Cuyahoga Falls City (part 6 of 6)

and their children, and the work which they had that day begun; the prayer that went up from those two saintly souls, breathed the same spirit with the prayer that went of old from the

From April, 1807, up to February, 1808, the only persons in Tallmadge were George Boosinger and wife and child; Rev. David Bacon, his wife and three children, and J. E. Frink, a hired man in Mr. Bacon's family, making in all five adults and four children. In 1808, Ephraim Clark, Jr., came in, being the third regular settler in the township. He was a native of Southington, Conn., and, when he was sixteen years of age, his parents removed to Russell. Mass., where he lived until his maturity. He caught the Western fever, and. in 1799, left his home in Massachusetts, his destination being " New Connecticut,' his objective point. Town No. 7, Range 7, of the Western Reserve, now known as Burton Township, in Geauga County. eled the distance, often camping out at night without fire or blanket, but, finally. arrived in safety. He liked the country and settled in Burton Township. Like many others of the was set with what trappers and hunters called -a figure +, and thus caught the wolf. pealed elm bark, made a rope, formed a noose at one end, which he succeeded in putting over the wolf's head, and by this means led it, as one might lead a dog, to Burton Square, where he tied the rope to the sign post of the tavern. Judge Calvin Pease, with an Eastern friend, _ were present, and the "Eastern friend"' pro- _ posed to give a gallon of whisky for the priv- , ilege of shooting the beast, that he might tell a tree. , and bears. in Mesopotamia, where, in 1807, he married a Miss Sperry. and, in 1808, removed to this township. His wife died in 1833, and he, in _ 1858. at the age of eighty years, having lived on who came from Connecticut. In 1801, he emigrated to the territory northwest of the Ohio River, crossing over the mountains with his team. He stopped in Canfield where he remained until his removal to this township. He came here to co-operate with Mr. Bacon in his broad and liberal plans, and in him Mr. Bacon found an able and zealous coadjutor. He bought Lot No. 5, in Tract 14, of the Brace

Next in the catalogue of early settlers, we may mention Deacon Nathaniel Chapman, Charles Chittenden, William Neal and George Kilbourn, all of whom were from Connecticut originally.

tions he could for settling on it, and then leaving his brother he returned to Connecticut. The next year, with an ox team, he started » | with his family, taking the "south road." as it | was called, through Pennsylvania. and over the | When within ten ° family in April, 1808, and settled upon Lot 3 in | | Tract 14. Being of the strictest Puritan prin- © | ciples, he heartily coincided with Mr. Bacon in | | the great work he had inaugurated. His daugh- © ) "This was the first tannery in the township. He

Deacon Chapman, with his brother | William, made a trip to the Western Reserve in , They stopped » at Canfield, and, being pleased with the coun- | try, he selected land and made what prepara- |

January, 1809, and the ceremony was per- | formed by Joseph Harris, of Randolph, a Justice of the Peace. His father, Titus Chapman, | died November 8, 1808, and was the first death | of an adult person in the township, the first | death being, as already noted, Boosinger's | child. Mr. Chapman, Sr., was the first buried | in the old Middlebury graveyard. Deacon | Chapman was the first Justice of the Peace in the township after its organization. He was an exemplary man, and died November 12, 1834, at the age of sixty-six years. Charles Chittenden removed to Canfield with his family | in 1801, where his wife and child died. He | afterward married Elma Steele, and, in the | early part of 1808, removed into this township. | He settled on Lot No. 6, Tract No. 13, which | he bought of the Brace Company, and built - his cabin at a spring, on the place now owned | by the Buckle family. Here the first white child in Tallmadge Township was-vorn in June, | 1808, to Mr. and Mrs. Chittenden. She after- | ward married Isaac Newton, and removed to © the far West. Mr. Chittenden was a strong © Episcopalian, and not in accord with the Ba- | conian ideas of Puritanism. He sold to Deacon . Gillett about the year 1811. and moved over | into Springfield Township. where he died in 1833. William Neal came to Ohio in the win- . in this township in the spring of 1808. He half of Lot No. 4, Tract 13, and lived the remainder of his life in Tallmadge and Coventry. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. and died in December, 1842, aged seventy-eight years. George Kilbourn left Connecticut on the 1st day of September, 1801, with ox team, and crossed the mountains to Pittsburgh, and thence to Hudson Township in this county, where he arrived on the sixtieth day of his journey. He was a tanner aud shoemaker by trade, and had been in business in Farmington, where he had been quite successful before coming West. In 1805, he removed to Newburg, where he worked at tanning and shoemaking. In the spring of 1808, he came to - this township and settled on Lots 8 and 9, in Tract 10, and also bought at same time Lots 1 and 6 in Tract 11. He and his sons carried on the farm and tanning business on Camp Brook.

ing in 1815. and bought the farm of Capt. Heman Oviatt, in Hudson Township, where he died March 15, 1866, aged ninety-six years. His wife had died in 1859, aged eighty-seven years. They had traveled together over life's rugged road for sixty-eight years.

To this period in the history of Tallmadge it had been known and designated as Town 2, Range 10, and as yet had no other name. There is, however, some traditions, borne out by more or less evidence, that the settlers met at the house of Mr. Bacon in June. 1808, for the special purpose of selecting a name. Mr. Bacon expressed a desire to have it called for Col. Tallmadge, one of the original proprietors

George Boosinger, Jonathan Sprague, Nathan- © iel Chapman, George Kilbourn. Charles Chittenden, William Neal and Capt. Joseph Hart. The latter was the first settler in Middlebury, now the Sixth Ward of Akron.

viz.: Aaron Norton. Dr. Amos C. Wright. Moses Bradford from Ravenpa, Thomas Dunlap, from Pennsylvania, and Eli Hill, from Virginia. Hill. township since the first settlement : additions for the year was made to the settlement, in the persons of Edmond Strong and John Wright, Jr., natives of Connecticut. They left Morgan, where they had previously located, in sleds drawn by oxen, and by this mode of travel brought their families to this township. They came by way of Cleveland, and were three days in coming from Gleason's Mills. in Bedford, in Cuyahoga County. to Tallmadge. Strong settled on Lot No. 3, Tract No. 6, and was the first settler north of tae east and west center road. Wright settled on the south half of Lot No. 10. Tract 10, where he lived until his death, in 1845. Capt. John Wright, the father of the one just mentioned, emigrated to Ohio with his family in 1802, and came to Tallmadge in the spring of 1809. He was a Revolutionary soldier, and lived here until his death. which took place July 29, 1525, aged eighty-two years. This branch of the Wright family were famous singers and music teachers, and it may be very truthfully said that, from 1808 to the present time. the choir not been without some representative of the Wright family. Alpha, another son of Capt. Wright. and who was but fourteen years of age when his father came to Ohio in 1802, settled with his father, in 1809, on Lot No. 8. in Tract 11, and continued a resident of the township until his death, in 1856. Jotham Blakslee settled on Lot +, in Tract 15, in the early part of 1809. His nephew, also named Jotham Blakslee, and who married his daughter, came to the settlement with him. They had originally settled in Portage County, near Ravenna, in 105, formed in Portage County. During the summer of 1809, he, in company with Gen. Elijah Wadsworth, of Canfield, Selah Payne and a Mr. Stewart. explored Tallmadge Township, and at night struck up camp on Coal Hill.

nails were a scarce article, not only in Tallmadge, but on the Reserve. He made the nails used in Dr. A. C. Wright's barn, the first framed barn in the township, and which was built in 1810. He was of strong anti-slavery principles and-a devoted Christian. He died in 1870, at the age of eighty years. Conrad Boosinger, father to him who is recorded asthe first settler in Tallmadge, settled near his son, in the spring af 1809. He was also a Revolutionary soldier. Both he and his wife died on the place of their settlement, which was on Lot 6, in Tract 14.

Elizur Wright, a wealthy farmer of Connecticut, exchanged his improved farm there for 3,000 acres of land in Tallmadge Township, and, in 1809, came out to see his new possessions. Of Puritan descent, and strong in that faith, he easily became a disciple of Bacon, and adopted his views for the building-up of a church and religious society. He made arrangements to have some land cleared and a house built, and then returned to Connecticut to prepare for removing his family to Ohio. On -the 22d of May, 1810, he left his old home in the Nutmeg State for his new one in Tallmadge. His goods were brought in two large wagons, each drawn by two yoke of oxen; the family came in a carriage drawn by two horses, and -

Pittsburgh, arriving at their destination on the 30th of June. A man of wealth, he was a valuable acquisition to the little community ; liberal in his support of the church, and all worthy, benevolent objects. Through his immediate influence, David Preston was induced to sell out in Connecticut, and move to Tallmadge. Mr. Preston came in the summer of 1810, and brought with him his wife; Drake Fellows and wife and two children; John S. Preston and wife andtwo children. Mr. Preston settled on Lot 2, Tract 13. He was a soldier of the Revolution, and died, July 11, 1827. Fellows bought the south half of Lot No. 1, in Tract No. 14. William Neal, with that true

Fellows and his family: "It was about 18x24 feet ; a bed in one corner; a loom in another ° corner, in the others a table, some chairs, pots, | frying-pan, ete., while Mr. and Mrs. Fellows made their bed on the floor under the loom. This was the way the pioneers roughed it." It is believed that Elizur Wright built the second frame barn in Tallmadge in 1811. It stood west of the residence of Daniel A. Upson, a grandson of Mr. Wright, and was taken down (the barn) a few years ago. This barn was used as a place of worship before there were any churches or schoolhouses built in the township, and, within its walls, the pioneers were assembled together for divine worship, when the news came of Hull's surrender at Detroit. The little band instantly dispersed, and, before nightfall, all the able-bodied men in the settlement were ready to march to the defense of Cleveland. A second dispatch, however, assured them that Cleveland was in no immediate danger. It was also in this barn that Rev. Simeon Woodruff preached his first sermon in Tallmadge, July 25, 1813. Mr. Wright was the senior deacon of the church for thirty years ; he died in December, 1845, aged eighty-three years. Samuel McCoy, a native of Ireland, came to the township in 1810, and bought Lot No. 4, in Tract 14; and, the same year, Deacon Salmon Sackett came to Tallmadge to look at the land, with a view of exchanging for some of it his farm in Connecticut. He was well pleased with the country, and, returning home, made a trade with Col. Tallmadge for 648 acres of land, which he took in part payment for his farm. He moved on it in 1811, and arrived on the first Monday in July. In speaking of his first visit to Tallmadge, in after years, Deacon Sackett said: ' On my arrival in Tallmadge, I was cordially received by the people after the good old New England fashion. They met for Sabbath worship in Capt. Wright's log house ; the inhabitants of the township were mostly there, men, women and children, and we had a good meeting. I found that a majority of the people were from my native county of Litchfield, and among them was Deacon Elizur Wright. It was so much like New England that I felt at home." Of his sons, and sons-inlaw, with their families, the party that Deacon Sackett brought to the town numbered seven- | teen persons, quite a valuable addition to the settlement. He settled on Lot 9, in Tract 11, and died in November, 1846, at the age of | eighty-four years. In April, 1811, John a | is family consisted of his wife and four children, and they settled on 100 acres, which he purchased on the east side of Lot No. 1, in Tract 16. When he arrived, he stupped at the cabin of Thomas Dunlap, who received him in true pioneer style, for both were Pennsylvanians. Mr. Carruthers was of Scotch descent, and Presbyterian to the core. The lives of Mr. and Mrs. Carruthers were spent in Tallmadge, where they were useful members of society. He died in 1853; she in 1836. Luther Chamberlain

Wilcox came from Morgan, and bought out | Peter Norton ; and, in 1812, Reuben Upson and | family came in; also, Jesse Neal, from New ; York, settled in the township the same year. : The following incident is illustrative of the | both parties were bound to the same place, Mr. | Badger proposed to them to put their knapsacks : in his wagon and travel with him, which they | article for the benefit of his family. In early days all able-bodied men, between eighteen and forty-five years of age, were subject to military duty. This was all the holiday the peocould afford to enjoy, the 4th of July, perhaps, excepted. The laws of Ohio set apart the first Friday in September for * company training," them. A great source of enjoy ment, especially to the young people, was the pioneer ~ quilting party." A lady would invite her friends to assist her in getting out a quilt. It must be done before night, as parlor, dining-room and kitchen were invariably comprised in one room. In the evening the quilt and its frame gave place to the tea-table, which in turn gave way to social enjoyment, as darkness usually brought in the young men of the neighborhood, when to clear the room of chairs and tables for a dance, as the opening of the green baize bag always produced the fiddle, and to its enlivening music the youngsters would "trip the light fantastic toe." regardless of the rough puncheon floor. A puncheon floor in a log cabin of one room was no obstacle to those who liked to cabin home of her, with whom, perhaps, you have since walked life's rugged journey. and found her dressed in a flannel, linsey-woolsey, or calico dress; and when from the corner of produced by themselves. Meat, bread and a few vegetables were the main staples in the way of provisions. Whisky was very common after 1818, and in a few families previous to that date. The surplus grain was made into whisky and thus it was put into better and more convenient shape to handle. Whisky was almost a legal tender.

Philadelphia and Baltimore across the mountains. Of course, this put upon the goods so high a tariff that home manufactures were the main dependence for clothing. But little attention was then devoted to stock-raising, or to the improvement of stock. Horses and cattle were of inferior breed, and hogs even worse if possible. Long and gaunt, with snouts of sufficient length to root a foot deep without getting dirt in their eyes; regular racers and chuck full of fight. Sheep were native breeds, and course of wool, very unlike those we have now. The pioneer farmer worked to a great disadvantage ; his teams were oxen, and his plow was what was called the "bull plow," and was made principally of wood, by some farmer, more handy with tools than his neighbors. Crops were not raised and harvested without the severest manual labor.

Coal-mining in Tallmadge has been carried to some extent, but as this branch of industry has been more particularly mentioned in another chapter, we shall say but little on the subject. Coal was discovered at an early day, at or near the southeast corner of the township. There is 4 tradition that it also was discovered one mile west of the center. by means of a woodchuck, which, in digging its burrow, threw out pieces of coal. Col. Charles Whittlesey says: ' Coal was first found at Coal Hill, in 1810. There was an entry made inaravine north of the eastand-west road. which was owned by Asaph Whittlesey and Samuel Newton. The demand until they were burned out. John A. Carruthers at one time did a large business in the manufacture of sorghum sirup. After carrying on the business for some time, he turned his attention to the making of apple-butter. Barnes Brothers also do a large business in this line. The first tannery was opened on Camp Brook, south of the center, by George Kilbourn. in 1809. He was followed by Anson Ashley, who for several years carried on the business. John Carruthers also did some tanning in the southeast part of the town. The streams of water in Tallmadge were small, and of little force as a water-power, but were utilized to some ex- A saw-mill was built on the Sperry Farm opened by Aaron Hine in 1819, and was the _ first public-house in the township. This tavern was south of the center. He was followed in the business by William S. Granger, who kept a tavern on the south side of the public square. He was succeeded by William Kingsbury, Ephraim Shaler and others. A large house was built on the east side of the public square, mine was opened then. About this time, Henry Newberry. of Cuyahoga Falls. discovered coal at the northwest six corners." In later years, coal has been extensively mined in the township, and the deposits by some are supposed to be nearly exhausted. The first attempt at manufacturing in Tallmadge was in 1817. Asaph Whittlesey. in connection with Lair & Norton, built a forge and raanufactured bariron, The location is still known as the * Old Forge." In 1827, Amos Avery opened a shop for the manufacture of wagons. William C. Oviatt had opened a blacksmith-shop the year partnership for the manufacture of carriages. This business, under various firms, has been continued to the present time. The manufacture of stoneware is carried on extensively, and sewer-pipe was made by Sperry & Richie

When Tallmadge first became known to the whites. there was a well-defined Indian trail passing through the township in a southeasterly course from Cuyahoga Portage, and crossed the first roads in Tallmadge was the north-and-south | center road. The petition for it was granted by © the County Commissior.rs of Portage County, - soon after its organization as a county in 1808. | The signers to the petition for this road were | Charles Clinttenden, Ephraim Clark, Jr., Jona- - the petition, George Kilbourn, Nathaniel Chapman and David Bacon were appointed a committee, and Joseph Darrow, Surveyer. About 1824, a State road was laid out from Canton to Cleveland through Tallmadge, on the northand-south center road. Another State road | from Wooster to Mantua, in Portage County, | passed through Tallmadge on the northeast and southwest diagonal road, and was laid out about | | 1827. A second petition for a road, dated | | February 20, 1809, was for what is now the | | southeast diagonal road to the center, thence to the east line of Great Lot No. 1, and thence to | the most convenient place to build a bridge ! over the Cuyahoga River, near the north line of » ' the town. Another road was laid out from ; Hart & Norton's Mill, called the " mill road." ; It was laid out in 1809-10, and another from ' Middlebury to Cuyahoga Falls, passing the old © Forge und Bettes' Corners. The first mail _ route was established in 1814, over the road , | from Cleveland to Canton, the mail passing twice a week. For some years it was carried | on horseback ; then a hack or stage was put | on, and passengers as well as the mail were car- | ried between those points. Some years later, | | another route was established from Akron to | | Kent and Ravenna, and returning via Brim- | ' field. Still later a mail route was established from Cuyahoga Falls to Tallmadge. the mail being carried on horseback. The mail for Tallmadge is now received daily by the Penn- | sylvania, New York & Ohio Railroad. The At- | lantic & Great Western - now the New York, | Pennsylvania & Ohio Railway - was surveyed | pass the center, the people of the township | subscribed $43,000. This road has been of in- | estimable value to us. The Valley Railroad | touches a very small corner of Tallmadge. The railroad history, however, is more fully given | in another chapter. The first store was opened | in a building which stood in front of the resi- | dence of I. P. Sperry, and it is supposed | that the firm was Fenn & Howard. They con- | tinued in business some time, and were followed | by Christopher C. Sturdevant. He erected the | building now used as a store. Wiswell & Groff opened a store in this building, but did not remain long, and Eleazer C. Sackett was the next merchant: William A. Hanford clerked for Sackett, and eventually bought half of his interest ; then Homer S. Carter bought out Sack- | ett. This firm carried on business until E. V. Carter bought out Hanford, when the firm became H. 8S. & E. V. Carter. E. V..sold to his partner, who carried on the store until Clement Wright took an interest, and the firm became Carter & Wright. Carter finally withdrew. and Wright still continues the business. A man named Clark opened a store about the year 1835, in the house now the residence of Benjamin D. Wright, which was continued for some two years or more. A post office was established in Tallmadge April 9, 1814, with Asaph Whittlesey as Postmaster, a position he held uniil his death in 1842. His son, S. H., succeededed him as Postmaster, and he was succeeded by H. 8. Carter. During Buchanan's administration, Heman K. Parsons was appointed, who resigned at the beginning of Mr. Lincoln's administration, and H. 8. Carter was again appointed, who retained the office until the appointment of Clement Wright, the present Postmaster.

The first church society organized in the township is known as the " First Congregational Church of Tallmadge,' and has borne that title for sixty years. Rev. David Bacon preached the first sermon, not only in Tallmadge but in Springfield and Suttield, for the few scattered inhabitants of the three townships would gather on the Sabbath Day, at the cabin of some settler, and Mr. Bacon would officiate as a volunteer missionary to the little congregation. The first meetings were held in his cabin. and afterward barns were used as temples of worship. It is supposed that Rev. Jonathan Leslie was the next preacher to Mr. Bacon. He was a missionary, and sent out in the interest of the missionary society of Connecticut. Rev. Simeon Woodruff was another of the early ministers who proclaimed the word to the pioneers of Tallmadge, and the first regular Pastor of the church. Rev. Jonathan Leslie preached his first sermon on the 20th of January, 1809, and, on the next day, which was Saturday, a number of persons met together for the purpose of forming a * Church of Christ," Mr. Leslie acting »s Moderator. The following is the record oc the Sabbath meeting, January 22, 1809 : " Met according to adjournment. Present, George Kilbourn, Almira his wife ; Ephraim Clark, Jr., Amelia his wife : Alice Bacon ; Amos C.Wright, Lydia his wife; Hepsibah Chapman and Justin E. Frink. The persons above named presented themselves to be constituted a Church of Christ. A system of faith was then read, to which they gave their consent. were then led to the solemn adoption of a covenant, in which they engaged to keep and walk in the ordinances of the Gospel of Christ. They were then declared a Church of Christ, com- mended to His blessing, and charged solemnly to keep covenant and walk worthy the followers of the Lord Jesus, the head of the church. (Signed) Jonathan Leslie, Moderator." This organization took place in Mr. Bacon's cabin, and, at the same time, the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper was administered for the first time the township. The ordinarice of baptism was also administered on four children, viz., Juliana and Alice, daughters of Mr. Bacon ; Amos, son of Dr. Amos C. Wright, and Eliza, daughter of The last one of the original

' in which this church was organized has been marked, and is looked on as almost sacred. | Here it was that the Scriptures were first read in the township, here the first sermon was preached. and here the first church society was organized - almost equal to the spot on which King Sol-

' omon's temple stood. which had been " thrice | dedicated to the one true and living God." | The Congregational Church of Tallmadge is ' claimed to be the eleventh church organization | on the Western Reserve, a fact that is probably | beyond dispute. The first is the First Presbyterian. of Youngstown, which was organized in

_ of the people, and eventually proved impracticable. He found theory was one thing and One of his cherished ideas was that none should receive land but those who were either members of the Congregational Church or in sympathy with its principles, and $2 were to be paid on each one hundred acres of land, the sum to go toward the support of the Gospel. This provision was inserted in some of the early contracts and deeds, but never went into general use. The clause was as follows: "Reserving an annuity of #2 on each and every 100 acres of land sold, to be paid on the Ist day of January of each year

: forever, to the committee of the Society of Tall- | madge for the support of the Gospel Ministry ' of the Calvinistic faith, and of the Congregational order of said society forever, with a right ' and power to distrain for the same in case the game be in arrear. Which annuity we, for di- "vers good considerations, especially for the sum of $1, received of the society in Tallmadge, in the county of Portage, do for ourselves and our heirs hereby give, grant, sell, | assign and transfer the aforesaid annuity of $2 on each and every 100 acres of land in the said ' society of Tallmadge, and to their successors ' forever ; to hold and receive the same in trust, for the use and purpose of supporting the min- "istry aforesaid in said society forever. (Signed) David Bacon." As we have said, this provision ' did not go into general use. Edmond Strong refused to pay the sum thus levied on his land, and Mr. Bacon commenced a suit against him as a test of the legality of such contracts. Peter Hitchcock, of Burton, since a Member of Congress and Judge of the Supreme Court of Ohio, was Mr. Strong's attorney. Mr. Bacon lost the case, and thus ended the perpetual land tax to support the church in Tallmadge. This suit took place about the year 1811. But, notwithstanding these little difficulties, a majority of the people were Bacon's warm, true friends, and he was held in high estimation in the community. Early in 1812, he made his arrangements to return to Connecticut with his family. The people assembled in the schoolhouse at the four corners on top of the hill, near Jesse Sprague's, to hear his farewell sermon. He chose for his text 2 Tim., iii, 9: " But they shall proceed no further : for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.' From the account given of this sermon by Mr. Blakslee, who was present, Mr. Bacon did not spare the little flock, and was very pointed and emphatic in his remarks to Ephraim Clark, Jr., and Mr. Sprague for the course they had pursued in opposition to his cherished plans. Mr. Bacon died in Hartford, Conn., August 27, 1817, at the early age of forty-six years. The first regular Pastor of the Congrega- | tional Church of Tallmadge was Rev. Simeon Woodruff, already alluded to incidentally. He was a native of Litchfield, Conn., and a graduate of Yale College. He studied theology at Andover, and was licensed to preach in 1812. In 1813, he was sent to the Western

Reserve as a missionary, and on the 18th of | May of that year he was installed Pastor of | the church in Ephraim Clark's barn, a building | that is still standing. His pastorate closed | September 19, 1823, and he died in Bainbridge. , Mich., in August, 1839. The second Pastor ' was Rev. John Keys, a native of New Hampshire, and a graduate of Dartmouth College. - He was installed Pastor of the Tallmadge Church by the Presbytery of Portage Septem- | ber 9, 1824, and continued until April 16, 1832, when his connection ceased. He died in | Cuyahoga County in January, 1867. Rev. | Jedediah E. Parmelee succeeded Mr. Keys, | and began his duties as acting Pastor of the | church January 18. 1833. Owing to failing ~ health, he resigned his charge April 14, 1840, | and died in New York in June, 1841. Rey. William Magill commenced his duties as Pastor of Tallmadge Church in 1840. and was regularly installed as Pastor August 16, 1841. He remained until 1843. when his connection ceased; he is yet living. Rev. Carlos - Smith was the next Pastor. and commenced his ministrations July 25, 13847. By vote of the church he was called to the pastorate, but was never installed as such. He: labored as Pastor elect until J anuary 14. 1862, ° when he received and accepted a call from the Second Congregational Church of Akron. He | died in Akron April 22. 1877. at the age of

He was invited to attend the semi-centennial of the church held September 8, 1875. He came and participated, but was very unwell, and after the services went with Mr. Daniel Hine to his home, where he died on the 24th. He was the first of the Pastors of our church buried in Tallmadge. At this time (1881) there are sleeping in the little graveyard at Tallmadge Center nine ministers of he Gospel, viz.: Rev. Aaron Kitine, Rev. Aaron Kinne Wright, Rev. Fayette D. Matthews, Rev. William Hanford, Rev. Elisha 8. Scott, Rev. Will-

Cutter, who commenced his pastoral duties September 1, 1871, and closed his work with the church May 30, 1875. The present acting Pastor is Rev. William Blackmore Marsh.

The Congregational Church of cme pe erected a temple of worship in 1822. It is 56 x44 feet in dimensions, surmounted by a steeple 100 feet high. The building was raised and inclosed in 1822, but not finished until 1825. On the 8th of September of that year, it was of it is not known, but will probably approximate $8,000. It was remodeled in 1849, and re-dedicated in 1850. At the time of its first dedication, it was considered the best house of worship on the Western Reserve, and upon research was proven to be the fifth built witha | steeple, after the New England fashion. The first of these five was built at Austinburg (now in Ashtabula County) in 1816; the second in Euclid, now known as Collamer. about the year 1817; also in the same year, the old brick meeting-house at Aurora was begun, but was not finished until 1825; built in Hudson in 1819. All of these ancient temples have passed away before the march of improvement, but those of Tallmadge and Colamer. The number of communicants of the Tallmadge Church at the present time are 105 males and 169 females. The Sunday school was organized probably about the spring of 1822. although classes had been taught atter the manner of Sunday schools previous to that the beginning of winter, and resume work in the spring, but since that time (1835) has continued in active operation throughout the entire year.

The Methodist Episcopal Church is the only religious denomination. aside from the Congregational Church, that has ever been represented in Tallmadge by an organized society. The first introduction of Methodism into the township occurred somewhat as follows: Milo Stone and Jotham Blakslee, not fully agreeing with the Congregational doctrine in every particular, went over to Middlebury to listen to the words of wisdom falling from the lips of Rev. Billings O. Plimpton, at that time preaching on the Canton Circuit of the M. E. Church. Being that locality. preached his first sermon in the schoolhouse, which then stood west of the Center road, nearly in front of the town hall. ued his labors at intervals, and near the close of the year formed a class at the Center consisting of Jotham Blakslee (class leader), Milo Stone, Sarah B. Stone, his wife, S. H. Lowrey, Anna P. Lowrey, his wife, and Mrs. Martha Stephens.

Mr. Plimpton was returned to the Canton Circuit the next year (1826), and Tallmadge Center became one of his regular appointments. At this time it was in the jurisdiction of the Pittsburgh Conference, and so remained until 1837, when it became a part of occupied by the church until 1874, when a lot was purchased on the south side of the square, and the present elegant edifice erected at a cost present Pastor is Rev. E. A. Simmons, with a A Sunday continued to the present time. It is a noteworthy fact that these two denominations have always worked together in harmony and love, holding Thanksgiving services alternately at each church, and the ministers frequently exchanging pulpits. The cause of temperance has always bad many warm friends and supporters in Tallmadge, though sixty years ago it

| was not considered derogatory to the character ' and standing of a family to use spirituous | liquors as a beverage. | would exchange their grain for whisky, and ' often would have a barrel of it in their houses.

' ways carried these principles with them ; first, to _ organize a church, erect a building suitable for holding meetings, and, next, to erect a school-

Connecticut. The first attempt at a school of which we have any account was in the spring of 1810. A small log building was erected for school purposes at the south four corners. A meeting was called at this place, as the writer was informed by Jotham Blakslee, but two men got into an altercation, and it was

But so deeply interested was Mrs. Blakslee in having a school, that she undertook the duty of visiting the settlers upon the subject. She also went to Martin Kent's, in Suffield, and hired a Miss Lucy Foster as a teacher. She came and taught school during the spring and summer of | 1810, which was doubtless the first school in | Tallmadge. She afterward married Alpha | Wright, and spent the remainder of her long and useful life in Tallmadge, and died Septem- - ber 30, 1875, at the ripe age of eighty-five | years. It is thought that a schoolhouse was built in the fall of 1810, on the hill at the | southwest four corners, and a school kept in | it during the winter of 1810-11. A similar house was built at the south four corners, and © another in the east part of the township, soon - atter those already mentioned. The first frame schoolhouse was built on the public square, on | the spot now occupied by the Congregational ° Church. It was commenced in 1814, but not finished until the next year; was 26x36 feet, two stories high, the lower story being occupied | by the district school, and the upper story by - the academy, and also for religious worship. The academy was opened with Rev. Simeon Woodruff as teacher or Principal, and was succeeded by Elizur Wright and others. An act incorporating the Tallmadge Academy was passed February 27, 1816. The academy building was burned on the night of January 12, 1820, and a new building erected the same | year, especially for the purpose. A separate building was erected for the district school, | southeast of the town hall, and it was in this ' building that the Methodist Episcopal Church | was organized. As the population and wealth . of the township increased. frame school build- | ings were erected in other districts, and some | have been replaced with handsome and com- ' modious bricks. When the new town hall was built, the people, by subscription, raised a sufficient amount to build the second story for the academy, and for several years competent teachers were employed in this department. But the system of graded schools finally superseded the academy. A special district was formed at the Center June 11, 1870, anda lot was purchased and a building was erected, which was used until it was burned. It was speedily » rebuilt, at a cost (building and furniture) of $4,500. There are four departments, occupying | four rooms, with competent teachers. The Deaf and Dumb School of Tallmadge | was an institution that should have a place in | the township's history. This project was inaugurated in consequence of there being a | family in the neighborhood in which there | were three children who were deaf mutes. A meeting was held March 19, 1827, to look , into the matter, and a committee, consisting of Rev. John Keys, Deacon Elizur Wright. Dr. Philo Wright, Garney Treat and Alfred Fenn, | with power to act and devise means for a: school. They finally adopted a measure for organizing a deaf and dumb school, secured rooms and employed Col. Smith, who had taken a thorough course in the Deaf and Dumb Asylum at Hartford, Conn. The school was opened May 1, 1827, in a room of Alpha Wright's house, one mile south of the Center. Tuition was $6 per quarter. and the session was for six months. In 1829, the Deaf and Dumb Asylum was established at Columbus, and the school was transferred to it. But Tallmadge claims the honor of establishing the first institution of the kind in the State.

A library was organized in Tallmadge in 1813, and continued in existence for over fifty years. The idea of a public library was brought from New England. It was supported by shares of stock, or memberships, fines, bids, donations, etc.. ete., and it continued to increase until it contained over three hundred volumes of standard works. Plays and novels anti-slavery. a question in which Tallmadge felt the most lively interest. A large number of the people were in sympathy with the antislavery movement, and a man who would in- | form upon or arrest a colored individual under the Fugitive Slave Law would have found Tallmadge a rather warm climate to live in. The cause gained strength gradually. and. when Fort Sumter was fired on. in 1861, Tallmadge was ready for her part in the great battle for humanity and the Union.