A HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF CUYAHOGA FALLS

CHAPTER I.

One hundred. years ago, and the American colonies were in their straggle with. the mother country for their freedom; and all the continent, where now busy multitudes are pursuing their daily avocations, the native forests lay in all their gloomy grandeur, untouched by the woodman’s axe.

The whole population, when the first census was taken in 1790, was only 3,929,328, and of these 697,696 were slaves. Now we have over 40,000,000, and not a slave. This population was scattered along the eastern part of the original colonies on the Atlantic coast, while the western part of them was still the abode of the Indians, whose Incursions made many a settler’s heart tremble for fear of their depredations Even New England was mostly a wilder : and central New York was the hunting ground of savage tribes. Pittsburgh was a military post,—and when the sun shone upon this broad state, which now the third in the Union, it lighted only the trackless woods. It required nearly two months to make the journey from Connecticut to Ohio; and was a severe trial of the strength of the hardy veterans who, with their wives, first broke their way into its solitudes. When they got to their journey’s end, they had first to build a rude cabin to shelter them, and deadening the timber around it., sow the seed which should furnish them with bread, when the scanty supply was gone which they had brought from their eastern homes. Hardships were experienced of which we can form little conception; and tears must have wet many a pillow, as they thought of the homes and friends they had left behind them.

When we think that it is but fifty-one years since the site of this village was an unbroken forest, and but twenty years before that, not a white man had found his way into this vicinity, we are amazed at the change. And as we traverse these peaceful scenes over which the hand of the husbandman has spread such evidences of prosperity, we can hardly realize how greatly it has been changed since its first settlement. It seems impossible that so short a time has elapsed since this whole region lay in the state of nature, and not a mark of its present civilization had been made.

There are still living some who were among the first that came, and what we present of this history, we have had from their lips; and because the number is so small of those who participated in these events, we have thought best to record it now, that we may let our children know something of the labors and privations of those who prepared the way for their enjoyment of the advantages which they have inherited. Though much has been forgotten, what we now record is given as it was told us by those who knew the facts, and were participators in much that they related.

When the present century came in, the whole region known as the Western Reserve was an un broken wilderness. Its forests were untouched, and nature had received no embellishment from the hand. of man. Everything was as it came from the Creator’ s hand. The aborigines were scattered through its dense forests; and game of all the kinds common to this latitude was abundant. Bears, wolves, deer, turkeys, and all the smaller varieties, were found in great numbers; and the lakes which beautified this region abounded with water fowl, and many varieties of excellent fish. The swamps and ledges furnished cover for deer and turkeys long after they had disappeared from regions more recently settled.

The timber was heavy, and for variety and excellence for all economic purposes, was not excelled by any part of the United States. A soil of great fertility lay under it, and its latent riches needed but the hand of the tiller to be developed, to reward the laborer for his toil.

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 ranges and numbers. These lands were drawn by lot, by the members of the company, valued at forty cents per acre; the quantity being in proportion to the amount which each one paid toward the gross amount, as compared to the whole. Number 3, of range 10, was drawn by Judge Joshua Stow, of Middletown, Connecticut; and was named after him.

The township of Tallmadge fell to two companies, called the Brace Company and the Rockwell Company, and was named after Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge, of Litchfield, Connecticut. Roger Newbury was a member of the Brace Company, as also of the Connecticut Land. Company, and for many years one of the governor’ s council of Connecticut. His share was one thousand acres, which lay in the northwest part of the township, which now forms the southeast part of the village of Cuyahoga Falls. This made these two men the owners of what afterward constituted the eastern half of this township and village.

Northampton was designated as an equalizing township, to be divided between such townships as were adjudged of inferior quality on account of swamps; and thus was disposed of in smaller quantities and fell into the hands of numerous owners. That part of Portage township which lay next west of Tallmadge was in the hands of small proprietors, so that the west half of the new town was under different influences from the eastern half.

These several townships held jurisdiction over what was within their own limits; and the people at Cuyahoga Falls, belonging to four townships, were dependent upon them for the administration of their affairs. This was a great inconvenience, as their interests were united here; and the concert of action necessary to their relation to one another was impossible. They end tired, it till 1851, when a township two and a quarter miles north and south, and one and three quarter miles east and west, was taken from the tour townships, and incorporated into a separate township, with all the powers necessary to a complete organization and government. This new township also became a village, with its rights and privileges, the same as other villages of its class.

Our name and history, however, goes back to earlier days. The village was first laid out by Judge Elkannah Richardson; but afterward resurveyed and plotted by Birdsey Booth, whose map was recorded in the county records, and remains in force for all legal purposes to the present day.

The name first given to the village was Manchester; but as there were many towns of that name in different states, and the falls of the Cuyahoga were seen to be of great value and importance, it was changed to the name it now bears.

The falls extend for about two miles, making a descent of two hundred and twenty feet. There are three several falls of considerable height; but the descent for the whole distance is so rapid that it forms continuous water power, being unequaled in the state. The river has made for itself a deep channel with precipitous banks of great height, which are clothed, with evergreen and. other trees, presenting the most picturesque scenery to be seen in the western states. The effect of these natural embellishments in beautifying the landscape, has been to cause it to be a favorite resort for parties of pleasure from all the surrounding country. This scenery extends through the town from north to south; and the power is available for its whole extent, for manufacturing purposes, at a comparatively small expense; and offers to capitalists the highest inducements for investment, since the height of its banks precludes all danger from floods, and the solid rocks form an immovable foundation upon which to build.

The village is over four hundred feet above Lake Erie, and is underlaid by sand rock, in which is an abundant supply of pure water. The slope of the laud. is such as to render perfect drainage an easy matter, furnishing special reasons for its healthiness in a sanitary point of view.

Coal of the best quality was discovered upon Mr. Newbury’ s land at an early day, and has been ever since mined with profit. The first coal carried to Cleveland was from these mines.

All these advantages, concentrated upon this vicinity, have made it a desirable place of residence from the first; and the townships of Stow and Tallmadge have been among the most thrifty and. prosperous of rural towns.

An Indian trail from Fort McIntosh upon the Ohio river, near Beaver, to Sandusky, passed through Stow. Near Fish creek, in the east part of the town ship of Stow, it parted; one trail going west through Northampton, and the other passing down. through what is now the village upon. the east bank of the river to the Great Falls, and thence to Old Portage, where it intersected the portage between the Cuyahoga and Muskingum rivers, at the junction of the Great and Little Cuyahoga.

The portage was an important point even after the country was occupied by the whites. Here there was a military post, and what was called a “Navy Yard,” and supplies were gathered from the interior of the state for their maintenance. These were drawn from as far south as Chillicothe, being brought up to the head waters of the Muskingum, and. conveyed overland to the Cuyahoga. William Wetmore was appointed commissary for this post, and all the lumber necessary to supply the wants of the government at the station, was supplied by the saw mill at the “old village.” Old Portage did not lose its importance till the opening of the Ohio & Erie Canal, at a later date.

In the spring of 1804, a company of emigrants started from Middletown, Connecticut, for Ohio, having made arrangements with Judge Stow for settlement upon his land. They took their course through northern Pennsylvania till they reached the Alleghany river, which they followed down to Pittsburgh; and thence west to Warren; and in fifty days arrived in Stow. Their names were William Wetmore, Capt. Gregory Powers, Josiah Starr, Capt.  Rice, Titus Wetmore and John Campbell.  William Wetmore immediately put up a log cabin half a mile north of “Stow Corners,” and the others settled in different parts of the township. Previous to and during the war of 1812 several other families followed them; but as we do not propose to give more than the history of Cuyahoga Falls, we shall mention only such things and persons as were connected with-its settlement, as were some of those whom I have mentioned.

It may be interesting to the present inhabitants to know that when the whites first came to Stow, the rattlesnakes were so numerous that it was seriously questioned whether the settlers would be able to remain But they finally determined upon a war of extermination, and after five or six years of vigorous effort they had so far reduced these enemies as to feel safe in going about their work. There was a den in the ravine below 0-en. Gross’ tavern, from which the snakes issued in great numbers every spring. Here the men laid ill wait for them, and slew them by hundreds. On one Sunday while the people were all at meeting, it was announced by the blacksmith’ s son that his father had killed a great pile of them; and. all went to see the sight and count the game, when it was found that he had slain sixty-five large snakes.

In 1812 Messrs. Kelsey & Wilcox built a darn upon the river at the place where the railroad bridge flow crosses it. Upon this they erected a flour mill, an oil mill and a saw mill., which was the first in this vicinity. This led to the erection of a number of houses at what we call the old village. But it was found that the power was, much better at a point lower down, and in 1825 Stow & Wetmore bought out the mills and proceeded to make improvements at the new point.

In 1814 Henry Newbury, the son of Roger Newbury. came to Ohio to see the lands which had been given him by his father, who died the year before. He was so well pleased with them that he resolved to make this his future home; hut did not remove here till 1824. He lived for two years upon the farm at Silver Lake, known as the Thorndike farm, now owned by Hiram Gaylord. During this time he was making improvements upon his property here. He erected a log house for his workmen upon the spot where Geo. Dyre’ s house stands, and cleared about an acre between that and the river. This was the first structure upon his part of the town. His own house was begun for a store, and is the one now owned by Mrs. Clarkson; but he bought the building and finished it for a house. He removed into it in 1826, and occupied it till the completion of the stone house, which is now the residence of Mr. Jas. H. Cooke. This was in 1840, and. he made this his residence till his death in 1854. Mrs. Newbury out lived him till November, 1858.

In 1822 Judge 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 oath of the old village.

Judge Stow had reserved in the southwest corner of his township two hundred and ten acres, which embraces the notheast quarter of the village. Of this he sold an undivided half to Wm. Wetmore, and they together began their improvement of it in 1825. A cabin was put up upon the ground where the brown house stands, north of the livery stable, directly west of the dam. In April, 1825, William Wetmore., Jr., had. gathered thirty men from the surrounding country, who were set to work to construct a dam where the upper dam now stands. This was finished in June following. Here they erected a flour mill, a saw mill and an oil mill. As this flooded the dam at the old village, the mills there were taken down, and the glory of that infant town departed; its interests being all removed to the new locality. Mr. Wetmore, the father of Henry, Ogden, William, Jr., and Edwin, who had to do with the subsequent history of the town, died, after a long sickness, in 1827, and was buried at Stow Corners.

In 1830 Stow & Wetmore built a paper mill upon the east side of the river, where the remains of its foundations may be seen from the stone bridge. This was called Stow & Wetmore’ s mill. The first sheet of paper was run off on the 8th of December of that year, which is also memorable as being the day when our esteemed friends, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Wetmore, were married in Franklin, now Kent. This paper was the first which was made by the process now in use in Ohio. There were several small mills in other parts of the state, but they con tinned to use the old method of making it by hand.

The first frame building put up on Stow & 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’Hommedien 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 Jabez Hamlin came, and built the house next south of the big spring, and soon after the tannery now owned, by Mr. Kittleberger.

In 1829 Judge 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, dying in 1836.

Not long after Jabez Hamlin, John Wells came, and built the house now owned by the widow of the late John Tift. In 1829 John Rumrill came, as the foreman of Stow & Wetmore’s paper mill, and built the house near the depot, known as the Jones House.

Rowland Clapp came from Vermont, and took up his residence here in 1828, and has made it his home ever since.

Mr. E. N. Sill came in 1829, and in 1834 and 183 built the center part of his house, the wings having been added at a later date. The builder was Mr. Lodge, who is still among us.

Mr. Grant B. Turner came with his father in 1828, soon went to Ravenna, but returned in 1835, and has resided here since that time.

Major C. W. and Mr. S. B. Wetmore came in 1832, and. built their houses soon after; John Eadie, George Daily and Israel James, in 1830; and 0. B. Beebe, in 1831.

Daring the time that these improvements were made by Stow & Wetmore, Mr. Newbury was pushing his work in the lower part of the town. What is flow Turner, Parks & Co.’s dam was built by him in 1825, and the next year he erected upon the west side a saw mill, and on the east side an oil mill. The oil mill was carried away by a flood in 1832, but a new mill was immediately put up, and was used by E. N. Sill and Ogden Wetmore as an oil mill. It was afterward sold to John Rumrill, who resold it to Prentiss Dow, who converted it into a paper mill, and ran it in com with Rumrill, under the firm of Dow, Rumrill & Co. This partnership was closed after a time, and. the mill was run by P. & G. Dow. lit was afterward closed and the mill removed.

The first shop, upon the place where Turner, Parks & Co.’s shops stand, was used by a man by the name of Kelley, as a chair factory. Mr. Lawson also used it for the same purpose for some time afterward. This was replaced by one built by Vaughn, Hunt & Co., which was removed when the present buildings were put up. When it came into the hands of the present firm they made important changes, extending it toward the river and building the foundry; and lately have greatly enlarged it by the addition of the north part.

There was also a small woolen factory between the saw mill and Turner, Parks & Co.’s shops, which was burned by spontaneous combustion. A temporary building was afterward built upon the same ground, for sawing stone, and all the facing stones in Mr. Newbury’s house were sawed in it.

There was an oil mill which was run by Penfield & Stan, adjoining the woolen factory at the time it was burned, which was saved, but has not been replaced by any other, and has gone to decay.

In 1834 a foundry and trip-hammer shop was built by Mr. Vaughn on the south side of the stone bridge, where the saw mill stands, but this was burned and. never rebuilt.

Just south of this was a carriage shop, which was carried on by Mr. Isaac Lewis. The building was afterward changed to a paper mill, which was run by George E. Clarke, in company with his nephew, Seymour, but like many others it has passed away.

In 1834 Ogden Wetmore and B. R. Manchester built a foundry and machine shop near where the brick paper mill stands. They ran the foundry for about two years, when Manchester removed, and L. W. Butler took his place as partner of Ogden Wet- more. In 1835 the machine shop was leased by Messrs. Bill; who afterward purchased the property, and used it till 1843, when it was consumed by fire.

In 1845 Messrs. Bill put up a brick building for a foundry and machine ship, but in order to rent it to J. M. Smith & Co. for a paper mill, they built a small shop on the other side of the street for their own use. J. M. Smith & Co.’s lease was for ten years, but before its expiration they were succeeded by Harrison & Hanford, who purchased the property, and added to it till it became what was known as the Empire mill. This came into the hands of Hanford Bros., who ran it until 1872, when it was destroyed by fire.

The Messrs. Bill took into copartnership James Chamberlain, and the shops were run for several years under the firm name of Bill & Chamberlain. To accommodate their increasing business they re moved the shops first built, and put up the large buildings which stood opposite to the Empire mill. There were some changes in the proprietors from time to time, but the shops were kept running till the fire of 1872, when they were consumed with all their contents. Snyder & Blood’s planing mill now occupies its place; and the machine shop, which had sent out so much good machinery, passed out of existence

Turner, Parks & Co.’s flour mill was first built for a planing mill by Mr. Newbury, and was run by him in company with Henry A. Sill, for which Messrs. Bill made the machinery. It was soon after leased by Penfield & Starr, who changed it into a paper mill; but getting involved in debt, it passed into the hands of Henry Wetmore, who in company with a man named Wright, ran it for a time. But it passed again into Mr. Newbury’ s hands, who removed the paper machinery, and changed it into a flour mill, for which purpose it is still occupied, being the oldest mill upon the river.

Another paper mill was built and run by T. L. Miller on the east side of the canal, not far from the large warehouse east of the north pottery. This mill was run by steam. After Miller’s failure it was occupied by Caleb Howard, but fell into decay, and was finally taken down.

A distillery is also among the unpleasant remembrances of that vicinity. A part of the buildings connected with it now furnishes shelter for the Taylor Wire Weaving Company, which is among the most successful of our recent undertakings.

Yockey, Van Tine & Co. built a flour mill on the site of the paper mill of the Cuyahoga Paper Company. It was run as a flour mill for some years, but was purchased by J. M. Smith & Co., and changed into a paper mill. Soon after the change it was consumed by fire. Another mill was immediately erected in its place, which was run by Harrison & Hanford until it was again burned. Again it was rebuilt, and passed into the hands of Hanford Bros. and used by them till 1875, when it was bought by the present proprietors, and is now the only establishment for the manufacture of paper in the town.

Among the old institutions of tile town was the Cuyahoga Falls Band, 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, and it was composed of about a dozen members. In 1835 they went to Cleveland to celebrate the 4th of July. The Cleveland committee sent a packet boat to Old Portage to convey them to the city, where they met the boat in wagons, and returned in the same manner. They also played at the celebration of the opening of the Ohio & Erie Canal. They also made an excursion to Massillon, where they gave a concert to the edification of that infant town, beside participating in other patriotic and festive scenes. The band consisted of the following members, viz:

H. W. Bill, leader; E. N. Sill, C. W. Wetmore, T. R. Butler, C. Bronson, C. Wilcox, L. Wilcox, I. H. Brainard., Mr. Sperry, R. Upson, H. Y. Beebe, C. Thornburg, Israel James.

After the completion of the Ohio & Erie Canal, it was thought indispensable to the prosperity of the country between Lake Erie and. Pittsburgh that there should be water communication through the Western Reserve between Lake Erie and the Ohio river. After much exertion it was carried through. Leaving the Ohio & Erie Canal at Akron, it passed through Cuyahoga Falls and entered the Cuyahoga river at Franklin Mills. Bat its necessity had been greatly over-estimated, and its tolls were never sufficient to pay expenses and keep it in repair. It was found, also, that as the country was cleared up, the volume of water in the river was greatly reduced, so that in summer it was necessary to suspend some of the works at Cuyahoga Falls for want of power, on ac count of its being diverted from the river by the canal at Franklin. At a later period the railroads which were laid through the region, being more direct and expeditious, rendered the canal unnessary and measures were taken to return the stream to its ancient bed. After much contention with the mill owners at Akron, who were alone interested in keeping it open, it was finally vacated, and the water allowed to resume its old channel!.

In 1852 the Cleveland & Pittsburgh railroad was completed. Upon this event steps were taken to build a railroad which should leave the Cleveland & Pittsburgh at Hudson, and go south through Cuyahoga Falls. It resulted in what is now the Cleveland, Mount Vernon & Columbus railroad. The road was opened to Akron before the close of the year, and in two years was completed as far as Millersburgh. This gave to Cuyahoga Falls a new means of transit, and has done much to increase the prosperity and comfort of the people. The track runs near the bank of the river through the whole town, from north to south; and from its conspicuous position gives the passengers an excellent view of the scenery, and of our natural and artificial advantages. It is convenient to all the shops, giving them access to to the road without expense for numerous 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.

The first mills erected by Stow & Wetmore upon the upper dam have long since been replaced by others on the west side by James’ forge and rolling mill, saw mill, machine shop, and flour mill, and on the east side by the rivet factory and clay mill. The rivet factory was first used for a flouring mill, sash, door and blind factory, but was changed to its present use during the year 1875, and is continuing to increase its capacity to meet its increasing business.

On the site of Camp, Cooke & Co.’s sewer pipe factory Cyrus Prentiss, the brother-in-law of Henry Wetmore, built an oil mill, which was used by Mr. Wetmore for making linseed oil till 1863, when it gave place to the extensive works of the present owners, and turns out a very large amount of excel lent pipe. They have also introduced the manufacture of hollow brick and tile, of the same quality, which appears to be excellent building material, and at an expense not greater than those of more perish able materials and more uncomely form. To show the extent to which this business has grown, the fact may be mentioned that they are shipping at the rate of two hundred and fifty car loads of pipe of the first class to distant points annually beside all that is sold at the yard, and pipe of inferior quality.

Buildings were first erected upon the dim of what is known as the Chuckery Company, in the south part of the town, for making shovels, forks, etc., but the men undertaking it, having little or no capital, soon came to grief. The buildings were slight, and soon went to decay. They came at length into the hands of John Hinde, who rebuilt them and employed them in making rope and twine; but finally changed them into a mill for making coarse bagging, and is carrying it on with great enterprise and success.

On the east side of the river a tavern was built, in 1835, by C. Reid. It was called the Traveller’s inn. It is now kept by George Buoys.

A lard oil and candle factory was started, in 1842, by George A. Stanley and Henry Holbrook, in the first building north of the covered bridge on the west side; but they soon went to Cleveland, where Mr. Stanley has since been engaged in the same or kindred business.

Among the early enterprises undertaken which were of short continuance, were a starch factory, by Birdsey Booth, at the spring in the bank of the river below Mr. Hinde’ s mill. Another, by G. & I. L’ Hommedieu, near the depot, a sandpaper and glue factory, east of the stone bridge, under the management of a Mr. Smith; and a pump factory on the east side, carried on by R. S. Williams.

The wire mill was put in operation in 1874, and bids fair to be a permanent and successful enterprise. This led to the Taylor Wire ‘Weaving Co., which makes all kinds of wire cloth and screens, and is working up to its full capacity, and is considered an eminent success, which is shown by the erection of their new building.

The manufacture of paper has always been one of the leading industries of the town since the building of the first mill by Stow & Wetmore in 1830, and is now pursued by the Cuyahoga Paper Company, in two mills which are run night and day.

The growth and prosperity of the town has suffered very seriously from a plan which was undertaken in early times to divert the water power and use it elsewhere. Persons came and bought separate portions of it, under profession of desiring to use it on the spot; but when they had possessed themselves of the whole of that which was in the lower part of the town, they organized a company called the Portage Canal & Manufacturing Company, popularly known as the “Ohuckery Company.” In 1843 they built a dam at the upper end of their purchase, with a race beginning opposite to Hinde’ s mill, which they carried at great expense to what is known as “Chuckery Plains,” where they planned for a city of immense proportions, which they called Summit City. This was to have been one of the largest manufacturing cities in the world. They succeeded in getting the water 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 now nothing remains of their magnificent scheme but the rains of the race and the gloomy remembrances of its surviving members.

Daring these long years of litigation their water power remained nearly useless; but about two years ago the courts decided. the questions at issue and closed up all their affairs, and now the whole of this power is offered for sale, presenting excellent opportunities for manufacturing upon a large scale.

This scheme, which was gotten up under false pretences, has been a great injury to the town. When money was plenty, and men were seeking opportunity for investment, the water -power was in a condition not to be disposed of or used; and since it has been in market the times have been adverse to any such undertaking. But it is hoped that the financial condition of the country will soon allow the occupation of the whole power, and. that this magnificent stream will be vocal with the hum of busy wheels, where for many ages have been heard only the song of the waters as they make their way down the declivity, without usefulness except by the refining influence of the beautiful scenery.

There are now in operation within the corporation one foundry and rolling mill for railroad axles and hollow bolts, two flour mills, two saw mills, a rivet factory and clay mill, a wire factory, wire weaving works, a large foundry and machine shop, a small machine shop and town clock factory, two paper mills and another partly built, an extensive sewer pipe factory, two potteries, a planing mill, tannery, and several wagon, tin and other shops, besides the tow bagging mill of John Linde & Son, which latter employs about one hundred and fifty hands. There is also a factory for making roofing tile by improved machinery, which has been in operation a short time by Camp & Babb, which turns out about three thou sand per day. They are admirable in all respects, and promise to be a very great improvement upon previous methods of making, and it is thought will supersede them. The machinery was invented by Horace Camp, and is very simple and easy of management.

The depression of the iron trade which has been so severe through out the country, has seriously* affected all these industries; but while struggling under great embarrassment, from the scarcity of money and the failure of establishments at other points, nearly all have escaped the fate of many of their contemporaries, and have avoided suspension of business.

** To be Continued **