(RETURN TO THE TITLE PAGE) 300 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY The Leo Meyer Company, organized by Leo Meyer in 1915. Mr. Meyer served as president until 1920. Albert Buxbaum now is president with J. W. Bent, secretary. The company deals in scrap rubber, tires and tubes and makes patches and reliners for repairing of tires. H. Muehlstein & Co., Inc., importers and dealers in crude and scrap rubber, was founded in 1911. The centering of the rubber industry in Akron has given rise to many manufacturers of rubber and tire building machinery. Among these companies are the following: The Akron Rubber Mold & Machine Company, established in 1909 by Stanley Harris, who now is president and general manager and G. F. Hobach, now secretary and treasurer. W. E. Wilson is vice president and assistant general manager. The company was merged with several other rubber machinery companies in 1928. Mr. Harris is head of the new organization. The Adamson Machine Company, founded in 1892 by A. Adamson, now the president, and John Denmead. The business was incorporated in 1907 for $500,000. W. E. Slabaugh is vice president and R. B. Koontz is secretary and treasurer. The Vaughn Machinery Company, of Cuyahoga Falls, traces its origin back to a partnership in 1856, James A. Vaughn entering the business in 1861. Present officers are C. W. Vaughn, president ; L. A. Vaughn, vice president, treasurer and general manager, and A. T. Yungman, secretary. The Biggs Boiler Works Company, founded in 1887 by Lester Biggs and reorganized under the present name in 1900. Present officers, B. R. Bar-der, president ; F. G. Sherbondy, secretary and treasurer ; and G. J. Seeger, vice president. The India Machine & Rubber Mold Company, organized in 1920 by W. C. Wenk and L. T. Cline. Present officers, R. D. McDowell, president; D. N. Rosen, vice president ; R. E. Baer, secretary, and George T. Williams, treasurer and general manager. The Wellman-Seaver-Morgan Company, founded in 1903 with S. T. Wellman as first president. East Akron Machine Company, founded in 1918 by Frank F. Seidel, John T. Seidel and Albert R. Miller. Present officers are the same. Electric Motor and Repair Company, founded in 1916 by S. W. Sweet, W. A. Heffelman and R. S. Whitright. Present officers, S. W. Sweet, president; Lee Whitright, vice president ; W. A. Heffelman, treasurer and general manager, and H. S. Kish secretary. The Akron Standard Mold Company, organized in 1918 with $200,000 capitalization, by A. J. Fleiter. Officers now are Allen F. Ayers, president ; A. J. Fleiter, vice president and general manager and C. W. McLaughlin, secretary and treasurer. The Franz Foundry and Machine Company, organized in 1919 by C. Franz, Sr., one of the founders of the Williams Foundry & Machine Company, in 1901. Mr. Franz succumbed in April, 1925. His son, C. W. Franz, Jr., now is in charge of the business. AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 301 The Akron Gear and Engineering Company, organized in 1912. Capitalized at $150,000. Present officers are J. H. Vance, president ; N. G. Nelson, secretary and treasurer, and T. A. Seacrist, general manager. The Akron Industrial Salvage Company, founded in 1918 by George W. Sherman, as a war conservation movement, handles the disposal of all types of by-products and waste materials of Akron's rubber factories. Other suppliers of the rubber industry, located in or near Akron, include the Kuhlke Machine Company, the Akron Equipment Company, the McNeil Boiler Company, the Akron Machine Mold, Tool & Die Company, the Ohio Gear and Engineering Company, the National Sulphur Company, etc. Akron has achieved world renown not alone as the rubber and tire manufacturing center of the world, but also through her pioneering in aeronautics for Akron had the first aeronautical factory in the United States, and built the first American-made free balloons and dirigibles. As far back as 1911 when lighter-than-air craft navigation was considered impracticable, Akron exploited this field courageously and pioneered the development of the free balloon. Two years later Akron-made balloons achieved success, winning the national balloon races at Kansas City. Upson and R. A. D. Preston, whose names have been linked with America's aeronautical development almost from its inception, then brought fame to America and to Akron, winning for America for the first time the James Gordon Bennett international balloon race trophy at Paris. In 1916 and 1919 Akron-made balloons again won the national races, while in 1924 and 1925 W. T. Van Orman, pilot, and C. K. Wollam, aide, flying the free balloon, the "Goodyear III," won the national balloon races and represented America in the international races abroad. Van Orman and Walter Morton won the international balloon race in 1926. When America entered the World War Akron played a prominent part in aeronautics, building for the government many free balloons, observation kite balloons and dirigibles. Goodyear aided in the establishment of an aviation training field near the city. Goodrich, Miller, Firestone. Goodyear and other Akron companies turned over much of their plant equipment for the manufacture of balloon cloth and dirigibles. The government centered its work of training air pilots in Akron, building huge barracks at Wing-foot Lake and conducting over 750 test dirigible flights and over 1,200 training flights in balloons. Akron-made dirigibles had achieved success before the war, and many were made for the army and navy, Ralph Upson and Herman Kraft figuring prominently in the design of new dirigibles. Later the Goodyear factories turned out the twenty immense gas ballonets for the rigid dirigible, the Shenandoah. In 1924 Goodyear officials secured the rights for America, to the Zeppelin dirigible patents, and formed the Goodyear-Zeppelin Corporation; bringing to Akron officials of the Zeppelin factories from Friederichshafen, Germany, and a corps of expert Zeppelin builders. These men now are designing plans for huge Zeppelins a thousand feet long, which will be built in Akron. 302 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY Akron has always been considered, especially with respect to labor in the rubber industry, an "open shop" city. It has long had a nation wide reputation of being a "good wage" town where working conditions also were much more favorable than in cities boasting of other industries. Only one important effort was ever made to unionize workers in the rubber manufacturing plants and the effort was a short-lived failure. It was in February, 1913, that labor leaders, branded widely at the time as I. W. W. agitators, established headquarters on South High Street, and began to distribute union propaganda. Efforts were centralized at the larger factories including Goodrich, Firestone and Goodyear. With respect to efforts at "picketing" factory entrances and extending their efforts to prevent strikebreakers from being hired, the former factory came in for the greatest attention due to the factory being located nearer the central part of the city and its proximity to Main Street. Much feeling was aroused by the visiting labor workers. Police found it necessary to recruit large forces of citizen police officers to supplement the regular forces. Bankers, merchants, ministers and men prominent in various phases of civic endeavor took their turns as guard sentinels at places in the city where it was thought dangerous demonstrations might occur. About ten thousand men were estimated to have left their work at one time during the walkout. Many of these were not in sympathy with the strike move but remained at home through fear of bodily harm. Many parades were held by the strike leaders and sporadic clashes between police and strikers resulted, without, however, serious results. The strike was not backed by public sympathy and the effort died a sudden and natural death after about six weeks. One of the most interesting spans in Akron's history was the period from 1910 to 1920 which marked the most rapid expansion of the rubber industry and earned for Akron the name of "Thee fastest growing city in the United States." Between those years the city's population increased more than three-fold, reaching 208,000 under the 1920 census. The boom period reached its peak of acceleration between 1918 and 1920. Thousands of men seeking employment in rubber factories here where wages were high, literally poured into the city. Rubber companies could not make tires fast enough. They could not build additions fast enough. They could not hire men fast enough. Seldom has any city in the world's history experienced such a condition of expansion as that which held Akron in its throes in 1919 and 1920. Civic development could not keep pace with population growth. A housing shortage was precipitated upon the city. Attics and basements were converted into sleeping quarters for the city's army of homeless rubber workers. Manufacturers hastily established subdivisions and feverishly built homes for their workers. The rubber factories worked incessantly-24 hours every day. Men were given bonuses to speed their work. The city's streets were clogged with men. There was as much activity all hours of the night as during AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 303 the day, with thousands of men going to and from work. Hundreds of deaf mutes flocked to the city for work in the rubber shops, forming the largest colony of "silents" in America. Then came the precipitate slump late in 1920; the sudden falling off of tires sales; vast overproduction; the piling up of immense inventories of finished goods that could not be moved and that tied up millions of dollars of working capital ; the tightening of credit. The depression caught many manufacturers with contractual obligations for future deliveries of rubber and cotton at peak prices even though the prices of these raw materials had dropped to one-third of the peak levels. Employment in rubber shops here which climbed to more than 75,000 men and women in June of 1920, dropped to less than 20,000 by December of the same year. There was a tremendous exodus of rubber workers. The low ebb of the slump came late in 1920 and early in 1921 but even after general business had begun to recover this was slow. The atmosphere was filled with foreboding and uncertainty. Courageously, however, Akron manufacturers began to shape their "come back." They worked courageously and gradually reestablished their trade channels, and liquidated inventories as rapidly as possible. From late in 1921 up to the present time Akron's growth has been steady and healthy, with a more stable class of labor employed, with manufacturers less reckless. CEREALS QUAKER OATS COMPANY Second to Akron's rubber industry, Akron's cereal and milling industry is perhaps next in importance. Woven into the cereal and milling industry of the city is the Quaker Oats Company, known the world over for its products. Steady growth of the Quaker Oats Company, looking back over its birth in 1891, shows the unusual benefit of purity of product and the results that come from putting scattered plants and industries under as few roofs as possible and thereby concentrating efforts in business. In June, 1891, the F. Schumacher Milling Company joined hands with its principal rivals and became known as the American Cereal Company, with a capitalization of $3,400,000. The main office was soon transferred to Chicago, where it still remains. Mr. Schumacher remained in control of the new organization for eight years, and J. H. Andrews, director and manager, was placed in charge of the Akron mills. Mr. Andrews died in 1928 while touring in Europe. Andrews, who was directing head, came from Ravenna, where he had operated a milling corporation. The name "Quaker Oats" was a happen-so, officials say; and it was chosen because the originators wanted to convey the information to their customers that it was a pure, wholesome cereal. It did just that and more. 304 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY DIVERSITY OF PRODUCTS During the years since the corporation was formed, a wide diversity of new products have been put on the market by the company. These include Quaker oats, Mother's oats, Royal Seal oats, Quaker brand puffed wheat, Quaker brand corn puffs, Quaker cracked wheat, toasted cornflakes, cornmeal, pearl hominy, hominy grits, pearled barley. Other products include bulk goods, Quaker flour and balanced rations for horses, cattle, hogs and poultry. MERGER BIG FEATURE Andrews, before his death, viewed the consolidation of the various plants as one of the biggest achievements. At one time there were seven scattered plants in the city. All these are now under the two roofs. One, the receiving end, stands at the head of Mill Street, between Broadway and Summit Street. The other, the factory proper, stands at the foot of Mill Street at Howard Street. Underground pipes connect the two plants and the grain from the receiving plant is blown into the factory at the foot of the Mill Street hill, a distance of 1,986 feet. The receiving plant frequently has more than 1,250,000 bushels of grain in stock, but this quantity is usually nearer the 500,000 mark, depending on shipping and market conditions. The two unit plan went into effect in 1913 after years of intensive study and concentration. Originally, the greater part of the Quaker Oats Company product was done in bulk. Today conditions are reversed and the biggest business is by package. This keeps products free from danger of getting stale and prevents invasion of weevils. Many residents throughout the world know Akron for its cereal products as well as its tires. Quaker Oats Company is well represented in China and Japan and its products reach every corner of the globe. Nearly 100 years ago all of the cereal manufacturing in Akron was confined to one company on Mill Street. Today, the same condition remains, although daily movement of carloads of products from the Quaker Oats Mills aggregate 100 and products each year run over the $21,000,000 mark. CASCADE MILLS Down in the valley of the Cuyahoga, close to the intersection of West North and North Howard streets, a crumbling chimney flings itself against the sky line of Akron. It is a gaunt and mouldering skeleton bursting forth from a grave of weeds, but about its funeral rags there still seems to cling some memory of past grandeurs. The impression of forgotten greatness is no delusion for this stark column of bricks is all that remains of the Cascade Mill, one of the early industrial landmarks of Akron. The history of the Cascade Mills dates back as far as the history of Summit County. It was in 1840 that Summit was organized as a separate county, and it was in the same year that William B. Mitchell erected the 306 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY original Cascade Mill at the terminus of the races on North Howard Street. There were already three mills in Akron at that time, the famous Stone Mill, the Etna and the Center. NEW ORDER OF THINGS Prior to 1833 no attempt had been made to find a market for grain outside of the county. The pioneer farmers carried their grain to the small grist mills scattered about the county and loafed about until it had been ground into flour by the primitive methods of those days. Then came the opening of Dr. Eliakim Crosby's Cascade Mill race, the building of the Stone Mill and the beginning of a new order of things. Surveys for Crosby's mammoth ditch which was to carry waters of the Little Cuyahoga River from the northerly part of Middlebury to a point near Lock No. 5 of the Ohio Canal were many in 1831. Work of constructing the race commenced in 1832, and the building of the Stone Mill at Lock No. 5 was started the same year. Both the race and the mill were completed in 1833, although it had been necessary to cut through the solid rock to make that part of the channel extending from near the present site of Fountain Park to Summit Street. TOWN OF CASCADE It had been expected that mills and factories would spring up all along the route of the race upon its completion and in anticipation of that event the town of Cascade came into being. The first store in the North Akron limits was Seth Iredell's Cascade Store, erected in 1832, the first hotel was Baldwin and Kilbourn's Cascade House, opened in the same year, and for a few years after that the new town was universally known by the name of Cascade rather than by its official title of North Akron. Construction of blast furnaces and a factory for manufacturing carding and spinning machines followed close on the opening of the Stone Mill and in another five years the Etna flour mills, built just north of West Market Street, by Samuel A. Wheeler and John B. Mitchell, came into being. A year later came the Center Mills, located on the canal at Cherry Street, and then Mitchell built his famous Cascade. FATE OF BUILDING The description is meticulous at least. The writer could not have obtained more lengths and breadths and thicknesses if he had gone over the Cascade Mills with a yard stick, but the fate of the building makes his figures interesting. Gazing at the decayed hulk of this mill it almost requires some such presentation of veracious sounding figures to convince one that this was ever the scene of the industrials activities of dusty, bearded millers and oily, sideburned mechanics. The ultimate end of the Cascade Mills was the same as; that of all the other early mills of Akron. The Etna, the City, the Hower were all de- AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 307 stroyed by fire, although the Etna was the only one that was occupied at the time of its destruction. The Cascade outlasted them all, the fire that leveled it to the ground not occurring until March 27, 1904. It was hardly more than a hollow shell at the time, not having been used as a mill for some years. C. H. Wheeler was the owner at the date of the fire which is listed on the fire department's books as being of incendiary origin, although no one was ever arrested in connection with the blaze. Gazing at the ruins from a vantage point on North Street, a tableau of eighty-five years of a city's growth presents itself. The single leaning column that now remains of the great mill of 1840 stands out against a background dominated by the towering arches of the North Hill viaduct, the greatest and one of the newest feats of engineering the city has to offer. DIAMOND MATCH COMPANY The Diamond Match Company ranks today among the leaders in internationally known industries. With huge factories and a business that is universal, Diamond matches are known everywhere. The Barberton plant at the corner of Second and Robinson avenues is one of the most important of the Diamond's units. History of the Diamond Match Company goes back to 1881, but the story of its Summit County ancestor, the Barber Match Company, dates back even further. George Barber commenced the manufacture of matches in a barn in Middlebury in 1845 and in 1865 the Barber Match Company was organized with George Barber as president, 0. C. Barber as secretary and treasurer, and J. K. Robinson as general agent. TWENTY-EIGHT OTHER PLANTS Ten years later, the Barber Company and twenty-eight other plants throughout the country were incorporated under the name of the Diamond Match Company, with a capital stock of $6,000,000, and 0. C. Barber was made president. With the removal of the Summit County plant from Akron to Barberton and the present international status of the great Diamond corporation Summit County residents are familiar. PITTSBURGH PLATE GLASS COMPANY The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company's Columbia Chemical plant at Barberton is one of the oldest, largest and best known industrial plants in that city. The Columbia Chemical Company was organized in 1899 by John Pitcairn, Philadelphia capitalist, who was then chairman of the board of directors of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, Pittsburgh, Pa. Associated with him were Andrew W. Mellon, Henry C. Frick and the directors of the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company, including W. L. Clause, originally an Akron resident and who was then sales manager. The object in view was building of an alkali plant to produce the necessary soda ash used by the Pittsburgh company in the manufacture of plate 308 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY and window glass. At that time the greater percentage of the soda ash used in the country was imported from England. A great many prospective locations for the plant were looked over and considered before the Barberton site was decided upon. SELECT BARBERTON SITE Barberton was finally selected because it was considered an excellent point for railroad facilities for both in and outbound traffic and the business called for large tonnages of raw material and also because it was assumed that salt deposits existed there because of the fact that salt was found at Akron and Wadsworth. Options were taken on several hundred acres of land in West Barberton and a salt well was drilled early in 1899 on the Baughman farm. A very fine deposit of salt was discovered and the land was purchased. In those days West Barberton was farm country with only a few houses on the west side of Wolf Creek and the only industry was a brick yard, the site of which is now covered by the residential section of West Barberton. Since the foundation of the company the original plant has been increased in capacity four times and while soda ash is the principal product, caustic soda, calcium chloride, fertilizer lime and whiting are also products of the industry. USED IN GLASS MAKING Soda ash is largely used in glass making but is also used in the manufacture of aluminum and soap. Caustic soda is used in soap making and in the reclaiming of rubber and to the average layman is lye. Calcium Chloride is used for dust laying and in curing concrete, all modern concrete roads now being cured by its use. Fertilizer lime is used for sweetening the soil and although not all farmers are as fully aware of its properties as they should be, it is being used more and more every year. The Barberton office has no sales department but any inquiries will be referred to its exclusive agents: The Isaac Winckler and Bro. Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, for soda ash, caustic soda or washing soda ; the Columbia Products Company, 623 Union Building, Cleveland, Ohio, for agricultural lime or whiting, and the Carbondale Calcium Company, Carbondale, Pa., for calcium chloride. LARGEST IN THE WORLD The Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company is the largest in the world. It operates six different glass plants in Pennsylvania, Indiana and Missouri and a refractories plant at Elwood City, Ind. It is the largest manufacturer of optical glass in the United States and also operates window glass plants at Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Clarksburg, W. Va., and has warehouses at forty-seven of the largest cities in the United States which dis- AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 309 tribute its products throughout the country ; one of these plants is located on Lincoln Street in Akron. The company also operates a large plate glass plant at Courcelles, Belgium, its own coal mines in Pennsylvania and the Missouri and Illinois Railroad. Its capital stock is $50,000,000 and a large number of employes are stockholders. Hugh A. Galt is in charge of the Columbia Chemical division which includes the Barberton and Zanesville activities, and he is also one of the company's vice presidents. MISCELLANEOUS EARLY INDUSTRIES Below are listed some of the early industries of Akron which are not included in the dominant rubber group : Thomas Phillips & Co., a parnership, commenced business in 1872, to manufacture extra strong paper made from old manila rope. The partners were John R. Buchtel and George W. Crouse of Akron and Thomas Phillips from Chagrin Falls, Ohio. During the intervening years there have been associated with their enterprise as officers and directors, Clarence Howland, W. T. Jordan, the widow of Thomas Phillips, Harriet S. Phillips, his sister, A. B. Tinker representing Buchtel College interests, George W. Crouse, Jr., Fred D. Howland, Frank C. Howland, George S. Howland, William Whaley, F. A. Seiberling and L. C. Koplin. In 1887 the company was incorporated under the name of the Thomas Phillips Company, and the present officers are Charles W. Seiberling, president; L. C. Koplin, vice president and assistant manager ; Frank C. Howland, treasurer and general manager. The original plant, built in 1872, burned in 1891 and was rebuilt the same year. The company now manufactures paper bags from the raw material, old manila rope to the complete finished product, printed with the brand of the customer. These are bare facts, but read between a few of the lines :—In 1888 John R. Buchtel transferred his stock to Buchtel College. Clarence Howland was the original bookkeeper in 1872, became manager in 1879 and before the company was incorporated acquired an interest by purchase from John R. Buchtel. After incorporation Clarence Howland was treasurer and general manager, and later purchased the Buchtel College interest. He died in 1905 and was succeeded by the present treasurer and general manager, Frank C. Howland. The Akron Soap Company manufactures soaps, tallow, greases and poultry foods. The business was begun in 1884 by Adam Duncan in an old stone building still standing on North Case Avenue. In 1903 a branch was established in Youngstown and from this in 1921 originated the Duncan Oil Company, an Akron branch of which was established in 1924. The Portage Rendering Company was founded in 1917 by George J. 310 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY Bickler, who is president and treasurer with M. C. Bidler as secretary. The company manufactures tallow and grease and deals in hides and pelts. Zimmerly Brothers was founded July 9, 1892, as packers. In 1908 they were incorporated as the Zimmerly Bros. Co. The founders were John, Jacob, Gottlieb and Herman Zimmerly, and the officers are : Jacob Zimmerly, president; Gottlieb Zimmerly, vice president ; John Zimmerly, secretary and treasurer ; Herman Zimmerly, general manager. The Burt Manufacturing Company is a development from the Burt Specialty Company, formed during the '80s to sell hard rubber specialties as manufactured by the B. F. Goodrich Company, consisting principally of Yale ink wells, hard rubber poker chips and similar items. Why was it named Burt? The founders were Bert Work, Burt Knowles, Bert Will, Burt Kohler, C. G. Raymond, E. B. Miller, Harry Blackburn, W. F. Warden and H. F. Maranville. In 1890 Burt Knowles purchased an oil filter patent and during that same year the Burt Manufacturing Company was incorporated by W. F. Warden, H. G. Blackburn, Clyde F. Berry, J. Asa Palmer, H. F. Maranville, and Mrs. Mae Knowles. The oil filter was developed and perfected and other types and styles were developed. The Burt exhaust head was brought forward. Later the Burt ventilator was added, making the complete line as it is today. This company is the largest and oldest manufacturers of oil filters in the world, having sold 300,000 filters in this country alone. Its distinction is world wide. Officers : President and general manager, J. Asa Palmer; treasurer and factory manager, J. D. Palmer. Selle-Gear Company was incorporated in 1886 for the manufacture of wagon gears, wagons, etc. In 1903 this company consolidated with the Akron Gear Company under the name of Akron Selle Company. After the advent of the automobile the wagon gear work steadily declined and in 1914 the Akron-Selle Company absorbed the Tanner-Hower Gauge Company, manufacturers of gasoline and oil gauges and metal stampings. The business has greatly expanded until today this is one of the foremost companies making automotive specialties. The founders and others connected with the development of this company were : Ferdinand Selle, M. Otis Hower, John B. Hower and E. W. Hamlin. The officers are: President, Blanche E. Hower ; vice president, John B. Hower ; secretary, E. W. Hamlin. The Enterprise Works, established in 1881 by E. F. Pflueger, proprietor, was incorporated in 1886 as the Enterprise Manufacturing Company, by E. F. Pflueger, Ernest A. Pflueger, A. L. Conger, George W. Crouse and B. F. Goodrich taking over the American Fish Hook Company, which was established in 1864. The company manufactures a complete line of fishing tackle suitable for both fresh and salt water fishing. The officers are: President and treasurer, E. A. Pflueger, vice president and superintendent, J. E. Pflueger ; vice president and assistant treasurer, C. T. Pflueger; secretary, L. W. Griffiths. The Sportsmen's Digest, in an article about this company, says in part : "The Enterprise Manufacturing Company of Akron is among the two or three largest institutions of its kind in the AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 311 universe. Likewise fish lures to the extent of some 5,000 different and distinct pieces are the products of this house. The late E. F. Pflueger founded this business in the farmhouse kitchen." E. A. Pflueger is president of a national organization known as "The Manufacturers Association of Fishing Tackle," comprising the leading manufacturers of this class of goods in the United States. The Taplin-Rice-Clerkin Company, developed from other companies founded in 1865 for the manufacture of stoves, furnaces, ranges, clay and potters' working equipment. The founders and developers were : George T. Perkins, Henry Perkins, J. B. Taplin, Alvin Rice and William Clerkin. The present officers are : William Clerkin and Irene Clerkin. Its products are favorably known all over the country. The Wise Furnace Company was incorporated 1904 by W. G. Wise, J. W. Myers, Crannel Morgan and others. The officers are : President, J. W. Myers ; vice president and general manager, W. G. Wise ; treasurer, D. C. Siegfried ; secretary, Atlee Wise. This company ships its product to all parts of the United States where heating apparatus is needed, and is recognized as one of the leading firms in its line. The Twentieth Century Heating & Ventilating Company originated in the spring of 1894 when warm air furnaces were manufactured under the name of Clerkin & Maag by a co-partnership consisting of George Maag, John Kerch and William Clerkin. In December, 1894, a patent on the celled and slotted fire pot was granted to George Maag. The enterprise was incorporated, 1901, with John Kerch, president ; George Maag, vice president ; W. G. Wise, secretary and treasurer ; William Clerkin, general manager. In 1908 Mr. Clerkin retired and Mr. Kerch assumed the management. The present officers are John Kerch, president and general manager ; George Maag, vice president ; J. Garver Kerch, secretary ; Earl Diehm, treasurer ; Oliver Toomey and Andrew Deis, directors. Products include warm air furnaces for both hard and soft coal, steam and hot water boilers, patented horizontal flow heater for mechanical warm air heating auxiliary natural gas heaters and the overhead system of installing the horizontal distributing pipes in the attic instead of in the basement. The Klages Coal & Ice Company was founded in 1879 by Henry Klages, and incorporated, 1888, with the following stockholders : Henry Klages, August Blessman, John R. Buchtel, Ferdinand Schumacher, Paul E. Werner, C. M. Knight, Herbert P. Hitchcock, A. H. Sargent, James Viall and W. A. Folger. The present officers are : H. W. Haupt, president and general manager ; C. M. Knight, vice president ; L. A. Klages, secretary and treasurer ; W. B. Blessman, superintendent. Up to 1888 the business was the retailing of coal. Upon incorporation in 1888 the business was expanded to include retailing of ice, the supply being obtained from White Pond, Summit Lake and Blue Pond. In 1892 the first artificial ice plant was opened. The use of natural ice continued 312 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY for a number of years but now artificial ice has practically replaced it in all of Akron. The Burkhardt Consolidated Company started in 1880 as a brewing business when the plant of Frederick Gassier was purchased by William Burkhardt. After his death in 1882 the business was continued by his widow, Mrs. Margaretha Burkhardt. The present company is a consolidation of : The City Ice & Coal Company, the Burkhardt Realty Company and The Burkhardt Company. The Renner Products Company succeeded the Renner Brewing Company, founded in 1845. Its founders and developers were Mr. Oberholtz, F. Horix and George J. Renner. The present officers are Ernest C. Deibel, president; W. D. Renner, vice president ; George J. Huber, general manager. Their products are cereal and carbonated beverages and artificial ice. The Coca-Cola Bottling Company was organized more than forty years ago by William Williams, former sheriff of Summit County, and is now owned by his son William Williams ; Coca-Cola and other carbonated beverages are bottled and marketed in Summit, Portage and Medina counties. The company distributes about 15,000,000 bottles of carbonated beverages each year. The Sumner Company was founded in 1902 by J. M. Sumner and O. N. Harter, the latter being shortly succeeded by E. E. Crooks, who remained in the business until 1914 when his interests were purchased by J. M. Sumner, and from that time to the present he and his sons have owned and operated the company. The officers are : J. M. Sumner, president; G. A. Sumner, vice president; F. L. Sumner, secretary and treasurer. This company operates one of the largest Creameries in Ohio. The Bessler Movable Stairway Company was founded in 1908 by F. E. Bessler. The officers are : F. E. Bessler, president ; A. J. Dellenberger, secretary and treasurer. This product is a stairway which can be pushed up out of the way to give greater free space on a lower floor, and pulled down into place to give access to upper floors. The South Akron Awning Company was founded March 1, 1913, by Mr. R. H. Gauman to manufacture tents, awnings and tarpaulins. In this line also is the Akron Tent and Awning Company. The Star Drilling Machine Company was incorporated in 1889 by J. W. Miller, E. A. Durst, H. A. Hine. Present officers are : D. B. Duff of Cleveland, president ; W. M. Dabney of Cleveland, vice president; J. W. Miller of Pasadena, Cal., vice president ; F. B. Theiss of Akron, vice president and treasurer ; L. W. Breyfogle of Akron, secretary; M. J. LeFevre of Akron, assistant secretary and assistant treasurer. Here are manufactured portable well drilling machinery, drilling tools and equipment. Factories in Akron, Chanute, Kans., Portland, Ore., Long Beach, Cal. The A. Peterson Company was started in 1900 by Mr. and Mrs. Peterson at 482 South High Street, manufacturing set-up paper boxes. In 1909 the company was incorporated. In 1923 the same interests started a separate company known as The Akron Paper Box Company to manufacture AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 313 folding boxes. Both factories are fully equipped and located in adjoining buildings. The Akron Mattress Manufacturing Company was founded in 1908 by Joseph Dopples, Charles Reyman and Julius Dirrig. It was incorporated in 1909 by the founders with Charles Zaber and Selma Reyman and started in a small frame building. The business now occupies a modern four-story fireproof building. The officers are : George W. Merz, president ; Ben F. Wheeler, vice president; F. E. Dyer, secretary, treasurer and general manager. The products are upholstered living room furniture, mattresses, box springs and SanHygene mattresses. The Plotkin Bedding Company was organized in 1922 by S. P. Plotkin. The officers are : S. J. Plotkin, president ; S. Plotkin, treasurer and general manager ; J. H. Vineberg, vice president ; H. D. Fuerst, secretary. This company manufactures mattresses and box springs. The Akron Belting Company was founded and incorporated 1885, by Charles T. Bodifield, Sumner Nash, Samuel Findley, A. M. Barber and C. E. Sheldon. George W. Crouse was the first president. The business was originally located on North Main Street, at the Grand Opera House site. In 1893 the company consolidated with the Brigger Belting Company and elected A. B. Rinehart, general manager. The officers are : A. B. Rinehart, president; W. C. Metlin, vice president ; George Wince, secretary; H. F. Adams, treasurer ; C. G. Wanamaker, assistant treasurer. The product consists of leather belting of all types made from bovine skins and also round leather belting, belt lacing and accessories. The Baker McMillen Company was started forty-seven years ago by John W. Baker, J. C. McMillen and J. P. Teeple on the banks of the canal near Ash Street, to make wooden boxes for shipping wooden smoking pipes made by Ayers & Merriam. Shortly afterwards these men acquired the pipe business. The bowls and stems were turned separately, the bowls being polished and the stems enameled, which brought them later into the enameling business. Later they made cigar boxes, and dealt in stoneware pipes. The bowls were made of ordinary clay and shoveled on and off the wagons like coal. The stems were of reed, which was brought from the South in car lots. In 1890 the company was incorporated by the founders with C. F. Shutt and J. L. Noble. Later, John B. Wright was made a director. The business gradually changed to its present product—turned and enameled wooden handles. In March, 1892, the plant burned, and a new four-story brick building (still standing) was erected near by. The old water wheel and saw mill complete were never removed and were left buried in the debris of the fire. A selling organization, the Western Enameling Company, was formed and C. I. Bruner of Kokomo, Ind., was elected manager. This company was not particularly profitable but claims to have justified its existence by bringing to Akron, C. I. Bruner, president of The First Trust & Savings Bank. In 1903 the Baker McMillen Company bought out the Akron Spirit 314 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY Level Works owned by D. A. James and F. W. Pickton. This was developed for seven years during which time the output increased to the second largest in the United States. In 1910 the largest manufacturers in the line, The Stanley Rule & Level Co., at New Britain, Conn., bought the level business. In 1914 the company sold its property on Bowery Street to The Quaker Oats Company and purchased the plant of the Pioneer Pole & Shaft Company, East Miller Avenue, which plant is now used. The officers are H. B. Sperry, president and treasurer ; A. F. Chandler, vice president; J. A. Sperry, secretary. The Rybolt Heater Company was founded and developed by the three Rybolt Brothers of whom our present mayor is one. The company has built up a very substantial business with foundries in Akron and branches at Indianapolis, Cincinnati and Akron. The present manager is H. L. Orton. The Biggs Boiler Works, founded in 1887 by Lester M. Biggs, is an outgrowth of the Summit City Boiler Company. A reorganization took place in 1900 giving the present name—The Biggs Boiler Works Company with Lester M. Biggs, president ; L. E. Biggs, general manager, and B. R. Barder, secretary. In 1908 Mr. Barder and F. G. Sherbondy procured the Biggs interests. Mr. Barder is president, Mr. Sherbondy, secretary and treasurer, G. J. Seeger, vice president. The products of this company include rotary bleaching boilers for the paper industry, vulcanizers and devulcanizers for the rubber trade, steel tanks and plate construction and riveted steel pipe for waterworks installations. The Akron Varnish Company was founded in 1878 by J. M. Beck and E. G. Kubler under the name of Kubler & Beck. In 1897 they consolidated with the Imperial Varnish Company under the name of The Akron Varnish Company with J. H. McCrum and S. H. Kohler as the new personnel. Mr. Beck's sons E. M., W. B. and Carl Beck, the latter formerly mayor of Akron, have been associated with the company during its development. The present officers are : F. M. Whitner, president and treasurer ; C. F. Beck, vice president and general manager ; G. B. Marentay, secretary and vice president; C. T. Seeger, secretary. Their chief product is Black Baking Enamels, although they also manufacture clear varnishes. The Burger Iron Company was founded August 13, 1896, by J. A. Burger, A. Kull, J. A. Rohner, J. G. Bachman, G. A. Reichler. The present officers are : J. A. Burger, president ; J. A. Rohner, vice president ; M. M. Kindig, secretary and general manager ; G. A. Rohner, treasurer. The business consists in designing, fabricating and erecting structural steel for buildings and bridges. The Akron Lamp Company was established twenty-five years ago and incorporated in 1918. The officers are : J. C. Steese, president ; W. C. Krisher, vice president and sales manager ; A. C. Dick, secretary and treasurer. They manufacture lamps, lanterns and self-heating sad irons, and sell AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 315 them all over the world in districts not supplied with electricity or gas. One representative out of a dozen in Africa has sold a thousand lamps a year for more than ten years so that Akron is doing something to light "Darkest Africa." Electric motors are manufactured by The Imperial Electric Company. The McNeil Boiler Company manufactures vulcanizers, devulcanizers, boilers, and similar equipment. The Wellman Seaver Morgan Company absorbed some years ago one of Akron's pioneer industries, The Webster Camp & Land Co., and established very large machine shops here. This company, however, is now withdrawing from its Akron plant the bulk of its activities. The Velte Bros. Manufacturing Company make upholstered furniture. The Wadsworth Core Machinery Company maintains a foundry and machine shop, shipping its products to foundries all over the world. The Pittsburgh File & Steel Company makes knives and files. The Ornamental Iron Works Company and the Portage Iron & Wire Company make light steel structural products of all kinds. The Colonial Salt Company located in Kenmore is an Akron concern, drilling over 2,000 feet into the earth to the salt beds where the salt is dissolved, pumped to the surface and the water evaporated. The product moves in train loads every day. The staple service industries present in every community are well developed in Akron. The many laundries, pattern shops, planing mills, sheet metal plants, and other establishments which supply the needs of Akron and of much surrounding territory are too numerous to mention individually. At best this chapter is incomplete and serves only to show that Akron is not devoted wholly to but two or three manufactured products. CROUSE CLAY PRODUCTS COMPANY The Crouse Clay Products Company, manufacturers of Akron Standard Sewer Pipe, has been listed among Akron's industrial plants for al most a score of years and the sewer pipe business has always been one of the city's leading industries. Once this city was the sewer pipe city and although it has long since become known as the rubber city, the manufacturing of sewer pipe still stands among our leading industrial occupations. George W. Crouse, the second of that name to be prominent in the city's annals, is president and treasurer of the company. He is an ex-president of the Akron Chamber of Commerce. George W. Crouse, Jr., is a member of the board of directors of the clay product company. The late George W. Crouse, who was the father of the present George W. Crouse, Sr., was identified with every great industry of early Akron. J. B. Huber is secretary of the Crouse Clay Products Company and J. L. Derr is sales manager. The board of directors is made up of George W. Crouse, J. B. Huber, George W. Crouse, Jr., Percie E. Fogarty and E. A. Crouse. 316 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY ROBINSON CLAY PRODUCTS COMPANY The Robinson Clay Products Company has one of the oldest and most interesting histories of any industrial plant in the city. Incorporated under the present name in 1902, its activities extend as far back as the 1850s under various firm names. It was, in 1856 that Henry and Thomas Robinson and Richard Whitmore succeeded Enoch Rowley, who had commenced the manufacture of yellowware in Middlebury in the early '50s. The firm was started out as Johnson, Whitmore and Company, but in 1862 was changed to the Whitmore, Robinson Company, being incorporated under that name in 1887. Eight years prior to this last date, Henry and Thomas Robinson had organized Robinson Brothers and. Company for the purpose of manufacturing sewer pipe in the Old Forge. This company was the real original nucleus of the Robinson Clay Products Company of today. In 1902 Robinson Brothers and Company, Whitmore, Robinson and Company, and the E. H. Merrill Company were merged as the Robinson Clay Products Company. The Merrills, E. H. and H. E., had established the Akron pottery in 1861 and with Fred Butler incorporated the E. H. Merrill Company in 1887. HAVE MANY PLANTS The high standing of the present great Robinson Clay Products Company is too well known to require any comment. Works are located at Akron, Mogadore, Midvale, Dover and Malvern, Ohio, and the general offices are in rooms 1100-1113 Second. National Building here. Sewer pipe, fire brick and flue lining are the products of the plants. Officers of the company are : H. B. Manton, president ; R. L. Robinson, vice president ; W. A. Humphreys, second vice president ; L. I. Foster, third vice president ; John J. Starr, treasurer, and Thomas Rockwell, secretary. Directors are : H. B. Manton, R. L. Robinson, John J. Starr, Thomas Rockwell, W. E. Robinson, W. A. Humphreys, F. C. Reed and L. I. Foster. AMERICAN VITRIFIED PRODUCTS COMPANY In 1848 David E. Hill with Robert Foster and Reuben McMillan founded a company for the manufacture of sewer pipe. The outgrowth of that company is what is known today as the American Vitrified Products Company, of which David E. Hill's son, George R. Hill, is the president. Hill, Foster and Company was the name of this earliest ancestor of the American Vitrified corporation and the plant was located in Middlebury, the locally renowned "Black Mill" being converted into a pottery works for its use. In 1851 Foster retired, being succeeded by Edwin H. and Calvin J. Merrill and Hezekiah Camp, the firm name being changed to Hill, Merrill and Company. In this year a machine for making small sewer pipes was developed by the company and it became not only the pioneer of the manufacture of AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 317 clay sewer pipe in Akron but the second company to manufacture this type of material in America. FORMED IN MOULDS These small sizes of hexangular water pipes were formed in moulds, the orifice being bored while the section was yet in the mould. A tremendous factor in the development of the sewer pipe business here was that clay especially adapted to the business was found in almost inexhaustible quantities in and around Akron. David Hill and Calvin J. Merrill made the most of opportunity by devoting themselves particularly to the development of better machinery for producing sewer pipe. One of Hill's notable achievements in the industry was the introduction of the first steam press in this country, thereby doing away with the old hydraulic press methods. CAMP BROTHERS COMPANY Eighty to a hundred thousand brick daily is the average production of the Camp Brothers Company at Mogadore, with a payroll of, but 40 to 44 men. Common brick are made at the Camp Brothers plant, and they are of the best of their kind. The company's clay bank consists of about one hundred and thirty feet of hard shale, overlaid with probably six feet of surface Clay. The cut being worked is about twenty-five to thirty feet deep. This raw material is shot down about once a month or once in six weeks. The shale and clay is dumped into a large wooden bin from where it is fed by reciprocating feeder into a single roll crusher. The crusher performs the double function of crushing the large lumps and helping to mix the clay and shale thoroughly. From the crusher the raw material is carried to the top of clay storage bins by an inclined feeding belt. TWO PLATE FEEDERS Two plate feeders take care of the two dry pans which grind the 250 to 300 tons of raw material required daily. From the pans the ground clay is elevated to screens and thence conveyed by belt to a wooden storage bin over the two brick machines. OFFICERS OF COMPANY H. H. Camp is the president of the Camp Brothers Company. Other officers are: L. W. Camp, vice president; R. E. Armstrong, secretary and C. C. Baird, treasurer. The present plant has now been in operation for four years. COMMERCIAL PRINTING COMPANY The Commercial Printing Company was organized in April, 1896, with a total investment of $8,300. The equipment consisted of three job presses and one small cylinder press. 318 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY The average number of employes for the first year was twenty-eight, and the total payroll for the same period was $11,560. Business was started at the corner of North Main and Federal streets, and in 1912 the company moved into its own, building at the present location, West Exchange and Water streets. HAS LARGE BUILDING The company now occupies 60,000 square feet of floor space. The officers are : Sam F. Ziliox, president and general manager ; M. M. Dice, vice president and assistant general manager ; H. E. Votaw, secretary and director of sales; E. P. Werner, general superintendent and assistant treasurer, and W. V. Aydelotte, treasurer. FACTORY OIL COMPANY E. A. Shutt started selling oils and greases as a side line when he was working in a machine shop in Cleveland in 1895. He learned about the lubricating needs of machinery and also became acquainted with many men who later became influential in oil distribution in the United States. When the Cleveland. Oil Company established its Akron branch at 235 South Furnace Street, about 1897, he was sent to manage it. At approximately the same time many of these other men were put in charge of other branches, all working out of the Cleveland office. Later, after Shutt had started an oil jobbing company of his own, his acquaintance with the machinists aided him in placing orders for many hundreds of gallons of lubricants and his acquaintances among the men working out of the Cleveland office of the Cleveland Refining Company, who now had oil companies of their own, enabled him to purchase the best grades of lubricants at good prices. ORGANIZED COMPANY The corporation which he organized in May, 1906, was known as The Factory Oil Company. It was housed in the same building in which he had represented the Cleveland Refining Company, on a B. & O. siding on Furnace Street. The original incorporation was for $10,000 worth of stock. Shutt sold his interest in the company in 1927. AKRON ENGRAVING COMPANY Thirty years ago a little wooden building on Mill Street housed one of the pioneer photo engraving plants in the Middle West. Its successor, the great Akron Engraving Company, of today is the largest plant in Ohio devoted exclusively to photo engraving and is still keeping abreast of all the latest developments in the industry. A four story building on South High Street near Exchange now houses the company's activities and the equipment throughout all departments is of the most modern kind. The Case Engraving Company, founded in 1895, was the direct ances- AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 319 tor of the Akron Engraving Company. W. S. Stilwell and Neal Otteran early became associated with this concern. In due course of time the business came into their hands and was re-christened the S. and 0. Engraving company. C. G. Rohrich is general manager of the Akron Engraving Co. SEVERED CONNECTIONS Subsequently they severed their connection with the business but the company continued to retain the name they had given it until almost ten years ago. Through all of the years as the S. and 0., the company had grown with Akron, improving and developing its organization until it had attained the position of being the largest photo engraving plant in the state. Through the passage of years, however, the initials S. & 0. had lost their original significance and after careful consideration the new name was adopted. Officials of the company gave three reasons for the choice of the present name. They were, "first, because it locates us ; second, because we are a part of Akron's industry; third, because Akron will always stand for bigger, better things in the years to come." EAST AKRON CASTING COMPANY The East Akron Casting Company and its gray iron and semi-steel foundry at Kelly Avenue has been an Akron institution since 1918. The company and its branch handle all kinds of general foundry work but specialize in rubber cores and molds. W. C. Wenk is president. ADAMSON MACHINE COMPANY Foundations for the Adamson. Machine Company of the present day were laid in 1891 when A. Adamson and J. W. Denmead started a machine shop on the present site of the Doyle building. Adamson had moved to Portage County from Western Pennsylvania while in his late teens and was employed as an engineer in mines there until 1885. In this year he came to Akron and served an apprenticeship as machinist with the old Webster, Camp and Lane Company. After six years with that company he and Denmead started up for themselves as above noted. At the end of eight months Adamson bought out Denmead's interest and continued the business at the same place for five years. MANY ADDITIONS A 50x80 brick block on West Exchange Street was the next location of the machine shop and in later years numerous additions were made to this plant. The great Carroll Street plant of the present day came next. In 1909 the business was incorporated as the Adamson Machine Company. The company's activities are described under the history of "engineers, machinists, iron and steel founders and builders of rubber working ma- 320 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY chinery." A. Adamson, the company's founder, is its president and general manager. AKRON GEAR & ENGINEERING COMPANY The Akron Gear & Engineering Company, a general machine and gear company, is the only one in Akron manufacturing gears although they do other machine work besides making gears. The firm has progressed rapidly since its establishment and is a member of the American Gear Manufacturers Association, a national organization devoted to the development of the gear industry. The company has a complete line of gear equipment which enables it to render exceedingly prompt service. Practically all of the rubber companies and a number of other Akron factories are served with gears by this concern. J. H. Vance is the company's president. PORTAGE ENGRAVING COMPANY Half tones, zinc etchings, news tones, electrotypes, pen drawings, photo retouching, designing and illustrating describes the activities of the Portage Engraving Company. "Quality printing plates" is one of the firm's slogans. The Portage company's growth and progress has been noteworthy and regular ever since its establishment in February, 1919. Starting in a small way, the concern now ranks among the leading photo engraving establishments of this section. Charles M. Wagner and. Helen M. Wagner are the proprietors. AKRON TOWEL SUPPLY COMPANY Everything in linen is furnished by the Akron Towel Supply Company, to innumerable local businesses. The service consists of renting linen, collecting it when soiled at short intervals, bath towels, hair cloths, coats, butcher frocks, trousers, bar aprons, bib aprons, chair covers, napkins, table cloths, dish towels, roller towels, hand towels, caps and individual locked on towel cabinets. The company was established here in 1911. S. B. Curen is president. BEACON BRASS AND BRONZE FOUNDRY COMPANY The Beacon Brass and Bronze Foundry has been turning out brass, bronze and aluminum castings here for the last four years. T. K. Bittner was the founder of the company and is its sole proprietor. The foundry is located on Beacon Street. FISHER BROTHERS' LUMBER COMPANY History of the Fisher Brothers' Lumber Company goes back to 1896, when Philip and John Fisher decided to build a shop in Kent, to house machinery to use in their building and contracting business. As months AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 321 passed by they bought from twenty to twenty-five cars of lumber and finally drifted into the lumber business under the present company's name. In 1899 and 1900 business in Kent was poor and in 1901 the brothers came to Akron and bought an acre of swamp from Moses Failor. Water and cat tails made up the whole tract, but the Fishers filled in the whole place from two to seven feet. There was no street at that time between South and Crosier, so John Fisher took a plow and scraper and made it appear as though there was a street in order to have an outlet for the business. UNDER ONE MANAGEMENT The concern has been under one management. Philip was killed in a railroad accident in 1912, but John assumed his interest and has continued to manage the firm right down to the present date. The name Fisher Brothers has remained, however, and he never expects to change it. CAHILL PLUMBING COMPANY H. P. Cahill, late president of the H. P. Cahill Plumbing Company, came to Akron from Cleveland, Ohio, thirty-nine years ago and had seen fifty-five years of service in the plumbing and heating business, before his death. He installed either the plumbing or heating equipment, or both, in every building on the west side of Main Street between Market and Mill and made similar installations in the county jail, courthouse, city hospitals and twenty-five Akron schools. For the first two years after the organization of Barberton he did the plumbing and, heating work in every factory and business block erected in the new community. MAURICE KNIGHT COMPANY Maurice A. Knight, manufacturer of acid proof chemical stoneware, has the only plant in America devoted to the manufacture of this product. Knight is the sole owner and operator of this plant, which has attracted attention throughout the entire world and consequently helped greatly in advertising Akron. It was only a few years ago that the New York Commercial devoted a full column to a description of a trip through this interesting plant. The reporter commented on the fact that previous to the war it was .generally believed that the best stoneware of this character could be made only in Germany where the development of the industry had received much care and attention. PRAISES PRODUCT Some of the highest grade stoneware in the markets of this country was formerly made from raw clay products imported from Germany but with the outbreak of the war it became necessary to develop American 322 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY sources of raw material. According to the Commercial the stoneware being purchased at the Knight factory is superior in every respect to that made in Germany before the war. ATLANTIC FOUNDRY COMPANY Starting in Akron in 1908 as a $10,000 concern, the Atlantic Foundry Company is today a half million dollar corporation. The company manufactures gray iron, steel and semi-steel castings of all kinds and at present maintains plants both at Akron and Cuyahoga. Falls. The office is at 182 Beaver Street, on the Belt Line Railroad. PORTAGE MACHINE & ENGINEERING COMPANY "Give service and never say good enough" is the slogan of the Portage Machine & Engineering Company, Steiner Avenue job shop. The company was founded in April, 1916, and started with ten men, later employing as many as ninety-eight. The eight machines with which the original shop was equipped have since been increased to thirty-six. In 1916 the shop covered 1,400 square feet. With later additions it now extends over approximately 40,000 square feet. CITY LAUNDRY HAS GROWING BUSINESS "Known for Quality" is the slogan which is known to its many customers. The City Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company is not only the oldest concern of its kind in the city but it is also the largest. Established in 1896 it has been serving the laundry and dry cleaning needs of Akronites for nearly thirty years. "Known for Quality" is the slogan by which the City company is identified not only in its advertising but also among its thousands of satisfied customers. The company is located at 637 South Main Street. Launderers of fine linens, clothes cleaners and dyers and rug and carpet cleaners, the activities of the company are known to all Akronites and it is patronized by more and more of our citizens every year. T. E. McShaffrey is president of the company, F. R. Ormsby is vice president and Alex Sicherman is secretary and treasurer. Directors in addition to the officers are H. Ferbstein and Harry Ferbstein. VAUGHN MACHINERY COMPANY Pioneer builders of wire drawing and sewer pipe machinery, the Vaughn Machinery Company have been in business ever since 1856, a stretch of sixty-nine years of service. The company manufactures rubber machinery, cold drawing equipment and chain machinery. The plant is located at Broad and Front streets, Cuyahoga Falls. The "Vaughn" trademark has become internationally recognized and its rubber machinery is known almost everywhere rubber has been heard AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 323 of. C. W. Vaughn is president of the company, L. A. Vaughn is vice president and general manager and A. T. Yungman is secretary. ROHNER PAPER COMPANY The Rohner Paper Company and its Ropaco products have been widely and favorably known in Akron for the last eighteen years. As wholesale jobbers of general merchandise they carry a complete line of office and factory supplies and wrapping paper, twine and general merchandise for all business houses. One of the things that has made for the outstanding success of the company is the ever ready willingness of all its employes to furnish prompt action on any request for information out of the usual order. Inquiries on special items are solicited. Officers of the company are : J. A. Rohner, president ; L. A. Rohner, vice president; E. M. Rohner, secretary, and C. C. Kempel, treasurer. COLUMBIA SILICA COMPANY The Columbia Silica Company was established in 1923. It owns a 90-acre tract of land, 58 acres of which contains a silica deposit which laboratory tests show to be 98.85 pure silica. The deposit consists of silica pebbles and sand, which is passed through crushers and distributors, thence through a huge dryer and is finally sent to the screen room where it passes over various screens which insures uniformity as to size. Chief product is blast sand of various sizes used by rubber manufacturers, manufacturers of steel castings and other factories. The company also makes a specialty of silica gravel and sand for filtration plants. They also handle core making sand, bit stone for potteries and in fact produce for all purposes for which high grade silica sand is used. The plant is located in West Akron on the A. C. & Y. R. R. and on the Akron-Copley Road. KNICKERBOCKER COMPANY The. Knickerbocker Warehouse & Storage Company has been serving Akron for twenty-five years. Founded in 1900, the company has been first in making many of the improvements in the moving and storage line that have developed during the years between then and now. The Knickerbocker Company operated the first motor van in the city. T. E. M'SHAFFREY COMPANY The T. E. McShaffrey Construction Company was established in 1900 and T. E. McShaffrey, its first and its recent president, had been in the contracting business for three years prior to that time so that in all he has been handling contracts here for the last thirty years. The McShaffrey Company has been for years and still is one of the largest contracting firms in the city. McShaffrey during his thirty years in the business has handled over 324 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY $50,000,000 in private and public contracts. Perhaps his most notable achievement was the construction of the largest individual building in the city for the B. F. Goodrich Company at a cost of $2,400,000. Mr. McShaffrey, the founder of the organization, died suddenly on September 12, 1928. PNEUMATIC TUNNEL Another outstanding achievement of the McShaffrey firm was the building of the Hawkins Avenue pneumatic tunnel, one of the most intricate pieces of work ever done in the city. This $500,000 job was undertaken and carried to a successful completion by the McShaffrey organization after it had been given up by another contracting firm. Much of the work on this job was done under the most adverse conditions. The contracts which the company has successfully handled during its existence are almost innumerable. T. E. McShaffrey, the company's founder, has been personally at its head through all its years of growth and expansion. T. J. Boylan is the company's secretary. HOWE-OHIO ICE MACHINE COMPANY The Howe-Ohio Ice Machine Company are engineers and distributors for Howe ice machines for commercial and industrial refrigeration and Valley ice machines for household electric refrigeration to take the place of ice. The company furnishes refrigeration plants for hotels, restaurants, ice cream factories, dairies, meat markets, theaters and public buildings, clubs, soda fountains, rubber factories and other establishments and is rapidly building up an enviable prestige in this territory. The company was established in 1915 and since that time have handled all sorts of mechanical refrigeration and general cold storage construction contracts. UNIVERSAL CLEANING COMPANY Most Akronites know of the high class dry cleaning and dyeing work performed locally by the Universal Cleaning Company, but it is doubtful if very many of them realize that Miraclean, the celebrated odorless cleaning substance used exclusively in this city by the Universal, was originated right here in Akron. The owners and staff chemists of the Universal Company developed and perfected this gasoline derivative that is both colorless and odorless. So instantaneous was its success here that dry cleaners throughout the entire nation soon heard of its remarkable properties and clamored to obtain the agency for its use in their cities. In response to this demand rights to the use of Miraclean were leased to the leading cleaners through out the whole country. The leases are handled by the Miraclean Company, a concern organized to meet this demand, and which is controlled by the parent Universal Cleaning Company. AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 325 THE AKRON PURE MILK COMPANY In 1901 a Chicago concern promoted the idea of combining, in Akron, several milk businesses which were small, usually consisting of one route which was operated by its owner, into a company. Many advantages were claimed possible for the merger and of a new process of handling milk, which was just beginning to be recommended at that time, known as Pasteurization. The promoters succeeded in convincing enough Akron capital that the venture would be successful to incorporate a company ; thus came into being the Akron Pure Milk Company. The venture proved very disappointing to the organizers, and after two years of unsuccessful operation, it was decided to discontinue business, but before finally quitting, the present management bought the company and the late 0. N. Harter was made president, and A. G. Teeple, secretary and treasurer. These men divided the responsibilities between themselves and, through hard work and ability, made the company successful. Later each of these men's brothers, the late Mr. A. H. Harter and Mr. H. D. Teeple, associated themselves with the company. Mr. A. H. Harter became the vice president and, at the death of his brother, 0. N. Harter, in May, 1924, became president, which office he held until his death in July, 1925. Mr. H. D. Teeple became the treasurer in 1918, which position he still holds. Upon the death of Mr. 0. N. Harter, Mr. C. B. Alexander, who had been made assistant secretary and treasurer in 1923, was also made general manager, and Joseph C. Hale was made vice president. After the death of Mr. A. H. Harter, A. G. Teeple succeeded to the presidency, C. B. Alexander became secretary and general manager, Fred Harter became assistant secretary and C. B. Siddal became assistant treasurer. Besides the above-named men Mr. John Schubach, Mr. F. J. Andre and Mr. F. M. Reese are members of the board of directors. These men still hold these positions at this writing, April, 1928. The Akron Pure Milk Company was a pioneer in the Pasteurizing of dairy products, and, of course, it met with much opposition, but now, after more than twenty-five years, it is recommended by the leading health authorities as the best safeguard for any milk supply, which goes to show the wisdom and foresight both the organizers and their successors had in adopting Pasteurization. During this time, a great evolution has taken place in this company. It has changed from a small business handling 400 gallons of milk a day when little organization and equipment was needed for operating, to a business of large proportions, requiring executives of the highest caliber, a very complete organization of ably-trained men and women, and thousands of dollars worth of the most modern machinery capable of handling and delivering 30,000 gallons of milk daily. While formerly the milk was shipped almost entirely by wagon, train and trolley from some farm in Summit County, Summit County has long since ceased to provide enough milk, so that today our supply comes from more than twelve hundred of the finest dairies in America, located in five different counties and, with the advent of good roads, is shipped 326 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY almost exclusively by truck. In the early days the milk was bought entirely by weight, but today it is paid for according to both the amount and the richness of the milk. Every can of milk is inspected before it is emptied, after which the can is thoroughly washed and returned to the dairy. The milk is then weighed and a sample is taken every day so that the richness of the milk can be accurately determined. The milk is then ready to be pasteurized, which means heating all portions of the milk to 145̊F. never less than 142̊F., for thirty minutes and cooling immediately below 50̊F., which leaves the milk pure, clean and more wholesome than before. After this the milk is put into the bottles and cans which have been washed, sterilized and carefully inspected. The milk is then placed in an immense ice box to await delivery. Few people realize the wide variation in milk production, due to seasonal changes, but the supply shrinks to about 60 per cent of its summer peak when the cows are in the pasture. This gradually recedes to the low point and gradually increases to the high point, so that anyone can see that, since the demand for milk is fairly constant, after what milk is needed for bottles and cans is used there is a varying amount that must be handled in some other way. It is from this milk that a supply of cream, cottage cheese, and buttermilk can be secured and whenever there is more than enough to supply these needs, the milk is condensed and marketed in that way. In order to carry on all the technical problems involved, not only in the sanitation and inspection of the supply of milk, but in the washing and sterilizing of the bottles and cans and the many sanitary precautions necessary in caring for all the different products, it is necessary to have a laboratory, to actually check all these operations, and the Akron Pure Milk Company has one of the finest to be found anywhere for conducting this work. Besides these operations, a barn must be maintained for horses, wagons, and feed, a garage for the storage and repair of automobiles, a blacksmith shop for the making and repairing of parts and the shoeing of horses, a carpenter shop for repair and construction work, a paint shop, a boiler room for furnishing steam and hot water used for sterilizing, pasteurizing, and heating, a refrigeration plant for furnishing facilities for cooling the milk and for cold storage and a large stock room full of repair parts and supplies that are needed daily, because milk plants must operate every day of the year. With these operations all complete and everything in readiness the delivery begins at midnight with a large fleet of trucks and wagons. During all kinds of weather, and while most of us are still asleep, the milk men work to enable us to have our milk and cream fresh each morning. After all this, of course, we must have a very accurate accounting system to keep us informed as to the efficiency and cost of all these operations, and finally special accommodations have been provided for public inspection at any time, so you are always welcome to call for a visit without inconveniencing anyone. CHAPTER VI BANKS AND FINANCIAL ORGANIZATIONS Modern business demands a strong banking structure. In this respect Summit County is fortunate. Capital and resources of Akron and Summit County banking institutions stand at the top of the list of cities and counties in this class. First Trust and Savings Bank In 1855, the private bank of George D. Bates and Company was organized in Akron on the west side of Howard Street—about where the Empress Theater now stands. At that time, the city had a population of about 3,400 and its neighbor, Cleveland, ranked thirty-seventh in the nation with a population of less than 20,000. Despite the simplicity of this old-fashioned bank with its crude equipment, its coal stove, its small vault locked by a huge key, the "combination" being adjusted by means of removable wards, it grew rapidly under the able direction of George D. Bates, Sr., and served efficiently its little community. It was particularly helpful during the Civil War, not only in lending financial assistance to the business interests of the district but also in permitting its banking rooms to be used in the preparation of articles for the soldiers. Here the women of Akron prepared bandages and other hospital supplies. Here plans were made for patriotic cooperation with the Union cause. NEAR "BANK" ALLEY In 1863, the First National Bank of Akron was organized. It was located on Market Street next to "Bank" Alley, where the Hibbard Jewelry now stands. The first president was Thomas W. Cornell. In the same year, the private bank of George D. Bates & Company was converted into the Second National Bank of Akron and moved across the street to about where the Day Drug Company is now located. In 1888, the Bank of Akron, a private institution with a capital of $200,000, was consolidated with the Second National Bank, and in 1904, the Citizens National Bank was merged with the institution. Both the First National Bank and the Second National Bank advanced steadily in resources as Akron grew and its industries expanded. Finally on March 18, 1911, the First National Bank and the Second National Bank, the two largest institutions of Summit County, were consolidated. - 327 - 328 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY As the quarters of neither bank were large enough to house the combined institutions, the two banks were operated separately in their old quarters, pending the completion of the new building at the corner of Main and East Bowery streets. This structure was opened in 1911 and it became the home of the First-Second National Bank November 11 of that year. The next highly important development took place in 1913 when the stockholders of the First-Second National Bank acquired the stock of the Peoples Savings Bank, which was organized in 1890, the second oldest bank in Akron at that time, reorganizing it under the name of The Peoples Savings & Trust Company. The directors of the First-Second National Bank believed that the time was propitious for giving Akron a modern trust company and that the attractive structure at the corner of Main and Exchange streets would make an ideal home for this part of the rapidly growing institution. The Peoples Savings & Trust Company established three branch neighborhood offices, one each in North, East and South Akron. ANOTHER MERGER In order better to serve the banking needs of the city, the affiliated First-Second National Bank and the Peoples Savings & Trust Company were merged on May 1, 1923, to form the First Trust & Savings Bank, with present resources of over $35,000,000 and with four branch offices. It is a member of the Federal Reserve System and offers all banking and trust services. Geo. D. Bates is the bank's president. Other officers are C. I. Bruner, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Ira E. Myers, H. B. Manton, F. H. Mason, S. F. Ziliox, vice presidents ; W. A. M. Vaughan, Executive Vice President ; T. S. Eichelberger, Secretary ; H. Merryweather, Treasurer; H. A. Valentine, T. R. Cook, C. G. Wilson, W. J. Ederer and B. M. Rockwell, Assistant Treasurers ; H. B. Slusser, J. E. Hatch, J. H. Hill, G. H. Krumroy, C. G. Faine, F. W. Hamrick, Assistant Secretaries ; L. S. Dudley, Trust Officer ; H. B. Dodge and R. C. Parish, Assistant Trust Officers ; J. M. Caskey, Title Officer and W. H. Simmons, Auditor. The board of directors is composed of F. H. Adams, Geo. D. Bates, C. I. Bruner, R. K. Crawford, Geo. W. Crouse, R. T. Griffiths, John Gross, H. Hough, F. C. Howland, M. D. Kuhlke, J. M. Laffer, H. B. Manton, F. H. Mason, C. Mulcahy, Ira E. Myers, Thos. F. O'Neil, C. H. Palmer, Wm. F. Pfeiffer, E. A. Pflueger, C. B. Raymond, H. K. Raymond, A. B. Rinehart, R. L. Robinson, G. A. Rohner, A. G. Saalfield, Francis Seiberling, W. E. Slabaugh, W. A. M. Vaughan, T. F. Walsh, E. E. Workman, W. E. Wright, R. G. Yeager, and S. F. Ziliox. The Central Savings & Trust Company Significant of the steady and rapid growth of the banking business of the Central Savings & Trust Company, in South Main Street, is the 330 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY enlargement during the past year of the bank's trust department. To make room for the expansion in this department, it has become necessary to move part of the operations of other departments of the bank to the second floor of the building. The enlargement of this department has resulted not only in the amount of space occupied but in an increase in personnel. Mason Snow is now trust officer of the bank, and J. P. Mead is assistant trust officer. CONDUCT TOURS Under the direction and supervision of Paul M. Held, treasurer, the bank has recently inaugurated a travel department, which is in charge of Mrs. Josephine Hummel. Under bank auspices, two personally conducted all-expense tours were held during the past summer, one to Yellowstone and Glacier parks, and the other to Washington, Philadelphia, Atlantic City and New York. Plans are now being made for two more trips of the same kind to be held during the coming summer, one to Colorado and Yellowstone and the other to principal Atlantic Coast points. The Central Savings & Trust Company has acted as co-underwriter and trustee of the recent bond issue of the Beacon Journal Building Company. ACCOMMODATE DEPOSITORS A night depository service, designed to accommodate merchants who want to make deposits after banking hours and on Saturday nights and Sundays, has been one of the added features of the bank's program during the past year. Until the time of his death, a few months ago, E. R. Held had directed the policies of the bank for more than a decade, having been made president in 1916. He came to Akron from Canal Fulton, where he was head of the Exchange Bank, which position he retained in connection with his work in Akron, and also was president of the National Bank at Hudson and the Clinton Savings Bank at Clinton. STARTED TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS AGO The Central Savings & Trust Company had its beginnings twenty-eight years ago, just at the opening of the period of Akron's remarkable industrial growth. It has kept pace with the development of the city and has become one of the city's leading financial institutions. The savings department of the Central Savings & Trust Company has had a healthy and rapid growth and the deposits in this department now total more than $7,000,000. Its Christmas Savings Club is one of the largest in the city. Articles of incorporation for what was then the Central Savings Bank were secured on February 28, 1897, by Will Christy, R. M. Pillmore, J. A. Baldwin, George W. Plumer, J. R. Nutt, John Memmer and George B. AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 331 Clark. The first meeting of the stockholders on March 8, 1897, resulted in the election of the following directors : J. A. Baldwin, H. H. Gibbs, Will Christy, A. H. Commins, John Memmer, George C. Kohler, George B. Clarke, H. E. Manton, and J. R. Nutt. E. P. Otis was added to the board on January 10, 1898. NAMED AS OFFICERS Baldwin became the first president ; Christy, vice president ; Memmer, secretary ; and Nutt, treasurer. The bank was located in the Central Office Building, Main and Mill streets, and had a capital of $50,000. It became a member of the Akron Clearing House Association and the American Bankers Association. The assets of the old Guardian Savings Bank were acquired August 16, 1904, and in October of that year the preliminary steps were taken for consolidation with the Akron Trust Company, which had been organized in 1900, and was doing business at Howard and Mill streets. The Central Bank at that time had deposits amounting to $610,450. FIRST TRUST COMPANY H. B. Camp was the first president of the Akron Trust Company, and Nutt was one of the directors. Camp was later succeeded by A. B. Rinehart. J. W. Lyder was secretary, and E. R. Held, treasurer. The trust company was capitalized for $100,000. It was the first trust company organized in Akron, and for the four years of its existence enjoyed prosperous business under the personal supervision of E. R. Held. The Central Savings & Trust Company was organized in 1904. Nutt, who is now president of one of the largest and most powerful banks in the United States, was the leading spirit in the consolidation of the Central Savings Bank Company and the Akron Trust Company as the Central Savings & Trust Company. Christy was made the first president. M. Otis Hower and H. H. Gibbs were the first men chosen for vice presidents. J. S. Benner became secretary, and E. R. Held, treasurer. The first directors were : Will Christy, M. Otis Hower, H. H. Gibbs, J. S. Benner, E. R. Held, J. A. Baldwin, John Memmer, J. R. Nutt, A. H. Commins, P. M. Pillmore, E. P. Otis, J. P. Loomis, E. H. Gibbs, E. S. Day, H. W. Stuart, P. H. Schneider, H. E. Berger, W. W. Leonard, W. A. Roche, George R. Hill, W. C. Hall, H. M. Hollinger, H. H. Camp. BUILDING PURCHASED In 1914 the Hamilton Building was purchased as the future home of the institution. It moved into the new quarters in 1918. As a striking example of the growth of the Central Savings & Trust Company, its resources today exceed $1,000,000. Its location is in the very heart of 332 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY Akron, and it is one of the most complete banking establishments in the country. Present officers of the Central Savings & Trust Company are : George H. Dunn, president ; W. J. Ruof, executive vice president ; H. H. Gibbs, vice president ; A. H. Commins, vice president and counsel ; P. M. Held, treasurer ; C. E. Elwell, secretary ; R. N. Foltz, assistant treasurer ; L. E. Mentzer, assistant secretary ; Mason Snow, trust officer; J. P. Mead, assistant trust officer ; E. R. Colclough, auditor ; A. H. Kirkland, manager Barberton branch ; and K. F. Sonnhalter, assistant manager Barberton branch. The directors are : F. W. Albrecht, E. T. Asplundh, E. W. Brouse, Edward S. Babcox, H. H. Camp, C. F. Chapman, A. H. Commins, John M. Doran, George H. Dunn, H. S. Firestone, E. H. Gibbs, H. H. Gibbs, W. C. Hall, P. M. Held, James H. Hemphill, A. R. Henry, John S. Knight, Louis Loeb, C. Blake McDowell, W. E. Pardee, Jacob Pfeiffer, George T. Rankin Jr., J. G. Robertson, W. J. Ruof, H. A. Rudd, P. H. Schneider, C. L. Selkregg, James D. Tew, and John L. Yeager. The National City Bank Another milestone was passed in the history of the National City Bank when its capital stock was increased from $400,000 to $1,000,000 during the past year and the service provided by the bank was enlarged along several lines. The establishment of a night depository for the accommodation of its patrons who want to make deposits after banking hours and on Saturday nights and Sundays is one of the more recent features of the service provided by this South Main Street institution. Since the recent passage of the McFadden act, the National City Bank has taken advantage of the permission granted by Congress to make real estate mortgage loans with a part of its funds. It has been offering first mortgage loans on improved residential and business property up to 50 per cent of its appraised value. CELEBRATE ANNIVERSARY Many of the customers of the bank are said to have taken advantage of this service. It is required by the bank that property on which loans are made shall be located in sections where values have become stabilized. During the past year the National City Bank celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of its business existence here. When it was started, as the City Bank, in 1867, Akron had a population of about 7,000 people. It was organized by Woods Thompson and company as a private bank and had its offices at Bank Alley and Market Street, between Howard and Main streets. It grew steadily, from the time of its founding, and in 1883 it was granted a national charter under the name of the City National Bank of AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 333 Akron. In 1903 a new charter was granted under the name of the National City Bank of Akron. FIVE PRESIDENTS From its first location the bank moved to South Howard Street and continued its operations there until June 8, 1913. The present home of the bank at 51 South Main Street was occupied in June, 1913, all of the securities and currency of the bank being brought to the new banking quarters in one steamer trunk. The bank has had five presidents since its founding in 1867. They are : John B. Woods, Dr. A. M. Cole, George W. Crouse, Nelson C. Stone, and Harry Williams. Mr. Stone entered the bank's employ in 1888 as bookkeeper, and Williams entered the same year as messenger. Among the early depositors of the bank in the years from 1867 to 1880 were some of the most prominent firms in the city. The Thomas Phillips Company, Miller Match Company, Thomas Building & Lumber Company, Beacon Publishing Company, Ailes & Burn, May & Feibeger, William Buchtel & Sons, Elliott Tile Company, E. R. Hull & Company, Hal Brothers, Hower & Company, O'Neil & Dyas, Stoolmiller & Roche, Fred J. Wettach, Chandler, Findley & Company, Louis Miller, A. L. Conger, Ferdinand Schumacher, John H. Hower, A. M. Barber, C. C. Barber, Jerry A. Long, and the Kubler & Beck Varnish Works. Most of these firms or their successors are customers of the bank today. A statement of the condition of the National City Bank at the close of business on October 10, when the last bank call was made, shows that its resources total $15,648,772, with deposits of more than $13,200,000. This is an increase in deposits of more than $2,200,000 in the past two years. In 1883 the bank's deposits totaled about $100,000, and in 1913 they had increased to about $2,500,000. At the present time the capital, surplus and undivided profits of the bank total $2,164,054. Nelson Clarke Stone, who died recently, was president and later chairman of the board, secured his first banking experience in a Kansas bank. Later he traveled extensively in the United States and abroad, selling investment securities, and started with the City National Bank in 1888. MAKES RESERVATIONS Harry Williams, president, started in business in Lafferty's Confectionery store next to the Howard Street location of the bank and entered the employ of the City National Bank in 1888 but left it after a year to work in the Citizens' Savings Bank. He returned to the City National Bank in 1893 and has been with that bank since that time. As one of the more recent forms of service to its customers, the National City Bank has established a department which makes hotel reservations in New York with the Bowman's Biltmore hotels, whereby the 334 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY bank's patrons can be assured of hotel accommodations and preferential service at all times. No charge is made for the service and accommodations are assured in New York no matter how crowded conditions may be there. The present officers of the bank are : Harry Williams, president ; Elmer C. Turner, vice president ; G. R. Edgar, cashier ; N. G. Nelson, assistant cashier ; D. L. Edwards, assistant cashier ; H. A. Fisher, assistant cashier; Francis Wolcott, assistant cashier ; H. G. Lund, assistant cashier ; J. L. Collins, trust officer ; Kenneth Peck, auditor. Directors are : F. W. Adams, H. E. Andress, A. D. Armitage, B. R. Barder, Charles C. Benner, S. G. Carkhuff, Jerome Dauby, William H. Eager, F. M. Harpham, Stanley W. Harris, A. W. Hawkins, H. M. Houser, Maurice A. Knight, V. I. Montenyohl, F. J. Palmer, B. A. Polsky, H. 0. Polsky, C. W. Seiberling, Elmer C. Turner, F. C. Van Cleef, John H. Weber, Harry Williams and W. G. Wise. Ohio State Bank & Trust Company Akron's phenomenal growth has been more than equaled by that of the Ohio State Bank & Trust Company, which reported, December 29, 1922, deposits of $6,521,700. On September 12, 1927, less than five years later, the same bank had deposits of $12,216,547.34. In keeping with this growth in deposits, the Ohio State Bank on September 26, 1927, increased its capital from $500,000 to $1,000,000, and the capital, surplus and undivided profits of the bank are now $1,700,000. This increase enables the Ohio State Bank to keep up with the credit demand of a great and growing community. This is an almost 100 per cent growth in less than half a decade. SECOND IN INDUSTRY "Akron has made it possible," says Allan F. Ayers, president of the bank. "In the same period Akron has leaped forward industrially until it has become the second industrial city in Ohio. "We believe that the Ohio State has grasped the opportunities which Akron's growth offered, and has also done its part to create those opportunities. But the opportunities are here and to a remarkable degree. "No city in America has given greater evidence of vitality than has Akron in the last decade. No city in the whole nation today stands on the threshold of greater development. "At this moment, while other cities are hesitating or dragging, Akron is going forward with confident stride. Not only has this city great industrial resources and a recognized pre-eminence in many fields, but it has that resource which is controlling the destiny of cities, men! DRAWS COMPARISONS "Men of courage, initiative and imagination create great cities, and the same kind of men keep such cities in the forefront. AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 335 "An illustration of this is found in the comparative cases of our great neighbor, Cleveland, and of Buffalo. From the standpoint of physical location and advantages of early development at the terminus of the Erie Canal, Buffalo had the jump on any other city of the lower Great Lakes region. "Cleveland, too, had excellent advantages of location, but certainly not better than those of Buffalo in the early days. To Cleveland, however, came men of great imagination and courage. They adventured, made gains, then never rested but went on. "Men of Buffalo apparently took their early gains and then took it easy, and the city stopped away short of the mark which Cleveland has set. AKRON CARRIES ON "Akron has had and still has the kind of men who pioneer and make great cities. The courageous upward sweep of the city since the countrywide depression of 1920 proves that the men of Akron are carrying on. "This summer, slow for many cities but prosperous for Akron, proves that the quality of present leadership here is enduring and remarkably wise." The present Ohio State Bank dates back to a merger of January, 1922, when the State Savings & Trust Company and the Ohio Savings & Trust Company came together into the present corporation. The merger gave the bank two centrally located offices, one at Market and Goodyear in East Akron, and the other on the northeast corner of Main and Market. With the opening of the new bridge, the latter location became a particularly strategic one in the city. EXPERTS ENGAGED The bank policy has been to keep service keyed to the needs of growing Akron business. To a competent old staff which was brought together at the time of the merger, several specialists have been brought in to serve the increasing complicated needs of a great metropolitan community. The latest of these additions are W. R. Mayer, auditor, brought from Cleveland, and R. I. Philhower, manager of the credit department, brought from New York City. Philhower's acquisition is a special recognition of Akron's need for the kind of credit service which metropolitan banks in the very largest centers of America are giving their customers. President Ayers, commenting recently on the great expansion and splendid new location of the Akron Beacon Journal, pointed out the vital relationship of a newspaper to the life of a city. "If a great metropolitan daily, such as the Beacon Journal, concentrates on the task, it can create or recreate the spirit of a city," Mr. Ayers said. 336 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY CREATES SPIRIT "In many ways the Beacon Journal has created and sustained the great heart and spirit of Akron. "A good newspaper does this by the challenge of its editorials, the ability of its news to convey the power and direction of the city's life, and the utility of its advertising columns in creating new markets and distributing goods to old markets. "If a newspaper could reveal the secret record of great enterprises for its city, which have originated in its office, and for diplomatic reasons been credited elsewhere, it would be a great story of city building genius. "This would be peculiarly true of the Beacon Journal, because besides being a great newspaper by virtue of the abilities of many men, it has been a great city-builder by virtue of the genius of C. L. Knight, who has been not only a newspaperman of power and imagination, but a statesman of Akron as well as of the nation." O'NEIL IS CHAIRMAN William O'Neil is chairman of the board of directors of the Ohio State Bank & Trust Company. Other officers are W. P. Welker, first vice president and trust officer; Charles C. Botzum, vice president ; C. J. Arnold, vice president; William J. Heepe, treasurer ; T. T. Reed, assistant vice president; W. R. Mayer, auditor; F. A. Geigel, assistant treasurer ; A. A. Love, assistant treasurer; R. M. Waltz, assistant secretary ; S. S. Hoak, assistant treasurer; S. H. Hammond, assistant trust officer ; H. E. Paige, assistant secretary; and R. I. Philbower, manager of credit department. Directors are : J. M. Alderfer, Stanley H. Austin, A. F. Ayers, A. C. Blinn, Chas. C. Botzum, J. W. Brady, Ford L. Carpenter, A. W. Doyle, L. D. Frelberg, George N. Hawkins, Charles J. Jahant, G. H. Kile, T. W. Kimber, G. C. Marsh, N. 0. Mather, M. M. Mell, I. S. Myers, W. W. McIntosh, W. O'Neil, W. E. Palmer, R. M. Pillmore, G. T. Rankin, F. A. Seiberling, A. J. Saalfield, H. B. Stewart, N. E. Thomas, W. P. Welker, William Williams, Wendell L. Willkie. Commercial Savings and Trust Company When the Commercial Savings & Trust Company started in the banking business in Akron, it was located in a small room at 356 South Main Street, just north of Exchange Street, and the entire working force con= sisted of two persons, C. R. Musser, who was cashier, and Karl K. Kernpel, assistant cashier. This was nearly twenty years ago, as the company started in business on January 4, 1908, but both of these employes are still connected with the bank. C. R. Musser is now executive vice president of the company and Mr. Kempel is assistant cashier and manager of the East Akron branch. AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 337 RESOURCES ARE $7,000,000 The main office of the bank is now located near the corner of South Main and East Exchange streets, in a nine-story building, in which is also located the Bond Hotel. It has had a steady growth in business and its present resources are nearly $7,000,000. The Commercial Savings & Trust Company was a pioneer in establishing successful branch banks in Akron. Its first branch was opened at East Market and East Exchange streets, in East Akron in January, 1913, and the South Akron Bartges Street branches were established in 1914. It was because of the firm conviction of the executive officers of the bank that Akron would grow to be one of the larger cities of this section of the country that these branches were established to take care of the bank's growing business in various sections of the city. CITY-WIDE BANK Because of this policy, the bank has become known as "Akron's City-Wide Bank." It has made a special appeal to workingmen and small merchants and a large part of its business is derived from the laboring classes. The senior officers of the bank are: John Kerch, president; C. R. Musser, executive vice president; W. E. Pardee, secretary ; C. Harold Musser, assistant secretary ; George H. Burgy, treasurer; M. C. Stanley, trust officer. The affairs of the bank are under the control of the above officers together with an executive committee consisting of nine members selected from the board of directors. The board of directors consists of the following persons : Fred W. Albrecht, H. J. Berrodin, James A. Corey, John R. Gammeter, Lawrence Halter, Ernest M. Harbaugh, Gottfried Hausch, M. C. Heminger, John Kerch, Clint W. Kline, John A. McAlonan, August C. Miller, Frank C. Millhoff, C. R. Musser, Charles H. Myers, W. E. Pardee, A. R. Ritzman, Charles H. Stahl, Joseph H. Stahl, Fred W. Stroman, Otis K. Viall, C. W. Von Gunten and Alois Witz. Depositors Savings and Trust Company More than 35,000 depositors are now listed as patrons of the Depositors Savings & Trust Company on South Main Street. It is under practically the same management as when it was organized and has adopted as its slogan, "Akron's Most Progressive Bank." Bank officers point out that Summit County records show it to be the largest mortgage banking house in Summit County. During 1926, its mortgage loan department negotiated a total of 1,380 mortgage loans, aggregating over $5,500,000. The Depositors Savings & Trust Company now has resources of 12-VOL. 1 338 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY $11,000,000 and deposits of $9,500,000. The capital of the bank is $500,000 and its surplus and profits aggregate $650,000. RECENT GROWTH RAPID During the past five years, the growth of the bank has been remarkably rapid, its resources having increased from $5,975,000 to more than $11,000,000, making an increase of 84 per cent. The capital and surplus of the bank, during the same period, increased from $600,000 to $1,100,- 000, indicating an increase of 83 per cent. One consolidation has taken place within this bank, the present Citizens branch at Cuyahoga Falls having been taken over, adding to the bank's resources about $500,000. OPENED IN 1907 Besides the main office at 328 South Main Street and the Cuyahoga Falls branch at 61 South Front Street, the Depositors Bank maintains an East Akron branch at 975 East Market Street. The principal office of the bank was opened for business at its present location on April 1, 1907, with a capital of $50,000. It was not long before it was found that the original banking rooms were too small to accommodate the business that kept constantly increasing. This resulted in the original building, which was 18 by 80 feet in dimensions, being replaced by the present handsome banking structure which was opened to the public in October, 1916. The East Akron branch was established and opened for business on February 14, 1921, and the Citizens branch at Cuyahoga Falls was purchased and placed in operation as a branch on March 9, 1923. Significant of the youth of the bank, which is only twenty years old, is the fact that all of the bank officers are young men, none of the officers being more than fifty years of age. PROVIDE FOR PARKING In line with its policy of progressiveness, the bank furnishes free to customers, while they are transacting business at the bank, parking ground for their cars. Surveys have shown that this kind of service has become very popular with hundreds of the patrons of the bank. Officers of the bank are : G. C. Dietz, president; Charles Herberich, vice president; George W. Merz, vice president ; William A. Boesche, vice president; Walter Herberich, treasurer ; William J. Staiger, secretary; M. L. Freeman, trust officer ; Carl Angne, assistant trust officer; J. D. Crawfis, assistant secretary ; Alfred Herberich, assistant secretary; Philip Young, assistant treasurer ; Edward Deiss, assistant treasurer; Claim M. Tyler, assistant treasurer ; N. E. Dunwiddie, assistant treasured; J. R. McBride, assistant treasurer ; G. B. Lovett, assistant treasurer; Albert Hausch, auditor ; Martin Borovitz, manager of foreign department. AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 339 LIST DIRECTORS Members of the board of directors of the bank are : Ivan W. Albrecht, William A. Boesche, G. F. Burkhardt, J. D. Crawfis, John Dellenberger, Jr., G. Carl Dietz, W. E. Fouse, Jacob Gayer, Robert Glass, Alfred Herberich, Charles Herberich, Walter Herberich, M. D. Kuhike, C. H. Loomis, Ross Mendenhall, George W. Merz, John Merz, John Metzger, Will O'Neil, Charles Reymann, John S. Rutledge, J. C. Steese, Jason Sumner, John V. Swartz, A. G. Teeple, Harry D. Teeple, William D. Turner, John Zimmerly, Fred Zindel and Gilbert Zindel. At the Citizens office, members of the auxiliary board are : A. A. Billman, Alfred Cochran, Adolph Klein, Paul C. Laybourne, O. L. Mitchell, Joseph O'Connor, H. C. Petersen, George D. Porter, Fred R. Post, A. H. Roethig, Dr. F. D. Smith, C. R. Snook, W. H. Taylor and H. L. Weller. At the East Akron office, members of the auxiliary board are : Sterling Alderfer, R. R. Andrews, Ralph W. Baker, R. E. Bloch, A. A. Hannig, H. R. Hayman, G. L. Kuhn, Dr. Edward Matlock, Clarence L. Patterson, R. M. Trump, R. A. Wilson and Alois Witz. The Dime Savings Bank The Dime Savings Bank was incorporated in 1900 and commenced business in January, 1901, with an authorized capital of $50,000. Its original location was No. 127 South Howard Street and in 1904 it moved to the corner of Mill and Howard streets and then moved to the Flatiron Building at No. 134 South Main Street, corner of Howard Street, where it owns the magnificent present banking home. The capital was increased in 1913 to $100,000 and again increased to $200,000 in 1921. It is one of the Roll of Honor banks having in addition to its $200,000 of capital and a substantial sum of undivided profits, a surplus fund of $200,000. The bank conducts a general banking business and in addition specializes in a first mortgage loan department. Its growth has been steady and substantial. At the present time it has assets of $4,300,000. The officers and directors are as follows : William H. Evans, Jr., president. Jacob Naher, vice president. Fred N. Shaffer, vice president. H. Jos. Wade, treasurer. A. E. Heyse, secretary. Russell Baer, title officer. Board of Directors—Williston Ailing, E. C. Davis, William H. Evans, Jr., M. M. Kindig, D. R. Evans, Fred N. Shaffer, John H. Miles, Jacob Naher, Jacob Pfeiffer, C. H. Pockrandt, C. R. Quine. 340 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY THE WM. H. EVANS BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATION No. 95 South Howard Street, Corner Mill Street This association was chartered in 1891. Its original office was on the second floor of No. 116 South Howard Street, now known as No. 16 South Howard Street, where it conducted business until about 1900 when it moved into the Doyle Block at No. 127 South Howard Street where the business was conducted until 1904 when it moved its office to its present quarters. It has enjoyed a fine reputation in the community for conducting a safe business and has made a gradual and continuous growth and is now the second largest association in the city from the point of assets. The capital stock is now $500,000, the surplus and undivided profits, $122,000, and the assets, $2,600,000, and it has $2,400,000 loaned out on first mortgage security in Akron and vicinity. The association has never lost a dollar on its loans. The association was organized principally by Mr. Wm. H. Evans, now deceased, who prior to 1891 conducted a large first mortgage business in Akron and had built up a large number of clients. The original board of directors consisted of Hon. Geo. W. Crouse, A. P. Baldwin, Harvey K. Austin, John C. Weber, S. B. Lafferty and Frank W. Rockwell. During the thirty-six years of existence of this company, it has only had three presidents and the only changes in its board of directors during that period have been through death. The association was started in a small way by some of the best business men of their time in the community who had great confidence in the building and loan business and its necessity. At present the officers and directors of the association are as follows: Henry Feuchter, president. Thomas Rockwell, vice president. William H. Evans, Jr., vice president. D. R. Evans, secretary-treasurer. Fred J. Miller, cashier. Board of Directors—Henry Feuchter, Thomas Rockwell, D. W. Kaufman, Charles Lahr, G. A. Rohner, D. R. Evans, William H. Evans, Jr. The Bankers' Guarantee Title and Trust Company Borrowing money today, in order to buy, build or refinance a home, is not nearly the difficult problem for the average person that it was many years ago. There is nothing more basic from the standpoint of security for a real estate loan than the land itself on which the loan is to be made. Moreover, the rates of interest which one must pay on money borrowed for the purchase of a home are lower than they were many years ago. "Lending money for such purposes as these," says the president of the AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 341 Bankers' Guarantee Title & Trust Company, "is a business in which we are engaged most assuredly for the purpose of making a profit, yet it is also a business in which we are very happy to be engaged for the reason that it accomplishes two things. In the first place, it enables many persons to obtain homes of their own and that feature, in itself, makes those persons better citizens. MAKE CITY BETTER "In the second place, the more persons who can be induced to purchase homes of their own, the more the city in which these purchases are effected becomes a desirable place in which to live. None of us are particularly eager to live in a community where our neighbors are not congenial. The congenial neighbor becomes even more congenial if he is a home owner. He is, naturally, more satisfied under such circumstances. "It was with the idea of making a bigger and better Akron that the Bankers' Guarantee Title & Trust Company was founded in 1911. The founders of the organization were satisfied that Akron was destined to become a large factor in the industrial progress of the country, so they associated themselves together to form a company which would enable the residents of the city to help make the city a better place in which to live. LOAN CORRESPONDENT "The fact that the Bankers' Company is loan correspondent for several of the largest insurance companies of the country accounts for the rates of interest which are charged on first mortgage loans. The insurance companies are interested only in the safety of their money and are not particularly concerned about the amount which will be earned by the investment of these excess funds. Therefore, they are willing to lend money at rates as low as five and one-half and six per cent, which are the rates for our first mortgage loans." The Bankers' Company made loans during the first ten months of 1927 on an average of about $450,000 per month. The total for these ten months of approximately $4,500,000 represents 850 new loans and 58 renewals. The total figure, however, does not include a loan of two and one-half million dollars which was made on the new M. O'Neil store building. The Guarantee Title and Trust Company Elizabeth, Bessie, Beth, Bettie, Eliza, Liza, Libbie, Lizzie, Erzabeth, Irgie, Elsie. John, Jack, Jock, Jacques, Johan, Ivan, Hans, Giovanni, Jan, Joan, Jean. The average person would not believe that there are as many derivations of the names Elizabeth and John as shown above. The title com- 342 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY pany with the complete plant has learned from its experience that such derivations are not only possible but actually exist. For example, there are twenty-three ways to spell Abramowitz, twenty-two ways to spell Bailey, twenty-nine ways to spell Snyder and thirty-two derivations of the name Smith. This is just an indication of the extent to which a title company must go in order to be sure that its title examinations are correct. WHY OF PLANT In the plant of the Guarantee Title and Trust Company, in the Second National Building, there are approximately 800,000 copies of deeds and mortgages which are filed in the county recorder's office ; 2,000 indexes to these copies ; 60,000 cards in the indexes to common pleas cases; 35,000 cards in the indexes to the probate court records and thirty-seven volumes of maps of subdivisions of property in Akron and Summit County. If the layman could follow an order for an examination of title from the time it enters the office of the title company until its completion, he would realize that in an incorporated title company with a complete plant an examination means more than a scrutiny of a series of courthouse indexes and the mere piecing out of a chain of title. He would understand why the title company is interested in the grouping of names, as indicated above ; why it is necessary to have copies of the courthouse records and why a plant must be maintained. After determining the location of the parcel, the title is followed through from the earliest conveyance embracing it. The examiner, by means of sketches of his own and company maps, together with the description contained on a take-off or copy of each instrument, decides which ones he wants to complete his title. These instruments must then be examined to determine their correctness. MAKE COURT SEARCH A court search is then necessary. A requisition is made out by the examiner when he is sure he has the names of all necessary parties in the chain of title, and he turns it over to the court department. A search of these names is made on the company's indexes, both of the common pleas, appeal, probate county and foreign executions. The references to all court cases are then checked to determine their effect upon the property under investigation. The court work is probably the most important and surely the hardest of all angles in title examination. Knowledge of proper instigation of court proceedings, descent and distribution and many other points are necessary to the examiner to satisfactorily provide the customer with title evidence. Then with the court examination comes the search for taxes. To be sure of the full assessments it is many times necessary to make addi- AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 343 tional search of the road assessment book for outlying property. In many cases, a United States court search is made. REVIEWER INSPECTS The examiner, having completed his searches, gives it to the reviewer, set up in the form to be used in typing. To the reviewer belongs the responsibility of eliminating or adding, in any measure, to the work turned over to him by the examiner. After he has reviewed the work the job is then taken to the typing room and finally before having a signature affixed, it is compared for typographical errors. After all corrections have been made, if any, the job is then ready to be delivered to the customer. The Guarantee Title & Trust Company, which is the largest title company in the state of Ohio, has complete plants in Akron for Summit County, in Cleveland for Cuyahoga County, in Painesville for Lake County and in Elyria for Lorain County. The company has been established for over twenty-five years and it has a capital and surplus of $1,100,000. E. G. Tillotson, of the Tillotson & Wolcott Company, Cleveland, is president of the company and Paul D. Jones is executive vice president. The Akron officers are Earl G. Smith, vice president ; Emory T. Hitchcock, assistant vice president and assistant secretary ; Charles E. Batchelor, assistant treasurer ; Charles S. Fluke, assistant title officer, and Arthur K. Bryers, manager of plant department. Permanent Savings & Loan Company Through the cooperation and financing provided by the Permanent Savings & Loan Company, of this city, hundreds of Akron home owners have been enabled to purchase homes under the most favorable conditions. This company, which started at its original location at Broadway and High streets to lend money on first mortgages on improved residence properties, enjoyed a rapid increase in its business, so that it moved its quarters in a short time to 124 South Main Street. ASSETS OVER $1,000,000 From there it moved into its own building which it erected at 55 East Mill Street. The assets of this company amount to $1,350,000 and its savings deposits have reached a total of $920,000. The present capitalization of the company is $218,000 and its surplus and undivided profits amount to $126,000. MOORE IS SECRETARY Edwin W. Brouse is president of the company, and the other officers are: C. C. McNeil, vice president ; James T. Diehm, vice president; Dr. F. H. Lyder, treasurer ; and John C. Moore, secretary. 344 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY Directors are Edwin W. Brouse, Dr. H. E. Conner, James T. Diehm, H. H. Gibbs, A. R. Haney, F. H. Lyder, C. C. McNeil, W. A. Means, J. J. Uplinger, J. F. Kemmerline, and John C. Moore. Morris Plan Bank The Akron Morris Plan Bank, which has been in existence here for the past nine years, this year felt the need for enlarged quarters on account of the increase in its business and recently completed extensive enlargements in its rooms in South Main Street. It now has one of the most modern and attractive banking rooms in the city. It is the policy of the Akron Morris Plan Bank to make loans to small borrowers at banking rates and to promote thrift among the persons whom it serves. OWNED IN AKRON An average taken of the loans made by the bank in the nine years of its existence shows that the usual loan made by the bank is about $207. Since opening in 1918 it has made a total of 27,469 loans, aggregating a total of $5,776,331.52. While the Akron Morris Plan Bank operates on the same principle as other Morris Plan banks throughout the country, it has no connection with other banks of the same kind but is owned, controlled and operated by Akron men. M'COURT AT HEAD In four years, from July, 1923, to July, 1927, the business of the bank more than tripled. In 1923 the bank's balance sheet showed a total of $399,823, and in July, 1927, this had been increased to $954,405.27. In July, 1923, there were 1,375 loans in force, while in 1927 the bank had 4,355 loans in force. The deposits increased from $272,737.26 in 1923 to $687,449.93 in 1927. Officers of the bank are : P. T. McCourt, president ; Ira E. Myers, vice president ; W. D. Turner, vice president ; S. F. Ziliox, vice president; and E. J. Richmond, secretary and treasurer. In addition to the officers, other directors are A. F. Ayers, P. H. Hart, J. B. Huber, M. D. Kuhlke, and W. A. Means. The Firestone Bank The Firestone Park Trust & Savings Bank was incorporated September 28, 1916. It has assets of $4,418,114, capital stock of $200,000, and surplus of $170,947.63. Its officers are : President, H. S. Firestone ; vice president, L. E. Sisler ; secretary and treasurer, E. A. Oberlin ; assistant secretary, H. W. McGregory, and G. Neal, assistant treasurer. The Standard Savings Bank Company, incorporated December 20, AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 345 1919, opened for business November 10, 1920. Capital stock, $100,000, with surplus $25,000. Present surplus, $26,500. Present officers : I. F. Allen, president ; James Shaw, first vice president ; Paul Sears, second vice president ; C. W. Barnes, secretary ; R. P. Hassler, treasurer. Some idea of the growth of Akron business and industry is given in the figures of the Akron Clearing House Association for the past twenty years. The association was formed by the six Akron banks then operating in 1893. Daily clearings at that time were about $50,000. Nelson C. Stone was the first manager of the association, which has made its headquarters with the now National City Bank ever since. George Merz, vice president of the Depositors Savings & Trust Company, in 1928 was chosen president of the Akron Clearing House Association, succeeding George H. Dunn, president of the Central Savings & Trust Company. Allan F. Ayers, chairman of the board of Ohio State Bank & Trust Company, was reelected vice president and G. R. Edgar, cashier of National City Bank, was reelected secretary-treasurer. Officers of the clearing house are chosen by representatives of the nine member banks. The Akron Savings & Loan Company The Akron Savings & Loan Company began business as the Akron Building & Loan Association. In 1888 Hugo Schumacher was the first president. Today the association occupies a fine block of its own at Main and Bowery streets and has total resources of over $7,000,000. The place of building and loan associations was interestingly explained by the late F. M. Cooke, president, on formal opening of the new building, December 22, 1924 : "Money is loaned on real estate, and for home construction, in Summit County. None is loaned outside the county and none is used by the company for speculative purposes. Through the loaning of money for home construction the company is kept in close touch with the man and family of average means. * * * The first building and loan was founded at Delaware, O., in the '50s. It was then known as the serial plan. Then Judge Winters, of Dayton, became interested in forming a similar organization and made a study of such institutions in Europe. Returning to Dayton, he formed an association on a much more satisfactory and stable basis than the Delaware pioneer. The savings and loan, or building and loan, associations today follow the Dayton plan with little variance." The Citizens Savings & Loan Company was organized in April, 1909. R. M. Pillmore is president of this company, and L. E. DeVore secretary. The Industrians Savings & Loan Company is an East Akron organization, formed in 1917. The Society Savings & Loan Company was organized in 1921. Its president is Elmer E. Workman ; secretary, H. G. Workman ; and treasurer, Paul Held. 346 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY Other Akron building and loan or savings and loan associations are the South Akron Savings Association, the First Savings & Loan Company, the North Hill Savings & Loan Company, and Workers' Savings & Loan Company. The Reliance Savings & Loan Company, a branch of the Cleveland company of that name, has located recently in Akron. In Akron, almost from the very beginning, there were doubtless private money lenders, the predecessors of the bankers who were to come later. Usury was legal. He who had, collected all he could, in payment from him who must borrow. The old law enabling imprisonment of debtors was still in operation. And while it may be said that there exists today a traditional feeling of antipathy against men of wealth, that feeling is as deepest affection compared to the outright hatred of the people a hundred years ago against banks, bankers and capitalists. Contact with currency was avoided rather than sought by a majority of the people. For money, in those days, was very often a snare and delusion indeed. As long as they could, then, the local population made exchange by barter and trade. Farmers brought their crops to the embryo city and exchanged grain, hides, fruits, butter, eggs and articles of like nature for furniture, clothing, shoes, certain articles of food, harness—their necessities and their limited luxuries. What Akron people learned of the early banks was not usually good news. The bank bills in circulation were issued by state banks, organized under various laws, and conducted loosely or corruptly, so that the notes of many banks were worth little more than the paper on which they were printed. To discount them as much as 70 per cent was common practice. Communication was by horseback, stage or canal. Railroads were still experiments, and none had penetrated this great distance into the West. So news traveled slowly. The currency of a bank might be worth 100 cents on the dollar today ; by the time its luckless possessor tried to spend it, quite often the bank had failed, or perhaps it had never existed at all, for counterfeiting was a tremendous industry. Akron newspapers of the early days contained many editorials, communications, complaints, pleadings—all for "sound money." The same papers printed lists regularly, of banks and their money, showing the value of their notes, par or less, in percentages. The American Democrat (Akron), February 22, 1843, carried a long list and discount table of then prominent Ohio banks. Here are specimen items : Belmont of St. Clairsville - par Bank of Cincinnati --- Chillicothe - 12 1/2 dis Farmers' Bank of Canton - 50 dis Ohio Rail Road Company — Ohio Life and Trust Company - par Sandusky - par Steubenville — Urbana Banking Company - 70 dis West Union AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 347 Western Reserve - par Washington - broke Wooster - par Xenia - par The banks of many other states are included in the list, but the foregoing supplies a rather representative list of the prominent banks of this vicinity at about the time Akron began to feel the need of one of her own. The American Balance (Akron) said, November 9, 1837 : "We copy a list of pretended banks, from the Buffalo and other papers, that the public may be aware of these fraudulent institutions ; though many, we believe, of these self-styled banking houses, have no existence at all, except the name given to deceive those at a distance. We have a five ourselves, of the Bank of Brockville, for which we will readily accept as many cents : "The 'Bank of Ottawa,' Montreal, L. C. The 'Merchants' Bank,' Montreal, L. C. The 'Mechanics' Bank,' Montreal, L. C. The 'Exporting, Mining and Manufacturing Company,' Jackson, Illinois. The only banks in Illinois are the State Bank and its branches, and the dank of Illinois, Shawneetown. The 'Kirtland Bank,' Ohio (the Mormon Bank) is another fraud." Number 1, Volume I, of The Ohioan and New Era, a small three column, four page paper ushered into the world November 3, 1838, and published by "J. D. Fenn & Co., Akron, Portage County, Ohio." Its purpose, as outlined in the first editorial announcement, was "to obtain the passage of a general banking law, for the State of Ohio, on the principle of having all the issues secured by real estate. A radical reform in the banking law," said the editor, "will be advocated. The reform is to consist, 1st, in making perfectly secure the holders of bank bills. 2d, avoiding fluctuations in the currency, by making a perfect confidence in the banks. 3d, destroying the monopoly of banking. 4th, putting an end to usury, by making money plenty, and in the reach of every individual who will give the necessary security. "If Ohio engrafts upon herself the principle of banking, that it is the design of this paper to advocate, she will be second to no state in the Union. Real estate will rise permanently in value ; her citizens will become prosperous and happy. Who, then, will not rejoice that he has lived at this 'New Era' ? And who, then, will not be proud to be called an 'Ohioan'?" In a communication signed "Snimmoc," which appeared in The Flail (Akron), first issue, June 6, 1840, the correspondent, who was no doubt J. D. Cummins, an early and prominent citizen, said, among other things : "The conduct of the banks for sometime past, has demonstrated the fact that as banks, they can perpetuate fraud, which as men they would shudder at and abhor ; and now these soulless corporations have placed our currency in the worst possible condition, that amid the confusion and disorder thus created by themselves, they may fill their own coffers at the 348 - AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY expense of those who toil and sweat to support these leeches and bloodsuckers. "Bank notes, like wheat and pork, have become a matter of merchandise, of purchase and sale. And why is this?—Ask the Banks for payment of their notes and you need not seek further for an answer. They think themselves insulted if cash is demanded, and with the most consummate effrontery inquiring who it is that asks them for payment, bid their creditors defiance The Banks having discovered that so long as they refuse payment of their notes, they can charge what price they please for eastern exchanges, are in no hurry to resume We have borne and borne in the hope that a sense of returning justice would induce the Banks to retrace their steps. The expectation is vain. Nothing but the strong arms of the legislature will save us. It should be made felony for a Bank to refuse payment of specie for its notes so long as it has the means "Snimmoc," or Doctor Cummins, was one of eight men who, according to Lane, petitioned the Ohio Legislature for a bank charter for Akron as early as 1835. The other petitioners were James W. Phillips, Richard Howe, Erastus Torrey, S. A. Wheeler, Justus Gale, R. McMillan and Seth Iredell. The bank was never opened, and Lane does not state whether the charter was granted. The canal brought business to the growing community. There was plenty of water power ; the early inhabitants numbered among them men of ingenuity and enterprise. In 1845, when Akron's first real bank was formed it supplied a community need. It was known as the Bank of Akron, was a branch of the "Ohio Safety Fund" system and began business with authorized capital of $50,000. W. S. C. Otis was the first president and John W. McMillen the first cashier. It is recorded that the first Bank of Akron thrived for more than ten years and then failed because it became involved in the financial difficulties of Akron's first railroad, the "Akron Branch," now part of the Pennsylvania System. When the first bank was formed, it soon aided in relieving a distressing situation which was felt, especially by laboring men, whose wages (the standard of the time was "a dollar a day") came to them in scrip, and orders on merchants. The merchant arbitrarily fixed the price of his merchandise ; the workman was afraid of strange money and felt that he was often dealt with unfairly. After Akron's first bank had failed, no attempt to replace it was made for some years, and Akron was again without a bank from 1856 to 1863—after the national banking law had been passed. Akron's second bank was a private enterprise. George D. Bates, born in Vermont, 1811, had come into this western country in early youth. Though he began his Ohio career humbly, as a farm boy at Solon, 0., he soon developed into a merchant, then a manufacturer. Bates came to Akron about 1846, after successfully conducting a general store at Kent, then Franklin Mills. Here he first engaged in the foundry business; then in railway building for some years. AKRON AND SUMMIT COUNTY - 349 In 1855 he started the bank of George D. Bates & Company. He had acquired considerable capital through the conduct of his various enterprises, and he had as a banking partner Gen. Philo Chamberlain, who was also a man of considerable wealth for that time. Akron was a town of 3,400 people. Cleveland boasted 20,000. Therefore there was a rather sharp limit to the business a bank could do. Its first home was on the west side of Howard Street, a short distance south of Market. Its equipment was crude, measured by the standards of today, but it quickly became the center of local things commercial and financial. It succeeded from the beginning. Its allegiance to the Union was marked, active and practical during the Civil War. Not only did it aid business, which was strained because of war conditions, but its rooms early became headquarters for women's work for the "soldier boys." Akron women spent hours and days and weeks there preparing hospital supplies, and bandages for the wounded. Soon Bates & Company acquired the property of its unfortunate predecessor, the Bank of Akron, on the opposite side of Howard Street, moved to the new location, and continued in business there until 1863, when the private bank became part of the Second National Bank, organized in that year. Mr. Bates was president of the Second National until his death in 1887. Other first officers of the Second National were Joy H. Pendleton, vice president, and E. D. Childs, cashier. Thomas W. Cornell, who founded the First National Bank in 1863, was an unique personage, born 1820 in New York State. In Ohio he first located at Cuyahoga Falls, where he purchased a distillery in 1855. It is related by one of the attorneys who had a part in the settlement of his estate that he profited very materially from the special war tax of $2.00 per gallon on whisky, imposed at the instance of President Lincoln in 1861. The law was not retroactive ; Cornell's distillery was well stocked; whisky then retailed at about 25 cents a gallon. Cornell complied with the letter of the law as to the tax, sold much whiskey at $2.25, for the benefit of the government, and also sold a considerable quantity at $2.25, for which the extra $2.00 went into his own till. In 1863 he disposed of his distilling interests, came to Akron and established a bank. This bank was known as the First National Bank. It ran along as a rival of the Second National until 1911, when the two merged under the name of the First-Second National Bank. Summit County Banks today include the following : Akron Morris Plan Bank, Akron Savings & Loan Company, American Savings & Loan Company, Bankers Guarantee Title & Trust Company, S. J. Berleczky International Exchange Bank, The Central Savings & Trust Company, Citizens Savings & Loan Company, Commercial Savings & Trust Company, Cuyahoga Valley Savings & Loan Company, Depositors Savings & Trust Company, Dime Savings Bank Company, Falls Banking Company, Firestone Park Trust & Savings Bank, First Trust & Savings Bank, Great Northern Building & Loan Company, Kenmore Banking Company, Kenmore Savings & Loan Company, Mogadore Say-