466 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY

CHAPTER XVI.*

CUYAHOGA FALLS—INTRODUCTORY—FIRST IMPROVEMENT—EARLY SETTLERS—LAYING OUT OF VILLAGE—INCORPORATION—ORGANIZATION AS A TOWNSHIP—INDIANS

AND THEIR TRAILS—BANKS, CANAL AND OTHER

BUSINESS—FACTS. INCIDENTS. ETC.

THE citizen of the incorporated village of Cuyahoga Falls who looks back upon the privations and labors which his predecessors went through, and sees how many comforts and advantages he has inherited, can hardly realize how short the time is since the work first be-gun. Those earliest laborers have all passed away except Henry Wetmore. He still resides in the town, at the age of over eighty years. He has seen every step of the progress of the place. from the first real emigration to the present time. He has been an active participant in all these changes, since the day he helped to mark the spot where the first work was to be clone. He alone can have a full, a complete realization of the change that has been wrought. To chronicle the leading incidents which have taken place since the first settlement of the village, and to record the changes brought about since that period, is the object of this and the following chapter.

Cuyahoga Falls is among the most thoroughly enterprising villages in Ohio. With important manufacturing industries, fine business houses, and a progressive class of fine citizens, it is

worthy of conspicuous notice in the history of Summit County. It is situated on the Cleveland, Mount Vernon & Columbus Railroad, thirty-four miles from Cleveland and five miles distant from Akron, the county seat. The place is four hundred feet above Lake Erie, with a healthy and pure atmosphere, abundance of purest water, fine churches and private residences, and one of the most complete school buildings in the State.

•Contributed by C. W. Butterfield.

There is probably no point in Ohio which offers more desirable manufacturing advantages ; and, as a place of residence, its elevated position freeing it from miasmatic influences, its beautiful scenery. and accessibility to the larger cities of the State. renders it most desirable. It has become a favorite resort for pleasure-seekers and excursionists during the summer months. where visitors can enjoy the beauties' of natural scenery unequaled in Ohio. For the last twenty years its growth has not been rapid. According to the Federal census of 1860, the village had 1.16 inhabitants ; increased in 1870 to 1,859: in 1880 to 2.294.

As early as 1812. the water-power of the Cuyahoga River, at the place where the stream is now crossed by the railroad, having been improved by Kelsey & Wilcox. there sprang up in that immediate vicinity a number of houses. This is still called the ." old village." But the real founders of Cuyahoga Falls were Joshua Stow (nominally), William Wetmore and Henry Newberry.

The Western Reserve had been sold by the State of Connecticut to the Connecticut Land Company, who had it surveyed in 1797. It was laid off in townships five miles square, and was designated by numbers and ranges. Number 3, of Range 10, came into possession of Joshua Stow, of Middletown, Conn., and was named after him. The township of Tallmadge became the property of two companies, of one of which Roger Newberry was a member. His share was 1,000 acres. It lay in the northwest part of the township, now the southeast portion of Cuyahoga Falls. So it was that the

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two—Stow and Newberry—owned what afterward constituted (as will soon be shown) " the town of Cuyahoga Falls."

The undivided half of 210 acres in the southwest corner of Stow's township—which now embraces the northeast part of the village—was purchased by William Wetmore, and together they began the improvement of the tract in 1825. In 1814, Henry Newberry, the son of Roger Newberry, came on to see his lands which had been given him by his father, which have been just described as 1,000 acres lying in the northwest part of Tallmadge Township. Henry was so well pleased with his gift that he resolved to make there his future home. He did not remove to Ohio, however, until 1824. Ile first lived upon a farm at Stow Lake (now Silver Lake) two years, meanwhile making improvements at the Falls ; so that those of Stow and Wetmore on the north, and those of Newberry on the south were begun at about the same period. The year 1825 may, therefore, be considered as the one from which to date the existence of Cuyahoga Falls.

While Henry Newberry was living at Silver Lake. he erected a log house for his workmen upon the spot where George Dyre's house now stands, and cleared about an acre between it and the river. This was the first building upon his part of the town. Stow and Wetmore began their improvements by the erection of a cabin where the brown house now stands north of the livery stable, directly west of the upper dam. The improvements made by them of the water-power at this point will be noticed here-after.

William Wetmore was born in Middletown. Conn.. September 15, 1771. He was a descendant of Thomas Wetmore, one of the proprietors of Middletown. who purchased the site of the Indians in 1662. He removed to Ohio in July, 1804, and built the second house that was erected in what was afterward Stow Township. It stood about twenty rods eastwardly of the northeast corner of Lot 36. In 1808. Stow Township was organized, and he was elected a Justice of the Peace. In August of that year, the county of Portage being organized he was appointed Clerk of the Court at Ravenna. He afterward resigned the office, moved back to Stow and settled on his farm. He died at his residence on the east bank of Silver Lake, October 27, 1827. Henry Newberry was born in Windsor, Conn., in January, 1783. In 1814, soon after the death of his father, he came to Ohio, as before stated, to look at his possessions in the Western wilds. He first lived at Silver Lake two years, having moved there, as previously mentioned, in 1824, and then took up his residence at the Falls. He died in 1854, in the stone house, afterward the residence of James H. Cooke. Such, in brief, are the biographies of the founders of Cuyahoga Falls.*

In 1822, Elkanah Richardson came from Stow and built the house long known as the " Red House," which stands a little north of the “Big Spring," on the west side of Main street. This house was the first frame house erected south of the " old village." The first frame building put up on Stow and Wetmore's land was intended for a dwelling-house and store. It was built by William Wetmore, Jr., in 1826, and is now known as the Perry House." In 1828, the store now occupied by Giles L'Hommedieu was built, and the goods removed into it, leaving the first to be used for a dwelling only. It was not long before it became a place of entertainment for strangers, and finally a regular hotel. It was first kept by Benjamin F. Hopkins. He was succeeded by E. B. Morgan, and he by Ira Loomis. It was known as the American House. It has passed through several hands since then, but has been little changed. The same year (1828), Jabez Hamlin came and built the house next south of the " Big Spring," and, soon after, the tannery now owned by C. Kettleberger. In 1829, Mr. Richardson built a log house in the southeast corner of what is now George Sackett's yard, and afterward the third house south of Falls street, on Front street, in which he spent the rest of his life. He died in 1836.

John Wells came to Cuyahoga Falls not long after Jabez Hamlin, and built the house now owned by the widow of the late John Tift. In 1829, John Rumrill came as the foreman in Stow & Wetmore's paper mill. He built the house near the depot, known as the Jones House. Rowland Clapp came from Vermont and took up his residence in the village in 1828. He has made it his home in the place ever

*Although Joshua Stow came to the township named after him in 1804, he returned to Connecticut the neat year; so that he can only be identified as one of the founders of the Falls from the circumstances of his having an interest therein. On that account no sketch of his life is given in this connection.

468 - . HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

since. E. N. Sill came in 1829, awl, in 1834 and the year following, built the center part of his house, the wings having been added at a later date. The builder was Mr. Lodge, who is still a resident of the Falls. Grant B. Turner. with his father, came in 1828 ; soon went to Ravenna. but returned in 1835. and has resided in the town since then. C. W. Wetmore and S. D. Wetmore came to the place in 1832, and built their houses soon after. John Eadie and George Dailey came in 1830. 0. B. Beebe arrived in 1831; and Israel James in 1832. Before this date came also the following : Prescott Sawyer, Noah E. Lemoine. Henry James. William Lauson, J. T. Holloway, J. Blair. S. D. Clark, Alexander Gillispie, Noah Rice.. John Willard. Birdsey Booth. Alexander English. Isaac Gill. Prince Hopkins (colored). Asa Mariner. Mr. Lamb. Mr. Teal. Thoma= Gill. John Alexander. Simon Brown, William Perkins. Charles Hamlin, Henry Barger. J. Jenkins, A. Yockey. Joseph Beebe. Dr. C. W. Rice, John Brainard, Nathan Rose. . Judge Burgess. William Alley. James Alley, H. N. Pool. David Wadsworth, A. Wadsworth. Many of these were heads of families.

The town of Cuyahoga Falls was first laid out in 1825. by Elkanah Richardson. It was subsequently resurveyed. platted and recorded by Birdsey Booth. It was located in the townships of Stow and Tallmadge, and included all of the present platted village except so much as has since been platted east of the Cuyahoga River and north of the Tallmadge Township line. The part last mentioned was platted and recorded by R. A. Ashman. County Surveyor, in 1837. The original proprietors were Henry ' Newberry, Joshua Stow and William Wetmore. The proprietor of the addition was Joseph Hale. No allotment has been made to the original plat except the one of 1837. That part ! lying in the township of Stow was owned by Stow and Wetmore ; that part included in Tallmadge was the property of Newberry.

The name of the village is derived from the falls in the Cuyahoga River, to be seen within its limits. The stream has cut a channel into the sandstone from eighty to one hundred feet in depth. This deep-cut channel extends over 1 two miles. In it are the falls. The name first given to the village was Manchester ; but, as there were many towns of that name in the Union, and the falls of the river were seen tobe of great value and importance, it was changed to Cuyahoga Falls.

By an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, passed March 5. 1836, it was provided that "so much of the townships of Tallmadge and Stow as is comprised within the following limits, to wit : Beginning at the northwest corner of the township of Tallmadge and running south on the west line of said township, two hundred and forty rods ; thence east two hundred and forty rods ; thence north to the north line of Lots Nos. 1 and 2 in said [township] of Stow ; thence west two hundred and forty rods : thence south to the place of beginning ; and any addition thereto that may be hereafter platted and recorded, be hereby constituted a town corporate, by the name of Cuyahoga Falls." The act also provided for the election of a Mayor. Recorder and five Trustees—constituting the Town Council. This body was given power, among other things. to " provide for the election or appointment of a Treasurer, a Town Marshal. and such other subordinate officers as they may find necessary." Unfortunately, the provisions of this act were not known to the electors of Cuyahoga Falls " until after the day on which, by said provisions, the election of the Town Council should have been holden ; " and doubts having " arisen whether the privileges granted by said act " had not ceased by the neglect of such election, therefore a bill was passed to revive and amend the before-mentioned act, giving it vitality and removing all doubts as to its legality ; also providing for an election of officers to be holden "on the first or any succeeding Tuesday in April next," after the second act took effect.

Pursuant to public notice, on the 4th of April, 1837, the qualified electors of the town of Cuyahoga Falls met at the schoolhouse for the purpose of electing officers under the acts of incorporation just described. Henry Newberry was chosen Mayor ; Grant B. Turner, ; Recorder ; O. B. Beebe. Asa G. Bill. E. B. Dennison, E. N. Sill and Henry Wetmore, ! Trustees. On the 7th of the same month, these officers were qualified and the Council organized. Ogden Wetmore was elected Treasurer the same day, and, on the day following, Sherman Peck was chosen Marshal.

The town of Cuyahoga Falls, thus organized, continued its existence until March 1. 1852—a

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period of nearly fifteen years. During that time, the following gentlemen filled, successively, the office of Mayor : Henry Newberry, C. W. Wetmore, Hosea Paul, C. W. Wetmore, Birdsey Booth, Hosea Paul, O. B. Beebe and C. W. Wetmore. It may here be mentioned that a township was organized in April, 1851, out of the corners of Tallmadge, Stow, Northampton and Portage, called Cuyahoga Falls. Some time subsequent to this, it was generally conceded by the denizens of the town of Cuyahoga Falls, that it would be to the benefit of all that the corporation should be given up and cease to exist—that it should be, in fact, merged into the newly created township of the same name. So, on April 30. 1853, " on motion.'' said the Town Council, "we do commit all interests of the town of Cuyahoga Falls to the Trustees of Cuyahoga Falls Township, and that we do now adjourn without day." So the town of Cuyahoga Falls ceased its corporate existence.

In March, 1868, there was presented to. the Commissioners of Summit County, at their regular session, a petition of 215 residents and qualified voters of the township of Cuyahoga Falls. asking " that the territory known as the township of Cuyahoga Falls " be made an incorporated village, under and by the name of the incorporated village of Cuyahoga Falls. Thereupon. on June 3 of that year, the County Commissioners entered upon their records the following order :

The matter of the incorporation of the township of Cuyahoga Falls under and by the name of the „ Incorporated Village of Cuyahoga Falls.” came tip for hearing today, as adjourned from the March session and. on consideration thereof, we, the Commissioners of said county, do find and determine that due notice of the filing and pendency of said petition was given according to law : and we are of the opinion that the prayer of the petitioners should be granted. And we do order that said township of Cuyahoga Falls may be organized under and by the name of .. The Incorporated Village of Cuyahoga Falls." and order the same to be recorded.

The “village " was organized by the election, September 1, 1868, of William A. Hanford. Mayor ; Porter G. Somers, Recorder ; Henry C. Lockwood. Treasurer ; T. F. Heath, Charles Hunt, L. W. Loomis, W. M. Griswold and John Hinde, Trustees, and by these gentlemen, on the 9th of that month, taking the oath of the office to which they were severally elected, and assuming the duties thereof. The following gentlemen have successively filled the office of Mayor : Richard Blood, C. P. Humphrey, J. L'Hommedieu, H. B. Camp, George W. Rice, William A. Hanford. The village is, as already shown, coextensive with the township. Its exact limits will hereafter be given.

At the March session of 1851 of the Board of Commissioners of Summit County, " Hosea Paul and others came and presented a numerously signed petition, from the village of Cuyahoga Falls and vicinity, asking the Board of County Commissioners to construct a new township from the northwest corner of Tallmadge Township, the southwest corner of Stow Township, the southeast corner of Northampton Township, and the northeast corner of Portage Township." On Wednesday, March 5, 1851, " The Board all present. Then came Hosea Paul and others presenting a petition, and urging personally that a new township be formed out of the northwest corner of Tallmadge, northeast corner of Portage, southeast corner of Northampton, and the southwest corner of Stow Township, furnishing a map of the proposed new township ; and the board being satisfied that all necessary legal preliminary steps had been taken, and there is an incorporated village (Cuyahoga Falls) within the bounds of the proposed new township. ordered that lots one, two, eleven and twelve (1, 2, 11, and 12), in the township of Stow ; lots eight, nine and ten (8, 9 and 10), in the Township of Northampton ; all of tract one and forty rods of the north part of tract five, in the Township of Tallmadge, and so much of the northeast corner of Portage Township as is embraced within the following boundary, to wit : Beginning at the northeast corner of said Portage Township, and running thence west on the north line of said Portage Township rods to the west line of George Sackett's farm of 160 61/100 acres, thence due south to the Cuyahoga River ; thence easterly on the north bank of said river to the east line of said Portage Township ; thence on said east line to the place of beginning—be constituted a township, and that the legal steps be taken to organize the same under and by the name of Cuyahoga Falls Township, Hosea Paul pledging himself that he would give notices required by law, and that the new township of Cuyahoga Falls would defray all the expenses incurred by .the creation of said township."

The township thus set apart from the cor-

470 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

ners of four others was erected by the County Commissoniers for the purpose of accomodating the citizens of the town of Cuyahoga Falls. As the boundaries defined by the Commissioners were afterward adopted as the boundaries of the incorporated village, it follows, of course, as already mentioned. that one is co-extensive with the other ; and the limits just given as those of the " township of Cuyahoga Falls " are the limits also of the " incorporated village of Cuyahoga Falls."

At the first election held in the Township of Cuyahoga Falls, on the 7th of April. 1851, the following persons were chosen officers for the year following : Trustees. Horace A. Miller, Henry Newberry, Jr., and Porter G. Somers ; Township Clerk. Grant B. Turner; Township Treasurer, Lucius Bradley ; Assessor, William H. Taylor ; Constables, William W. Lucas and William J. Wilson ; Supervisor. Seymour Deming. Upon the qualification of these officers. and their assuming the duties of their respective offices, the township of Cuyahoga Falls was legally organized.

The people of Cuyahoga Falls had before been dependent upon four townships for the administration of their affairs ; for, of course. each township exercised jurisdiction over that part lying within its limits. This was a great inconvenience, as the citizens of the village felt that they had a unity of interests. As it was, a concert of action necessary to their relation with each other was impossible. The organization of the new township was therefore a relief in many ways, and gave a new start to the prospects of the town ; but its history is so merged into that of the village, that the two are inseparable.

A writer, in speaking of Tallmadge Township, says :

"The water-power at the southwest and northwest corners of the Township concentrated population at these points till their numbers ' were so great that Middlebury and Cuyahoga Falls were made separate election districts, and, at length, the northwest corner was set off to the new township of Cuyahoga Falls.

" Of the aboriginal inhabitants, few, probably, had ever inhabited this part of the country even prior to the surrender of their title to the whites. There are, indeed, evidences that, at some remote period, this country was occupied by a people more numerous and of a higher type of civilization; but this is true of Indians. who occupied the country at the time of its settlement by the whites. This had been the border ground of different tribes. and was otherwise an unfavorable location for a large people, depending mainly upon hunting for a subsistence. Wild game, though seemingly abundant to the whites, was yet too limited for the wants of a larger population.

" Living partly by a rude cultivation of the soil and by fishing, as well as by hunting, the Indians preferred the open and fertile bottom land of rivers and lakes. There were, indeed. some small and scattered villages or encampments of Indians in this vicinity. [The writer here speaks of Tallmadge Township. but the remark is equally true of Cuyahoga Falls.] A small number of Senecas lived near the junction of the main and Little Cuyahoga. at or near the place somewhat widely known in modern times as the Chuckery.

" An anecdote of Stigwanish. the chief of these Indians. has been related to me, which seems to furnish evidence of somewhat higher moral perceptions than has always been ascribed to untaught Indians. Stigwanish was friendly to the whites. and often visited the settlement at Hudson. It was at just about the time of the first settlement of Tallmadge that this chief was at the house of a Mr. Pease in Hudson. and. to persuade a son of Mr. Pease, a child of some four or five years of age. to come and sit upon his lap, he offered to give him his pipe-hatchet. The offer proved sufficient to overcome the repugnance of the child to the swarthy thee of Indian. As the chief was about to leave, the return of the hatchet was proffered. but resolutely refused, Stigwanish saying. Musn't lie to children—no good.' This native chief had scarcely learned this precept from the whites. however frequently, in his intercourse with them. he might have had illustrations of its truth, and he who obeyed it could scarcely have been a savage. S. Pease. of Cuyahoga, was the recipient of the chief's hatchet."

" A branch of an Indian trail," writes Gen. Bierce, in 1854, in speaking of Cuyahoga Falls Township. " from Fort McIntosh, on the Ohio [Beaver, Penn.,]. to Sandusky, passes through this township. On arriving near Fish Creek. in Franklin. Portage County, it branches—one branch of the trail passing north, through the Indian towns in Northampton and Bath ; the

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other turning south to the Great Falls, called by the Indians 'Coppacaw.' This was a celebrated trail for the Indians in their war ex cursions, as well as with the ' Rangers ' in their pursuit of them. It was on these two trails that Brady's men were divided, at the time of his defeat near the towns on the Cuyahoga, and on which a part made their retreat. Several years ago, a rifle barrel was found in the Big Spring, in this village, a remnant, probably, of that hasty flight.

"The trail passes nearly in front of Mr. Newberry's house, and, near where the canal bridge now is, was a plateau of about twenty-five feet square raised about a foot, where probably had been a council house. In his garden. as well as on the rise of ground north of the Big Spring, are remains of Indian wigwams. But poor ' Logan, the friend of the white man,' with his braves, who so often traversed these grounds, has gone to the spiritland, where it is to behoped his fidelity will receive a better reward than it did on earth—if not, justice is unknown in earth or heaven."

The topography of Cuyahoga Falls presents . but few interesting features except in the immediate vicinity of the river. Back from the stream, the surface is gently undulating. The falls are the most striking natural objects within the limits of the village. The river, for a distance of about two miles in this township and Portage, has a descent of two hundred and twenty feet. There are, in that distance, three falls of considerable height, but the descent for the whole way is so rapid that it forms a continuous water-power. The river has made for itself a deep channel, with precipitous banks of great height. as already mentioned. These are clothed with evergreen and other trees, presenting very picturesque scenery. As will hereafter be shown, the effect of these natural embellishments in beautifying the landscape has been to cause it to become a favorite resort for parties of pleasure during I the summer months. This scenery extends from north to south nearly through the whole I length of the village. The town is underlaid by sand rock, in which is an abundant supply of pure water. The slope of the land is such as to render drainage an easy matter. This furnishes special reasons for the healthiness of the place.

Concerning the water-power of SummitCounty, but particularly that of Cuyahoga Falls, a writer in 1837, in a published statement, says :

" The western part of the county of Portage [now Summit County] affords, indeed, a field full of interest, not only to the geologist, but also to the agriculturist, the merchant, the mechanic, and especially to the manufacturer. for here are to be found in rich profusion all the incentives to active industry and enlightened enterprise. Within the space of about fifteen miles north and south, and ten miles east and west, it contains an extent of water-power (so rarely to be found in abundance in the State) which is known to be equaled by any west of the mountains, and so distributed as to accommodate an abundant population and a great extent of country. This water-power is the result of the fall of the main Cuyahoga and the Little Cuyahoga Rivers from the high level of the country, about two hundred and fifty to three hundred feet to their junction, and the fall of their united streams thence to the north boundary of the county, being about one hundred and seventy-feet. The whole power is equal to drive 346 run of hill-stones, each run being capable of grindng 200 bushels of wheat a day ; or, to 3,460 horse-power, each one being equivalent to raising 25,000 pounds one foot a minute." The writer divides the " runs " as follows : "At Franklin. 18 ; at Monroe Falls, 5 ; at Cuyahoga Falls (within town plat), 80 ; at the same place within two miles of the center of the village). 114; Middlebury, 5: Akron (including accesion by canal, etc.), 19 ; at the same place (on Littie Cuyahoga, within three miles north), 9; in the main Cuyahoga River, at Niles, Boston, and other places, 94 ; total. 346 run." There are now (1881) five dams across the Cuyahoga within the limits of the village, and all within L distance of about a quarter of a mile. The river is crossed by four bridges—the iron bridge, which is the upper one, and is located .t the "old village ; " the stone bridge ; the covered bridge, a wooden structure; and the high bridge, of iron. There is also a railroad Bridge which crosses the stream at the "old village."

Coal of the best quality was discovered at n early day upon Mr. Newberry's land, and as been ever since mined with profit. The first coal carried to Cleveland was from these

472 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

mines, and the speculation proved a bad one. " It was in the summer of 1828," says H. V. Bronson, the pioneer of canal coal-carriers of this region, " that I carried the first load of coal over the Ohio Canal from the Tuscarawas Valley. It came from the mine of Henry Newberry, near Cuyahoga Falls—I can't tell the exact location. It was brought from the mine by wagon to Lock 20, where it was loaded on the boat. There was about one hundred tons of it. We took it to Cleveland, and it required Newberry three years to get rid of it, and he never sold one-third of that even. People would come along and ask what it was, and when told that it was cannel coal would take a chunk away as a curiosity, but they couldn't be induced to burn it ; they didn't understand it. and preferred wood."

" When the Ohio Canal was opened to Akron, in 1827," says Col. Whittlesey, " it was thought coal might be taken in wagons from the mines, about three miles, to the canal at Lock 16. north of Akron. Mr. Newberry tried the experiment. I think, in 1828, but the Canal Collector's returns do not show receipts of coal till 1829."

"Deacon E. Wright," continues the writer. and his son, Francis H. Wright, about this time made an entry on the east side of the coal hill, about one-fourth of a mile south. of Newberry's. In 1830 or 1831, Cyrus Mendenhall, formerly of Cleveland, now of Jefferson County, made explorations and borings on Coal Hill. He found and opened coal at the south end of this hill, but it was too thin to work profitably. Another opening was made at the end of the ridge by Mr. Woodruff soon after, and this was worked until 1838. From 1829 to 1837, Mr. Newberry, F. H. Wright and Messrs. Whittlesey & Newton mined coal for Cleveland, which was hauled to the canal at Lock 16."

It was customary in early times in Cuyahoga Falls, as well as in other places, to make free use of whisky on most all occasions. For laborers it was thought to be almost as necessary as bread. Stow & Wetmore furnished a barrel a week to their workmen as their stated supply. They also kept it on their counter at the store for the use of all who chose to drink, and a few refused. But they were convinced that it was unnecessary and hurtful ; and, after mature deliberation, they resolved tobanish its use and sale from their establishment. In May, 1828, they put their resolution into practice by refusing to furnish it to their workmen. Upon this, the workmen withdrew in a body to consult upon the course they should pursue. They soon returned and demanded their accustomed supply. Upon the repetition of the refusal, they left their work and demanded their pay. About one-third of the men came back on the new terms, but the rest held out, and it was two months before their places were filled by new men, and they could go on with their work. The firm adhered to their purpose, and never returned to the use or sale of it again. A temperance society was organized at the time. which is believed to have been the first in Ohio. It numbered at first but nine men ; afterward sixty-five persons in Stow Township became members. There were at this time four distilleries in the township. but in less than two years they had all closed.

" On the north bank of the Cuyahoga. below the village of Cuyahoga Falls." writes Gen. I. V. Bierce. in his " Historical Reminiscences of Summit County," " is a remarkable cavern. I discovered it in 1826. when the country around there was a wilderness. It is ou the very brink of the chasm cut by the river : and the small opening but just large enough to admit a person's body was on a level with the ground. A few leaves. or a rotten log, will easily conceal it. In company with Charles B. Thompson. Orville B. Skinner and Jabez Gilbert, formerly mail contractor from Pittsburgh to Cleveland. I entered it. and found it about ten feet high. It was divided into two rooms. with a small passage between. barely sufficient for a person to pass. There was no opening, except at the place where I entered, from which I was let down by my companions. It being totally dark in the cavern. I could make but few examinations ; and, fearing some chasm in the bottom, I did not let my curiosity tempt me far in my explorations."

The Portage County Mutual Fire Insurance Company was incorporated in 1831.: It was organized at Ravenna in 1832, by the appointment of William Coolman, Jr., Cyrus Prentiss. Frederick Wadsworth. Edwin Wetmore. Elias Smith. Charles Clapp and George T. Wallace. as Directors. and Samuel D. Harris as Secretary.

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No business was done by the company under this organization. In August, 1833, a new organization was effected, with Henry Newberry, Henry Wetmore, William Coolman, Jr., Edwin Wetmore, George T. Wallace, as Directors ; Henry Newberry as President ; E. N. Sill. Secretary, and the company's office located at Cuyahoga Falls. Its business commenced immediately, and continued during the twenty-five years of its chartered existence, under the same management, excepting only that, upon the resignation of Henry Newberry in 1839, Justin Gale was appointed President ; and, upon his death in 1842, Frederick Wadsworth was appointed. and served till the close of the company's business. This company was the first mutual insurance company organized in the State, and one of the earliest in the country. Its operations extended over the entire State. and into the contiguous portions of the several adjoining States. The amount of its business and its benefits largely exceeded the anticipations of its original projectors. Its insurance covered many millions, and it paid a proportion-ate amount of losses.

No effort was made to extend the period of its charter. it being the opinion of its longtime manager that a different plan of fire insurance was better adapted to the changed financial condition of the country.

Another old " institution " of the village was the Cuyahoga Falls Baud." This was organized in 1834, and was the first of the kind in Northern Ohio. It was established upon temperance principles, no one joining it who did not pledge himself to refrain from the use of intoxicating liquors. Its leader was Henry W. Bill. It was composed of about a dozen members. In 1835. they went to Cleveland to celebrate the Fourth of July. The Cleveland committee sent a packet boat to 01(1 Portage to convey them to the city. They also played at the celebration of the opening of the Ohio and Erie Canal. They made an excursion to Massillon. where they gave a concert to the edification of that infant town. besides participating in other patriotic and festive scenes. The members were E. N. Sill, C. W. Wetmore, T. R. Butler, C. Bronson, C. Wilcox, L. Wilcox. J. H. Brainard, Mr. Sperry, R. Upson, H. Y. Beebe, C. Thornburgh. Israel James.

In 1837, a description of Cuyahoga Falls was published as follows :

Cuyahoga Falls is situated in the geographical and business center of an interesting section of country. It has an unrivaled water-power. This water-power is all available. The descent of about two hundred and forty feet in the Cuyahoga River is by a. long slope, the commencement and termination of which is but about two miles apart, and which admits of the easy use of the whole fall, and in such portions as may be desirable. The sides and bottom of the river are rock, and the banks furnish an abundance of the finest stone for all constructions which may be desired.

Coal is found in the hill forming the slope on the eastern bank of the river and is supposed to be within a short distance of the (Ohio & Pennsylvania) canal: ,but no mines have yet been opened less I than about a mile from the village. Its quality is not surpassed by that of any in the State, and the quantity is in exhaustible.

Within the village three dams are now erected, giving a fall at each of fifteen, ten and twenty feet, and another of twenty feet is about to be erected. One is above Portage street; one below Broad street; and one at the foot of Reed street. One of twenty feet fall has been commenced near the foot of TayIor street, and one of the same fall is about to be erected at the foot of Prospect street.

The population of the village is now (1837) about 1.250. Three and a half years since, it was but 375. The whole number of deaths within its bounds (luring the last six years has been as follows: Adults—scarlet fever. one; chronic inflammation. two; old age. one: epilepsy, one; consumption, one; drowned. one: total, seven. Children over two years—fever. one; killed by a fall, one: drowned, one: measles one: total. four. Under two years of all diseases, eight. Making a grand total of only nineteen deaths in six years!

In each of the last two years (1836 and 1837), there have been erected about one hundred houses. The last season there would have been nearly double that number built, had it not been for the derangement in the currency of the country. The gross receipts of the post office will probably exceed $1.000 for the year (1837). This will indicate in some measure the amount of business done here.

The town (of Cuyahoga Falls) is built on both sides of the (Cuyahoga) river. The land ascends gradually from each bank about a half a mile. affording tine situations for residences, combined with facility of access to the water-power and canal. around which the business, of course, centers. Water of the purest quality is easily found anywhere in the sandstone rock which underlies the town at various depths. The soil is well adapted for building upon, for roads and for gardens. There are no stagnant waters in the vicinity. the rapid descent of the river causing a gentle draught of air from the high grounds during the stillest nights, which prevents the accumulation of those clamp exhalations which are usually found in the vicinity of streams: and the inhabitants enjoy a degree of health rarely to be found in any country. The character of the inhabitants may be in some measure estimated by the fact that it is not known that

474 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

ardent spirits are sold at any place in the village (that is. in 1837, not 1881).

There is. in the village, a handsome Episcopal church building: a Congregational meeting house; and preparations are made for a Methodist meeting house. There are common schools, a lyceum (endowed with at least $3,000), a female seminary, and preparations are making for a high school. The scenery in and around the village is uncommonly fine : as you approach it, you acknowledge the justness of the designation which has been given it as the "Village of White Houses." The view of the falls is said hardly to be surpassed in beauty by any in the country.

The amount of manufactures and sales of goods within the last year (1836). have been carefully estimated, and amount to $407.000; and the sales of real estate have been to the amount of probably $200.000. The machinery propelled by water-power is as follows: Two large paper-mills. one flouring-mill. two saw-mills, one oil-mill, one pump-making establishment, one tilt-hammer, ax and scythe factory. one woolen-mill, one stone saw-mill, one chair factory, one planing-mill, one furnace and foundry, one engine and machine shop, and other smaller works. There are two drug and medicine shops. one printing office, one book-bindery, one book store. three shoeshops. four blacksmith-shops, one milliner's-shop, two groceries, one hat and fur store. one pump-shop. one clothing store. eight dry goods. etc.. stores. four tailor-shops. two tin factories. one plow factory. two cabinet-shops.

After the revulsion in money matters in 1837. there was great embarrassment for want of a currency, which led to the adoption of a plan for issuing notes in the similitude of bank notes, upon the basis of real estate for security. But it was soon abandoned as a failure, causing loss to some, but without very serious injury to many persons. Some of these notes are preserved by a few persons as curiosities and mementoes of the past. They are signed by Moses Thompson, President ; Ogden Wetmore, Cashier. Upon their face are printed these words : "Real estate pledged by deed of trust to double the excess of issue beyond the capital paid in and stockholders liable." The " institution" was known as the Cuyahoga Falls Association. The nearest banks at this time to Cuyahoga Falls, were at Cleveland, Painesville, Warren, Canton, Massillon and Wooster.

The Summit County Branch of the State Bank of Ohio, was organized at Cuyahoga Falls in 1845, by Joseph Hale, Horace H. Miller, William Rattle, H. B. Tuttle, and others, with a capital of $100.000, and Joseph Hale, as President, . and H. B. Tuttle, Cashier.

In January, 1851, its stock was transferred to E. N. Sill, S. W. McClure, E. S. Comstock, Charles Cantess and others—with E. N. Sill, President, and E. S. Comstock. Cashier—with which organization, with an occasional partial change in the Board of Directors. it operated till January, 1862, when J. H. Stanley was appointed Cashier, and without other change till the expiration of its charter in 1866. at which time the First National Bank of Cuyahoga Falls was organized with a capital of $50,000. by E. N. Sill, T. W. Connell. Henry Newberry, C. S. Sill and others. with E. N. Sill, President, and J. N. Stanley. Cashier. The First National continued business till April. 1869. when it sold its franchises to the First National Bank of Akron. Its stockholders then formed a banking partnership. under the firm name of the International Bank of Cuyahoga Falls. with the same officers—which last orgauization is still continued. These three banks had no legal connection. but were practically successors. their business never having been publicly interrupted during the thirty-six years now past.

After the completion of the Ohio & Erie Canal. it was thought indispensable to the prosperity of this section of country that there should be a water communication between Cleveland and Pittsburgh. through the Western Reserve and Pennsylvania. After much exertion the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal. extending from Akron. Ohio. to Beaver. Penn.. was completed. It passed through Cuyahoga Falls and entered the Cuyahoga River at Franklin Mills. A writer in 1837, says : ̊ The Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal, now in the course 0f rapid completion. forms a junction with the western section of" the Pennsylvania Canal at New Castle. and unites with the Ohio Canal at Akron. It strikes the bank of the Cuyahoga River just below the village of Cuyahoga Falls, and passing through that village on the bank of the river adjoining, a water-power of about 150 feet fall in that stream, it passes through the villages of Monroe Falls and Franklin, affording to this part of the State a ready commination with the Ohio, with the interior of the State, Lake Erie, the Atlantic seaports, and furnishing the means of a ready exchange of the manufactures, the coal, and the various other productions of the one ; for the iron, the wool, the merchandise, and the agricultural productions of the other." But necessity for the canal had been greatly over-estimated, and

CUYAHOGA FALLS TOWNSHIP - 475

its tolls were never sufficient to pay expenses and keep it in repair. It was found, also, that as the country was already up, the volume of water in the Cuyahoga River was greatly reduced, so that in the summer it was necessary to suspend some of the works at Cuyahoga Falls for want of power, on account of its being diverted from the river by the canal at Franklin. At a later period, the railroads laid through this region being more direct and expeditious. rendered the canal unnecessary, and measures were taken to return the stream to its ancient bed. After much contention with the mill-owners at Akron, who alone were interested in keeping it open. the canal was finally vacated. and the water allowed to resume its old channel.

The growth and prosperity of Cuyahoga Falls have suffered for many years from a plan which was undertaken in early times to divert the water-power and use it elsewhere. Persons came to the village and bought separate portions of it. under profession of desiring to utilize it on the spot, but when they had possessed themselves of the whole in the lower part of the town. they organized a company called the Portage Canal and Manufacturing Company. popularly known as the Chuckery Company." In 1S43. they built a dam at the upper end of their purchase with a race beginning opposite what is now Hinde's Mill: this race they carried at great expense to what is known as " Chuckery Plains:'. where they planned for a city of magnificent proportions. which they called : Summit City." They succeeded in getting this through. but they got into quarrels among themselves and the work was stopped. Lawsuits followed. and after years of litigation the company broke up and the scheme was abandoned. Their dam and race went to decay. and the ruins of the latter and the gloomy remembrances of surviving members of the "Chuckery Company," are all that remain of the magnificent scheme. Summit City." which was to have been one of the largest manufacturing places in the United States, has dissolved "into thin air."

In 1852. the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad was completed, thereupon steps were taken to build a railroad which should leave the first-mentioned road at Hudson and go south through Cuyahoga Falls. It resulted in what is now the Cleveland. Mount Vernon & Columbus Railroad. It was opened to Akron before the close of the year, and, in two years, was completed as far as Millersburg. This gave to Cuyahoga Falls a new means of transit, I and has done much to increase the prosperity and comfort of the people. The track runs near the bank of the river through the entire village. from north to south : and. from its conspicuous position, gives passengers an excellent view of the scenery, and of the natural I advantages of the place as a business center. The road is convenient to all the shops, giving them access to its cars without expense for side tracks, and offers superior inducements to manufacturers to invest their money where they have so many advantages at so little expense for cartage or individual outlay, to accommodate their business.

In 1853. the school district library was commenced, and for several years was kept in the school building. In 1873, the library. containing 800 volumes. was removed to the business street, and. by the efforts of the G. A. R., was added to a free reading-room under the charge of J. H. Brainard. Librarian. In 187S. by the efforts of the Temperance Union. a building was constructed for the library and reading-room free to all. Under Mr. Braubard's charge, the reading-room has been supplied with the Cleveland and Akron papers. and with scientific. agricultural and literary periodicals, and the library has been increased by the addition of scientific statistical works.

JOSHUA L'Hommedieu, Plaintisf

against

GEORGE A. WATT and .

ELIZABETH W. WAIT. Defendants

Plaintiff complains of the said defendants for that the said plaintiff was on the 6th day of March. A. D. 1858. the owner and then in possession of a certain barrel or cask of brandy. then being and situate in the Township of Cuyahoga Falls. County of Summit and State of Ohio.

Plaintiff further complains of the defendants for that on said 6th day of March. A. D. 1858. the said defendants did with force and arms. at the said township of Cuyahoga Falls. break open said barrel of brandy, whereby the contents of said barrel. to Wit : twenty-five gallons of brandy, were wholly lost and destroyed. to the damage of the plaintiff. in the sum of $100. Whereupon the said plaintiff asks judgment against the said defendants for the sum of $100.

Such was the commencement of a suit for damages brought May 9. 1859. by Joshua L'Hommedieu against the defendants above-

476 - HISTORY OF SUMMIT COUNTY.

named, before C. W. Wetmore, a Justice of the Peace, in Cuyahoga Falls. The result of the suit was a judgment for $60. One of the defendants, Mrs. E. W. Wait, was said to have been one of the company of ladies engaged in what is known as the " Whisky Riots," on March 6, 1858, when divers barrels of whisky, brandy, beer and other " beverages " were taken vie et armis and emptied into the gutters of the village ; hence, the bringing of the above-mentioned suit.

Cuyahoga Falls, during the war of the rebellion, was not behind her sister towns in her readiness .to assist the country in her sorest need. A large number of men were enlisted in several regiments and batteries. Of these, the following fill soldiers' graves : Capt. D. N. Lowry. Thomas Evans. J. D. Cooke. J. I. Patterson. William Lyons, George L. Holden. David McArthur, First Lieut. John Eadie, Jr.. Second Lieut. J. C. Ely, J. W. Eddy. Robert Gaylord. I. J. Wood, C. Neeley. A. K. Goodrich. F. B. Purine. Robert Green, Edward Green. John Patterson, J. B. Lyon. Seneca Blood. John Congden, John Shellhorn. Charles E. Moon, G. G. Crane. J. Murphy, John C. Schneible, H. F. Eddy. H. J. Ingalls. J. Hogle. These names should be cherished as a precious treasure. to be handed clown to posterity, that they may give them the honor they so justly deserve. To them and their many associates is due the preservation of the country in its integrity.

The people of Cuyahoga Falls were long noted for their social qualities. They came to the town from different places, having been reared under different influences. In the early settlement of the place, they were all, of course. brought into contact, and there was, of necessity, a toning down of many of the asperities peculiar to New England manners and habits. The consequence was, that there was a friendship which continues, though in a modified form, to the present day. Later years and the coming in of new residents have changed the aspect of affairs somewhat ; not, however, to the gain of happiness or the pleasures of social life. The recollections of the older inhabitants are always pleasant, as they go back over those early days, and the regret which they often express because of the change shows how superior was the enjoyment then to what is now the rule. This, however. is not wholly the fault of the present. In those days, the inhabitantswere largely dependent on each other ; their cares were confined to narrow bounds, and they were driven to find amusement in each other's company for the want of other resources. It was before the days of railroads or daily papers, concerts or lyceum lectures.

The first resident preacher in Cuyahoga Falls was J. T. Holloway. recently deceased. He was a licensed local Methodist preacher. The first store opened was by Stow & Wetmore in 1825 ; another was brought in by Mr. Stanley in 1829. and opened on the corner of Water and Broad streets. north of the present covered bridge. The first birth in the village was Edward, sou of William Wetmore, Jr. This was in 1827. The first death was a sou in the same family in 1826. The first adult who died in in the place, was the first wife of E. N. Sill. a daughter of Henry Newberry. The first marriage is believed to have been the daughter of Deacon Hamlin to Washington Butler. The first Postmaster was Henry Newberry. who held the office till he was led to resign it because of the pressure of his other business. The first bank in the county was the Summit County Bank. organized under the State banking law in Cuyahoga Falls.

Cuyahoga Falls has been visited by several destructive fires. In 1833. a warehouse belonging to Stow & Wetmore. filled with paper stock was burned. In 1851. a flouring-mill. the property of these gentlemen. was likewise destroyed by fire. In 1866. a stone building. known at the time as the bank building, which stood upon the site of James' Block. and occupied by H. C. Lockwood. with several adjoining structures, were consumed. At this fire, John Marsh Hinde lost his life. The woolen-mill on the west side of the river, as previously mentioned. was burned ; also the paper-mill on the same side, twice. Messrs. Bill's machine shop and foundry, and the Empire Paper Mill. belonging to Hanford Brothers were burned in 1872. Several residences have gone clown in devouring flames. but, generally, they were not of great value. From the earliest times. the village has been exceedingly fortunate as to its dwellings, in regard to fires. Since the foregoing was written. the works of' the Falls Wire Manufacturing Company were largely burned. This occurred on the evening of March 31. 1881. They will be immediately rebuilt.

Cuyahoga Falls has become noted as a sum-

CUYAHOGA FALLS TOWNSHIP - 477

mer resort. High Bridge, Glens and Caves. Big Falls, Silver Lake and tiny steamboats upon the river, are the chief attractions. The Lake and Big Falls are outside of, but near to. the corporate limits. The High Bridge is elsewhere described. At this structure, the entrance to the Glens and Caves, a rude stairway has been constructed, which leads clown to a plateau, where has been erected a building with spacious dining-room and kitchen attached, where dinner and other parties are served refreshments, and under the same roof is a restaurant, where everything in the line of refreshments can be had. On this level is also a fine croquet ground and numerous rustic seats. shadowed by overhanging. high perpendicular rocks.

A few feet below is Lovers' Retreat, a broad ledge of rocks, shadowed by large forest trees. and down still another flight of stairs. close by the riverside, hedged in by rustic work, is a broad, level surface. which forms the entrance to Fern Cave. a subterranean cavity in the solid rock. 35x54 feet in dimensions. This retreat is supplied with numerous rude seats of iron and wood. where those weary from climbing can rest. Leaving the Cave, we pass down the strongly-braced stairway. running diagonally with the thee of the wall, and reach Observation Rock. a huge stone of over one hundred tons' weight. From this point. a magnificent view is presented to the eye. Looking back and up the stream, one gets a fine view of the waterfalls above. of from fifteen to twenty feet in height ; also High Bridge. some eighty feet above. Still farther below, and immediately under Fern Cave. is Doves' Retreat. a huge cavern, with an overhanging roof of rock twenty-five feet above. To the right and down the stream is Suspension Bridge. which crosses the stream above high-water mark. It is made of strong rods of iron, crossing the chasm, securely fastened to huge bowlders upon either side, with strong handrails. and affords a secure passage over the foaming. surging watersbelow. Crossing the bridge, we are upon the east side of the river, near Cascade Point, which is a lovely retreat, reached by a path made of rocks and bowlders, under Weeping Cliffs, a solid wall of' overhanging rock, one hundred feet in height, and fringed at the top with hemlock and birch trees. Here a beautiful spring of cold mineral water gushes forth from the face of the rock, climbing over and under a high point. A broad avenue is presented, which borders the rugged bed of the stream for a mile. This is called the Grand Promenade, and is hedged in on one side by lofty, overhanging rocks, and on the other by innumerable shade trees and the winding river. Here sunlight has to struggle for an entrance. and it is always a cool and romantic retreat. Swings and croquet here abound. Ferns and mosses literally cover the grounds and rocks upon every side.

Boys & Clarkson had a steamer built in Akron by William Paine, in 1878. and has run on the river two seasons. It is called the Silver Wave. It cost $1,200. The boat is now owned by J. N. Clarkson. This was the first one on this stream. Another boat was built in Cuyahoga Falls in 1880. She ran one season only. She was built by Dailey & Barker. The boating distances on the river run by these boats is from the upper clam to Snakes' Den and Goose Egg Island. The round trip is three miles ; fare 10 cents, during the boating season.

There is but one public hall in Cuyahoga Falls. It is now called Apollo Hall, formerly James' Hall. It is located in the third story of James' Block, and was completed in 1869. It was opened April 12 of that year, with a concert given by Miss Fannie A. Sill and her pupils. The seating capacity of the hall is 500, with standing room for 200. It was refitted and newly decorated in 1879. having new and elaborate scenery. The proprietors are George Sackett. O. B. Beebe and W. O. Beebe.