Mrs. D. E. Hill, Mrs. Fr ank Adams, Mrs. A. H. Commins, Mrs. Philip P. Bock, Mrs. F. Schumacher, Mrs. J. H. Chamberlin, Mrs. E. Steinbacher, Mrs, 0. C. Barber, Mrs. Thomas Wills, Mrs. W. B. Raymond, Mrs. Edward Buckingham, Miss Elma C. Bowen and many others not now recalled, the earlier records of the association not now being accessible. The officers elected March 25, 1871, were: Mrs. Henry H. Brown, president; Mrs. George T. McCurdy, vice president: Mrs. Alden Gage, secretary and treasurer. 244 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. So enthusiastically did the ladies enter into the good work that the movement soon became immensely popular and their entertainments triumphant successes. The concert, by volunteer home talent, above alluded to, yielded $159.35; a picnic excursion to Gaylord's Grove, a week later, $149 . 76; concert, August 3, $247.81; repetition next night, $84.30; " Woodland Fete," on fair grounds, including promenade concert, (which the opposition designated as a dance), August 23, $312.40; tableaux, September 18 and 20, $126.50; dinners during fair, $357.23; amateur minstrel performance, by Henry E. Abbey and other theatrically inclined young men, $200.19; total gross receipts, $1,631.54; expenses, $344.52; net proceeds, reported by Mrs. Evans, as president, and Emma G. Townsend, as secretary, October 25, 1866, during the first three months, being $1,287:02, which was duly turned over to Col. Simon Perkins, president of the Akron Rural Cemetery, to be used for the purpose designated. CHARLES R. HOWE, — son of Richard and Roxana ( Jones ) Howe, was born in Akron January 7, 1831; educated in Akron public schools ; in 1856 engaged in shoe trade in partnership with Morrill T. Cutter, the latter retiring in 1872 and Mr. Howe in 1874. Mr. Howe was a liberal, enterprising and patriotic citizen ; was first lieutenant of Capt. Storer's company of " Squirrel Hunters " in 1862; first lieutenant of Co. A, 54th Battalion, 0. N. G., Co. F, 164th Regiment 0. V. I., in the hundred days' service before Washington in 1864 ; foreman of Eagle Hose Company; member of City Council 1869-71; Park Commissioner from organization of board until his death ; secretary of Cemetery Association. from 1869 until his death, in his will bequeathing $5,000 to the Perpetual Care Fund of the association ; member of Summit Lodge, No. 50, I. 0. 0. F.; its secretary 1855 ; presiding officer 1857 ; representative to Grand Lodge two years ; District Deputy Grand Master two years ; member of Encampment and Chief Patriarch in 1861, and at time of his death representative to Grand Encampment. August 30, 1850, Mr. Howe was married to Miss Mary C. Webster, daughter of the late Charles Webster, who died March 14, 1865, aged 30 years, 5 months and 5 days, Mr. Howe dying December 7, 1875, aged 44 years, 10 months and 11 days, leaving one child—Annabel, who died August 27, 4376, aged 17 years, 1 month and 2 days. By similar means the fund was gradually augmented, a Bazar, held in April, 1868, netting over $2,000, Aultman, Miller & Co. contributing a Buckeye Mower, J. F. Seiberling & Co. an Excelsior Reaper, to be sold on the ticket plan; and Herrick & Cannon a silver pitcher, to be presented to the handsomest man, on the voting plan—John R. Buchtel 'receiving 700 votes, Joy H. Pendleton 200 and the writer one! The total fund at this time, April, 1868, was nearly $4,000, sufficient to warrant the Cemetery Association in proceeding with the work, resulting in the completion, in fall of 1869, of the handsome stone cottage, near the entrance to the grounds, since known AKRON RURAL CEMETERY - 245 as the Cemetery Lodge, though two of its most earnest promoters did not live to witness the fruition of their unselfish labors—Mrs. race T. Perkins dying April 6, 1867, and Mrs. Mary I. T. Evans, February 2, 1869. To add to their resources, the ladies established, and for several years maintained, under the care of Superintendent Thomas Wills, an extensive greenhouse for the purpose of supplying plants and flowers to such as desired them for the decoration of the graves of their deceased friends or the ornamentation of their homes. We have not space for a detailed report of the operations of the Ladies' Cemetery Association, during the intervening 23 years, during all of which time it has maintained not only an active but a progressive existence, its truly gigantic labors being represented by the following figures: Original cost of Lodge 12,000; subsequent addition of kitchen, etc., $1,400; heating apparatus, $300; bridge near lodge, $500; gate posts, $150; Window in Memorial Chapel, $500; furniture for Chapel, $210; improving old portion of Cemetery grounds, $1,000; head-stone to grave of Mrs. Evans, $50; bell tower, $1,000; making a grand total of $17,150, besides many incidentals for repairs of the Lodge, etc., that would doubtless swell the amount to very near, if not quite, $20,000. Present officers of the Association: Mrs.. David E. Hill, resident; Mrs. Dr. William C. Jacobs, vice president; Miss Hattie S. Phillips, secretary; Mrs. William B. Raymond, treasurer. ALBERT H. SARGENT,—son of George A. and Lydia (Blount) Sargent, born in Prince Edward County, Ontario, Canada, October 31, 1845; raised on farm; educated in common schools and at. Montreal College, teaching two years before entering college; removed to Rochester, N. Y., in 1867; studied law four ears with his uncle, Henry Sargent, Esq.; was then for ten years bookkeeper for the celebrated seedsman, James Vick; then studied landscape engineering under Charles W. Seelye, of Rochester; and was engaged upon the parks of that city until called to the superintendency of the Akron Rural Cemetery, February 1, 1880, which responsible position he is still ably filpling; in 1882 was appointed by Council on committee to organize the Akron Board of Health, officiating as clerk of that body three years; was elected member of Board of Education from the Third ward in spring of 1885, holding the office six years, the last two Years as president of the board; in 1886 was elected coroner of Summit county, and re-elected in 1888, serving four years. June 26, 1873, Mr. Sargent was married to Miss Sue S. Sargent, daughter of John and Lucy (Seelye) Sargent, of Jefferson county, N. Y., two children having been born to them—Albert H., born March 4, 1877, dying in infancy, and Jennie L., born March 3, 1878. MEMORIAL CHAPEL. But the crowning glory of Akron's beautiful Rural Cemetery, Memorial. Chapel, near the Glendale entrance, on the left, at the 246 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. foot of "Ordnance hill," and overlooking Willow brook on the north. Soon after the close of the war of the rebellion, the subject of erecting, upon the court house grounds, a suitable monument to the memory of such of Summit county's gallant sons as had laid down their lives in defense of the Union, during that fearful conflict, began to be agitated, but with no definite result until several of the townships of the county had erected similar monuments in their respective local cemeteries and public parks. Soon after the organization of Buckley Post, Grand Army of the Republic, in March, 1867, that patriotic body took hold of the project of erecting a suitable monument to the memory of the deceased soldiers of Portage township and the City of Akron. By a series of dramatic and other entertainments, considerable sums of money were realized, aggregating something over three thousand dollars in the course of three or four years, which was placed on interest.' In the latter part of 1871, the Akron Rural Cemetery Association tendered to Buckley Post, a suitable site on which to erect the contemplated monument, which proposition was formally accepted by the Post December 7, 1871, and on December 11, 1871, a board of nine trustees, consisting of three members of the Post and six citizens, was appointed by the Post as follows: Col. Simon Perkins, Lewis Miller, John F. Seiberling, David L. King, George W. Crouse, George D. Bates, Alvin C. Voris, Arthur L. Conger and David W. Thomas. The board by resolution of the Post, was to take charge of the funds already raised, receive donations, procure plans, and proceed to erect a monument at a cost of not less than Ten Thousand Dollars. The board was organized December 30, 1871, as follows: Col. Simon Perkins, president; Arthur L. Conger, secretary;. George W. Crouse, treasurer; finance committee, John F. Seiberling, George D. Bates, David W. Thomas, Thomas W. Cornell; AKRON RURAL CEMETERY - 247 committee on design, David L. King, Alvin C. Voris, Col. Simon Perkins; statistician, George W. Crouse. Small additions to the fund were made from time to time, in various ways, but no active steps were taken for the erection of the monument until the beginning of 1874, when it was resolved, by the board, after consultation with .other prominent citizens, and the cemetery authorities, to build, instead of a monument, a Memorial Chapel, with a receiving vault, and to raise for that purpose $25,000 by subscription, payable in six, twelve and eighteen months. This plan proved to be immensely popular with all classes, and at a concert held at the Academy of Music, February 14, 1874, for the benefit of the Chapel Fund, in addition to the receipts for admission to the concert, after an explanation of the plans of the board, by Col. Perkins, and stirring speeches by David L. King, George W. Crouse, John R. Buchtel, Rev. Richard L. Ganter and others, subscriptions were promptly made aggregating over $10,000, and on the following fourth day of July the committee reported $20,000 in the fund and subscribed, with a good prospect for speedily securing the balance. Pursuant to invitation several plans were submitted by well-known competent architects, that of Frank 0. Weary being unanimously adopted by the committee on designs, and duly approved by Buckley Post. Col. Simon Perkins, George W. Crouse, Lewis Miller and David W. Thomas, were constituted a building committee and empowered to proceed at once to erect the building in accordance with the design adopted, and a contract was entered into with Messrs. George Wohlwend and Frank Lukesh for the erection of the entire structure, exclusive of windows, for the sum of $22,300, other necessary expenditures bringing the entire cost of the completed structure up to a little over $25,000. 248 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Saturday, May 29, 1875—being Memorial Day for that year— was thought to be a fitting occasion for the breaking of the ground for an edifice which was to be erected to the memory and valor o deceased soldiers, and arrangements to that end were made accordingly, the programme adopted being briefly as follows: At, 2:30 P. M. the procession formed on Howard street, under the direction of Major Thomas McEbright, assisted by Emanuel P. Holloway, Capt. William C. Jacobs, Henry Young, Hugo Schumacher and George M. Wright, in thefollowing order: Babcock's' band, 15 men; Buckley Post, 50 men; Marble's band, 18 men; Akron Liedertafel, 40 men; St. Vincent de Paul's band, 18 men; AKRON RURAL CEMETERY - 249 soldiers of 1812, in carriages, 5; Mayor Levi S. Herrold and Acting Mayor. Richard P. Marvin, Jr.; members of City Council; poet, orator, citizens, etc.; Col. Simon Perkins officiating as president of the day. The exercises opened with a solemn dirge, by Marble's band, followed by an earnest and pathetic prayer by Rev. G. S. Weaver, of the Universalist Church, after which a male quartette, composed of Messrs. Byron S. Chase, Amasa F. Chandler, Harvey F. Miller and W. Milton Clarke, sang an appropriate song. Messrs. George H. Payne and Albert A. Bartlett, two one-armed veterans of the late war, with pick and shovel, then formally broke ground for the foundation of the contemplated new structure. Gen. Alvin C. Voris, of Akron, delivered the oration, written in his own terse but fervid style, and spoken in his own earnest and impressive manner, closing with this eloquent paragraph: "May this monument be fruitful of instruction to those who come after us, as well as an honored memorial to our departed heroes, giving evidence that this generation possesses the spirit of our ancestors in sufficient degree o defend the institutions they transmitted to us. All praise to the liberality and good taste of the citizens of Akron who thus honor the memory of our heroes. May we go hence resolutely determined to make, preserve and transmit to the future the best human institutions that ever mankind devised, and blessed will be our memory." After the rendition of an appropriate song, in German, by the Akron Liedertafel, Mr. Will. M. Carleton, of Hillsdale, Mich., recited an original poem, composed for the occasion, too lengthy to be reproduced here, but which, after portraying the patriotic uprising in defense of the Union, the sacrifices and sufferings of the soldiers on battle fields and in prison pens, the tearful and prayerful anxieties and sorrows of the dear ones at home, in allusion to the annual Decoration Day observances, and the memorial structure about to be erected, said: "And so once more we gather here, to-day, To honor those who gave their lives away; And so, with offering heart-felt and sincere, We speak the tender words and drop a tear. * * * * * * * * * When the sweet air holds out the touch of health, And silvery blossoms promise golden wealth, A fair and goodly portion here we save, To mark the memory of the fallen brave. * * * * * * * * * And when this structure rises through the air, And mingles with its memories words of prayer, So let our hearts ring out the prayerful strain, That those who sleep here slumber not in vain." A patriotic selection by Babcock's band, and the benediction by Rev. Henry Baker, of the first M. E. Church, closed the exercises of the day, the strewing of flowers upon the graves of their fallen comrades having been performed earlier in the day by the members of Buckley Post. The work was prosecuted with such vigor that the foundation was ready for the superstructure early in July, and on Sunday, July 11, 1875, under the auspices of Buckley Post, the pleasant but solemn ceremony of laying the corner-stone was performed at 5 o'clock P. M. Prayer was offered by Rev. Carlos Smith, of the Congregational Church. Gen. Alvin C. Voris deposited in the cavity of the stone resolutions of Buckley Post leading to erection of chapel and of building committee in regard to design of structure; poster of Buckley Post; names of building committee; copies of