(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) POSTOFFICE BURGLAR KILLED - 925 manufactory at New Portage, and, in connection therewith, a store, also officiating as postmaster. During the Summer and Fall of 1869, several depredations upon the mails had been committed, and sundry small articles of merchandise had also been missed from the store. Finding no indications of "breaking in," Welch concluded that the thief had possessed himself of a duplicate key, and accordingly had the lock of the store door changed. The depredations continuing, Welch consulted Sheriff James Burlison, besides being visited by a special agent of the postoffice department, and it was determined to establish a watch in the store. He employed Witner and another man to do the watching, and one night when they were on duty, a package of money was stolen. Welch then determined to watch the store himself. So rigging up a bed back of the counter, armed with a double-barrelled shot-gun and revolver, and accompanied by his son, Corwin, on the night of November 4, 1869, Mr. Welch entered upon his vigil. No disturbance occurring, about 1 o'clock Mr. Welch sent. Corwin home, continuing the watch alone until morning. Soon after 3 o'clock Mr. Welch heard a noise at the rear basement window, and in a short time heard foot-steps coming up the basement stairs and enter the storeroom. At this moment the intruder struck a match, which, flashing for an instant, went out. Not recognizing his visitor, in that momentary flash, Welch raised his gun and fired in the direction where he stood. The intruder then exclaimed, " My God ! Welch, you have killed me ! " Welch then asked him if he was armed and he replied that he was not, and was then recognized by his voice. Welch immediately aroused the neighbors, and on returning to the store found Witner dead, the charge having entered the body a little below the shoulder-blade, penetrating and lacerating the lungs. In the absence of the coroner (Gen. O. E. Gross, of Stow), Justice William M. Cunningham summoned a jury to investigate the affair. After an exhaustive 'examination of Jacob and Corwin Welch, and several other witnesses, including Dr. William Bowen, who made a post-mortem examination of the body, the jury, through its foreman, Sherman Blocker, Esq., returned a verdict as follows: "We do find that the deceased came to his death by a gun-shot fired into him by Jacob Welch, while the deceased was in the act of committing a burglary in the store of said Welch, and that said Jacob Welch was justified in firing said shot." AN EXCITING EPISODE.—On Saturday morning, November 10, 1866, a little six-year-old daughter of Mr. Samuel Reimer, living a short distance northwest of Loyal Oak, wandered away from home, and, as it afterwards appeared, traveled west to Wadsworth, north to Sharon, east to Copley, and northerly, again, in a zig-zag course through Bath, into Richfield, where near evening, she was picked up, in an almost exhausted condition, a short distance south of the center of Richfield; and fully 20 miles, by the route traveled, from the starting point. On being missed, the child was searched for in the neighborhood, by the parents and neighbors, but without success. The interest and excitement increased, as the hours glided by, until during the night, and on Sunday morning, there were several hundred persons engaged in the search, occasional tidings of her having been seen, upon several of the roads indicated, but with no 926 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. definite clue to her present whereabouts or fate. On Sunday, in the neighboring churches, the little one's loss was proclaimed, persons who had seen her upon her travels arising in the congregation and announcing the fact, a good share of the several congregations immediately forsaking the sanctuary, and joining in the search. In the meantime, in answer to inquiries, she had told the family who had taken her in, that she lived at Bates' Corners, and as they were not familiar with the locality they sent a messenger to the Center of Richfield, on Sunday morning, for information, On the return of the messenger, the gentleman and one of his neighbors started in a buggy, to return the child to her almost distracted parents. As they met the cortege of searchers, the word passed rapidly from mouth to mouth, and from house to house, that the " lost was found," and as they neared the Corners, and the home of the little wanderer, the demonstrations were very marked and enthusiastic, indeed-the wonder, on the one hand, being that so young a child could possibly have traveled so far in so short a time, and on the other hand, that she should not sooner have been picked up by those who noticed her—a strange child, and alone—as she traversed the several townships and neighbor- hoods, on her long and devious journey. DR. JOHN HILL,—born in Hastings, Sussex county, England, October 26, 1823 ; came with parents to America in 1828, settling near Utica, New York ; removed to Orange, Cuyahoga county, Ohio, in 1832 ; the family going thence to Illinois in 1843. With such education as the schools of the vicinity afforded, after teaching a few years, young Hill, in 1847, began the study of medicine with Dr. Alexander Fisher, at Western Star, attending lectures at Cleveland Medical College ; in 1850, went to California, and in 1853, to Australia, stopping three weeks en route at Apia, on the now noted Island of Samoa ; in May, 1854, sailed from Australia for London, and from thence, in the Fall of that year, for New York ; 1854, '55, attended medical lectures in Cleveland, in Winter of 1855, '56,continuing studies atJefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, graduating therefrom in March, 1856; practiced medicine one year in Sharon, Medina county ; March 26, 1857, married to Miss Catharine Pardee, daughter of the late Ebenezer Pardee, of Western Star, where, aside from his public duties, he thenceforth principally devoted himself to the cultivation of his fine farm at that place ; elected county commissioner in 1870, 1873 and 1876, serving nearly nine years ; elected State representative in 1879, serving two years. Dr. Hill was the father of six children—Harriet Almira, born June 20, 1858, died October 30, 1878 ; John E., born August 7, 1859; Martha B., born January 2, 1861; Brace P., August 12, 1865 ; Josephine Elizabeth, March 28, 1875; Edward Buckingham, January 4, 1881. Dr. Hill died December 13, 1890, aged 67 years, 1 month and 17 days. NORTON'S MILITARY RECORD.—Several of the early residents ar believed to have been soldiers in the Continental Army, during the Revolutionary War, but no data is now available as to who NORTON'S MILITARY ROLL OF HONOR - 927 they were, except Mr. Henry Van Hyning, a native of the State of New York, who died in Norton, December 25, 1839, at the age of 102 years, and Mr. Hinsdale Bates, 84, reported as being a pensioner, by the census of 1840. It is very likely, too, that some of her pioneer settlers may have "played well their part" in the War of 1812, though she could not have directly furnished many, as it will be remembered that there were but few accessions to the population of the township until after the close of that war, in 1815. For the Mexican War of 1846-48, Norton probably furnished no soldiers, few being recruited in this part of the State. In the War of the Rebellion, however, Norton was well represented, furnishing her full quota under the several calls, mostly from among her own brave and patriotic sons, of both political parties, several of whom laid down their lives in the service, or have since prematurely died from injuries received, or diseases contracted during the sanguinary struggle. Without disparagement to others, honorable mention may be made of Major Myron T. Wright, of the 29th 0. V. I., who died January 7, 1865, at Savannah, Georgia, of wounds received in battle. STEPHEN D. MILLER,—born July 19, 1827, in Northampton county, Pennsylvania ; common school education ; raised a farmer ; in 1843, removed with parents to Ohio, settling in Norton ; November 6, 1854. married to Mary Ann Musser, three years his junior, who bore him six children, as follows : Sarah Jane (now Mrs. Columbus Seiberling), born July 1, 1832 ; Albert, May 21, 1859 ; Norman F., October 26, 1861, deceased ; Harriet 0., born March 13, 1863; Charles 0., November 11, 1866; Mary Susannah, August 23, 1870. Besides the successful cultivation of his farm, Mr. Miller was special and general manager for the mower and reaper firm of Seiberling, Miller & Co., of Doylestown, for some 15 years. Though an earnest Republican, ever in the minority in Norton, Mr. Miller was often honored with important township offices ; during the War, was two years deputy revenue asses-. sor for a portion of the 18th Congressional district, and at the time of his death, October 14, 1889, was just closing his second term (nearly six years), as director of the Summit County Infirmary. Faithful to every public and private obligation, his sudden death, at the age of 62 years, 2 months and 25 days, was universally regretted. The following, furnished by the late Mr. Stephen D, Miller, and compiled from the assessors' returns for 1865, is believed to be nearly a correct list of the soldiers furnished by Norton during the War for the Union, 1861-65: Israel Beck, Eber Bennett (died in service), John L. Baker, Henry A. Baker, Jacob S. Baker, Eli Blocker (died in service), George W. Betz (left arm severely shattered at battle of Columbia, Tenn., November 28, 1864), Charles W. Betz (died in service), John B. Betz, Aaron Betz, Thomas Bear (died in service), Levi Bear (died in service), Stephen D. Bauer, Albert Beckwith, J. W. Brown, 928 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Albert Beardsley, John G. CaSkey, Jefferson Clay, D. F. Cunningham, Joseph DeLong, Gabriel E. Dague, Thomas Dague, W. C. Davis, M. M. Dickson, Robert L. Ferguson, Archie C. Ferguson, Columbus Ferguson, David Fotzinger, Jacob Filtz, Daniel Grim, B. F. George, George Getz, Nathaniel Grinnels, Franklin Hoffman, William Hart, Horace H. Heath, Lewis Heath, Pulaski C. Hard, Joshua Hile, James Hile, Sylvanus Hile, William Hile, Merritt Hoskins, John W. Hall, J. N. Haynes, Philip Harter, James D. Heathman, Mendenhall Henderson, George F. Hewitt, Andrew Hunsicker, Jacob Henshue (died in service), Phineas Jones, David Jamison, John H. Knox (died in service), Eli Koplin, Henry Koplin, Jacob Koplin, James Kunkler, John A. Kummer, Joseph Lile, William Lile, Jesse Limber, Paul Loutzenhiser, Jonas Loutzenhiser, Lawrence Loutzenhiser, Lawrence Merriam, Franklin Marshall, David Marsh, V. McDonald, Owen J, Miller, Joseph H. Miller, Samuel Merser, J. McRobertson, Cyrus Osborn, James Owry, James K. Pardee, Joseph Pardee, Ephraim Pardee, James E. Poe, Wesley Powers (died in service), Julius Richards, Robert Rosenbury, Joseph Rimer, J. Rinehart, Amandus Rochard, John Reichard, Peter Reichard, Henry Strohl, George Shaw, Merwin Shaw, Benjamin Snyder, Aaron S. Stuver, Edward Spicer, Jr., David Seiberling, Charles Seiberling, Septimus Seiberling, Lloyd Seiberling, Kersey Seiberling, N. S. Seiberling, Franklin Showalter, Levi Showalter, T. B. Sanford, Richard Stock, Philip Souhalter, George Souhalter, A. G. Seis, Peter Seis, George Todd, Henry Van Hyning, William J. Viers, Solomon Vickers, Franklin J. Waltz, Myron T. Wright (died in service), Frederick Webster, Elias Waltz (died in service), Carlos. Ware (died in service), Lorenzo Young (died in service). NORTON'S OFFICE-HOLDING STATUS. On the organization of Summit county, Norton patriotically stepped to the front, and in the civil offices of the county has ever since been a prominent and useful factor. ELISHA HINSDALE, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Norton township, residing near Bates' Corners (now Loyal Oak), was elected coroner at the initial election in April, 1840, re-elected for two years in October of that year, and again elected in 1842, holding the position four years and seven months, and making in every respect a first-class officer. GEORGE KIRKUM, Esq., son of Philemon Kirk, one of Norton's earliest settlers, and at whose house the first election ever had in " Wolf Creek township " was held, and at which he was elected town clerk, grew from a small boy to manhood in Norton township. Reading law with Van R. Humphrey, Esq., of Hudson, he commenced practice at Ravenna, where he served for several years as clerk of the Court of Common Pleas, removing to Akron in 1838 or 1839, and building for himself the house now owned and occupied by Mr. Benjamin McNaughton, corner of East Middlebury and Kirkwood streets. In 1842, Mr. Kirkum was elected prosecuting attorney for the new county of Summit, serving for two years, with marked ability, when, in 1844, he was elected as representative to the State Legislature, serving through the session of 1844, '45, with great acceptance to his constituents. A few years later Mr. Kirkum moved to the city of New York, and NORTON'S CIVIL SERVICE - 929 subsequently retired to a small farm near Cleveland, where he died about the year 1855. JAMES A. METLIN, then residing on his fine farm on the Akron and Bates' Corners road, in Norton, was elected county commissioner in 1853, holding the office for three years. Subsequently Mr. Metlin committed the too common error, among prosperous and successful farmers, of abandoning his farm and entering upon a life of speculation in the city, whereby he became so seriously embarrassed that in 1875 he was compelled to make an assignment for the benefit of his creditors. He is now in California. JAMES H. SEIBERLING,—son of Nathan and Catharine (Peter) Seiberling, was born in Norton, November 25, 1835 ; as a boy, attended district schools and Western Star Academy, and aided in clearing and working his father's farm, operating saw-mill, etc. ; in the Fall of 1863, located in Doylestown, Wayne county, as an employe of the mower, reaper and binder firm of Cline, Seiberlin & Co., established in 1860; in 1865, purchased an interest in said business, the firm name being then changed to Seiberling, Miller & Co., now one of the most successful establishments of its kind in Ohio, and the leading manufactory in Wayne county, Mr. Seiberling being its superintendent. In 1860, Mr. Seiberling was married to Miss Elizabeth Baughman, daughter of David and Elizabeth (Blocker) Baughman, of Norton, who has borne him six children—Allen B., deceased ; Mattie J.; Albert F.; Olive M., deceased; George W., deceased ; and Robert W. Mr. Seiberling is a member of the Lutheran Church, politically an ardent Republican, a prominent and enterprising citizen, and ever active in promoting the welfare of the town, county, state and nation. DR. JOHN HILL, residing at Western Star, was elected county commissioner for three consecutive terms of three years each, from 1870 to 1879, filling that responsible position for nine years with marked fidelity and good judgment. DR. JOHN HILL, on the close of his third term as commissioner, was in October, 1879, elected as representative to the State Legislature, where, as the colleague of Dr. L. S. Ebright, of Akron, he ably looked after the interests of the people of Summit county, and of the State of Ohio, for the years 1880 and 1881. STEPHEN D. MILLER, a substantial and successful farmer, residing in the western portion of the township, was during the War one of Internal Revenue Collector John E. Hurlbut's most efficient deputies for Summit county, and was elected one of the directors of the Summit County Infirmary in 1883, performing the duties of the office in so satisfactory a manner as to secure a re-election for three years longer, in 1886. Mr. Miller, notwithstanding his activity in public and private life, was for many years a constant sufferer from abscess of the right lung, and died suddenly from general paralysis, on the morning of October 14, 1889, two months and a half before the expiration of his term of office. 59 930 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. MONROE SEIBERLING,—son of Nathan and Catharine (Peter) Seiberling, born in Norton, January 16, 1839; common school education ; worked on father's farm till 25 years of age ; in 1864, took management of farm and saw mill, jointly owned by himself and his brother, John F., continuing four years ; selling his interest to his brother, engaged in the lumber trade in Canton, three years later purchasing an interest in the Akron Strawboard Company, officiating as its secretary and superintendent, until September, 1884: was one of the incorporators of the Akron Twine and Cordage works ; with others bought the Upper Sandusky Strawboard works ; in 1887, established Strawboard works at Kokomo, Indiana, and in 1889, with other Akron capitalists, established the Diamond Plate Glass Company, of Kokomo, and Ellwood, of which he is general manager, being also a stockholder in the Hartford City (Indiana) Glass works, and owner of a fine hundred acre farm in Norton. November 6, 1862, he was married to Miss Sarah Miller, daughter of John Miller, who settled in Norton, in 1843. They have had ten children, eight of whom are now living — Emma, Alton, Katha rine, Ella, Frederick, Laird,Georger and Grace. Mr. Seiberling is earnest Republican, and an acti member of the English Luther Church of Akron, of which he h been both a deacon and an elde The family residence of Mr. Seib ling is now in Kokomo, Indiana. SAMUEL HARRISON MILLER,— son of John and Susan (Bauer) Miller, born in Nazareth, Northampton county, Pennsylvania, May 20, 1839 ; came with parents to Norton in May, 1843; educated in district schools and Akron High School ; from 12 to 18, clerked in store of Milton W. Henry, in Akron ; then worked on father's farm six years ; December 15, 1863, engaged as bookkeeper with Cline, Seiberling & Hower, manufacturers of reapers and mowers, at Doylestown, Ohio ; September 1,1865, became a member of the firm of Cline, Seiberling & Co.; December 31, 1878, changed to Seiberling, Miller & Co., now composed of John F. Seiberling, of Akron, and James H. Seiberling and Samuel H. Miller, of Doylestown. August 29, 1867, Mr. Miller was married to Miss Ella L. Schneider, daughter of Alfred and Clarissa (Clewell) Schneider, who was born in New Hanover, Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, January 27, 1847, the family removing to Norton in 1852, and now residing at Loyal Oak. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Miller, four of whom, only, are now living—Fred. J., born December 8, 1868; William R., March 6, 1875; Sidney L.. April 5, 1885; Lucile M., November 3, 1886. A stanch Republican, but not an office seeker, Mr. Miller has served as member of the board of education and as village treasurer ; is a member of Doylestown Lodge, I. 0. 0. F., of Commandery, No. 25, K. T., and of Northern Ohio Consistory, A. A. S. R., Cleveland ; is also a director in The J. F. Seiberling Co., The Akron Savings Bank, and The Seiberling Milling Co., of Akron. THE M'LISTER-WELSH TRAGEDY - 931 In the mining district of Norton township, two boys, Joseph Welsh and Robert McLister, grew up together as playmates and fellow-workmen, the most friendly relations existing between them until a short time before the sad occurrences to be hereafter related took place. Unfortunately for the peace and the moral wellbeing of the mining region where they worked (Dennison), two or three saloons, for the sale of intoxicating liquors and the playing of exciting games, had been established there, to the frequenting of which all the trouble herein related, and a good deal more, may be directly traced. On the night of Friday, March 24, 1882, a party of young men were assembled at the saloon of John Smith, at Dennison, engaged in drinking beer, playing billiards, etc., among the participants being Joseph Welsh, then 25 years of age, and Robert McLister, 23. During the progress of the game, a dispute arose 'between those two young men, provoked, it was said, by Welsh, in which McLister, on being attacked, struck Welsh upon the head with a billiard cue, he, in turn, being knocked down and otherwise .assaulted by Welsh, the combatants being finally separated by the by standers. Being very angry Welsh made several threats against McLister, to the effect that he would "cut his heart out of him the first time he met him," etc. Evidently fearing to remain in the saloon, McLister slipped out of the back door and went home, he living with his parents, near by, Welsh's home being with his mother at Johnson's Corners. Instead of remaining at home and letting the matter drop, however, McLister put his revolver in his pocket, and started back towards the saloon. Welsh came out, and McLister asked him if he intended to do as he said. Welsh immediately pulled off his coat, when McLister fired at him, the ball striking Welsh upon the abdomen, but being turned aside by a button did not penetrate the body; the force of the ball, however, doubling Welsh up and causing him to fall to the ground. Without waiting to ascertain the effect of his shot, but supposing that he had made a serious, if not a fatal, injury upon his antagonist, McLister immediately walked to Akron, and arousing Prison-Keeper Edward Dunn, informed him that he had shot a man, and requested to be locked up. The writer was then officiating as mayor of the city of Akron, and the next morning McLister was brought before him and questioned, eliciting the story, substantially as above given. An hour or two later, Welsh, accompanied by Mr. Archibald McLister, the father of Robert, and several other residents of Norton, came to the mayor's office to talk the matter over. Welsh declining to prosecute McLister for the reason that he (Welsh) was the most to blame, in forcing the quarrel upon Robert, they then and there settled their differences, McLister paying the small amount of costs that had been made, and the two young men, in the presence of the writer, shaking hands with each other and leaving the office together apparently upon the most friendly terms. Nothing of an unpleasant nature occurred for several months, when gossips and tattlers began to carry exaggerated tales between the two, of any chance remarks that had been made by either regarding the other, and in this way the naturally warm Celtic blood in the veins of the two impulsive young men at length 932 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. became heated to the boiling point, somewhat increased, perhaps; by the fact that one of them was Catholic and the other Protestant in religious belief and training. As time passed on, the enmity between the two became most bitter and intense, though, by reason of their working in different mines, personal contact was avoided, it being stated that McLister, being less muscular than Welsh, sought to avoid the haunts which the latter frequented, while at the same time going armed with a loaded revolver, with which to defend himself, in case of an unexpected meeting sudden attack. Thus matters stood between the two young men up to the evening of Saturday, November 29th, 1884. On the evening in question, Minister was at the saloon of Thomas Williams, near Dennison, or Sherman as it is now called, drinking beer, singing songs, etc., with several companions, when Welsh was seen approaching by Williams who went out and begged of him not to enter, as Minister was there and he did not want any trouble in the house. Welsh disclaimed any intention of making any trouble, hut wanted a glass of beer, and Williams conducted him into the kitchen, intending to bring the beer to him there. But Welsh demurred to this, and solemnly promising that he would not speak to Minister, or make any disturbance whatever, Williams permitted him to enter the saloon, and drawing a glass of beer for him, placed it upon the counter. At this time Minister was standing on the opposite side of the room, near the stove, singing a song, several others also sitting or standing around the stove. As the glass of beer was set upon the counter, by Williams, Welsh took it up with his right hand and drank the contents, when, suddenly facing about and uttering an opprobrious epithet, he hurled the heavy tumbler at the head of Minister with such force that, just missing his face, it knocked off Minister's cap, and went crashing through both the window and the slatted blind on the outside. McLister exclaimed, " For God's sake Joe, don't ! I don't want anything to do with you!" Williams, the saloon-keeper, and his brother-in-law, Thomas Lewis, then seized hold of Welsh, and endeavored to put him out of the saloon. As they neared the door Welsh broke away from them and turned back towards Minister, at the same time, as was alleged, reaching backward as if to draw a weapon from his hip pocket. At this point McLister fired two or three, possibly four, shots at Welsh in rapid succession, whereupon Welsh turned and staggered through the door to the gate, some 20 feet distant, where he fell and immediately expired. It was found that one of the balls entered the side of the deceased, passing through the intestines and lodging in the abdominal wall Upon the opposite side, the other striking him in the balk and entering the chest, from one of which, or a combination of both, he died. The affair created the wildest of excitement throughout the entire neighborhood. Minister made no attempt to escape, hut later the same night was arrested, at the home of his afflicted parents by Constable George Jennings, on a warrant issued by Justice Michael Wise, of Johnson's Corners, on the affidavit of Thomas Lewis. Being held by Justice Wise to answer to the TRIAL, CONVICTION AND SENTENCE - 933 Court of Common Pleas, then in session, McLister was duly committed to jail. Prosecuting Attorney Charles Baird moved the court for a special Grand Jury, which was accordingly impaneled as follows: N. E. Vansickle, Stephen Ginther, E. S. Oviatt, C. C. Wilcox, Frank Danforth, A. H. Mallison, Everett Foster, Samuel Findley, S. A. Lane, George Payne, Charles H. Edgerly, A. Ruger, IV, W. Arnold, C. P. Mallison and H. K. Sauder. After the examination of a large number of witnesses, the Grand Jury, by its foreman, N. E. Vansickle, returned a true bill of indictment consisting of three separate counts, charging McLister with murder in the first degree; the first count, omitting legal phraseology, setting forth the deliberate and malicious shooting of Welsh in the back to the depth of eight inches; the second count, shooting in the side to the depth of 14 inches, and the third count combining the two shots, with intent to kill and murder, etc. On Wednesday, December 17, 1884, Messrs. Kohler and Sadler, attorneys for the defendant, filed a plea in abatement of the indictment, on the grounds, first, that H. K. Sauder, one of the special grand jurors finding said bill, was an attorney at law and the duly appointed court stenographer, and in the employ of the prosecuting attorney, while acting as such grand juror; and second, that S. A. Lane, being then, as deputy clerk, an officer of thc court, was incompetent to serve as a grand juror, etc. (Mr. Lane, in the latter part of Clerk Nash's administration and early part of Hale's term, temporarily, for a few months, officiated as deputy clerk, as his services were needed by those officers). To this plea in abatement, Prosecutor Baird filed a demurrer, which, on being fully argued by counsel on both sides, was sustained by Judge Green. A plea of not guilty was then entered by the defendant and the case continued till the January term, 1885. On the commencement of the January term, the trial of McLister was set for Monday, February 9th, Judge U. L. Marvin being assigned by the court to assist Prosecuting Attorney Baird in the trial of the case, a special venire for 36 jurors being summoned to appear at the time designated. At the appointed time the case was proceeded with in due form. The first venire being exhausted, the second, third and fourth venires were issued for six, four and three jurors, respectively, and at length the panel was declared full, and the jury sworn as follows: C. C. Swinehart, Corwin T. Hamlin, Champ Moulton, C. H. Ellsworth, N. G. Mellinger Henry Raber, M. E. Foster. W. H. Miller, John Stutz, T. N. Mellinger, E. P. Holloway and Henry Federick. The trial lasted over a week, sixteen witnesses appearing for the State, forty-one for the defense, and ten in rebuttal for the State. The case was ably handled on both sides, counsel for McLister, endeavoring to show that the shooting was done in self-defense. The theory was deemed untenable, by the jury, however, from the fact that, though Welsh was the original aggressor, by hurling a deadly missive at McLister's head, one of the fatal shots took effect in Welsh's back, indicating that he was then retreating, while there was some testimony, to the effect that as Welsh left the saloon, McLister followed him up and sent a shot after him from the door. 934 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. After eloquent and exhaustive arguments, on both sides, under the very full and able charge of Judge Green, the case was given to the jury, on Monday at 5:15 P. M., and at 12:30 P. M., Tuesday, February 17, 1885, the jury through their foreman, William H. Miller, returned a verdict of guilty of murder in the second degree. It afterwards transpired that thirty ballots were taken, the most of which stood, seven for murder in first degree,' three for second degree, and two for manslaughter. ChangeS finally began to take place, until at length eleven to one was reached where the jury hung for six or seven hours, when the obdurate one relaxed, and an agreement was reached at the hour stated. On Monday, February 23, Messrs. Kohler and Sadler filed a motion to set aside the verdict, for the following reasons: 1st accident and surprise which ordinary prudence could not guard against; 2d that the verdict is not sustained by the evidence, and is contrary to law; 3rd newly discovered evidence material for the defendant, which he could not with reasonable diligence have discovered and provided for; 4th error of law in the sustaining by the court of the State's demurrer to the defendant's plea in abatement of indictment; 5th errors of law occurring at the trial. The motion for a new trial being overruled, Judge Green proceeded to sentence the defendant as follows: "ROBERT MCLISTER, you may stand up. Have you anything further to say why the sentence of the law should not be pronounced ?" The prisoner making no reply, Judge Green continued : "You were indicted by the Jury of this county, said indictment charging you with having purposely, of deliberate and premeditated malice, murdered Joseph Welsh, by shoot Upon being arraigned, you entered a plea of not guilty, and you were put upon trial, before an intelligent and impartial jury. Your defense conducted by able counsel. The jury listened with great patience and unyielding attention to everything offered in evidence, and to the arguments of your counsel, and, under the charge of the Court, to which your counsel took no exceptions, retired to deliberate, and after mature deliberation returned verdict finding you guilty of murder in the second degree—an offense for which our law affixes the penalty of imprisonment for life. This verdict of the jury, under the evidence given, we are satisfied, under their oath-, the were compelled to return. It now becomes my painful duty to pronounce the judgment the law prescribes for your crime. It is that you be Liken hence to the common jail of the county, and that you there be safely kept, and within thirty days you be taken from thence to the penitentiary of this State, and that there you be imprisoned during life." The prisoner received his sentence without apparent emotion, and, without being hand-cuffed, accompanied the officer quietly back to the jail, where, with conduct every way becoming the gentleman that he naturally is, he remained until the 11th day of March, 1885, when he was removed to the penitentiary at Columbus, by Sheriff William B. Gamble. Thus, through evil associations and habits, in the very bloom of youthful manhood, one human life was entirely blotted out, and another shrouded under a dark pall of ignominy, to be forever debarred the society of kindred and friends, unless executive clemency should mercifully intervene to open the gloomy portals of his prison-house, as, after an incarceration of nearly five years, it finally did, young Minister being pardoned by Gov. J. B. Foraker, January 10, 1890, since his release and return home, so far as the writer is advised, his conduct having been in every way, upright and exemplary. POPULATION, OFFICERS, ETC. - 935 NORTON'S POPULATION.—The census of 1840 gave to Norton township, including the villages within her borders, 1,497 inhabitants, while those of 1880 gave her 2,066 a gain of 569, a fair showing indeed, considering the tendency of the times to concentrate business and manufacturing operations in the larger towns and railroad centers of the country, though the census of 1890 gives her but 1,973, a falling off in the last decade of 93, though in the present (1891) growth of the new city of Barberton, within her borders, she has much more than regained her lost ground since the enumeration was made. NORTON'S PRESENT OFFICIAL STATUS.—Trustees, John B. Betz, Jackson Hall, Oliver Harter; clerk, Samuel J. Burgess; treasurer, Joseph Hartzell; justices of the peace, John McNamara, William A. Morton; constables, Charles 0. Helmick, John Kelly; Postmasters, New Portage, George A. Shaw ; Barberton, A. A. Moore ; Johnson's Corners, Amos Miller ; Norton Center, Louis M. Shook ; Loyal Oak, Alfred Schneider ; Western Star, 0. A. Wallace ; Sherman, Mrs. Mathews. CHAPTER XLIV. THE MAGIC CITY OF BARBERTON—RAPID GROWTH AND UNPARALLELED PROSPERITY—PUSH AND PERSEVERANCE OF ITS PLUCKY PROJECTORS- OVER A MILLION DOLLARS ALREADY INVESTED IN ITS PROMOTION—WONDERFUL INDUSTRIAL REVELATION—A SHORT BUT INTERESTING CHAPTER. THE NEW. CITY OF BARBERTON. SINCE the compilation of this history was begun, and the publication of the foregoing chapters on Coventry and Norton, in serial form, the vicinity of New Portage, on the Norton side of the line, has been invested with a new and truly wonderful importance. In January, 1890, Messrs. Ohio C. Barber, Charles Baird, Albert T. Paige and John K. Robinson, realizing the beauty and business possibilities of the locality, purchased a number of contiguous farms, adjacent to the already considerable village of New Portage, on the west, aggregating 640 acres of land, with the view of founding thereon a new manufacturing city, the fee of the entire purchase being at first vested in Mr. Albert T. Paige, and subsequently transferred to the attorney of the syndicate, Charles Baird, Esq. These lands were carefully and scientifically laid out into business and residence lots, streets, avenues, parks, etc., and graded on the most approved system of drainage and sewerage the beautiful sheet of water thereon, formerly called "Way’s Lake," and later known as "Davis' Lake," being re-christened "Lake Anna," in honor of Miss Anna Barber, only daughter of the chief promoter of the enterprise, Mr. Ohio C. Barber, after whom BARBERTON LAND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY - 937 the new city itself was very properly named—Barberton. This beautiful little lake is made the center of twenty-one acres of nicely graduated and ornamented grounds, with several delightfully shady groves upon its margin, which, though not so formally named, may properly be designated as "Recreation Park." Having thus quietly perfected their plans, liberal inducements were extended to manufacturers, and other business men, to avail themselves of the extraordinary advantages and facilities claimed for the new city, the members of the syndicate manifesting their faith in its success by taking large blocks of stock in the several important enterprises locating there, as will be seen in the enumeration of those establishments, and the names of the gentlemen connected therewith, as directors, officers, etc. In October, 1890, the original syndicate sold a one-half interest in the enterprise to Hon. George W. Crouse, of Akron, and Mr. M. J. Alexander, of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, and their associates of Pittsburg. The plat of the new city was duly entered for record in the records of Summit county, by Mr. Baird, on March 24, 1891. May 23, 1891, the syndicate, as enlarged, entered into a partnership contract, also duly recorded, under the name and style of "The Barberton Land and Improvement Company," with a capital of $240,000, with Mr. Ohio C. Barber as president and trustee, all the lands thus acquired and held, being on that date transferred by deed executed by Charles Baird and wife, Lucy V. Baird, to Ohio C. Barber as such trustee, who was, by the terms of the partnership contract, authorized to mortgage such portion of said lands to The Union Trust Company, of New York, as might be necessary to secure the payment of bonds to an amount not exceeding $200,000, issued to raise money to carry forward contemplated improvements, the entire amount invested in lands, improvements and business, by the company, and manufacturing corporations, in the new city, to the present time (November, 1891), being about $1,300,000. Mr. M. J. Alexander has the management of the sale of the company's lands, over $200,000 worth of business and residence lots having already been sold. 938 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. The membership of the Barberton Land and Improvement Company, and the number of $100 shares of the $240,000 capital stock held by each, is as follows: Ohio C. Barber, 300; Charles Baird, 300; Albert T. Paige, 300; John K. Robinson, 300; George W Crouse, 170; M. J. Alexander, 185; J. W. Moore, 165; William D Hartupee, 170; Ida H. Chandler, 170; A. M. Sloan, 100; Julien Kennedy, 100; James S. McKean, 100; Neri Newcomb, 40—total 2,400. With the Ohio canal, the Cleveland, Akron & Columbus and the Baltimore & Ohio railways upon the east, and the New York, Pennsylvania & Ohio railway upon the west and a fully equipped, standard guage Belt Line traversing its entire circumference (over four miles of track being already laid), the transportation facilities of the new city are simply perfect. As illustrative of what cash and courage, push and pluck, a energy and enterprise can accomplish, and as indicative of w the coming nine years of the last decade of the nineteenth cent may accomplish for the new city, we note its present busine status as follows: BRANCH OF AMERICAN STRAWBOARD COMPANY.—Capital $6,000,000, with Ohio C. Barber, as its president, occupies 40 acres of ground with four brick buildings, 70x300 feet each; one 30x100 feet; two 20x80 feet each; with a straw-lumber, or lignistra, department 50x350 feet, and employing from 150 to 200 men. William R. Brown, manager of Barberton works. THE NATIONAL SEWER PIPE COMPANY.—Capital $250,000, the larg est works of their kind in the world; occupying 26 acres of ground building four-story brick 80x370 feet; 32 kilns; eight boilers, ov 1,200 horse-power of engines; 150 to 200 men; capacity 200 to tons per day. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; William McFarlin, vice president and treasurer; Ed. M. Buel, secretary Henry A. Robinson, general manager; Charles Baird, attorney This company have ah inexhaustible supply of the very bes quality of clay contiguous to the lands of the syndicate, in dos proximity to their works. BARBERTON'S INDUSTRIES - 939 THE CREEDMOOR CARTRIDGE COMPANY.—Capital $500,000, manufacturers of all kinds of military and sporting fixed ammunition; site 34 acres; main building, three-story brick, 60 x 150 feet; hands employed 75 to 125. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; Charles E. Sheldon, vice president; Mark R. Hayne, secretary and treasurer; Charles Baird, William McFarlin, Isaac C. Alden and Clement :A. Barnes. Manager, N. P. Leach; Superintendent, E. A. Worthen. THE STIRLING COMPANY.—Manufacturers of water tube safety steam boilers; capital $500,000; site 100 acres; main building, 85x200 feet; hands employed 60 to 250. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; Allan Stirling, secretary and treasurer; John Jardine, Robert C. Alexander and Charles Baird. General Manager, Thomas Deegan; Superintendent, H. S. Pell. THE AMERICAN ALUMINA COMPANY.—Capital $500,000; site seven acres; main building, 60x200 feet; hands employed 50. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; H. E. Pickett, vice president; George T. Perkins, treasurer; H. De Wolf, secretary; Thomas W. Cornell, George W. Crouse, Frank M. Atterholt, Charles Baird, O. H. Root, William McFarlin and Albert T. Paige. THE BARBERTON WHITEWARE COMPANY.—Capital $300,000, plant to consist of three buildings 103x575 feet each; hands to be employed, 750. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; George W. Crouse, vice president; William McFarlin, treasurer; Charles Baird, attorney, and Henry A. Robinson, general manager. Secretary, Park T. Robinson. THE KIRKUM ART TILE AND POTTERY COMPANY.—Capital $300,000; incorporated May 7, 1891, by Joseph Kirkum, Ohio C. Barber, president; George W. Crouse, vice president; Charles Baird, secretary and treasurer; Meshech Frost, Frank Bloom and Frank M. Atterholt, directors; site seven acres; buildings 240 feet square, rith ten kilns and will employ from 400 to 500 hands. UNITED SALT COMPANY.—Main works at Cleveland and Newburg; capital $1,000,000. Directors: William Chisholm; F. B. Squire, president; Herman Frasch, secretary; L. H. Severance, treasurer; David R. Paige, Frank Rockefeller, Ohio C. Barber and Charles Baird. Barberton branch occupy seven and a half acres 940 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. of ground, and drilling of well (November 1891) favorably progressing. BARBERTON BELT LINE RAILROAD COMPANY.—Capital, $50,000. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; Albert T. Paige, vice-president; William McFarlin, secretary; Charles Baird, treasurer; Henry A. Robinson, general manager. Four miles of road built and in successful operation. THE BARBERTON SAVINGS BANK COMPANY.—Capital, $100,000. Directors: Ohio C. Barber, president; William McFarlin, vice-presifdent; Charles Baird, secretary; John B. Woods, Thomas W. Corfnell, George W. Brewster, Houston Kepler, George W. Crouse and Henry A. Robinson. Vacancy caused by death of Joy H. Pendleton, yet to be filled. Ed. M. Buel, treasurer and ex-officio cashier. Fine run of business already assured. BARBERTON BRICK AND TILE COMPANY.—Simeon Dickerman, president; Wellington Miller, secretary and treasurer; Theodore Stauffer, superintendent. Besides the elegant and capacious National Hotel, erected by the National Sewer Pipe Company, near their works, a large numfber of handsome residences and business blocks have already been erected, and others, including Barberton Inn, a fine bank building, railway stations, etc., are now in process of construction, or soon to be built, the style and quality of which are indicated by the accompanying engravings, and in addition to the various works designated, Barberton is also liberally supplied with local tradesmen, professional men, police, etc., so that now (November, 1891), though but little more than one year old, with a population 01 nearly 2,000 souls, it gives promise of speedily becoming one of the most important of the many thriving industrial cities of Northern Ohio. CHAPTER XLV. THE TOWNSHIP OF RICHFIELD-EARLY SETTLERS -PIONEER INCIDENTS -RESOURCES-RIVALRIES, ETC.-PUBLIC SPIRIT-MILITARY OPERATIONS, ETC. -SPLENDID CIVIL RECORD-THE BIG SLEIGH RIDE OF 1856-RICHFIELD'S GREAT RE-UNION OF 1880 -CRIMINAL MATTERS-A SINGULAR CASE OF LUNACY- HUNTER-GARGETT TRAGEDY, ETC. RICHFIELD'S BEGINNING. RICHFIELD, previous to 1805, was aboriginal territory, being conveyed by the Indians to the United States, by the treaty of Fort Industry, on the Maumee river, during that year. Being a part of the Western Reserve, it soon afterwards was transferred to the Connecticut Land Company. The entire area of territory thus held by the Company, embraced nearly 4,000,000 acres, which was disposed of by a sort of lottery arrangement, each party interested "drawing" a proportionate amount of land to the money paid in. In this way, some became proprietors of entire townships, while others drew but fractions thereof. The original proprietors, thus acquiring title to Richfield township, were Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, Captain John Smith, Uriel Holmes, J. Wilcox and two others named Edwards and Green, all of Connecticut, none of whom, it is believed, or ever settled upon, or even visited their possessions, except, possibly, Mr. Wilcox, having invested for speculative purposes, only. In 1811, Captain Heman Oviatt, then a resident of Hudson, purchased Colonel Tallmadge's interest, the northwest quarter of the township, embracing 4,000 acres, for the sum of $5,000, or at the rate of $1.25 per acre, Tallmadge' fearing that the impending war between the United States and England might despoil him of his property. TOPOGRAPHY, ORGANIZATION, ETC.—Though not bordering on the river, the eastern portion of the township is badly cut up into hills and gullies, but the central and western portion is more level and abounds in fertile and nicely cultivated farms, being especially adapted to the raising of fine stock and the growing of choice fruits. At first, Richfield was attached to Boston and several other townships in electoral and official matters, but was organized as a distinct township in April, 1816, by authority of the Commissioners of Portage county (Medina county to which the township properly !belonged, not being organized until 1818). The first officers elected were : Nathaniel Oviatt, William Jourdan and Daniel Keys, trustees ; John Bigelow, clerk ; Isaac Welton, treasurer; Jared Barnes and John Farnum, overseers of the poor ; John Bigelow and Isaac Hopkins, constables ; John Farnum, Jason Phillips, Isaac Welton, Elijah Hale and John Holmes, supervisors. As in the case of Boston, an examination of this roster will disclose the-fact that at least three persons were elected to two offices each. Up to this time the justices of the peace elected in Boston township, of which Mr. Lehman Farnum was one, had jurisdiction over 942 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. Northfield, Boston, Richfield, Bath and Northampton, but on the organization of Richfield as a separate township, Isaac Welton was elected justice, his commission (still in the family) bearing date July, 1816. MAJOR NORRIS HUMPHREY,-- born in Canton, Hartford county, Connecticut, August 14, 1806; emigrated with parents to Trumbull county, Ohio, in 1816; educated in district schools ; learned blacksmithing trade with father ; moved to Richfield in 1829; worked at trade two years ; February 10, 1831, married to Miss Julia Case, of Trumbull county ; after marriage moved upon farm, two miles east of center of Richfield, where he has since continuously resided — over sixty years ; helped to organize first militia company of the township, becoming its captain, in 1834, soon afterwards being promoted to major of first battalion, light infantry. An ardent Republican, though never an office-seeker, Mr. Humphrey has filled many minor offices of trust—constable, assessor, trustee, director of Academy, etc., with the strictest fidelity, lacking a few votes only of receiving the nomination for State Representative, in 1869. Mrs. Humphrey died January 26, 1871, having borne him seven children, as follows : Austin, Norris, Cora (now Mrs. Ransom C. Ellsworth), Oliver N., Lucian E., Decius (died April 1, 1868, aged 22 years), and Truman, the three sons first named now being prosperous business men in Lincoln, Nebraska, the two last named remaining in Richfield, Truman (married to Miss Lida Hale, of Bath, July 4, 1875), living on the old homestead, and kindly caring for the venerable patriarch, still, at the age of 85, retaining, in a large degree both his physical and mental fac ties, the following document to faculties, the following document testifying to the major's earlier military "prowess," above alluded to : To NORRIS. HUMPHREY : This is to certify that you are appointed Fourth Corporal of the 5th Company, 3d Regiment, 1st Brigade and 4th Division Ohio Militia, and you are entitled to all the privileges and respect due you, and are accountable for any misdemeanor in you as Corporal. Given under my hand at Vernon, this 2nd day of September, 1824. C. H. WILCOX, Captain. EARLY SETTLERS, INCIDENTS, ETC.—The first white settler, according to Dr. A. E. Ewing and Schuyler R. Oviatt, was Launcelot Mays (General Bierce says Robert Mays), in 1809; the first marriage, William Carter to Betsey Mays, in 1812; the same also being noted as the first marriage in Boston ; probably growing out of the fact that both townships were then under one jurisdiction. But as Richfield furnished the bride and Boston the groom and officiating magistrate (Alfred Wolcott, Esq.), it is proper to divide the honor between the two townships ; though Mr. Carl W. Brown, the great-grandson of the ancient happy couple, informs the writer that the marriage was actually solemnized at the house of Justice Wolcott, in the east part of Boston. The first death of a white person, in Richfield, was that of Polly Payne, in 1812, at the age of 18 years. The first white child born in the township (in 1812 ) was a daughter to John Mallet, brother of Henry Mallet, the second settler in the township. EARLY SETTLEMENT—INCIDENTS, ETC. - 943 The settlement of the township was not very rapid for several years, owing probably to the war disturbances of the time. After the close of the war, however, settlement was quite rapid, so that by the organization of the township in 1816 there must have been nearly, or quite, forty voters present, a goodly proportion of whom, though youngish men, were undoubtedly heads of families, and nearly all were from Connecticut and Massachusetts. The census of 1840, gave Richfield a population of 1,108, and by that of 1880 the number of inhabitants in the township was 1,253, being an increase of 145 in the forty years ; though midway between the two epochs, in the palmy business days of the two "centers," as hereinafter noted, the population must have been considerably greater than in 1880, since which time there has been a marked decline, the census of 1890 giving to her but 921 souls, a falling off of 332 in the ten years. DR. SECRETARY RAWSON,—was born in Warwick, Massachusetts, October 18, 1796; educated in common schools, and four years in New Salem Academy ; read medicine five years with eminent New England physicians ; holds two medical diplomas under laws of Vermont and Ohio ; practiced medicine forty-five years ; came to Ohio in 1823, settling in Richfield in 1824; married to Miss Lucy B. Hancock, June 19, 1824 ; the fruits of this happy union being three daughters—one dying at 15 years of age, the other two well settled in life —and three grandchildren. In 1825, the doctor organized a public library company in Richfield, soon accumulating quite a large collection of valuable books ; aided in subduing the wilderness, erecting the regulation log cabins and afterwards replacing them with the more commodious and comfortable frame structures ; helped to construct highways, bridge streams, build school houses, erect churches, and was a warm supporter of Richfield's old-time popular and prosperous Academy. Dr. Rawson, was among the earliest advocates of temperance in Ohio, previous to 1830 drafting pledges, lecturing, and as far as possible discarding the use of distilled liquors in his practice. In 1866, broken down in health, the doctor removed to Des Moines, Iowa, where, with partial restoration, but still a continual sufferer from severe nervous derangement, he has reached his 95th year, with his mental powers apparently as vigorous as when he first settled in Richfield, sixty-seven years ago. A Richfield correspondent, in writing of old-time inhabitants and incidents says of "Old Dave Smith," a noted local story-teller, that he once boasted that while himself and others were mowing in a field a deer rushed past them, the mowers chasing him into a snow-drift where they caught him alive. It being suggested to him that hay-making and snow-drifts did not go well together, he said, after a moment's reflection : "That's so, I must have got two stories mixed." The old man was so prone to "mix" things, that the church took him in hand on the charge of lying, when he humbly begged for forgiveness, saying: "I detest lying as bad as 944 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. any of you, but I have an incurable tendency to exaggerate. It has given me more trouble than anything else in the world, and I have shed barrels and barrels of tears over it, but I can't get over the habit." BUSINESS RESOURCES, RIVALRIES, ETC.—For some now unexplainable cause, the business interests of Richfield became divide at an early day, a rival village to the original and geographical center, three-fourths of a mile west, and called the " West Center, coming into existence. At the East Center, there was a church one or two stores, a hotel, postoffice, and the usual complement of mechanics, with comfortable family residences extending a slum distance out on the four roads centering there, but the spirit( push and spread-outfaftive-ness, seemed to be lacking. DR. JEREMIAH CULLEN WILCOX,—born in Hartland, Hartford county, Connecticut, December 6, 1790; at 16, removed with parents to Vernon, Trumbull county, Ohio, nearly losing his life, en route, in crossing the Ohio river ; graduated from Jefferson (Pennsylvania) College, in 1813 ; studied medicine and commenced practice in Hartford, Trumbull county, where he resided fifteen years ; in 1816, married to Miss Lorena Bushnell, who died in 1831, leaving five children —Harriet N., who married Rev. Daniel Emerson, dying in 1870; Amelia, died at 19; Maria, married to R. C. Clark, of Kentucky, afterwards of Sacramento, California, died in 1870; Jeremiah B., of Butte City, Montana, and Jerusha, married to General S. D. Sturgis, and now living at West Point, New York. Owing to impaired health, Dr. Wilcox discontinued the practice of medicine, and to secure better educational facilities, removed to Hudson, and in 1839, located on the large farm in Richfield, which he successfully cultivated until his death, from paralysis, January 26, 1873, at the age of 82 years, 1 month and 20 days. In 1839, Dr. Wilcox married Mrs. Julia A. (Wilder) Pettee, formerly of Rochester, New York, who bore him eight children, five of whom are now living--Amelia A., wife of Mr. George B. Clarke, now of Akron; Henry Chauncey, of Akron; Newell 0., died in infancy; William Cullen, now missionary in East Africa ; Francis A., real estate agent in Akron, and Stella H. Of sterling integrity and indomitable energy Dr. Wilcox was among the most highly respected of Richfield's many honored citizens. At the rival "Center," however, it was different. hotels were established, a number of stores were erected and filled with merchandise, a postoffice was secured, churches instituted, manufactures inaugurated, etc., until at one time, in the early forties, Richfield was one of the very snappiest inland points in Northern Ohio not only stimulating the general prosperity of the township itself, but attracting a large amount of business from adjoining, and even more remote, localities-the east center, of course, to a considerable extent, sharing the general prosperity. RICHFIELD'S PUBLIC SPIRIT.—For nearly twenty years, Richfield, with several contiguous townships, maintained a spirited Fair association, under the title of the "Union Agricultural and Mechanic Art Society." RICHFIELD'S SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, ETC. - 945 A flourishing Masonic lodge (Meridian Sun Lodge, No. 266), has also been maintained in the township for more than sixty years, and, for the most of the time for the past forty years, a fine band of music has been liberally supported, while a good deal more than usual attention has been given to church and educational matters in both villages, and throughout the township. Besides the usual complement of well-attended district schools, Richfield, in 1836, established a well-equipped academy, in a commodious building erected for that purpose between the two villages, which was liberally patronized, not only by the people of the township, but many pupils from abroad were here educated, many of whom, without any additional scholastic advantages, have become eminent in business', statecraft, professional life, etc. Modern educational methods, however, have displaced the original Richfield academy, by the establishment of a commodious central or high school building for each village, that at the east village, unfortunately destroyed by fire, in 1887, having been replaced by a handsome and still more commodious structure. JUDGE NOAH M. HUMPHREY,— born in Goshen, Connecticut, June 18, 1810 ; educated as farmer's boy during minority ; in September, 1833, came to Ohio, entering law office of Humphrey & Hall, in Hudson, studying three years, teaching school winters ; admitted to bar, in Medina, September 5, 1836; began practice with Van R. Humphrey and Harvey Whedon, under firm name of Humphrey, Humphrey & Whedon, changed a year later (on appointment of Van R. Humphrey to president judgeship), to Humphrey & Whedon. September 24, 1840, was married to Miss Velina Hannum, of Brecksville, settling in Richfield, in addition to legal work, teaching, farming, dealing in stock, etc.; in 1852, '53, represented. Summit county in State Legislature ; in 1854 elected probate judge, removing to Akron in Spring of 1855 ; re-elected in 1857, serving six years. Mrs. Humphrey dying September 24, 1835, on January 12, 1859, Judge Humphrey was again married, to Mrs. Elizabeth Young, daughter of the late David Allen, of Akron ; in Fall of 1862, removed to Taylor's Falls, Chisago county, Minnesota, where he has since continuously resided, and where he has received many honors, both from the people and the government, being now postmaster of that city. Of the two children of Judge Humphrey, Laura M., born January 31, 1842, is now Mrs. D. A. Caneday, and Marcus F. C., born August 23, 1844, died at his home, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, April 18, 1885. RICHFIELD'S RELIGIOUS STATUS.—Originally settled by Puritanic stock, Richfield has, from the first, been duly observant of religious worship, and the means for its proper exercise and maintenance. The first church organization (May 15, 1818), to accommodate the various shades of religious belief, was called the "Church of Christ," but that element largely predominating, afterwards known as the "First Congregational Church, of Richfield," a comffortable house of worship being erected at the east center, in 1822, which remained substantially as originally constructed until 1886, 60 946 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. when it was destroyed by fire. A much handsomer and more costly structure has been erected upon the same site, by the liberal contributions of all the people of the township, aided generous donations from former residents living elsewhere, among the latter being Governor Russell A. Alger, of Michigan; and Edwin J. Howlett, of Philadelphia; who each contributed some $500 to the building and furnishing funds. The society has been fairly prosperous throughout, maintaining nearly continuous preaching to the present time, the pastorate of the late Rev. J. A. McKinstry, commencing in August, 1864, and continuing nearly a quarter of a century, the present pastor, ordained September 6, 1889, being Rev. W. E. Wheeler. The Methodists erected a modest house at an early day (about, 1832), which remained only partly finished until 1852, when it was burned. Its successor, near the west center, was a more com- modious structure, and has recently been considerably enlarged and improved, and the society is now healthy and prosperous. The Baptists, also, have a prosperous society, with a commodious house of worship at the west center, erected in 1 which has also been remodeled and enlarged, within a few years while the United Brethren have a flourishing society and a hand some church edifice, called the "Centennial Church," in the southeast portion of the township. This, with the four religious institutions alluded to, liberally supported by her citizens, with perhaps, quite a large contingent of independent religious faith and practice, Richfield's "calling and election" may be regarded as tolerably sure. RICHFIELD'S MILITARY CAREER. It is believed that among her early settlers there were several ex-Revolutionary soldiers, though only the name of John Farnam, who died May 21, 1833, has been handed down. Nor is there any record of her having furnished any soldiers for either the War of 1812, or the Mexican War, though nine residents of the town afterwards received pensions for services rendered in the former war, before removing thither. In the War of the Rebellion, however, Richfield did her whole duty, furnishing, in all, 150 men for the Union army: Of these, five were killed in battle, and twenty-two died from diseases contracted in the service, while thirteen shared the "hospitalities'_' and the horrors of the various prison-pens of the late C. S. A.; six more carrying in and upon their persons indubitable evidences of their having "been there." RICHFIELD'S ROLL OF HONOR. Samuel Allman, Benjamin Allman, Martin Bigelow, Jr., Luman Bigelow (died in service), Albert G. Baldwin (died in service), Charles Blakeslee, Jerome Barnell, Charles Beardsley, George A. Butler, Cyrus P. Brooks, George M. Buel, Darius D. Baldwin, George W. Barnett (died in service), Orson H. Buck (died in service), Nathan S. Britton, Martin C. Bentley, Thomas Burns, DeVillar Bowles, D. E. Bowles, James Barnett, Charles Ball, Thomas Bruner, J. T. Barney, Levi P. Carr, Charles C. Chapman, Ezra Carter, Thomas Clifton, Lewis B. Clark, Charles Churchill, Asa P. RICHFIELD'S ROLL OF HONOR - 947 Carr, M. R. Comstock, 0. B. Carpenter, Richard Dunning, George W. Dickinson, H. E. Dustin, William Davis, Augustus Dillman, Jacob F. Eckert, John Fauble, Thomas Ferryman, Samuel Fauble, M. Fauble, Adam Farney, Horace Greenwood, Augustus N. Gold-wood, John Goldwood, Charles Goldwood, Daniel Gorman, Thomas Gilbert, Charles Hall, Decius Humphrey, Thomas Hatfield, Lucian E. Humphrey, Charles Hicken (killed in service), John. Hancock, k. 0. Halliwell, Cyrus J. Hughes, A. W. Hancock, D. Hubbard, Thomas Huddleston, William Hudson, Henry B. Johnson, William H. Jones, Nathaniel Jones, Thomas Jackson, J. P. Jackson, George Johnson, Henry Killifer, Henry Knapp, John Knapp, Thomas King, Augustus Knapp (died in service), Oliver King, Charles Knapp, John S. Lee, Loraine H. Lockert, J. Linderman, Joseph Lantz, David Lyons, Joseph Mead, Frank Miles, Samuel Moody (died in service), Albert Mead, West Miller, Charles Mead, Levi Mix, James Moore, M. H. McCoy, William Moody, Ezra Menkins, Marcus Noble (died in service), Emmon S. Oviatt, Charles Oviatt (died in service), John F. Oviatt (died in service), Marcus U. Oviatt, Horace Olmstead, Jr., Owen Pixley (died in service), Erasmus Payne, Corydon P. Payne, Edwin W. Poole, Sumner Pixley, Charles Peeples, Lorain J. Phillips, R. J. Phillips, George Roxbury, Edward B. Reed, M. R. Risden, Oscar F. Reed, Enoch W. Simmons, George C. Sheldon, Andrew J. Spencer (died in service), James W. Sanborn (died in service), James Sammons (killed), Daniel W. Sprankle, John Smith, Charles R. Sheldon, Elnathan Simmons, Richard Sweet, William A. Shepard, Eugene`E. Shall, Christian Senghar, Levi Shoalwater, Charles Stockhouse, Nathan G. Strong, David Sangharst, Daniel P. Stoffer, Milton H. Stoffer, Evelyn E. Shall, William. R. Townsend, Richard Tunwell, Robert Tunwell, Samuel Train, Charles W. Tunwell (died in service), Albert Tupper, Hawthorn Thompson, Joseph Taylor, Charles P. Townsend, John M. Thompson (died in service), Sylvester Viall, Henry P. Wadhams, Henry C. Wilcox, James Washburn, Montrose Washburn, Vendruth Washburn, George Wilson. THE PATRIOTIC SPIRIT STILL CULTIVATED.—TO preserve and properly cultivate the fraternal feeling naturally existing between the surviving soldiers of the late war, as well as for general social and beneficial purposes, the A. N. Goldwood Post, No. 104, Grand Army of the Republic, with a healthy membership of the veterans of Richfield and vicinity is maintained, with stated meetings on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month, and such special meetings, entertainments, etc., as are from time to time deemed advisable. COUNTY, STATE AND NATION.—In the civil affairs of both the county, state and nation, Richfield holds a most exalted position, as a perusal of the following summary will most clearly demonstrate : JAMES W. WELD, ESQ., of Richfield, was elected county commissioner in 1844, and successively twice re-elected, ably filling that important position for nine consecutive years. Mr. Weld also previously held the office of treasurer of Medina county for two years, and for many years officiated as justice of the peace of Richfield township. NOAH M. HUMPHREY, ESQ., was elected as Summit county's first representative to the State Legislature, under the new 948 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY. constitution, in October, 1851, filling the position for two years with ability and honor. SCHUYLER R. OVIATT was elected county surveyor in October, 1852, satisfactorily discharging the duties of the office for three years. HON. NOAH M. HUMPHREY, in October, 1854, was again called to the front, by being elected probate judge for three years, and re-elected in 1857, most ably discharging the intricate duties of that office for six full years. EDWARD OVIATT, ESQ., though born in Hudson, and since 1844, a resident of Akron, having spent almost his entire youth in Richfield, and acquired his most excellent education in her old-time highly popular academy, may properly be considered a Richfield " boy," and we will therefore give her credit of furnishing Summit county, in the person of Mr. Oviatt, with a most efficient prosecuting attorney from 1864 to 1868. DAVID BAKER ALGER,—fourth son of John and Sarah (Baker) Alger, natives of Connecticut, was born in Bethany, Genessee county, New York, April 5, 1816. The father dying three years later, in 1822, the mother, with her six children, came by ox-team to Ohio, and settled upon a farm, previously bought by the father, in Richfield. Here the boy David grew to manhood, with such educational advantages only, as the schools of the township afforded. January 16, 1838, he was married in Hinckley, to Miss Margaret Richardson, of Eden, Erie county, New York who bore him four children—two sons and two daughters. He followed farming, both as a business and as a profession, and on his wellfmanaged old Richfield farm, he and his good wife not only made a pleasant home for their own family, but also for the orphaned children of two of his brothers. A warm friend of education, Mr. Alger was ever actively identified with the school interests of Richfield, and being strictly temperate himself, was first and foremost in all temperance and other reform movements. He died December 30, 1884, aged 68 year 8 months and 25 days, Mrs. Alger and their four children—May L., Eunice P., Albert W. (now of Kansas City, Mo.), and Richard Edwin, still ORSON M. OVIATT, for two consecutive terms, from 1868 to 1874, filled the office of county commissioner, both creditably to himsself and highly satisfactorily to his constituents. SCHUYLER R. OVIATT, was elected county treasurer in 1870, for two years, and re-elected in 1872, not only discharging the duties of the office with his customary fidelity, but so improving the methods of performing the routine work of the office, as to at once greatly facilitate the transaction of the the public business, and lessen the liability to mistakes. HIRAM HART, elected county commissioner, in October, 1879, re-elected in 1882, for six consecutive years made one of the most enterprising and faithful public officials that Summit county ever surviving. RICHFIELD IN PUBLIC OFFICE - 949 HENRY C. SEARLES, a native of Hinckley township, Medina county, and an ex-soldier in the War of the Rebellion, became a resident of Richfield, soon after the close of the War, engaging in trade and for several years officiating as postmaster at West Richfield. In 1884, Mr. Searles was elected county recorder, and reelected in 1887, and though in quite poor health a portion of the time, was a first-class officer during his six years incumbency. HENRY C. SEARLES, — son of Daniel Searles, was born in Hinckley, Medina county, Ohio, August 19, 1841 ; raised a farmer ; educated in district schools and Hiram College ; in 1861 enlisted in Battery A., 1st 0. L. A., serving two years, and discharged on account of injuries ; clerked in store of Baxter H. Wood, West Richfield, eight years; in 1873, engaged in mercantile business for himself, being at that time appointed postmaster at West Richfield ; in 1878, his store, with most of its contents, was destroyed by fire, but immediately rebuilt on a larger scale, where he continued to do business until elected county recorder in 1884, to which position he was re-elected in 1887, ably filling the position six years. Mr. Searles, besides serving as postmaster thirteen years, was treasurer of Richfield for nearly twenty years, and member of the board of education some ten years. August 19, 1863, Mr. Searles was married to Miss Elizabeth Parker, daughter of Rev. Sanford Parker, of Hinckley, born November 12,1843. They have had three children –Harry I., born June 17, 1864, deputy county recorder three years, from January 1, 1885, later salesman in dry goods store of Murray & Watt, died February 12, 1891 ; Lizzie A., born March 14, 1867, and George DeForest, born September 14, 1869, now deputy county recorder. The present residence of Mr. Searles is at 931 East Market street, Akron. He is now a stockholder and director, and the secretary of the Akron Hardware Company, corner Stanton and Getz' Avenues. JOHN E. HURLBUT, ESQ., one of Richfield's most successful farmers and business men, on the inauguration of the internal revenue system, during the War of the Rebellion, was appointed, by President Lincoln, United States assessor for the 18th Congressional District of Ohio, composed of Summit, Cuyahoga and Lake counties, with his headquarters in Cleveland. It is safe to say that in no district of the United States, was the service more ably performed, than that presided over by Mr. Hurlbut, and in no other county of the district was the routine work more conscientiously and fearlessly executed than by his faithful local deputies, Schuyler R. Oviatt, of Richfield; Hiram V. Bronson, of Boston; Alfred R. Townsend, of Akron; Andrew Fenn, of Tallmadge; and Stephen D. Miller, of Norton. Mr. Hurlbut, after the War, remained in Cleveland, where he died some four or five years ago. HON. SAMUEL B. AXTELL, one of Richfield's early adopted sons, and whose family and property interests are still in that township, represented the San Francisco (Cal)., district in the fortieth and and fortyffirst sessions of Congress. Returning to Richfield, on