(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 300 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. ALEXANDER BREWSTER,—born in Augusta, Oneida county, N. Y., September 10, 1808; came with parents to Ohio in 1812, settling in Coventry ; education, in early district .schools, limited ; learned carpenter's trade with father, but mostly followed farming until 1848, when he turned his attention to mining, coal havin been discovered on his land; in 1 went overland to California, returning home in 1851; has since been engaged in mining and shipping coal, a stock company being formed in 1865, with a capital stock of $100,000, of which, under the name of the Brewster Coal Company, Mr. B. is president, and his two sons, Alfred A. and Austin K. are respectively, general agent, and secretary and treasurer, the company mining and handling between 200,000 and 300,000 tons of coal, per year. January 9, 1830, Mr. B. was married to Miss Margaret Ann Kinney, a native of Ontario county, N. Y., who came to Springfield in 1813, who bore him five children, four of whom survive—the two sons above named ; Louisa, now Mrs. J. F. Meacham, and Mary M. now Mrs. Russell H. Kent; all living in Akron. Mrs. B. dying in November, 1854, Mr. B. in December, 1857, was again married, to Mrs. Minerva A. (Darrow) Brown, a native of Cuy hoga county, who died June 27, 18 In September, 1877, was again married, to Mrs. Lucy Jane Chamberli widow of the late John H. Chainbe berlin, and daughter of Col. Justus and Mrs. Sarah Gale, who settled in Akron in 1831. CAPT. HENRY H. BROWN,—son of Charles W. Brown, one of Akron's pioneer settlers, was born in Middlebury, (now Akron's Sixth ward) October 23, 1828 ; educated in Akron public schools, finishing under Superintendent. Leggett, in the Spring of 1848 ; April 1, 1850, was married to Miss Elizabeth D. Hickcox, of Akron, who bore him one son—Charles H. now of Denver, Colorado ; raised a farmer, in 1855 went to Illinois where he remained ten years, engaged in farming ; returning to Akron, in the Fall of 1865, Mr. Brown entered the employment of the Middlebury Coal Co., as manager, which position he held 20 years. Mr. Brown represented the Second ward in the City Council for the years 1880, '81, '82, '83, '84, and '85, resigning his seat on account of failing health, and going to Colorado, where, as agent for the Thomson-Houston Electric Co., he is still operating with headquarters at Denver. Capt. Brown for many years took a great interest in local military affairs, having been captain of Company A. Ninth (now Company B. Eighth) Regiment Ohio National Guard, from July 23, 1877 to December 2, 1884, being a thorough disciplinarian and in all respects a model officer. Mrs. Brown died suddenly of apoplexy, at Denver, April 20, 1891, aged 63 years. AKRON'S CIVIL SERVICE RECORD - 301 COUNTY AUDITORS.—Theron A. Noble, 1842 to 1848; Nathaniel W. Goodhue, 1848 to 1852; Charles B. Bernard, 1854 to 1858; Sanford M. Burnham, 1863 to 1871; Edward Buckingham, 1872 to 1881;. Charles W. F. Dick, the present incumbent, re-elected in 1886, and re-elected in 1889. CHARLES F. INGERSOLL,—youngest child of Noah and Mary (Stickels) Ingersoll, was born at Albion, Orleans Co., N. Y., October 29, 1833; came to Copley, 0., in 1836, and a few years later to Coventry; educated in country district schools; at 20 entered the employ of Hiram corner, who kept a dry goods store, corner of Main and Exchange streets. November 10, 1859, Mr. Ingersoll was married to Miss Olive L. Root, daughter of the late Riley Root, of Coventry, who has borne him two children—Frank Howard, born September 11, 1860, and Hattie May, born March 5,1868. After a short residence at Kent, Mr. Ingersoll accepted an appointment from the A. & G. W. Railway Company, as its first Passenger and Freight Agent at New Portage, acceptably filling the position about three years. In 1872, Mr. Ingersoll removed his family to 116 St. Clair street, Akron, where he still resides. In politics, an active Republican, in 1881, '82, Mr. Ingersoll represented the Fifth ward in the City Council, serving upon some of its most important committees. In 1883, he opened a real estate and insurance office in Kaiser's block, South Main street, in which business he still continues. WILSON B. CANNON,--born in Streetsboro, Portage county, Ohio, March 19, 1839; educated in common schools and worked on father's farm till 19, when he entered a country store at a salary of $450 for three years' services ; then went to Indianapolis as cashier in a large store where he remained until 1868, when he came to Akron, and with his brother-in-law, established the well-known crockery firm of Herrick & Cannon, with which he was connected for over 20 years. In January, 1890, assisted in organizing the Akron Silver Plate Company, now in successful operation, of which he is the secretary and treasurer. Mr. Cannon represented the First ward in the City Council two terms-1885 to 1889--three years as its presiding officer ; was charter member, and for a number of years president, of Summit County Humane Society ; a prominent iniember of Akron Lodge, No. 547, I. 0. 0. F.; of the Akron Board of Trade and an active promoter of all the benevolent enterprises of the day. October 29, 1865, Mr. Cannon was married to Miss Emerene Lacey, daughter of Isaac J. Lacey, one of the pioneer settlers of Aurora, three children having been born to them, one of whom—Helena May—is now living.. 302 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. FRANCIS A. WILCOX,—son of Dr. Jeremiah C. Wilcox, born in Richfield, May 17, 1852 ; raised to farm life, in boyhood attending district school and Richfield Academy, 21/2 miles distant, in winter only ; at 17 commenced teaching winters, later entering Oberlin College, from whence he graduated in the classical course in 1878. He then read law with Hon. T. E. Burton of Cleveland, until March, 1879, when he became principal of the Glenville schools, which position he acceptably filled four years. In 1881, was elected member of Glenville Council and president of the Glenville Union Church Society. In 1882, purchased of W. W. Warner of Akron, a half interest in abstract, real estate, loan and insurance business, and in February 1885, the remaining half-interest, the following August associating with himself, his present partner, Mr. A. H. Noah. In 1885, was elected member of City Council, serving one term and declining a re-election ; is an active member of the Board of Trade, and has aided in organizing the Selle Gear Company, the Akron Savings Bank, the Akron Wholesale Grocery Company, the Akron Building and Loan Association, the Akron Tool Co., the Loomis Motor Co., and the Canton and Zanesville Electric Street Railway Cos., in the first four of which he is director and of the last secretary ; is also pecuniarily and officially connected with a large number o the other business enterprises of Akron and vicinity ; in religion a Congregationalist ; in politics a Republican. JAMES H. CASE,—born in Middlebury, (now Akron Sixth Ward), December 23, 1844; educated in Middlebury public schools, at 17 apprenticed himself to the carriage-ironing trade at Greenville, Penn., but before completing his apprenticeship returned home and entered the machine shop of Kent, Baldwin & Co., in Middlebury. In 1863 enlisted in the Second Ohio Cavalry, participating in the battles of the Wilderness, Petersburg, Shenandoah, Cedar Creek, Winchester, Five Forks, and the surrender of Lee. After the grand review, at Washington, moved with the regiment to the West, remaining at Springfield, Mo., until September, 1865, when the regiment was mustered out at St. Louis. On his return home, he completed his trade at which he worked about four years, then worked in the Buckeye Reaper and Mower Works, until 1876, when he established himself in the drug business in the Sixth ward, which he has since successfully carried on, also being chemist for the Absolute Chemical Company, written of elsewhere; served as member of City Council two terms-1865 to 1869. January 1, 1872, was married to Miss Ella 'S. Farrar, of Akron, who bore him one son—Charles F. Case, now a student in Buchtel College. April 17, 1890, Mr. Case was again married, to Mrs. Maggie R. Blocker, of Akron. AKRON'S CIVIL SERVICE RECORD - 303 ROBERT L. ANDREW,—born in T township, Summit Co., Ohio, May 24, 1841; in boyhood attended common school and worked at the painter's trade with his father, from 1857 to 1862 clerking at Peninsula and in Hudson; in June, 1862, enlisted in 85th Regiinient, 0. V. I., serving four months and participating in engagements at Prentiss, Miss., and Vicksburg; in August, 1864, re-enlisted in 177th, 0. V. I., serving to the end of the war, with the rank of sergeant, participating in the battles of The Cedars, Shelbyville Pike, and Town Creek, and being present at Johnston's surrender. On being mustered out, clerked in store of E. H. Cole, at Peninsula, then for E. B. Thompson & Sons, successively at Iona, Marshall and Ann Arbor, Mich; October 6, 1869, removed to Akron and resumed his trade, in 1873, erecting the store at 314 East Mill street, January 1, 1877, associating with himself his brother, Angelo, under the firm name of Andrew Brothers, which arrangement continued until September, 1890, when he sold out to his brother and established. The Paint and Color Company, elsewhere alluded to. September 6, 1866, Mr. Andrew was married to Miss Emerancy Hall, a native of Northampton, who died April 3, 1879, their two children also being deceased. Mr. A. was again married, to Miss Emma Woods, daughter of Mr. John B. Woods, of Akron, Sept. 27, 1881. Though an earnest and active Democrat, Mr. Andrew for two successive terms (1886-90) represented the usually Republican First ward in the City Council, the last year as its President. COUNTY TREASURERS.—William Harrison Dewey, 1848 to 1850; Frederick Wadsworth, 1850 to 1852; Israel E. Carter, 1862 to 1866; David R. Paige, Jr., 1874 to 1878; Henry C. Viele, 1878 to 1883; Emmon S. Oviatt, 1891 to 1893. COUNTY RECORDERS.—Nahum Fay, 1843 to 1849; Philip P. Bock, I158 to 1864; James Alexander Lantz, 1864 to 1870; Henry C. Viele, (by appointment), February, 1872, to October, 1872; George H. Payne, 1872 to 1878; Albert A. Bartlett, 1878 to 1884; Benjamin F. Clark, 1891 to 1894. COUNTY SURVEYORS.—The incumbents of this office, since the organization of the county, have nearly all been "outsiders," Dwight Newton, of Akron, being elected in 1849 for three years; Robert S. Paul, of Akron, (see also Cuyahoga Falls), by appointment, filling the vacancy occasioned by the death of his father, Hosea Paul, from June to October, 1870, and by election for the ensuing three years; again appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Surveyor elect, Jacob Mishler, from February 3, to October, 1884; again successively elected in 1877 and 1880, giving to the position, in all, about ten years of faithful service. Charles E. Perkins, of Akrori, was elected in October, 1883, re-elected in 1886, and again elected in 1889. INFIRMARY DIRECTORS.—Lucius V. Bierce, July, 1849, to October, 1849; Roswell Kent, October, 1849, to October, 1851; Gibbons J. Ackley, October, 1849, till his decease in August, 1851; Joseph E. Wesener, to fill vacancy, August to October, 1851; 304 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. George D. Bates, 1851 to 1855; Ira Hawkins, 1851 to 1857; George Sherbondy, 1853 to 1856; Charles C. Hanscom, 1855 to 1858; David A. Scott, 1856 to 1859; Richard B. Walker, 1859 to 1868; Alfred R. Townsend, 1861 to 1867, 1873 to 1876, 1877 till his resignation in 1879; Webster B. Storer, 1871 to 1874; Levi S. Herrold, 1874 to 1877; Clement J. Kolb, 1875 to 1881; Henry Frederick, 1876 to 1882; Joseph A. Beebe, 1881 to 1887; Joseph Moore, 1887 to 1893; Eli Smith, 1888 to 1891; Jacob Koplin, November, 1889, to present time. SUPERINTENDENTS OF INFIRMARY.—Abraham Sichley, July, 1849, to March, 1855; William Chandler, March, 1855, to January, 1861; Frank T. Husong, (also see Copley), January, 1861, to April, 1868; George W. Glines, April, 1868, till death, March 4, 1879; George Feichter, April 1, 1878, to March 1, 1879; Julia F. Glines, March 1, 1879, to April 1, 1882; Millard F. Hamlin, April 1, 1882, to April 1, 1887; Sherman B. Stottler, April 1, 1887, to present time. ERASTUS R. HARPER, JR.,—son of Erastus R. and Amanda (McArthur) Harper, was born in Oakfield, Kent county, Mich., July 14, 1857, when three years old removing with parents to Independence, Cuyahoga county, Ohio; educated in Independence district schools and Cuyahoga Falls high school ; raised on farm; at 22 went to Atchison, Kansas, as book-keeper for Gushing & McNeil, coal and grain merchants ; fifteen months later returned to Ohio and worked at civil engineering on Lake Shore, and Pittsburg, Cleveland and Toledo railroads about one year, then came to Akron and entered the office of J. F. Seiberling & Co., later holding the position of paymaster for Ault-man, Miller & Co., seven years, when he accepted the secretaryship of the Akron Vitrified Pressed Brick Company, which he still holds ; November, 1877, was elected to fill vacancy in City Council, in place of Capt. H. H. Brown, resigned, re-elected in April, 1888, for full term and again of Cuyahoga Falls. They have one in 1890. June 21, 1882, Mr. Harper was child—Lena May, born August 31, married to Miss Alice M. Hitchcock, 1883. COUNTY CORONERS.— Col. John Nash, of Middlebury, October, 1852 to September, 1853; William L. Clarke, 1855 to 1857; Almon Brown, 1872 to 1882; Dr. B. B. Brashear, 1882 to 1886; Albert H. Sargent, 1886, and re-elected in 1888 for the second term, holding the office four years. COUNTY CLERKS.—Previous to the adoption of the present State Constitution, in 1851, Common Pleas Judges appointed their own Clerks of Court, the appointment, like that of the Judges themselves by the Legislature, being for seven years. On the organization of Court in the new county of Summit, in April, 1840, Hon. Rufus P. Spalding, was appointed Clerk, employing for his.deputy, Mr. Lucian Swift. In December, 1840, Mr. Spalding resigned and Mr. Swift was appointed, serving his full term of seven years. AKRON'S CIVIL SERVICE RECORD - 305 Lucius S. Peck, then of Akron, was appointed as Mr. Swift's successor, in 1847, serving until the election, under the new constitution, of Nelson B. Stone, Esq., in 1851, as stated in the chapter on Tallmadge. In 1854, Edwin P. Green, Esq., of Akron, was elected as Mr. Stone's successor, and re-elected in 1857, serving two full terms of three years each, with Alden Gage as deputy. Subsequent incumbents of the office have been: Capt. John A. Means, of Northfield, now living in Tallmadge; Charles Rinehart, of Franklin, now of Colorado; George W. Weeks, of Copley, now of Akron; Sumner Nash, of Bath, now of Akron; Othello W. Hale, formerly of Bath, but at the time of his election a resident of Akron, reference being had to the several townships named for particulars as to date of election, tenure of office, etc.; Nathaniel P. Goodhue, a native Akronian, elected November, 1890, and still ably serving, with Mr. Frank J Libis, after six years' experience under Clerk Hale, as his chief deputy. WILLIAM HARDY,—son of Nathaniel and Rebecca (Reed) Hardy, was born in Northampton township, March 11, 1829; educated in district schools and raised a farmer; active in all public affairs, Mr. Hardy served as township trustee for 15 consecutive years; was once elected and qualified as justice of the peace, but other duties requiring his attention, after a few months service he resigned the office. During the war, Mr. Hardy, served as recruiting agent of 18th Congressional district for Summit county, and has operated as general agent for Aultman, Miller & Co., in selling Buckeye reapers and mowers in Northern Ohio, for a period of 27 years. Having moved to Akron, in 1872, Mr. Hardy represented the Third ward in the City Council from 1888 to 1890; was one of the originators of the electric street railway system in Akron and is still a stockholder in the company, and besides looking after the management of his fine farm in Northampton, is associated with his son, Orlando B. Hardy, in the sale of Giant and Judson mining and sporting powders throughout the United States. December 3, 1847, Mr. Hardy was married to Miss Marcia Elvira Dales, daughter of Mr. Stephen Dales, of Copley,. born November 3, 1829, who has borne him two children—Orlando B., born September 19, 1848, now residing in Akron, and Clara C., afterwards Mrs. Daniel W. Brown, and now deceased. COMMON PLEAS JUDGES.—Robert K. DuBois, of the early blast-furnace firm of Hart, DuBois & Co, heretofore spoken of, residing where Mr. William H. Payne now lives, number 200 Water Street, was appointed by the Legislature one of the first Associate Judges for the new County of Summit, holding the position from April, 1840, till his death, June 19, 1845. James R. Ford, by appointment of Gov. Thomas W. Bartley, succeeded Judge DuBois upon the bench, from 1845 until failing health compelled his resignation in April, 1849, when Samuel A. Wheeler was appointed by Governor Seabury Ford, holding the position until his resignation to go to California, ip March, 1850. 20 306 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. On the resignation, by Judge Benjamin J. Wade, of the Presi dent Judgeship of the Third Judicial, District, under the old con. stitution, on his election as United States Senator, by the Legislature, in March, 1851, George Bliss, Esq., then a prominent lawyer of Akron, was appointed Presiding Judge, who held the position until February, 1852, when he was superseded by Hon. Samuel Humphreyville, of Medina, the first regularly elected Judge for the Second Sub-district. Hon. James S. Carpenter, of Akron, was elected as Judge Humphreyville's successor in 1856, holding the position the full term of five years, when the office went to Judge Stephenson Burke, of Elyria. An extra Judgeship being created in 1870, Hon. Samuel W. McClure was elected to the position in October of that year, holding the office five years and declining a re-election. In October, 1875, Hon. Newell D. Tibbals was elected as Judge McClure's successor, and re-elected in 1880. May 1,1883, Judge Tibbals resigned, and ex-Probate Judge Ulysses L. Marvin was appointed by Gov. Charles Foster, to fill the vacancy, serving until the accession of Hon. Edwin P. Green, who was elected in October, 1883, to fill the unexpired term of Judge Tibbals (two years), and re-elected for the full term of five years in October, 1885; Gen. Alvin C. Voris, 1891-96. JOHN KREUDER,—son of Henry and Mary D. (Lippert) Kreuder, Was born in Vadenrod, Greis, Alsfeldt, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, June 24, 1839 ; came with parents to America in 1851, settling on farm in Chatham, Medina county ; six years schooling in Germany and three terms in Ohio ; in 1857 came to Akron as general utility man in "American House," kept by the late Florence Weber. Esq., on North Howard street; 1858 to 1872 (14 years) clerk in store of Hall Brothers ; then three years with G. C. Berry & Co.; in 1876 engaged in the grocery trade with the late Charles W. Bonstedt, under the firm name of Bonstedt & Kreuder, continuing six years ; in 1882 engaged in grain and produce trade on his own account, the volume of his business in 1890 reaching nearly $400,000 ; is also a stockholder in Schumacher Milling Co., Jones Wholesale Grocery Co., Peoples' Savings Bank and Akron Paving Brick Co.; was Park Commissioner 17 years — 1872-89 ; member of City Council 1889-91, the last year as president ; was married December 31, 1863, to Miss Lana Grohe, of Randolph ; children—Anna M., born January 14, 1865, died February 5, 1866; Minnnie E., born November 14, 1867 ; Ida L., born Janua 2, 1870, died July 21, 1881 ; Dora E, born November 7, 1871, died January. 10, 1877 ; William J., born April 2, 1874. PROBATE JUDGES.—Previous to the adoption of the preser constitution, in 1851, all probate business was transacted by the Court of Common Pleas. In October, 1851, Charles G. Ladd, Esq., father of the present Mrs. Gen. A. C. Voris, then a promising youn member of the Summit County Bar, was elected to the office o Probate Judge for three years. Judge Ladd's rapidly failin health preventing him from giving his personal attention to th AKRON'S CIVIL SERVICE RECORD - 307 duties of the office, the business was organized and ably performed by his deputy clerk, Alvin C. Voris, Esq., as elsewhere detailed, until the death of Judge Ladd in August, 1852. Judge Constant Bryan succeeded Judge Ladd from 1852 to 1854. In 1860 William M. Dodge, of Akron, was elected, serving until his death, in July, 1861. Samuel A. Lane was commissioned by Governor William Dennison to fill the vacancy, but declining the honor, Ashael H. Lewis was appointed to serve until the ensuing October election, being succeeded by Judge Stephen H. Pitkin, eight years, Ulysses L. Marvin, six years, and Samuel C. Williamson, six years, as already detailed in the chapters on Hudson and Stow. HENRY W. HART,—son of Adams and Isabella (Gangawer) Hart, was born in Akron September 19, 1852, his father doing faithful service in both the Mexican war and the war of the rebellion. Mr. Hart was educated in the Middlebury public schools ; at 16 apprenticing himself to the potter's trade, at which he worked 17 years, in 1882 embarking in that business for himself in partnership with Mr. Frank W. Rockwell, under the firm name of F. W. Rockwell & Co., the arrangement con- tinuing seven years ; February 19, 1891, became one of the incorporators of the Akron Paving Brick Company, elsewhere noticed, of which he is superintendent and manager. In 1888 Mr. Hart was elected a member of the Akron City Council from the Sixth Ward, and re-elected in 1890, becoming the president of that body on its reorganization in April, 1891. June 15,1882, Mr. Hart was married to Miss Hattie Johnson, daughter of the late Thomas Johnson, of the Sixth Ward, who has borne him four children, all living—Bessie, born January 8, 1884; Flossie, born June 1, 1885; Isabella, born November 15, 1888, and Henry Johnson, born December 29, 1890. In October, 1881, Hon. Nathaniel W. Goodhue was elected Probate Judge, acceptably filling the position until his sudden death in September, 1883, his son and deputy clerk, Nathaniel P. Goodhue, continuing to act in that capacity under his father's successor, Judge Charles R. Grant, appointed to fill the vacancy by Gov. Foster September 16, 1883, elected for three years in 1884 and re-elected in 1887, serving nearly seven years and five months; Edward W. Stuart elected November, 1890, and still serving, with his son, Fred. H. Stuart, as his deputy clerk. REPRESENTATIVES TO STATE LEGISLATURE.—At the time of the erection of Summit county, in March, 1840, Simon Perkins, Jr., of Akron, was State Senator, and Rufus P. Spalding, then of Ravenna, was one of the Representatives for Portage county. Mr. Spalding immediately thereafter removing to Akron, in 1841 Messrs. Perkins and Spalding were elected as the Representatives of the new county for the session of 1841, '42; John H. McMillen Middlebury) 1842, for one year; Hiram Bowen, Akron, 1845, one ear; Harvey B. Spelman, 1849, one year; Nathaniel Finch, 1850, ne year; Alvin C. Voris, 1859, two years; John Johnston (Middleury), 1861-63, four years; Sanford M. Burnham, 1871, two years; 308 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Leonidas S. Ebright, 1879, two years; J. Park Alexander, (see also Bath) 1881, two years; Jacob A. Kohler (see also Franklin) 1883, tw years; Henry C. Sanford, 1887-91, four years. AKRON IN STATE SENATE.—Simon Perkins, Jr., in office on erection of Summit county, in 1840, two years; Lucian Swift, 1848, two years; William H. Upson, (see also Tallmadge), 1853, tw years; Lucius V. Bierce, 1861, two years; Newell D. Tibbals, 1865 two years; Nathaniel W. Goodhue, 1873, two years; George W' Crouse, (see also Green), 1885, two years; J. Park Alexander (s also Bath), 1887-91, four years. AKRON IN CONGRESS.—Hon. George Bliss, 1854 to 1856; Ho Sidney Edgerton (see also Tallmadge), 1858 to 1862, four years Hon. William H. Upson (see also Tallmadge), 1869 to 1873, fo years; David R. Paige, Jr., 1882 to 1884, two years; Hon. George W Crouse (see also Green), 1886 to 1888, two years, declining re-election. HARVEY F. MILLER,—son of Charles and Hannah (Bechtel) Miller, was born in Norton, Feb. 18, 1850; in boyhood worked on farm and attended district school ; in 1867 moved with parents to Akron, completing his education in the Akron high school ; in 1872, became a member of the lumber and building firm of Miller, Thomas & Co.; in 1879, with Charles Miller and Henry D. Miller, formed the Miller Chain Company. and in 1883 became one of the incorporators of the Miller Match Corn pany, of which he was the secretary and treasurer, and on the sale of the works, in 1890, formed a partnership with Mr. Samuel C. Dyke, under the firm name of S. C. Dyke & Co., for the manufacture of marbles, miniature jugs and other stoneware novelties, retiring therefrom, July 30, 1891, on the organization of the American Marble and Toy Manufacturing Co., elsewhere fully written of ; is also director of Akron Globe Sign Co., of Akron Novelty Manufacturing Co., and president of the Akron White Sand and Stone Co. Sept. 10, 1873, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Mary Hays, of Medina, who has borne hi two sons —Charles Hays, born Jun 5, 1874, now student in Plinth Academy, at Gambier, and Edw Cloyd, born Aug. 1, 1883. AKRON'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS.—In 1868, Hon. Stephen H. Pitkin, of Akron (see also Hudson), was Presidential Elector for the Eighteenth Congressional District, composed of Summit, Cuyahoga and Lake counties, and voted in the electoral college for Ulysses S. Grant, of Illinois, for President, and Schuyler Colfax, for Vice President. In 1872, in Eighteenth District, composed of Summit, Wayne, Medina and Lorain counties, Hon. John R. Buchtel was Presidential Elector, and voted for Ulysses S. Grant for President, and Henry Wilson, of Massachusetts, for Vice-President. In 1880, district same as above, Hon. Nathaniel W. Goodhue, as Presidential Elector, voted for James A. Garfield, of Ohio, for President, and Chester A. Arthur, of New York, for Vice AKRON'S CIVIL SERVICE RECORD - 309 President. Ulysses L. Marvin, 1884, Twentieth District, composed of Summit, Medina, Wayne and Stark, voted for James G. Blaine for President and John A. Logan for Vice President. DELEGATES TO CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION.—In 1850, William S. C. Otis, Esq., was Summit county's delegate to the Ohio Constitutional Convention. The convention met at Columbus May 6, 1850, and July 9 adjourned to meet in Cincinnati, closing its labors in that city March 10, 1851, the new constitution being voted upon and adopted June 21, 1851, for twenty years; Summit county's vote standing 2,025 for and 2,013 against, being a majority of twelve, only, in its favor. Gen. Alvin C. Voris was delegate to the Constitutional Convention of 1873, which convened in the House of Representatives at Columbus, May 13, 1873, and on August 8, adjourned to meet in Cincinnati December 2, adjourning sine die February 3, 1874. The constitution formulated by this convention, though regarded by many as a great improvement over that of 1851, was rejected by the people at the special election held August 18, 1874, by a large majority, Summit county's vote standing 2,112 4' for" and 2,774 " against," or an adverse majority of 662. In 1883, what is known as the Judicial Amendment to the Constitution was adopted, and in 1885 the amendment changing the general election from October to November; the so-called " Second Amendment, " prohibiting the sale of intoxicating liquors, submitted in 1883, being voted down. CHAPTER XIV PUBLIC ILLUMINATION-THE OLD-TIME "TALLOW DIP"-SPERM OIL, GAS, PET LEUM AND ELECTRIC LIGHTS-LOCAL TRANSPORTATION, HEROICS, HORSE CARS, ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAY-FUEL GAS, ETC. AKRON'S ORIGINAL GAS WORKS. WITHIN the memory of the writer, the only method of either private or public illumination, was by the use of candles or sperm oil, for though some experiments had been made with gas distilled from coal, as early as 1810 or 1812, its use as an illumination for did not become general in the United States, even in such cities as Boston, New York and Philadelphia, until about 1825. HENRY STEPHEN ABBEY,—born in Portland, Middlesex county, Conn., November 5, 1808 ; at an early age removed to Glastenbury, and in 1828 to Bristol, where he learned the clock-making business. October 30, 1831, was married to Miss Elizabeth Smith, of Torrington, Conn., immediately removing to Buffalo, N. Y., and two years later to Niagara Falls, finally settling in Akron in 1835. Here, for two years, he was engaged in cabinet-making in South Akron, when he embarked in the jewelry business, in 1841 forming a partnership with Mr. Hiram Payne, and removing to the Stone Block, corner of Howard 'and Market streets, later establishing himself at 120 Howard street, where he was continuously and successfully in business until his sudden death, from heart disease, October 25, 1873, at the age of 64 years, 11 months and 20 days. Mr. Abbey was a fine musician, organizing and for many years leading Akron's pioneer band ; was an intelligent florist,establishing the pioneer greenhouse of the village, and was a liberal promoter of all public improvements; was a member, and president, of Akron's pioneer gas company, and served as a member of the Village Council for the years 1856, '57. Of the several children born to Mr. and Mrs. Abbey, Henry E. Abbey, now of New York, only survives, though their adopted daughter, Ellen G., now Mrs. S. E. Phinney, most fully shared their confidence and love. Mrs. Abbey died July 1, 1874, aged 66 years, 9 months and 25 days. Previotts to 1855, the streets of Akron were unlighted, except at private expense, in front of the hotels, and perhaps half a dozen public lamps at the business corners of the two villages, with sperm oil at first, and afterwards, lard oil; coal oil not then having come into vogue, and petroleum, for illuminating purposes, never dreamed of. But about the latter date- (1855) largely through the proprietary agency of the late Henry S. Abbey, Thomas H. Goodwin, Esq., and others, the Akron Gas Company was organized, the works being erected on South Howard street, immediately north of the PUBLIC ILLUMINATION - 311 W. B. Doyle planing mill. As a matter of supposed economy, vitirfled stone waterpipe was used for mains, but it was soon found hat while the glazed pipe itself was impervious, the cement joints ere porous, besides their liability to disturbance from settling, entailing, through leakage, a heavy percentage of loss to the company, and considerable annoyance to citizens, by the offensive odor arising therefrom, necessitating, after a year or two, the substitution of iron mains, at a heavy expense for material and labor. THOMAS H. GOODWIN,—born in Province of New Brunswick, Canada, Oct. 10,1810; common school education; worked on farm till 21, then served three years at carpenter's trade; in August, 1835, came to United States, working in Providence, R. I., and New York City; came to Akron in October, 1837, working seven years as pattern maker for Judge James R. Ford, in old }Etna Furnace; in 1847 engaged in manufacture of plows and other agricultural implements on South Howard street; on its organization in 1855, was secretary and superintendent of the Akron Gas Company for about eight years; an original stockholder, and two years book-keeper of Weary, Snyder and Wilcox Manufacturing Co.; original stockholder and director in Akron Cold Spring Co.; an active member of Akron's second Fire Company, Niagara No. 2, organized Dec. 1845; member of Akroh Village Council, 1850, '54, '56 and '59; Akron's first regularly elected . City Street Commissioner, serving from 1869 to 1873; for many years acting as chorister and filling various official positions in First M. E. Church, of Akron, assisting in organizing its first Sabbath School, and in erecting three church edifices on the site of the present structure. June, 1839, was married at Troy, Miami Co., to Miss Josephine M. Field (teacher), sister of the late Mrs. L. J. Ives. Four children were born to them—Alfred Davison, died at Baltimore, Md., Jan. 18, 1880, aged 40 years; Clara Fidelia, died Aug. 6, 1883, aged 41 years; Pomeroy Field, died in infancy; and Helen Pamela, now Mrs. William Renwick. of Davenport, Iowa. Mrs. Goodwin died Oct. 6, 1888, aged 79 years. THE PRESENT COMPANY. After quite a number of changes of ownership and management, the works in 1865, were purchased by Mr. Thomas W. Cornell and others, with Mr. Cornell as president, and William McFarlin secretary and treasurer, under a very liberal franchise from* the Council, not only in regard to the use of streets, alleys and public grounds, but also in regard to the price of gas, by ordinance fixing the maximum at $3.30 per thousand feet, to both the city and private citizens. This, it will be remembered, was during the reign of inflated war values of every description, and though, as other values decreased, some concessions were made on the price of gas, the then members of the Council thought the company did not keep pace with the general reduction, and not only substituted petroleum oil for street lighting purposes, but, by ordinance, fixed the maximum price of gas to the city at $1.25, and to private consumers at 312 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. $1.50 per thousand feet. The company claiming that the city, by the terms of its ordinance, was under a contract to use its gas, at least to the extent of the lamps already erected, commenced a suit for its enforcement, which, after protracted litigation, was decided in the city's favor. The Gas Company, acting under legal advice, never acceded to the requirements of the restricting ordinance alluded to, its bills to consumers, for several years, being made out at the rate of $2.00 per thousand feet, with a small rebate on all bills of $5.00 or over per month, later reducing the price to $1.40; the city, as above intimated, entirely discontinuing its use. The company, meantime had removed its works to the north part of the city, and greatly enlarged its facilities, and is still one of the substantial institutions of the city, the plant being sold to other parties, August 1, 1891, with George T. Perkins, F. Adolph Schumacher, Ernest F. Lloyd, Gordon W. Lloyd, and Charles Stinchfield as directors—Gordon W. Lloyd, president and treasurer; Ernest F. Lloyd, secretary, and James W. Lane, superintendent. ELECTRIC LIGHT EXPERIMENT. Soon after the culmination of the differences between the Council and the gas company, as above briefly outlined, the project of lighting cities by electricity, began to be mooted, and Akron was the very first of the smaller cities of the country to try the experiment. In 1880 an arrangement was made with the Brush Electric Light Company, of Cleveland, by which the necessary apparatus was purchased, the mast system being adopted. A central mast, composed of gradually tapering boiler iron, 210 feet in height above the surface of the ground, was erected at the intersection of Howard and Market streets, from the head of which was suspended four lamps of 4,000 candle power each ; a wooden mast of about fifty feet in height elevated upon the dome of Buchtel College, furnished with four equally powerful lamps, and a like mast upon the tower of the Central engine house with one 4,000 candle-power lamp, making nine in all, the boiler, engine, dynamos, etc., owned and run by the city, being placed in an annex built for that purpose upon the north side of the Central building, corner of Church and High streets. So far as tried, the system worked well, but before being extended into other portions of the city, on the theory that the city could buy its light cheaper than it could produce it, on the 14th day of June, 1883, an ordinance was passed leasing the plant to the Akron Electric Light and Power Company—George G. Baker, president ; Ira M. Miller, vice president ; Hugo Schumacher, secretary and treasurer, and W. J. Hillier, manager—for the period of one year, the company stipulating to furnish the necessary carbons, and keep the lamps upon the masts lighted, at 25 cents per lamp per hour, on an agreed schedule, during the continuance of said lease. July 21, 1884, a contract was entered into, by ordinance, with the Citizen's Electric Light Company—Henry Robinson, president; Dr. 0. D. Childs, secretary and treasurer, and S. E. Phinney, superintendent—for the lighting of the streets and public buildings of the city, by the Thompson-Houston system ; the street lamps being suspended from poles at the intersections of the AKRON'S STREET RAILWAY - 313 streets, there being at the present time 210 lamps in use, and the arrangement so far reasonably satisfactory—the masts, meantime, having been taken down, and the engine and other property transferred to the new company. The present street lamps have a nominal strength of 2,000 candle-power each, the contract price being three and a half cents per lamp, per hour, with a guarantee of $84 per lamp per year. For a time the city building was also lighted by this company, but now, from dynamos invented and constructed by Chief Engineer Frank F. Loomis, the building is lighted by the city's owh incandescent lamps at a cost of one-half cent per lamp per hour. PIONEER STREET RAILROAD. April 16, 1883, a franchise was granted to the Akron Street Railway and Herdic Company—Ira M. Miller, president, Wm. Christy, secretary and treasurer, and John E. Metlin, superintendent— to, lay a railway track through Howard and Main streets, from Furnace street to the south corporation line, the franchise to continue for the period of 25 years. The line was constructed the same year, and successfully operated for some time, with an extension, in 1887, to Lake Side Park, on the east side of Summit Lake, about one mile south of the city limits, Mr. John Wilson, of the Sixth Ward, for several years, having run a half-hourly line of comfortable Herdic coaches, on Market street, between Howard street and Case avenue in the Sixth Ward. ELECTRIC STREET RAILWAY. July 2, 1888, Council, by ordinance, granted the use of the streets of the city to the Akron Street Railway Company—Gen. John S. Casement, of Painesville, president; S. T. Everett, of Cleveland, vice president, and F. C. Bangs, of Cleveland, secretary—its cars to be run by electricity instead of horse power, the new company having purchased the franchise and property of the old company for the sum of $30,000 in cash, $15,000 in the stock of the new organization, and the assumption of the $20,000 bonded indebtedness of the old company. The new company erected its plant—a substantial brick building -a short distance north of the King Varnish Works, on Canal street, and had its cars running the entire length of Market street early in the Fall of 1888, since extended through Main, Mill, College, Buchtel avenue, Spicer, Exchange, Grant, Bowery,Wooster avenue, etc., the application of power being by the trolley system—a wire over the center of the track suspended by lateral wires attached to poles on either side of the street, and capable of a speed of fourteen to fifteen miles per hour. CHANGE OF PROPRIETORSHIP. November 1, 1889, a deal was made between Messrs. S. T. Everett, of. Cleveland, and John F. Seiberling, of Akron, by which the former became the owner of the Academy of Music property, and the latter of a controlling interest in the Electric Street Railway Company, since which time improvements have been vigorously pushed, so that now (August, 1891),there are 15 miles of track 314 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. in successful operation, with a roster of 175 employes, the present officers being: John F. Seiberling, president; John S. Casement, vice president; Frank A. Seiberling, secretary and treasurer, and John E. Metlin, superintendent; directors, John F., Frank A. and Charles W. Seiberling, John S. Casement and Willis D. Chapman. FUEL GAS COMPANY. The experiment of boring for natural gas, in and near the city having failed of success, the attention of the people of Akron ha naturally been turned toward the several systems of producin artificial gas for heating as well as illuminating purposes, tha have recently been devised, and on August 13, 1888, a franchise was granted to the Loomis Gas Company, of Michigan, to use th streets, alleys and public grounds of the city, for the purpose o supplying the inhabitants thereof with fuel and illuminating go which, under the improved process of manufacture, it was belie• would place Akron fully on a par with towns at present suppli with natural gas, with far greater assurance of permanence th those somewhat uncertain "holes in the ground" can furnish t those who erect costly manufacturing plants on the strength thereof. In October, 1888, the franchise was transferred to the Akro Light, Heat & Power Company, which has erected a substanti plant in the Sixth ward, and is rapidly extending its pipes throng the city, the present prices of gas being: fuel, thirty cents pc thousand feet; illuminating, fifty cents; light and fuel, thirty-five cents; the present officers of the company being: Gordon W Lloyd, president; Ferd. Schumacher vice president; Ernest F Lloyd, secretary; F. Adolph Schumacher, treasurer; James W Lane, superintendent; Olaf L. Guidlin, engineer. The above array, added. to her magnificent Fire Departmen with three first-class steamers, stationed in different portions o the city; hose reels and other apparatus, with well-trained teams to haul them; its own unsurpassed system of automatic electrica alarms, and its thoroughly organized corps of engineers and fir men, supplemented by the splendid system of water works, herein described, a largely patronized telephone system, and fre delivery of mail matter by an efficient corps of letter carriers, places Akron decidedly in the van, among the second-class cities of the State, on the score of public works; while her manufacturing, mechanical, commercial and professional status, as given in the succeeding chapters, gives to her, fairly and honestly, the title accorded to her, by even her most formidable rivals, of "The Tip-Top City." CHAPTER XV. AKRON'S POSTAL HISTORY-ANCIENT AND MODERN MIDDLEBURY'S SUCCESSIVE POSTMASTERS-FDRST POSTMASTER OF AKRON PROPER-THE PIONEER MAIL CARRDER STDLL IN A GOOD STATE OF PRESERVATION- SUCCESSIVE INCUMBENTS FOR SDXTY YEARS-SCRAMBLE FOR THE "SPOILS" UNDER SUCCESSDVE ADMDNISTRATIONS-WONDERFUL GROWTH OF BUSINESS-THE FREE DELDVERY SYSTEM-CLOSING REMARKS, ETC. ANCIENT MIDDLEBURY. AS elsewhere stated, what is now the Sixth ward of Akron, was, under the name of Middlebury, the early manufacturing and commercial center for this region of the country, beginning, in 1808, by the erection of a grist mill, where the frame sewer pipe mill of the Akron Sewer Pipe Company now stands, on Case avenue, by Judge Aaron Norton, followed soon afterwards by the erection of Bagley's wool-carding and cloth dressing mill on the same stream, and a few years later (in 1817) by the erection of the Cuyahoga Blast Furnace, by Laird & Norton, and numerous other manufacturing and mercantile operations. Just when the Middlebury postoffice was established is not now ascertainable, but it is believed to have been as early as 1810, though the village was not regularly laid out by William J. Hart until 1818. MIDDLEBURY POSTMASTERS. It is not definitely certain who was Middlebury's first postmaster, but the earliest now remembered by the " oldest inhabitant" was 'Squire Nathan Gillett, father-in-law of Akron's well known citizen, Mr. Sidney H. Bass, Mr. Gillett also officiating as justice of the peace. Mr. Gillett was succeeded by 'Squire Elijah Mason, followed in succession, by Roan Clark, Edgar T. Chapman, (still living at 84 years of age), January 1, 1841 to January 1, 1846; Phineas Stevens, Dr. Elijah Curtis, George Barber, 1852 to 1856, Roan Clark (again), George A. Peckham, and on his decease, temporarily by Hiram Weston, until the accession of Mr. Lincoln to the presidency, in 1861, when 'Squire Mansfield Sumner was appointed to the position serving ten consecutive years. February 17, 1871, James M. Wills was appointed under President Grant, holding the office until November 16, 1885, nearly 15 years, when he was superseded by Mr. Edward Donohue, the present incumbent being Mr. William W. Davidson. AKRON'S POSTAL OPERATIONS. As already stated, Akron, or that portion afterwards for many years known as South Akron, was laid out by Gen. Simon Perkins and Paul Williams in the Summer of 1825. The contracts for building the Ohio canal, from Summit Lake to Cleveland, were let in June, and excavations for locks commenced here, before the formal breaking of ground at the Licking Summit, July 4, 1825, by Gov. DeWitt Clinton, of New York, as elsewhere stated.   316 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. The concentration of contractors and laborers at this point, and the rapid influx of other branches of business—hotels, stores, mechanics, doctors, lawyers, etc.,—created the necessity for better postal facilities than were afforded by the Middlebury office, nearly two miles distant, and early in 1826 President John Quincy Adams' Ohio Postmaster General, John McLean, instituted the Akron postoffice, and appointed Wolsey Wells, Esq., postmaster of the new office. Mr. Wells was a lawyer by profession and was soon afterwards elected justice of the peace, and also, on the opening of the canal to navigation, July 4, 1827, was appointed collector of tolls for the port of Akron. ‘Squire Wells had built for, himself a large two-story house, on the southwest corner of West Exchange and Water streets, afterwards converted into a hotel, for many years known as the "Summit House," and which, moved to the rear, is still standing. In the front room of this house—afterward the hotel bar-room—did 'Squire Wells run his quadrangular combination of law, justice, letters and navigation. As showing the magnitude of the mail service, under the administration of Postmaster Wells, I quote from the historical reminiscences of Gen. L. V. Bierce, written nearly forty years ago. "I have," said the General, "in my cabinet of curiosities, his desk, about two feet by eighteen inches, that contained in its pigeon-holes all the files and documents of his multifarious offices." HIRAM J. SPICER,—youngest son of Major Miner Spicer, born in Akron, October 24, 1816, within about 40 rods of his present residence, corner of Spicer and Carroll streets; educated in early district schools; at nine years of age, carried mail, on horseback, once a week, from Akron to Bolivar, 40 miles; learned carpenter's trade, afterwards working, as a mill-wright on the early mills of Akron and vicinity, and for ten consecutive years on the Austin Powder Mills. February 31, 1839, married Miss Manilla A. King, daughter of Joshua King, one of the pioneers of Northampton and Portage townships. Five children were born to them, three dying young; the survivors being Avery King Spicer, of Akron; and Alice M., now Mrs. Sevillian Payne, of Davis county, Mo. Mrs. Spicer dying January 19, 1861, August 29, of the same year, Mr. S. was again married, to Mrs. Cerenia L. Barnett, of Akron. For 20 years, from 1865 to 1885, Mr. Spicer was in the employ of Aultman, Miller & Co., the last ten or twelve years in charge of repairs of shop machinery. Politically, as a Whig, his first presidential vote was cast for Gen. William Henry Harrison, in 1840, and his last, as a Republican, for Gen. Benjamin Harrison, in 1888, Mr. S. has been a member of the First M. E. Church of Akron, since 1872; is now retired from business, and is believed to be the oldest native born resident of Portage township now living. POSTMASTER LEWIS HUMISTON. Notwithstanding the motto of President Jackson, that "to the victors belong the spoils," Mr. Wells, though a Whig, was permitted AKRON'S POSTAL SERVICE - 317 to hold the office until his removal from the town, probably about 1833, when he was succeeded by Mr. Lewis Humiston, a Democrat, then keeper the Clark Hotel, (still standing) on the northeast corner of Main and Exchange streets. Mr. Humiston erected a small building immediately east of the hotel, about 12x15 feet in size, in which, on the arrival of the writer in Akron, in 1835, the late Arad Kent, as Mr. Humiston's deputy, was doing the mailing and delivery honors. A YOUTHFUL MAIL CARRIER. On the establishment of the Akron office, and other offices. along the line of the then unfinished canal, in the Spring of 1826, Major Miner Spicer took the contract for carrying the mail, weekly, between Akron and Bolivar, and the service was regularly and faithfully performed by Mr. Spicer's nine-and-a-half-year-old son, our present well-known and well-preserved 75-year-old fellow-citizen, Mr. Hiram J. Spicer, now residing within a few rods of where he was born, corner Carroll and Spicer streets. POSTMASTER HARVEY H. JOHNSON. Removing from the village, in the Summer of 1837, Mr. Humiston tendered his resignation, whereupon several candidates for the succession put in their claims, the two most prominent being the late Judge Constant Bryan, and another young lawyer, by the name of Harvey H. Johnson, the latter being also a justice of the peace, mayor of Akron in 1842, '43, a few years later congressman from the Ashland district, and still later a Government land agent in Minnesota. At this time, North Akron, or, as it was at first called, "Cascade," was pressing the original town hard, in a business point of view. Both of the candidates named being in the North Village, were opposed by the South-enders, while the fight between the friends of the two gentlemen named became so bitter that Postmaster eneral Amos Kendall finally intimated that unless some agreement was arrived at between the contending parties he would abolish the office. Thereupon, the South-enders threw their influence to Mr.. Johnson, as they afterward claimed on his promise that he would not remove the office to "Cascade," and in no event north of the "gore," a wedge of unplatted land between the two rival villages, between what are now known as Church and Center streets, and Mr. Johnson was accordingly appointed. But notwithstanding his alleged pledge, Mr. Johnson, in ecember, 1837, did remove the office to "Cascade," into the north end of the Buckley building, corner of Howard and Mill streets,. where S. E. Allen's drug store now is, in Masonic Block. This action, of course, drew down upon the offending postmaster's devoted head the direst anathemas of the irate South-enders, displayed in newspaper correspondence and through pamphlets, as. fully set forth in Chapter III. POSTMASTER DANA D. EVANS. Though a Democrat, appointed under President Van Buren's administration, Mr. Johnson was continued in office under "Tyler Too," his successor, Dr. Dana D. Evans, also an ardent Democrat, 318 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. husband of the late Mrs. Mary I. T. Evans, and step-father of the late George T. McCurdy, on Mr. Johnson's resignation, being appointed, by President Polk's Postmaster General, Cave Johnson, in April, 1845. Dr. Evans removed the office from the Buckley building to a room in the southwest corner of the Old Stone Block, about where the counting-room window of Byrider & Co's hat store is on Howard street, two years later removing it to the.north side of East Market street, about where Mr. Jacob Good's handsome stone front, "Commerce Block," now stands. POSTMASTER FRANK ADAMS. Our present well-known, and still active, Frank Adams, of the Sixth ward, though an ardent young Whig, was deputy under Postmaster Johnson, one year, in 1841, and again two years from 1843, running awhile into the term of Dr. Evans. On the accession of President Zachary Taylor, the Whigs, of course being entitled to the "plum," there was a spirited contest for the prize between Mr. Adams and Dr. Elias W. Howard, Frank coming in ahead, on the home stretch, entering upon his duties April 1, 1849, and has ever since been known, among old residents, by the cognomen of "Old Zack," then by general consent bestowed upon him. In addition to his postal duties, Mr. Adams was also constituted Akron's Electric Telegraph Agent, our late postmaster, William C. Allen, being his assistant in both departments. FRANK ADAMS,—born in Windsor County, Vt., July 5, 1819; common school education ; came to Ohio in 1838 ; in 1839, '40, printed maps for Samuel and Levi Manning in Akron ; 1841, clerk in postoffice ; 1843, printed maps ; 1843, '44, clerk in post-office ; 1845, partner in map business with Samuel Manning, the latter selling out to Lorenzo Eggleston in 1846; Adams & Eggleston burned out June 9, 1848; postmaster, by appointment of President Zachary Taylor, from March, 1849 to May, 1853; in hat trade on Market street till again burned out April 30, 1855 ; manufacturer of sewer-pipe, and for many years president and superintendent of Akron Sewer Pipe Company, retiring in 1886 ; during the war was a member of the Middlebury military committee, and treasurer of soldiers' relief fund ; for many years member and treasurer of Middlebury Council and School Board ; 1872, commissioner on annexation of Middlebury to Akron ; now active member of Akron Board of Trade, president of Akron Water Works Company and financially and officially connected with several other industrial enterprises of Akron and vicinity. January 21, 1846, Mr. Adamswas iniarried toMiss Sarah Hyde Gale, of Akron, who died Janua 1863, leaving two daughters (now Julia Latham and Mrs. May Perki September 12, 1863,was again marri to Mrs. Janetta L. Murphy, who borne him two children—Frank and Belle M. Adams. AKRON'S POSTAL SERVICE - 319 Soon after taking possession of the office, Mr. Adams bought the property now known as Bennett's Block, and removed the office to the room now occupied by Orson H. Remington, the jeweler, Howard street at that point having been cut down, after the erection of the building, leaving the floor of the office about four feet higher above the sidewalk than it now is. POSTMASTER EDWARD W. PERRIN. On the accession of Franklin Pierce to the Presidency, in 1853, in those ante-civil service reform days, as a matter of course, "off went `Old Zack's', head off," the honor this time falling upon Mr. Edward W. Perrin, for many years a salesman and book-keeper for P. D. Hall & Co., and now a 70-year-old citizen of Toledo. Mr. Perrin's only competitor for the prize was the late Dr. Elias L. Munger, a brother-in-law of ex-Postmaster Johnson, and also of our present well-known citizen, Nahum Fay, Esq. The battle waxed warm and furious between the friends of the two contestants, but was finally decided in Mr. Perrin's favor through the influence of the late Judge George Bliss, then the member of Congress from this District. Dr. Munger soon afterward removed to Shalersville, Portage County, subsequently, through softening of the brain, becoming an inmate of the Northern Ohio Hospital for the Insane, dying from that affection some ten years ago. JUDGE ROLAND O. HAMMOND, J born in Bath, July 8, 1826 ; educated at Oberlin and Western Reserve Colleges ; read law with Judges Carpenter and McClure and Judge Bliss in Akron ; admitted to bar, in Painesville, in 1850, opening an office in Akron the same year ; married in Akron, June 8, 1851, to Miss Amanda N. Harris, their only child, Eleanor M., married May 18, 1876, to Mr. F. A. Hilliard, of Cleveland, her mother, Mrs. Hammond, now living with her. On the death of Judge Charles a Ladd, Summit County's first Probate Judge, in August, 1852, Mr. Hammond was appointed by Gov. Reuben Wood, to the vacancy, which he ably filled until the ensuing October ; was clerk of Portage township, 1852-56 ; trustee of township, 1862, '63 ; postmaster at Akron, by appointment of President Buchanan, 1857-61; during the war, by appointment of Gov. David Tod, served as member of the 18th District Military Committee, and was Deputy Provost Marshal for Summit County in 1862, ' 63. Mr. Hammond was a successful lawyer, a shrewd politician and talented writer. He died January 12, 1867, aged 40 years, 6 months and 4 days, his remains being interred in his native township of Bath. 320 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Mr. Perrin took possession of the office, in May, 1853, after a time removing it to the Mathews building, a few doors further north, where it remained for nearly 20 years. In May, 1857, Mr. Perrin was re-appointed by President James Buchanan, but resigned, in August of that year, to go into the stock-raising business in Texas, with Dr. Isaac Isbell, but failed of success, Mr. Perrin, in a late letter to the writer, saying: "Had it not been for the financial panic of 1857, I should now live without work." POSTMASTER ROLAND O. HAMMOND. On tendering his resignation, as above stated, Mr. Perrin recommended, as his successor, the well-remembered Democratic politician and lawyer, Roland 0. Hammond, Esq., who was accordingly appointed by Mr. Buchanan, though Hon. David Tod, then high in Democratic councils, and a few years later known as "Ohio's Democratic War Governor," strongly urged the appointment of his nephew, the late George T. McCurdy, who was, twenty years later, appointed Collector of Tolls upon the Ohio Canal for the Port of Akron. RICHARD S. ELKINS, — born in Rutland, Vt., January 30, 1818 ; common school education ; learned the printing business in office of Rutland Herald; in 1837, came to Akron, working in office of Akron's pioneer paper, the American Balance; in 1838, worked in office of Cleveland Herald; in 1839, went to Ravenna as publisher of the Ohio Star; in 1844, removed to Akron and engaged in publishing the SUMMIT COUNTY BEACON, in 1845, selling a half interest to Mr. Laurin Dewey ; in 1848, sold office to John Teesdale, and entered into the book and drug trade with Mr. Joseph A. Beebe, a year later taking Mr. Teesdale into partnership and uniting the two branches under the firm name of Elkins, Teesdale & Co. ; in 1856, Mr. Teesdale retired, the firm of Beebe & Elkins continuing the printing business until January, 1867, and the book and drug business until 1880, when Mr. Elkins retired to his farm near Ravenna, where Mrs. Elkins still resides. In 1853, Mr. Elkins was a member of the Akron Village Council ; in 1854, Village Recorder ; in 1855, member and treasurer of Board of Education ; in 1861, was appointed by President Lincoln, as Akron's first Republican postmaster, which responsible position he ably filled nine years. February 9, 1842, he was married to Miss Adeline L. De Wolf, (daughter of Dr. Joseph De Wolf, a pioneer of Ravenna), born AuguSt 8, 1823, their only child, Adelaide E., now being the wife of Rev. W . K. Ingersoll, a Presbyterian minister, now located in Denver, Col. Mr. and .Mrs. Elkins were both prominent members of the First M. E. Church, in Akron, 0., of which Mr. E. was treasurer 13 years, and for the last 8 years of his life was a trustee of Ravenna township. Mr. Elkins died March 5, 1891, aged 73 years, 1 month and 5 days. POSTMASTER RICHARD S. ELKINS. On the change, of administration, from Democratic to Republican, in 1861, Mr. Hammond was succeeded by Mr. Richard S. AKRON'S POSTAL SERVICE - 321 Elkins, one of the proprietors and Associate Editor of the SUMMIT COUNTY BEACON, his sole competitor being Mr. William C. Allen, the late highly efficient incumbent of the office. Mr. Allen had not only acted as deputy for Mr. Adams, under the Whig administration of Taylor and Fillmore, but, afterwards affiliating with the newly formed Republican party, had been continued as deputy through the Democratic administrations of Pierce and Buchanan, under Postmasters Perrin and Hammond. Our then member of Congress, Hon. Sidney Edgerton, recommended Mr. Elkins for the position, but the popularity of " Bill " Allen, as he was familiarly called by everybody, brought to him strong backing in the contest, particularly among the younger portion of the Republicans of the village and vicinity. As an offset to Congressman Edgerton's recommendation and influence, Mr. Allen's friends adopted the plan of holding an election on the question as to who should be appointed postmaster, which election was held March 2, 1861, with Houston Sisler, John R. Buchtel and Clement J. Kolb, the regular trustees of Portage township, as judges, and Henry W. Howe and Mills B. Purdy, as clerks Of the election. Mr. Elkins and his friends took no part in the election, Mr. Allen's vote being 430, three ballots only being cast for Mr. Elkins. As the highest vote for any Republican candidate on the State ticket, at the preceding general election was only 630, it will be seen that the vote cast for Mr. Allen embraced, by a liberal margin, more than one-half of the Republican vote of the village of Akron and the township of Portage. Armed with the " returns " ex-Attorney General Christopher P. Wolcott (afterwards Assistant Secretary of War) proceeded to Washington to lay the matter before Mr. Lincoln's Postmaster General, Hon. Montgomery Blair. Mr. Edgerton, at his home in Tallmadge, being advised of Mr. Wolcott's departure for Washington, on a given morning, himself also started for the National Capital the same evening, arriving in time to be present at Mr. Wolcott's interview with the Postmaster General. Mr. Wolcott, of course, urged the popular will, as expressed at the ballot box, while Mr. Edgerton urged the influence of Mr. Elkins and his paper, in securing the Republican victory, in which, though an admitted Republican, from the fact of his officiating as deputy under the two preceding Democratic incumbents, Mr. Allen's influence was necessarily somewhat circumscribed. After listening to the arguments, pro and con, Gen. Blair turning to Mr. Wolcott, said: "What the Government needs in the present crisis, Mr. Walcott, (giving a broad pronunciation to the first syllable,) is iron men—men who are not only ardent Republicans now that offices are to be filled with Republican incumbents, but men who were outspoken and active in securing the victory which renders such appointments possible—Mr. Elkins will receive the appointment." To say that considerable bitter feeling was engendered by this controversy would be drawing it very mild, indeed, the bitterness by no means confining itself to political circles, but infusing itself into social, civic, fraternal and possibly religious affairs as well, its influence being felt in a greater or less degree even to this day, 21 322 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. though more than a quarter of a century has passed over the head of the participators therein. Mr. Elkins held the office nine years, his second appointmen by President Johnson, by some inadvertence, not being confirme until nearly a year after the expiration of his first appointment, a above set forth. Mr. Elkins was assisted in the office by his partner, Mr. Josep A. Beebe, and their faithful book and drug clerk, the late Eli T Curtis, the office being connected with the store of Messrs. Beeb & Elkins, by a door in the rear, Mr. William H. Bowers ale officiating as mailing and delivery clerk, during a portion of Elkins' term and for about six months under his successor. POSTMASTER JAMES B. STORER. As the end of Mr. Elkins' second term drew near, Adjutant James B. Storer, a life cripple, from wounds received in battle; Captain George Billow, also an ex-soldier, and Mrs. Henry 0. Hampson, widow of a deceased soldier, announced themselves as candidates for the office. The contest was quite spirited---Mr. Storer's claims being warmly espoused by his friends on account of his severe physical infirmity, Capt. Billow, besides a fair general following, being particularly favored by the German element, while Mrs. Ham pson had quite a circle of sympathizing adherents also. JAMES B. STORER,—son of Webster B. Storer, born in Akron, January 22, 1839; educated in Akron public schools ; at 17 began learning jewelry trade with William H. Tallman, afterwards, for a short time, with Henry S. Abbey ; then in iron store with father till the breaking out of the war ; on the day President Lincoln issued his proclamation for 75,000 troops, in April, 1861, enlisting in Co. G., 19th 0. V. I., during its three months' service, rising to the rank of sergeant ; re-enlisted in Co. H., 29th 0. V. I., for three years, engaging in the battles of Winchester, Port Republic, Cedar Mountain, South Mountain, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge, being promoted from sergeant to sergeant - major February 3, 1862 ; to second lieutenant April 13, 1862; to first lieutenant and adjutant January 26, 1863 ; as adjutant and recruiting officer, in December, 1863, re-enlisting nearly the entire regiment as veterans. In May, 1864, in the Atlanta campaign, in first engagement at Dug Gap, in Rocky Face Ridge, he was wounded in spinal column by a minie - b a 11, paralyzing his legs, and has since been entirely unable to walkwithout the aid of crutches ; in September, 1864, being promoted to captain. After his discharge from the army Captain Storer engaged in the jewelry business with Mr. Dwight A. Hibbard under the firm name of J. B. Storer & Co., which arrangement still continues. In June, 1870, was appointed postmaster of Akron, holding the office twelve years, as herein fully written of. January 11, 1864, Captain Storer was married to Miss Maria L. Ackley, of Akron, who has borne him one child -- Helen A. Storer, still residing with her parents AKRON'S POSTAL SERVICE - 223 To amicably settle the matter, at the suggestion of Congressman William H. Upson, an election was held on Saturday, May 7, 1870, at which 1,186 Republican ballots were cast, as follows: Storer, 858; Billow, 266; Mrs. Hampson, 62. This decisive vote, in due time, brought to Mr. Storer a commission signed by President Ulysses S. Grant, under which he took possession of the office on the 1st day of July, 1870, the new incumbent on the same day removing the office from the Mathews building, where it had continuously remained for seventeen years, to Masonic Block, corner of Howard and Mill streets, where it now is. For the second term Mr. Storer had no competition, and was consequently reappointed by President Grant in 1874, for four years longer. At the expiration of his second term, in 1878, Mr. Storer was confronted by his former Captain of Company H, 29th 0. V. I., and during the war promoted to the command of the regiment, Col. Jonas Schoonover. Though the Colonel's backing and credentials were first-class, owing to the excellent service which had been rendered by Mr. Storer during his eight years' incumbency, the department deemed it advisable that he should be continued for another term, his third commission being signed by President Rutherford B. Hayes, Mr. Storer thus holding the office twelve full years, a longer period than any other incumbent of the office since its establishment, in 1826. THE FREE DELIVERY SYSTEM. In the meantime Akron, by reason of the rapid and enormous ncrease of its postal business, became entitled to Free Mail Delivery, and the system was established here, under the auspices f Postmaster Storer, in March, 1879, Mr. Storer himself mapping ut the routes, and under the directions of the Special Agent of the epartment, personally superintending the inauguration of the new system. Mr. Harry J. Shreffier had been a clerk in the office from the commencement of Mr. Storer's administration, and had become so thoroughly familiar with the duties of the office, that on Mr. Storer's applying to the department for several months' leave of bsence, in 1875, Mr. Shreffler was formally appointed Assistant Postmaster, Mr. Storer's bondsmen signifying their assent thereto y indorsing the same upon Mr. Storer's bond, which position he eld to the end of Mr. Storer's term, the only appointment of that haracter in the history of the office. Mr. George W. Smetts was appointed a mail route agent on he recommendation of Congressman Rufus P. Spalding, in Janary, 1865, and again, after an illness of six months, on the recommendation of Congressman William H. Upson, at once becoming ne of the most efficient officers in the service. At Mr. Storer's quest, on dispensing with the services of Clerk William H. owers, early in 1871, Special Agent Jamin Strong (late Superintendent of the Northern Ohio Hospital for the Insane, at Cleve-and,) transferred Mr. Smetts to the Akron office, (Mr. Storer him-elf being sick at the time), as chief clerk, which position he ably lied for four years, when, in 1875, on the recommendation of ongressman James Monroe, he was reinstated upon the road, rom which time he never lost a day, by sickness or otherwise, 324 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. until his resignation of the position in November, 1889, nearly 24 years, and was undoubtedly one of the most thoroughly posted and expert mail distributors in the State, his first work being upon the C. & P. Road, between Cleveland and Pittsburg; next, for many years, on the N. Y., P. & 0., between Kent and Cincinnati, and from. May, 1884, on the Valley, between Cleveland and Zoar Station. On the adoption of the free delivery system, Mr. George W. Schick was made Superintendent of Carriers, which position, after twelve years of most efficient service, he still holds. In fact, so perfect were the arrangements made by Postmaster Storer, and his efficient aids, Assistant Postmaster Shreffler and Superintendent Schick, that, whereas, the city of Chicago, where the system had been in vogue for several years, was then delivering, by carrier, 90 per cent. of the mail matter received at that office, the Akron office attained to the standard of 93 per cent. the first year, the matter delivered direct from the office being mostly to parties living beyond the city limits, which ratio, notwithstanding the largely increased business of the office in the intervening years, is still substantially maintained. CAPTAIN JAMES H. MORRISON, —born in Lawrence county, Pa., May 14, 1834; in 1838 moved with parents to Wayne county, Ohio ; worked on farm summers, attended school winters ; father dying at 15, ran farm two years ; clerk in West Salem one year ; back to farm one year ; again clerk one year ; in Henry county, Ill., one year ; clerk in West Salem again six months ; in Fall of 1856 went to Iron City, traded team for land, returned to Ohio and engaged in sheep trade ; in 1859 engaged in selling " Gunn's Family Medicine " in the South ; at the beginning of the war returned to Ohio ; November 1, 1861, entered service as Corporal in Co. I, 16th 0. V. I. ; wounded in shoulder at Tazewell. Tenn., August 2, 1862 ; captured in hospital at Cummberland Gap in September, 1862 ; one week in Libby Prison ; detailed with 9th Independent Battery at London, Ky., six weeks ; discharged for wound January 12, 1863; in grocery trade at West Salem five years ; traveled for Cincinnati cigar house 12 years ; removed to Akron in 1873; appointed postmaster by President Arthur in 1882, retaining the office and ably performing its duties four years ; now again on the road. September 25,1857, Captain Morrison was married to Miss Elizabeth B. Emery, of West Salem. They have four children—Ira I., book-keeper, with Twine and Cordage Company, Akron ; Mary C., stenographer in office of Auditor of State, Columbus ; Emery E., in Reed and Rattan Works, Akron ; Bessie student in Akron schools. POSTMASTER JAMES H. MORRISON. At the expiration of his third term, Mr. Storer making no further effort to retain the office, several new aspirants for the position appeared upon the tapis, only two of whom, Captain James H. Morrison and Hon. L. S. Ebright, seriously entered into the contest. Though each had abundant local backing, Captain