Summit County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 14 of those read), 1881 (part 1 of 2)

Chapter with an unread heading (no. 14 of those read)

HE advantages resulting from the local history of cities and countries is no longer a matter of doubt. Whether considered solely as objects of interest or amusement, or as having the still wider utility of the places they describe, these records are worthy of high consideration. Aud although ina country like ours, this department of history can claim to chronicle no great events. nor to relate any of those local tracitions that make many of the countries of the Oil World so tamous in story and song. yet they can fultill the equal use of direeting the titcntion of those abroad to the rise. prozress aad present standing of places which may fiirly ciaiin, in the future. what has made others «reat in the past. And in any age. when every energy of the whole brotherkood of man is directed to the future. and when mere utilitariihe so has taken the place of romance. it is a matter of more than ordinary interest and value to all, to note the practical advancement. and 30 to eniculate. upon the basis of the past. the probable results of the future of those places which seem to present wlvantages, either social or pecuniary. to that large class of foreigners cual others. who are constantly seeking for homes or means of occupation among us. Nor value. The eouatry already p03sesses much pee capital seeking tor investment. vhile many. having already procured the means oft living w yell. ave seeking for homes more conzenial to their tastes than the places where they home possessing those social advantages which will render him comfortable and happy: But itis to the emigrant foreigner that local his- Leaving, as he does, a country. with whose resources. social. moral and political, he is intimately acquainted, for one of which he knows almost nothing, such works, carefully and authentically written. are to him what the guide-books of the Old World are to the wonder-seeking traveler; they present him at-once with a faithful view of the land of his adoption. and point out to him every advantage and disadvantage, every chance of profit or of pleasure, every means of gain, every hope of gratification. that is anywhere to be atforded, an authentic and impartial history ; one which may be implicitly relied on in its calculations and statistical details. and which shall present as accurate and faithtul a survey as can be obtained from any data known to the writers of the different departments. or attainable by them. With all the care that may be exercised, however, the record will no doubt be found imperfect; incidents and names be left out, and matters escape netice which many will deem unpardonable omissions. This is one of the things which detract from the pleasure of writing local annals. But it is more or less unavoid- and the lake, and is bounded on the north by Cuyahoga County, on the east by Portage. on the south by Stark, on the west by Medina. and embraces within its limits seventeen townships (including Cuyahoga Falls). It is situated on the highlands. or the ~ summit © (from which it derives the name of Sum- | mit), which separate the tributaries of the ' Ohio from the waters flowing north into Lake | Erie. and has an average elevation of about

' Geauga County, runs for forty miles in a ' southwesterly direction. then in the center of | Summit County turns sharply to the north. and pursues a nearly straight course to the lake. In Geauga and Portage. the Cuyahoga flows on the surface of a plateau composed of the carboniferous conglomerate. At the town of Cuyahoga Falls, in this county, this platean is cut through in a series of cascades which give rise to much beautiful scenery. The river here falls 220 feet in two miles, so that from the vi- - cinity of Akron to the north line of the county. it flows through a narrow valley or gorge more . than three hundred feet deep. At frequent intervals, the Cuyahoga receives tributaries. both from the east and the west, and the valleys of these streams contribute their part to give yariety to the topography of the central "portion , of the county." * the county, we shall draw our information principally from the State Geological Survey. is the official report of the State on these subjects, and may be relied on as substantially correct. Andas there were but a limited number of them printed. and they are even now becoming scarce, the extracts from them incorporated in this work will be found of interest and value to our readers. We quote further, as follows :

"The highest lands in Summit are the hills most distant from the channels of drainage, in Richfield, Norton, Green, Springfield, Tallmadge, and Hudson. In all these townships, summits rise to the height of 650 above the lake.

have differences of level which*exceed 600 feet. The altitudes in Summit County are thus officially given: Tallmadge. Long Swamp, above Lake Erie 470 feet ; Tallmadge road, east of | Center, 543 feet; Tallmadge. Coal No. 1, New- | berry's mine, 520 feet : Tallmadge, Coal No. 1, D. Upson's mine, 492 feet: Tallmadge, summit of Coal Hill. 636 feet: Akron, door-sill of ; court house. +452.65 feet: Akron, railroad depot. 428.13 feet: Akron. summit level, Ohio Canal, highwater. 3935 feet: Akron. P. & O. Canal. 370.64 feet : Cuyahoga Falls. rail- _ road depot, 428.13 feet: Monroe Fails. road before Hickok house. 460 feet : Hudson Station, 496 feet; Hudson town. 547 feet; Boston, Ohio Canal. 94.66 feet: Peninsula. Obhiv Canal. 125.66 feet; Yellow Creek. Ohio Canal, 180 feet : Old Portage. Ohio Canal. 188 feet: Green. summit of Valley Railroad. 532 feet: New Portage. street in front of tavern, 400 feet ; lake. between New Portage and Johnson's Corners. 399 feet; Wolf Creek, below Clark's mili. 390.74 feet: Wolf Creek. in Copley, one mile west of north-and-south center road, 419- 18 feet: Little Cuyahoga. Mogadore. 477 feet ; Little Cuyahoga. at (rilchrist's mill-dam. 457 feet: Little ( uyahoga, old forge at trestle. 43) feet : Richfield. "East. Center. 531.80 feet ; Riehfield. highest land (over). 675 feet: Yellow

Creek. one-fourth mile west of (thent, 371 feet. "The soil of Summit County is somewhat varied. In the northern part. even where un- | derlaid by the conglomerate in full thickness, the soil derived from the drift contains a great | deal of clay, and Northtield, Twinsburg, Hudson, etc.. are. as & consequence, dairy towns. The southern half of the county, however, has a | loam soil, and the attention of the farmers has | been directed more to grain-growing than stock- ; raising. This difference of soil was clearly in- | dicated by the original vegetable growth. In Hudson and Twinsburg the forest was com- | posed, for the most part. of beech, maple, basswood and elm. while in Stow, T.imadge, and southward, the prevailing forest growth was oak. In Franklin and Green, the soil is decidedly gravelly ; the original timber was oak, in groves and patches, and these townships form | part of the famous wheat-growing district of In the central part of the | surrounding area. This is a nearly level district of which the peculiar features are mostly obliterated by cultivation. but when in the state of nature. it had the aspect of the prairies of the West. It was almost destitute of timber. was covered with grass and scrub-oak (quercus banister'). and. in spring, was a perfect tlowergarden: for a much larger number of wild flowers were found here than in any other part of the county. The origin of these peculiar features may be traced to the nature of the substructure of the district. This area forms a triangle between the two branches of the Cuyahoga and the coal-hills of Tallmadge : the soil is sandy, anc this is underlaid by beds of gravel of unknown depth. It seems that there once existed here a deeply excavated rock basin. which was subsequently partly filled up with drift deposits and partly by water: in other words. that it was. for a time. a lake. The waters of this lake deposited the sand which now forms the soil. and. in its deeper portions, a series of lacustrine clays. which are weil shown in the cutting recently made for a road on the north side of the valley of the Little Cuyahoga. near Akron. The sections of these beds are as follows : by about sixty feet of stratitied sand and gravel to the bed of the stream. To what depth they extend is not known. Qn the opposite side of the Little Cuyahoga, on the main road leading into Akron. the banks of the old valley present a very different section from either of those to which I have referred above,

There we find a hill composed of finely washed and irregularly stratified sand. quite tree from pebbles. About ten or twelve feet of tle upper part is vellow ; the lower part, as far as exposed. white: a waved line separating the two colors. East and north of the locality where the detailed section given above was taken. heavy beds of gravel are seen to occupy the same horizon: from which we may learn that these finely laminated clays were deposited in a basin of water.of which the shore was formed by gravel hills. A porticn of the city of Akron is underlaid by thick beds of stratified sand and gravel. These are orten cross-stratified. and show abundant evidences of current action. They also contain large angular biocks of conelomet rate and many fragments of coal. some of which are of considerable size. We apparentiv have some of the materials which were cut out of the vallevs that separate the isolated outliers of the coal measures whica are found iu this part of the county. gravel and sand stretch away southward irom Akron. and form part ef a beit witch extends through Staris County. partially tiliiny the old, deeply-cat valley of the Tusearawas. and apparently marking the line of the southern extension of the valley of Cursahoga when it was a channel of drainage from the lake basin to the Ohio. This old and partially obliterated channel has been referred to in the caapter on the physical geouraphy of the State. and it will be more fully described in the chapters on surface veoiouy and those formed by the reports ov Stark and Tuscarawas Counties. IT will only refer to it. in passing. to say that the line of the Ohio Canal. of waich the summit is at Akron. was carried through this old water gap. because it still forms a comparativ ely low pass. In the western part of the State. the Miami Canal traverses a similar pass. and another. having uearly the same level with those mentioned. in Trumbull County, connects the valleys of (trand River and the Mahoning. ~The thick beds of gravel and sand which underlie the plain and stretch castward up the

Tallmadge, perhaps form part of the great gravel belt to which I have already alluded, but may be of mere local origin. It seems to me quite possible that the Cuyahoga, in former times. passed eastward of its present course, from Kent or Monroe Falls to Akron ; that the

Forge,' and that this excavated basin beneath the 'plains' was scooped out by them. We know that the position of the falls has been constantly changing; that they were once in Cuyahoga County, and have gradually receded to their present position. When they had worked back to the great bend of the Cuyahoga, they seem to have swung round the circle for some time before starting on their present line of progress. In this interval. the river appears to have flowed over a broad front of the conglomerate, and, cutting away the shales below, to have produced the rock basin which has been described. When the falls of the Cuyahoga were at the north line of the county, they must have had a perpendicular height of at least two hundred feet. for the hard layers in the Cuyahoga shale which produce the ' Big Falls' do not extend so far north. The entire mass of the Cuyahoga shale there is soft argillaceous material, which must have been cut out beneath the massive conglomerate, producing a cascade at least equal in height to that of Niara.

stream. At the north line of the county, the valley of the Cuyahoga is cut down two hundred and twenty feet below the present river bottom, as we learn by wells bored for oil. The bottom of the valley of the Tuscarawas is, at garded as a peculiar feature in the course of this stream. The courses of the tributaries of the Maumee are not unlike that of the Cuyahoga, and are probably dependent upon the same cause, namely, the depression of the lake level and the diversion of the drainage from the Mississippi system, with which it was formerly connected, into the lake basin. The drift clays which underlie the northern part of Summit County are plainly of northern origin, as they contain innumerable fragments of the Huron.

Erie and Cuyahoga shales, and no such mass of | argillaceous material could be derived from the | conglomerate and coal measures which underlie © all the country toward the south. The direc- | plainly the result of glacial action. It is inieresting to note, however, that in the drift clay at | Hudson a large number of masses of coal have | been found. some of which were several inches .

the northern townships they were removed and , the conglomerate laid bare by glacial erosion. | A considerable portion of the drift gravels in » the southern part of the county are of foreign and northern origin. As I have elsewhere remarked, these gravels and the associated lands show distinct marks of water action, and have apparently been sorted and stratified by the many facts which indicate that there was once a powerful current of water passing from the lake basin to the Ohio through this deeply excavated channel. Subsequently, this outlet was dammed up by heavy beds of drift; and the Cuyahoga, cut from its connection with the Tuscarawas, to which it had been a tributary, was forced to turn sharply to the north, formtheir transportation to icebergs. In Northampton, many huge bowlders of corniferous limestone are found, and these evidently came from the islands in Lake Erie.

nearly one hundred of these little lakes within a circle of twenty miles radius drawn around Cuyahoga Falls. Aside from the variety and beauty which these lakelets vive to the surface, they afford many objects of" scientific interest. They are usually stocked with excellent fish. and many rare and peculiar plants grow in and about them. They also contain great numbers of shells. some of which are rare. Springtield Lake. for example, is the only known Iccality of Melanta gracilis, and Congress Lake contains two species of Linnea (L. grecilis and L. stagnalis), both of which are found in tew. if any other. localities in the State. Many of these are being gradually tilled up by a growth of -egetation that ultimately forms peat. Tn all es lakes where the shores are marshy and shake under the tread. peat is accumulating. We lave evidence. too, that many lakelets have been filled up and obliterated by this process : for we find a large number of marshes in which there is now little water, but the surface is uaderlaid by peat and shell marl, sometimes to the depth of twenty or thirty feet. Every township contains more or less of these, and scme of them are guite extensive. The larger ones are usually known as whortleberry swamps or cranberry inarsies. sometimes as tiumarack swamps. from the erowth of larch which frequently covers the surtuce. Among the largest of these is that west of Hudsen. on Mud Brook. in which the peat is fifteen tect deep. Another lies east of Hudson. near the county line. Tn Stow. on Mud Brook. is a long peat sw amp. in which the peat is not less than thirty feet deep. In Coventry is one in which the peat is said to be thirty or forty feet dvep. and trom this considerable peat of excellent «natity has been manufactured by J. F. Brunot. These peat bogs have excited svime interest as possible sources of supply of fuel. and vet. w here coal is as cheap and good as in Sumunit County, it seems hardly probably: that peat can be prolitably employed asa fuel. The best of peat.

water and 20 per cent of oxygen. and has a heating power not greater than half that ef our couls. while it occupies double the space. Hence. unless it can be produceri at coal in the markets of Summit County. hardly compete with it. Peat is. however.

excellent fertilizer, and many, even of the smaller peat bogs, may be made very valuable to the agriculturist. In some localities, such deposits of peat have been cleared up and cultivated for many years, without a suspicion that there was anything of interest or value below the surface. Deposits of shell marl are frequently found underlying peat in - cat swamps and filled-up lakelets. This marl is composed of the remains of the sheils of mollusks. which. after the death of the animals that inhabited them. have accumulated at the hottom of the water. In some instances. these marls are white, and nearly pure lime ; in others they are mixed with more or less earthy and vegetable matter. Such deposits oceur in ne: arly every township in the county. but they have attracted little attention. and their valuable fertilizing properties have been very sparingly made available. The deposit of shell marl on the road between Hudson and Stow. on land of Charles Darrow. is ut least twelve feet deep and very pure. Similar marl-beds, though less extensive. are known in Hudson. Northampton and other parts of the county. Usually a >heet. of peat or muck covers the marl. and it is not likely to be discovered. unless by ditching or special search. The siimplest method of cxploring inarsiies for peat or slieil marl is with an nuger made from an old) two-inch or three-inch carpenver's auger welded to a small. square rou of tren. on which a handle is made to slide, aud fusien with a kev. With this all marshes may be probed to the depth of eight ur ten foet with the oreates! facility.

* The Erie shale is the lowest formation exposed in Summit County. and is visible only in the bottom of the valley of the Cuyahoga. where it is cut deepest. in the township of Northield. About one hundred ree of the upper portion of outcrops Which have been fully described in the report on the zeolowy of Cuyahoga County. The same fossils have been found in the Erie hale in Northfield. as those collected in the valleys of Chipp: pwa and Tinkers Creeks.

'The Lower Carbouiterous or Waverly group is fncels opened in the valley of the Cuyahoga, and we here find some of the most satisfactory sections of this formation that can be seen in the State. It has also yielded. perhaps. as large a number of fossils in Summit County as have been obtained from this group in any other localities. The Cleveland shale is the bituminous shale which forms the base of the Waverly group. and has been fully described in the reports on the counties which form the northern border of the State. The outcrops of the Cleveland shale which are visible in the valley of the Cuyahoga are continuations southward of those noticed in Cuyahoga County. As the dip of all the strata is here gently southward. and the valiey gradually deepens toward its mouth. the Cleveland shale, though on the north line of the county more than 100 feet above the bed of the stream. sinks out of sight near Peninsula. less than ten miles from the county line. The average thickness of the Cleveland shale in Summit County is about fifty feet. and it presents precisely the same litholovical characters here as farther north. No fossils have been discovered in it at the loenlities where it has been examined in this county. but more careful seareh would undoubteily result in the discovery of the seales and tecth of fishes similar to those foundlat Bedford. Asin Trumbull. Cuyahoga and Medina Counties. the outcrops of the Cleveland siale in Suminit are marked by oil und gas springs, which are piiinly prodaced by the decompositien or spontaneous distillation of te larze timounts ov carbonaceous matter it contains. The oil and gas springs which have been noticed on the sides of the Cuvahexa Vailey at aut below Peninsula. are distinethy counected with the Cleveiand shais. and have. as a conseuence. nisied those who lave been intiuenced oy them to bore for oil in the bottom of the valley.

~The Bedford shale. a member ef the Waverly gronp. is not well exposed in the valley of the Cayahoga, though visible ata numberof lovalides. It outcrops usually from slopes covered with debris. Where the limits ofthe fonmation are concealed, judging from the glimpses obtained of it. the Bedford shale is apparently about seventy feet thick in the valley of the Cuyahoga. and consists main. of soft. blue. argillaceous strata. similar to those in the gorge of Tinker's Creek. at Bedtord. In some localities it is more or less red. and has been here. as elsewhere. used a~ a mineral paint. In the valiey of Brandywine Creek. below the falls. the Bedford shale is fossiliferous, and contsins the same species found at Bedford.

Among these, Syringothyris typa is the most conspicuous and abundant. and slabs may be obtained here which are thickly set with this fine fossil. forming beautiful specimens for the cabinet.

"The Berea sandstone is well exposed in the valley of the Cuyahoga in the northern part of the county, and torms two lines of outcrop - one on each side of the river - running from Peninsula to Independence on the west. and to Bedford and Newburg on the East. At Peninsula, the Berea grit lias been extensively quarried for many years. The base of the formation is here from thirty to sixty feet above the canal. so that the «quarries are worked with facility. aud their product shipped with comparatively. little expense. The entire thickness of the formation in the vyaliey, of the Cuyahoga is about sixty feet. The stone it furnishes varies considerably in character in the different localities where it is expose l. At the quarries of Mr. Woods. at Peninsula. it is lighter in color than at Independence. resembling the Berea stone in this respect. as also in hardness. Some layers are nearly white. and a large amount of excellent building stone bas been shipped trom this locality and used for the construction of various public buildings at Cieveland. Detroit. Buitalo. Oswego, ete. This stone is more firm and durable. but is tarder and jess homogeneous than that from the Amherst quarries: it is. however, so highly esteemed. that a ready market has been found tor wil that has been taken from the quarries. During 1871. the stone shipped from Peninsula was equal to 2.800 cur loads of ten tons each. Between Peninsula anc the county line. the outcrops of the Berea grit have been but imperfeetly explored. They are much obseured by the debris of the higher portion of the cliffs, and the examinations necessary to determine the value of the stone would require the expenditure of considerable time and money. There is every probability, however. that good (quarries could be opened at a great number of localities, and I think that I am quite safe in predicting that in future years this portion of the valley of the Cuyahoga will be the theater of a very active industry growing out of the quarrying of Berea grit for the Cleveland market. Should the railroad. now proposed. be constructed through the valley, this. with the canal, will supply such facilities for transporta- tion, that, if the quality of the stone should be found suitable, this district will contribute as largely as any other to the market of the great lakes. From the differences which are everywhere exhibited in the quality of the stone in neighboring outcrops of the Berea grit, the banks of the Cuyahoga should be carefully examined. in order to discover such tine of the county. A short distance above Peninsula. the Berea grit sinks beneath the river. and the whole thickness of the Cuvahoga shale is revealed in the interval between that reekk and the Conglomerate which caps the ius. In this part of the valley. the Cuyahoga shale exhibits little variety in composition, and consists of a mass of sott argillaceous raaterial, inter-stratitied with thin and local sheets of fine grained sandstone, rarely thick enough to serve as flagving. these sheets are marked with mud rurrows. and. occasionally. with the impressions 'ueoids. At the > Big Falls' of the Cuyahoga. eighty feet below the conglomerate. a number ot lavers of fine-grained sandstone, from six to twelve inches in thickness, and ocvcupying a vertical space of about twenty feet. locally replace the softer material of the Cuyahoga shale. and produce the beautiful waterfall at this locality. These harder strata may be traced for 2 mile or more down the river. but are aot distinguishable in the sections of the

Cuyahoga shale in the northern part of the county. The sandstone of the Big Falls is a compact, homogeneous rock, almost identical in character and utility with the ' blue stone' of the East Cleveland quarries, although lying at a considerably higher level; the East Cleveland stone being a local modification of the lower portion of the Bedford shale. The upper part of the Cuyahoga shale near the Big Falls, has furnished a great number of fine specimens of 'cone-in-cone, and they are referred to by Dr. Hildreth, in his notes on Cuyahoga Valley, published in SiJiman's Journal in 1836. This singular structure has given rise to much speculation: it was, at one time, supposed to be organic ; subsequently. the result of crystallization, and it is now considered by Prof. O. C. Marsh as of purely mechanical origin. The 'cone-in-cone' consist. as is well known, of a series of hollow cones. like extinguishers, placed one within another, and it sometimes makes up the entire mass of a stratum. several inches in It is by no means confined to this horizon, but is found in the older paleozoic rocks. in the coal measures, and is. perhaps. more abundant than anywhere else. in the cretaceous formation in the far West. This structure is apparently confined to rocks of a peculiar chemical composition, viz.: to earthy limestones. or argillaceous shales impregnated with lime. The coneretions. which include the great fishes of the Huron shale. not untrequently exhibit the -conein-cone ' structure. and. in some instances. where the calcareous material forms simply a crust on it. From the locality under consideration, in the valley of the Cuyahoga. I have obtained specimens of * cone-in-cone' enveloping nodules of iron ore. and radiating in all directions from such nuclei. Specimens of this character. and the bones of Déniehthys, coated in all their irregularities. with ~*cone-in-cone. seemed to me incompatible with the theory that this structure is the product of mechanical forces, and appear rather to confirm the conclusion that it is an imperfect crystallization. Throughout most of its mass. and in most places. the Cuyahoga shale is very barren of fossils. This, howeyer, is fully compensated for by the extreme richness of some layers and some localities. This is the rocix which was excavated in the formation of tue canal in the valley of the =+ - -

Cuyahoga. below the fulls. and through which State. This has been quite extensively used an effort was made to conduct the water of the in Cleveland. Unfortunately. the quantity of : river to the proposed town of Summit. In this | this variety of building stone is not large. Its i f

| | | excavation, the formation was fully opened for peculiarcolor is probably due to the fact that the | several miles. and yet, with the most careful iron of which it contains a large quantity. is In | search, at various times during the progress of _ the condition of anhydrous sesquioxide, and has | the work, I was only able to obtain a mere associated with ita small percentage of mangahandful of fossils. At the base of the forma- nese. Splendid sections of the conglomerate are tion. however, immediately over the Berea grit, seen in the gorge of the Cuyahoga. below Cuya- | | the Cuyahoga shale is sometimes crowded with hoga Falls. Here, nearly the entire thickness of | millions of Lingala melia and Diserne New- the formation is exposed. and vertical and over- | berryi. The same species also occur at the hanging walls of 100 feet in height give great | ' Big Falls" of the Cuyahoga. and the valley of variety and beauty to the scenery. In descend. | the Little Cuyahoga. near Akron. In the up- ing the valley of the Cuyahoga. the walls of con- | per part of the Cuyahoga shale. in various glomerate recede froin the river. of which the parts of Medina County, and at Richfield. in immediate banks are formed by the underiying Summit County. immense numbers of fossils shales. By the washing out of these, the are found. and those which form a long list of blocks of conglomerate have been undermined species. The Richfield locality is already quite and thrown down. and thus the valley has been famous. as extensive collections were made widened until in Boston and Northiield the con- - | there before the commencement of the present glomerate clits are several miles apart. They | survey by Messrs. Meek & Worthen and Dr. - still preserve their typical character. however, ; Kellogg. (Quite a large number of ecrinoids and chis is well exemplified by the -ledges" in were (liscovered here by the latter gentleman. Boston. which - like those of Nelson. in Porwhich proved new to science. and were described tage County, on the other side of the conglom | by Prof. James Hall. erate plateau - are favorite places of resort to |! "«The carboniferous conglomerate underlies the lovers of the picturesque. The fossils of all the higher portions of the county. and forms the conglomerate are exclusively plants. These the surtace rock over all the middle and north- are generally broken and tloating fragments, ern portions. except where cut through by the but are exceedingly numerous. their casts often Cuyahoga and its tributaries. Though gener- maiing up a large part of the rock. In certain ally covered and concealed by beds of drift. localities we find evidence that they have been the conglomerate is exposed and quarried in gathered by the waves into some receptacle, all of the townships north of Akron. It is. and heaped up in a confused mass. like drifthowever. best seen in the valley of the Cuya- wood on a shore at the present day. Since hoga, where it forms cliffs sometimes 1U feet the conglomerate is composed of coarse matein perpendicular height. The rock is about rials which could be only transported by water 100 feet in thickness. generally a coarse-grained, in rapid motion, it is evident all delicate plants | light drab sandstone. but in some localities.and would be destroyed from the trituration they | especially near the base of the formation. be- would suffer in the circumstances of its depocoming & mass of quartz-pebbles. with just sition; hence, we only find here the remains of ' enough cement to hold them together. There | woody plants, and of these usually only frag- ' are also some local bands of the conglomerate ments. The most common plants are trunks | which are red or brown in color. and furnish a and branches of Lepidodendron, Sigillaria and building-stone of great beauty. At Cuyahoga Calamites, also the nuts which have been de- Falls. such a band has been quarried for many \ scribed under the name of Trigonocarpor. Of years, and has | n used for the construction | all these, the calamites are the most common, | of the best buildings in the town. This stone and they are sometimes entire, showing not | is brown. contains much iron, and is very strong only the upper extremity but also the roots. and durable. At Akron. a similar local strat- | More frequently, however, they are broken, , um in the conglomerate at Wolf's quarry, has and it is not at all uncommon to find the nuts | a deep. reddish-purple color. and forms, per- | to which I have referred, in the interior of a 4 | haps, the most beautiful building-stone in the , calamite, indicating that when floating about stem. (Generally, the plants of the conglomerate are represented simply by casts; their carbonaceous matter having been entirely removed. Occasionally, however. a sheet of coal is found, surrounding the cast of eacli. and in way, the amount of coal enveloping the casts corresponding to the quantity of woody matter in the plant. Still more rarely. when many plants have xsccumulated. their carbon has made an irregular coal seam, but never excceeding a few inches in thickness. and a few rods or feet in extent. These coal seams, however. differ in many respects from coals of the overlying coal measure. as they have no underclays. are very limited in extent. and evidently represent heterozeneous collections of drifted, woody matter. The pebbles of the more pebbly portions of the conglomerate are sometiines us large as ones tist. but more generally range trom the size of a hickory nut to that of an eze, They are most always composed of quartz. but in every locality where they are abundant. more or less of them may be found which are composed of quartzite or silicious slate. which shows lines of ~tratifeation, Sometimes these quartz pebbles. when in contact with the tmpressions of plants. are distinctly marked by such impressions. This circumstance has given rise to the theory that they are coneretionary in character: «1. that they have Deen formed where found. and are not fragments of transported quartz rock. There can be no yuestion.

quartz veins. which have been browrht hundreds of miles from sume area where metamorphie crystalline rocks have suffered erosion. In process of transportetion. the attrition to which these mrugments were subjected. comuminuted all but the most resistant. viz.: the quartz. The banded. silicious slates which are represented in the pebbles 'that accompany those of pure «uartz. as well as the internal structure of the «quartz-pebbles themselves. attord conclusive evidence that their origin is such as [ have deseribed. et.

* All the southern part of Summit County is underlaid by the productive coal measures. and workable seams of coal are known to exist in Tallmadge, Springtield, Coventry, Norton, Copley. Franklin and (rreen Townships. The line of the margin of the coal basin passes from

Portage County into Summit in the northeastern portion of Tallmadge. It then runs westerly nearly to Cuyahoga Falls, and then sweeps round to inclose what is known as Coal Hill; the continuity of the coal measures being severed by -Long Swamp' and the valley of Camp Brook. On the east side of this stream, the outcrop of the coal rocks passes southward to the valley of the Little Cuyahoga; turning up this to the line of Portage County; thence sweeping back on the south side of the valley across the township of Springtield to the vicinity of Middlebury. It thence runs southwesterly to New Portage, where it crosses the Tuscarawas and = strikes northwesterly through Norton and the corner of Copley to the Medina line. There is also a narrow patch of coalmeasure rocks forming an isolated hill (Sherbondy Hill) southwest of Akron. on the west side of Summit Lake. Along the line I have traced, we find the outcrops of only the lowest coul seam - Coal No. 1 (the Briar Hill coal) - and this not with any great constancy, inasmuch as the coal occupies limited basins. and their margins are exceedingly sinuous and irregular. A large part of the territory which holds the place of the coal. fails to hold the coal itself from one or the other of two causes, which frequently disappoint the miner in this region, as well as in the valley of the Mahonine. These causes are: First. that the lowest senm was formed froin peat-like carbonaceous inatter which accumulated on the iregular bottom of the old coal marsh. and the margin of this marsh ran into innumerable bights and channels. which were separated by ridges and hummocks where the coal was never deposited ; sccond, in many lovalities where the coal was once found. it was subsequently removed by erosion. The heavy bed of sandstone which lies a little above Coal No. 1, was deposited by currents or water moving rapidly and with such force as to cut away the coal in many channels, and leave in its place beds of sand. which, subsequently bardened. have become sandstone. These are frequently encountered by the miner, and are «designated by him, as /orsebacks. Hence this excellent stratum of coal has been 'liscovered to be wanting over much of the area where it was supposed to exist, and has therefore been of less value to Summit County than was anticipated in the earlier days of coal mining. The tirst mineral coal used on the lake shore was sent to Pcleretand my father, Henry Newberry, from his mines in Tallmadge, in 1828. It was there offered as a substitute for wood in the generation of steam on the lake boats. Wood, however, was so abundant. and the population was so habituated to its use, that it proved very difficult to supplant this by any other fuel; and it was necessary that nearly the coal beds of Summit County was fully realized. and many thousand tons of excellent coal have since been sent every year to Cleveland from the mines in Tallmadge and Springfield. As has been stated. the coal of these townships proved to be very irregular in its distribution. and variable in thickness and quality.

wanting over much of the area where it was supposed to be present. In the deeper portions of the basins or channels it occupies, the seam is from four and one-half to six feet in thickness. and the coal a_ bright. open-hurning variety. containing tittle sulphur. and a small percentage of ash. It is softer and more bituminous than the coal of the same seam in Mahoning and Trumbull Counties. but is still capable of being both as a steam coal and a household fuel. In the southern part of the county. Coal No. 1 is more continuous. and has been proved, by recent the block character, which distinguishes the coal of the Mahoning Valley... In former years, nearly all of the coal used or exported from the county, was mined in Tallmadge. mainly from ' Coal Hill. which lies between the center of Tallmadge and Cuyahoga Falls. Several mines were once in active operation in this hill. Of these mines, that of Henry Newberry was situated at the north end of the hill, and those of Dr. D. Upson. Asaph Whittlesey and Francis Wright on the east side. opposite side of 'the valley.

hausted, as it was found to rise and run out in the interior of the hill. From this fact, a belief has come to be quite general, that the coal is pinched out in the body of this and other hills. by the weight of the gp cap bent material ; whereas, we haye here only a instance of what has been before referred to, of the thinning out of the coal on the margin of the old coal swamp. In the central and eastern portion of Tallmadge, most of the land rises high above the coal level, and basins of coal will doubtless be hereafter discovered there. but the same causes which have rendered coal mining so uncertain heretofore, will undoubtedly. limit the productiveness of the nominally large coal area which is included within the township lines. In the southern part of Tallmadge. the surtace is occupied by heavy beds of drift. by which the underlying geolozy is very much obscured. Here. as in the adjoining township of Brimtield. in Portage County. nothing but patient and careful search will determine the limits of the basins of coal which unquestionably exist in this vicinity. As the dip of the coal rocviks is toward the south and east. in Springtield. Green and Franklin. Coal No. 1 jies lower than in the more northerly townslips where it occurs : hence it can only be reached by boring. and that sometimes to the depth of 100 feet or perhaps even 200 feet. We have every reason to hetieve. however, that a considerable area in (rreen Township is underlaid by Coal No. 1 where it lies fu below drainage: and it is almost certain that careful search. by boring. will reveal the presence of basins of coal in this township. such as are not now suspected to exist, and such as will contribute largely to the weaith of the county.

~In Summit County the lowest seam of coal is usually separated from the conglomerate by an interval of trom twenty-live to titty feet, Which is filled with shale or shaly sandstone, and, immediately beneath the coal. by a seam of fire-clay. from two to six feet in thickness. This fire- clay is, in some places. of good quality. and may be used tor ,tire-brick and pottery, but it is generaily more sandy and contains quently preserved in great beauty and profusion. collected trom the shale of Coal No. 1. in the northern part of the State, and nearly all of these are found in Summit County.

* Coal No, 2 is found thirty to fifty feet above Coal No. 1 in many parts of Summit County - as in the Valley of the Mahoning - the second seam of coal in the ascending series. and which we have called Coal No. 2. It is usually from twelve to eighteen inches in thickness, and, though persistent over a large area. is nowhere 'n Summit County of workable thickness. Above Coal No. 2. and frequently cutting it out. is a bed of massive sandstone. which is a iaarked feature in the geology of the county. This is well seen in Coal Hill. Tallmadge, and extends through the southern part of the county. onssing through Stark. where. in the valley of the Tuscarawas, about and above Massillon. it ts anarricd in many vlaces along the bank of the canal. The thickness of this sandstone varies very much in different localities. and it way be said to range trom forty to one hundred tect. Tt is also somewhat variable in character. but is often massive. andl affords a bduildingstone of excelient quality. Lt may generally be distinguished from ihe sandstones of the evarboniferous convlomeraic by the absence of quartz pebbles. So faras TL snow. no pebbles are found in the sandstone over the coal in Summit County. Tn Tramtiuil amd Medina There are some leeal exceptions to this rule. for naiches of conviomerate are sometimes found there immediately overlying the lowest coal -eam. In Summit County the «pebble rock.' 'ound in tue explorations for coal. affords intall Yile evidence. when if is reached. that the horizon of the coal has been passed.

'Conls Nos. 3 and £ come aext in order. Near Mogaciore. in Springtield Township: the liigher lands are found to be underlaid by a stratum of limestone. bencath which are nsually a thin seam of coal and a thick stratum of fireclay. the latter supplying the material from which nearly all the stoneware of the county is manutactured. From twenty-tive to forty feet above the limestone to which I have referred, is another. which also overlies a coal scam. Both these may be seen in (rreen

Township, between Greenburg and Greentown, and they may be traced thence southerly, through Stark, Tuscarawas and Holmes Counties, and, indeed, nearly or quite to the Ohio River. These are the limestone coals that will be found frequently referred to in the reports on the counties that have heen mentioned, and those on Portage, Trumbull and Mahoning. The lowest of these limestones lies from 130 to 160 above Coal No. 1; the upper limestone about 150 to 200 feet. Hence they will serve as useful guides in boring for the lower coal sean in those parts of the county where it lies considerably beneath the surface. *T have already alluded to the former productiveness of the coal mines of Tallmadge, and have mentioned the fact that most of these mines are now abandoned ; the basins of coal in which they were located having been practically exhausted. Considerable coal is. however, still produced in the township, and it is aitogether probable. that with proper search, other basins will be discovered. trom which its coal industry will be revived. The ' Centre' anda large area north. south and east of it, lie considefably above the coal level. and as the dip is southeast. there are some localities where the horizon of the coal is nearly one hundred and tifty teet below the surface. Over most of the district [ have mentioned. borings should be made to at least the depth of one hundred feet before the search is abandoned. It should be remembered. too. that the basins of Coal No. 1 are trequently narrow. and the territory will only be fririv tested by borings made at frequent intervals. The huciyal center of coal industry in the county at present. is in Springfield and Coventry. steers Mine. the mines of the Brewster Coal Company. and Brewster Brothers. and the Middlebury Shaft - all located near the line between the above mentioned townships - are now producing a large quantity of coal for shipment to Akron and Cleveland. The maximum thickness of the coal seam here is about five feet. and it thins out on all sides toward the margin of the basin. Doubtless here, as elsewhere. the basins of coal are connected, and future explorations will result in tracing such connection south and east into other impou ae Ce Delis es tee pen ny vag Ze -At the Franklin Coal Company's mine, in the Northern part of Franklin, the coal is four anda half feet thick, of good quality, closely face, the massive sand rock above it ranging from forty to fifty feet in thickness. In the southwest corner of Franklin Township, the coal where opened is not as thick or as good as in the last-mentioned localities. At Steer's new shaft in Coventry, the coal is 44 feet thick, 90 to 110 feet from the surface, overlaid by 15 feet of black shale and from 3U to 40 feet of sandstone. Little coal has yet been mined here, but it seems to be of excellent quality. A section taken near the north line of Franklin Township includes the following strata :

~On the land of Mr. Thomas Britton. one and a half miles east of Middlebury. is an important deposit of iron ore. which | refer. with some hesitation, to the horizon ot Coal No. 1. The drift from which the ore is taken exposes four feet of rock. which inciudes a thickness of about two feet of ore. Sherbondy Hill. west of Akron, is capped with the coal rocks. but gives no indication of any valuable deposit of coal. A band of iron ore. similar in character to that referred to aboye, but thinner. is exposed in this locality. A sheet of the coal measures underlies the surface in the west part of Norton Township. and a small area in Copley. bat up to the present time no important coal strata have been found there. A boring made half a mile north of the center of Norton revealed the following section :

All the borings made for 'coal | in "the township give similar Tesults. the conglomerate being struck after passing through a thin bed of coal shale. + * ee * i ~ m

"The fire-clay which underlies Coal No. 3 has already become one of the important elements of wealth to the county. This deposit, in parts of Summit County, is of unusual thickness and purity, making excellent stoneware and firebrick. It is estimated that there are produced from this stratum of clay in Springtield Township alone, about one and a half millions of gallons of stoneware each year; and a very large amount of the material is transported into other parts of the county and State.

to notice in this connection that this bed of fireclay is the same with that worked at Atwater, in 'Portage, and still more extensively in Columbiana County. Over how large an area in Summit County it maintains the dimensions and excellence it exhibits in Springfield, we have, as yet. no means of knowing. At East Liberty it is apparently of good thickness and quality, but County - where exposed in the valleys of the Nimishillen and Sandy - it is of less yalue. The Springfield clay is eminently plastic. and hence better fitted for stoneware than fire-brick. but by mixing it largely with sand. and. still better.

with the hard clay of Mineral Point. Mr. J. Parke Alexander. of Akron. has produeed tirebrick searcely inferior in quality to any other made in the State. or even any imported. To

-get the best results with this clay alone. in making Hre-brick. it should be first ground, mace into a paste. and this burned. then again coarsely ground and the fragments cemented with ouesixth to one-tenth of frésh plastered clay, molded and burned avain.

~ The following analyses will give additional information in regard to the useful minerals of this county. They were made by Dr. Wornley, State Chemist. with the exception of No. }. which was made by Prof. W. W. Mather:

It is said that the agriculture of the State of Ohio may be regarded, in a general sense, as "being of a mixed character." The same may very 'truthfully be said of Summit County. Its agricultural resources are not only extensive, but the adaptability of the soil in the different sections of the county to agriculture, is

The foregoing comprises the geology of Summit County. together with its coal deposits and mineral resources. Closely connected with the geology of a country is the science of agriculture. Indeed. -the geology of a country," it has been truthfully said, determines the character of the industrial vocation of the inhabitants of that country." In accordance with the geological formations. mining. farming. herding flocks, manufacturing, or even fishing, becomes the prominent industry. " From the connection of geology with agr iculture. mining and manufactures, it may be said that in its different branches this science lies at the foundation of our modern civilization, inasmuch as the occupations. the wealth and power of communities and nations, in many, we may, perhaps. say in most, instances. depend directly upon the character, structure and resources of that portion of the earth which they inhabit.""* From the

In the southern part, wheat is the main staple ; in the central and northern portions, grazing, perhaps, predominates, while corn is extensively grown. In the last State Agricultural Report, we find, pertaining to Summit County, the following statistics :

Wheat, 25.955 acres, yielding 518.979 bushels; rye, 352 acres, yielding 5,150 bushels ; oats. 14.284 acres, yielding 542.382 bushels : barley, 63 acres, yielding ce 010 bushels ; corn, 15, 422 wares, yielding 1.077.945 bushels; timothy, 22.785 acres. y ielding 31.951 tons of hay; clover, 1.882 acres, yielding 6.910 tons of hay. While much attention is devoted to stock-raising. the breeding of tine stock is not carried to that extent that it is in many sections of Ohio. More attention is given to cattle and sheep than to other stock. and to the two (cattle and sheep) the tormer is considered of more value in this community. and the dairy business is one of the largest interests of the agricultural class, not only of Summit County but of the Western Reserve. From the State Report above vat we extract the following of this county: "Number of cattle. 24. 348, value, $364,184; number of pounds of butter. 175.- 915; number of pounds of cheese. 1.389.735." The same report has the following in regard to the dairy business of the Reserve: " Already, complaints are made that dairy farming is deteriorating the soil, but this complaint can scarcely be well founded. or, if well founded, must have reference more to the mechanical than the chemical condition of the soil. Soils very similar. geologically considered, have been pastured and tilled in England since the days of the Saxon heptarchy, and no recuperating process practiced until within the past hundred years, and yet these British soils were at no time barren. There is no distinctive breed of cattle recognized on the Reserve as being peculiarly a dairy breed, but those in highest favor are generally a cross breed. such as short-horn or Deyon crossed on the 'native' * * * The factory system of cheese-making was introduced some years since. and has proved eminently successful. Having no reliable statistics at hand, there is no hazard in stating that there are fully one hundred and fifty factories in active operation at the present time." Our space, however, will not admit of an extended notice in this connection, but the subject will be alluded to again in the several township histories. In addition to the cattle statistics of the county from the same report. we ee the following: Number of horses. 8.552. value. 3469.010 : number of mules. 179. v An 88.750 : otfmber of hogs, 11,577. value, 832.220 : number of sheep, 24.965. value. 258.817: number of pounds of wool shorn. 75.168.

Without going further into this branch of the subject. we will now give place to the following interesting sketch of the Agricultural Society of Summit See prepared especially for this work by 8. A. Lane. Esq.. and which will be found of value to our readers :

The loss. by fire. of the records pertaining to the' Agricultural Society matters of Summit County prior to 1859. made the task of collating the proper materiais for the commencement of this chapter somewhat difficult, there being radical differences in the recollections of the several living participants upon whom the writer called for information. By a patient search of the files of the Swmnmit County Beacon ot those days, though its columns were far less prolific of local news then than now. we have been able to present to tlie reader a reliable, if not a very attractive, resumé of the matters proper to be here treated of. Though for some years there had been a growing interest in the subject throughout the State. and. under the fostering care 'and aid given thereto by the Legislature of Ohio, a State Agricultural Society, and quite a number of county societies, had move looking to the organization of a society in Summit County, was in 1849. on his position as Auditor of the county. N. W. Goodhue, Esq., had abundant opportunity to ascertain the views of the people of the county upon with Col. Simon Perkins and others. that a fayorable and hearty response would be made thereto, on the 31st day of October. 1849. Mr. Goodhue caused to be published in the Brreon the following notice

Agricultural Meeting

I, N. W. Goodhue. Auditor of Summit County. Ohio. hereby vive notice that a public mecting will be held at the cowt house. in Akron, on the 14th day of November next. at 2 0'clock. P. M.. for the purpose of perfecting the organization of a County Agricultural Society. the preliminary steps contenplated in the act of March, 1839. having been =1-

Attention is called to the notice in another column. issued in pursuance of wm aericultural mecting on the 14th proxime. We rejoice that a move has heen madein the matter, by the agriculturi-ts of Summit County. The nefshboring counties huve their agricultural associations in successful operation. They have seen suet felt the advantages flowing from them. And while the Whole State seems to be awakening to a new interest. und searching efter an improved agriculture, it would be mortifvine to sce the experienced amd enterprising farmers of Summit County asleep. the plow!) Let the vood work vo Forward in ¢ «rnesta:

Agreeably to public notice. previously given. a larye number of ventlemen met in the court house in Akron, at 2 o'clock P. M.. November 14. 1849. for the purpose of perfecting the organization of a

Amos Seward. President; H. G. Weaver, Vice President and Nathaniel W. Goodhue, Secretary. After the object of the meeting had been stated. the Chair, on motion, appointed a committee of tive to report a constitution and code of by-laws for the government of the society. consisting of Lucius W.

On motion, a committee of one from each township was appointed to procure members to the society ax follows: Bath, William Hale: Boston, Hiram V.

On motion, ordered that the proceedings of the meeting be published in the several papers of the county. On motion, adjourned to meet in the courtroom on Wednesday, tie 28th inst., at 10 o'cloek EAL:

From a postscript attached to the foregoing report. it is learned. that at this meeting. about seventy names were presented for membership. In the Beacon of December 5. 1849. is found the full report of the second meeting of the embryo society. as follows : :

The Summit County Asricuitural Society met November 28. atl o'clock P.M... pursuant to adjournment,. and was called to order by Capt. Simos Seward. Chairman. In the absence of Elenry G. Weaver. Vice President. Milo Stone, Esq... of Tallmadye., was chosen Viee President.

"Ant. 2. The officers of this soctety shall consist of a President. Vice President. Seeretary. Treasurer and five managers. who, together, shall constitute a Board of Directors for the zeneral manezenent of the affairs of the society: they shall be clected annually by the members of the society. and hold their offices until their successors are appointed. The President shall preside at all meetines of the society, and of the Board of Directors: sigit orders on the Treasurer for awards of premiums and other appropriations of the Board of Directors. The Vice President. in the absence of the President. shall be the presiding officer of the soviciv and Board. The Secretary shall keep an accurate record of the proceedings of the society, and of the Board of Directors: attend to correspondence ordered by the Board. and report annually to the State Board of Agriculture. The Treasurer shall reccive the funds of the society. and pay them in accordance with the awards of the committees on premiums, and the votes of the Board of Directors. upon the order of the President, and shall. at the annual mecting, render a full account of his doings. The Board of Directors shall meet at the call of the

President; a majority shall constitute a 'quorum for the transaction of business, and the Board shall have power to transact all business for the society, that shall not conflict with this instrument.

"Art. 5. A list of the premiums offered by the society must be printed in the several newspapers published in the county, at least one month previous to the day of exhibition.

Ant. 6. All articles offered for premiums must be owned by the persons offering the same. or by members of their families. and products of the soil, or manufactured articles, must be produced or manufactured within the county.

"Arr. 9. The annual exhibition of the society shall be held between the Ist diay of September and the I-t day of November in each year, of which notice shall be given with the list of premiums offcred.

"ART. 10. The annual meeting of this society shall be at the court house, on the third Wednesday in November of each year. at 10 o'clock A. M., at which time officers of the society shall be chosen.

Committee reported officers for the society, which report was aecepted. and the persons recommended were unanimously Chosen officers of the society. as follows: Simon Perkins. President : Henry G. Weaver. Vice President; William A. Hanford. Secretary : Willian: If. Dewey, Treasurer: John Hoy. Sylvester H. Thompson, Avery Spicer, Philo C. Stone and James W. Weld. Manavers.

On motion - " Reseed: That the thanks of this society be presented to L. V. Bierce. Esq.. for his interesting address, and that he be requested to furnish a copy for publication. *

Mr. J. Teesdale presented a circular from the State Board of Agriculture. which was referred to the President. Seerctary and Capt. Amos Seward for reply. On motion, adjourned.

Thus was the «Summit County Agricultural Society "duly and legally organized, and entitled to draw from the county treasury, yearly, for its support, the sum of 3137.50. as provided by law. 'The various officers, directors and committees. together with the people of the county. generally. both farmers and villagers, from this time on worked heartily and cordially for the success of the society, and for the favorable outcome of its first annual fair. In

Agricultural Notice

In the Beacon of September 11, 1850, appears the premium list, offering premiums ranging from $1 to $8 on cattle; from $3 to 88 on horses ; from $2 to 83 on sheep; from 22 to =4 on swine; best kept dairy, $310; best butter, 33; best cheese. 83: from $1 to 33 on farm implements; from 50 cents to $3 on domestic manufactures ; from $2 to $3 on factory flannels and cloths ; $1 on grains and seeds ; from $1 to $2 on vegetables and fruits; from 31 to 35 on field crops. Following, is a list of the awarding committees: Cattle - Milo Stone. of Tallmadge; Frederick Baldwin, of Hudson; Marcus Newton, of Richfield. _Horses - Thaddeus H. Botsford, of Middlebury ; John Hoy. of Franklin; Henry Van Hyning. of Norton. Saxony Sheep - John Brown (old ~* Ossawatamie'' of Harper's Ferry fame), of Portage; Justin P. Goodale, of Middlebury ; Anson Brewster. of Hudson. Merino anc other Sheep

Springfield; Talmon Beardsley, of Coventry. Non-enumerated Articles - Joseph Hawkins. of Twinsburg; Peter Voris, of Bath ; Daniel Hine. A "plowing match" was also announced for the second day of the fair; premiums, 35 and 33. No trotting nor racing pre- of Akron; Jonathan Starr, of Copley. Swine - Miner Spicer, of Akron; William Wetmore. of Stow; Simon P. Starr, of Copley. - Edgar B. Ellsworth, of Hudson; John B. Clark, of Hudson; Ethan Alling, of Twinsburg.

Green; Mills Thompson, of Hudson. Domestic Manufactures - Mrs. Henry G. Weaver, of Springfield; Mrs. George Kirkum, of Akron: Mrs. John Hoy, of Franklin; Mrs. N. W. Goodhue, of Middlebury. Factory Products - Roswell Kent, of Middlebnry : Anson A. Brewster. |

We are gratified to tind that much interest i< being awakened in the approaching agricultural fair in this county. As there has not been an exhibition of that character in the county since its organization, those Who have charge of the arransements have not the benenit of that amount of experience they would like in the performance of their duty. Still, they have done and will do what they can. The work of preparation should be entere:} into in earnest. Tundreds can contribute their mite to the interest of the occasion. Let the exhibition be worthy of the object in view, and let there be a gathering which will render the day a memoraile one.

The First Fair. October 2 and 3. 1250.- - Having no grounds nor buildings of its own, hy permission of the County Commissioners. the court house and surrounding grounds were made use of by the society in giving its initial exposition. In the Beacon of Vetober 16. 1850. is the official report of President Perkins anid Secretary Hantord. together with a full list of the premiums awarded. aggregating about S10U - quite a sum, when it is considered thst no entrance tees on articles exhibited were charged, while admission to the fair was also free. 'A team of thirty-four voke of oxen. from Tallmadge, and another of fitteen span of horses, from the same town. attracted considerable attention." says the report. (ren L. VY. Bierce, ot Akron. delivered the annual adcress.

The highest expectations were more than realized. The attendance on both days was very hirge, -evere! thousand persons being present, all of whom seemed inspired by the happiest spirit, and abundantly compensated for what of labor and eare was incldent to the exhibition. * * * The display of stock Was unexpectedly ood, the arrangements bein such as to give a fair opportunity for exhibiting the The specimens of fruit. rain and vezctables were exceedingly fine. * * # A yariety of farming implements were exhibited.

The court-house was fitted up for the horticultural | exhibition and the handiwork of Flora. The highest praise is due to the ladies for their taste in adorning the room, and the myriad evidences of their skill displayed on every hand. The pyramid of flowers, prepared at Mrs. Dodge's, and the various smaller pyramids and rich bouquets exhibited, were the center of attraction, exciting universal praise by their gorgeous display of colors. The display of fancy needle-work would have excited admiration anywhere. Among other things exhibited in the ladies' quilts ; acounterpane, richly worked ; worsted work ; a straw-bonnet made from straw raisedin this county ; some funcy cotton work, etc., etc. * * * An exhibition terminating so propitiously cannot but lead | the way to others, and establish permanently a sotaste. In the awards of the future the managers of | the fair should not be forgotten.

Second Annual Meeting. - The second annual meeting of the society was held at the court house, November 20, 1850. reported : "Total receipts, $327.53 : total payments to date, 3221.86; balance in treasury,

3105.72 - 8100 of which is due for premiums." ! Officers were chosen for the ensuing year, as follows : Simon Perkins. of Portage, President ; | Amos Seward, of Tallmadge, Vice President ;

On motion. the thanks of the society were presented to Secretary William A. Hanford. and his assistants. Messrs N. W. Goodhue and C. B. Bernard. for their services to the society.

Necond Annnwal Fatir. - In the Beacon of September 10). 1851. appeurs the notice of President Perkins and Secretary Goodhue. aunouncing the second annual fair of the society, to be held at the court house in Akron. October 16 and 17. with a somewhat enlarged premium list. Committees as follows: Cattle - Joln Newton,

Frederick Baldwin. of Hudson. Milch Cows - William H. Dewey, of Akron; Joseph Hawkins. of Twinsburg: Clark Sackett, of Tallmadge. Oxen - Perley "Mansur. of fludson; Isaac T. Welton. of Richfield: Ebenezer Pardee. of Norton. Fat Oxen - Dennis <A. Hine. ot Middlebury ; David French. of (vreen: Henry Van Hyning. of Norton. Best ten voke oxen ina string. from one township. and best ten span horses - Jedediah D. Commins. of

Akron ; Charles W. Brown, of Portage ; Charles B. Cobb, of Akron. Horses - Thaddeus H. Botsford, of. Middlebury ; John Miller, of Norton ; Ezra Starkweather, of Twinsburg. Longwool Sheep - Jacob Allen, of Akron; William

Merinos - James W. Wallace, of Northfield : Jonathan Starr, of Copley ; Van R. Humphrey, of Hudson. Saxons - William A. Hanford, of Cuyahoga Falls ; Lucius W. Hitchcock. of Tallmadge; Peter A. More, of Copley. Swine - Avery Spicer, of Coventry ; George Darrow, of Hudson; John Hoy, of Franklin. Pottery Ware - Allan Hibbard, Lorenzo B. Austin and James Christy, all of Akron. Farming Implements, First Class - Alexander Johnston, of Green; Benjamin Bear, of Franklin; Samuel M. Combs, of Tallmadge. Second Class -

Cutler, of Akron. Stoves, Castings and Machinery - Bradbury T. Blodgett, of Akron; Harrison N. Gillett. of Cuyahoga Falls; William 8. Irish, of Middlebury.

iel Finch, all of Akron. Musical Instruments - Amos Wright, of Tallmadge: George P. Ashmun, of Hudson: Henry Bill. of Cuyahoga Falls. Cabinet Ware - Henry 3. Akron: Joseph T. Holloway. of Cuyahoga Falls: Henry B. Horton, of Akron.

George Kirkum and Mrs. Allan Hibbard. of Akron. Linens - Mrs. Louisa A. Baldwin. of Middlebury ; Mrs. Harvey Baldwin, of Hudson: Miss Sarah A. Stone. of Tallmadge; Mr. Alvin C. Voris, of Akron. Stockings, ete. - Mrs. Dana D. Evans. of Akron ; Mrs. [ra Hawkins, of Portage: Mrs. Daniel Hine and Mrs. Lucius C. Walton, of Tallmadge. Factory Products - Roswell Kent, of Middlebury : Harvey B. Spellman, of Akron, and Ezra 38. Comstock, of Cuyahoga Falls. Grains and Seeds - Solomon Markham. of (+reen; Jeremiah B. Lambert. of Bath; Andrew Harris ot Springfield. Vegetables and Fruits - Daniel McNaughton, of Middlebury ; John E. King, and Lo- | cius V. Bierce, of Akron. Crops - Daniel Hine, | of Tallmadge; Avery Spicer, of Coventry ; | Edwin Wetmore, of Stow. Farms - John C. | Wallace, of Northfield; James W. Weld, of | Richfield ; Andrew Hale, of Bath. Butter - Mrs. Samuel M. Combs, of Tallmadge; Mrs. John Hoy, of Franklin; Mrs. William L. | Clarke, and Mrs. Frederick Wadsworth of Akron. Cheese - Mrs. Simon Perkins and Mrs. Sebried Dodge, of Portage ; Mrs. Mills Thompson, of Hudson; Mrs. William L. Clarke. of : Akron. Fancy-work - Mrs. Henry W. King, of Akron; Mrs. Lucius C. Walton, of Tallmadge ; Mrs. George E. Pierce. of Hudson; Mrs. Hoyt L. Henry, of Middlebury; Mrs. John B. Clark. of Hudson ; Mr. Charles B. Bernard, of Akron.

The annual fair of the Summit County Agricultural Society was held on Thursday and Friday of last week. They were festive days among the farmers of Summit, and such a congregating together of the true nobility of our county - the toiling masses, whose brows are browned by heaven's sunlight, whose hands are hardened by honest toil, and whose hearts are softened by the kindlier svmpathies of humanity - we have rarely seen. The turn-out was tremendous. exceeding largely. it is thought, that of last vear. There was a perfect jam in and around the court house throughout each day, rendering it almost impossible to see many objects of interest, and demonstrating the absolute necessity of erecting a suitable building for the future agricultural and mechanical exhibitions of the county. * * * Hon. Van R. Humphrey, of Hudson, delivered an address to the multitude, who were assembled in the court house inclosure for want of a building of sufficient capacity to receive them. It was listened to with interest and profit, and was in keeping with the interest of the | occasion. * * * [t will afford much gratification to our citizens generally to learn that Col. Simeon Perkins, the President of the society, with a munificence characteristic of the man, has donated to the society several acres south of Akron, admirably adapted for future exhibitions, the erection of suitable buildings, etc., for the use of the society. A subscription was started for inclosing the ground, and we cannot permit ourselves to donbt the success of the laudable enterprise.

In the Beacon of November 26, 1851, is the official report of the annual meeting of the society for 1851, held in the court house November 19. The officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows: President, Avery Spicer, of Coventry ; Vice President, Daniel Hine, of Tallmadge ; Secretary, Nathaniel W. Goodhue, of Middlebury ; Treasurer, Nelson B. Stone, of

Akron. Managers - Peter Voris, of Bath; Thomas H. Goodwin, of Akron; Isaac T. Welton, of Richfield; Samuel M. Combs, of Tallmadge ; Solomon Markham, of Green. A committee of one from each township and village in the county was appointed "to solicit subscriptions to defray the expenses to be incurred during the coming year in the erection of suit- | able buildings and fences and preparing other permanent fixtures for the use of the society." Among the proceedings of this meeting is | found this highly commendable item: | Resolved, That this society will award no premi- | ums on anything that will intoxicate. At a meeting of the Directors, held at the court house. it was arranged that the fair tor | 1852 should be held on Wednesday and Thurs- | day. October 6 and 7, at the court house. the | new grounds donated by Col. Perkins not being yet fitted up. The preimium list. as published in the Beacon of September 8, is about the same as in 1851, and the committees judi- . ciously selected from every portion of the | county. The court-room was used solely asa | floral and fine-art department. A small admis- | sion fee to this department was charged. the | receipts being something over 3100. The hall - was occupied by a display of fashionable fur- | niture. stoves, ete. On the north side of the | building was erected a temporary frame structure, forty by sixty feet, for the display of | fancy work, mechanical products. farming im- | plements, vegetables, fruits.etc. Horses. cattle, | sheep, hogs, poultry, etc., were grouped. at con- | venience of exhibitors, in various parts of the | inclosure. In its editorial notice of this Third Annual Fair, the Beacon, of October 13. 1852, says: "It was attended by a larger number of persons, and, what is equally gratifying, the exhibition, taken as a whole, was. undoubtedly, far in advance of its predecessors. * * * The gorgeous flower-tree, nearly ten feet high, blazing with dahlias of every conceivable shade, was a thing of beauty. * * * From the garden of Hon. E. N. Sill, of Cuyahoga Falls, as also from the gardens of Col. Perkins and Mrs. Dodge, were some of the finest dahlias we have ever seen. A design of cut flowers of every variety, arranged by Mr. Thomas Wills, Mr. Sill's gardener, excited universal admiration. * * * But one opinion was expressed on one point, viz.: the necessity of the immediate erection of suitable buildings for the agricultural fairs of Summit. It is folly to expend more on temporary buildings. It each township will move and select a good committee-man, as Tallmadge has done, the umount for the buildings, ete., may be raised in a fortnight. Col. Perkins is still ready to donate the use of six acres of land as the site. if the society does not take the work in hand, The annual address was delivered by Herman Canfield. Esq.. of Medina. In their report, the officers of the society say: ~The necessity of a permanent building is apparent to all. The officers of the society labor under much embarrassment, and all that is necessary is the co-operation of each township, and the means requisite for inclosing six acres of ground and erecting a large and commodious building, ean be raised. We hope that the importance of immediate attention to this matter will be borne in mind. and that measures will be for raising whatever sum is necessary." otficers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President. Daniel Hine, of Tailinadge ; Vice President, Sylvester H. Thompson. of Huason; Secretary, Nathaniel W. Goodhue, Akron: Treasurer. Nelson B. Stone. of Akron : Directors. Talmon Beardsley. of Coventry ; Andrew Hale. of Bath: Wiiliam Payne. ot Richtield ; Lucius W. Hitchcock. of Tallmadye : Henry W. Howe. of Aikvon. one ineach township was appotated to solicit funds to build permanent buildings for tue use of the society.

The Beacon of September 7, 155: says: * The Board of Directors of the Summit County Agricultural Society have contracted for inclosing the new fiir 2rounds of the society. the erection of a suitable hall for future exhibitions. ete. The work is to be compieted by October 10; the expense to be paid mainly by subscriptions. the county doing its share." The grounds. six and a lalf acres. were substantially fenced, a building 40x100 fect was erected. and the grounds otherwise fitted up.at a total ex- fair was held there on Wednesday and Thursday October 12 and 13. 1855. Increased interest and attendance were manifested. A small entrance fee of 10 cents was charged, by which

The fifth annual meeting of the society was held at the court house on W ednesday, November 16, 1853. Officers clected - President.. Daniel Hine, ot Tallmadge; Vice President. James M. Hale. of Akron ; Secretary. Nathanie! W. Goodhue ; Treasurer, Nelson B. Stone; Directors, Talmou Beardsley, of Coventry : Samuel M. Bronson, of Tallmadge ; Henry W. Howe. of Akron; Ethan Alling, of Twinsburg: and Jeremiah B. Lambert. of Bath.

The tifth annual fair was held on the grounds of the society October 11 and 12,1854. Tiough the season lad been very dry, there wis a very line display of Held and garden products. fruits. flowers. ete.. and. while stock and other departments were quite largely represented. * Ladies Kquestrianship" was a prominent feature of this exhibition. and added very materially to the interest as well as to the financial results of the fair. Receipts, S00.

The sixth annual meeting was held on the 22d day of November. 1854. at the court Louse. officers and Direvtors of previous year being re-elected.

The sixth annual fair was held October 3. 4 and 5, 1355. Yearly membership badges were sold at 31 each, aud a gate fee of 10 cents was collected. the total receipts with ground rents being 3905. Ladies' horsemanship. bota driving and eqnestrianism, was the chief attraction of the fair: premiums being awarded as follows: Miss Larriet J. More. of Copley, $20: Miss Anna K. Howe. ot Akron. 815: Miss (. L. Stautfer. of Sprinztield. 310. 9 \ premium of $20, donated by spectators, was also awarded to Miss Cordelia Alden. of Medina. for her superior equestrianism, the awards of the society being contined to residents of the county. At this fair also every department tn which premiums were offered was a success. both in point of number and quality of animals and articles exhibited.

At the seventh annual meeting held at the court house in Akron November 21, 1855. ofticers for the ensuing year were elected as follows: President, Talmon Beardsley, of Coventry ; Vice President. Andrew Hale. of Bath ; Secretary. Henry W. Howe. of Akron; Treasurer. Charles B. Bernard. of Akron ; Directors, Wm. B. Ashmun, ot Tallmadge; Simon P. Starr, fl of Copley ; James M. Hale, of Akron; Houston | Sisler, of Franklin; Julius Pond, of Hudson. | Secretary Howe announces, in the Beacon of | September 17, 1856, that the Summit County | Agricultural Society have added to their list | of premiums, to be awarded at their next an- - nual fair, the following : " Fastest trotting horse | owned within the county, $30; fastest trotting | horse, under four years old, owned within the | county, $20. A half-mile ring has been pre- | pared, and a lively competition may be ex- | pected." In a subsequent issue, Secretary Howe thus expatiates : " The farmers and mechanics | of the county will remember that this is es- . pecially their festival, while all the - rest of mankind' intend to be there to jointhem. The list of premiums is large. the grounds are beautiful and convenient; the contests, upon two days, between the fast trotting horses, will be spirited ; the - ladies riding. upon the last day of the fair, will attract all who love ' women will everywhere greet those who are in attend-_ ance. * * * Come all who delight in seeing - the best of stock, the finest of fruits, grains and | vegetables, who have a taste for the products | value of churns and cultivators. carpets and carriages. Come all who can admire the beautiful in flowers, in needlework, in painting ; or : can find pleasure in ' crowds of fair women and | brave men,' expecting a rare entertainment, and | you need not go away disappointed." Of this, the Seventh Annual Fair, held on | the 8th, 9th and 10th days of October, 1856, | the Beacon concludes a lengthy and enthusiastic | editorial as follows: "On the whole, we are | satisfied that the Summit County Fair of 1856, | not only surpassed all its former fairs, but, in | point of numbers attending and of a substan- | tial excellence of stock, grains, vegetables, mechanical and artistic skill, and whatever else makes up the show, was beyond any county fair of Ohio or any other State. We feel confident that Summit is entitled to the premium. In this judgment, we are supported by th voluntary expressions of many witnesses who were present from abroad." The receipts at this fair were $1,250.50, which, with receipts from county authorized by law, paid the entire indebtedness of the society, running expenses. premiums, balance due for buildings, ete.. and

At the Eighth Annual Meeting, held November 19, 1856, the following officers were elected: President, Talmon Beardsley, of Coventry ; Vice President, Andrew Hale, of Bath ; Secretary, Henry W. Howe, of Akron; Treasurer, Alvin C. Voris, of Akron ; Directors, Joseph Hawkins, of Twinsburg; William Johnston, of Copley; Lucius L. Strong, of Tallmadge ; Adam Yerrick, of Green ; John R. Buchtel. of Coventry.

Eighth Annual Fair held October 7, 8 and 9, 1857. - Increased number of entries, increased interest and increased attendance; nearly three columns in the Beacon of October 14 being devoted to an editorial review of the fair. At the Ninth Annual Meeting, held on the 18th of November. 1857, officers were elected as follows: President, Samuel M. Combs, of Tallmadge ; Vice President. Andrew Hale, of Bath ; urer, Alvin C. YVoris, of Akron; Avery Spicer, of Portage ; Lucius L. Strong, of Richfield; William B. Ashmun, of Tallmadge ; Joseph Stauffer. of Green; Horace P. Cannon, of Twinsburg.

local reporter. "a perfect jam," and the cry for larger grounds was universal. Total entries for premiums, 965, as follows: Cattle, 105; horses, 152; sheep, 48; swine, 10; poultry, 19; grain and seeds, 64; fruits, 40; garden products, 154; field crops, 9; butter, cheese and sugar, 51; farm implements, 30 ; domestic productions, 124; flowers and shrubbery, 44 ; carriages and harness, 17 ; boots, shoes. etc., 10 ; bonnets, etc., 7; fine arts, 17; iron and tin ware, 7; miscellaneous, +5 ; female equestrians, 6. Total receipts, $1.350.

Buchtel "were appointed a committee to re ceive sealed proposals from any of the townships within the county for the site of fair grounds, and that such proposals be established by approved security for the amount. subscribed. The attention of those interested is solicited. Proposals to be handed to Mr. Buchtel by October 29."

Of this action. the Beacon of January 12 185%, editorially, says: ~ The citizens of Cuyahoga Falls. we ure informed, propose to give 36.000 for the permanent location of the fair grounds ator near that village. The question is of importance to local interests as well as to those of the society itself. The latter will be. we doubt not. the governing consideration with those who will decide upon the matter. Other things being equal. the county seat would seein to be the proper location for a county society; but there is some plausibility in the claim that Cuyahoga Falls is more central. and. if the citizens of that villave subseribe =6.000 in good fuith for that purpose. they exhibit a high appreciation of the advantages of securing thie annual fair as a permanent institution. We commend the consideration of this subject. in at its bewrings. to the business men. propertyholders and citizens of \kron. only observing that the competition of the people of Cuy ahoga Falls is formidable and may be successtul.'

At an adjourned meeting. held January 29, 1859, the following proposal was submitted ; - The society can have the thir grounds for $125 per acre by paying 3150 down and 3200 each January following. with 6 per cent annual interest. vad that they can have more or less land south of the present grounds, in addition. at 330 per acre. or an exchange on the opposite side of the road, acre for acre." This proposition was accepted by 2 vote of forty-nine in favor to ten against. At an adjourned meeting, hell February 19. 1859, it was voted ~ to contine the sociviy to the present location of the grounds."

Thus matters stood until late in the following summer. In the meantime. not only had the contiguous lands been sold to other parties. but there was a rapidly vrowing conviction in the public mind that the future success of the aX: 201 society demanded both more room and a more eligible location than the old grounds afforded. - So, too, in consequence of the differences of opinion which had obtained as to the matter of - location, spirited rivalry had grown up, not only in the two * union" or ganizations in the northeast corner of the county. at Twinsburg, and the northwest corner of the county, at Richfield. but in the spirited "union" association then being projected at Cuyahoga Falls. These considerations stimulated a number of the most active promoters of ihe society. in connection with the officers, to a combined and vigorous etfort to the accomplishment of the desired change. At this juncture. our public-spirited rellow-citizen. Hon. David L. King. submitted a proposition. which. being at once accepted, placed the society in possession of Summit Grove- - nearly thirty acres overlooking the city on the west - the beautiful grounds vow oecupied by the fine residences of Lewis Miller. Esq.. Capt. Archur 1. Conver. and others, on Ash street and Park piace. aud immediately east of the sonthern portion of the beautiful srounds of the Akron Rural Cemetery. This line tract of Innd was leased to the society for tive years. at a reasoneble annual rental, Mr King stipulating to cither sei! the ground to the society. aca price he tamed ly him. ov to pay the society for its buildings. fences. cte.. at their appraised value, on the expiration o7 the lense.

Mt these grounds, and the estimation in which they were hell by the public, the follewing extracts from the of September 7 and Lf 1859. abundantly testily : large spreading oaks. of native growth, furnishine resting-place and shade. free trom undergrowth. AWWA aud! ies phe atikniin oa NA ROEM IDG ea 2 ere) EES rhe purpose of seonring and inelosing this elegant piece of eround. erecting the proper buildings. wil putting it in order for this and Fate fairs, the ciczens of Akron. 1 sp Oh ble business men, have contributed something more than 81.500, * 7 = We have never seen so much enerev on the part of committees und citizens, ik any pubuc enterprise. as has heen ilisplayed in preparing the County Fair Grounds at Sunimit) Grove: ASC Ty BIKE East or the West hes any a location more AMAA GUNA Ee CUI PCs

The buildines. fences. ete.. from the old were removed to the new grounds. which, with the necessary additions. the erection of sheds. stables, pens. etc., the construction of a superb half-mile track. and other improvements. involved an expense of 33.128.60, of which amount $1,870.07 was contributed by the citizens of Akron. and $1.258.53 was paid by the society ; a large amount of labor. of men and

From this time forward. the Summit County Fair became. emphatically, 'he Fair of Northern Ohio, not only drawing together. in annual -Harvest Home Festival." in October of each year, the great mass of the people of Summit County. but attracting many visitors from contiguous counties. and even from the more remote portions of the State.

At the annual meeting of November 16. 1309, a new constitution was adopted increasing the number of directors froin five to eighteen - one for each towaship. At this :nevting. ofticers were elected as follows: President. Horace P. Cannon. of Twinsburg: Vice President. Willinn Wise. of Green ; Secretary. James Mathews. of Akvon: Treasurer. John R. Buchtel. of Akron. Directors: Bath. Andrew Hale: Boston. Edmund H. Cole: Coventry. William Buelitel : Cuyahoga Falls. George Sackett: Copley, Vincent @, Harris: Fraaklin, Henry Dailey : Green. George Crouse ; Hudson. Julius Pond: Middlebury, Charles A. Collins : Northampton. Reese Jones: Northticld. John C. Wallace ; Norton. Charles Coe; Portage. Avery Spicer: Ricbield. John E. Hurlbut: Springtield, John Ewart ; mae Wega ARE Thompson : Tallmadge. Clark Sackett: Twinsburg, Lewis Alling.

Resolutions were unanimously adopted expressive of sorrow and condolence at the death of Capt. Amos Seward. of Tallmadge. the first President of the society under its written constitution. and one of its most enthusiastic supporters. Also a resolution tendering to the retiring Secretary, J. Park Alexander, the thanks of the society for his able and efficient services during the preceding year.

At the expiration uf the time for which the grounds had been leased, Mr. King. pursuant to his agreement. submitted a proposition to the officers of the society, to sell them the entire tract for 30,000. on very easy terins of payment. stipulating only. that should the grounds ever cease to be used for fair purposes. they should revert back to him. his heirs. ete. This truly munificent proposition, unfortunately for the society and the county, was not accepted, a portion of the management, comparing the price named with the value of farming lands less eiigibly situated. and more remote from the city, not being able to appreciate the magnificent prize they were letting slip through their fingers until it was too late. The society now leased: for the period of ten years. of Mr. P. D. Hall. about thirty acres of land, covered by a fine grove of original forest trees. in the western part of the city. fronting on Maple street upon the south. and Balch street upon the west. and a short distance northwest of Akron Rural Cemetery. To these grounds was removed the buildings. fences and fixtures trom ~ Summit Grove." and others were added. trotting track graded. etu., at an expense of over 3].000 to the society. over and above the liberal contribations of both money and labor, from the citizens of Akron and surrounding townships. These grounds were first oceupied hy the society in October. 1864. the fair of that year not only proving a very great success, but being followed up with such increasing interest. year by year, that the management were enabled to acemmulate 2 fund of several thousand dollars in the treasury of the society. with which to purchase groumis at the expiration of their ten years' lease. fn the meantime. however, the rapid growth of the city of Akron lind =o enhanced the value of the grounds then occupied as to place them entirely heyond the reach of the society. while most of the lands adjacent to the city. suitable tor fair purposes. had been taken up and improved. or were held so high as not to be within the supposed ability of the society to purchase.

At the annual meeting in January. 1870. a committee was appointed to select grounds to be purchased by the society, the committee reporcing to the Directors March 15, 1870, the propositions which had been made to them, as tollows: 3S. W. Bartges. thirty-five acres of the

Mailison farm, on Wooster avenue, at 8500 per acre; S. H. Coburn and Samuel Thornton. thirty acres, south of city limits and west of Main street, at $400 per acre; A. C. Voris and kK. Steinbacher. twenty-six. acres. on the south line of city and east of Main street. at $500 per acre; Messrs. Falor and Allyn, such portion of their lands on the north line of Coventry Township as the socicty might need. at $400 per acre; and Mr.

June 4, 1870, at a meeting of the society, called to consider these several propositions. the vote to purchase grounds was reconsidered, and the matter for the time being was dropped.

Bath, James Hammond, of Copley, and David S. Alexander. of Akron, were, on motion of King J. Ellet, of Springfield, instructed to purchase the Coburn and Thornton tract, at a price not to exceed 8400 per acre. At the annual meeting, January 18, 1871, the minutes of the October meeting were amended so as to show grounds and purchasing others. April 9, 1874, the committee submitted a majority report in favor of retaining and improving the grounds owned by the society, and a minority report in favor of disposing of those grounds and purchasing the Fouse tract, near Bettes' Corners, northeast of Akron, the majority report being adopted by a vote of ten to six. October 7, 1874, the Directors resolved, by a vote of eight mittee to look around and purchase grounds | which, in their judgment, would be for the best , interest of the society ; the committee in the | with a balance due the Treasurer of $153.94. A yery considerable number of the members and patrons of the society. both in the city of Akron and in the eastern. northern and southern townships of the county. dissatisfied with the location which had been selected. had so agitated and discussed the question. that. at the annual meeting of the society. held January 20. 1874. after quite a stormy debate. a resolution offered by Mr. Jacob H. Wise. that it was impracticable tor the society to use the Me- Allister grounds. and that a committee be appointed to sell said grounds and secure others, aceessible by railroad running through the county. was referred to the Officers of the so- annual meeting, reported in favor of purchasing the Fouse tract, Mr. Fouse submitting a proposition to sell fifty acres to the society at 3200 per acre. Mr. A. T. Burrows also submitted a proposal to sell forty-five acres of his land on the "Chuckery," at $400 per acre, or the whole tract at 3450 per acre. grounds resulted as follows: Burrows tract, 336; McAllister grounds, 218. March 6, 1875,

At an adjourned meeting. held February 7. 1874. a resolution was adopted that Nelson V. Wadsworth, of Hudson; John H. Christy. of Akron; Jared Barker. of Bath: King J. Ellet. of Springfield; Daniel Hine. of out the county. should finally decide the matter. May 24. 1875. Mr. Treat reported that Hon. Rt. P. Cannon. of Portage County, had been selected as the third member of the committee, | and that a tract offered by Mr. Jacob H. Wise, | had been agreed upon by hoga County, and that the committee. as thus constituted. proceed to locate grounds. June 19, 1875. Mr. Treat reported that the committee had failed to agree upon a location, Mr. Wheatly reporting that the committee had failed for want of effort. Mr. Treat not aiding him (Mr. W.) in urging Dr. Robinson for an opinion. Letters from Dr. Robinson were read. counseling the society to meet and agree upon a

Resolved, That all of the Directors meet June 26, and view all the grounds offered, and then meet at the Secretary's office for a final vote.