(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) ENTHUSIASTIC CELEBRATION - 75 the bonds of the company to cancel its floating indebtedness and place it upon a firm financial foundation, with abundant funds to fully complete the line. At a meeting of the Board of Directors, at Warren, June 18, 1840, it was resolved to celebrate the completion of the work, all along the line, and a committee of arrangements was appointed, consisting of Judge Leicester King, Hon. David Tod, Jonathan Sloane, Esq., and Col. Sebried Dodge; the programme being for the boats to start from Newcastle, Pa., at 6 o'clock A. M., August 4, proceed to Youngstown for dinner, and to Warren the same evening; leave Warren at 6 A. M., August 5, dine at Ravenna, and arrive at Franklin Mills (now Kent) the same evening; August 6 leave Franklin at 7 A. M., and with brief stops at Munroe Falls, and Cuyahoga Falls, proceed directly to the junction of the two canals, in South Akron. The programme was successfully carried out The Pennsylvania party, including Gov. David R. Porter, were met at the State line, by delegations from Warren and Youngstown, and were warmly welcomed to Ohio, by Judge King (in the absence of Gov. Wilson Shannon who had promised to be present), which was fittingly responded to by Gov. Porter. Similar ceremonies were observed at Youngstown, where the party dined, with a banquet, speeches, toasts, etc., at Warren in the evening. The next day, at Ravenna, a dinner was given the excursionists with an address of welcome by Hon. Darius Lyman, and responses by Gov. Porter and Col. Dickey, of Beaver, and in the evening, a supper and reception were given the party on its arrival at Franklin Mills. The next day, making a brief halt at Munroe Falls, where the villagers and surrounding farmers made the welkin ring with cheers and shouts of joy, the party, on arriving at Cuyahoga Falls, were escorted by a band of music, to the American House, where an enthusiastic reception, with a bounteous collation, was given them, with an eloquent address of welcome from Hon Elisha N. Sill, and spirited responses from Gov. Porter, Col. Dickey, Judge King and others. Soon after leaving Cuyahoga Falls, the party was met by a boat carrying Akron's reception committee and other prominent citizens, when the entire fleet, consisting of six new and freshly painted boats, with banners, and pennants flying, to the music of the Akron Brass Band, led by the late Henry S. Abbey, drove gayly into Akron, amid the plaudits of the multitude who lined both banks of the canal from Tallmadge to Mill streets, and as soon as the lockage at the latter point could be made, continued on to final destination, in the lower basin of the Ohio Canal in South Akron, where an equally demonstrative crowd welcomed its arrival with booming cannon and prolonged and enthusiastic cheers. The six boats were drawn up side by side on the east side of the basin, many other boats already in the basin, quietly drawing near, when in the presence of the large concourse of people upon the shore and surrounding boats, Hon. Rufus P. Spalding delivered an eloquent address of welcome to the distinguished visitors, and of congratulation to the officers of the company, at the final consummation of the great work whose completion they were met to 76 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. celebrate, to which an equally eloquent and happy response was made in behalf of the visiting party, by Governor Porter. At the conclusion of the exercises at the basin, the visitors were transferred to carriages, and, headed by the band and the Summit Guards, commanded by Capt. Philo Chamberlin, and followed by nearly the entire populace, were escorted to the Universat Church, on North High street, where Judge King, on behalf of the directors, made a concise report of the work which had been so successfully accomplished, and of the highly satisfactory condition and prospects of the company, Mr. King being followed by brief and spirited congratulatory speeches from Hon. David Tod, Gov. Porter, Hon. E N. Sill and others. At the close of the exercises at the church, the party repaired to the spacious hall in the third story of May's block (the present Clarenden Hotel), where a sumptuous dinner had been spread by that ancient prince of hotets, Mr. Samuel Edgerly (father of Mrs. B. F. Battels and Charles H. Edgerly). Here the balance of the afternoon was spent in feasting, drinking, toasting and speaking, in which both visitors and citizens heartily participated. Upon the Akron boat had been borne an elegant silk banner, upon which, in the line of his early artistical profession, the writer had painted in gilt, two right hands clasped underneath the legend, 'Pennsylvania and Ohio." Towards the close of the festivities, Mr. Spalding, offering as a sentiment: "Pennsylvania and Ohio, distinguished by unity of interest, unity of principle and unity of friendship," presented the flag in question to Gov. Porter, "as a slight testimonial of the respect entertained for him by the citizens of Akron, and as a memento, in subsequent life, of the joyful festivities of the day." On receiving the flag, the Governor feelingly responded, expressing his great gratification at the kindness of his reception by the people of Ohio, and especially at the extreme cordiality that had been extended to him by the citizens of Akron and Summit County. Much wonderment, and very great regret, was indulged in over the absence of Governor Shannon, .after his unqualified agreement to honor the occasion with his presence, and on his non-appearance, without explanation, it was feared that he had been suddenly taken severely ill. But when it soon afterwards transpired that, on the very days when the festivities named were in progress, the Governor was in attendance upon political meetings in the south part of the State, making stump speeches in behalf of his own re-election, the indignation hereabouts was both intense and emphatic, aiding to some extent, no doubt, in compassing his defeat. A previous historical writer has given the date of the celebration as 1841, and Gov. Thomas Corwin as the delinquent official, an error that should be corrected, as Gov. Shannon was defeated by Mr. Corwin, at the ensuing October election after his shabby treatment of Gov. Porter and the people of Northeastern Ohio. In the evening of the celebration in Akron, as above related, there was an impromptu reception, with rather a late sapper, accompanied with the usual liquid refreshments then so universally in vogue, at the Ohio Exchange, on the present site of Woods' block, corner Main and Market streets. The visitors retiring to IN SUCCESSFUL OPERATION - 77 their several rooms at rather a late hour, were not very early astir in the morning, and when finally assembled for breakfast, Major General Seeley, of Warren, was found to be absent. A friend going to his room to call him found him dead, from an attack of apoplexy during the night. The General was 70 years of age, of genial manners, and a great favorite, his sudden and unexpected death, creating great excitement and the profoundest sorrow among his fellow excursionists, as well as the citizens of Akron and other towns along the line of the canal generally. But sometimes the most serious event has a comical side to it.. A middleaged son of the General, a physician by profession, being bibulously inclined, not having entirely recovered from the indulgencies of the night previous, on being informed of his father's death, broke out into an uncontrollable and hysterical fit of weeping. A lady acquaintance of the family, a former resident of Warren, then living in Akron, endeavored to comfort him, urging him to cease weeping and control his feelings, but the Doctor, in his maudlin phrenzy, pathetically exclaimed: " Why, I—I I always cry when my dear father dies !" Among the incorporators and active promoters of the enterprise was a rather eccentric and somewhat profane lawyer, of Ravenna, named Jonathan Sloane, and when the sudden death of Gen. Seeley, who was one of his most intimate friends, was disclosed to him, rubbing his hands together he gleefully exclaimed: "Dom'd fine ! Dom'd fine ! Went out of the world with his belly full of beefsteak and brandy !" Hitherto transportation of iron, steel, nails, glass and other Philadelphia snd Pittsburg manufactures and merchandise, coming into Nortern Ohio, had to be made overland in "Conestoga wagons"—immense schooner-like affairs, drawn by four, six and eight horses—the products of this region, black salts, potash, wool,, cheese, flour, etc., etc., being in like manner transported thither. Among the commanders of this class of crafts, the writer remembers, Mr. Peter More, of Sharon, (father of the well-known cattle-king, More Brothers, of California), Mr. George Crouse, of Tallmadge, afterwards of Green, (father of ex-Congressman G. W. Crouse) and Mr. Patrick Christy, of Springfield, (father of Messrs. James and John H. Christy), Mr. James Christy himself making an occasional trip both with his father and by himself. Indeed, the writer, then with a brother running the carriage making and painting business on the present site of the Paige block, on South Main street, made several excursions to Pittsburg with a four-horse rig, for iron, steel, paints and other supplies, in 1839-40, previous to the completion of the canal. The opening of the canal to navigation, as above narrated, changed all this, quite large warehouses being erected upon its banks, at Akron, Cuyahoga Falls and other points, for the storage and forwarding of produce and merchandise through the large number of boats that immediately commenced plying thereon. For 12 or 15 years receipts for tolls were quite satisfactory, and several small dividends upon the stock were declared and paid. The tolls received at Akron amounted to about $7,000, in 1852; over $8,000, in 1853; and nearly $9,000, in 1855; quite large shipments being made by this route between Pittsburg and Cleveland, Massillon, etc. 78 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. In the meantime, however, railroad competition had come in, the completion of the Cleveland and Pittsburg, and the Akron branch, in 1852, very materially interfering with the canal, and the building of the Mahoning Valley road, from Cleveland to Youngstown, a few years later; seriously crippling its resources and impairing its usefulness and prosperity. In 1862, under a resolution adopted by the Legislature, in 1858, the Sinking Fund Commissioners sold the $420,000 worth of the stock of the canal owned by the State, to the Mahoning road for $35,000, which with stock previously secured from private parties, at equally low rates, gave that company a controlling interest in the canal. From that moment its doom was sealed; transportation rates largely discriminating in favor of the road and against the canal being adopted, traffic upon the latter soon almost entirely ceased. It will be remembered that in the erection of the canal, the Cascade Mill race, from Middlebury to Akron, had been merged therein, under an arrangement that gave the mills the advantage of the surplus, or lockage waters from the canal. So when, in 1867, the Legislature authorized the company to abandon or lease any portion of the canal it might deem advisable, the Akron Hydraulic Company leased, in perpetuity, all that portion of the canal between the Portage summit, near Ravenna, (including the reservoirs, feeders, etc,), and Akron, with the view of mantaining the full supply of water that had hitherto, since the constructing of the canal, accrued to their several mills. By a provision of the charter, any portion of the canal not used for navigation purposes for the period of one year, became forfeited, the lands covered thereby reverting to their original owners. The middle and eastern portion having thus gone into disuse, its stagnant waters were drained off by contiguous land owners, and its bed and banks largely brought under cultivation. The Akron Hydraulic Company, however, fully maintained its rights, under the charter, and its lease, by keeping the section between Akron and Ravenna in repair; and passing an occasional boat along its channel. In the meantime, the people of Cuyahoga Falls, feeling that not only was the health of the neighborhood being imperiled by the comparative stagnation of its waters, but that a large proportion of what water did pass, was just so much wrongfully kept from the wheels of their own mills and manufactories, in the Spring or early Summer of 1868, the bank of the canal was clandestinely cut in three several places, both at, above and below that village, by which the entire waters of the long level between Kent and the nine locks were drawn off into the river. The Hydraulic Company several times repaired the breaches thus made, and sought to protect them by stationing watchmen along the line, but as often would the waters mysteriously" percolate" through the soft earth, and wash it out again. In this way the fatal year was permitted to pass, without a resumption of navigation, and quo warranto proceedings were at length brought in the Supreme Court, in 1872, under which Gen. A. C. Voris, of Akron, and Hon. Samuel Quinby, of Warren, were appointed trustees to sell the property, rights, franchises, etc., of the Canal Company to the highest bidder, which was accordingly done, in September, 1873, for the sum of $38,000, the Mahoning Railroad CANAL ABANDONED - 79 Company, being the sole beneficiary of the sale. This sale did not, of course, affect the rights of the mill men in that portion connected with the original mill race, between Middlebury and Akron, nor the short section, between the junction with the race, in Main street, and the Ohio Canal basin in South Akron, the benefits of whose waters, through the Mill street Lock, the mill owners still for some years continued to enjoy. To this enjoyment the South Main street people, through whose lands the canal ran, put in an emphatic demurrer one night, in the Spring of 1874, by filling the canal with earth at the Exchange street bridge, and tapping the towing path at one or two points further North, and discharging the waters of the level upon the bottom lands, and into the Ohio Canal on the west. Legal proceedings against the supposed nocturnal violators of the law were instituted, but finally abandoned, and that portion of the canal also reverted to the contiguous land owners, and the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, as such, became a thing of the past, and its bed and banks, from Newcastle Junction to Akron are now covered by the tracks of the Pittsburg & Western Railway, as fully set forth in another chapter. The conception of the scheme, however, was a grand one, and one which, through the sagacity and enterprise of Gen. Perkins, Judge King, Dr. Crosby and their contemporaries, did its full share towards establishing the commercial and manufacturing reputation and importance of Akron, Middlebury and Cuyahoga Falls, and but for the advent of that still more potent factor of human enterprise and progress---the modern railroad—would still have been one of the cherished institutions of the State, and a source of profit to its proprietors. As a mill race, however, conveying the waters of the Little Cuyahoga river, Springfield Lake, etc., from Ancient Middlebury, now the populous Sixth Ward, of Akron, to the several extensive flouring mills of the city, it is still doing valuable service, though hidden from sight by a substantial conduit through Main, and that portion of Mill street, east of Howard. Peace to the " ashes " of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal! 80 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. CHAPTER VI. THE PORTAGE CANAL AND MANCHUCKERY" COMPANY, OR THE "CHUCKERY” ENTERPRISE--A MAMMOTH SCHEME-SUPERIOR SAGACITY AND ENGINEERING SKILL OF AKRON'S GREAT BENEFACTOR, DR. ELIAKIM CROSBY- "SUMMIT CITY" FIFTEEN MINUTES A COUNTY SEAT-RISE, PROGRESS AND COLLAPSE- MISMANAGEMENT AND RASCALITY-PROTRACTED LITIGATION--RUIN ALL JUSTICE TO AROUND-BRIEF BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH OF DOCTOR CROSBY AND FAMILY -TARDY HIS MEMORY. TRULY A MAMMOTH SCHEME. AFTER the consummation of the Cascade Mill race scheme, by which the waters of the Little Cuyahoga river had been turned from their course, at Middlebury, and brought to North Akron, thus constituting the extensive water-power now owned by the Akron Hydraulic Company, and which has, in reality, made Akron what it is, Doctor Eliakim Crosby conceived the idea of securing as an adjunct to that then potent element of manufacturing growth and prosperity, the entire volume of the waters of the Big Cuyahoga river, also. Quietly, but carefully, making his surveys, the Doctor satisfied himself that, if the right of way, and the requisite territory, together with an adequate construction fund, could be secured, a water-power second in magnitude and accessibility to no other in the Western country could be created, and a large manufacturing town, rivalling even the most prosperous in New York and New England could be built up. The village of Cuyahoga Falls was already largely using the waters of the river for manufacturing purposes, but the peculiar formation of the land and the stream below the village, with its deep and almost inaccessible gorge, rendered the availability of its waters, for manufacturing purposes, both difficult and extremely inconvenient, if not wholly impracticable. In the furtherance of this project, Doctor Crosby, having sold his one-third interest in the Cascade Mill race and contiguous lands in North Akron, to his associates in that enterprise, General Simon Perkins and Judge Leicester King, with the avails thereof quietly, through Mr. Eleazer C. Sackett (for many years past, until his death, July 10, 1889, at the age of 88, a resident of Wyandotte, Kansas), in 1836 secured, by purchase, all the lands abutting on the river, on both sides, from a point a little below the "High Bridge, in what is now known as the "Glens," to its junction with the little Cuyahoga, a short distance below Lock Twenty-one upon the Ohio Canal. Of the large tract of land thus purchased, nearly four square miles, or something over 2,500 acres, about 200 acres were nicely platted, and a large and handsomely engraved and printed map of " Summit City" was placed on exhibition in the principal business centers of the country, particularly in the East, and capitalists were invited to invest in the choice manufacturing sites and eligible building lots for business blocks and private residences displayed thereon. TRULY A MAMMOTH SCHEME - 81 To those familiar with the territory comprising what is now generally known as the "Chuckery" (so named from the facetious remark of that inveterate joker and punster, the late Col. John Nash, of Middlebury, in reply to the inquiry of a stranger as to the population of Summit City, that as near as he could judge it was about 10,000, "that is," he said, with that peculiar leer of his, 'one man and nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine woodchucks"), it will be readily seen that the location was remarkably favorable for the success of the contemplated scheme. The large plateau, now designated as " North Hill," embracing the Wise farm, and contiguous lands north to the river, and east to the old Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, were admirably adapted to private residences, public buildings, parks, etc., while the next lower plateau, embracing Cuyahoga street, was to be the business or mercantile portion of the city; the contemplated mammoth mills and manufacturing establishments to be located on the side of the bluffs, the lower plateau, and along the bottom lands of the Little Cuyahoga, from a short distance west of the deep cut of the Howard street extension, around the brow of the hill westerly and northerly, to the junction of the two rivers. On the 27th day of February, 1837, a charter was granted to Simon Perkins, Eliakim Crosby, Frederick Wadsworth, Eleazer C. Sackett, Edmund W. Crittenden, Peter Eicher and their associates and successors, under name and style of the Portage Canal and Manufacturing Company, with an authorized capital of $500,- 000, and with power to issue bonds for the purpose of raising funds for building its dam and canal, and defraying the other necessary expenses of the corporation, and with authority to mortgage its entire lands and franchises to secure the payment of such bonds. The first series of bonds was issued with the view of being negotiated in London, through the United States Bank of Pennsylvania, at Philadelphia, to which institution, as trustee, the company executed a mortgage upon all its lands and franchises, on the 19th day of April, 1839, to secure the payment of said bonds. The total amount of bonds thus authorized was £20,000 sterling, in forty bonds of 500 each. These bonds, as prepared, were nicely engraved, with a handsome vignette, representing both a moving canal boat and a railroad train, fine marginal designs, with 24 interest coupons attached to each, and were nicely printed on a fine quality of bank note paper. The body of the bonds read as follows: STATE OF OHIO, U. S. A. No ....... 500 £ St'g. - [Canal Boat, etc.] - £ St'g 500. THE PORTAGE CANAL AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, (Incorporated by the State of Ohio, February, 27th, A. D. 1837), promise to pay to the bearer of this Bond, FIVE HUNDRED POUNDS STERLING, on the first day of January, one thousand, eight hundred and .................... with interest thereon at the rate of SIX per cent. per annum from the ate hereof. The said interest to be paid semi-annually, on the first days of January and July, on presenting the proper warrant for the same at ................... where the principal also be paid on the surrender of this certificate at its maturity. Witness the Seal of said Corporation, with the signatures of the President [SEAL] and Treasurer, at Akron, Ohio, the ....... day of ..... , A. D. 18.... .................... Treasurer ...................... President With the exception of some four or five of these bonds, negotited with Joseph S. Lake, a Wooster Banker, and a stockholder the company, it was found impracticable to carry out this heme, because of the alleged stringency of the money market in 6 82 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. London, and because of the discovery that, being a corporation, the United States Bank of Pennsylvania, under the laws of that State, could not legally act as a trustee for their negotiation. An arrangement was therefore made by the company with Mr. Lake to give him, in exchange for the bonds he had thus purchased, a like amount in anew series' of bonds to be issued, and the mortgage given, as above stated, to the U. S. Bank, was duly cancelled on the 30th day of March, 1811. On the succeeding day, March 31, 1841, a mortgage was executed in favor of John J. Palmer, of New York, as trustee, to secure the payment of bonds to be issued by the company, to the amount of $100,000, in sums of $500 each, to be negotiated by him, which bonds, similar in style and execution to the others, as appears by a specimen in the hands of the writer, were as follows: [Loan of 100,000 Dollars.] [Real Estate Pledged By Deed of Trust.] STATE OF OHIO, U. S. A. $500. - [Canal Boat, etc.) - $500. THE PORTAGE CANAL AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, (Incorporated by the State of Ohio, February 27, 1857), promise to pay the bearer of this Bond, FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS, on the first day of January, One Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty-Six, with interest thereon at the rate of SIX per cent. per annum from the date hereof ; the said interest to be paid semi-annually, on the first days of January and July, on presenting the proper warrant for the same, at THE MERCHANTS, BANK IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, at which INSTITUTION, the principal will also be paid on the surrender of this Certificate at its maturity. Witness the Seal of said Corporation, with the Signatures of the President and [SEAL.] Treasurer, at Akron, Ohio, the thirty-first day of March, A. D. 1841. S. DAY, Treasurer. ELIAKIN CROSBY, President. [Instituted March 31, 1841.] - [Appraised at five times the amount of the Loan.] Some time previous to the issue of the bonds described, the original proprietors of the lands and water power, Messrs. Crosby, Eicher, Sackett and Crittenden, transferred the entire property to the company, after it had become duly organized, being credited therefor, upon the books of the company, the sum of $500,000, stipulating to erect the dam, construct the canal and cause to be surveyed and laid out into suitable sized lots for the purposes designed, 100 acres or more of said lands. Of the $500,000 thus credited to them, the original proprietors set apart the sum o $118,000, for the execution of the work they had stipulated to perform. Subsequently, said original proprietors contracted with Mr. E. C. Sackett to build the canal or race for the sum of $90,000, Mr. Sackett entered vigorously into the work, its progress, from the nature of the route to be traversed, being necessarily very slow, however, and after he had expended about $50,000 the company, reimbursing him in that amount, purchased his contract, binding itself to complete the work as stipulated therein. Afterwards the company contracted with Dr. Crosby, for the sum of $30,000, to complete the dam and race, excepting the unfinished work upon the latter begun by Mr. Sackett; but for some reason not now fully ascertainable, this arrangement fell through, and the company itself, under the superintendency of Dr. Crosby, proceeded to complete the work. The means for the earlier prosecution of the work were mostly procured from the sale of shares of stock, lots, etc. For this purpose, Dr. E. W. Crittenden, as general agent of the company, ASPIRING FOR COUNTY SEAT HONORS - 83 and James W. Phillips as special agent, visited New York Philadelphia, and other Eastern cities, in the interest of the corporation. Money being a decidedly "cash article," in those days—the panic of 1837 then being full head on—large blocks of stock in Eastern railroads and other corporations, real estate and all kinds of merchandise, were taken in exchange for both stock shares and building lots in the prospective city; a store being opened, about 1840, in the corner room of the historical old stone block—where the M. W. Henry block now stands, corner Howard and Market streets—by E. Darwin Crosby, son of Dr. Eliakim Crosby, the large double-faced gilt sign, bearing his name, on either side, as above given, made by the writer, now doing service as a shelf for canned fruit in his [the writer's] cellar, at 510 West Market street. Later on, in 1842, the late John T. Balch (father of Mr. Theodoric A. Balch, of 136 Balch street), as agent for John R. Hudson, of New York, contracted to furnish goods upon the orders of the company, at retail prices, to the amount of $30,000, on a year's credit, the company to provide two store, rooms for the sale of said goods, rent free. The main store under the taking title of " The New York Store," was established in room No. 3, of the stone block, and filled with a large and well-selected stock of general merchandise, for sale to the public at large, as well as upon the orders of the company; a smaller but pretty full assortment of goods also being kept in a store erected by the company in " Summit City," on the southwest corner of Cuyahoga street and Tallmadge avenue. The same building, then occupied as a dwelling by Mr. Seth Sackett, was destroyed by fire on the night of February 11, 1844, with all its contents, the family, in their night clothes, barely escaping with their lives; the New York Store closing business on the 25th day of April, the same year. FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES A COUNTY SEAT. Elsewhere will be found, in detail, the history of the erection of Summit County, and the protracted and bitter struggle over the location of the county seat. For the purposes of this chapter it will be sufficient to say that, in 1840, the " Chuckery" appeared upon the tapis as a compromise candidate for county-seat honors, against Akron and Cuyahoga Falls, between which towns a fierce rivalry existed. Akron claimed it as being the larger, in point of manufactures, general business and population, and because of its more convenient access from a large proportion of the territory included in the new county; while Cuyahoga Falls claimed it because of its more central geographical location, its alleged superior water power; its more favorable topographical advantages, and above all for its unsurpassed salubrity, and healthfulness; the "Chuckery's" claim being that by means of its gigantic hydraulic operations, then rapidly progressing, Summit City would speedily outgrow either of the other claimants, both in the magnitude of its manufactures and general business, and in population, while its accessibility, as well as its beauty of location, would be generally satisfactory to the people of the entire county, and allay the bitter animosities that were being engendered in the controversy then being waged between its two rivals. So promising were the prospects of the company at this time, and so plausible were the arguments presented by Drs. Crosby and 84 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Crittenden before the reviewing commissioners, at an all day's meeting held by them in the Universalist (late Baptist) Church, in 1841, to hear the question discussed, that two of the three commissioners actually decided in its favor, and proceeded to "stick the stakes" for the public buildings on the first level above the valley of the Little Cuyahoga, a little east of the house now owned by Mr.. R. A. Grimwood, on Glenwood avenue, built and formerly occupied by Mr. E. C. Sackett, one of the most prominent and active promoters of the "Chuckery" scheme. It is possible that this selection would have prevailed, the disasters of the company have been averted and the project have proved a triumphant success, but for the "moving" remark of bluff old Dr. Daniel Upson, of Tallmadge, while the measurements were being made and the stakes driven, who said to the bystanders, loud enough to be heard by the commissioners, that "nobody but fools or knaves would think of locating county buildings on such a spot as that." This so incensed the commissioners who, having conversed with the Doctor the day before, knew that though his residence was nearer the Falls, he was favorable to Akron, that they immediately pulled up their stakes, and proceeded to locate the county seat at Cuyahoga Falls as elsewhere stated, resulting finally in a submission of the question to a vote of the people, in 1842, and a confirmation of the judgment of the original commissioners in favor of Akron. To those familiar with the topography of the section traversed by the canal, the engineering difficulties to be overcome, with the crude and limited appliances then in vogue, to say nothing of the serious financial embarrassments by which the company and the contractors were beset, the wonder is that the really gigantic work in question could then have been accomphed as soon as it was, while in these modern days of improved labor- saving expedients, and comparatively easy finances, it could have been done in one-fourth the time, though probably at double the cost; common laborers upon the job then receiving but $13 per month, $2 only of which was in money, and the remaining $11 in orders upon the company's stores. For the information of those who have never been over the ground, I will attempt to convey what, at best, will be but a faint idea of the magnitude of the work. In the first place, a dam, some 20 feet in height, was required to be thrown across the river, from whence to draw the water thereof at a sufficient elevation to properly flow through the contemplated canal and discharge itself, on reaching its intended outlet at the other end, a distance of nearly four miles. This dam, View of "Big Falls" on Cuyahoga River, from "Chuckery" race, opposite "Old Maid's Kitchen." SKILLFUL ENGINEERING FEAT - 85 nearly 100 feet below the general surface of the surrounding country, was constructed of heavy timbers, anchored to the bed rock, at the bottom of the narrow gorge where it was located, with the ends of the upward arching superstructure resting against the solid rocky walls of the river bank, upon either side. Though meeting with several disasters and many hindrances, by reason of frequent floods, during the progress of the work, the dam was finally successfully completed some time in the year 1843. For two miles from the dam, the canal had to be cut from the solid rock of the overhanging cliff, or built up from the bed of the stream with substantial masonry and curbing, and filled in with earth difficult of access. On emerging from the gorge of the river a mile or so above the present covered bridge, the course of the canal, southward, was through a succession of large spurs of the high bluffs on the northwestern verge of the upper plateau of the company's domain, and at an elevation of fully one hundred feet above the bed of the river. These bluffs, composed chiefly of sand, had been corrugated and worn into deep ravines, by the action of the surface water from the upper plateau in its flow towards the river. These numerous high ridges required to be cut down, while the intervening gullies had to be elevated to the proper level for the bed of the canal then being built. To have done this by the usual modes of excavation then in vogue, the shovel, the barrow, the scraper and the cart, would have required an immense number of men and teams, and an immense expenditure of time, muscle and money. But the engineering and hydraulic skill of Dr. Crosby were equal to the emergency. Procuring a permit from the managers of the Pennsylvania and Ohio Canal, that canal was tapped upon the eastern verge of the company's lands, and in a shallow ditch, formed mainly by its own current, the water was conducted across the nearly level plain, about a mile and a half, to the western edge of the plateau, where, in troughs and properly directed sluice-ways, it was made to wash the parts to be cut down into the parts to be filled up; the latter being fortified at the bottom with suitable breastworks of logs, brush, etc., to catch the moving sand, which were from time to time added to, as the cavities filled up. In this way, not only were the depressions in the bluffs brought up to the required level, but thousands and perhaps millions of cubic yards of earth were deposited upon the flats below; the bottoms, between the river and bluffs, being in places raised from twenty-five to thirty feet; trees of quite large growth, being almost completely buried thereby. View of "Old Maid's Kitchell," from "Chuckery" race below the "Big Falls," on Cuyahoga river. 86 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. The south end of the canal, along the base of the upper plateau, for a mile or more, was constructed in the usual way, with shovels, barrows, scrapers, carts, etc., and though the work had several times been suspended, by the exigencies of the times, and the many unavoidable obstacles it had encountered, the great project was at length so far consummated, that on the 27th day of May, 1844, the water was turned into the canal at the dam, and, running its entire length, nearly four miles, was permitted to flow, for a short time, over the edge of the lower bluffs into the valley of the Little Cuyahoga, at a point about midway between Cuyahoga street and Howard street extension. The news that the water was to be let into the "Chuckery" canal, at a given hour of the day named, attracted to the spot a large crowd of interested people, from both "Summit City," Akron and the surrounding country. Of this event, Hiram Bowen, Esq., founder and editor of the BEACON, in the issue of May 29, 1844, said: "On Monday morning last the water of the Great Cuyahoga river was turned into the race, which has been for several years in process of construction by the Portage Canal and Manufacturing Company, for the purpose of conducting it to the brow of the hill, just north of the village, to be used for hydraulic purposes. The water flowed freely through the ,rocky channel which has been made at incredible labor and expense along the precipitous banks of the Cuyahoga, for more than two miles, when it passed into that portion of the race made through the sand bank, where it makes a southerly course towards the village of Akron, and leaves the river. Here, in consequence of the porous nature of the soil, the water made but slow progress, but it crept slowly and securely on towards its destined termination, the distance through, from the commencement of the sand bank, being about two miles.. Long before the water .came in sight a crowd of spectators from the neighboring villages, had gathered to witness the interesting spectacle. "About 4 o'clock P. M. the water was descried from the point where it was to flow over the hill into the valley of the Little Cuyahoga river, when the Baby Waker' of the Summit Guards,, stationed on a neighboring hill, awakened the echoes that skirt the wallies of the two rivers, by repeated discharges, done in fine style. This was answered by the hearty cheers of the multitude, and the ringing of the bells from the town. Then came a pause, and all were on tip-toe to see the final consummation of this great work—the fall of the water at the end of the race into the valley INHARMONY AND DISASTER - 87 below. The water came slowly on, as if it had lost its way, and was loth to leave the foamy bed of the ancient river, and check its headlong career to be subject to the control of man. But art and enterprise had triumphed—the great work, which had so long been held in doubt, was accomplished, for soon the water was seen to emerge from the termination of the canal, and flow over the hill into the valley below. This was greeted with three cheers from the people and the firing of cannon. Ithiel Mills, Esq., then proposed the following sentiment, to which the people responded with a right good will, and then retired to their homes: "DR. E. CROSBY: The noble projector and efficient executive of the great enterprise this day successfully accomplished, of introducing the waters of the Great Cuyahoga river to Akron by land. Of his noble and persevering spirit of enterprise, his fellow-citizens are justly proud."' It was to be expected, of course, that there would be more or less defects in the bed of the canal, particularly in the sandy portion of it, that would need to be puddled and otherwise remedied, and there being as yet no proper gates and sluices for safely conducting the water into the Little Cuyahoga river, the water was turned off at the dam until these things could be provided, and, as the sequel proved, never to be again turned on. Of the causes that .led to the final overthrow of this gigantic project, which had cost so much time, labor and money, and so great a degree of intrepidity, skill and perseverance of its projector and his associates, it is difficult at this remote day to definitely determine. But from the legal and other sources of information available, it seems to have largely resulted from want of harmony among the stockholders, and the importunity of the numerous creditors of the company, and perhaps, to a certain extent, from the cupidity, if not downright rascality, of certain parties who had been trusted with the sale of bonds, stocks, lots, etc., and the purchase of merchandise and other property in exchange therefor, the court records showing that about fifty suits at law, and in chancery, were instituted against the company and parties connected therewith,' between the time its embarrassments and complications became manifest, until the final closing up of its affairs. Finding itself unable to restore harmony among its members, or regain the confidence of capitalists, in September, 1845, Joseph S. Lake, of Wooster, was appointed a trustee, and all of the lands and franchises of the company were conveyed to him, in fee simple, for the purpose, as he expressed it in his advertisement announcing his appointment, "of enabling him to pay off the debts of the company, and to secure a good title to the purchasers;" and to more speedily accomplish that object, he associated with himself, W. S. C. Otis, Esq., to arrange and settle claims, and receive pay for lands sold; and Mr. E. C. Sackett to make sales of lands, rent property, etc. Finding that but little, if any, headway was being made by Trustee Lake, towards adjusting the affairs of the company, and placing it upon its feet again, on the 20th day of June, 1845, John J. Palmer, of New York, mortgagee of all the company's property in trust to secure the payment of its bonds negotiated through him, filed a bill in chancery, in the Court of Common Pleas of 88 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Summit County, for the foreclosure of said mortgage, in whic suit, besides the corporation itself, some 45 or 50 more or les interested private individuals were -made parties. What with answers, replications, demurrers, amendments, references, continlisuances, etc., this suit was prolonged until the October term of the court, 1849, at which time a judgment was rendered against the company for $127,832.18 and costs $289.81, and a decree entered for the sale of the mortgaged property, by Daniel R. Tilden, Esq., as Special Master Commissioner; E. C. Sackett having been appointed by the court, receiver of rents, etc., pending said litigation. Having been duly advertised, said property was sold by Master Commissioner Tilden, on the 15th day of June, 1850; a few of the smaller portions, city lots, etc., being sold to parties to whom they had previously been sold or contracted, by the company, and who had made improvements thereon ; but the bulk of the property, includlising its water-power, hydraulic improvements, franchises, etc., being sold to W. S. C. Otis, Esq., attorney for the bondholders for the sum of $38,172, the entire sales aggregating a little over $42,000, for what, exclusive of the large outlay on the dam and race, had originally cost the company nearly or quite $300,000. In speaking of this sale, John Teesdale, Esq., then editor of the BEACON, said: "Its present shape renders it available for the exeliscution of the original design, and the conviction seems to be general that with the requisite enterprise and energy, the new purchasers may realize from their in vestment what even the most sanguine of the stockholders dared hope for." But the prediction of Mr. Teesdale was destined never to be verified. The rapidly increasing use of steam, as a machinery propelling power, and the constantly diminishing, volume of water in the Cuyahoga' river, by reason of the wanton denudation of adjacent timber lands, rendering hydraulic privileges less desirable, the entire project was finally abandoned, and the territory included in the original scheme, embracing about 2,500 acres with the small exceptions noted—was sold as occasion offered, to private parties, mostly for agricultural purposes; though at this time a considerable portion thereof is rapidly assuming a city aspect, preparatory to annexation as the Seventh Ward of the exceptionally prosperous and growing city of Akron; while the dismantled canal through the gorge of the Cuyahoga river--now largely overgrown with bushes and trees—only serves as an object of curious interest and wonderment to the thousands of pleasure seekers who annually visit that now celebrated Summer resort, "The Glens ; " that portion south of the river being rapidly obliterated by the action of the elements upon its sandy embankments, and the plowshare of the gardener and husbandman. DR. CROSBY'S LATER LIFE, DEATH, ETC. Fifty years ago the Crosby family were not only the very elite, but the very life and soul of Akron society, first and foremost in every good work and social enterprise, the second and third daughters, Louisa and Mary, being very fine singers—the latter occupying about the same position in musical circles that Mrs. Henry Perkins holds among us to-day. What I have said of Dr. Eliakim Crosby, in this and former chapters, conveys but a faint idea of his services to the people of DOCTOR CROSBY'S LATER .LIFE - 89 Akron, a meager recognition of which has been tardily accorded in the naming of the new street running parallel with West Market street, from Maple to Balch streets; and also in giving his name to the Third Ward school building, corner of Smith and West streets. It is proper, in closing this chapter, and as supplemental to matters pertaining to the same subject contained in the first chapter of these papers, to add the following in regard to Doctor Crosby and his family: In 1830, the Doctor buried his wife, Mrs. Marcia Beemer Crosby, who died October 13, at the age of 38 years, having borne him seven children, four sons and three daughters. In about 1832 he moved his family to his projected new village of "Cascade," building for himself the house which is still standing on the back part of the lot on the corner of North Howard and Beach streets, and for many years known as the "Wheeler House." A year or two later this property was exchanged, with Mr. Reuben Downing, for the present lot occupied by the St. Vincent De Paul Church and parsonage, corner of West Market and Maple streets, and in the plain story-and-a-half frame house thereon he continuously resided until removing from the town in 1853. August 15, 1832, Doctor Crosby married for his second wife Elizabeth Brackett, who died January 3, 1834, an infant daughter remaining to him as the fruit of this marriage. May 8, 1834, he married for his third wife, Mrs. Ann Hamlin West (widow of Dr. Wareham West, who died in Middlebury, December 9, 1821, at the age of 30 years), her only daughter, Mary West, then being added to the lively family circle. After the disastrous failure of the great enterprise of his life, and the termination of the perplexing litigation connected therewith, shattered in fortune and spirits, Dr. Crosby, in 1853, removed with his wife and youngest daughter, to Suamico, near Green Bay, Wisconsin, where his youngest son, Benjamin Franklin Crosby, was then engaged in the lumber trade; his two other sons, Henry Clay, and E. Darwin, soon after going thither also. Dr. Crosby died at Suamico, September 2, 1854, aged 75 years and 6 months, his widow, Mrs. Ann Hamlin Crosby, dying at the same place December 11, 1857, aged 64 years. Dr. Crosby's eldest son, John B., died in Akron, September 23, 1832, aged 20 years. His second son, Henry Clay, married Mary West, (daughter of his last step-mother), and soon after the death of his parents removed to Chicago, near which city, in the pleasant village of Winnetka, he died May 27, 1886, in the 71st year of his age; his wife and one son,, Wareham West Crosby, surviving hint. The next younger son, E. Darwin, recently died in Chicago, where the youngest son, Benjamin Franklin, now lives. Of Doctor Crosby's four daughters, Calista M., when quite young was married to Charles W. Howard, one of Akron's pioneer merchants, and for whom Howard street was named, and in 1853 was again married to Judge Leicester King, of Warren, who died in 1856. She is still living, dividing her time among her brothers, sisters and other friends at Chicago, Colorado Springs, Akron and other places; her only son, Charles 0. Howard, having died in Nebraska in 1876. The second daughter, Louisa, married William Harrison Dewey, (brother of the late Mrs. Dr. Joseph Cole, of Akron), also one of early Akron's enterprising business men, who died in Chicago in 1863, leaving to the care of his widow five 90 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. daughters; the eldest, Jennie, died in 1870; the second, Ione, marrying Gen. L. P. Bradley, of the United States Army, now retired; the third, Helen, marrying Capt. Rogers, of the U. S. Army; the fourth, Louisa, marrying Samuel Colyer, son of Rev. Dr. Robert Colyer, now living in Portland, Oregon; the fifth, Charlotte, unmarried, still living with her mother. Dr. Crosby's third daughter, Mary, married Hon. Henry W. King, brother of our present well-known citizen, David L. King, Esq., the two brothers forming the law firm of King & King, in this city, from 1849 to 1851; Mr. Henry W. King also holding the office of Secretary of State and Commissioner of Public Schools, from 1850 to 1852, dying in Akron, November 20, 1857, at the age of 42 years and one month, leaving two children, Harry C. and Julia H. The former died in Washington in August, 1864, while serving as one of Summit County's 100- day men in the war of the rebellion. The daughter, Julia H., is married to Homer Dewey Fisher, son of the late Dr. Alexander Fisher, of Chicago, (formerly, of Akron), who is now manager of the Colorado Midland Railway, with headquarters at Colorado Springs, and with whom Mrs. King now resides. Dr. Crosby,s youngest daughter, (by his second wife), Elizabeth Brackett Crosby, married Charles N. White, paymaster of the N. Y., L. E. & W. R. R., with headquarters at Nyack, N. Y., where she died in December, 1885. CHAPTER VII. SUMMIT COUNTY-SIX YEARS' STRUGGLE OVER ITS ERECTION-SUCCESSFUL AT LAST-GREAT REJOICING OVER THE RESULT-PRELIMINARY ELECTION AND ORGANIZATION-THE COUNTY SEAT QUESTION-AKRON, CUYAHOGA FALLS AND SUMMIT CITY COMPETITORS-LOCATING COMMISSIONERS DECIDE IN FAVOR OF AKRON-BUILDING OF COURT HOUSE AND JAIL BEGUN--NEW DEAL AND NEW LOCATING COMMITTEE APPOINTED-EXCITING DISCUSSION-STICKING THE STAKES, FIRST ON THE " CHUCKERY,” THEN AT CUYAHOGA FALLS-MAJORITY AND MINORITY REPORT-A DIVIDED COURT FAILS TO CONFIRM MAJORITY REPORT - COUNTY OFFICERS DIVIDED ALSO, PART GOING TO THE FALLS, PART REMAINING IN AKRON-ANOTHER NEW DEAL -THE QUESTION SUBMITTED TO VOTE-AKRON AHEAD NEARLY TWO TO ONE-COMPLETION OF THE PUBLIC BUILDINGS-OVATION TO JOHN QUINCY ADAMS-SHABBY COURT HOUSE AND UNSAFE JAIL-SUBSEQUENT IMPROVEMENTS--NEW BUILDINGS IMPERATIVELY NEEDED, ETC. EARLY NEW COUNTY AGITATION. THE opening of the Ohio Canal, from Cleveland to Akron, in 1 1827, and through to the Ohio river, in 1830, greatly increasing the facilities for travel and transportation, very materially changed the currents of trade, diverting business from old established centers, like Ravenna, Canton, Wooster, Medina, etc., to such points as Akron, Massillon, Canal Fulton, Clinton, etc., on the line of the canal. As early as 1833, therefore, the farmers of the western portion of Portage, and the eastern portion of Medina Counties, in connection with the people of the new and enterprising village of Akron, began to agitate the question of a new county, to be composed of two tiers of townships from Portage, one tier from Medina, and a sufficient amount of territory from either Stark or Wayne, or both, to answer the constitutional requirements in regard to area. To facilitate the project, on the 14th day of December, 1833, Dr, Eliakim Crosby, in behalf of the people of Akron, published the following in the Ohio Review, at Cuyahoga Falls, Akron having no newspaper at that time : "PUBLIC NOTICE AND PLEDGE. "To whom it may concern: "Should the Legislature of Ohio set off and organize a New County, at its present session, composed of townships from Portage, Medina, Stark and Wayne counties, establishing the seat of justice in Akron, or its vicinity, then in that case, I hereby agree and obligate myself to raise and appropriate, or secure to be given and appropriated, towards the New County Buildings, a sum not less than Two THOUSAND DOLLARS. "AKRON, Dec. 14, 1833. E. CROSBY." It is proper to say, here, that at this time two other projects were being agitated, and advocated with considerable earnestness, by the people of the localties interested; one, the project of removing the county seat of Portage County from Ravenna to Franklin Mills (now Kent), which was supposed to be destined to become 92 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY a large manufacturing city; the other to retain the regular county seat at Ravenna, with Cuyahoga Falls as a half-shire; that is, the business pertaining to the west part of the county to be transacted at Cuyahoga Falls, and that from the east part at Ravenna with perhaps an alternation of commissioners' meetings, county sessions, etc. For these reasons, not only the people of Raven and the eastern townships, vigorously opposed the new county movement, but Franklin Mills and Cuyahoga Falls, also, and when Dr. Crosby's proposition was left with the editor of the Review, the people of the latter village hastily prepared for publication, in the same issue, the following counter proposition: "To the Public: An effort being made at this time to divide the county of Portage, and, from a part of this and the counties of Medina, Wayne and Stark, to form a new county, the seat of justice to be at Akron, and public notice having been given that if the Legislature of the State shall, at its present session, locate the seat of justice at that place, and in conformity with the terms therein offered, then that the signer, E. Crosby, will pay, or cause to be paid, two thousand dollars towards the new public buildings : " We, the undersigned inhabitants of Cuyahoga Falls, believing that said attempt to divide this county is premature and uncalled for by the bent interests of the county, and believing further that if it should be determined to divide the county at this time, against which we hereby publicly protest, the best interests of this part of the county require that the county seat shall not be placed at Akron, but that other places would be more eligible, and that this place, from its location, its superior healthfulness, and the man natural advantages of its situation, offers peculiar advantages for th county seat, if such county shall be formed, do hereby pledge ourselve that if the Legislature, at its present or next session, will locate the seat justice of a new county, to be formed of such portions of the adjoining counties as to them shall seem proper, at this place, we will pay, or secure to be paid, the sum of FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS towards building the new county buildings of said county. HENRY NEWBERRY, JOSHUA STOW, (By his agent B. Booth.) OGDEN WETMORE." Nothing, however, was accomplished at that, nor the fi succeeding sessions of the Legislature, though continuous an and persistent efforts were made to work up a public sentiment in the territory interested, and to influence the members of t Legislature elected from time to time, in the counties named, t look favorably upon the proposition. Thus matters stood up to the Summer of 1839. Political) Portage County was largely Whig, and as long as party lines wer adhered to, that portion of the county opposed to division wer able to nominate and elect candidates for the Legislature inimica to the measure. But at the annual election in 1839, the Whigs o Akron, and the western townships, united with the Democrats of Portage County, and elected their candidates for Representative, Hon. Rufus P. Spalding, then practicing law at Ravenna, and Hon. Ephraim B. Hubbard, an enterprising farmer, of Deerfield, both pledged to the New County project; Col. Simon Perkins having been in 1838, elected State Senator for two years. NEW COUNTY BILL INTRODUCED. The Legislature convened on Monday, December 2, 1839, and, true to their pledges, Messrs. Spalding and Hubbard formulated a bill for the erection of the County of Summit, which was favor NEW COUNTY BILL REPORTED - 93 ably reported by Hon. James Hoagland, of Holmes County, chairman of the Committee on New Counties, and read the first time on Tuesday, December 17, a full synopsis of the bill being as follows: HON. RUFUS PAINE SPALDING, —born at West Tisbury, Island of Martha's Vineyard, Mass., May 3, 1798; educated in academies of Bridgewater, Mass., and Colchester. Conn., and at Yale College, graduating from latter in 1817 ; studied law with Chief Justice Zephaniah Swift, of Conn., to whose daughter, Lucretia. A., he was married October 1, 1822. Soon after finishing his law studies, he emigrated to Ohio, practicing for several years in Warren, then in Ravenna, and, on organization of Summit County, in 1840, moved to Akron, several years later going to Cfevefand, where he resided until his death, August 29, 1886, at the age of 88 years, 3 months, 23 days. In 1839, Mr. Spalding was elected representative to the Legislature, on the New County issue, and was largely influential in securing its erection ; was re-elected, by b is new constituency, in 1841 and made Speaker of the House ; in 1848-9 was appointed Judge of Supreme Court of Ohio, ably serving three years ; in 1862 was elected Representative to Congress from the 18th district, and twice reelected, ably serving six years. Mrs. Spalding dying- February 21, 1858, Judge Spalding was again married, January 11, 1859, to Mrs. Nancy Sargent, eldest daughter of Dr. William S. Pierson, of Windsor, Conn. By the first Mrs. Spalding- he had seven children— Emily, married to Judge Luther Day, of Ravenna, both now deceased ; Philura C., the first wife of Mr. Joseph E. Wesener, of Akron ; Lucretia, died young ; Rufus died at the age of 19; Kittie, now Mrs. McIlrath, of St. Paul, Minn. ; Zephaniah Swift, now a wealthy sugar grower in the Sandwich Islands ; and George, deceased. The second Mrs. Spalding is now also deceased. SECTION 1, provided that the townships of Twinsburg, Northfield, Boston, Hudson, Stow, Northampton, Portage, Tallmadge, Springfield and Coventry, in Portage County; Richfield, ath, Copley and Norton, in Medina County, and Franklin and men, in Stark County, be erected into a separate county, to be nown by the name of Summit, and that, for the purpose of estoring to Medina County its constitutional limits, the town-hips of Homer and Spencer be transferred from Lorain to Medina. SECS. 2 AND 3, provided for the prosecution of suits already ommenced, in the several original counties; the collection of the axes should proceed as if no change had taken place, and that justices of the peace, constables, etc., continue to act until the expiration of the terms for which they were elected. SECS. 4 AND 5, provided for the election of county officers on the first Monday of April, 1840, to hold their respective offices until the ensuing annual election, and that the courts be held in Akron, until the permanent location of the seat of justice. Sec. 6, provided for the appointment of commissioners to locate the county seat, said commissioners to be paid by said new 94 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. county; with authority "to receive propositions for the erection county buildings by the citizens of such towns and villages a may desire to have the seat of justice estabhed within their respective limits," and that "in no event shall any tax for the erection of county buildings for said County of Summit be imposed upon the citizens of the townships of Franklin an Green, which townships are taken from the county of Stark, to and during the term of fifty years, from and after the passage o this act." JUDGE JAMES S. CARPENTER, —born at Swanzey, N. H., August 17, 1805 ; at 18 months of age moved with parents to Pottsdam, N. Y. ; boyhood spent on farm ; educated at home, in schools of neighborhood, and at St. Lawrence Academy, at Pottsdam, teaching part of year, from 17 to 20 ; in Winter of '25-26 taught in Franklin Co., New York ; 1826 to 1828 taught in Canada, part of the time in Montreal ; then became assistant teacher in Amherst (Mass.) Academy and during Summer of 1829 a teacher in Ladies' Seminary, at Springfield ; then entered Amherst College, but from failing health returned home, resuming teaching and yet keeping up the studies of his college course. In June, 1832, came to Ohio, teaching in Cleveland, Massillon and Ravenna, being Principal of Ravenna Academy from 1833 to 1835 ; in Summer of 1835 worked on farm ; May 1, 1835, was married to Miss Frances C. Saltonstall of Geneva, N. Y. ; in November, 1835, went to Medina and for four years edited the Constitutionalist, a Whig and anti-slavery paper, at same time studying law ; admitted to bar May 29, 1838; in Fall of 1839 was elected Representative to Ohio Legislature, and in 1840 to the Senate, being the only avowed Abolitionist in either House, fighting valiantly for the rights of the colored people of Ohio in the schools and otherwise ; from 1840. to 1850 was lawpartner of the late Judge Samuel W. McClure ; in 1846 removed to Akron and has practice law here ever since, with the exception of the five years, from 1856 to 1861, that he occupied the Common Pleas Bench. Judge Carpenter is the father of three children—Gilbert S., captain in regular army, now on recruiting service in Cleveland ; Dr. William T. Carpenter, of Stambaugh, Mich., and A bbie L., now wife of Charles W. Tyler, Esq., of Warren, Ohio. Our well-known fellow-citizen, Hon. James S. Carpenter, was then 1838 40 the representative of Medina County, and the senator from that district from 1840 to 1842, and, in accordance with the wishes of a majority of his constituents, opposed the measure, slicing off as it did, some of the very best townships of that county. For a like reason Representative Bliss and Senator Birch, of Lorain, and Representatives Smith and Welch, and Senator Hostetter, of Stark, also vigorously fought the project at every step, while the representatives and senators of other counties threatened with dismemberment, by new county projects, acted and voted with them. Prominent citizens of Ravenna and Medina were in attendance to lobby against the measure, while a number of Akron's foremost business men were sent to Columbus to work for the project. THE PROJECT VIGOROUSLY OPPOSED - 95 The bill finally passed the House on the 6th of February, 1840, the close vote of 34 to 31—a majority of three only. The bill s read the first time in the Senate, February 7, and passed ebruary 28, by a vote of 19 to 15, a majority of four; and was ngrossed and signed by Thomas J. Buchanan, Speaker of the ouse, and William McLaughlin, Speaker of the Senate, March 3, 1840. Space will not permit a full detail of the artifices resorted to o defeat the measure, nor the skill with which our representaives and senator engineered the bill through, though the following, extracts from the House and Senate journals will suffice to show thc persistence with which the project was fought throughout. In the House, December 21, the bill being taken up for consideration, on Mr. Spalding's motion, Mr. Welch moved to postpone until the second Tuesday of January, which was carried by a vote of 42 to 28. On the day named, the bill was taken up on Mr, Spalding's motion, when Mr. Welch moved to commit it to the Committee on New Counties, with instructions to report the number of petitioners for and remonstrants against the project, which was agreed to. January 17, the bill being under consideration, Mr. Welch moved to postpone further action until the first Monday of the following December, which was lost, 28 to 32, and the bill laid upon the table. January 27, Mr. Spalding moved to take the bill from the table which motion was lost, 25 to 30. February 6, Mr. Spalding moved to put the bill upon its final passage, which, after considerable delay, caused by Mr. Welch's demand for a call of the house, was done, and the bill passed, as as above stated, 34 to 31. In the Senate February 27, Mr. Hostetter moved to strike out the territory belonging to Stark County. Lost, 15 to 18. Mr. Nash of Meigs, moved to strike out the clause exempting Franklin and Green townships from taxation for public buildings for 50 years. Lost 14 to 19. February 28, on the third reading of the bill, Mr. Thomas, of Miami, moved to re-commit to Committee on New Counties with instructions to so amend as to strike out the part exempting Franklin and Green from taxation. Lost, 13 to 21. Mr. Hostetter moved to postpone the further consideration of the bill to the first Monday of December. Lost, 7 to 27. Mr. Birch, of Lorain, moved to refer to Judiciary Committee, with instructions to strike out the two Lorain townships. Lost, 9 to 25. Mr. Hostetter moved to amend so as to submit to voters of the proposed new county at the next October election. Lost, 10 to 24. The bill was then passed as above stated, 19 to 15. A joint resolution passed both. Houses, without opposition, appointing Jacob J. Williard, of Columbiana County, James McConnell, of Holmes County, and Warren Sabin, of Clinton County, as commissioners to locate the seat of justice of the new county, as did also the organizing bill providing for the election of officers, the proper care of paupers, idiots and insane; the collection of taxes; giving to the new county its proportion of the government surplus revenue, $29,330; the time of holding courts; attaching Summit to the Third Judicial District, embracing the counties of Ashtabula, Trumbull and Portage, and to the Fifteenth Congressional District, embracing Cuyahoga, Portage, :Medina and Lorain counties, etc. 96 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. It will be remembered that the bill passed the Senate February 28, which was on Friday, 1840 being leap year. It will also be reclisollected that there was neither telegraphic nor railroad communication between Akron and Columbus at that time, the old four-horse mail and passenger coach being the fastest mode of travel then in vogue, which at that season of the year, was not by any means fast, The news of the passage of the bill consequently did not reach Akron until Monday evening, March 2, three full days. The effect of the news upon the people of Akron was thus graphically stated in one of the local papers: "With the rapidity of lightning the news was spread from house to house, and in less than half an hour the whole town was in motion. Cheers, congratulations, ringing of church bells, bon-fires and illuminations were the order of the day, while the deep-toned thunder of the cannon continued to proclaim the birth of the new county to all the surrounding country. Such a spontaneous burst of feeling has seldom been witnessed under any circumstance. It was a scene to be looked upon, but cannot be described; such a noise as the shrouds make at sea in a stiff tempest—as loud and to as many tunes. Hats, caps and cloaks flew up, and had their faces been loose this night had lost them." The recollection of the writer, looking backward through the dim vista of the intervening half century, is clear and distinct that throughout that entire night unrestrained jollity, if not absolute revelry, prevailed. Nor did the people of Akron confine the jollification business entirely to themselves. The booming of the cannon, the ringing of the bells and the reflection from the bonfires, had already announced to contiguous townships that something extraordinary had happened, and many of the nearest came in to help us "make a night of it," while those more distant were in betimes next morning. Steps were immediately taken for a general New County Celebration on Wednesday, March 4. A committee of twelve citizens of Akron and one from each of the townships, was appointed and messengers were sent to every part of the county to spread the joyful news, and invite everybody to the banquet. Dr. Jedediah D. Commins was made President of the day; Col. James W. Phillips, Col. Justus Gale and Justice Jacob Brown, of Akron; Col. Frederick A. Sprague and Benjamin Rouse, of Richfield, and Col. Solomon Markham, of Green, Vice Presidents; Gen. Lucius V. Bierce, Marshal, and Col. Erastus Torrey and Major Ithiel Mills, Assistant Marshals. At sunrise, on Wednesday morning, a national salute of 13 guns was fired from the summit of the " grove," between north and south Akron, the present Court House lot, which was also the place selected for the celebration. At an early hour people from near and far townships began to assemble, everybody seeming jubilant and happy. The military display was very fine, indeed, participated in by the Summit Guards, Akron Light Infantry and Cavalry, Copley Light Artillery, the Military Band and the Akron Brass Band, under the leadership of the late Henry S. Abbey. The procession of several thousand men and boys, after marching through several streets, was joined by a large cortege of ladies NEW COUNTY JOLLIFICATION - 97 dressed uniformly, all carrying parasols, who, taking position between the committee of arrangements and the military, marched the balance of the route to the place of feasting, the dinner, though hastily prepared, being both abundant and palatable. Space will not permit a detailed report of the after-dinner proceedings, consisting of the customary thirteen regular toasts, and a great variety of volunteer toasts, with responses more or les appropriate, by the more tonguey of the jollifiers. The full text of the regular toasts, well illustrates the popular sentiment, and are here reproduced as follows : 1. The Legislature of Ohio—They have at length done justice to themselves and to us. Better late than never. 2. Our Senators and Representatives—Many have done well, but these have excelled them all. 3. The County of Summit—An infant Hercules. Give him a wide berth; for he'll be a whopper! 4. Our Struggle—Almost another Trojan siege! The pangs and throes it has cost our parents to bring us forth are a certain presage of future greatness. 5. Akron - Look at her as she was, as she is and as she WLL BE! 6. Our Young County The pride of our affections; unsurpassed in the elements of future greatness; already populous and wealthy. If such is its childhood, what will it be when it becomes a man? 7. Portage, Stark and Medina—Among them they have hatched a young eagle, full-fledged and on the wing. She will soar above them all. 8. The Buckeye State  A germ of future empire, marching right ahead in the road of prosperity. She will not be turned aside from the high destiny that awaits her ! 9. Our Canals and Public Improvements—If such things be done in the green tree, what will be done in the dry? 10. The Late Meeting at Ravenna—Malignity feeding on envy; claws pecking at eagles; a striking instance of folly reacting on itself ! 11. The Memory of Gregory Powers—We mourn the untimely fate of this patriot, statesman and jurist. His memory will long be cherished in the County of Summit, his native and resting place!. 12. The Memory of George Washington—The greatest and best man ever produced in the tide of time When nature formed him she broke the mold, that he might stand peerless and alone ! 13. The Ladies of Summit—It is the summit of our ambition to stand in the summit of their affections Volunteer toasts similar in sentiment, and perhaps still more extravagant in language, were offered by Messrs. Benjamin Rouse, of Richfield; Gen. Samuel D. Harris, of Ravenna; John Hunsberger, of Green; Julius A. Sumner, of Springfield, and Dr. Asa Field, Col. James W. Phillips, Robert K. DuBois, Dr. Jedediah D. Commins, Capt. Philo Chamberlin, Col. Erastus Torrey, Col. Justus Gale, Dr‘ Joseph Cole, Major Ithiel Mills, and Hiram Bowen, Esq., (Editor BEACON), of Akron. In the evening a large convival party took supper at the "Ohio Exchange," southwest corner of Main and Market streets, (present site of Woods' Block), winding up with a social dance, the utmost 7 98 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. good feeling and hilarity prevailing throughout; a local paper saying: "The day was closed without accident, or other untoward circumstance to mar the festivities, amid bon-fires and every demonstration of joy. The 4th of March, 1810, will long be remembered in Akron !" HON. JOHN HOY,—born in Adams County, Pa., July 4, 1797; common school education; learned trade of stone and brick mason; December 19, 1820, was married to Miss Elizabeth Traxler; moved to Ohio in 1821, settling in Manchester, then in Stark Co.; soon after settling there was elected justice of the peace for Franklin township, holding the office 18 years; on the organization of Summit County, in April, 1840, was elected County Commissioner, re-elected in October following, for two years, and again in 1842 for three years, serving in all five years and seven months; in April, 1847, was appointed by the Legislature one of the Associate Judges of Summit County, ably serving till the taking effect of the new State Constitution, in 1852; also served as land appraiser for four townships, and on the State Board of Equalization, and took an active interest in educational matters and the religious and benevolent enterprises of the day. Judge and Mrs. by were the parents of six daughters and one son—Sophia, married to Adam Sorric, (now deceased); Sabina, wife of Henry Daily, ( deceased); Lorohama, wife of Dr. William Sisler, (deceased); Amanda, now Mrs. Dr. Adam Sisler; Caroline Maria, now Mrs Samuel Gongwer; Anna, wife o Lewis Everhart, (deceased), and John F., now a resident of the city of Springfield, O. As provided by law the county officers were chosen at the regular Spring election, on the first Monday of April, to hold their respective positions until the annual election in the following October. The officers chosen at that time were: Commissioners, John Hoy, of Franklin; Jonathan Starr, of Copley; and Augustus „E. Foot, of Twinsburg; Auditor, Birdsey Booth, of Cuyahoga Falls; Treasurer, William O'Brien, of Hudson; Recorder, Alexander Johnston, of Green; Sheriff, Thomas Wilson, of Northfield; Prosecuting Attorney, George Kirkum, of Akron; Coroner, Eha Hinsdale, of Norton; Real Estate Appraiser, Frederick A. Sprague, of Richfield; Assistant Appraisers, Milo Stone, of Tallmadge and Thomas E. Jones, of Franklin, County Clerks at that time being appointees of the several Common Pleas Courts of the State, Court Judges in turn, being appointees of. the Legislature; the office of Probate Judge not then being in existence. The officers elect assembled at the tavern of Charles P. McDonald, northeast corner of South Main and Exchange streets, (in the same building still standing there), on Thursday, April 9, 1840. Justice Jacob Brown administered the oath of office to Commissioners Hoy, Starr and Foote, who, in turn, administered a like oath to the several other officers, and on the due filing and acceptance of the proper bonds, the organization was complete. LOCATING THE COUNTY SEAT - 99 At this meeting propositions were made for temporary quarters for county purposes, pending the erection of public buildings, as follows: the present Continental Hotel building, corner of Main and Exchange streets, by Jacob Brown, Esq.; the three-story brick building of Mr. Benjamin W. Stephens, on the present site of Merrill's Pottery, and the three-story stone block of Messrs. Chauncey S. and Hiram Payne, on the southeast corner of Howard and Market streets; the latter being accepted at a subsequent meeting of the commissioners. The large hall on the third floor was used for a court room, a small portion of the southeast corner being partitioned off for jail purposes; the several county officers occupying other rooms on the second and third floors of the building. THOMAS WILSON, - Summit Conn' ty's first Sheriff, was born in Pennsylvania, December 22, 1811; raised on farm, with common school education; about 1830 moved with parents to Northfield, Ohio, walking all the way, and driving his mother’s two favorite cows. He was married at Brandywine Mills, by Rev. Caleb Pitkin, of Hudson, to Miss Emeline H. Wallace, sister of the late James W. Wallace, December 20, 1838, who died October 7, 1840, aged 26 years. At the preliminary election, in the organization of the new county of Summit, held on Monday, April 6, 1840, Mr. Wilson was elected Sheriff, s reelected in October, the same ear, and again in 1842, ably filling the office four years and seven months. On retiring from office Mr. Wilson was for several years engaged in the manufacture of mineral paint in Akron, about 1860 removing to St. Louis, Mo., where he engaged in the real estate business; also having an interest in the Glencoe Rock Company, and furnishing the stone for some of the finest buildings in that city. June 15, 1857, Mr. Wilson married Miss Marie E. McArthur, of Akron, who bore him three children, one only of whom is now living Ruth, now a music teacher .in St. Louis and living with her mother. At the time of his death, June 19, 1887, at the age of 75 years, 6 months and 7 days, Mr. Wilson was superintendent of " Memorial Home," a home for old gentlemen in St. Louis. At this time, it will be recollected, the seat of justice of the new county was only temporarily located at Akron, the permanent location of which was to be determined by the commissioners named in the joint resolution of the Legislature heretofore given; Akron, besides being pretty evenly divided between the North and South villages, having two formidable rivals in Cuyahoga Falls, four miles to the northward, and the then largely talked of " Summit City" (since known as the " Chuckery"), midway between. Messrs. Williard, McConnell and Sabin, the Locating Commissioners, entered upon the task assigned them on Tuesday, May 12, 1840, occupying several days examining the several proposed sites for the location of the public buildings, hearing arguments in favor of each, receiving proposals for the donation of lands, construction of buildings, etc. The principal competitors for the table>

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