This is a scanned copy on CD of the original Book published in 1892.

Fifty Years and Over

of

Akron and Summit County

By

EMBELLISHED BY NEARLY SIX HUNDRED ENGRAVINGS PORTRAITS OF PIONEER SETTLERS, PROMINENT CITIZENS, BUSINESS, OFFICIAL AND PROFESSIONAL ANCIENT AND MODERN VIEWS, ETC.

NINE-TENTH'S OF A CENTURY OF SOLID LOCAL HISTORY PIONEER INCIDENTS, INTERESTING EVENTS INDUSTRIAL, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS, BIOGRAPHIES, ETC.

AKRON, OHIO

D.L. Clark Publishing

1892

1168 pages on 1 CD

An essential resource for Genealogists

Actual images of every page, in Adobe Acrobat Reader .PDF format. Works with any computer, and is easy to use and read. Some scans are imperfect.

This book on CD is SEARCHABLE * 

CONTENTS

CHAPTER I.

Akron's Beginning-Ancient Middlebury A Visit from DeWitt Clinton Commencement and Completion of the Ohio Canal First Boat to Cleveland Dr. Crosby and his " Ditch " " Thunder from a Cloudless Sky " The Doctor's " Goose Pasture " Prophecy The New Village of " Cascade " Bitter Triangular Rivalry Spirited Guide Board War Early  Manufactures Pioneer Hotels, Merchants, Etc., Etc

CHAPTER II.

Akron Incorporated First Charter Election Early Mayors The First a Venerable but Wealthy Quaker, the Second an Impecunious Lawyer "Kid" Unsuccessful Speculations Curious Law Practice A "Moving" Defense Successful Administration Subsequent Mayors, Etc

CHAPTER III.

Early Crookedness Confidence Games, ''Keg Money," Etc. Unsavory Reputation The " Gorey" Battle Ground Bitter Post Office Controversy Scandalous Church Squabbles Decadence of Middlebury and the South End "Cascade" in the Ascendency Succumbing to the Inevitable, Etc .

CHAPTER IV.

The Boom and the Collapse Poetry reraus Fact Speculation Rampant Wonderful Enhancement of Values and still more Wonderful Decline The Morus Multicaulus Craze Immense Fortunes that Didn't Materialize The Panic of 1837 Hard Times as was Hard Times The Shinplaster Era Decidedly a Mixed Currency The "Truck and Dicker" System, Etc

CHAPTER V.

The "Cross-Cut" Canal Charter Granted in 1827 Preliminary Survey Eight Years' Slumber Revival of Project in 1833 Ohio a Large Stockholder Delayed by Panic of 1837 Push and Pluck of its Projectors- Successful Completion Celebrating all Along the Line Prosperity, Decline, Etc

CHAPTER VI.

The Portage Canal and Manufacturing Company or "Chuckery " Enterprise A Mammoth Scheme Superior Sagacity and Engineering Skill of Akron's Great Benefactor, Doctor Eliakim Crosby Rise, Progress and Collapse Portrait and Life History of its Projector, Etc. An Instructive Chapter

CHAPTER VII.

Summit County Six Years' Struggle Over its Erection Rejoicing Over the Result Preliminary Election and Organization The County Seat Question Akron, Cuyahoga Falls and the "Chuckery" Competitors Akron Finally Wins the Prize Public Buildings Erected First Speech in the New Court House Made by ex-President John Quincy Adams Improvements, Etc

CHAPTER VIII.

Educational Matters Pioneer Schools "Model " Examination Early Select Schools, High Schools, Etc. The Union School System A Distinctly Akron Institution but now Universal A magnificent Educational Showing Present Status of Akron's Splendid Public Schools,Views of Buildings, Portraits of Superintendents, Etc. Buchtel College and its Promoters, Presidents, Officers, Etc

CHAPTER IX.

Akron's Literary Achievements " Lyceum and Library Association" Chartered in 1834 "Philo Lexion Society" 1836-40 "Akron Literary Association" "Akron Lecture Association ""Akron Library Association" Akron Mechanics' Library, Akron Public School Library, Akron Free Public Library Young Men's Christian Association Reading Room, Lectures, Etc

CHAPTER X.

Akron's Churches Pioneer Religious Organizations Successes and Reverses The Various Sects Very Largely Represented Views of Several Early Church Structures and a Number of Modern Houses of Worship Portraits of Several Representative Ministers With Brief Biographies Church and Sabbath School Statistics, Etc

CHAPTER XI.

Akron Truly a Literary Center Ancient Middlebury the Pioneer with the " Portage Journal " in 1825 The "Akron Post " of 1836 The "American Balance" of 1836 The "Akron Buzzard" of 1837 The "Akron Journal" of 1836, '37 The "Summit Beacon "of 1839, and the Various Literary and Newspaper Ventures to the Present Day. An Interesting Chapter

CHAPTER XII.

Akron's Burial Places The Old Sixth Ward Cemetery of 1808 The Spicer Cemetery 1813 to 1870 The Original North Akron or "Dublin" Burying Ground of 1825-The Akron Rural Cemetery 1838 to Present Time- The New Sixth Ward Cemetery The Several Church Cemeteries of the City Superintendent's Lodge and Memorial Chapel and Other Fine Views in Akron Rural Cemetery, Officers of Association and Superintendents Something About Public Parks, Etc

CHAPTER XIII.

Akron and Portage Township Civil Service Town, Village, City and Township Local and General Public Officers for Over Half a Century A Highly Honorable Record Without a Single Case of Malfeasance Known Among the Hundreds of Official Incumbents Portraits, Biographies

CHAPTER XIV.

Public Illumination The Original "Tallow Dip" Followed

by Sperm Oil, Lard Oil, Coal Gas, Petroleum and Electricity Local Transportation, Herdics, Horse Cars, Electric Cars, Etc. Fuel Gas, and Other Modern Improvements Akron Fully Abreast With the Times

CHAPTER XV.

Akron's Postal History Ancient Middlebury's Early and Successive Postmasters to Present Time First Postmaster of Akron Proper- Youthful Mail Carrier Successive Postmasters of Akron for Sixty Years, With Portraits of Several Scramble for the " Spoils " Under Successive Administrations Wonderful Growth of Postal Business Free Delivery System, Etc

CHAPTER XVI.

Akron's Fires Hundreds of Houses, Churches, Stores, Shops, Mills, Etc., Destroyed Millions of Dollars' Worth of Propert3' Consumed Incendiarism Rampant The Bucket Brigade The Old Crank and Brake Engines The Tireless Steamer List of Akron's Principal Fires for Over Half a Century A Chapter Full of Instructive Information

CHAPTER XVII.

Akron, Middlebury and Portage Township Military History, Ancient and Modern Early Army and Civil Military Operations Brilliant Record in the War of the Rebellion Later Local Military Affairs A Magnificent Showing

CHAPTER XVIII.

Ancient and Modern Akron Contrasted Early Business and Industrial Status What Horace Greeley Said of Us in 1843 Greeley a True Prophet The Boom that Came to Stay From Village to City An Industrial, Commercial, Financial and Professional History Justly to be Proud of

CHAPTER XIX.

Summit County's Tornadoes The Stow Disaster of October 20, 1837 Dwelling House Demolished and Four Persons Instantly Killed The Sharon, Copley and Springfield Blow of April 8, 1890, Leaving Death and Desolation in its Track Akron's Fearful Visitation of May 10, 1890, with Ten Graphic Illustrations Barberton's Fatal Call, December 23, 1890, Etc

CHAPTER XX.

Akron's First, Last and Only Homicide The Sixth Ward Wife- Murder Terrible Brutality of a Whisky-Selling, Whisky-Drinking Fiend "Watt" Henry's Fatal Assault upon His Wife, Bridget Henry Exciting Trial, Conviction, Life Imprisonment, Etc

CHAPTER XXI.

The "Irrepressible Conflict "The Infamous Fugitive Slave Law Every Man, Woman and Child a Bloodhound Dastardly Attempt to Kidnap a Weil-Known Akron Barber, "Jim" Worthington Prominent Citizens to the Rescue The Slave-Catchers Foiled Escape of "Jim" and Other Local Fugitives to Canada An Intensely Interesting Chapter

CHAPTER XXII.

Our Own John Brown "Old Ossawatomie" Freedom's Hero and Martyr Full Personal History with Life-like Portrait Business Successes and Reverses Free-State Operations in Kansas Fatal Harper's Ferry Expedition Capture, Trial, Conviction and Execution for Treason and Insurrection A Thrilling Historical Episode

CHAPTER XXIII.

The Canadian Patriot War of 1837-1839 " Hunter's" Lodges-General Lucius V. Bierce one of the "Leading Spirits" Defeat, Execution and Banishment of Insurgents in the East The United States Interferes Commander-in-Chief Bierce captures Windsor, Burns Barracks, Etc. Defeat and Flight for Life An Exciting International Episode

CHAPTER XXIV.

Second Adventism The End of the World Predicted in 1843 Great Excitement in Akron and Summit County iscalculation in Dates The Final Catastrophe Postponed One Year Still the Day of Doom will not Come Attempts to Work Miracles Feet-Washing and the Holy Kiss Spiritual Marriages, Etc. Wonderful Power of Humbug

CHAPTER XXV.

The Geology of Summit County, by Professor Matthew Canfield Read, with Portrait and Biography of Author Canyon Formation-Nature's Great Ice, the Glacier Structural Geology Coal, Oil and Gas Measures, Etc- An Extremely Useful and Instructive Chapter

CHAPTER XXVI.

Summit County's Railroads -Early Railway History-Schemes that never Materialized Successes and Reverses Projects that Came to Stay Present and Constantly Increasing Systems The Chief Factor in Akron's Unexampled Prosperity A Chapter Full of Interest

CHAPTER XXVII.

The Township of Bath Early Settlement, with Portraits of First and Subsequent Early Settlers Pioneer Incidents and Perils Civil Criminal, Military and Business Status, Past and Present Educational and Religious Matters, Etc

CHAPTER XXVIII.

The Township of Boston Early Settlement, Organization, Name, Etc. Indian and Other Pioneer Incidents Ancient and Modern Military Prowess A Splendid Record in the War of the Rebellion Criminal Catalogue Civil, Business, Educational and Religious Status Portraits of Prominent Citizens, Soldiers' Monument, Etc

CHAPTER XXIX.

Daring Burglaries in Peninsula Singular Detection of Burglar Arrest, Indictment and Ingenious Escape from Jail Giving "Aid and Comfort" to Rebels Confinement in Fort Lafayette Return to his Old Quarters in Jail Conviction and Nine Years' Imprisonment Thoroughly Reformed, Etc

CHAPTER XXX.

The Peninsula Wife Murder Henry Kerst from Ambush

Shoots his Wife upon the

CHAPTER XXXI.

Boston's Last Great Sensation The Washburn-Peoples Homicide A Wronged Husband's Terrible Revenge Preparations for the Bloody Deed Arrest, Trial and Conviction of Murder in the Second Degree Imprisonment for Life Still Doing Penance after Twenty Years

CHAPTER XXXII.

Copley Township Why so Named Topography-The Big Swamp A Gamy Locality Early Settlement, Organization, Etc. Pioneer and Later Thrilling Incidents Growth, Population and Business, Educational, Religious, Civil and Military Status The Bosworth Insane Homicide, Etc

CHAPTER XXXIII.

"The State of Coventry "Origin of Name The Indian's

Paradise Settlement. Organization, Growth and Wonderful Prosperity-Mineral and Manufacturing Resources The Reservoirs, When and Why Constructed Early and Later Criminal Matters Civil and Military Status A Chapter Well Worth Perusal

CHAPTER XXXIV.

Cuyahoga Falls, a Full History of its Beginning, Progress, Prosperity, Reverses, Etc. Its Past and Present Business, Educational, Religious, Criminal, Civil and Military Status, with Portraits and Biographies of Several Prominent Citizens, a Number of Romantic Views, Etc

CHAPTER XXXV.

The Parks-Beatson Homicide One of the Most Cold-

Blooded Murders on Record Exciting Chase after the Murderer Capture, Trial, Conviction New Trial Granted Again Convicted, Executed, Etc. Full History of the Case

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Franklin Township Early Resources, Settlement, Business Centers, Civil, Criminal, Moral and Military Status Portraits, Biographies, Etc

CHAPTER XXXVII.

Green Township When and by Whom Settled Organization Mercantile, Educational, Military, Business and Criminal Matters-Personal Biography, Etc ,

CHAPTER XXXVIII.

Hudson Township and Village The Pioneer Township

of Summit County, Founded in 1799 Perils by Water and by Land Early Privations The Grand Old Western Reserve College Other Educational Institutions Religious, Industrial and Military History The Malony-Stepleton Homicide, Etc

CHAPTER XXXIX.

Northampton Indian and Frontier, 'Matters Settlement, Organization, Early and Modern : Military Operations, Civil and Criminal Status The Dunn-Whipple Homicide, Trial and Life .Imprisonment of the Murderer The Brooks-Tedrow Tragedy, Etc

CHAPTER XL.

The Counterfeiters of the Cuyahoga " Dan " and "Jim" Brown Stupendous Financial Schemes Successes and Reverses Brilliant Operations of "Dan" the Second Wonderful Romance of Crime

CHAPTER XLI.

Northfield Early Settlement, Organization and Progress The Viers-Charlesworth Episode of 1826 Wrongfully Accused of Crime The Mystery Pluckily Cleared Up A Genuine Romance in Real Life - Township Patriotism "and Military Roll of Honor Honorable Civil .Service Record, Public. Spirit, Etc

CHAPTER XLII.

Northfield's Second Great Sensation, The Murder of Catharine McKisson by her Brother-in-law, David McKisson July 34, 1837 Pursuit, Trial, Conviction and Execution A Highly Thrilling Narrative

CHAPTER XLIII.

Norton Origin, Pioneer Experiences Organization Early

"Queer "ness Business Emporiums Mad Pranks of Lunatic Merchant- Killing of Burglar by New Portage P. M. The McLister-Welsh Homicide Civil and Military Status Portraits, Biographies, Etc

CHAPTER XLIV.

The New Industrial City of Barberton Wonderful Growth and Prosperity Showing What Courage and Cash can Accomplish Finely Illustrated

CHAPTER XLV.

The Township of Richfield Pioneer Inhabitants and Incidents Successes and Reverses Educational, Religious, Civil, Military and Criminal Status The Big Sleigh Ride of 1856-The Great Reunion of 1880 Present Business Status, Population, Etc

CHAPTER XLVI.

The Hunter-Gargett Tragedy Love-Making by Proxy

Marriage Contract " Unsight Unseen" Lover Jilted by Sweetheart Fatal Revenge Father and Mother of Girl Shot to Death Narrow Escape of Young Lady Herself Arrest, Trial and Execution of Murderer Spicy Correspondence, Etc

CHAPTER XLVII.

Springfield Township Early Settlement, Organization-

Progress Industrial, Educational, Religious, Patriotic, Etc. The Murder of John Rhodenbaugh and Punishment of Murderers The Roof-Musson Homicide Exciting Trials Imprisonment, Pardon, Etc

CHAPTER XLVIII.

Stow Township Historical and Incidental " Pioneer Miracle" Wild Animals, Rattlesnakes, Indians, Etc. Early Fatal Tornado-Double Fatal Episode of the Rebellion Educational, Moral, Civil and Military Status Portrait of Judge Joshua Stow and Other Prominent Citizens, Etc

CHAPTER XLIX.

Monroe Falls One of the Early Booming Cities of Sum mil County Rise, Progress and Decline Protege Dude of Company Twice Convicted of an Infamous Crime Escape From Jail; Secreted in Attorney's Cistern Six Weeks Five Years in Sunny Italy Return to America With Lola Monte&-Death, Etc

CHAPTER L.

Tallmadge Township A Unique Arrangement of Roads, Lots, Etc. A Projected Utopia "Hopes of Founder Blasted but Settlement Rapid and Township Prosperous Industrial. Religious. Educational and Military Status-Biographical, Etc

CHAPTER LI.

Twinsburg, the Latest Settled Township in Summit County-First Settler a Seventeen-Year-Old Boy Derivation of Name Rapid Progress Pioneer Incidents Wonderful School History Church, Official and Military Matters Past and Present Business Status, Etc

CHAPTER LII.

Summit "County's Agricultural Society Origin, Early Fairs, Changes ot Location, Hindrances, Successes, Etc. Popular "Fountain Park "

CHAPTER LIII.

County's Benevolence Early "Poor Houses" Purchase

of County Farm Original Infirmary Buildings New and Enlarged Structures Greatly Improved Methods The De Roo Hospital Bequest- Akron Charity Association Mary Day Nursery, Etc

CHAPTER LIV.

Labor Fifty Years Ago History Repeating Itself-Early Dissatisfaction, Strikes, Riots, Etc., as Now Clamoring for a Ten Hour Day and Cash Payments Combinations, Dissensions, Defeats, Successes, Etc. An Interesting and Instructive Chapter

CHAPTER LV.

Akron and Summit County in California The Great Exodus of 1849, '50 Dangers and Hardships of the Journey Thither Incidents of Travel, Both Thrilling, Ludicrous and Sad Successes, Disappointments and Deaths A Chapter Full of Reminiscent Interest for All

CHAPTER LVI.

Early Crimes and Other Incidents Within the Present Limits of Summit County Captain Samuel Brady's Reputed Wonderful Leap for Life Brady's Lake, Etc. Shooting of Daniel Diver and Killing of Indian Nickshaw Murder of Nathan Cummins in 1834, Etc

CHAPTER LVII.

Some Clever Local Detective Operations How the Civil Officers of a Third of a Century Ago Managed Things Thieves, Burglars and Counterfeiters "Roped In" Sheriff Lane, Himself Victimized Slippery "Bob" Hurst, Etc. A Brief but Interesting Chapter

CHAPTER LVIII.

Miscellaneous Portrait and Biography of Rev. William Frost Crispin- Something Further About Buchtel College Death of Miss Myrtle Louisa Barker Death of Treasurer Joy H. Pendleton The Howard Street Disaster With View of Ruins, Et