Stark County, Ohio - Chapter 14 (2 of 2 so headed), 1881 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter 14

THE CITy OF MASSILLON - MANUFACTURING INTERESTS - KU.SSELL & COMI'ANVS WORKS - THE MASSILLON IRON COMPANY - OTHER INDUSTRIES - COAL INTERESTS - RAILROADS OF MASSILLON - THE liANKING ISUSINES8, ETC.

IN 1 832, in the presence of the writer, a casual conversation on the subject of manufacturing pig iron sprang up between Jesse Rhodes and James Duncan, the result of whicii was the taking of immediate measures to erect a blast furnace at or near the village of Massillon. Mr. Rhodes had been in the employ of Laird, Norton & Co., proprietors of Congress furnace, and had acquired a considerable knowledge on the subject of manufacturing pig and iron castings

The Massillon Iron Company was formed, consisting of James Duncan, Joseph G. Hogau, Herman R. Harris and Jesse Rhodes. The business was not, however, confined to the making of pig iron. Castings of all kinds were made - the oldfashioned ten plate stove - specimens of which can be found in the count}-, and all other kinds of ironware, now only made at foundries, including tea kettles, sugar kettles, and, in short, everything under the general nomenclature of " castings.'' The furnace was erected and put in operation in 1833, on the west bank of Sippo Creek, south of Main street, near the present eastern limits of the city, where some marks of its having stood can yet be found. The Massilion Iron Company' stopped business in 1838, when Messrs. Hart & Brown boui;ht out the coinpanj-, tlie furnace was abandoned. Messrs. Hart & Brown purcliascd the patterns an(i otiier stock re(|uisite for a foundry and niachine-sliop, and started the first foundry in the county, in January. 183it. in a tliree-story stone building, which stood where now stands the main building of the Excelsior Works. That building was burned in 1840. :ind was the lirst lire of any magnitude in the village. When burned, it was occupied liy Hart & Brown as a machine-shop ; l'artri<lge& Co. ; as a manufactory of all sorts of machinery for woolen mills ; John H. Wheeler, carpets, and John Harlness, window sashes, blinds and doors. The brick building, lately occupied by the Kxcelsior Works, was built in 1843. Messrs. Hart & Brown went out of business in 1858. Of all the persons named in the foregoing article, Mr. Brown alone remains in this city. Mr. Hartncss resides in Cleveland, and the rest are, some of them dead, and some scattered over the Western States.

The first of the followers of St. Crispin, who was. and still is, at the head of his profession as in Massillon's early days, was Col. Benjamin Baser. He is one of Massillon's earliest citizens, having come into the count}- in 1825, and to the little village as soon as it obtained a place in history. In the earlier and better daj's of this city's history, when sc^rne attention was paid to the organizing and disciplining of the militia, .Mr. Kascr was elected Colonel of a regiment in the Third Brigade and Sixth I )i vision of Ohio Militia, and came near being called into active service in the long-time-ago unpleasantness between Ohio and her loving sister Michigan.

Col Kaser and his excellent wife, a daughter of (Hitfitii Cooper, one of Perry Township's pioneers, celebrated their golden wedding a few months since.

The first carpenter in the village, and who became a property holder immediateh" on the lots coming into market, was Hamilton Sherer. The property he purchased is now held by his heins. and is valuable.

The great and crowning glory of Massillon industries is the mammoth establishment of Russell & Co., manufacturers of the celebrated Massillon threshers, horse-powers, etc. It was started on the Istof January, 1842, consequently antedates all other manufacturing establishmentsof asimilar kind now in Stark County, At the date above given, three brothers - Charles M ., Nahum S. and Clement - carpenters by trade, formed a partnership in Massillon, under the style of ('. 31. Kiisscll <.t Co., for the manufacture of threshers and horse-powers, in connection with their business as architects and builders. Their capital stock was $1,500, with which they began work fortj- j-ears ago. The senior partner had seen and carefully examined the Pitts Buffalo Separator, which had already been constructed and in use, and on that examination Mr. Russell believed that he saw where improvements might be made, ami with characteristic energy set about trying to make it better, and so succeeded that the improved machine took the premium at the Ohio State Fair at Columbus in 1845.

Thus encouraged, the new firm pushed ahead, sparing no effort, and met with continued encouragement in their progress. They continued to improve all their machiuerv, and led all competitors in the race for popularity. When the far-reaching influence of what is now the great railwaj' system of the Western Continent reached Massillon in 1847, the firm of C. M. Russell & Co. at once gave it their influence. As the history of the Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad attests, they took stock, the elder Mr. Russell was a contractor who built large portions of the road, and with all their other business, built cars for freight and passengers. After the road was opened to Massillon. Mr. C. M. Russell was elected a director, which place he held by successive re-elections until his death in February, IStJO, which made a break in the business of the firm, which had gone on uninterruptedly for eighteen years. The death of the senior partner dissolved the lirm of C. M. Russell & Co., and the survivors immediately re-organized by the name and style of X. S. & C. Russell, which continued until January 1, 18()4, when the brothers Joseph K., Thomas H. and (Jeorge L. Russell purchased an interest and were admitted as partners, and the lirm name changed to Russell & Co.. which it still bears. One year later, W. K. Miller and Thomas H. Wilhams, Ks(js.. were admitted to membership in the firm.

chine was maaufactured by Russell & Co. up to 1871. In the spring of that year, the Peerless " was sold to C. Russell & Co., of Canton, and its production transferred to that city, Mr. Miller withdrawing to take the superintendencj' of the Canton establishment. Prior to 1865, the shops were located on Erie street, ijetween Tremont and South, north of the Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne & Cliicago Railway. I)ul the business having (lutgruwn their iirnduriiig larilitics. at this time the lirm drcidcii U> erect more t-ommodious and convenient Ijuildings just south of the railway. Accordingly, in 18(54-05, the present extensive and substantial buildings were put up and equipped with improved machinery. tools, and every convenience requisite to the rapid and economical manufacture of their increasingly popular products. In the summer of 1868, Mr. T. H. AVilliams retired from the firm. In December, 1871. Mr. Allen A. Russell, the youngest brother, and Alanson A. Rawson, since deceased, a nephew of the brothers Russell, became members. On the 1st of January, 1878, the firm was dissohed by mutual consent, Mr. Clement Russell, one of the original meml)ers. retiring, and has since had no connection with the house.

On the 17tli of May, 1878, just as tiiey were fairly under way for the season's business, fire destroyed all their iron working machinery, wagon stock and thirty-six years' accumulation of patterns, the latter having cost not less than $75,000, and throwing 250 men out of employment. The entire south wing and one-half of the Erie street front of the main Iniilding, were destroj'ed, invohing a loss, exclusive of that in patterns, of .$75,000. The whole amount of insurance realized was $53,100. Many of the valuable patterns could never be replaced, and the net loss by the disaster was estimated at $50,000. The tire liroke out soon after 1 o'clock, A. M., and had it not been for tlie almost superhuman exertions of the flre department, aided bj- citizens, the entire works would have been destroyed. Fortunately about tvvothirds of the main building was saved. At daylight the next morning seventy men v\'ere set to work on the ruins, and two of the partners started, one East and the other West, to procuri' inacliiiiery to replace that destroyed. Such [iromptitude and pluck are characteristic of the enterprise of the firm. By the kindness of C. Aultman, Esq., of Canton, and Capt. J.

H. Kauke, of Wooster, machinery which they had in charge as assignees, was promptly loaned to the firm until new machinery could be procured. Gas was put into the works and a supplementary engine attached to run the foundry; so that just one week from the time of the fire they were running the iron department double time to make up for lost time, and within thirty days were turning out their full complement of machines. The Erie street front was rebuilt during that summer, and in order to make more room in the works, the office was removed, and the present elegant and spacious two-story office building was erected the same _year, and, in the winter ( if 1 S80-81, erected a four-story new brick wareliiiusi' 250 feet in length.

In the lall of 1878, Russell & Co., under the general law of Ohio, without a change of stjle, became an incorporated body. The corporators were .J. E. McLain, N. S. Russell, J. K. Russell, T. H. Russell, G. L. Russell, A. A. Russell and J. W. McClymonds. Capital stock, $500,000. The first election resulted in the selection of Nahum S. Russell, President; J. W, McClymonds, Secretary and Treasurer ; T, H. Russell, Superintendent ; since which they have created the office of Assistant Secretary and Treasurer, to which position Mr. C. M. Russell has been elected. The works have . been repeatedly enlarged and improved until they now comprise one of the largest and most complete manufacturing establishments on the VVestern Continent. The premises have an area of about seven acres. A convenient side-track connecting with all the railroads runs alongside the shops with excellent facilities for receiving materials and shipping products. The works are splendidly equipped with every mechanical appliance calculated to expedite manufacturing operations and processes, thus reducing to the minimum the cost of production, and enabling Messrs, Russell & Co, to place upon the market their superior machines at figures which defj^ competition. The entire establishment in all its parts is governed by a perfect system and discipline. The several departments are under the watchful and vigilant care of practical members of the companj', who see to it that nothing in the way of labor or material is neglected or executed in any unworkmanlike manner, Mr, Thomas H, Russell is charged with the general superiutendency of the establishment, Mr, Joseph K. Russell has the purchas- ingof the lumber and the general management of the wood-working department. Mr. George L. Russell has charge of the metal- working department. Mr. Allen A. liusscll has supervision of the finished machines and territorial agencies, several hundred in number. His residence is in Indianapolis.

Russell & Co. have branch houses at Indianapolis, Ind., Mr. (1. W. Harbaugh, manager; Council Blufl's, Iowa, Mr. V. S. Russell, manager ; 8t. Joseph, Mo., Mr. (Jeorge O. Richardson, manager; Dallas, Tex., Mr. V. R. Rowley, manager ; Mc(Jregor, Iowa, Mr. G. W. I'rim, manager. The number of workmen employed in all ilupartraents is 425. whose monthly wages exceed The aggregate product of their, extensive establishment approximates .-? 1.500,- 000. A description of the ditt'erent kinds of work manufactured by .Messrs. Ru.ssell & Co., does not come within the scope and design of this work. It is sufficient t<3 say that they invite competition. They are the only establishment that has taken hold of the threshing machine business in the city of Massillon and reduced it almost to an exact science, their labors are rewarded b3' a market for their products all over the United States and Territories, Germany. Russia. South America, Australia and New Zealand.

While the old firm of C. M. Russell & Co. were not the first to engage in the building of threshing machines, they were first to see what the business could be brought to by care and attention. The first machines tiiat were built in Massillon were called the Pitts Separator," and were introduced liy H. I). .Jameson, from Rochester, N, Y.; he built 100 in one year, in ls:i8 or 1839, when his works were closed by Ills sudden death. Messrs. Kuapp & McLain embarked in the business about the same time, but did not continue.

The making of pig iron received little or no attention until IS.')!}' when the late M. D. Wellman conceived the idea that that branch of industry could be succ(!ssfully carried on here, and by subscriptions of money added to his own capital, which had become much impaired by unsuccessful ventures, he erected the furnace latelj' torn down to make room for the glass-works now aliout to lie erected, and which was a success as a manufactory of pig-iron, and a source of wealth to the owners. During much of the time that it had an existence, the fluctuations of business after it had passed out of Mr. Wellman's hands, ruined the iron manufacturers, and the " Massillon Furnace " passed out of existence, and as incidentally noticed above, in its place is to be glass-works. In 185.5, Messrs. Hiram B. Wellman, .James S. Kelley and others seeing the success of the Massillon Furnace, as it was called, determined to build another, and accordingly the; A'olcano Iron Company was incorporated under the general law of Ohio, and went into operation. It was a failure, and made bankrupt many of the stockholders, was sold, and is now owned by the \'olcano Furnace Company, the principal stockhoklers of which are .James Lee, Esq., and Hon. Anthony Howells, late Treasurer of the State of Ohio, under whose judicious management it promises success. As this work goes to press a new enterprise for the Tuscarawas Valley and the city of Massillon. in the shape of glass works for which Massillon afl'ords abundant facilities, is fully inaugurated with ample capital, skill and experience on the part of the proprietors.

Inside of the city limits are the Merchant Flouring IMills : Messrs. Warwick & Justus, and Isaac N. Doxsee, in the Sippo A'^alley ; Messrs. Kitchen & Sons, on Tremont street, west of the Tusear.awas River, on the line of the C, T, Y. & Wheeling Railway ; .McLain Brothers, on Exchange street, in the heart of the city ; A. A, Taylor, Esq., on North Erie street, and George Heppert, on the northwestern boundary of the Third Ward, Messrs, Kitchen. McLain Brothers and Taylor use steam exclusively, while the rest use steam and water. Just above the cilv limits is the Crystal Spring Mill, also owned and run by the McLain Brothers, making seven extensive flouring mills in and near the city ; and which, if they are not already, can be put within call of each other by telephone, and which consume more wheat annually than was ever consumed or purchased during the busiest days of the wheat city. Independent of the great coal interests of the city. Massillon supports more than fift\- establishments of various kinds, manufacturing, commercial and industrial, and in addition to those above enumerat«l, including an extensive paper mill, under the general management of C, T, Bicknell, Esq,, also foundries and machine-shops, each carrying on a healthy and paying business. Its stone quarries within and just outside the citj- limits are a great source of revenue, antl furnish emplo} ment to all who want work. A sale of the stock in trade and fixtures of a single one of these establishments, in the early part of June, in the present j'ear, for $35,000, exhiliits the importance of that branch of trade in this cit3'.

The formation of the Massillon Iron Company, which was a voluntary association of individuals, was followed by the obtaining of a charter for the Massillon Rolling Mill Company from the Ohio Legislature ; and but for the panic of 1837, would have given the place a start in manufactures that would have made it one of the most important manufacturing points in the State. The charter was extremel)' liberal. The capital stock named in the charter was $600,- 000, the compan}' having power to do anything but a banking business. It invested a large amount in real estate, city lots and farms ; and, under the pressure of the panic referred to already, sunk all the capital subscribed. The stockholders, most of whom resided in Boston, became discouraged, and the Massillon Rolling Mill Company, of which James Duncan was President, and H. Wheeler. Jr., Superintendent, is now only remembered in the description of premises where the " Massillon Rolling Mill Company's alteration and subdivision of certain lots in the city of Massillon '' forms a part.

The coal interest alone in jMassillon is represented by $840,000 of capital invested by the following-named persons and companies : Camp Creek Mine, 0. Young & Co., $80,000 ; Pigeon Run, Pigeon Run Coal Company, composed of Hon. John G. Warwick, Hon. Anthony Howells and James Lee, Esq., Massillon, and Hon. W. S. Streator, Cleveland ; capital, $80,000. Warmington Coal Company, Messrs. Robert Rhodes & James Rhodes, sons and successors of the late Hon. D. P. Rhodes, Mark A. Hanna and George Warmington, Esqs., Capt. Henry Foltz and Hon. J. G. Warwick ; capital, $80,000. The Grove Coal Company, first organized under that name and st3'le by Charles H. Clarke and Orlando Grove. This company and its extensive mines have been merged in a sjmdicate able to command all the capital required. The amount of capital at present invested is about $60,000. The Massillon City Coal Company, composed of Capt. Henr3' Foltz, the Nestor of all coal operators in the Tuscarawas and Newman's Creek Vallej'S, and James F. Pocock, Esq. This wellknown company commands all the capital it needs, and its operations are extensive, extending into Tuscarawas Count}-. The Sippo Coal Company, an incorporated company, Hon. Clement Russell President, and Milton Wilson, Esq., Secretary and Treasurer. These gentlemen are the principal stockholders : capital invested, $60,000. The Willow Bank Coal Company : This compan}- operates through a slope and shaft, and have a capital invested of $60,000. The Mountain Mine : This is a roost extensive organization, and has invt'sted $80,000. The Ground Hog, $40,000. The Ridgeway Coal Company : The nominal capital of this company is $60,- 000 ; but commands all the capital required for its extensive operations. It is under the management of J. P. Burton, Esq., one of the most energetic operators in the Tuscarawas Valley. The Oak Hill Coal Mine is under the general management of James Neall, Esq., and is owned by him. John Albright and others. Its capital invested is $40,000.'

The above mines give steady employment to at least fifteen hundred persons, operatives of ail kinds, inside and outside of the mines, and make Massillon a shipping point, in connection with the other industries of the city, from which a greater tonnage is shipped than from any other railroad center in the interior of the State.

In 1831, when Capt. James Allen was a member of the House of Representatives in the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, an act was passed incorporating the Massillon & Pittsburgh Railroad Company. The necessary reconnoissance was made by a corps of engineers, at the head of which was Lieut. 0. M. Mitchell, just then graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, and a member of the United States Topographical Corps. In those piping times of peace, Lieut. SMitchell resigned his position in the Ihiited States Arrnj', and cultivated the arts of peace, and became a resident of Cincinnati. At the breaking-out of the war of the rebellion, he tendered his services to the Government, which were accepted, and while in command of the Tenth Army Corps, with the rank of Major General, he died on the 30th of October. 1862, at Beaufort, South Carolina.

Lieut. Mitchell made his surveys, and reported it impracticable to construct a railroad from this city to Pittsburgh, and the project was abandoned. The charter of the road and the names of the corporators will be found in the Local Laws, 29 Sess. Gen. Ass. The names of James Duncan and Charles K. Skinner, always connected with every improvement, were first, and could the road have been a success, would have reaped the bcnctit of their enterprise, as would ^lassiUou.

The fact that the lino between Massillon and Pittsburgh was deemed impracticaljle for the construction of a railroad, and that tweut}--two \'ears later a railway was opened between these two points, known as the ()hio & Pennsylvania Kaihoad, is suggestive of the fact that

In 1841), the year of the great wheat crop in Ohio, it became apparent that new and more rapid outlets and greater facilities for getting Western produce to the seaboard must be had, and Massillon. always first to move in those enterprises, had a small meeting at the law otfice of Uen. Dwight Jarvis, and he and Charles K. Skinner. Es(i., were ajipointed a committee to visit I'ittsburgh, and with statistics of the business of Massillon, to go before the Board of Trade and show the extent of the resources of this great producing region. The committee went, made known their business. The Bo.ard of Trade and the Councils of Pittsburgh and Allegheny listened to them, and were surprised. Thej", the City Councils and Board of Trade, at once determined to give the subject attention, but having the Great Central Pennsylvania Railroad under consideration, western connections with Pittsburgh were permitted to rest. Massillon became impatient, called another meeting, and added to the old committee Hon. David K. Cartter. then a distinguished member of the Stark County bar, and these gentlemen went again to Pittsburgh, and through the late Hon. Andrew W. Loomis, another meeting of the Board of Trade and of the Councils of Pittsburgh and Allegheny was called, and the matter of Western railway connections with Pittsburgh was prcsenttxl b\- Mr. Loomis, in a most able speech, which he concluded by introducing Hon. D. K. Cartter, the additional nieml)er of the committee. The committee had learned before the meeting that Pittsburgh and Allegheny were not disposed to favor the enterprise, and were, if not discouraged, a little disheartened.

advantages that would accrue not only to Pittsburgh and Allegheny, but to the whole State of Pennsylvania, and especially Philadelphia. That matter," said Mr. Cartter. -was presented to you in detail a few weeks since by the gentlemen now with me, and tlie}' may reproduce it at this meeting if the3' choose. For myself, I have come to deal in practical matters, and to Serve a notice on )'ou, gentlemen composing the Board ol' Trade of the City of Pittsburgh and the Councils of Pittsburgh and Allegheny, that we out West, comprising the backbone, not only of Ohio but of the Western Continent, mean business. .V road is to be built from this city through Massillon to Chicago, and in its construction you must either fish or cut bait; now take 30ur choice. We are going home, and are going into this business at once. If 3-ou can take some immediate measures indicating that you are really- awake, we can wait, and shall be glad to bear to our people the tidings that you are with us ; but, gentlemen, you must accept the alternative I have presented."

The speech from which the above extract is taken was made thirty-four years since, and is a specimen of the impetuosity of Mr. Cartter's character at middle life, and its effect may be well imagined. The Councils and Board of Trade started up. rubbed their eyes, and asked. "Where is Massillon?' -'Who is this fellow that talks to us in thiswise?" The^- finally concluded that it would be well to give the subject attention, but they delayed until Massillon became impatient, and called a meeting to be held at Massillon in November, 1847. The meeting was largely attended from Philadelphia, extending westward to the west line of Ohio. Hon. William D. Merrick was chosen President, and active measures were taken, which resulted in the obtaining of a charter for the Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad, and which was oi)cned to this cit^' in 185;!. The Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad extended to Crestline and there connected with the Ohio & Indiana, which made the link to Fort Wayne, and the Fort Wayne & Chicago thence to Chicago completed tile great chain of railway communication from Philadelphia to Chicago, and was the first railroad through this city. In 1801), the Massillon & Cleveland Railway Companjbuilt the road from Massillon to Clinton, thirteen miles in length, which connects this city with the Cleveland & Mount Vernon Railway, and wliich aflbrds a direct connection between Massillon and Cleveland. lu 1871, the Cleveland, Tuscarawas Valley & Wheeling Railway Company was formed and built the railroad of that name, passing through Massillon to Wheeling, and as this work goes to press, the Wheeling, & Lake Erie Railway, which connects the cities of Toledo and Wheeling, making Massdlon a point on its line, is rapidly advancing to completion, and when completed places this city in a direct connection with the city of Baltimore, via Wheeling and the Baltimore & Ohio Railway, and the West and Northwest, by way of Toledo, also on a direct line. The railway connections of the city are surpassed b^- none in any section of the State by direct lines in all directions. A more detailed history however is found in a preceding chapter of this work.

In 1833, while Hon. David A. Starkweather and Hon. Jehu Brown represented Stark County in the House of Representatives, and Hon. Matthias Sheplar in the Senate, the Bank of Massillon was chartered with a capital of $200,- 000, and which was the second bank of discount and deposit in the county. The Farmers' Bank of Canton having been chartered in 1816. The new bank started out successfully, its stock was taken, much of it at home, some at Troy, in the State of New York. On the 1st of October, 1834, the bank went into operation, its banking room being on the second floor of Hogan & Harris' Block on Main street. Its first officers were James Duncan, President, and J. D. W. Calder, Cashier. Mr. Calder was from Tro}', and represented the Troj- stock. It soon became apparent that there was a want of harmony between the Cashier and President, which flnallj' culminated in a third party, the Dwights of New York and Massachusetts purchasing a controlling interest in the stock, which was done on the 9th of July, 1835, one of the Directors being actively engaged in the purchase, 150 per centum premium on the amount paid in being freely paid. The Calder party in the board resigned, and their places were filled by friends of the new rrginu-. The Cashier resigned, and Parker Handy, Esq., of Cleveland, was elected in his place. Mr. Duncan, the President, also resigned, and Augustus 'Baldwin, Esq., of Hudson, was chosen to till that \'acancy, he remained liut a short time, when the late Charles K. Skinner took his place and continued President as long as the bank had an existence. In 1838, Mr. Hunt, then clerk m a mercantile establishment in this city was chosen by Mr. IIand3' as Assistant Cashier, and kept the place until the resignation of Mr. Handy, when he was appointed Cashier, and held ttiat position until the impending destruction of tlie bank, the controlling interest having passed into the hands of Henry Dwight, Jr., tendered his resignation, and was succeeded by F. E. Piatt, of Owego, N. Y., who remained until the crash came in 1853. It may be remarked in passing that Mr. Piatt was an elder brother of IMr. Piatt, late Senator from New York in the United States Congress, and that the es-Senator was & clerk in the bank at one period during his brother's cashiership, and also a clerk in the drug store of Messrs. Joseph Watson & Co. When the bank closed, it was found that all its assets had been transferred to the city of New York, that it had in circulation $400,000, which was its full limit according to its charter, it capital stock being all paid up and it being allowed to issue two to one on its paid-up stock. As soon as it was ascertained that a crisis in the affairs of the bank had come, the President and Directors made an assignment to Charles D. Smith, Dwight Jarvis and M. D. Wellman who were afterward removed b^' the Court of Common Pleas on a motion by E. P. Grant, Esq., counsel for parties in interest, and Hon. George Harsh, Dr. Isaac Steese and Hon. P. C. Hull, now of Oneida, Carroll Count3-, substituted. The entire assignment was thenceforth managed by Mr. Harsh, the other assignees of course being consulted, and being advisory members ; and it should be placed on an enduring record that no assignment was ever conducted with more unyielding fidelity than was the assignment of the Bank of Massillon, after it had passed into the hands of Messrs. Harsh. Steese and Hull. Whatever there was of its assets was faithfully accounted for to the last cent, and the records of the Common Pleas of Stark County show an honorable discharge of the assignees after having discharged their trust. The assets of the bank, not stolen by the Dwight management, paid about 30 cents on the dollar, 70 per centum being plundered fi'om the holders of the liabilities of the bank. Meanwhile, Mr. Hunt whose sagacity had enabled him to escape the fraud for which Henrj' Dwight, Jr., with his confreres, was liable, in connection with Dr. Isaac Steese and H. B. Ilurlburt, under tlie general banking law of Oliio, organized tlie Merchants' Bank, with Dr. Steese as President, and Salmon Hunt, Cashier; their lirst office of discount and deposit was in the room on the east side of Erie street, south of Main, now occupied bj- George Yost & Son, saddlerj- and hardware, where they remained until they purchased the premises on the south end of the Welhuan Block, corner of Erie street and the allej'. There the}' closed out the Merchants' Bank, and under the National Banking law of the United States, organized the First National Bank of Massillon, with Dr. Steese as President, and S. Hunt, Cashier, with a capital of $200,000, and the following-named gentlemen as Directors; Isaac Steese, James M. Brown, Arvine C. Wales, Charles Steese, Jacob S. Bachtel and John Jacobs, with unimportant changes, tliat organization continued until August, 1874, when the death of Dr. Isaac Steese occasioned an entire change. .Mr. Hunt was elected President, and Charles Steese,wiio had been a Director in the bank from its organization, was elected Cashier, under which management it has continued except an occasional change in the Board of Directors, and is one of the institutions of the West. Its influence in money circles is not confined to Massillon. or the county or State. It bears upon its history and present existence the names of Hunt anil Steese as its present managers, which are a guarantee as to its management. The name of Isaac Steese is indissolubly connected with the history of the banking institutions of Massillon.

In November, 1847, the Union Branch of the State Bank of Ohio, at Massillon, was organi/.ed. with Dr. Steese as President, and S. Brainai'il. as Cashier. This position Dr. Steese ir>ii:ii<il ill 18")0 to engage in private banking with .Messrs. II. B. llurlbut and Alvin ^'inlon, wiiich firm was dissolved a year later for the purpose of organizing the Merchants' Bank, already mentioned. I)r. Steese was in all respects a representative man. and was so regarded, as the following extract from a notice written at his decease by one who knew iiim well, fully attests :

Willi Dr. Stccsc's removal to .Massillon. he entered >i|)on Ills widest tielil of iiscfulncss. For Iwinly-tive years he was one of the largest landed proprietors and farmers of the county. For twenty-five years lie was the manaf^er of the larfresi liankinjr institution in the countv. No man was better fitted by nature and ac(|uirenieiils for an cmij n<'nt hanker. Of the whole theory and science of I lianking he was a thorough master. Ilis j)evfe(t j rectitude and inteiri'ity were widely known, and were never (Hiestioned where known. His pcrtV'Ot aecjuainlancc with business, .-ind his sagacity wcr<' such that the institutions under his <lin'eIion"iia.ssed through all tlie monetary eonviilsions of the past quarter of a century almost wholly without lo.ss. and without once failing to make their eiistomarv dividends to their shaieholdcrs. Their sliairs wei-'e never iijion the marki-1, unless brought there by the death of their owners. Always anxious to encoiirag<' tlie eommereial and industrial enterprises of the lilaee so far as he safely could, no loiisideialioiis of imbli<- spirit or of private friendship roiild cause him to forget for a moment that as a banker he was the trusted eiislodian of other people's moiii-y.

The iiiiivirsal respect and eoiilidrnee wiiicli' be inspired, caused him largely to be sought out as the manager of tlie funds'of the p<cipli> in <Ii'eli[iiiig years - of widows, of minor eliildren, and of people of small savings, carefully hiisliaiideil and left with liini a.s in a jdaee of the last security against a time of need. In times of tiiiancial peri] and alarm, the sense of responsibility which these |)eeiiliai-ly sacred trusts entailed upon him was oppressive, sometimes almost crushing.

Always a man of marked individuality, one of the most prominent traits of his character was his strong iiltachment for books, and for sound and generous literature. It began with his earliest Jioyhood. Before he was fifteen he secured the use of a little island in Pcnn's Creek and planted it with the castor bean, with the sole purpose of founding a library with the proceeds. Friends who knew him forty years ago, are full of amiisiiig recollect ions of his insei)aialile coiii|ianionsliip with books, A few men w lio begin life with these ta-stes preserve them to the hist, but generally at the e.\|)ense of all relish for business avocations. It w'as not so with liim. His active and comprehi'nsivc mind maintained to the last its keen enjoyment of intel leelual pursuits, and the most llioinii;;li understand ing of all the details of allaiis. For twenty live years he directed his c.xtensivc fainiing operation^, the running of his banks, and a miilliplicity of [iri vale undertakings, and during all this lime lie was a devoli'd and most loving student. He ,seemed to have the power of most perfectly absorbing the whole contents of a book. What was once read was never forgotten. He delighted to share with others the resuh of his studies, and could condense into an hour's conversation, the whole pith and siib stance of a bulky volume.

Few practicing iihysici.ins kept so well read up in the advance of medical sci<'iice. The discovery of a new remedy, a new method, or an ingenious operation was hailed with the joy of an entfcusiast. There is no book in the Knglisji language treating of metaphysical tojiies that he wa-noi familiar with Not twenty men in the nation wer<' better informed in politics in the large and liest sense of the woril - in political economy, and especially in (|ueslions of finance, ta.xation. the intercliaiige of commodities, and the fluctuations of prices; his knowledge of the action of our own ant] Euroiican Govci-nincnts on tlji.-sc sulijccts was vorv full, and his reasonings wonflcrfnlly clear. Il was a subject of fr<'i|uenl re^n-el among his friends that he had not exercised his talents of this ki]id in a widi'r way. and in a |inlilic capacity.

In several de]iarlnii'nts of natural |ihiloso|iliy - in history, in the hest litrhter literature, in social and reformatory topics, he was well read, and kept abreast wilh the best minds of the age. His kindness of heart was universally known and .acknowledged. But the extent of it never was and never will be known. Hundreds of the kindest acts of his life were so (piietly and so delicately done that they never ri'ached the knowledge of any but Ihi' recipients of tliem. Of the most genial disjiosilion. few men -o enjoyeil llic society of his fellows.

Wli;ii he w:is I,, hi- funnily - what to a circle of friiniU laiiivi- tli;iii .ilicii g:itliers around one man who walked with him through half a. life time so nearly that their hearts touched his. 1 dare not, with the grief of his death fresh upon me. trust myself to write.

The home which he builded up in Ma.ssillon was known far and near not more for it.s elegance, its culture and reliueraent (haii for its open-handed ho.spitalit)-; it wa.s always the home of teachers of youth. Its welcoming doors were always open. There were few days in the year when its generous tables were not surrounded, and its rooms were not filled with neighlioring or distant friends. At this home, on the lOih day of August. 1874. attended by all that the highest medical skill or the most painfully anxious aifection could suggest, ministered to by loving hands, and surrounded by a devoted and heart-broken family, he ()uietly passed away.

From the orgauization of the Merchants' Bank until the death ol" Dr. Steese, Hon S. Hunt, now' President of the First National Bank, was associated with him ; and of Mr. Hunt, it may be said, his name is a synonym for integrity and uprightness. For forty-tliree years, with a slight intermission, he lias been a banker in this city. From Assistant Cashier to President, he has by unswerving fidelity built up and sustained a reputation for purity that cannot be assailed, and with that of Dr. Steese, will be treasured as one of Massillon's brightest jewels.

Next in order was the Union Branch of the State Bank of Ohio, which was started in 1 847 by Dr. Isaac Steese, Sebastian Brainard and others. After the death of Mr. Brainard it passed through many hands, and was finally merged in the Union National Bank of Massillon, and is one of the soundest hanking institutions in Ohio. The President and Cashier are among the soundest business men in the Tuscarawas Vallej', and its stock is held by men of wealth. The following gentlemen compose its Board of Directors : John K. McLain, Thomas McCuUough, Joseph Coleman, Frederick Loeffler, Edward Kachler, Frank U. Webb and James H. Hunt. President, John K. Mc- Lain ; Vice-President, Thomas McCullough ; Cashier, James H. Hunt. The capital stock of the bank is $100,000.

The Massillon Coal and Iron Company was formed in 1873, with a capital stock of $50,000, all paid. Its principal stockholders are John E. McLain, James Bayliss, Clement Russell, Nahum S. Russell, Peter Dielhenn. Edward Kachler, Hermann Schrieber, Joseph Coleman, Gnstavus P. Reed, William F. Ricks, Henr^- Beatt}', Silas A. Conrad, James H. Justus, Peter Sailer, Salmon Hunt and others.

The company, immediately on its organization, being incorporated under the general law of the State, built a rolling mill which, for its capacity, is regarded one of the best in the country. It is now leased to Joseph Cams, Esq., for three j'ears, who has taken a son into partnership, the firm being Joseph Cams & Son, and who are running the mill successfully.

The mill has eight puddling furnaces, two heating furnaces ; much train, eighteen-inch bar mill train, nine-inch small train. The product of the mill is 425 tons per month, and has more orders than it can possibly fill. The force employed is 120 men, and the cash value of the product of the mill is about $20,000 per mouth, or from $240.0(10 to $250,000 per annum.

Messrs. Cams & Son are at the head of tiieir profession, as managers of a rolling-mill, and by tlieir energy and sound judgment are making the Massillon Coal and Iron Company's Rolling Mill a most important item in the business of the city, and in the northern portion of the Tuscarawas Valley.

AT tlie laying out of Massillon fitl^-five years ago, "the word of the Lord was precious.' Tiie Methodists, always on the frontiers of civilization, had preaching at stated periods. .Massillon belonged to ("anton Circuit. Steubeiiville District, of the Pittsburgh Conference. Their preachers occupied the schoolroom, when there was one, for that purpose. When no school-room could he had, a private house was opened, if in the winter; if in the summer, the threshing floor of a large barn : but Methodist preaching was sure to come. In 1882, Messrs. Hogan & Harris, a firm of forwarding and commission merchants, erected the brick building on Main street, now owned by lion. George Harsh, in the third stor3' of which was a hall, known as Hogan & Harris's Hall, which was used for all public gatherings, religious or political, or for any sj)ecial meetings. The Methodists eontinui^l in this houseless manner until 1840. At that time Rev. D. R. Hawkins was on the circuit. He was a young man of great force of character, and he determined that there should be a Methodist Church edifice in the village. So he at once r)pened a correspondence with the Freemasons, who held their meetings in Hogan & Harris's block, occupying the room on the west side, the public hall being on the east side. The result of the correspondence was the Methodists and Freemasons determined to erect a two-story building, the lower story to be fitted up for a room for the church, and ihe second stor_v for a Lodge and Chapter for the Masons. The building was erected in 1840. On the 24th of June the corner-stone of Clinton Lodge, No. 47. and Hiram Chapter. No. 18, and of the First Methodist Kpiscopal Church of Massillon was laid. with pomp and circumstance. ' For seventeen years there had not been a public Masonic exhibition in the county, thi^ last one having been in Canton in 1828. Clinton L<idge was organized b}' charter from the (irand Lodge of Ohio in 188(i, and was almost the onlj- working Lodge north of the National road in the State. The building was erected and the two institutions occupied it harmoniously until 1860. when the xMasons bought out the Methodists, and the Methodists had bought the old church edifice of the Baptists in 1858, which, as is noticed elsewhere, had been abandoned by the Baptists many 3ears before. Although the Methodists purchased the building for a mere nominal sum, the extensive repairs they have put on it have made it cost as much as a new building would have cost, and is now commodious and well adapted to the wants of the church and congregation, now one of the most numerous in the city, of English Protestant t;hurches. In 1845, the annual conference made Massillon a station, and the first in the county. Rev. Dr. Osborn is now the preacher in charge.

The first organization of a Preshj-terian church and congregation in Perry Township or in tlii.s city is hidden in impenetrable obscurity, there being no one living who aided in such organization ; nor is there any record that aids in arriving at a correct conclusion. As early as 1820, a distinct and earnest movement lending to such an organization was had. Rev. James B. Morrow then settled at Canton, and after him Rev. T. M. Hopkins came to Kendal and Massillon, and preached in Daniel Myers' carpenter-shop on State street in Kendal. At that time the Cruson brothers. John and (iarrett, Austin Allen, Joseph Ileckraan and a few other families, composed the entire church, and tlu^y were the first U) get a house which should be used for religious worship, after the Quakers of Kendal. They gave liberally, and got help from those who "had a kind word for all " evangelical denominations, and erected the building now used by the veteran carpenter of the city. John Zimmerman, as a carpenter-sbop, which stood near where it now stands, on the hill between Kendal and Massillon. as the topou;raphy of the place was then described ; and it was used as a meeting house for all religious sects, the Presbyterians however claiming the exclusive right. In this building Mr. Hopkins preached first, and which was iu 1830 or 1831. In 1832, the mercantile firm of Baldwin & Noble came to IMassillon and opened a stock of goods in the frame building which stood where now stands William Vost s saddlery and harness shop and store. They were Presbyterians, earnest and determined to see a church organized in the village. Through their influence the Rev. Elijah Buck, with his young and excellent wife, came from Rochester, N. Y., or from that section of the State, and becoming discouraged at the prospect for organizing a church, did not remain a great length of time. He is remembered, however, as an earnest, sincere young man, of scholarly att;unments, and, if living, is supposed to be in Branch County, Mich., at or near Coldwatcr. In Mareii, 1833, Rev. G. W. Warner, now of Canaan Corners. Columbia Co., N. Y., then Pastor of the Presliyteriau Church in Wooster, being on ills way to Sandy ville, Tuscarawas Co., to aid the Church in this city was first organized bj- Rev.

would seem that a church was organized in Massillon at that time. It is certain that on the 30th of January of that year, there was no settled Presbyterian minister in Massillon, as the writer has a tolerably vivid recollection of a marriage that took place at that date, at which Rev. T. M. Hopkins, then settled at Canton, was the officiating minister. It was not, -' however, until the 17th of April, 1836," says Rev. Mr. Warner, " that a minister of this denomination went among this people with a view to steady and exclusive operations." At that date," adds Mr. Warner, I found a church organized, and Mr. Heckman its only Elder ; and, during the first of my ministry, Mr. P:irker Handy, Cashier of the bank of Massillon, and Darius Ford, were ordained Ruling Elders, making the session to consist of Rev. George W. Warner, Moderator ; Joseph Heckman, Clerk, and Parker Handy and Darius Ford.

minister there in the labor of a four da3's' meeting, stopped heie in response to repeated invitai(.)ns, and made tlie aciiuaintance of the Presbyterians of .Mtis^illoli, and such otiicrs :is uttelidcd iiis meeting. The senuc^n on that occasion ' was founded on the first clause of the 8th verse, 33d chapter of Ezekiel." and. as Mr. Warner says in a late letter to the writer, as plain and pointed as the prcaclieiroiild po.^^ibly make it. Tliis meeting was followed liy a pnmipl and decided reijuest for tinother sermon, and an appointment was made for May 25. "On this evening," says Mr. Warner, "almost the whole city came together to hear the word of the Loi'd." Mr. Warner adds: " The impression was favorable. Written as well as oral testimony, of the most gratifying character, rendered it certain that the labor was not in vain in the Lord."

Elijah Buck or Rev. T. M. Hopkins. Mr. Hopkins succeeded Mr. Morrow at Canton, as is now recollected, and Mr. Morrow removed to New I'liiladclphia where he died. The followiuj tribute to the memory of the late Joseph Heckman, by Rev. Mr. Warner, is so just and so well deserved that it is given a place in the.se reminiscences :

-' He for many years, even unto the day of his death, with marked consistency exemplified the principles and power of his Christian faith ; and it should be added that as a citizen and public officer, his name will always, in the history of the good and useful men of Massillon. be especially remembered."

" Indeed, from that very point in the history of j succession of ministers, stated supplies and inyour thriving village, was dated the more man- | stalled Pastors, who have maintained its poifestly growing change from the old regime of j sition as one of the institutions of the citj'. On

Mr. Warner assuming the duties of the pastorate of the little church here, he, with characteristic energy, set about getting a house in which to worship. The eligible lot, on the corner of Hill and Plum streets, was purchased.

City Of Massillon

and a building erected, which served the church until 1852. during the pastorate of Rev. D. C. Blood, and durins: which it may be said the church grew and flourished, equal to its prosperity in any former period. In tlie year above named, the old building was sold, and the present commodious one erected. The old liuilding was purchased by J. J. Ilofnuui, and took the name of Ilofman s Church, while he continued to own it. It is now occupied l)y .Mr. Hoke as a residence on North strci^t. On the resignation of Mr. Blooil. after many years of faithful service, lie was succeeded by Rev. (leorge A. Little, now of Warsaw. Kosciusko Co., Ind., on whose resignation, Rev. R. L. Williams, now of Baraboo, Wis., was installed as Pastor ; and who, in 1879, after twelve years of service, resigned, and was succeeded by Rev. N. I'. Bail}'. D. I)., who is now the Pastor, having been installed at the date above named. During that j-ear, the church was made the recipient of a most munificent gift from Hon. H. B. Hurlbut, of Cleveland, consisting of a most commodious chapel, erected immediately adjoining the church, building, furnished and ornamented with every thing useful and beautiful, including a piano. As a church, the Presbyterian is the oldest organization in the city ; and, in view of the changes of the past fort3'-five years, while it has not escaped the trials and vicissitudes incident to all organizations, its permanence and prosperity, as at present organized, arc assured. There are some things connected with the history of the Presbyterian Church in Massillon and the old building in which Hev. George W. Warner's ministry commenced as Pastor, that should not be forgotten, first and foremost of which was the organization of the Massillon Jjyceum and the great debate in the winter of 1837 on the question. 'Docs Justice demand the Immediate Abolition of Slavery?" Mr. Warner and the trustees freely opened the house, which was filled to its utmost capacity every evening of the debate, and every possible phase and idea involved in the (juestion were discussed in their length and breadth. Seed was sown that took root downward and sprang upward until the final result was. Although it took long yeai's to accomplish it. Massillon became thoroughly abolitionized from being intensely pro-slavery, and on th(! close of the debate, the President. Hon. Hnnking Wheeler, Jr.. OTie of the best debaters and par liamentarians of that day. decided that the affirmative had the advantage in the argument, but qualified his decision by saying, " Had the word -expediency ' been substituded for justice, he should have decided diflerently." The popular vote of the liyceum was hugely in the negative.

In 1832, the first temperance lectures delivered in the county were delivered in Massillon b}' Theodore D. Weld, supposed to be living now in the State of New Jersey. These lectures revolutionized public sentiment for the time being, and when Mr. Warner came four years later, he put the Presbyterian Church into active work on that subject, and which lasted until he resigned in 1840. In November, 1841, he accepted an invitation to return, and did so, remaining two years, when he tendered his resignation, and is now, at the age of eighty, Pastor of a Presbyterian Church at Canaan Four Corners, Columbia Co., N. Y.

The first preaching by any minister of the communion known in Stark County as the llnited Brethren in Christ was at the tavern of Philip Slusser, in what is now Brookfield, in Tuscarawas Township, and was l)y Bishop Newcomer, in May, 181t!. From the Bishop's journal, it appears that on the 24tli of May he lodged with Jacol) Rowland, near Canton, and on the 25th reached Philip Slusser's. To-day and Sunday," says the Bishop, '- we held a sacramental meeting here, " which is the first account that can be had of any religious services by the United Brethren in the township. Later in the year. Rev. Messrs. David Wimar, Christian Kauaga, John Wimar and I'etei Wimar held meetings in the township of Sugar Creek and at Pigeon Run, in Tusc-arawas Township, and at some period between 181(i and 1820 a society was formed. Among its members were Adam Shilling, (ieorge Krider, Christian Maxhimer and many others. Preaching was had at private houses. The Pigeon Run Chapel was built at some time during the four years from 1816 to 1820, and regular preaching has been had in the township ever since. In 1829 or 1830, there was an accession of new members from Franklin County. Penn., .\braham Bowman and his family, and Samuel Zent and his family. The circuit was extcmded. and Brookfield was taken into that circuit, and, in 1849. a church building was erected and the ditferent congreuations were merged in the Brookfield congregation, except at Pigeon Run, ttiose [ within tlie bounds of tlie cliarge remaining < there. In 1873. the congregation was trans- j ferred to Massillon, the church building in 1 Massillon was erected, and since which Massillon has been a station. The first preacher at the station was Rev. Elias Lower, now in Michi- ! gan. The first Trustees were xVbram Bowman, John Silk, John Reeves and B. F. Booth. The ! present Pastor is Rev. J. M. Poulton. Present < board of Trustees is Abraham Bowman, John 1 Waggoner. John Silk, Tho's H. Seaman and the ' Pastor. The church in Tuscarawas Township, | as well as at Massillon, is growing, and is exercis- ' ing a wholesome influence. The journal of Bishop Newcomer is intei-esting, as showing the earnest faithfulness of his labors in his Episcopal visit to the West sixty-five years ago. The Mr. Bowman referred to as a member of the church ' in 1829, was the father of Abram Bauman, ; Esq., now a resident of Tuscarawas Township, and of Hon. Samuel C Bauman, of Massillon.

Thirty-eight years have gone into the great ocean of time since Elder Jonas Hartzell or- i ganized the Disciples' Church in Massillon. The first Pastor was Elder Eli Regel. The first Board of Trustees was Charles Lond<in, John Bender and Isaac N. Doxsee. Mr. London and Mr. Doxsee yet survive, representatives of the doctrines of their church, and as such are representative men, and as higlily esteemed citizens. In the " noiseless tenor of their way '" the church and congregation meet at their meeting-house, corner of Hill and North Streets, and of them it should he said they are composed of many of the best citizens, and while they do not increase rapidly, they are always in the front rank of every reformatory movement.

The members of the Evangelical Ijutheran Church was gathered together and organized b}' Rev. P. J. Buehl, Pastor of the Evangelical Lutheran Zion's Church of Akron, the sermon for tliat purpose being preached on the 5th day of September, 1863. The regular organization took place on the 1st day of January, 1864, at which time a constitution was adopted and a church council elected by the members of the church present, and installed by Rev. P. J. Buehl. and incorporated under the General

Laws of the State of Ohio Ijy the name of The p]vangelical Lutheran St. Pauls Cluirch, in the City of Massillon. The following members were elected to constitute the first Church Council. As Deacons, Hermann Schreiber, Adam (xemmiuger, George Schueir and Peter Bause ; as Trustees, George Speigel, Balthazer Ketterer and Peter Diemer ; Treasurer, Gattfred Danner ; and Clerk, J. Frederick Lehmann. On the 22d of February, 1864, Rev. P J. Buehl, of the city of Akron, was called as the I'egular pastor, which call was accepted, as advised by high officials of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, on the 4th day of May. 1864, and on the 16th day of the same month moved his family to the city of Massillon, and since said time has remained the regular pastor of said church, now more than seventeen years. On the 12th day of May the Church resolved to purchase the premises upon which now stand the church buildings, then owned by Arvine C. Wales, and the estate of William S. Wetmore, deceased, and, after grading and much preparation, the present buildings were erected. First, a schoolhouse for a German and English Congi'egational School, which was dedicated on the 1st of January, 1865. After preaching from the 6th of September. 1863, to the 1st day of February, 1865, iu a building called Hofraan's Church, on North street, now changed into a dwelling-house, and from the last above date to October, 1870, in the lower room of the Masonic Building on Mill street. On the 13th day of June, 1869, the corner-stone of the new church edifice was laid with beeomintj ceremonies, and on the 18th Sunday after Trinity, A. D. 1870, the same was finished and dedicated to the service of the Triune God. The building is 47 feet wide, and, with the projection of the tower and altar place, is 110 feet long, with a tower 170 feet high, the whole of first-class finish and materials. Near the schoolhouse and church edifice stand two dwelling houses, one a parsonage and one a dwelling for the Congregational teacher and organist, built since the building of the church edifice. The congregation increased during the first year to a communicant membership of ninety-seven members of both sexes. It now numbers 300, exclusive of 130 children of school age, which are taught to a certain age in the Congregational day school in German and English, and the religious principles of the word of God and the

To the above should l)e ad(U'd that the rliurch ediflee and "jrounds of the Hvangelical J^utheran Church are surpassinijly beautiful. Tlie Iniildings are surrounded by an Osage orange hedge, which is Itept trimmed and in the highest state of cultivation, inside of which are shubbery. Howers an<l evergreens, among which are carriage-wa3's and graveled walks, all of which are kept so neath' that the place is an object of the admiration of all strangers visiting the city. All the ornamentation of the grounds is the work of Rev. Mr. Buehl, who, in addition to the duties of the pastorate, finds time to embellish the churchyard with flowers and shubbery, and keeps them in order beyond similar work in point of taste and elegance in the city.

On the 7th day of June, 1836, the Parish of St. Timothj-'s Church was duly organized, according to the Canons of the Protestant Episcopal Church, a charter therefor having been previousl}- obtained through the influence of Hon. David A. Starkweather, member of the Ohio Senate. The Rev. John Swan was elected the first Rector, October 10, of the same 3"ear, the corner-stone of tiie church edifice having been laid by Rev. Charles P. Mcllvaine, D. 1)., Bishop of the Diocese of Ohio. On the 13th of .May. 1843, the church was consecrated by Bishop Mcllvaine. On the loth of Jul}-, the Rev. John Swan resigned the charge of the parish. July 2(;. 1840. Rev. Anson Clark accepted a call U} the parish, and remained in charge until May 11, 1851. From October 1, 1851, until April 3, 18511, Rev. Kdward H. Cumming was Rector; from July ]. 18511, to Juh. l^tlo. Rev. Henrj' H. ^lorell was Rector: from l-'eliruary 1. 1867. to May 1. 1871, Rev! G. W. Timlow: from October 1, 1871. to October 1. 1872, Uv.v. Wilifred H. Dean ; from May 15. 1873. to March. 1877, Rev. W. M. Probasco. who died that month of small-pox.

The first Vestry were James Duncan. Herman 15 Harris. James S. Reynolds. Hunking Wheeler. Charles K. Skinner, Dwight Jarvis. Matthew Johnson and (jeorge Paine. The present Vestry arc Thomas McCullough. Senior Warden ; Hiram K. Dickey, Junior Warden ; Thomas

Through the long period of forty-five years. St. Timothy's has been one of the standard institutions of the city. The beautiful location of the church and parsonage, in (me inclosure. at the southeast corner of Tremont and l-^ast streets, attracts the attention of strangers visiting the city, and is. of itself, an enduring monument of the liberality of Hon. James Duncan, whose generosity was restricted only by his means.

In 1849, the German Protestant element having increased rapidlj-, a meeting was called of those of the German Evangelical Church. In a legal proceeding of a later date, they were sued as the German Evangelical Church of St. John, and to that style the trustees answered. At the date above named, thei'e were fort}-- eight families. .Vt the meeting ;im organization was effected, and the Rev. Dr. J. <i. Buettner. a most scholarly and elegant gi'utleman, was chosen Pastor. He remained four years. Of the original forty-eight families, but seven or eight remain. The luimbcr of families now composing the membership is two hundred and sixty-five. This church has grown in wealth and influence. The first meeting-house is the stone building on East street, south of St. Timothy's Protestant Episcopal. Tn that they met for long years, and when it got so small as no longer to be used for that [jurpose. they purchased the beautiful lot on the corner of Tremont and Mill, than which none is more eligible in the city, and on that they have erected a large and commodious building - an honor to themselves and the city. Their former meeting-house has been sold to the Union School District, and. as a .schoolhouse, is useful. It was built in 1840, and after twenty years of use as a chmx'h. was sold. In 1863 and 1864 there was a secession from the church of about fifteen families, making about sevent^'-five members, on account of a dift'erence of opinion oti the subject of parochial schools, those who withdrew l)eing in favor of establishing schools of that character. \t that time Rev. .^Ir. Weisgerber was I'astor of the old (Jerman Evangelical Church. He was a positive man in all his opinions, and especiall}- positive in his opposition to distinct schcxils, under the inanagemeut of the church. Upon the fact being settled that, under the government of tlie (Jerman Evangelical Church, parochial schools would not be established, the withdrawal took place, and the (iorinan Evangelical Lutheran (-hurch was at once organized, and is now one of the institutions of the city. Under the fostering care of Rev. 0. W. Shetlar, the old (ierman Evangelical Church is moving onward, embracing in its membership a most useful and intelligent class of the (rerman population of the city and township, and largel}' increasing in numbers. by the unparalleled immigration from the Fatherland, and the influence and well-directed labors of its worthy Pastor.

In October, 18o5, Rev. 0. N. Sage, now of Cincinnati, a Baptist minister, arrived in Massiilon, then a young gentleman from Eric, Penn., unheralded and unknown, and as he says 'not knowing the name of any one of the people of the place.' In those days, the village being on the full tide of successful competition with all the neighltoring towns, pa3ing always the highest prices for produce of all kinds, its iarae as the '- wheat city " of Ohio attracted the young Baptist Minister. It seemed to him to be the field wherein ho could labor and leave at least '- some footprints on the sands of time,"

The young minister was right in his conclusion, as the following extract from a pleasant letter received from him indicates. He ' found a quiet temperance house kept by William M. Folger, and preached the next day in Hogan i.t Harris' Hall to a good, attentive audience. Before leaving the hall, it was resolved by the people that a meeting house should be built, and the young man was informally invited to become a citizen of what was then known as the most enterprising business place in the interior of Ohio."

When it is remembered that there was not at that time a half a dozen Baptists in the township of six miles square, it will strike the reader singularly that on the second day after the arrival of Mr. Sage, which was on the first Sabbath, and on hearing his first sermon, that his congregation should resolve that a house should be Ijuilt, and he invited to become a citizen. The people of Massillon were not disappointed.

The name of Rev. Orrin N. Sage is kindly remembered by the few who remain, who listened to his preaching, and who will never forget his earnest labors to fashion and improve the social and moral condition of the then plastic society of Massillon.

The encouragement given to Mr. Sage of course set him at work. He purchased the lot on the northwest corner of North and Mill streets, which was then the extreme northern boundary of the village, and, with untiring energy, erected the church edifice now there. As soon as it was inclosed and convenient rooms iu the basement could be finished, religious worship was had there, and the first Baptist Church of Massillon was organized, with Mr. Sage as its Pastor. The church edifice, under the general management of Mr. Sage, the funds for which were furnished, mostly, says Mr. Sage, " by the business men of the place, who had no particular devotion to any religious sect ; but a a kind word for all."

Those who have lived since 183G and remember the inflation of the cu.'rency and consequent panic in the following j ear, will remember how eas}' it was to lay out cities, and in part to build them up. Massillon went into the wildest speculations. Corner lots, that have since been sold for less than a tenth part of the then prices, brought $5,000, and more was paid in '- hand money " than thej- were worth ; the result was bankruptcy and ruin, iu which the First Baptist Church of Massillon was a sufferer. The church edifice was erected on the credit of the subscriptions of those persons " who had a kind word for all," who subscribed without thinking of the pay day. In 1837 came the crisis. Gen. Jackson, President of the United States, the year bef re had issued his famous 'specie circular," and in May, 1837, a general suspension of specie payments liy the banks all over the country took place, and suspension of payments /;( anything, by inviduals, followed. The church had a heavy debt, and which was an incubus from which it never recovered, Mr. Sage remained five years, struggling to save the property and keep the congregation and church, especially, intact. It was the darling object of his early life as a minister. His health, from labor and anxiety, broke down, and he was compelled to seek another home. His successor was Rev. S. B. Page, D. D.. now of Cleveland, who found about one hundred members connected with the church, who were increased during iiis ministry to about one hundred and twenty. Mr. Page was Pastor in ISil. As services were had in .Vpril that year on the occasion of the death of President Harrison, the opening hymn, as is well remembered, commencing with the lines.

God Miovcs ill a iiiy.-iti'iious way His wonticis lo perform." How long after that year he remained is not certain. The church being liurthencd with a iieavy delit and accruing interest, struggled for many years. The business of the town changed and went into new hands, who were in no wise responsible for subscriptions to the church nor were members. As an organization the churcii could not be sustained. Superadded to all other calamities, it passed into the pastorate of a most unpcjpular minister, under whose pastorate the house was closed forever to the Baptists, and the church was scattered. Few yet remain who were members. Among those who are yet living should be named Andrew B. Cox and William Bohanon. respected citizens of the Tiiird Ward in this city. The building was sold at Slieriti's sale, under a decree or judgment of the Court of Common Pleas of Stark County, and the First Baptist Church of !Massillon exists only in history.

Although the Baptist Church oiganized hy Mr. Sage was the organization of that communion in the city, he was not the first Baptist minister who ha<l preached there. As early as ]8oU. Klder Jehu Brown, by occupation a millwright, who di<l a great amount of work for Mr. Duncan, preached on alternate Sundays at his boarding-house, corner of Oak and Krie streets. He was a man of strong mind, and did his duty faithfully as he understood it. He was elected in lS8:!-34 to the House of Hepresentatives in the General .\ssembly of the Slate, and afterward removed to Mt. Carroll, Carroll Co.. III. Rev. O. N. Sage is now, and for thirtyseven years has been, a resident of Cincinnati, beloved and respected by a largecirele of friends.

The first preaching or address by a Priest or Bishop of the Hoinaii Catholic Church in this city was bj- Bishop Purcell, and was in what was then Johnson s. now Beatty's. Block, on the corner of the canal and .Main street, in the room now occupied by the Knights of Pythias. The Bishop had been in the northern part of the diocese, Ohio being then included in the

Diocese of Cincinnati, on an Kpiscopal visit, and took Massillon cii nmti' on his return. Timothy Finnegan, an active Irish Catholic, procured the hall for the Bisliop. This visit was in 18.'!S. and before many of the since numerous (ierman Catholic population had settled in the Tuscarawas Valley, in the neighborhood of Miissillon. The old church at Canton. St. John's, being the only one in this part of Ohio, except a little elinreli in Lawrence Townshij), naturally drew around it the immigrants of that faith.

The few Catholics in .^Iassillon were not without religious services. The first celeliration of mass was by llcv. Father Hotl'man. from Canton, in a private house. He continued to visit the members of the church during the year 1836, as circumstances permitted him to do so. The next year, Father Yunker had services in a little one-story dwelling house, since raised to a two-stor}" building, near the corner of Mill and Plum streets, and also had service at the house of Patrick Harney, northwest of where now stands the station house and other buildings of the Cleveland. Tuscarawas A'alley & Wheeling Railway, which house is yet standing, and is one of the oldest frame houses in the township, having l)een built and occupied by an early settler by the name of David Anderson. Esq.. and father of Samuel M. Anderson, now of Dallon. Squire Anderson will be remembered as one of the early Presbyterians of the Tuscarawas Valley. In 1838. Father Kuhr, from Canton, had services in the third storv of (Jen. (lardiier I'ield s liuildingon the west side of the canal. This was a com paratively large and comfortable room, but it could not be had at all times, and the Catholics were driven into private houses. They next met in 18li(. in a small frami> house on Charles street, near the corner of Muskingum ; then at Widow Krtle's, on North Mill street, near the present residence of David Kerstetter. Ksq. That year services wen^ also liehi at the house of Tiinothv Finnegan. in a building yet known as the '- Finnegan House, " corner of .Mill and North streets. Timothy was a scholarly Irishman. Tradition has it that he was educated for a priest, but was cajjlured by a bright Irish girl, whom he married, and then learned the trade of a cooper, at which he excelled, as he did in defense of his religion. He finally removed to Cincinnati, where he died.

Near the close of the Pontificate of I'ope Gregory XVI, there came into the village a Presbyterian minister by the name of Delavan. and the Presbyterian pulpit being vacant, he, Mr. Delavan, was temporarily employed. He at once commenced preaching sermons and publishing articles in the newspapers against the Catholic Church, and especially against Pope Gregory XVI. The irreverent boys about town gave him the sobriquet of " Pope (iregory," which fastened itself upon him until he was better known by that name than any other. His articles were replied to vvitli great spirit and ability by Finnegan, over his initials. His familiarity with the history of the Church, and his quotations from the Fathers, accompanied by translations, surprised everybody, and the Presbyterian minister found his match. His perfect discomfiture by the Irish cooper did much to prevent his being permanently employed by the P) esby terians.

At the time Mr. Delavan left, a most amusing incident occurred. A meeting had been called by the Presbj'terians to determine whether they would employ him, F. M. Keitii, Esq., then of the law firm of Pease & Keith, being his warm friend and a member of the church. On the evening of the meeting, he went into the office and had a conference with Mr. Keith, after which Messrs. Pease, Keith and two students went to the church, the students to see what would l)ecome of " Pope Gregory,' under the championship of their preceptor. When the vote was taken upon employing Mr. Delavan permanentlj-. there was l)ut one in his favor. After the close of the meeting, he again went to the office and found one of the students in, and at once asked him if '' there was a good degree of unanimity in tlie proceedings ?" " Oh yes," replied the joung man. " It lac^ked but a single vote of entire unanimity." Mr. Delavan seemed delighted and left for his lodgings, and encountered Mr. Keith on the wa}-. who gave him the facts. Mr. Delavan left the next morning, and Timothy had the field.

In 1840, the Catholic residents within what might be denominated the Massillon Mission, or 8t. Marj-'s Mission, and who are really tiie pioneer Catholics, were Frederick Krtle, Nicholas Smith, Andrew Paul. Christian Witt, Nicholas Heiser, John Frease, Anton Vogt, John Boerner, John Yungbluth - commonly called Youngblood - lohn Ynngling, Francis Miller. John

Kutcher, George Seifert, George Ress. Thomas Kegier, George Hoke, Adam Hamersmith, Martin Bauman, Peter Runser, Magdalena Bamberger, Margaret Frease, Nicholas Bamberger and some others whose names cannot be ascertained. Few of these pioneers yet remain ; [trominent among the survivors are Christian Witt. John Boerner, Anton Vogt and Adam Hamersmith. In the summer of 1840, for a short time Father Peter McLaughlin, was at Massillon, making his home with Timothy Finnegan. Father Peter, as he was called by those whose acquaintance justified such familiarity, was one of the most genial gentlemen ever at Massillon in the service of the church. His truly Christian character will ever be regarded with affection by all who knew him. The last known of him was that he had a parish in Milwaukee.

At the date last mentioned, the Catholics of Massillon and vicinity, extending to McDonaldville, in Jackson Township, Richville, in Perry, Brookfleld. in Tuscarawas, feeling that they should have a church edifice and grounds surrounding it, purchased the premises where now stands the magnificent structure known as St. Mary's, or Neue Katholishe Mutter Gottes Kirche. in Massillon. Ohio, and which when completed will eclipse anything of the kind in j Northern Ohio. The photograph, by Haring, shows what will be the elegance of the building when it shall have received its flnisliing touches.

are nearly three biiiulred families connected will) the church, with which they have :i large ,9ehool. hy the enlarjjenient of the city limits ; the Iniildintts and cliiirchyanl are on the corner of Cherry and Mill streets, a location well adai)ted to the wauls of the large membership,

There were many others in tlie neighborhood who had not alliliuted with the craft, their being no working lodge within their reach. For forty-five years Clinton Lodge has sustained itself and is now about to erect a new and commodious hall, having used the present one since 181(1. Its present officers are : (i. \V, Hlanchard, W, M.; Frank Strobel, S. W.; I). L. St. John, J, W,: J. H. Dangler. Treas.; F. A, Brown, Sec j' ; .1. ('. Ilarwood, S. 1).; Howard (iarrigues, J, 1).; J, .M, McK»ven, Tiler. Of the original members who obtained the charter and organized the lodge, not one remains.

A Coramandcry of Knights Templar was organized under a charter issued Oct. l(i. 1842. fts original otlicers were W. J. Reese. G. I). Hine, K. Porter, John Barney. Joseph B. Heuzey. Sylvanus Buckius. Thonias Hine and

Perry Lodge, Knights of P\thias, was instituted June 3(1. 187.5, the following persons being charter members : Henry .\lterkruse, Alexander .McLaughlin. L C. Cole. Isaac I'lman, \'ictor Burnet, George W. Earle. Herrman .Maver, George Goodheart, Z. T. Baltzley, R. A. Walker, S. S. Whisler. Orlando .Martiii,

The j'ear 1836 opened upon Massillon with one of the saddest events of its early history, in the death of Gen. Gardner Field, which occurred on tlie road between Massillon and (j'anton. (!en. Field was driving to Canton in his sulky, and by some mishap fell from his seat, and was found with his skull fractured, and beyond the reach of medical aid. lie was taken to Hawk's Hotel, in Canton, where he died.

Gen. Field was largely- connected with the business and social interests of Massillon, and his loss was severely felt for a long time. As an indication of the public feeling and public sentiment on the occasion of his death, the following pioceidiugs were had, as shown by the obituary notice of Gen. G. Field, published in the Massilli:)n Guzcitf, January 9, 1836 :

We have now IJic melancholy duly to peil'urni of reeordiiiu' his (le;ifh. He expired in (Canton, (jn Fi'iday eveiiiiii^', on the 1st ilay of this month, in the tliirly liltii year of his age. aliout ten hours alter tile aeeidelil. The manner in wliieli lii' was thrown from his carriage is not known heyond the border of a conjceliire, as he was ridhig alone and none sullicienlly near to witness the conimencenient of tlie scene. The vehicle wa.s proceeding over a snioolh ])art of the road, there was no running off, yet he was found dragging between one of the shafts ami llie wheel liy which his head was so horribly mashed I hat lie iievci- after uttered a word. In the death of this man society has sustained a shock from which it will not easily recover. The conimunity at large will feel it. and will regret it the more that he has been snatched away in the flower of his years, in the spring-time of his career of usefulness. The calamity, however, must be felt with greater poignancy or grief and sorrow by his family and connectious, by having by so lamentable an occurrence their late happy homes changed into grief and mourning, and the smile of peace anil comfort giving way to the tear of family affliction. The memory of the deceased will long continue engraven on the i'eeolle<^tions of many; but uo condolence can materially lessen the sorrow of domestic woe.

The deceased was the son of Waterman Field, of New Berlin, Chenango CJounty, New York. In the spring of 1837, he came to this State, and engaged as an engineer on the Ohio Canal, in which service he remained until about three years since, wlien \\v left it to engage in business in this town. He had held tor tlic past year the oihce of Collector of Tolls on the Ohio Canal at this port, and only a few weeks previous to his death was elected Brigadier General of tli<' ,'Militia in this county.

Among the active, industrious and enterprising citizens by whom (Jen. Field was surrounded. ni>ne were itore so than himself. He ciijiiyed in an eminent degi'ee the of hi- nciL^libors :ind fcllow-eitizens, and in the chararir i j-iii - nl iirijinjit ness, energy and activity in all npnaiinn^ which he undertook, either for individual cjr public lieiu'tit, no one excelled him; and being amiable in his deliortmenl. conciliating ami just with all, ami friendly lieyond the usual acceptation of tlii' term, his death will be mourned liy all, and bis wortli, now that he has gone, will lie more fulh aiipreeiati-il and his loss more sensilily felt. Hi' has left an amialile and in tcresting widow and an infant son to dejilore his sudden and untimely end and their irreparalile lo.ss. His remains were lu'ought to this place S.iliuday Last, and were buried on the folluw ini: ila\ willi military honors, and, notwithstandiiii; I lie c\iic nicly un pleasant weather, a large concnurse nl |hu|>1c ;iI tended his funeral. A "meeting of lii> iiirml-, .mil acquaintances was held the evening pn c nlin;; hi^ burial to cxjircss their legrel on the uccasiou, and to make aiTangcmcnts fur the funeral, the proceedings of which as furnished to us, read as follows:

Benoloed, That in the melancholy and sudden death of our highly esteemed fellow-citizen. Gen. G. Field, society has sustained an irreparable loss, and his numerous acquaintances, a warm and generous friend.

Resolved, That this meeting tender to hjs widow, relatives and family connections, their deepest and most sincere sympathies, and that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to communicate these resolutions to them. (Whereupon D. .Tarvis, P. Handy and William M. Folgcr were appointed said committee).

The year 184S. while it was the year for organizing the Union Schools of .Massillon, witnessed an event of a different character, and one that will never be forgotten while any one lives who witnessed it. For the purpose of supplying the village with pure water and creating a water power of immense value lo the proprietors, the Massillon Rolling .^lill Company " purchased all the land immediately adjoining Sippo Lake, alxint three miles northeast of the village, and, by means of a dam across the outlet of the lake, created a reservoir of water covering about 1.10(1 acres, fed from the lake and some small springs, and which was as fine a body of water as is usually found. In addition to the purposes sought to be a(;complished by the rolling mill company, the State became a party to the enterprise lor the purpose of using the water for the Ohio ("anal, which is near ninety feet below the surface of the lake. The plan proved to be a success in every respect, and could the reservoir have been permitted to remain, the benefit the city would have derived can hardly be estimated.

Almost as soon as it was built and filled, and Ijhfore it was possible for any evil effects to have arisen from the accumulation of so large a bod\" of water, a hue and crv was raised against it because of alleged malaria arising therefrom, and thereby prejudicing the health of the neighborhood. Threats of its destruction were made, but as the}- could not be traced to any reliable source, and considering the effect upon the city, involving property and life, as the whole lower part of the city would be swept away, no one supposed that the neighborhood either of the city or the reservoir contained any person who would be guiltvof such an outrage.

and the opening of the Tremont House, then much the largest hotel in this section of the State .south of Cleveland, arrangements were made for a dancer in the spacious dining-hall of the hoU^l. Parlies were present from till the prominent places in the neighborhood, including Akron, Wooster, Canton and Cleveland, and the occasion was. as it was intended to be, one of' the grandest festivals that Massillon had ever witnessed. The rolling mill company, who were the owners of the hotel, had spaied neilhei pains nor money in its construction or appointments for the purposes for which it was erected, and taking its name from the 'Tremont" House, of Boston, .Mass., it was intended by the proprietors that the Tremont of Massillon should be to that city what the Tremont of Boston was to the Hub of the universe." hence its opening was signalized by extraordinary efforts on the part of all concerned.

While the dance was at its height and all present wen^ in the full tide of enjoyment, "1110 sound of revelry ' was hushed, and - whispering with while lips" took its place; the roaring and hissing of the torrent up the valley told but too truly that the reservoir was coming. The dam had been blown up with powder, and suddenly the whole body of water was put in motion, having a fall of ninety feet before it reached the level of Main street, in .Massillon. The effect of a breast-work of si.\- to eight feet of water moving down the little channel of Sippo Creek (;an hardly l)e imagined. It had been known for a long time that the 22d of February had been seh^cted for the grand opening of the hotel, and that occasioii was undoubtedly selected by the miscreants who blew up the dam as one in which not only property in the city could be destroyed, but a destruction of human life could and woidd be effected, to the greatest possible extent, and why no lives were lost is a f|uestion that cannot be answereil. The designs of the conspirators were comi)letely foik'd in that respect. The loss of property was simply immense. The solid gravel street between the south end of the stone block and the north front of the hotel, which stands on the southeast corner of Tremont and Krie, as far east as the corner of Tremont and Hast .streets, was swept away. Reaching Krie street, it swept that away also, taking with it the large and well-built threestory brick warehouse, owned by the Rolling

Mill Company, occupied by J. L. Reynolds as a wholesale grocery store. Of tliis building "not one stone was left upon anotlicr, " nor was one dollar of the stock saved. The flood swept through the street to the canal, and through both banks of the canal, and up and down the canal, with a resistless force, filling the basement of all the warehouses, crushing in ,the doors on the canal side, and floating out everj - thing that would float. Such packages as were too heavy to float were swept into the river, and went down with the current. The south end of Tremont Block, better known as the " stone block," a three-story building of cut stone, built in the very best manner, by the late Francis Worthorst, was swept out as though it had been a cot house, and to this fact may be attributed the safety of the hotel. Before reaching the hotel, the current took a northerly course, striking the end of the stone block, and while it retained sufficient force to wash awaj' the earth from the cellar walls of the hotel, it had not force enough to disturb the wall. As the water fell, the cellar wall was exposed from the lowest foundation stone to the brick work. A critical and careful examination by experts showed the walls to be uninjured. The entire lower part of the city, south and west, was completely submerged, and what the loss was has never been completely ascertained. Among the greatest losers were the heavy wholesale grocery firm of J. Watson & Co.; Fenner & McMillen, wholesale groceries and dry goods ; the Rolling Mill Company, the damage to which consisted in injury to real estate, loose property carried ofl' by the flood and damage to buildings.

Since that memorable night, thirty-three years have passed awa3', and whatever is written of it now must be transcribed from memory. At the time, dreadful as was the calamit3-, and it was worse than all the fires the citj- has ever experienced, no record can be had that gives a detailed account of the losses. Many who were great losers have passed away. Death and removals, in the absence of records, tend largely to increase the difficulties attendant upon the obtaining of correct local history.

Tn April, 1830, Capt. James Allen, of Canton, who had .served his apprenticeship to the '-art preservative of all arts" in the otiice of the Ohio Rcpum'tori/, at Canton, came to Massillon with the material for a newspaper, and rented the upper room of a building on Main street, immediately east of the store of I. Brown & Co., about where now stands the drug store of Mr. Ph. Morgenthaler. The material that he bought included all that was necessary to get out a paper such as was gotten out a half a century ago. The press on which the papcT was to be and was printed, was an old Ramage press, so old and dilapidated, that the inventor, himself, Adam Raniage, would hardly have recognized it as a copy of his invention. It, with the other material, was brought into the county in 1827, by that veteran printer, now gone to his long rest, Joseph Wilkinson White, a printer who had started more newspapers in Ohio and elsewhere in the United States west of the River Ohio than any man. living or dead, except Sam Pike. When Mr.White brougut his printing material to Stark County, he was bound to start a paper to supjiort the Administration and re-election of John Quincy Adams, then, 1828, being in its last year ; but falling in with several influential Democrats at Canton, he concluded to start a paper at Paris, in this county, then a little hamlet, in the support of Gen. Jackson. He did so, and his paper, the Ohio Democrat, lived and flourished until after the Presidential election, when it was removed to Canton, but did not flourish there. Capt. Allen was in some way connected with it, and finally became the owner of the establishment, and brought it to Ma.ssillon at the time named, and, with Dr. John Townsend, started the Massillon Ga.wttr. It was printed on a small superro^al sheet. Massillon at that time had possibly five hundred inhabitants, when the Massillon Gazette, by Allen & Townsend, appeared in April, 1830. The political tidal wave that carried Gen. Jackson triumphantly into the Presidency had scarcely subsided ; the ground-swell after the storm was still rolling, everybody was Democratic save a few who inherited the faith of the Federal fathers, and, under these circumstances, the Gazette, without any particular principles, started. Townsend soon withdrew from it. Allen, one of the most genial men ever connected with the Stark County press, and of remarkable abilitj" as a writer, and whose colloquial powers were rarely equaled, and a practical printer withal, was unable to make the Gazette a success. The Democrats of Massillon, under the lead of Alexander McCully. bought out the paper, and it went into the hands

In tlie autumn of ISHl. Alien was elected to the Iji'iiislature. and did not return to Stark ('i)unly from Columljus. Wlit-n the Legislature adjourni'd, lie went lo Cincinnati, obtained a berth on a steamboat as clerk, for a time, and finally brought up as editor of the old Cinein nati Nipiil/liiiiii. then published by Looker & Reynolds. He remained there until the establishment clianged hands and lie became proprietor, and tlie firm was Allen, Looker & Disney, familiarly called Dick Disney. Allen was a man of fine pn'sence and engaging manners, and with a thorough knowledge of English literature and Knglisli history, he was able to write an article on almost any subject witli little preparation. His fine y)/»/«(/«e gave him, while he resided in Cincinnati, the sahnquct of " The Six-foot Two," which was really his height, and admirably proportioned, by means of wliich, as a military officer, he was enabled to present an appearance which was envied by many an officer who served with him. His paper, the Rrpuhli- <-(//(, went down. Allen remained in Cincinnati until 183t;, when the Texas fever broke out. He then raised a company in Cincinnati that was armed, equipped, and provided with the munitions of war in almost every respect, and, taking passage on a steamboat to .New Orleans, thence to some Texan port, they went into the contest to extend the area of freedom," but like almost all of Allen's schemes, his Texas adventure was a failure. The ('onipany was disbanded in Texas. Allen and Sam Houston, afterward Senator from Texas in the United States Senate, could not agree, and Allen came home to Stark County, like Francis the First, of Austria, having lost everything but his honor. The citizens of Massillon, of whom the writer was one, recognizing his talents, got together the material for a newspaper, and again set him at work as the editor of the Gazette.. re\'ived, after many changes, as noticed elsewhere. Still the phantom, success, was just out of his reach, and his second attempt to conduct a new^spaper was a worse failure than the first, seven years before, and he went to Columbus to edit the ikilhj .Journal, which was simply another failure. When the memorable campaign of 18-K) came around, Allen, Sage & Beveridge started a paper at Columbus called the '- Strait/lit-nnl Harn'soiiian." a campaign paper, which, with the election of Gen. Harrison, ceased to exist. Capt. Allen and Oen. Harrison were warm personal friends, and could the President have lived, he would have remembered his earnest friend of many years, whose trenchant pen had vindicated his claims to the [)residency against Buckingham, of the Boston Courier, in the palmy days of that well-remembered paper. He did get a clerkship at Washington, but had to surrender that wdien things there became Tylerized, and he came back to Ohio.