Portage County, Ohio - Chapter 29: Ravenna Township and City, 1885

Chapter 29: Ravenna Township and City

isbed by the following January, 1800. This was the first cabin built in the township and stood near the southeast corner on the farm now owned by Capt. J. Q. King. Hit aeoood hoase stood on tiie turn of Marcus Heath, about one mile east of Ravenna. The following summer he went tf) Connecticut and married the Bister of Hod. John C. Wright, and returned with his bride to the uabrokeQ mU dmneM to boild up a home. After the Slate wee admitted he served in the Second Legislature of Ohio, but in 1809, at the urgent solicitations of political friends la Jefferson County, he settled at Steubenville. where he remained till his death on the 19th of April, 1857. Judge Tappan was a remarkable man in many respects, i being one of tilie moetthoroogh echolan of his day ; he was oonslderalMe of a Un- 1 guist. an eminent lawyer. He was Aid-de-cnmp to (Jen. Wadsworth in the war of 1812; Judge of the Fifth Ohio Circuit; United States Judge for Ohio; was the ' compiler of " Tappan's Reports," and United States Senator from 1839 to 1845. -

A man by the name of Benjamin Bigsby and his family came in at the time Tappan came, and assisted him in clearing his place and hnilding his cabin. He * remained only a few months, but during this time he lost a son about twelve or fourteen years of age, who died from the bite of a rattlesnalcs, and was boried in the eastern part of the township, this being tlie first death. There not being any sawed timber at hand, a log of the proper length was cut and trimmed, and split through the center, then botLi halves hollowed out. and the corpse placed therein, fiHrming a eoffln, rude bat secure.

In the spring of 1800 William Chard located on Lot 33. and in August, Conrad ikKMiDger, with his wife, sons George and John, and daughter Polly, came in and settled on the Hahcming about one mfle and a half eoatiieast or Ravenna Oenter. He purchased 200 acres of land from Tappan, cleared five or six acres and sowed it to wheat. Shortly after his settlement, he being a tanner by trade, constructed a couple of vats, and as fast as he could obtain hidea, tanned them. This was the first tennery. John Booslnger, his son, then a lad of fifteen years, moved to Brimfield in 181C, being the first settler in that township. lie lived to be over ninety years of age. and left a namexous progeny, his descendants now numbering up into the luuKlreds.

In the spring of 18in John Ward and his step-son, John MoManns, came in from 1'fnn.sylvania, and in the following fall Alexander iMcWhorter settled on the west side of Breakneck Creek, where, tiie following year, 18U2, he erected a mill, which was the first grist-mill in the township, and was for a long limea grsatooo- to the settlers, irtio bad, otherwise, to go long distances to get their little grists ground. There were two other mills in the county, one built in 17!M* by Rufus £d wards in Mantua, a hand-mill, and one in Deertield, built by James Laaghlin in 1801.

In 1802 David Jcnninn^s, Sr.. father of Daniel and David Jennings, came in from Bradford, Mass., and settled on Lot 24, and about the same time came Robert Eaton. Jennings and Eaton, in 1805, erected a mill on the Mahoning, which was the second grist-mill iu the township. In this year also came David Moore, William Simoox, one of the fiosaors^ who afterward removed to Brimfield, and several others.

death, at an advanced age. His wife attained the age of over one hundrsd yearS| when she died. About this time a daughter was born to the Mr. Boszor mentioned above, and she is believed to have been the first white child born in the township. 'It ia said^ also, that the first wedding in the township occurred in this j'ear. the parties being Charles Van Home and Pluebe Herrimon. The first school was opened this year, it being held in a little log-house near Tappan's settlement, and the teacher was his sister-in-law, Miss Sarah Wright The pupils were children of Boosinger, Ward and Eaton. The school cabin belonged to Conrad Boosinger. The next teacher was David Boot, who taught at the honse of Robert Eaton in

In 1806 Erastug Carter moved intx) the townsliip* from Johnson, Tnimball CounU', and settled on Lot 16 with hia wife and three children : Rutbalia, Lois and mnrard. The latter ww ham tn Deoember, 1799, and is jet living, remarka* bly well preserved in all his faculties, and having quite a vivid recollection of early events. To this old gentleman we are indebted for much of the information herein contained, and who has set right many disputed facts in regard to the days now remembered by aoavoely any one else in the county. Where Erastus Carter settled was in the upper part of the township, on the third owned by Kphraim 8tArr and Stanley Griswold, about two miles north of Bavenna Center. Moses Smith came with Carter to help him pat np his cabin, and was so well pleased with the county that he purchased 100 acres of land and n^oved in the following year, although he had bought 400 acres in Trumbull at the time he and Carter settled there in 1804. In this year, 1807, Howard Fuller, the father-in-law of Ssastns Carter, with Anson Beemsn, moved in, Fuller baying Jotham Blak»sley's place, about a mile southeast of Carter's land.

Not long aller their arrival Mr. Carter and his little son, Howard, then about seven years old, came down to the grist-mill on the Breakneck to get a grist groand. They passed over what is now Ravenna City, blazing their way as they went, in order to get back over the same track. The old grist mill was run by a man named Coosuxl. The mill had been erected by McWhorter in 1802. This old miller, Ooosard, lived till he vras neatly one hondred and two yeacsold. The mill-stonea rested upon oob^work, and a sort of bsik csnopy, upheld by orotdied poles, formed a roof.

Kavenna City

Rarly in 190B Benjamin Tappan commenced the foundation of the village of Bavenna. He laid off a plat of land containing 192 lots, the boundaries of which at present are Bowery Street ou the north, Oak Street on the south, Walnut Street on the east and Sycamore Street on the west. The center of this plat is at the interaection of Main and Ohestnnt Streets. John Boosinger, then quite a young man, the fall previously " underbrushed " about two and one-half acres, the clearing comprisinf; the present Court House square and a small spaee'surroundinir it. The firat building of an}' kind on the oriuinal town plat is thought by man\ to hnve been erected by Henry Sapp for William Tappan on a spot now covered by the west end of Mechanics Block, but Mr. Howard Carter, who is, possibly, the beat living autborityas to the original settlement of JElavennaj says the building was erected by Joshva Woodaid abont the spring of 1B06. At any rate the little log building stood on the spot indicated, and a well dug at the time is now under the building, just a little east of the east foundation of Homer C. Frazer's store. The birth of the first child on the town plat, or rather who the first child was. is also matter of dispate. James Woodard, son of Joshoa Woodard, is tboaght by many to have the honor of first appearing in the embryo town, but Mr. Carter says that David Jennings contended and often told him that David Thompson bad a sou bc;rn before Woodard, and as proof cites the fact that Thompson's son won the prize ofAnd to the first child bom on the town plat The prize was a lot ottered by Tappan, and young Thompson came into possession of it at twenty-one years of age. His Hather built a cabin upon it soon atter the child was bom. It is the lot where the old mim-^saam naed to be. David Thompson eame here from Pennsylvania with his brother and married shortly afterward. His son was bom about the spring of 1810.

The first grave-yard was donated by Tappau, aud was located at the southwest comer of the town plat, where Mr. William Holcomb's garden now is, and most of the graves were in the southeast comer. Here were buried David Moore, the first Ravenna blacksmith; Mrs. Kuggles and her son; Mrs. Smith, the mother of Mrs. Frederick Wadsworth ; Mrs. Patterson, the mother of Mrs. Tappan ; Jared Mason, the first tanner in the town plat; Epaphras Mathews> who was mnrdered by Henry Aungst, in August, 1814, and Robert Campbell, who returned from the war tick and died ahoitly afterward. He was the last one buried in this graveyard, nnd a singular circumatance is connected therewith: The grave digger dug the grave so that the head lay to the east^ but as it was so constructed ther would not alter it when the ftineral took place. This circa mstance serred to identify bis grave many years afterward, when his relatives sought the spot for the purpose of disinterring the remains and removing them to Campbellsport. Cobble-stones only being placed at the heads of the graves, and no inscriptions, the remains of Oampbelt ooald nerw have been selMted flrom <rat the others, had the corpse been / Uud in the usual manner, with head to the we^it.

The present cemetery was laid off in part in 1813, a plat of Lmd })ein<jr donated for that purpose by Howard i'uiler, Erastus Carter, Moses Smitii and Anson Beeman. Fuller made the suggestion of laying out another cemetery, as the one in the village plat seemed to him to be too close to the daily walks of mnn. Sluman Smith, a iad of seventeen, son of Moses Siuitli, was the first person buried in this cemeterjr. He died June 9, 1813. Hts grave, being the lint in the new ground, was of universal interest, it standing alone for some time. In 1815 Zenaa Garter I was drowned in Muddy Lake, one-half mile south of Ravenna, nnd was among the first buried in the new cemetery. Carter and Qrear, both heavy men, were j trying the floating qnalitiea of a new dug-out canoe, when the vessel capaixed, and / as Carter could not swim, he sink t') the bottom and was drowned. '

In 1809 David Jennings, Sr., Erastus Carter and Moses Smith erected a logschoolbouse about opposite where the residence of the late Mrs. Lots Judd afterward stood, and they engaged Miss Achsah Eggleston, of Aorora, to teach the children of the three families mentioned. Her scholars were eight in number : Daniel and David Jennings, Howard, Rnthalia and Lois Carter, and Samantha and Lndna Smith. Botiialte C^urter married Howard Jodd, Lois married Lester Jndd, Samantha Smith married Richard McBride, and Lucina married Charles Judd. The teacher married Mr. Kent. Miss Eggleston was very tall and stately, and the door ' of the little schoolhouse was very low, so that, when she entered it for the first time, stooping, she remarlced to the proprietors, *'I see yon have built this for small people, so I will have to bring myself down to their level, or them up to mine, which?" <'Up to yours, Miss Eggleston, and we will be satisfied," was the galhuit reply. Of all those interested in that school, fathers, mothers, teachor and scholars, there are but two living: Mrs. Lucina Jndd, aged dghty-seven, and < Howard Carter, aged eighty-four. This school being a success, others wished to share in its benefits, and accordingly a meeting was held which resulted in enlarging the attendance, at the same time deciding by vote that grammar and geography were unnecessar\* studies. Another school was taught in the unfiniaiiedl Court House some time during 181U or ISll, by Thaddeus Bradley. ,

In 1814, when M%j. Stephen Mason was Sberifi*, he taught a school in a room in the Court House, and wlwn lie was off on official business the school was dosed. The .Major was a man of very versatile talents !\nd peculiarlj* well adapted to the times, for in addition to filling one of the highest ofiloes in the ooanty, he could "trafai'' aa a Major of HiHtia, and teach the youth.

The school statistien for 1884 are aa follows: Ravenna Township schools - revenue in 1884, $4,451; expenditures, $3,334; nine schoolhouses. valued at $8,000; average pay of teachers, $36 and $27; enrollment, 162 boys and 126 girls. Ravenna Village school8<->rsvaiue in 1884, $27,047; ezpenditares, $20,181; three schoolhouses valued at $50,000; average pay of teachcra, $79 and $72; enroUment, 346 boys and 408 girls; number of teachers employed, 15.

In 1810 William and John Tappan completed the building of first Court House - and JaiL During this year a number of boys playing ball around the new Court House, discovered a fine buck in the underl)ru8h, when all hands, beaded by David Greer, surrounded the deer and captured him alive - the last deer caught or Iciiled i on the town plat.

4 > la 1811 Joshua Woodard, who had oome ia from Geneva, N. Y., constructed a dan about a mile b«low the old Oooaard mill which ,h«d theo ditappeared^ at a I point on the Breakneck Creek where the stream was wider. Here he erected a - saw-mill, grist-mill and fulling establishment. The water set backabout two miles, < nearly to Ravenna Village, causing much sickness and many deaths. This state of affairs went on for Mrentl years, when Woodard was ezpostolaled with by dtfzens. notified by the lawj'ers, Messrs. PIor^ne and Lyman, and threatened by everybod3', but all to no avail. Heavy damages were even offered him, yet he persisted in keeping his disease-dealing dam intact, when one night a party went with axes \ and crow bars and destroyed the dam. He moved to Franklin. There was no 1 more ma!:wia after the dam went.

William Tappan had a frame house put up at about where the middle of the IHioenlz Block now is. Now, this ballding was elected before Mr. Tappan came to Ravenna, and as he was here December 5, 1809, when he signed the agreement to erect the Court House and Jail, it ]<X)ks very much as if his house was erected before the one claimeil tu bo the tirst, yel it is generally supposed that the house that stood on the Mechanice* Block lot was the first It ia reascmable to presume that the way these buildings came to be in dispute is that one was a frame* the other a iogj»tructure, each being the first of its class.

The first frame building in the north part of the township was a bam erected In 1810 by Moses Smitli. Over sizij years afterward the same barn was moved by the grandson of the original owner, and it still stands. They put up building in i those days to last. A little later Grastus Skinner, father of John N. Skinner, the I first resident carpenter, raised a bam on the Hotchkiss place, on which occasion . Skinner made a brief speech in honor of the important event. Tom Smith and family came in at an early date, and oeeupied a small huilding where now stands \ the First National Bank. He was a hatter by trade, and the hunters would come into his little shop and unload their bundles of coon and other skins. A hat that he made nearly seventy years a<;o, and worn at a school ezhibitioni is still in the possession of one of the oldest citizens of the township.

The oldest building in Ravenna City is the one on the southeast comer of Main and Chestnut Streets, and the next oldest is the yellow barn standing on the alley in the roar of Mr. Kinney's house on the corner of Main and Meridian Streets. The first was built br David Greer, who came to the town from Pennsylvania about the time the Court House was erected, put up this building and opened the first tavern Uv also opened a small stock of gouds, and the writer hereof obtained this information from an old gentleman who in 1812 watched the members of Capt. John Campbell's company purchase powder from Greer, pour it into their horns and march away toward the seat of war on the lakes. This Tenerable structure stands to-day as staunch, aiiparently. as any of its more modern c Mnpanions. The other building was erected by Gen. John Campbell, who at the time was keeping a tavern that stood on the four comers of Ravenna, Rootstown, Bdinburg and I Charlestown. This frame building, afterward painted a peculiar yellow, which made it distinctively known as the "old yellow house," origfin ally stood about where the barber shop now is on the eastern front of the Etna House, and was built with the intention of opening a tavern in it. but, soon after It was completed in 1812, James Haslip, from near Pittshnrt;h. Ponn . rented it and put in a stock of goods, this being the first regular store opened in the township. Greer, also, as has been stated, kept a small stock of goods, but he made no pretensions to being a merchant - his business was tavern keeping. The building stood upon a ridge mnningeast and west, upon which the Cotirt House, also stood This ndijc fell off abruptly to the north and more gently to the south, and down its northeru slope the boys coasted many a winter day. In 182-ltiie " old yellow house" was moved away and now is used as a barn. It was a grand building in its day, as it stood proudly in front of the Court House, where the county magnates would ride in and hitch their steeds around it and across the way at Greer's Tavern ; for a lull- | fledged store, where yon eooldescfaaage two bnsheb of wheat for a yard of oottcm - cloth, was of no small consequem-e.

In 1812 a volunteer companv was formed in thia vicinity, with John Campbell as Captain ; Alva Day, Firrt Lieatenant ; John Caria, Second Lfeateoant, and Aaron Weston, Ensign. A more extended recital of Portage County in the war of 1812 will be found in the general history of the county, the following incidents . being only given as illustrations of the times. The company raised by Gen. Campbell pllehed thdr tents of boneepon linen sheets near tiie honse <Mr their OOramander, and went into traininp; for a wcok. the 9trict(^st military discipline being maintained. They had do uniform, very poor clothing, and very bad shoes, but every man managed to get a rifle, a tomahawk and a butcher knife. Thus, with their powder boms and their bullet pouches slung about them, they tramped otf to meet the highly disciplined and well accoutred regulars of the British.^- This company was included in the cowardly surrender of Hull, but the following year, one day when George Barnes had a raising. Horaee Barrongtis snddooly made his appearance among the men, and gave them orders for marching to Cleveland in the morning. They began to make preparations, and the next day left for the "^s^ scene of war, leaving Erastus Carter, who had a lame arm, to look after the women and children, and to prepare for retreat to Pittsbaigh. Then came an alarm greater than the first. The cannonading between Commotlore Perry and tlie British vessels on the lake was heard, and soon a night messenger came riding down through IVrtage, warning tbe people to fly for their lives, as the Indians were about swooping down upon the defenseless settlers of this seettoiL All the next day preparations were going on for flight, and still another raes<=ionger arrived, warning the people to lose no time in retreating, but during the following night a faocn was heara in the direction of Stialersrille, and soon a liOTseman came dashing along the road, shouting at the top of his voice, Hurrah, hurrah ! Perry is victorious ' " and the dread of a moment before fled amidst the K joicings of the happy settlers, who made the welkin ring with their shouts oi gluUness.

Mrs. Betsy (Eatinger) Ward, widow of William Ward, states that Jacob Katinger, her father, came to Ravenna in the spring of 1804, from Poland, Ohio, when Mrs. Ward was thirteen years old. There were here at that time David Jennings, Benjamin Tappan, Robert Eaton, William Gbard, Samuel Simcox, the first settler in Brimfield. and his son Benjamin, Conrad Boosinger and son, John Boosinger, John and Robert Campbell, John McMannus, John Ward, Henry Buzzard, Moses Bradford, Charles Van Horne (son-in-law of Chard), William Lyons, Jack and Thomas Wright, Henry Sapp, Alexander Walk«r, Robert Bell, lOvfiA Moore, Jotham Blakesley, Pavid Haines, 80n-in>law Of Simooz, and PoUy Booainger. Sally Wrighi taught tiie tirst school.

Ten or twelve years later iiuvenna presents a village appearance. A man steps into the Seth Day store with wlieat, and what does he receive for his twenty bush- '* els of ircildrn grain ? A packa^^e containing ten yards of cotton cloth ! Dr. Isaac Swift is l)ehind the counter compounding a prescription, for on one side of this store of Pay ft Swift is kept a general stodc of goods and on the other, drugs. Mr. Day had moved in firom Deerfleld,and Dr. Swift, then a flne-Iooking single gentleman, of twenty-six years, had ccmein from Connecticut in June, iSif). He married in 1818, auU oue of his sous, Henry A.Swift, became Governor of Minnesota, besides oooapylog other important positions. Mr. Bay filled many public positions also.

Step out into the road again. There is anotlicr store, just opened by Zcnas Kent, on the spot now occupied by the Second National Bauk. Of this gentleman it is needless to make only mention, as be is so well known that nothing here can add to hifl fame as a splendid business man and good citizen. Now from your position in the road look across to the southeast comer of Main and Chestnut Streets, and you will see a building that still stands there. It is Greer's old tav-

Hisiobt Of Pobtaob 0017Nt7

. enr, long known as " King's Tavern." A little east of this spot you will notice a log'biiildiiig that was put up by Joehaa Woodard. Tarn plamb aroand and you will see a little om* storioil Imildin:;. Hicini^ yoii. Thi.s is the law office of a man who wus afterward known not only in Ohio, but throughout the !:ui(l. Jonathan Sloane occupies this unpretentious little building. Darius Lyman, .mother noted lawyer, has an office here, too. Look up the straet, eastwaxd, and you will fee the house of Alraon Babcock a1x)iit a block distant on the north side of the way, and a little westward from that point a two-storied frame house painted red, . looms np. It was bailt fx Mr. Tappan, by Henry Sapp. But here is a bnilding going up. It is on the spot now ooonpied by the Empire Block. Salmon Carter, or "Papa " Carter, as ho was familiarly known, is building this structure for a tavern ] so the one diagonally across is going to have competition. Turn partly around again and look westward and yon will see a bat shop on the comer, now occupied hy the First National Bank, It was the shop of " Uncle " Tom Smith, and not far from this was where Alexander and William Frazer made harness and saddles.

Faoe again to the sontb ; look ftoross the Court House ground to the southeast and 5'ou will see a man getting on his bnrse, evidently in a hurry, in front of a building, u frame, that stands half a block or so south of Main Street This gentieman, a physician and saigeon, who has just been summoned ten miles away to see a patient who had been injured by a fallini? tree, a few years Later performed a surgical operation in Ravenna, which for boldness, skill and siiccei^s stands unsurpassed, if not uuequaled, even to this day, and wa.s considered uf so much importance that a scientific record was nndeof it in the French surgical journals. This was Dr. Joseph DeWolf, and the operation referred to is described in the Western Courier of November 12, 18:^5. It was a case of ttrangulated hernia ; the patient, Willinm McLaoghlin The Doctor opened the abdomeD, found a portion of the intestines gangrraous, cut off ei^ht or nine inches of the same, stitched together the several parU, sewed up the abdomeui and the man was m sound as ever in a couple of weeks.

But, take another look in the same direction you were, when Dr. DeWolf rode off, and you will see two men liTting something from a rude wagon. One of the men is a farmer and he has just sold a couple of ox hides to the other. The buyer is a sturdy looking young man of about twenty-three years, whose sleeves are rolled np. and who has on a leather apron, for he is a tanner. He will have a son after a while, however, who will carry his name ringing down the ages, for it is Jesse K. Grant, who bad just gone into business with John F. Wells, on the now Gretzinger lots. A few years ago the vats of this old tannery were taten np« aud a walking stick made from a portion of them now awaits the illustrious General at the home of E. P. Brainerd, in Ravenna. Jared Mason, who came from Beaver County, Penn., in 1810, started this tannery and did a lucrative business for three years, dying in 1813. In 1815 John F. Wells married the widow, and thus came into possession of the tannery. Mr. Mason put up the building now standing in the rear of the Mechanics' Block, which was for a long time the residence of Hon. Seth Day. while it stood on Main Street

Take another look around you and you will see a blacksmith shop some little distance to the east, and a few cabins dotted here and there. The.se are all the buildings in sight, with the exception of one or two other residences on Main Street Keep this picture in your mind's eye, and notice who now are in sight There cornea Amzi Atwaler, one of the County Commissioners, just crossini; over to Greer's Tavern, and there comes Owen Brown, the father of John Brown, of Harper's Ferry renown. Owen Brown is, also, one of the County Commissioners, and there is going to bo a meeting here to-day. Here he comes on his old bay h(M>^c nlonfj the road fmm Franklin, making for the hitchinff rack in front of Zcnus Kent's store, in the doorway of which stands Capt Ueman Oviatt, who bad fUroisbed young Kent the means to start in business. Near the Court HoQse tbuid Slmlff Am K. Barroughs, Dariaa Lyman, Prosecating Attorney, William Wetouira, Oonnty Treasurer, and Ira Hudson, Clerk. A littlt^ fortber off is another group, consisting of Rial McArthur, William Coolraan, William I-Vazer, Or\'ill Craue and Calvin Pea^e. These groups are discussing some public measnre, and, while thqr talk, cpoes ovw to G-rew's Tavern. Capt ]>daoii Mifla has just disraounted from his bors(>, aiul, cnno in liand, is shaking hands with Gen. Campbell, while Lewis Ely, John Diver and Capt. John T. Baldwin, with Artemus Kuggles, are discussing politics, but as they all thinic the same way there is not mneh disputation. Pasaing along the road, Mme toward the Gourt House and some toward the hat shop and stores, may be seen Capt. Jospph Eggleston. Elias Harmon, Alt>beu8 Struator, CoL Benjamin Higley, Daniel Dawley and Obristiaa OaoUer, who has been married only a year or two» Bela Hobbard, Oliver Diekinson, and bat what is all that noise abont among the boys down Main Street, near the eastern edge of the village ? Why. a cow belonging to Ira Hudson, the late Clerk, has mired Just opposite the frog-poud m the lot attached to the residence of Mrs. Skinner, on the oomer of Mdn and Walnnk Streets. The oow stumbled off the corduroy rond just about where Mr. Mertz's beautiful front yard now is, and the boys, who were stoning the frogs in the pond, raised the alarm. It took nearly all the men in the village to get the poor brute safely out. ^

Ravenna was really growing into importance, for, in 182&, they had two miUls perweek from Pittsburgh, and two from Cievelau l, and one each week from New Lisbon, Medina, Burton and Warren. James Belden came from Weilsville and took charge of the old tavern opposite the Court Hoose, the one ** Pnpa ** Carter ran so long and so wdl, and named it the " Clinton Tavern." This was in May, 1825, and Belden improved the house very much. In this same month occurred one of the most terrific hail storms on record. On May 18, during the afternoon, a rain and wtnd storm blew np flrom llae southwest, which shortly tnmed into hail, and such stones fell as never had been seen here before. One of the stones that fell in the village measured nine inches in diameter, according to the Western Courier, published here at the time. Many windows were broken, dwellings, barns and orchards destroye<l, and not a fence was left standing in the path of the cyclone ; for cyclone it evidently wa3,_but they had not got to caHing these visitations by that high sounding title, as yet. William McLaughlin gave notice. May 21, that be had leased the carding works of Stoddard ft Wadsworth, and was prepared for business. He also stated that children sent to his establishment with wooU should be " allowed to take their turn, and be treated like anybody else." It evidently bad been the habit of the men to crowd out the little ones. Gen. La Fayette, who was in tiiis country at the time, had been invited to Ravenna, and was expected to honor the county with his presonoe at a Fourth of July celebration at the Portage Summit, but he could not come - had a previous engagment for Bunker Hill and Boston. * *

U16X0Ey Of Portage County

A bam was raised in Ravenna for L^'man Hotchkiss, June 8, 1825. in three hours^ and uotioe the dimensions : It was eighty-five feet long by forty-two feet broad, with ten bents, one of wbioh was eightj-ftve feet long, the height of the building being in proportion. The ridge-pole of the bam was a solid and whole piece of timber, oijjhty-five feet long, a size unprecedented in the annals of barn raising up to that time. It still stands, one mile east of iiavenna, a little back fttNB tiie Toad.

Another and still greater undertaking was the erection on June 23, 1825, of a building for Cyrus Prentiss and William Coolman, but let the editor of the Wrstem Courier tell it in his way : We witnessed such a scene on Thursday last. The frame, timbers, ete., of a ver}* large brick building, belonging to Messrs. Prentiss and Coolman, were raised. The building is three storiei; high, eighty-six feet lonjf and thirty-two feet in width. The timbers were very heavy, and in the momiog lay scattered on the groand, bat under the direction of the mastsr-bailder, Mr. Hills, the different pieces were ooUecled, put in proper pUoe, and now asstot in forming by far the lartrest building in this place."

In 1825 Perry Preutiss had a tine store for the times, where they kept everything '* ftom a needle to a hay-staek so had Zeoas Kent and Iwao Swift line stores. Joseph Carroll made and sold fashionable boots and shoes a fe* doors east of the Couit House, and Alonzo Bristol made and sold fashionable hats for men, but alas 1 there was not a milliner in the village, and the ladies had to wear son-bonnets, or their mother's " calashes," brought from New Bng^and. A b< et was raiseii this year by Hon. Seth Day that measured two feet and one inch in length, twenty-four inches in circumference, and weighed nine pounds a id eight oanoes. Timothy Holoomb raised a potato that weighed fbctr poands, twelve ounces ; and William Forbes produced, or rather one of his hens did. an egg that weighed four ounces. About this lime Thomj)s(>nianism, a peculiar school of medicine, made its appearance here, and tlie death of one or two patientij being attributed to this system, the so-called " sweat doctors " were visited by all sorts of anathemas from the people Robert Owen, the Sootf li vagarist, who wanted to found one of his theoretical Eiysiums near Kaveuna, n le his appearance, and collected a nnmerous following ; but when the "Auxiliary Owen Community " asked the Legislature for a charter, that practical old body "sat down " upon the project by refusing to grant it, and Owen wen* to pa.<»- tures new - New Harmony, Ind., and set out his stakes. According to the published abstract of taxables, there was bot one pleasore carriage in the ooanty. Th<^ great comet of 1825 was visible herie in NovemUsr.

In January, 1826, H. A. Brewster opened a store in a room opposite the Court House, Perry & Prentiss removed to their new brick building on the public square, and M. Oviatt took the room vacateil by Perry & Prentiss. Mar': Woodruff, in February, took charge of the tavern that Belden had been owning, and called it the "Kavenna Hotel. ' Jabez Gilbert^ Moze Jabe," put on a spick and span new stage ooach with fonr horses, on his line from Beaver to CloTelaad, via Ravenna, some time in April. Robert F. Campbell oiM^iunl the first watch, clod[ and jewelry establishment in a room next door to Veny & J'rentiss' store ; L3'man Stephenson openetl a shoe shop, and William Forbes was carr3'ing on the tanners and carriers' business. A reward of $200 was ofilNPed for the capture of two runaway slaves, Xecl Branch and Bob Booth, who ran away from Washington, 0. C. A few years later three stations of the " Uudcrground Railroad ' were located io Portage - one in Bsndolph, one in Baveuna and one hi Hiram.

The directory of Ravenna for 1841 gives the following iMuncs and occupations : Clerk of Court. Williiim Coleman, Jr.; Sheriff, Laurin Dewey ; Auditor, George B. DePejster ; Treasurer, Ueniy L. Tiiden ; Becorder, John N. Skinner ; Notaries Public, John N. Skinner, Latlier Pw and E. Spalding ; attorneys, Jonathan Sloane, Darius Lyman, E. Spalding, William Taraer, Daniel R. Tiiden, Luther Day, Joseph Lyman, Alonzo A. Skinner and Francis W. Tappan ; merchants, Prentiss & Whittlesey, H. L. Day & Co , C. P. & F. W. Seymour, S. Mason <Sc Co., commission merobanta and fbrwarderS) Baboook ft MoBride ; druggists, Isaac Swift, Ck>ddard & Hatch ; leather manufacturers, Cyrus Prentiss ami Jolin Gillis ; tin and copper workers, Cyrus Prentiss and John Wygle ; cabinet-ware, G. Lane, 0. H. Griffin, A. S. Collins ; carriage builders, J. A. Clarke & Co., William Bond, Jonathan Minard ; physiciaus, Job Clark, Lyman GollinSi Joseph DeWolf and John D. Wellraan ; stage ortice, Hiram Collins, agent ; tavern and livery stable, William W^ard ; tailor, William B. Matthews ] Ohio /6'/ar, A. H. Lewis, editor, E. S. Elkins publisher ; Wettem lU$erve Oabinei, Lyman W. Hall, editor.

On Januar}' 12, 1885, the question of constructing water- works was submitted to the people. There were 473 vot<?sfor and 217 voten against. Bonds for 875,- 000 were ordered to be issued. The vote against construction by private enterprise stood 232 for and 244 against The large body of voters did not notice

The reservoir from which the water supplv is- to be obtained is known as ''Mother Ward's Wash Tub." Theodore Clark, writing of this pond, says: "This phenomenal reservoir, situated upon a natural elevated plateau, saacer«shaped, is invisibly supplied with water; however, supposed to be by some unknown subter« ranean hydnxlynatnic power. It has the same invisible, subterranean outlet - ' - eastward - supplying thousands of acres and hundreds of ftmilies with its neverfailing underdow of soft water, in au area, eastward, of twelve miles, on this sand ridge. This is a reality, hnnm] upon a careful examination made by Charles U. Shepard, Professor of Miueialcjgy and Geology, of Yale College, and myself over thirty years ago."

The city has a well disciplined firo department, with a steamer, a hand engine and a hook and ladder company. An extensive telephone system networks the town and stretches away to all important points within forty or fifty miles. A fine Opera House, lately remodeled, affords a place of ocoaatoial amusement for playgoers, and a ' stand" for peripatetic shows. Ravenna sent 275 soldiers to the defense of the Union and seventeen fell in the service.

with the following meml)ers: Dr. laaac Swift, SetU A. Gillctt, Edward A. Atwater, William Fruer, Sam. Mason, Iiaac Brayton, F. W. Seymour, H. L. Day, l^lliam

Church History. - In the ver}' early days there were no regular religious services held in Ravenna, and the settlers had to depend upon tbe stray crumbs that fell from the table of the Lord for their spiritual sustenance. Occasionally some hardy old Methodist circuit rider, or some missionary of the Connecticut Society of Home Mtudons would come along, bat their visitB were very infire* quent, yet when they did come the occasion was one of great joy and satisfaction. The preacher wa.s well taken care of. and if it vfiis a .Sabl)at!i whon ho i)reacLiotl, the entire township would turn out to hear the word. Deiioiuituiiioa, sect and particular belief were all droppeil; immersion and sprinkling were not thought of^ and the rigid Predestinarian and the absolute Fr. i' Wilier claspt^d hands around the Altar of tbe Lord, beneath the overarching branches of some grand old oak, or at the hnmble cabin of the pionaer. Oooaaionally Rev. Shadraoh Boatwlok and old Father Shewell preached in the Court House, and afterward a minister from Beaver, Penn , would call every month or two. Rev. Caleb Pitkin, of Charlestown, Rev. Nathan B. Darrow and Rev. Mr. Seward, of Aurora, Rev. Hanford, of Uudaou, and Rev. Woodruff, of TaUmadge, all paid visits to Ravenna and ministered to the hungry souls of the settlers. About 181(i Seth Day, Dr J-i:v\c Swift and Daniel Dawley began conducting religious services, adopting the Episcopalian form. Seth Day read the service, Dr. Swift led the singing, and Mri Dawley led in the responses. Those young men had been reared in ttie Episcopal Oharoh and were taught to respect the Sabbath in their Kastern homes when they were boys. This embryo Episcopal Church, therefore, can lay claim to being the first organization for religious services In Ravenna. Matters went on thto way for several years^ but one day, in 1822, an event happened that shaped In large measure tbe fbture of the township and villa<:;e.

Firtt Congregational Church. - On a Saturday afternoon, early in May, 1822, a traveler on horseback rode into the village of Ravenna by the eastern road, and -hitching his horse in front of one of the taverns, applied for accommoilutions till the following Monday. As a stranger in those days, traveling on horseback and alone, was not an every-day oocnrrenoe, the identity and business of this person soon became known. He proved to bo Rev. Charles B. Storrs, a Congregational minister, sent out by the Connecticut Horuc Mission.irv Society to carry the <jlad tidings into the Western wilds. lie was a polished gentleman, a mau of culture «>d refinement and a zealous worker for the Lord - a knight errant In the cause of religion, in search of sijiritual adventure and to give succor to the weak. Becoming known to the leading citizens of Ravenna, the young minister was called upon by Darius Lyman and Seth Day and invited to preach the following Sumluy, which he did, the service l^eing SO highly appreciated and the hearts of the people so thorouojhly enlisted in the preacher, tlmt lie wsis solicited to remain a few days, which resulted in the formation of a church of twelve members, and a call for Mr. Storrs to become its pastor.

A call was issued June 25, 1825, by Rev. Charles B. Storrs, of the Congrega* tional Church, for the citizens to meet in the Court House on the following Sabbath to take into consideration the establishment of a Sunday school. All persons were urged to lend their aid to the cause, bring their childrsn, and be prepared to art as teachers. A si:fflcient number went to the meeting and a school was formed, but it was a new thing - these schools on the Lord's Day - and the sturdy old descendants of the Puritan fathers did not entirely fancy the idea, so it languished along for about seventeen weeks, and, Xovember 6, closed for the season. Mr. Homer C. Frazer, of Ravenna, is the only person now belonging to the Congregational sehool, who was a member of that little school of 1825.

The first regular pastor of the (.-huroli after Mr. f^torrs was Rev. Alvnn Xnsh, ordained and iostalled ib Septem()er, 1829, at which lime there was a membership of sixteen. The other pastors in order of service were Rev. Edward Atwater, Rev. Xutting, Rev. W. D. Saunders, Rev. J. P. Hart, Rev. E. B. Mason and Rev. A. M. Hills. The present church building was erected in 1837. and the present pastor is Rev. Clarendon A. Stone, who began his labors August I, 1884. The Sabbath-school was or^ised fa 1825 ; present Saperintendent, H. B. Coe.

Methodist £/>igcop<rl Church. - In the year 1824 the first regular services of the Mctlioilist Episcoi)al dennmitiation l)egan in Ravenna. Rev. Ira Eddy was cnp;a^ed to preach every four weeks, he belonging to the Deerfield Circuit This gentleman and other itinerants supplied the splritnal wants of the few Methodists hers at that time till Jdy, 1830, when Rev, John Weslej Hill who had preached in'the brick schoolhouse on Prospect Street, formed a class, which wa^^ only temporary, but \m October, of the same year, Rev. Cornelius Jones formed a permanent class of probationers, who contlnned services and class meetings nntil March 31, 1831, wImb tlio same minister organized the class into a church organization, in a little log schoolhouse about two miles north of the village. Eight persons composed this society, viz.: Dennis Sntlitf, Edwin Bostwick, Darius Ely, Hannah and Sarah Sapp, Samoel Poljamlje, Mrs. Eliza iMil jambe and 3Ir8. Susan Brown. During the following summer ryrtis I'rontiss and wife, Ashbel Bostwick and wife, Mary Carter, Lucy Bumham and Phcebe .Mason joined this class. At this time, 1831, Ravenna was included In the Ohio District, Deerfield Circuit, and Revs. Cornelias Jones and the famous John N. Maffitt were the circuit riders.

Rt'V. Ira P. Eddy was the Prcsidintr Elder of the church at this time. Early in September the congregation got the privilege of using conjointly with the Congregational Society the brick sehoolhonee>in the village, bat they bad ft all t* themselves, for the Congregational brethren thereafter held their meetings in the dining-room of 3Iaj. Shaler's tavern, on the present site of the Etna House. The Sonday-school of the church was organized at this time, also. The society continued to occup3^ the schoolhouse till their first church edifice was erected, 11 being dedicated December 15, 18!52. Rev. Wilder R. Mack oft!fintin<x

In August. 1832, the cliurch received its first appointment from the Conference. Revs. Eddy, Hill and Horton being the preachers on the circnit, and Rev. W. R, Mack, Presiding Elder. In July. ISIJr]. Ravenna was made a station, with Rev. John Mel.ean pastor. In 18:11 Rev. Aurora Callenan was sent as pastor, and in 1835 Kev. Hiram Gilmon took charge.

In August, 1836, Ravenna was raised from a station to the dignity of head center to a circuit, around nhieli revolved Franklin. Brimfield, Cuyahoga Falls and Northampton. The circuit preachers were Revs. William Stevens, W. S. Warrello, and Isaac Winans, Presiding Elder. Tn 1837 Revs. William Stevens and E. J. Kinney were on this < irt uit. and in 1838 Revs. A. G. Sturges and E, J. L. Baker were the preachers. In \ <V} Revs. E. J. Sturges and William F. Wilsoa were sent by the Conference, and ni 1840 Revs. L. D. Mix and D. M. Stearns were tbe pastors in charge, and Rev. John Chandler was Presiding Elder. In July, 1841, Ravenna was again made a station, and Rev. L. D. Mix was ap|)ointed pastor. A quarterly meeting, held in Ravenna October 31, 1841. was the initial point of a very remariiable revival, unprecedented in its results before or since. Rev. A. M. Brown, of Cleveland, was present, and during the service he and Rev. L. D. Mix became <<o warmed up l)y their feelings that they embraced each other withia the altar. The act seemed to fire the audience, and a series of meetings followed, resulting in the oonversion of a large nnmber of persons, eighty of whom Joined the obarcb, William Coolman, George Robinson, brael Foraker, John Wait ani

Tlie first building, erected in 1832, was used till 1856, when it gave place to the present ediQce, which was dedicated with impressive cereinoaies ou Friday, January 30, 1857, by Bishop Simpson. Thas fW>m so small a b^iDning as that litUe clnss of 1830, has grown a large con<rro^ation of the leading citizens nf Kaveuna, with a church editice that is a moaumeat to their Zealand liberality. Kcv. Fresh* water is the present pastor.

Church of Disci pic*. - In the year 1827 tbe religious moTementin which Alexan> der Campbell and Thomas Campht ll, his father, were the most prominent actors, found tbe Western JECesei've its most truitt'ui held of labor, through the evangelistic work of Walter Scott The whole Reserve was kindled to a blaze of religious interest never known before. Scott never visited Ravenna in person, save to preach-one discourse in the summer of KS.iO, but he had sown the seeds of his failh in the mind of one of his opponents, Ayiett Haines, a minister of the Kesiuraliouist Society, so deeply, that Raines came to ^venna, had a diseussion with Ebeneser Williams, the- acknowledged champion of a sect opposed to the Disciples, convinced that doughty foe of the correctness of Scott's teachings in a four days' can> vass, at the end of which time they both, Raines and Williams, repahced to Saady Lake and immersed each other. This was June 1828. Ebeneser Williama immediately began preaching the new doctrine. ' March 12, lb30, William Hayden converted seven persons in the ClementiS I district in the northwest part of the township, and baptised them in tbe run flowing through the Clements farm. They were Thom.as, Mary and Margaret Clements, Mrs. Jonathan Stewart, Mrs. Sophia Hurlbut, Mrs. Mary Austin and Heur}' Sturdevant. Shortly afterward Marcus Bosworth came and baptized two others, Misses Eliza Clements and Almira Austin. On the second Sunday of May, 1830, William Ilayden organized the little band, now numbering twent3'-8ix. into a society, and the infant church was placed under the care of Abijab Sturdevant, who was elected First Elder. Regular meetings were held in the old log schoolhouse on the Clements place, and from that day to the present the members of that church have not failed to meet on the Sabbath, with but half a dozen exceptions, when they have adjourned to attend the yearlj' meeting or a funeral. First Coasr^ation of Disciples in Ravenna was reorganijsed January 26, 1860, with Goanea Judd. E B Reeves. Henry J. White, WlUiam Price and D. W. Jenaings, Trustees,

The log schoolhouse was nsed for the church services for a few years, when a frame schoolhouse was erected, which they occupied fcnr s(nne time and then removed to another .sclux)lhouse, whence the)' came to Ravenna and used the brick schoolhouse of the village till they built their present structure in 1843-44, it being dedicated by Blder A. B. Greee in December of 1844. Soon after the dedication Elders 0. E. Brown and Symonds Ryder preached for the church, after whom came Charles MrDougai. John T. Smith, who were followed successively by Prof. Thomas Muuueil, Joel W. James, 0, P. Miller, C. C. Foote, A. B. Green, J. 8. Lowe, ProC Amzi Atwater, J. L. Pinkerton; then tat three months previous to the commencement of the ministrations of George Darsie, H. J. White and C

F. W. Cronemeyer officiated. Mr. Darsie took charge April U, 1871, continuing Mil 1876, when . J. SI Van Home became tiie pastor, during whose career the fhurch was rebuilt ataoost of over 89,000, and dedicated on the 18th of November, 1877, Elder Isaac Rrrett, of Cincinnati, officiating. In 1881 M. L. Streator succeeded Van Home, and labored two years, jwheu the church was without a pastor for nine months, but in July, 1883, Elder W. H. Scott beoime the pastor, under whose charge it still is. The church is in a prosperous oonditiOD, free Of debt aud has an enrolled membership of 370.

Univcrsalist Ohurch. - Auioug tlie early settlers thare were a considerable number of persons holding to the (kith of UniversaliBin, bot they had no ehuroh edifice until 11^ t2. clnring which year they built a small one in Ravenna, and on November lio it was dedicated. This church in the course of thirty years became too small to accommodate the congregutiou und measures were then tuken to remodel it. Aooordingly, by July 29, 1877, the building had been so materially repaired that it wms substantially a new church, and on that date it was rodedicated. Tlie services opened with music by the choir, followed by Scripture readiagbj Rev. 0. L. Shipman, prayer by Rer. J. 8. CHedhillf and a sermon by Rev. A. Wiilaon. In the aftamoon the pastor, Mr. Witlaon, was installed, the services consisting of music, prayer and reading of the Scriptures, in addition to the installatioa rites. A sermon was also delivered by Rev. C. L. Shipman in an eloquent and fbicible maaner. The address to the pastor was made by Rev. J. 8. Oledhill. and the address to the people by Rev. A. Canfield. The buildini: is a creditable structure, has a fair membership, and the pastor. Rev. Mr. Willsou, is one of Ravenna's best citizens, lie being connected by marriage with one of the leading families.

Oalcwood Chapel Sunday-school was reorganized November 11, 1883, and incorporated. Samuel F. Butts was Superintendent and Miss Mary Musser Secretary. George Sadler, G. S. Husted, U. C. Frazer, W. C. Lacey and W. H. Lepper were incorporators.

Chnrrlt n f (he Immaculate Conception. - This congregation was formed Xovember 9, 1854, by a number of railroad employes, who removed from Earlville to Ravenna. As Father MeGaliaii, of Akron, Summit County, had visited tliis small ooni^regation of eight families for eighteen months previous to their removal from Karlville. the same monthly visits were continued by him until the spring of 1856. Father Walsh, bis successor in Akron, visited monthly until 1857, when the increasing interests of that town and its nearer^home missions rendered it necessary to have Ravenna attended from some other available source. About this time Ravenna became am out-mission of the Cathedral at Cleveland, and was visited by Rev. Father O'Connor from September, 1857, to September, 1858. He was snooeeded Rev. Father O'Snllivan, who ministered to his charge for some three months, when he was assigned to other duties. As circumstances would permit, the congregation was visited during the year 1859 by various priests from the Cathedral, among whom were Fathers Hannan and (yOallahan. The latter gentleman seeing the necessity of a church for hia r:i{)idly increa.sing flock, set about raising subscriptions for that purpose when he was removed to Youngstown. The Catholics having sutticientiy increased in number during the past Ave years in the Missions of Hudson. Kent and Ravenna to maintain a pastor, Rev. P. H. Brown was assigned in 1860 to the pjistorate of the churcli at Hudson, with the two last-mentioned towns as out'missions. liavenna. and ixeut having in the meantime acquired sufficient growth to demand the services of a pastor mdependent of Hudson, Fatbw Brown, in 1863, was placet! in charge of these two congregations. The year previous to his permanent location at Ravenna, he resumed the work of raising funds, which had been already' begun by Father O Callahan to prosecute the ereoti<7n of a church. Up to this time mass bad been frequently celebrated aft tlw Town Hall and the houses of Peter King and Bernard Kinney.

During the administratioa of Father Brown the corner-stone was laid by Rt. Rev. A. Rippe, of Clevdand, on tbe 15th of August, 1862, on which occasion the Rev. T. P. Th(Hrpe preached an appropriate discourse, and a little later on the OOmpletlon crowned his efforts with success. The estimated cost of the structure waa about 87,ito ) To the untiring zeal of Father Brown is largely due the present flourishing condition of the congregation of the Immaculate Conception. Few can rt aliz* tlie amount of labor i>erforraed by this noble priest in his endeavors to p^romote the welfare of but charge. He knew no rest until be saw a fitting tem- pie erected in which the Holy Sacrifice could be decently and worthily celebrated. He was frequently away from home for weeks collecting along the railroacls to defray the expense in this, at timt time, ^reat undertuking. In his travels he was obliged to mingle with the poorest of the poor, and share their scanty fare and meager accommodations. But what would have been almost an imposribility to other men was to him a pleasure, so long as it aflforded an opportunity to accomplish the work of building up his mission. This life of privation and sacrifice soon told uijon his once robust and vigorous constitution. Shortly after his promotion from Ravenna to Youngstown in isT J, he was stricken witJi paralysis, and died at St. Vincent's Hospital, Cleveland. Tlie church schools (except the frame building erected by Father Bowles) and cemetery are all moDuments to the zeal and lators of Father Brown, whose name is a household woid, and whom none mention l)ut to praise.

The Rev. W. J. Gibbons hee;\m(' pastor in 1872 and continued in clmrire until August, 1874. The Rev. J. i'. (Jut roll was next installed aud directed the atfairs of the congregation till Marcli 9, 18711, when he was succeeded by Ber. J. D. Bowles. The growinii wanta of Ravenna and Kent requiring a pastor for e.ich. Father Bowles was relieved of Kent July 6, 1878, and given sole charge of Ravenna. In April, 1883 ht wm removed from Bavenna to Fmnont, Ohio. The present incumbentt Bev. John T, Oahill, succeeded Father Bowles. The pioneer families of the congrccfation. and likewise those who have generously maintained it with their means aud counsel, are Peter King, John McNamara, Edward Broderick, Michael McMahon, George Jennings, Charles Marphy, Edward Breen and Patrick Keene. A short time after the formation of the ( (HiLrregation the following families settled in Ravenna and helped to forward the work in hand, viz.: Frank McGoorty, Michael Quirk, Patrick Lee, James King, Patrick Bergin, Daniel Cary, Matthew and Thomas xMcTighe, Bernard and Thomas Kinney, Christo* yher Jennings, George Madole, (Jarrelt Ilerley ami Michael Donohue. Among the citizens of Ravenna who generously aided the congregations in their early struggles to obtain a place of worship, are the Hon. Luther Day, ex-Supreme Judge of Ohio, and Mr. Isaiah Linton, Civilj Engineer of the Cleveland k Pittabur'_'h Railroad. The congregation at present compri'*es 12.^ families, who support two iarge schools, respectively primary aud gramuutr. ably conducted by lay teachers. The present enrollment is 126 - girls, 65; boys, 60. The Sundayschool has a membership of 130 children. The cemetery is locate<l a sluirt dis tance outside the corporation on the southwest side of the village and contains five acres. When Father Gahill assumed charge of th^ congregation, he found it indebted to the amount of $1,040, but under his earnest and indefatigable labors tliis debt ha!> been canceled, an<l .steps taken toward the enlargement of the ehunth to meet the growing wants of the parish.

In the fore part of January, 1826, there was uot a school of any kind in ' RftTenna, although the popnlatloa more than Jnatlfled one or two schools, and , business was increasing ni a very rapid rate. New stores were starting up. some little manufacturing was being done, and altogether Ravenna had a -'l>oom " with a full head on, that lasted several years. The great canal was being rapidly pushed forward to completion, the mails were increased to tri-weekly arri%'als and ^ departures, a good weekly ptiet was being printed in the viUsge, yet there was no school.

schools, so May 29, 1826, a meeting was called to be held at the house of Ahnon Babcock, where the Opera House now stands, for the purpose of taking measures to build a schoolhouse in the First (ilavenna) District. A house was shortly alterwsid built, and ftom tiiat time to the present Ravenna lias always iiad schools suitable to the necessities of all its citizens. There are two more than ordinanly handsome and conveniently arranged buildings in the city of Ravenna and the carricolnm isparticolarly good under the chaise of Principal Pictdtt and his able assistants. Tmooghoat the township, at suitable distanoss, there are comfortable Bohoolhouses with good teachers and full attendance.

Unitj/ Lodge, No. 12, F. & A. M. - ^This lodge commenced work under dispensation from the Grand Lodge of the State of Ohio, May 28, 1810, and organised under charter signed by Lewis Cass, Grand Master, January* 15, 1812. The charter members were Piial McArthur, Joel Wiilter, George Darrow, Jr George Darrow. Sr., Joseph Hart, Joshua Culver, William Throop, Timothy Culver, Gideon Chittenden, Jeremiah Root and Blijah Blackman.

In 1831 or 1S32. in oonsequenoe of the intense excitement in regard to the fraternity throughout the DOTthem 'section of the country, the lodge suspended work. The late Gen. L. V. Bieroe, being at the time Secretary of the lodge, took charge of the Charter of the Three Lesser Lights, the Altar and the Jewels, and twenty years thereafter restored them to their former places within the lodge, which resumed work under dispensation on the 23d day of August, 1852. October 22 of the same yesr the lodge was again instituted under charter, to E. T. Rich> ardson, W M.; E. Spalding. S. W.; C. Lawrence, J. W.; and members A. K. King, J. G. McBride, £pbraim Clark and Heniy Beach. Upon the rolls there are 135 members.

Ravenna Lodge, No. Go, 1. 0. 0. F. - This lodge was chartered by the Grand Iiodge of the State of Ohio, April 25, 1846. The charter members were Horace y. Beebe. Edward T. Tremaine. Ransom A. Gillette, James D. Watsnn. Henry L. Tilden, James W. Clark and A. W. Bruce. The lodge was instituted May 27, 1846, by Edward Downs, D. D. G. M. The first officers were Horace Y. Beebe,

N. G.; R. A. Gillett<>, V. G.; E. T. Tremaine. Secretarv, and Henry L. Tilden, Treasurer. There is a membership of something over 200. The lodge owns the third story over a baikKng on Hatn Street, tbelr property being worth about $3,000.

Rarrunit E i< rnuipvient, X':. 129, I. 0. O. F. - This lood}' was chartered by the Grand Encampment of Ohio, at the May term, 1870, the charter members befng William H. Beebe, Horace Y. Beebe, Benjamin J. Wells, David E. Wells, William Ward, J. G. Willis and John Phillips. The encampment was instituted July 5. 1870. bv Robert B. Tnnes, Grand Patriarch of the State of Ohio. The first officers were William H. Beebe, C. P.; H. Y. Beebe, H. P.; B. J. Wells, S. W.; John Phillips, J. W.; David E. Wells, Scribe, and William Ward, Treasorer. The membership is 125

Ravrnn.i Council No. ,?7^, R. .1., wfts organized Aut?U3t 29, 1879. The first otficers were: Regent, G. Seymour; V. R., D. C. Coolmau; Past R.. W. H. Beelie; Orator, D. R. Lawsmer; Secretarv, C. H. GrifHn; Collector, W. S. Krake; Treasurer, B. F. Keller; Chaplain, A. M Hills; (luide, J. H. Oakley; Warden, D. L. Rockwell; Sentry, A. T. Smith. The present Regent is E. M. Davisj Secretary, C. H. Oriffln; CoUeelor, Q. P. Beed,and Treasurer, Quincy Cook. Membership, fifty -nine. Place of meeting. Reed's Opera House.

Ihiri'l Mrlntosh Fust, S'o. -'^7, G. A. if., was organized at Ravenna, June 14, 1883, and named in honor of the old militia General of northern Ohio. The members of this poet are Philo Bierce, A. D. Bishop^ Hiram Bentley, S. P. Barr, H. 0. Bar!)or. George N. Bissell, a L. Bartleit, G. R. BradoD, James Baxter, Geortro W. Barrett, Joel Beery.

Geortfe Sadler, Robert Smith, J. C. Sbreader, James Sutliff, J. J. Shreader, Charles Sweeney, Henry Sears, J. F. and R. W. Sapp, James Stewart, Marion Sinclair, C. A. Ptone and Willlum Stowell.

Wettern Heserve Ilorsc Breeders' Auociation was orsanized May 2, 1859, with the following : J. B. King, William Ward, J. P. Alcorn, Chris. Groen, W. P. Hazcn, J. L. Leffiogwell, J. W. Wilsoa, R. King, F. Willard aad Samuel D. Harris, Jr. The capital was $2,000 in $10 alians.

Portage County Park Assoct'afion was organizer! February 4. 1878, with Alex. Topping, M. H. Carter, Horace Y. Beebe, H. W. Kiddle, it. E. Wait, W. William- Bon ana A. J. Jennings members, for the purpose of lajnng out a park, holding fairs, etc. During the last half centofy many socneties have heen oiganixed, of which but a few have survived.

Portage Count t/ Brandi Bank was established at Rarenna December 15, 1847, as a branch of the State Banlt. The capital stock was $103,000. The principal stockholders were David J. Beardsley, Frtjedoio ; Robert C. Campbell, Ravenna ; Sylvester Beachen, Shalersviile ; Rufus Paine, Stark County; S'th A Gillette and F. W. Seymour, Ravenmi. Henry Dwight. New York City, held I'l'Z sliares. The Presidents from 1847 to 1863 were R. E. Campbell, F. W. Seymour, E. P. Brainerd and Henry Beecher. H. D. Williams, John fl. Ebbert and Ezra S. Com- Stock were its Cashiers. This banking house has been carrieil on under the name First National shioe Aagnst 19, 1863.

First National Bank of Ravenna. - This bank was organized under the United States banking law with $100,000 capital stock, August 19, 18G3. The first . Directors were Frederick W. Seymour, E. P. Brainerd, Silss Crodcer, Henry Beecher, Newell D. Clark and John L. Ranney. F. W. Seymour was the first President, and at his death in 1863 John L. Ranney was elected as his successor, and held the position tUl his death in 1866, when Newell D. Clark was elected President, which position he has held to the present time. Ezra S. Comstock was chosen the first Cashier and served until January 20. 18G8, when Charles £. Witter was placed in that position, where he has continued to the present time.

Rohinson, King tC- Co., Private Bunkers. - These gentlemen formed a private banking house May 8, 1857. George Robinson was first President ; Horace Y. Beebe, Cashier. In 1863 W. H. Beebe was appointed Casfaiier, his father resigning. This cotnpany continued to do business till 1864, when it was mwged Into the Second National Bank.

Second National Bank of Ravenna. - This institution was organised under the United SUtes banking law February 25, 1864, with a capital stock of $100,000. March 12, 1R72, its capital stock was increased 850.000. The first Directors were George Robinson, E. T. Richardson, I) C. Coolman, F. W. Coffin, Holxn t King, Eli P. King and H. L. Day. George Robinson was the first Presideiil, and he and E. T. Richardson have filled that position since the oiganization of the bank. D. C. Coohnan is Vice-President. W. H. Beebe was cliosen the first Cashier and has retained the position to the present time, 1885.

The Fiopla lihtual Ftrt Itumrance Company of Baveona was organised February 2, 1876, with E. T. Ri^rdson, President, and Andrew Jsoluon, Secretary. There were 210 holders of premium notes.

Dianvmd Glass Coinminu was organized October 28, 1867, with F. W. Coffin, George Robinson, D. C. Coolman, H. H. Stevmis and J. D. Horton members! In 1874 Messrs. Robinson, Coolman and Holcomb formed the company and in 1^79 the latter purchased Robinson's interest. Messrs. Coolman and Holcomb are the proprietors, with George T. Smith Secretary and Treasurer. Sixty men are employed in the mannfkcture of window glass, the annual prodactof which is valued at $100,000.

Ravenna Flint Glass 6Vny>any (ZtmtW) was organized August 26, 1882, for the maiiiifactare of glass, lamp chimneys, hollow and other glassware, with B. Zeigler, John Myrick, J. Bladenheiser, Henrj* Sweitzer, Henry Evans, Goo. 8. Jade, Mat. Harre, J. A. Creighton, John H. Ganse. William Grinnell, John Slaiger, Theo. CreigbtoD, Geo. Kline, William Myrick, W. S. x Gibbons and Frank Woolpert The members <»f the company subserihed $14,500 and the eitisens of Ravenna. On January 8, L^?^?> ttie Crown Flint Glaas Company ptircbased the interests and works of this company, and in 1884 erectwl the large furnace.

Croion Flint Gla»g Company was organized January 15, 1883, with H. D. Seymour, George £. Fairchild, William GriuneJl, Frank Woolpert, Thea Creighton and Janu s Bladenheiser members, for the purpose of manufacturing pressed and blown glabsware at Kavenna. The capital stock was $40,000. George £. Fairchild, Freeident ; H. D. Seymonr, Tloe4^«eldent and Oenend Manager, and F. W. Woodbridge, Secretary and Treasurer. Average number men employed, 176 : amount annufil srilos, $175,000 ; pay roll about $7,500 per month.

Ent^runse (Jiuss Company of JRavenna was organized January* 16, 1878, with Michael ICreba, 0. H. W. Rohe, QcMge Kleen, James Bladenheiser and Jaliaa S( h< nk members. They purchased the Ballinger Glass Pail Works, extended the buildings and conducted a successful business up to a few 3-ears ago. The works weie shut down in J une, 1 883. Anthony Schneider now holds the works ready for operation.

Star Agricultural Worka were established in 1874 at Ravenna. The company was organize<l October 29, 1874, with E. P. Brainerd, P. P. Dawley, Bejyamin J. Welle, Henry D. Seymour aiid H. R. W. Hall members. The capital stock was placed at $40,000. The works were founded for the purpose of manufacturing O'Neil's Universal Fodder Cutter, agricultural implements, steam engines, tools, machinery, and carrying on a repairing shop. This was the successor of the Bavenna Mowing Machine Mannftctnring uompany. The bnildlnga are now owned by the Quaker Mills.

Bavenna Mills were established a few years ago on Main Street near the ' Cleveland k Pittsburg BaUroad Depot. Quincy Cook is proprietor. This industry gives employment to five men.

£. & A Kna^ Pump Factory was established by G. W. Lowe, who sold the Imilding toMr.Knapp hi 1874. This indastry gives employment to four men. The value of machiner}' and buildings is placed at $1000.

D. L. Baldwin & Son's ]>laning-mill was established by A. C. Chapman & Son as a cheese box factory, about 1863 ; the buildings, grounds and muchiui-ry were purchased in 1879 by D. L. Baldwin, and new machinery was introduced. The capacity is 40,000 foot surface, matchinir Tt.Ofif* per day. This mill employs five men throughout the year. The value of building and machinery is about $6,000.

Work & Yeend established their steam saw mill in the fall of 1873 at ShalersvUle, moved the mill and machinery to Cliarkbtown early in 1879, and thence to Ravenna In the fall of 1883. The capacity is 10,0(»0 per day. This faBdustiy gives employ ment to six men the year round. Their lumber 3'ard was established about this time.

Grobe 8 planiug-mill and sash aud blind factory (the old Grifflu bub i'actory and planiag-mill) was purehaaed by Henry Grohe in Deoei&ber, 1884. The industry gives employment to five meo. Here A. B. Griffin oonUnaes to operate tbe bending works

Ractnna Ga« Light d' Coke ComjHiitif was organized April 19, 1873, with tbe following members : leaiah Lenton, Henry W. Riddle, Dewitt 0. Coolman, H. J>.

Seymour, William L Poe and W. Ilolcorab. The capital stock was placed at $40,000. On March 3, 1873, the Village Council ordered an election to be held to decide the question of gas works. This election gave a majority of contents, ON April 11. ISTo. the Council aathorised tiie organization of the company.

The Haley Foundry and Machine Shop was established by William Haley & Co., January 21, 1881. In January. 1884, W^illiam Haley purchased tbe internet* of J. BlaclEahaw, Solomon Haley and Andrew Marshall. Tbe leading manafactures comprise molds and tools for glaaa worka and general maohinery. < Tbe value of machinery is about $7,000. There are nine men eraploj ed.

J. F. Byers machine shop was established by .Mr. Myers in 1873 and, in 1876, in the buildings previously oocapied by Ferry & King as a carriage factory. The machinery is valued at ul>out $4,000. The business of the ehop iaiepaiilng and Jobbing. This industry gives employment to three men

Doig's foundry was established in 1876 by Robert Doig, who converted a part of tlie Ferry & King foctory'into a plow factory, and erected the brick bnilcUng, Jttst west, for a foundry. During the winter of 1884-85 it was closed down.

Etna Block Company was permanently organized February lU, 1867, with Henry Beecber, President ; William Ward, Secretary \ D. K. Wbeeler, Superintendent, and H. D. Seymour, T^feaanrer. The building committee comprised H. Beecber. D. K. Wheeler and William Ward. Pnring the same month the mason work of the proposed building waa sold to Brigbam aud Jennings and tbe joiner work to George Thomas.

On January 2.i, 1868, W. S. Streator. N. D. Clark, H. D. Seymour, W. M. Batler, D. K Wheeler, William Ward and Nelson Converse agreed that W. S. Streator, in consideration of bis conveyance of three fourths interest in bis property, known as the Gillette Honse and Stablee, he ahonid hold a one-fonrth intereat, tbe company agreeing to remodel the old Gillette House, so as to render it suitable for stores, otfices, etc., Streator j)ayinj; one-fourth of expense and tlie fttlier members three- fourths, the prolits to be divided in the same proportion. The sum paid to R. P. Gillette waa t5,000, and to him the hoose was rented in January, 1868. The first officers were re-elected, and this re-election was followed down to July 8, 1884, when William Ward, tbe Secretary, died ; William Ward, Jr., was acting Secretary for some tim« in 1884, and in September of that year was appointed Secretary, which poritkm he now holds. N. D. Clark succeeded Mr. Beecber as President. Tlie company owns the framb blocks known aa the £mpire and the

Exchange, as well as the large brick block known as the Ktiia House This was the seconil brick block urected in Ravenna, the Phoenix Block being the tirsi.

The first liveriea were established by Ira Maaon, Hiram Collins, Nathan Leonard, H. Hartell, James LefBngweU,Back A Wheeler and Simon Stowe, fkom 1840 to 1850. In 1835 Benjamin Morris opened a livery ; in 1860, S. R. Poe and Newton & Bills entered the business. From 18t5t5 to 18(19 George Alviu and Simpson Poe operated the three establishments then at Ravenna. There are a few liveries and haok-linss now in operation.

The Mertz & Riddle Carriage Factory is one of the great mannfkotllring indostries of the county. This firm gives employment to over 100 men the year round.