Cuyahoga Falls City (part 1 of 6)

Cuyahoga Falls Township

The undivided half of 210 acres in the southwest corner of Stow's township - which now embraces the northeast part of the village - was purchased by William Wetmore, and together they began the improvement of the tract in 1825. In 1814, Henry Newberry, the son of Ivoger Newberry, came on to see his lands which had been given him by his father, which have been just described as 1,000 acres lying in the northwest part of Tallmadge Township. Henry was so well pleased with his gift that he resolved to make there his future home. He did not remove to Ohio, however, until 1824. He first lived upon a farm at Stow Lake (now Silver Lake) two j^ears, meanwhile making improvements at the Falls ; so that those of Stow and Wetmore on the north, and those of Newberry on the south were begun at about the same period. The year 1825 may, therefore, be considered as the one from which to date the existence of Cuyahoga Falls.

While Henry Newberry was living at Silver Lake, he ei'ected a log house for his workmen upon the spot where George D^^re's house now stands, and cleared about an acre between it and the river. This was the first building upon his part of the town. Stow and Wetmore began their improvements by the erection of a cabin where the brown house now stands north of the livery stable, directly west of the upper dam. The improvements made by them of the water-power at this point will be noticed hereafter.

William Wetmore was born in Middletown, Conn., September 15, 1771. He was a descendant of Thomas Wetmore, one of the proprietors of Middletown, who purchased the site of the Indians in 1662. He removed to Ohio in July, 1804, and built the second house that was erected in what was afterward Stow Township. It stood about twenty rods eastwardly of the northeast corner of Lot 36. In 1808, Stow Township was organized, and he was elected a Justice of the Peace. In August of that year, the county of Portage being organized he was appointed Clerk of the Court at Kavenna. He afterward resigned the office, moved back to Stow and settled on his farm. He died at his residence on the east bank of Silver Lake, October 27, 1827. Henry Newberry was born in Windsor, Conn., in January, 1783. In 1814, soon after the death of his father, he came to Ohio, as before stated, to look at his possessions in the Western wilds. He first lived at Silver Lake two years, having moved there, as previously mentioned, in 1824, and then took up his residence at the Falls. He died in 1854, in the stone house, afterward the residence of James H. Cooke. Such, in brief, are the biographies of the founders of Cuyahoga Falls.*

In 1822, Elkanah Richardson came from Stow and built the house long known as the " Red House," which stands a little north of the " Big Spring," on the west side of Main street. This house was the first frame house erected south of the "old village." The first frame building put up on Stow and Wetmoi'e's land was intended for a dwelling-house and store. It was built by William Wetmore, Jr., in 1826, and is now known as the " Perry House." In

1828, the store now occupied by Giles L'Hommedieu was built, and the goods removed into it, leaving the first to be used for a dwelling only. It was not long before it became a place of entertainment for strangers, and finally a regular hotel. It was first kept by Benjamin F. Hopkins. He was succeecled by E. B. 31organ, and he by Ira Loomis. It was known as the American House. It has passed through several hands since then, but has been little changed. The same j^ear (1828), Jabez Hamlin came and built the house next south of the " Big Spring," and, soon after, the tannery now owned b}' C. Kettleberger. In 1829, Mr. Richardson built a log house in the southeast corner of what is now George Sacketts yard, and afterward the thii'd house south of Falls street, on Front street, in which he spent the rest of his life. He died in 1836.

1829, John Rumrill came as the foreman in Stow & Wetmore's paper-mill. He built the house near the depot, known as the Jones House. Rowland Clapp came from Vermont and took up his residence in the village in 1828. He has made it his home in the place ever

Joshua Stow came to the township named after him in 1804, he returned to Connecticut the next year; So that he can only be identified as one of thefounders of the Falls from thecircumstances of his having an interest therein. On that account no sketch of his life is given in this connection.

since. E. N. Sill came in 1829, an<l, in 1834 and the year following, built the center part of his house, the wings having been added at a later date. The builder was Mr. Lodge, who is still a resident of the Falls. Grrant E. Turner, with his father, came in 1828 ; soon went to Ravenna, but returned in 1835, and has resided in the town since then. C. W. Wetmore and S. D. Wetmore came to the place in 1832, and built their houses soon after. John Eadie and George Dailey came in 1830. 0. B. Beebe arrived in 1831, and Israel James in 1832. Before this date came also the following : Prescott Sawyer, Noah E. Lemoine, Henry James, William Lauson, J. T. HoUoway, J. Blair, S. D. Clark, Alexander Gillispie, Noah Rice, John Willard, Birdsey Booth. Alexander English, Isaac Gill, Prince Hopkins (colored), Asa Mariner, Mr. Lamb, Mr. Teal, Thoma- Gill, John Alexander, Simon Brown, William Perkins, Charles Hamlin, Henr}' Barger, J. Jenkins, A. Yockey, Joseph- Beebe, Dr. C. W. Rice, John Braiuard, Nathan Rose, '- Judge " Burgess, William Alley, James Alley, H. N. Pool, David Wadsworth, A. Wadsworth. Many of these were heads of families.

The town of Cuyahoga Falls was first laid out in 1825, by Elkanah Richardson. It was subsequently re-surveyed, platted and recorded by Birdsey Booth. It was located in the townships of Stow and Tallmadge, and included all of the present platted village except so much as has since been platted east of the Cuyahoga River and north of the Tallmadge Township line. The part last mentioned was platted and recoi'ded by R. A. Ashman, Count}' Surveyor, in 1837. The original proprietors were Henr^' Newberr}', Joshua Stow and William Wetmore. The proprietor of the addition was Joseph Hale. No allotment has been made to the original plat except the one of 1837. That part lying in the township of Stow was owned b}' Stow and Wetmore ; that part included in Tallmadge was the propert}' of Newberr^'.

The name of the village is derived from the falls in the Cuyahoga River, to be seen within its limits. The stream has cut a channel into the sandstone from eighty to one hundred feet in depth. This deep-cut channel extends over two miles. In it ai"e the falls. The name first given to the village was Manchester ; but, as there were many towns of that name in the Union, and the falls of the river were seen to

B}' an act of the General Assembly of the State of Ohio, passed March 5, 1836, it was provided that "so much of the townships of Tallmadge and Stow as is comprised within the following limits, to wit : Beginning at the northwest corner of the township of Tallmadge and running south on the west line of said township, two hundred and forty rods ; thence east two hundred and forty rods ; thence north to the north line of Lots Nos. 1 and 2 in said [township] of Stow ; thence west two hundred and forty rods ; thence south to the place of l)eginning ; and any addition thereto that may be hereafter platted and i-ecorded, be hereby constituted a town corporate, by the name of Cu^-ahoga Falls." The act also provided for the election of a Mayor, Recorder and five Trustees - constituting the Town Council. This body was given power, among other things, to " provide for the election or appointment of a Treasurer, a Town Marshal, and such other subordinate officers as the}' may find necessary." Unfortunately, the provisions of this act were not known to the electors of Cuyahoga Falls " until after the day on which, b}- said provisions, the election of the Town Council should have been holden ; " and doubts having " arisen whether the privileges granted by said act " had not ceased by the neglect of such election, therefore a bill was passed to revive and amend the before-mentioned act, giving it vitalit}' and removing all doubts as to its legality ; also providing for an election of oflScers to be holden " on the first or any succeeding Tuesday in April next," after the second act took effect.

Pursuant to public notice, on the 4th of April, 1837, the qualified electors of the town of Cuyahoga Falls met at the schoolhouse for the purpose of electing officers under the acts of incorporation just described. Henry Newberry was chosen Ma^^or ; Grant B. Turner, Recorder; 0. B. Beebe, Asa G. Bill, E. B. Dennison, E. N. Sill and Henr}- Wetmore, Trustees. On the 7th of the same month, these officers were qualified and the Council organized. Ogden Wetmore was elected Treas urer the same day, and, on the day following, Sherman Peck was chosen Marshal.

period of nearly fifteen years. During that time, the following gentlemen filled, successively, the office of Mayor : Henry Newberry, C. W. Wetmore, Hosea Paul, C W. Wetmore, Birdsey Booth, Hosea Paul, 0. B. Beebe and C. W. Wetmore. It may here be mentioned that a township was organized in April, 1851, out of the corners of Tallmadge, Stow, Northampton and Portage, called Cuyahoga Falls. Some time subsequent to this, it was generally conceded by the denizens of the town of Cuyahoga Falls, that it would be to the benefit of all that the corporation should be given up and cease to exist - that it should be, in fact, merged into the newly created township of the same name. So, on April 30, 1853, "on motion,'" said the Town Council, '- we do commit all interests of the town of Cuyahoga Falls to the Trustees of Cuyahoga Falls Township, and that we do now adjourn without day." So the town of Cuyahoga Falls ceased its corporate existence.

In March, 1868, there was presented to the Commissioners of Summit County, at their regular session, a petition of 215 residents and qualified voters of the township of Cuyahoga Falls, asking " that the territory known as the township of Cuyahoga Falls " be made an incorporated village, under and b}^ the name of the incorporated village of Cuyahoga Falls. Thereupon, on June 3 of that year, the County Commissioners entered upon their records the following order :

The matter of the incorporation of the township of Cuyahoga Falls under and by the name of the " Incorporated Village of Cuyahoga Falls," came up for hearing to-day, as adjourned from the March session ; and, on consideration thereof, we, the Commissioners of said county, do find and determine that due notice of the rtling and pendency of said petition was given according to law ; and we are of the opinion that the prayer of the petitioners should be granted. And we do order that said township of Cuyahoga Falls may l)e organized under and by the name of " The Incorporated Village of Cuyahoga Falls," and order the same to be recorded.

The " village " was organized by the election, September 1, 1868, of William A. Hanford, Mayor ; Porter G. Somers, Recorder ; Henry C. Lockwood, Treasurer ; T. F. Heath, Charles Hunt, L. W. Loomis, W. M. Griswold and John Hinde, Trustees, and l)y these gentlemen, on the 9th of that month, taking the oath of the office to wliich the}' were several I3' elected, and assuming the duties thereof The following gentlemen have successively filled the office of Mayor : Richard Blood, C. P. Humphrey, J. L'Hommedieu, H. B. Camp, George W. Rice, William A. Hanford. The village is, as alread}^ shown, co-extensive with the township. Its exact limits will hereafter be given.

At the March session of 1851 of the Board of Commissioners of Summit County, " Hosea Paul and others came and presented a numerously signed petition, from the village of Cuj-ahoga Falls and vicinity, asking the Board of County Commissioners to construct a new township from the northwest corner of Tallmadge Township, the southwest corner of Stow Township, the southeast corner of Northampton Township, and the northeast corner of Portage Township." On AVednesda}', March 5, 1851, -' The Board all present. Then came Hosea Paul and others presenting a petition, and urging personally that a new township be formed out of the northwest corner of Tallmadge, northeast corner of Portage, southeast corner of Northampton, and the southwest corner of Stow Township, furnishing a map of the proposed new township ; and the board l^enig satisfied that all necessary legal preliminary steps had been taken, and there is an incorporated village (Cuyahoga Falls) within the bounds of the proposed new township, ordered that lots one, two, eleven and twelve (1, 2, 11, and 12), in the township of Stow ; lots eight, nine and ten (8, 9 and 10), in the Township of Northampton ; all of tract one and fort}' rods of the north part of tract five, in the Township of Tallmadge, and so much of the northeast corner of Portage Township as is embraced within the following boundary, to wit : Beginning at the northeast corner of said Portage Township, and running thence west on the north line of said

George Sackctt's farm of 160^^^ acres, thence due south to the Cuyahoga River ; thence easterly on the north liank of said river to the east line of said Portage Township ; thence on said east line to the place of beginning - be constituted a township, and that the legal steps be taken to organize the same under and by the name of Cuyalioga Falls Township, Hosea Paul pledging himself that he would give notices required l)y law, and that the new township of Cuyahoga Falls would defray all the expenses incurred by the creation of said township."

Histoky Of Summit Couxty

ners of four others was erected by the County Commissoiiiers for the purpose of accomodating the citizens of the town of Cuyahoga Falls. As the boundaries defined by the Commissioners were afterward adopted as the boundaries of the incorporated village, it follows, of course, as already mentioned, that one is co-extensive with the other ; and the limits just given as those of the " township of Cu3'ahoga Falls " are the limits also of the " incorporated village of Cuyahoga Falls."

At the first election held in the Township of Cuyahoga Falls, on the 7th of April, 1851, the following persons were chosen officers for the _year following : Trustees, Horace A. Miller, Henry Newberr}^, Jr., and Porter Gr. Somers ; Township Clerk, Grant B. Turner ; Township Treasurer, Lucius Bradley ; Assessor, William H. Taylor ; Constables, William W. Lucas and William J. Wilson ; Supervisor, Seymour Deming. Upon the qualification of these officers, and their assuming the duties of their respective offices, the township of Cu3^ahoga Falls was legallj' organized.

The people of Cuyahoga Falls had before been dependent upon four townships for the administration of their affairs ; for, of course, each township exercised jurisdiction over that part lying within its limits. This Avas a great inconvenience, as the citizens of the village felt that they had a unity of interests. As it was, a concert of action necessary to their relation with each other was impossible. The organization of the new township was therefore a relief in many wa^'s, and gave a new start to the prospects of the town ; but its histor}' is so merged into that of the village, that the two are inseparable.

"The water-power at the southwest and northwest corners of the Township concentrated population at these points till their numbers were so great that Middlebury and Cuyahoga Falls were made separate election districts, and, at length, the northwest corner was set off to the new township of Cuyahoga Falls.

" Of the aboriginal inhabitants, few, probably, had ever inhabited this part of the country even prior to the surrender of their title to the whites. There are, indeed, evidences that, at some remote period, this country was occupied b}' a people more numerous and of a higher type of civilization ; but this is true of Indians, who occupied the country at the time of its settlement by the whites. This had been the border ground of different tril^es, and was otherwise an unfavorable location for a large people, depending mainly upon hunting for a subsistence. Wild game, though seemingly abundant to the whites, was ^-et too limited for the wants of a larger population.

'- Living partly by a rude cultivation of the soil and by fishing, as well as by hunting, the Indians preferred the open and fertile bottom land of rivers and lakes. There were, indeed, some small and scattered villages or encampments of Indians in this vicinity. [The writer here speaks of Tallmadge Township, but the remark is equally true of Cuyahoga Falls.] A small number of Senecas lived near the junction of the main and Little Cuyahoga, at or near the place somewhat widely known in modern times as the Chuckery.

" An anecdote of Stigwanish, the chief of these Indians, has been related to me, which seems to furnish evidence of somewhat higher moral perceptions than has alwa^'s been ascribed to untaught Indians. Stigwanish was friendl}- to the whites, and often visited the settlement at Hudson. It was at just about the time of the first settlement of Tallmadge that this chief wtis at the house of a Mr. Pease in Hudson, and. to persuade a son of Mr. Pease, a child of some four or five years of age, to come and sit upon his lap, he offered to give him his pipe-hatchet. The offer proved sufficient to overcome the repugnance of the child to the swarthy face of Indian. As the chief was about to leave, the return of the hatchet was proffered, but resolutely refused, Stigwanish saying. 'Musn't lie to children - no good.' This native chief had scarcely learned this precept from the whites, however frequently, in his intercourse with them, he might have had illustrations of its truth, and he who obeyed it could scarcely have been a savage. S. Pease, of Cuyahoga, was the recipient of the chief's hatchet.''

" A branch of an Indian trail," writes Gen. Bieree, in 1854, in speaking of Cuyahoga Falls Township, " from Fort Mcintosh, on the Ohio [Beaver, Penn.,], to Sandusky, passes through this township. On arriving near Fish Creek, in Franklin, Portage Count}-, it branches - one branch of the trail passing north, through the Indian towns in Northampton and Bath ; the other turning south to the Great Falls, called by the Indians ' Coppacaw.' This was a celebrated trail for the Indians in their war ex cursions, as well as with the ' Rangers ' in their pursuit of them. It was on these two trails that Bradj^'s men were divided, at the time of his defeat near the towns on the Cuyahoga, and on which a part made their retreat. Several years ago, a rifle barrel was found in the Big Spring, in this village, a remnant, probably, of that hasty flight.

"Tlie trail passes nearly in front of Mr. Newberry's house, and, near where the canal bridge now is, was a plateau of about twenty-five feet square raised about a foot, where probably had been a council house. In his garden, as well as on the rise of ground north of the Big Spring, are remains of Indian wigwams. But poor ' Logan, the friend of the white man,' with his braves, who so often traversed these grounds, has gone to the spirit-land, where it is to be hoped his fidelity will receive a better reward than it did on earth - if not, justice is unknown in earth or heaven."

The topography of Cuyahoga Falls presents but few interesting features except in the immediate vicinity of the river. Back from the stream, the surface is gently undulating. The falls are the most striking natural objects within the limits of the village. The river, for a distance of about two miles in this township and Portage, has a descent of two hundred and twenty feet. There are, in that distance, three falls of considerable height, but the descent for the whole wa^' is so rapid that it forms a continuous water-power. The river has made for itself a deep channel, with precipitous banks of great height, as already mentioned. These are clothed with evergreen and other trees, presenting very picturesque scener}-. As will hereafter be shown, the eftect of these natural embellishments in beautifying the landscape has been to cause it to become a fixvorite I'esort for parties of pleasure during the summer months. This scenery' extends from north to south nearly through the whole length of the village. The town is underlaid by sand rock, in which is an abundant supplv of pure water. The slope of the land is such as to render drainage an easy matter. This furnishes special reasons for the healthiness of the place.

" The western part of the county of Portage [now Summit County] affords, indeed, a field full of interest, not only to the geologist, but also to the agriculturist, the merchant, the mechanic, and especially to the manufacturer, for here are to be found in rich profusion all the incentives to active industry and enlightened enterprise. Within the space of about fifteen miles north and south, and ten miles east and west, it contains an extent of waterpower (so rarely to be found in abundance in the State) which is known to be equaled by an}" west of the mountains, and so distributed as to accommodate an abundant population and a great extent of country. This waterpower is the result of the fall of the main Cuyahoga and the Little Cuyahoga Rivers from the high level of the country, about two hundred and fifty to three hundred feet to their junction, and the fall of their united streams thence to the north boundary of the count}-, being about one hundred and seventy-feet. The whole power is equal to drive 3-46 run of mill-stones, each run being capable of grinding 200 bushels of wheat a day ; or, to 3,460 horse-power, each one being equivalent to raising 25,000 pounds one foot a minute." The writer divides the " runs " as follows : "At Franklin, 18 ; at Monroe Falls, 5 ; at Cuyahoga Falls (within town plat), 80 ; at the same place (within two miles of the center of the village), 114; Middlebury, 5 ; Akron (including accession by canal, etc.), 19 ; at the same place (on Little Cuyahoga, within three miles north), 9 ; on the main Cuyahoga River, at Niles, Boston, and other places, 94 ; total, 346 run." There are now (1881) five dams across the Cuyahoga within the limits of the village, and all within a distance of about a quarter of a mile. The river is crossed by four bridges - the iron bridge, which is the upper one, and is located at the " old village ; " the stone bridge ; the covered bridge, a wooden structure ; and the high bridge, of iron. There is also a railroad bridge which crosses the stream at the " old village."

Coal of the best quality was discovered at an early day upon Mr. Newberry's land, and has been ever since mined with profit. The first coal carried to Cleveland was from these mines, and the speculation proved a bad one. " It was in the summer of 1828," says H. V. Bronson, the pioneer of canal coal-carriers of this region, " that I carried the first load of coal over the Ohio Canal from the Tuscarawas Valley. It came from the mine of Henry Newberry, near Cuyahoga Falls - I can't tell the exact location. It was brought from the mine by wagon to Lock 20, where it was loaded on the boat. There was about one hundred tons of it. We took it to Cleveland, and it required Newberry three years to get rid of it, and he never sold one-third of that even. People would come along and ask what it was, and when told that it was cannel coal would take a chunk away as a curiosity, but they couldn't be induced to burn it ; they didn't understand it, and preferred wood."

" When the Ohio Canal was opened to Akron, in 1827," saj^s Col. Whittlesey, " it was thought coal might be taken in wagons from the mines, about three miles, to the canal at Lock 16, north of Akron. Mr. Newberry tried the experiment, I think, in 1828, but the Canal Collector's returns do not show receipts of coal till 1829."

'-Deacon E. Wright," continues the writer, " and his son, Francis H. Wright, about this time made an entry on the east side of the coal hill, about one-foui'th of a mile south of Newberry's. In 1830 or 1831, Cyrus Mendenhall, formerly' of Cleveland, now of Jefferson County, made explorations and borings on Coal Hill. He found and opened coal at the south end of this hill, but it was too thin to work profitably. Another opening was made at the end of the ridge by Mr. Woodruff soon after, and this was worked until 1838. From 1829 to 1837, Mr. Newberry, F. H. Wright and Messrs. Whittlesey & Newton mined coal for Cleveland, which was hauled to the canal at Lock 16."

It was customary in early times in Cuyahoga Falls, as well as in other places, to make free use of whisky on most all occasions. For laborers it was thought to bo almost as necessary as bread. Stow & Wetmore furnished a barrel a week to their workmen as their stated supply. They also kept it on their counter at the store for the use of all who chose to drink, and a few refused. But they were convinced that it was unnecessary and hurtful ; and, after mature deliberation, they resolved to banish its use and sale from their establishment. In May, 1828, they put their resolution into practice by refusing to furnish it to their workmen. Upon this, the workmen withdrew in a body to consult upon the course they should pursue. They soon returned and demanded their accustomed supply. Upon the repetition of the refusal, they left their work and demanded their pay. About one-third of the men came back on the new terms, but the rest held out, and it was two mouths before their places were filled liy new men. and they could go on with their work. The firm adhered to their purpose, and never returned to the use or sale of it again. A temperance society was organized at the time, which is believed to have been the first in Ohio. It numbered at first but nine men ; afterward sixty-five persons in Stow Township became members. There were at this time four distilleries in the township, but in less than two years they had all closed.

" On the north bank of the Cuyahoga, below the village of Cuyahoga Falls," writes Gen. L. V. Bierce, in his " Historical Reminiscences of Summit County," " is a remarkable cavern. I discovered it in 1826, when the country' around there was a wilderness. It is on the very brink of the chasm cut by the river ; and the small opening but just large enough to admit a person's body was on a level with the ground. A few leaves, or a rotten log, will easil}' conceal it. In company with Charles B. Thompson, Orville B. Skinner and Jabez Gilbert, formerly mail contractor from Pittsburgh to Cleveland, I entered it, and found it about ten feet high. It was divided into two rooms, with a small passage between, barely sufficient for a person to pass. There was no opening, except at the place where I entered, from which I was let down by my companions. It being totally dark in the cavern, I could make but few examinations ; and, fearing some chasm in the bottom, I did not let my curiosity tempt me far in ni}- explorations."

The Portage County ^Mutual Fire Insurance Company was incorporated in 1831. It was organized at Ravenna in 1832, by the appointment of William Coolman, Jr., Cyrus Prentiss, Frederick Wadsworth, Edwin Wetmore, Elias Smith, Charles Clapp and George T. Wallace, as Directors, and Samuel D. Harris as Secretary.

No Inisiness was done b}- the company under this organization. In Angust, 1833, a new organization was effected, with Henr}' Newberry, Henr}' Wetmore, William Coolmau, Jr., Edwin Wetmore, George T. Wallace, as Directors ; Henry Newberry as President ; E. N. Sill, Secretary, and the company's office located at Cuyahoga Falls. Its business commenced immediately, and continued during the twenty-five 3'ears of its chartered existence, under the same management, excepting only that, upon the resignation of Henry Newberry in 1839, Justin Gale was appointed President ; and, upon his death in 1842, Frederick Wadsworth was appointed, and served till the close of the company's business. This company was the first mutual insurance company organized in the State, and one of the earliest in the country. Its operations extended over the entire State, and into the contiguous portions of the several adjoining States. Tiie amount of its business and its benefits largely' exceeded the anticipations of its original projectors. Its insurance covered many millions, and it paid a proportionate amount of losses.

No efibrt was made to extend the period of its charter, it being the opinion of its long-time manager that a diffei'ent plan of fire insurance was better adapted to the changed financial condition of the countr}'.

Another old " institution " of the village was the " Cuyahoga Falls Band. ' This was organized in 1834, and was the first of the kind in Northern Ohio. It was established upon temperance principles, no one joining it who did not pledge himself to refrain from the use of intoxicating liquors. Its leader was Henry W. Bill. It was composed of about a dozen members. In 1835, they went to Cleveland to celebrate the Fourth of July. The Cleveland committee sent a packet boat to Old Portage to convey them to the city. They also played at the celebration of the opening of the Ohio and I]rie Canal. They made an excursion to Massillon, where the}' gave a concert to the edification of that infant town, besides participating in other patriotic and festive scenes. The members were E. N. Sill C. W. Wetmore, T. R. Butler, C. Bronson, C. Wilcox, L. Wilcox, J. H. Brainard, Mr. Sperr}^, R. Upson, H. Y. Beebe, C. Thornburgh, Israel James.

Cuyahoga Falls is situated in the geographical and business center of an interesting section of country. It has an unrivaled water-power. This water-power is all available. The descent of about two hundred and forty feet in the Cuyahoga River is by a long slope, the commencement and termination of which is but about two miles apart, and which admits of tlie easy use of the whole fall, and in such portions as may be desirable. The sides and bottom of the river are rock, and the banks furnish an abundance of the finest stone for all constructions whicli may be desired.

Coal is found in the hill forming the slope on the eastern bank of the river and is supposed to l)e within a short distance of the (Ohio & Pennsylvania) canal; but no mines have j^et been opened less than about a mile from the village. Its quality is not surpassed by that of any in the State, and the quantity is in exhaustible.

Within the village three dams are now erected, giving a fall at each of fifteen, ten and twenty feet, and another of twenty feet is about to be erected. One is above Portage street; one below Broad street; and one at the foot of Reed street. One of twenty feet fall has been commenced near the foot of Taylor street, and one of the same fall is about to be erected at the foot of Prospect street.

The population of the village is now (1837) about 1,250. Three and a half years since, it was but 375. The whole number of deaths within its bounds during the last six years has been as follows: Adults - scarlet fever, one; chronic inflammation, two; old age, one; epilepsy, one; consumption, one; drowned, one; total, seven. Children over two years - fever, one; killed by a fall, one; drowned, one; measles one; total, four. Under two years of all diseases, eight, Making a grand total of only nineteen deaths in six years!

In each of the last two years (1836 and 1837), there have been erected about one hundred houses. The last season there would have been nearly double that number built, had it not been for the derangement in the currency of the country. The gross receipts of the post office will probably exceed $1,000 for the year (1837). This will indicate in some measure the amount of business done here.

The town (of Cuyahoga Falls) is binlt on both sides of the (Cuyahoga) river. The land ascends gradually from each bank about a half a mile, affording fine situations for residences, combined with facility of access to the water-power and canal, around which the business, of course, centers. Water of the purest quality is easily found anywhere in the sandstone rock which underlies the town at various depths. The soil is well adapted for building upon, for roads and for gardens. Thfre are no stagnant waters in the vicinity, the rapi<l descent of the river causing a gentle draught of air from the high grounds during the stillest nights, which prevents the a('(;umulation of those damp exhalations which are usually found in the vicinity of streams; and the inhabitants enjoy a degree of health rarely to be found in any country. The charaeter of the inhabitants may be in some measure estimated b}- tlie fact that it "is not known that

There is, in the village, a handsome Episcopal church building; a Congregational meetinghouse; and preparations are made for a Methodist meeting house. There are common schools, a lyceum (endowed with at least $3,000), a female seminary, and preparations are making for a high school. The scenery in and around the village is uncommonly fine ; as you approach it, you acknowledge the justness of the designation which has been given it as the "Village of White Houses." The view of the falls is said hardly to be sin-passed in beauty by any in the country.

The amount of manufactures and sales of goods within the last year (1836), have been carefully estimated, and amount to $407,000; and the sales of real estate have been to the amount of probably $300,- 000. The machinery propelled by water-power is as follows: Two large paper-mills, one flouring-mill, two saw-mills, one oil-mill, one pump-making establishment, one tilt-hammer, ax and scytlie factory, one woolen-mill, one stone saw^-mill, one chair factory, oneplaning-mill, one furnace and foundry, one engine and machine shop, and other smaller works. There are two drug and medicine shops, one printing office, one book-bindery, one book store, three shoeshops, four blacksmith-shops, one milliner's-shop, two groceries, one hat and fur store, one pump-shop, one clothing store, eight dry goods, etc., stores, four tailor-shops, two tin factories, one plow factory, two cabinet-shops.

After the revulsion in money matters in 1837, there was great embarrassment for want of a eurrency, which led to the adoption of a plan for issuing notes in the similitude of bank notes, upon the basis of real estate for security. But it was soon abandoned as a failure, causing loss to some, but without very serious injury to many persons. Some of these notes are preserved by a few persons as curiosities and mementoes of the past. They are signed by Moses Thompson, President ; Ogden Wetmore, Cashier. Upon their face are printed these words : " Real estate pledged by deed of trust to double the excess of issue beyond the capital paid in and stockholders liable." The "institution" was known as the Cuyahoga Falls Association. The nearest banks at this time to Cuyahoga Falls, were at Cleveland, Painesville, Warren, Canton, Massillon and Wooster.

The Summit County Branch of the State Bank of Ohio, was organized at Cuyahoga Falls in 1845, by Joseph Hale, Horace H. Miller, William Rattle, H. B. Tuttle, and others, with a capital of $100,000, and Joseph Hale, as President, and H. B. Tuttle, Cashier.

Charles Cantess and others - with E. N. Sill, President, and E. S. Comstock, Cashier - with which organization, with an occasional partial change in the Board of Directors, it operated till January, 1862, when J. H. Stanley was appointed Cashier, and without other change till the expiration of its charter in 1866, at which time the First National Bank of Cuyahoga Falls was organized with a capital of $50,- 000, by E. N. Sill, T. W. Connell. Henry Newberry, C. S. Sill and others, with E. N. Sill, President, and J. N. Stanley. Cashier. The First National continued business till April, 1869, when it sold its franchises to the First National Bank of x\kron. Its stockholders then formed a banking partnership, under the firm name of the International Bank of Cuyahoga Falls, with the same officers - which last organization is still continued. These three banks had no legal connection, but were practically successors, their business never having been publicly interrupted during the thirty-six years now past.

After the completion of the Ohio & Erie Canal, it was thought indispensable to the prosperity of this section of country that there should be a water communication between Cleveland and Pittsburgh, through the Western Reserve and Pennsylvania. After much exertion the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal, extending from Akron, Ohio, to Beaver, Penn., was completed. It passed through Cuyahoga Falls and entered the Cu3'ahoga River at Franklin Mills. A writer in 1837, says: "The Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal, now in the course of rapid completion, forms a junction with the western section of the Pennsylvania Canal at New Castle, and unites with the Ohio Canal at Akron. It strikes the bank of the Cuyahoga River just below the village of Cuyahoga Falls, and passing through that village on the bank of the river adjoining, a water-power of about 150 feet fall in that stream, it passes through the villages of Monroe Falls and Franklin, affording to this part of the State a ready communication with the Ohio, with the interior of the State, Lake Erie, the Atlantic seaports, and furnishing the means of a ready exchange of the manufactures, the coal, and the various other productions of the one ; for the iron, the wool, the merchandise, and the agricultural productions of the other." But necessity for the canal had been greatly over-estimated, and its tolls were never sufficient to pay expenses and keep it in repair. It was found, also, that as the eountr}- was alread}' up, the volume of water in the Cuyahoga River was greatly reduced, so that in the summer it was necessai-y to suspend some of the works at Cuyahoga Falls for want of power, on account of its being diverted from the river by the canal at Franklin. At a later period, the railroads laid through this region being more direct and expeditious, rendered the canal unnecessary, and measures were taken to return the stream to its ancient bed. After much contention with the mill-owners at Akron, who alone were interested in keeping it open, the canal was final- 1}' vacated, and the water allowed to resume its old channel.

The growth and prosperity' of Cuyahoga Falls have suffered for man}' years from a plan which was undertaken in early times to divert the water-power and use it elsewhere. Persons came to the village and bought separate portions of it, under profession of desiring to utilize it on the spot, but when the}' had possessed themselves of the whole in the lower part of the town, the}' organized a company called the Portage Canal and Manufacturing Company, popularly known as the " Chuckery Company." In 1843, they built a dam at the upper end of their purchase with a race beginning opposite what is now Hinde's Mill ; this race they carried at great expense to what is known as " Chuckery Plains," where they planned for a city of magnificent proportions, which they called " Summit City." They succeeded in getting this through, but they got into quarrels among themselves and the work was stopped. Law-suits followed, and after years of litigation the company broke np and the scheme was abandoned. Their dam and race went to decay, and the ruins of the latter and the gloomy remembrances of surviving members of the " Chuckery Company," are all that remain of the magnificent scheme. '- Summit City," which was to have been one of the largest manufacturing places in the United States, has dissolved "into thin air."

Li 1852, the Cleveland & Pittsburgh Railroad was completed, thereupon steps were taken to build a railroad which should leave the first-mentioned road at Hudson and go south through Cuyahoga Falls. It resulted in what is now the Cleveland, Mount "N^ernon &

Columbus Railroad. It was opened to Akron before the close of the year, and, in two years, was completed as far as Millersbui'g. This gave to Cuyahoga Falls a new means of transit, and has done much to increase the prosperity and comfort of the people. The track runs near the bank of the river through the entire village, from north to south ; and, from its conspicuous position, gives passengers an excellent view of the scenery, and of the natural advantages of the place as a business center. The road is convenient to all the shops, giving them access to its cars without expense for side tracks, and ofl[ers superior inducements to manufacturers to invest their money where they have so many advantages at so little expense for cartage or individual outlay, to accommodate their business.

In 1853, the school district library was commenced, and for several years was kept in the school building. In 1873, the library, containing 800 volumes, was removed to the business street, and, by the efforts of the G. A. R., was added to a free reading-room under the charge of J. H. Brainard, Librarian. In 1878, by the efforts of the Temperance Union, a building was constructed for the library and reading-room free to all. Under Mr. Brsinards charge, the reading-room has been supplied with the Cleveland and Akron papers, and with scientific, agricultural and literary periodicals, and the library has been increased by the addition of scientific statistical works.

Plaintiff complains of the said defendants for that the said phiintiff was on the 6th day of ]\Iarch, A. D. 1858, the owner and tlien in possession of a certain liarrel or cask of brandy, thenl)ein,<r and situate in the Township of Cnyaliosra Falls, Countyof Summit and State of Ohio.

Phiintiff' further comphiins of the defendants for that on said 6tli (hiy of March, A. 1). 18.-)8. the said defendants did with force and arms, at lliesaid township of Cnyahosi'a Falls, break open said barrel of brandy, wlie'reby the contents of .said l)arrel. to wit : twenty-tive gallons of brandy, were wholly lost and des'troyeiC to the damage of the plaintiff, in the sum of .*n()0. Whereupon the said plaintiff asks judgment against the said defendants for the sum of 1 100.

named, before C. W. Wetmore, a Justice of the Peace, in Cuyahoga Falls. The result of the suit was a judgment for $60. One of the defendants, Mrs. E. W. Wait, was said to have been one of the compan}' of ladies engaged in what is known as the '' Whisky Riots," on March 6, 1858, when divers barrels of whisky, brandy, beer and other 'beverages" were taken vie et armis and emptied into the gutters of the village ; hence, the bringing of the above-mentioned suit.

Cuyahoga Falls, during the war of the rebellion, was not behind her sister towns in her readiness to assist the country in her sorest need. A large number of men were enlisted in several regiments and batteries. Of these, the following fill soldiers' graves : Capt. D. N. Lowry, Thomas Evans, J. D. Cooke, J. I. Patterson, William Lyons, George L. Holden, David Mc- Arthur, First Lieut. John Eadie, Jr., Second Lieut. J. C. Ely, J. W. Eddv, Robert Cxaylord, 1. J. Wood. C. Neeley, A. K. Goodrich, F. B. Purine, Robert Green, Edward Green, John Patterson, J. B. Lyon, Seneca Blood, John Congden, John Shellhorn, Charles E. Moon, G. G. Crane, J. Murphy, John C. Schneible, H. F. Eddy, H. J. Ligalls. J. Hogle. These names should be cherished as a precious treasure, to be handed down to posterity, that they may give them the honor they so justly deserve. To them and their many associates is due the preservation of the country in its integrit3^

The people of Cuyahoga Falls were long noted for their social qualities. They came to the town from difterent places, having been reared under different influences. In the early settlement of the place, they were all, of course, brought into contact, and there was, of necessity, a toning down of many of the asperities peculiar to New England manners and habits. The consequence was, that there was a friendship which continues, though in a modified form, to the present day. Later years and the coming in of new residents have changed the aspect of aftairs somewhat ; not, however, to the gain of happiness or the pleasures of social life. The recollections of the older inhabitants are always pleasant, as they go back over those early days, and the regret which they often express because of the change shows how superior was the enjoyment then to what is now the rule. This, however, is not wholly the fault of the present. In those days, the inhabitants were largely dependent on each other ; their cares were confined to narrow bounds, and they were driven to find amusement in each other's company for the want of other resources. It was before the days of railroads or daily papers, concerts or lyceum lectures.

The first resident preacher in Cuyahoga Falls was J. T. Holloway, recently deceased. He was a licensed local 3Iethodist preacher. The first store opened was by Stow & Wetmore in 1825 ; another was brought in by Mr. Stanley in 1829, and opened on the corner of Water and Broad streets, north of the present covered bridge. The first birth in the village was Edward, son of William Wetmore, Jr. This was in 1827. The first death was a son in the same family in 1826. The first adult who died in in the place, was the first wife of E. N. Sill, a daughter of Henry Newberry. The first marriage is believed to have been the daughter of Deacon Hamlin to Washington Butler. The first Postmaster was Henry Newberry, who held the office till he was led to resign it because of the pressure of his other business. The first bank in 'the county was the Summit County Bank, organized under the State banking law in Cuyahoga Falls.

Cuyahoga Falls has been visited by several destructive fires. In 1833, a warehouse belonging to Stow & Wetmore, filled with paper stock was burned. In 1851, a flouring-mill, the property of these gentlemen, was likewise destroyed by fire. In 1866, a stone building, known at the time as the bank building, which stood upon the site of James' Block, and occupied b}' H. C. Lockwood, with several adjoining structures, were consumed. At this fire, John Marsh Hinde lost his life. The woolenmill on the west side cf the river, as previously mentioned, was burned ; also the paper-mill on the same side, twice. Messrs. Bills machine shop and foundry, and the Empire Paper Mill, belonging to llanford Brothers were burned in 1872. Several residences have gone down in devouring flames, but, general!}', they were not of great value. From the earliest times, the village has been exceedingly fortunate as to its dwellings, in regard to fires. Since the foregoing was written, the works of the Falls Wire Manufacturing Company were largely burned. This occurred on the evening of March 31, 1881. They will be immediately rebuilt.

mer resort. High Bridge, Grlens and Ctives, Big Falls, Silver Lake and tiny steamboats upon the riv^er, are the chief attractions. The Lake and Big Falls are outside of, but near to, the corporate limits. The High Bridge is elsewhere described. At this structure, the entrance to the Glens and Caves, a rude stairway has been constructed, which leads down to a plateau, where has been erected a building with spacious dining-room and kitchen attached, where dinner and other parties are served refreshments, and under the same roof is a restaurant, where everything in the line of refreshments can be had. On this level is also a fine croquet ground and numerous rustic seats, shadowed by overhanging, high perpendicular rocks.

A few feet below is Lovers' Retreat, a broad ledge of rocks, shadowed by large forest trees, and down still another flight of stairs, close by the river-side, hedged in by rustic work, is a broad, level surface, which forms the entrance to Fern Cave, a subterranean cavity in the solid rock, 35x54 feet in dimensions. This retreat is supplied with numerous rude seats of iron and wood, where those weary from climbing can rest. Leaving the Cave, we pass down the strongly-braced stairway, running diagonally with the ftice of the wall, and reach Observation Rock, a huge stone of over one hundred tons' weight. Fi'om this point, a magnificent view is presented to the eye. Looking back and up the stream, one gets a fine view of the waterfalls above, of from fifteen to twenty feet in height ; also High Bridge, some eighty feet above. Still farther below, and immediately under Fern Cave, is Doves' Retreat, a huge cavern, with an overhanging roof of rock twent^'-five feet above. To the right and down the stream is Suspension Bridge, which crosses the stream above high-water mark. It is made of strong rods of iron, crossing the chasm, securely fastened to huge bowlders upon either side, with strong hand-rails, and affords a secure passage over the foaming, surging waters below. Crossing the bridge, we are upon the east side of the river, near Cascade Point, which is a lovely retreat, reached by a path made of rocks and bowlders, under Weeping Cliffs, a solid wall of overhanging rock, one hundred feet in height, and fringed at the top with hemlock and birch trees. Here a beautiful spring of cold mineral water gushes forth from the face of the rock, climbing over and under a high point. A broad avenue is presented, which borders the rugged bed of the stream for a mile. This is called the Grand Promenade, and is hedged in on one side by lofty, overhanging rocks, and on the other by innumerable shade trees and the winding river. Here sunlight has to struggle for an entrance, and it is always a cool and romantic retreat. Swings and croquet here abound. Ferns and mosses literall}- cover the grounds and rocks upon every side.

Boys & Clarkson had a steamer built in Akron by William Paine, in 1878, and has run on the river two seasons. It is called the Silver Wave. It cost $1,200. The boat is now owned by J. N. Clarkson. This was the first one on this stream. Another boat was built in Cuyahoga Falls in 1880. She ran one season only. She was built by Dailey & Barker. The boating distances on the river run b}' these boats is from the upper dam to Snakes' Den and Goose Egg Island. The round trip is three miles ; fare 10 cents, during the boating season.

There is but one public hall in Cuyahoga Falls. It is now called Apollo Hall, formerly James' Hall. It is located in the third story of James' Block, and was completed in 1869. It was opened April 12 of that year, with a concert given by Miss Fannie A. Sill and her pupils. The seating capacity of the hall is 500, with standing room for 200. It was refitted and newly decorated in 1879, having new and elaborate scenerv. The proprietors are George Sackett, 0. B. Beebe and W. 0. Beebe.

CUYAHOGA FALLS - EDUCATIONAL - CUYAHOGA FALLS 1N8TITUTF - CHURCHES - SKETCHES OF THE DIFFERENT ORGANIZATIONS - BENEVOLENT SOCIETIES - THE MANUFACTURING INTERESTS - G ENEKAL BUSINESS.

THE subject of education has always held a high place in the estimation of the people of Cuyahoga Falls, as evinced by the interest manifested by them in their common schools. Previous to the erection of a new township out of the corners of Stow, Tallmadge, Northampton and Portage, the village schools were those belonging to these several townships. However, soon after the organization of the township of Cuyahoga Falls and the creation of a Township Board of Education, the whole territory was erected into one school district, as will hereafter be shown. Previous to this time, the histor}'' of the schools is that only of ordinary district schools of the country ; but with the new order of things began an increased interest in these " nation's colleges."

The school building located north of St. John's Churcli edifice was built by the Wesleyans for church purposes. The structure was afterward sold to the School Directors for a high school. In 1872, the new high school building was ready for nse and that school was transferred to it, since which time the other house has been used for schools of a lower grade. The two accommodate all the schools of the village. The smaller structures - the district schoolhouses - have all been sold.

In pursuance of an act passed by the Legislature of Ohio, entitled " An act to provide for the re-organization, supervision and maintenance of common schools."' the following- named persons - L. L. Holden, Clerk of the Directors of Cuyahoga Falls School District No. 1 ; P. J. Lee, Clerk of Union District No. 8 ; and Charles Clark, Township Clerk - met at the office of McClure & McKinney and organized a Board of Education for Cuyahoga Falls, by appointing L. L. Holden Chairman, the Township Clerk being by law the Clerk of the Board of Education. This was on the 18th of April, 1853. That portion of School District No. 8 lying in the township of Cuyahoga Falls, and the Cuyahoga Falls School District No 1, were united and formed into one district on the 24th of xVpril, 1854, to be known as the " Cu3-ahoga Falls School District." On the 2Gth of June, L. L. Holden was appointed Acting Manager of Schools for the township. On the 15th day of Ma}', 1855, " Mr. Taylor" was 'appointed Principal of the Central School," and " Mrs. Taylor" his assistant. Together they were to be paid the sum of $700 '-for the year of forty weeks." On that day the Board " Resolved^ That we attach great importance to the good government of a school and the moral instructions which the children receive, and the thoroughness with which they are drilled in the primary branches and first principles of education."

On the 25th day of May, 1855, the record of the board says : "This day sold to John Love the schoolhouse near the Widow Ga^dord's for the sum of $100." For the school year ending August 31, 1857, the whole number of pupils enrolled was 482 ; number of teachers employed, 7 - one male and six females. Union District No. 10 in Tallmadge and Cuyahoga Falls Townships was discontinued June 18, 1858. H. K. Taylor, Principal, on the 1st day of July, 1861, " made a summary report from the high school, showing general improvement in scholarship and deportment for the last month." Seventeen days thereafter, Mr. L. H. Delano was " emplo}' ed to teach the Central school ; whereupon, on the 1st day of August following, " a petition numerousl}' signed by citizens of Cuyahoga Falls was presented " to the board, asking them " to reconsider their action changing the Principal of the high school or resign ; " but they did neither.

The Board of Education resolved July 2, 1863, "that William L Chamberlain, of Hudson, be employed to teach as Principal in the high school at a salary of $600 per annum."

The total number of youth enrolled in the schools at this date was 452. The number of schoolhouses was five ; the number of schools, five - four common schools and one high school. The school library was valued at $300, having on its shelves 755 volumes. June 24, 1864, Mr. Chamberlain's salary was raised to $75 a month.

On the 26th of June, 1865, George Mc- Laughlin was employed to teach the Central school as Principal at a salary of $650 per annum. At this time, besides the central school, there were . the southwest primary, southeast primary, northeast primary and northwest primary. The next year, the salary of the Principal was raised to $750. Jul}^ 18, 1866, W. C. Kogers was employed as Principal of the central or high school at a salary of $75 per month. The successor of Mr. Rogers as Principal was B. B. Tremlin, who was employed in December, 1866.

On the 16th of January, 1867, at a meeting of the electors of the township, it was resolved to move all the schools into one building. On the 16th of February, 1867, at a meeting of the qualified voters of Cuj'ahoga Falls School District, it was moved and carried that a tax not exceeding three-fourths of one per cent be levied annually for a period not exceeding five years, for the purpose of building a central or union schoolhoase in the village. On the 17th of May, 1867, the qualified electors voted '' that the School Directors be authorized to purchase of H. A. Miller for a schoolhouse site, the nine lots north of the hotel lots, between Front and Second streets, and south of Stow street.

Virgil P. Kline was, on July 1, 1867, employed as Principal. At this time, there were five common schools in the district and the high school. The number of pupils enrolled was 456. The total value of schoolhouses and grounds was $2,400. It was voted by the board, on the 5th of November of that year, that, "Whereas, it is ascertained that at the last school'exhibition a young lady's dress was accidentally damaged seriously, and that there remains unexpended some of the avails of said exhibition, the sum of $3 be paid out of said avails to the owner of said dress." At a meeting of the qualified voters of the district, held Januar}' 3, 1868, it was voted that the site of the new central schoolhouse should be the " Cooke Lot." This lot was deeded by James H. Cooke to the district in consideration of $1. The deed conveyed two acres of land on the south side of the old township line road and foi'ty-eight rods east of Newberry street, conditioned that the building should be commenced within five 3'ears. On the 8th of May, 1868, the salary of Mr. Kline was raised to $1,000.

On the 12th of May, 1869, the board determined that the school building to be erected should be three stories high. At the same time A. Koehler, architect, of Cleveland, was employed to prepare necessary plans and specifications for the house. In July, 1869, Miss Booth " agreed to remain in the high school as teacher another year, upon a salary of $1,000," Mr. Kline having declined to labor an}' longer as Principal. The pupils of the intermediate school were taken into the high school.

On the 4th day of August, 1869, the board contracted with Greorge Allison, of Tallmadge, for the erection of the basement story of the new Union Schoolhouse, for the sum of $5,200. On the 7th of September following, Edward Sill was engaged as Principal of the high school at a salary of $900. The number of schoolhouses was four frame and one brick ; total, five. On the 29th of November an additional tax was voted b}' the qualified voters of the district to erect the school building, of three-fourths of one per cent. An agreement was entered into by the board with George Allison, on the 1st day of March, 1870, to do the mason work for the school building, except the plastering, for $11,701.51. They agreed with Dunn & Witt, of Cincinnati, for $2,630, to have the roofing and galvanized iron work done. The Board engaged George Thomas & Son, of Akron, for the residue of the work, including joiner work, painting, plastering, etc., for the sum of $12,400. The original contract price, thei'efore, for the building amounted to $31,931.51. This, of course, was exclusive of heating the building. This cost an additional $3,000. There was also paid Mr. xVUison for extra work $617.37. The contract for seating the building was made on the 21st of June, 1871. There was allowed Thomas & Son $1,698 for extra work.

$1,200, on the 12th of July, 1871. It was voted at an election held April 8, 1872, by the qualified voters of the district, to sell the Central school house and the four primar}- schoolhouses and their lots. The northwest primary school l)uilding was sold for $800. The expense of seating the new high school building was $1,773.50. The northeast primar}' schoolhouse and lot was sold for $400.

The Board of Education was re-organized under the school law of 1873, on the 20th of April, 1874, by the election of L. J. Germain, President ; G. W. Rice, Clerk, and W. M. Griswold, Treasurer. The supervision of the schools was assigned to Mr. Germain. On the 1st of August of that year the board passed a resolution to " advertise for a competent and experienced teacher as Principal of our Union Schools." George L. McMillan was the successful applicant, at a salary of $1,000. The number of schoolhouses in the district at this time was one union and one not used ; the number of rooms, exclusive of rooms used onl}" for recitation, high school, one ; primary, three ; total, four. The value of school property' was $36,000. The number of teachers employed, six. On the 4th of November, the clergymen of the village were requested to act as a visiting board of the schools. On tlie 26th of April, 1875, the President of the Board was " authorized to emplo}^ Mr. A. X. Bernard as Superintendent and Master of the Union School for the balance of the present school term," at a salaiy not exceeding $1,200 per annum. His services were continued at the rate of $120 a month salary. There were this year enrolled in the school 401 pupils.

On the 17th of February, 1876, the board ordered that " any scholars who have been suspended from the public school of this district on account of exposure to the small-pox, shall furnish the Superintendent, before they shall be re-instated, with proof that they have been vaccinated." Four days after this, an order passed that " hereafter no pupil shall be admitted to the schools of this village until they have furnished the Superintendent with proofs of vaccination." Besides this, the schools were "suspended until further notice." They were not opened until the second IMonday of April following. Previous to this, at an election of the qualified voters of the district, it was determined to increase the board from three to six members. The following resolution was passed unanimously April 24, 1876 : '' ResoJeed, That Dr. Heath be requested to furnish Mr. Bernard, School Superintendent, with a list of such families as should, for the present, be held back from sending their children to school ; that at least thirty days should elapse after an}' case shall have terminated before an}' family shall be allowed to send their children to school, and that all school books be destroyed that ma}' have been exposed in families who have had the small-pox."

On the 6th of May, 1878, it was stated at a meeting of the boai'd that " it was the opinion of many that the population of our village was more than 2,500 ; if so, then by law it is our privilege to have our own Boaixi of Examiners of Teachers." And they had them ! On the 28th of June, 1878, Mr. Bernai'd was continued Superintendent, at a salary of $1,100. The number of pupils enrolled during this year was 502. The Union School building was fitted up with a steam-heating apparatus during the year 1879, at a cost of about $1,500. On the 21st of June, 1 880, the board passed a resolution " that Joanna Cutler, Lizzie M. Richardson, Mary A. Clark, Jessie Knox, Grace E. Sykes, Rial Smith, Otto C. Richardson and Albert Kingsbury, the members of the class of the high school of 1880, be graduated on Friday evening, June 25."

The branches now taught in the Union School in Cuyahoga Falls are reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic, geography, English grammar, oral lessons, composition, drawing, vocal music, United States history, physical geography, natural philosophy, German, algebra and Latin. The schools are in a high state of efficiency, owing to the interest taken by the parents of the district ; to the intelligent labors of the Board of Education, and the wisdom and zeal of the Superintendent and teachers.

One of the first efforts in the promotion of education, outside the common school, was the oi'ganization and charter of the Cuyahoga Falls Institute, under the management of the Rev. Mr. Brooks and Charles Clark. The school was started and kept in operation some time, but the hard times which came in 1837 made it necessary to abandon the project. After the building of St. John's Church, a seminary for girls was kept in the schoolroom adjoining, by Miss Sarah Carpenter. She was succeeded by

Churches were early established in the village of Cuyahoga Falls ; but. instead of comfortable church buildings, those who came first were obliged to meet in schoolhouses and other inconvenient places. As a consequence, church services were irregular and infrequent.

In giving the histor}- of St. John's Church, in Cu\-ahoga Falls, it is necessar}' to go back to the time when stately forests covered the landscape, and over the fertile fields where now the eye rests with delight upon the evidences of civilization, but few marks of improvement were anywhere to be seen. Log cabins dotted it here and there, and some clearings were begun, but the roads went winding through the forest, and communication between points was slow and tedious. The Cuyahoga River sang its merry song in freedom, fettered onl}' by the rocks which gave it voice. Its waters had not been forced to turn the busj' wheels, and few sounds had been heard upon its banks, except the song of the birds, the howl of the wild beasts, or the more savage yell of the wild Indian. Akron had not been thought of, and Cleveland was known as a little village six miles from Newburg. Here and there a farm was opened, and the busy settlers were making the wide forests ring with the sound of their axes, which were letting in the light where long had brooded only the somber shade of its matted woods. The first settlement at Stow Corners was made by a few families from the same Eastern home, most of them relatives. Just south of Gross' Tavern, it will be remembered, there is an orchard, but, in 1818, there was a log cabin standing in that lot, which disappeared many years ago, and in it lived Josiah Wetmore, with his wife and children. No sooner were they settled than Mrs. Wetmore, who was a devout member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, gathered in her neighbors for worship, which she continued to do for three years. There was no other service held in the settlement, and they came with ox teams and on horseback from all the region around. After the}' had met in that wa}- for about a year, Mrs. Wetmore reading the service and her husband the sermon, the Rev. Roger Searle, who lived at Medina, and oflftciated in many places on the Western Reserve, paid a visit to the place, and preached in Mrs. Wetmore's house. This was in 1819, and was the first sermon preached and the first service held by an Episcopal clergyman in all the region.

The people who came to these services in Mrs. Wetmore's house increased in numbers, and soon filled her house, and in warm weather the yard about it. The}' had no boards of which to make seats, but split logs, and hewed them into what was called puncheons, and putting them upon legs, raised them high enough to be used for seats for the assembled worshipers. They had no carriages to convey them to the place of worship, but came upon sleds drawn by oxen, and on horseback, and many on foot. Thus they gathered, and there can be no doubt that as acceptable worship was offered in that humble cabin as ever went up among the fretted arches of a cathedral ; and there in that humble cabin was the first step taken, which twelve years afterward culminated in the organization of St. John's Church.

After three 3'ears' residence thei'e, Mr. Wetmore went back to New England with his famil}' to give them such advantages of education as they could not get in this new state of societ}'. After the}' left, the services were held in different places, centering, however, about the Corners. After some years the}' came back to Cuyahoga Falls, where Mrs. Wetmore lived until 1865, esteemed by all who knew her for her virtues, when she fell asleep in Jesus, and was buried in the cemetery, where she awaits a glorious resurrection. Mr. Wetmore lived until 1867, when he was laid beside his wife, at the age of eighty-four years.

Along the center line of Stow there were many families settled by this time who had been reared in the Episcopal Church. On the western end of that line lived Orin Gilbert, and a little way north of him was Arthur Sadler and Henry O'Brien. East of Mr. Gilbert was Frederick Sanford, and striking southeast were the Wetmores and Frederick Wolcott (who had become attached to the service since its establishment), Roland Clapp, and some families of Gaylords In Tallmadge there were also several families ; and up the river, in the western part of Franklin, were Col. Stanley, Mr. Furber, the Furgesons and some others. Some of these were young men, who with their wives had come to make their homes in the then far West, and some of them were in middle age, with half-grown children, who had reached this distant point after long and painful journe3'S ; but all were of slender means, and depended upon the blessings of a kind Providence on their labor, and the returns of strenuous ettbrt from a generous soil.

These scattered families, spreading over not less than ten miles square, and others about them, as we have seen, had been accustomed to meet on Sundays for divine service in the use of the Book of Common Prater, and hearing a sermon read from such collections as they had brought from their Eastern homes. These services, after the first three years, were held in different places, and were participated in by persons coming from parts of Stow, Hudson Tallmadge, Franklin, and parts adjacent, with great labor and inconvenience, to worship G-od as they had been taught in the homes from which the\' came.

Like most of the emigrants from New England, they were of decided opinions and firm convictions, and the principles they had imbibed in early life were clung to with a tenacity which showed their fitness to be founders of new societies, and to transmit to their successors the institutions under which they were reared, in their integrity. Those who had been reared in the Episcopal Church could not be satisfied to give up the church of their fathers, and showed how deeply they were attached to its ordinances by the pains they took to enjoy those ordinances, with no other than lay services.

The first step toward organization was to obtain, from Bishop Chase, licenses for Roland Clapp, a young man from Vermont, and Col. Stanley, of Franklin, as la}^ readers, who were authorized to gather the people together and hold regular service, with the reading of such sermons as were specified by the Bishop. Thus their love for the church was fostered, and some were led to unite with them who were reared under other influences. But ministers were very scarce in those days, and those w^ho loved the church were obliged to content themselves with lay services for a long time after the}' were accustomed to meet for social worship.

The next minister of the church who ofl3- ciated for them was Rev. William N. Lyster, who was acting as a missionary in Trinity Church, Cleveland, then a small village upon the lake shore. He came on foot, and preached in Hudson and Stow on the first Sunday in February,

1830. He came again on the first Sunday of the following month, and preached in Franklin (now Kent) in the morning, and in Stow in the afternoon. Two months after this, he preached in the morning in Hud.son, and at Stow, in the tavern, in the afternoon. During that visit, the first steps were taken toward the organization of a parish. Their lay service was continued by uniting from all parts within reach, till the following winter, when Rev. James McElroy, who had succeeded Mr. Lyster in his missionary work at Cleveland, paid them a visit. He preached in Hudson in the morning, and in Stow in the evening, and, before they separated, they organized the parish of " St. John's Church, Stow." This was in 1830. The organization of the parish of Christ Church, Franklin, was eflfected some time afterward, but the prospect of establishing the church in Hudson was not thought encouraging enough to warrant any further eflbrt there, and all the members in Hudson Township were enrolled in St. John's Church.

After the organization of the parish, lay services were held regularly until 1834. A dam had been built near the present railroad bridge, and a mill had been erected upon it, and several houses were built in the neighborhood ; and, among others, a log schoolhouse. The services were held in this house, which stood in the south part of what was long known as the old village." It was supposed that the town would be built at this point. After a time, a building was erected for a store further north ; it stood on the west side of the present railroad, between the two crossings. The services were then removed to that building, but Stow Corners was most convenient for the worshipers, and larger numbers could be gathered there, and, as the services were first begun there, they were taken back, and continued to be held there until the present edifice was ready for use.

But the water-power at this point had been brought into use, and the town had been rapidly filling up with a busy population, and it was manifest that there was to be an important village lower down the stream than they first began to build ; and when the society was ready to build, they resolved, after long debate, to have the church at Cuyahoga Falls. In 1834, Rev. C. V. Kelley was appointed a missionary at Ohio City, -with, instructions to give every alternate Sunday to the parish at Stow. He had not been otHciating long under this arrangement, before it was thought best that he should go to New York to solicit aid for these feeble churchmen in building their church ; and after a protracted absence he returned, and paid over for this purpose $700, which was used in the erection of this church. He then rc!turned to New York and took charge of St. Bartholomew's Church, and St. John's was without a minister.

In the spring of 1835 the}' chose this site, and began the work of building. The town had grown very much, and manufactures of many kinds were introduced, and it was thought that a very large population would soon be gathered ; and it was seen that here was the place for the church. But the services were still held at the Corners. While they were building it was thought best also to secure the services of the minister, and they proceeded to secure the services of a minister, and they proceeded to call Rev. William H. Newman, of Bristol. R. I., who accepted the rectorship on the 10th of November, and continued in charge of the parish till June 18. 1837, when he resigned and removed to Newark, Licking Co., Ohio.

The church edifice was completed in 1836 and consecrated to the worship of Almighty God by Bishop Mcllvaine on the 10th of July of that year. It is the oldest church within a very large area, unless it be the Congregational Church at Tallmadge, which stands to-day as it was originally built. The plan adopted was the same essentially^ as that of old Trinity Church. Cleveland, except that the front of the building was more showy, and the chancel more elaborate and expensive. But such as it was at first it remains to this day, except the ciiange in the chancel made last year. There were present at the consecration. Rev. Abraham Bronson, of Peninsula, and Rev. Thomas Barrow, missionary- at Akron, and the Rector.

The first Sunda}^ school was organized the same month, and has continued till the present day without intermission. After the removal of Mr. Newman, the Rev. Zachariah Mead, of Virginia, was called to the rectorship, but he was not pleased with the people of the North, and after spending three or four weeks in the parish, he returned to Virginia.

In 1837, Rev. Albert T. Bledsoe, who was one of the converts at West Point, under Bishop Mcllvaine's chaplainc}*, and was ordained by him, was called : but, after about four mouths, he became dissatisfied with his profession, and resigned both the rectorship and the ministry, and went to Virginia, where he has long held a professorship in the University of Virginia.

After his removal, the parish was vacant until the 10th of April, 1839, when a call was given to Rev. James Bonnar, Deacon, of Utica, Licking Co., Ohio. He accepted the call, and was ordained Presbj'ter, together with Rev. Charles C. Townsend, in this church. He remained less than a year, and, resigning, went to Marietta, Muskingum County.

In February, 1840, Rev. Thomas B. Fairchild, of Orafton, was called to the vacant rectorship, and entered upon his duties immediately. In the meantime, a parish had been organized in Franklin, called Christ Church, which took several members who had been enrolled in St. John's Church ; but he found upon the list the names of forty persons. In 1842, he organized the parish of Christ Church, Hudson, which took several prominent members. He remained until 1844, when he resigned, and went to W^ooster, Wayne County, leaving upon the record sixtyfour resident members.

He was succeeded by Rev. Alvah Guion, who stayed not over a year. Rev. David J. Burger was called to fill his place in the summer ; but died suddenly, after a few months in charge here, while on a visit to Toledo, where he had previously lived.

Upon his death, a call was given to Rev. Levi L. Holden, of Gi'afton, who removed to the parish in July, 1847. He held the rectorship till 1867, twenty years, when he resigned, and went to W^ooster, leaving a large circle of friends, both out of the church and in it, who remember and speak of him with esteem and affection.

Services were held at irregular intervals, by Rev. Mr. Fairchild, then at Hudson, and Rev. E. B. Kellogg, of Gambler, until the next summer, when Rev. George Bosley, Deacon, was sent by the Bishop to fill the parish. The next 3'ear. he was advanced to the Priesthood, and continued in charge till 1871, when he resigned, and went to Marion, Ohio.

In March, 1871, Rev. T. B. Fairchild, Rector, in charge of St. John's Church, Kewanee, 111., was called back to his old charge, and, on the first Sunday of April, began his labors. He continued in charge until March 8. 1879, when he died. His successor was Rev. George W. Williams, the present Rector.

When Mr. Newman left the parish, there were forty-nine members upon the record. Of these, onh' two remain - Roland Clapp, Mrs. Lucy Rice. The rest have died or removed ; probably most of them have passed away from earth. " There were no entries made in the church record from his removal,'" writes ]Mr. Fairchild in 1875, "until m}^ residence, but there were forty communicants when I came. During my first rectorship, fifty-three were added to the number. The organization of the parish in Hudson took several valuable members ; but, of those added during the four years and three months, there are now twenty members upon the list. After my removal, I was present at the visitation of the Bishop, and presented ten persons for confirmation, who had been prepared for it before I left. Of those ten, not one is left. Nine were added by ]Mr. Burger, but they are all gone. During Mr. Holden's rectorship, I find 72 names entered in his hand-writing, but of these only 20 are members to-day. After his removal, 3'our present Rector held services for a while in the afternoon, and, as the fruit of that labor, 14 were confirmed, and 10 of those are members still. During Mr. Bosley's residence, 50 names were added, but onlj- 23 of these are members now. Since my return. 24 have been added, and 6 of these have died or removed, leaving 87 resident members. The whole number, from the beginning, being 305 members.

" Upon the record of baptisms, I find recorded by Mr. Newman 22, Mr. Bonnar 8, Mr. Gruion 4, Mr. Holden 94, Mr. Bosley 50. and by myself 90, making 279 persons since the oi'ganization of the parish. But I am persuaded that there were many baptisms in its earlier days which have not been recorded, as there were no entries made until Mr. Newman's time.

" The first confirmation recorded was held by Bishop Mcllvaine, but there are several persons whom I know to have been confirmed before this, whose names are not recorded. There are, however, 154 names upon the record, and may safely be reckoned at nearly two hundred.

" Upon the record of burials I find eleven b}' Mr. Newman. On the 21st of October, 1837, when the parish was vacant, that teri'ible tornado passed over Stow, and Rev. Ebenezer Boyden, of Cleveland, was called to lay its four victims in one grave. Mr. Guion buried 4. Mr. Holden 112, Mr. Boslej' 26, buried by myself 72, by other persons 22, making in all 242 persons, of whom 136 were adults and the rest children and 3'ouths. Of those committed to the ground, I tliink hardly a family connected with the parish has failed to furnish a part, while in some cases, whole families have joined the gi'eat congregation. The consolation of its funeral rites has been given freely to all, and few in this region have not shared them. I have myself in all these 3'ears, preached 5,579 times ; baptized 296 ; married 149 couples, and buried 302 persons."

As will be seen by these statements, the hindrance to the growth of St. John's Church has been its continual losses by removals, which have been vei-y heavy from the first. The additions by removal from other parishes have been comparatively small ; and the great proportion of the members we have lost from this cause, has been of those who first became communicants here, and then removed to other parishes.

The history of the Methodist Episcopal church is this : The " Twinsburg Circuit " was organized November 1, 1832. The society in Stow Township, now Cuyahoga Falls, was one of the appointments. The members met in a storehouse at the " old village," as it is now known. The first Presiding Elder was W. B. ^lack. The circuit preachers were Thomas Carr and John E. Akin. They preached once in two weeks alternateh'. Carr was re-appointed for 1833, and L. D. Prosser as his colleague. The preachers for the next 3'ear (1834) were Ira Eddy and A. Reaves. At this date, William Stevens was Presiding Elder. In 1835, E. H. Taylor and J. L. Holmes were sent to the circuit. The meetings were then held in the basement of the church building, at the Falls. The circuit preachers, in 1836, wei'e E.

H. Taylor and Horatio N. Stearns. In 1837 and 1838, Rev. E. T. Kinney was in charge. Artluir M. Brown was preacher in 1839, and Wesley Maltby was his assistant. The Falls then became a station. Rev. Timothy Goodwin was station preacher for the next two years - 1840 and 1841. He was succeeded, for

The church edifice was commenced on the lot deeded to the society, on the public square, about 1834 ; meetings were held in the basement until the structure was completed. This was in 1840, the dedication of the building being on the last day of that year. The house was enlarged in 1864, and the inside materially changed. The edifice will seat comfortably 500 persons. The organization has been from the beginning ver}- prosperous. The members number at present 200. The only town clock in tlie village is in the steeple of this church. The organ cost $1,600.

The following are the oflBcers of the church : Trustees, Israel James, Jacob Weidner, Hiram Gaylord, Alexander J. Billman, Orin James, Mathew Crawford, Hiram W. Carter, Arthur Lewis and Isaac Reid ; Stewards, Israel James, Edgar Inskeep, Henry Plum, William Hill, Isaac Reid, Richaixl Blood, Jacob Weidner and Simeon Dickerman ; Class-leaders, Richard Blood, A. R. Knox, L. D. Williams and H. W. Carter.

In connection with the church there is a wellorganized and efficient Sunday school, having an average attendance of 1 50. Officers - Superintendent, Dr. H. W. Carter ; First Assistant, Arthur Lewis ; Second Assistant, Mrs. Mathew Crawford ; Secretary, Mrs. David Brown ; Treasurer, Mathew Crawford ; Librarians, Isaac Reid and Mary C. Weidner.

" The Congregational Church of Cuyahoga Falls," wrote Birdsey Booth in 1861, "was organized February 14, 1834, by Rev. B. C. Baldwin (then residing at iMiddleburj), and Rev. J. C. Parmelee, of Tallmadge. Ten persons, five male and five female (five by letter, and five by profession), united in the organization. Of the ten thus uniting, one removed his connection ; six are no more, for God has taken them, they having died in the faith ; and three remain to this day. The whole number which have been received into connection with the church, is 287, of whom 188 were received on certificate, and 99 on profession (about one-third by profession).

" Of the 287 which are, or have been, members, 41 have died ; 123 have removed their connection ; 23 dismissed for prolonged absence ; 14 have been excommunicated ; leaving present number 86, of whom some 14 are probably permanently absent.

"From the organization to January- 1, 1835, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. B. C. Baldwin, preaching ever}' alternate Sabbath. From January 1, 1835, to October of the same year, l)y Prof Long, of Western Reserve College ; from October, 1835, to May. 1836, by Prof Gregg, of Western Reserve College ; from May, 1836, to November 23, same year, by various individuals ; from November 23, 1836, to May, 1838, by Rev. Joel Byington ; from May, 1838. to October, same year, by various individuals. October 24, 1838, Rev. William C. Clark was ordained and installed Pastor of the church. Mr. Clark continued his services with the church down to x\pril 5, 1847, about eight and a half years, when, on account of ill health, he requested to be released from his pastoral labors, which, the church acceding to, was dissolved by action of Portage Presbytery called for that purpose. (It should be remarked here, that the church was organized in connection with Port- age Presbytery, and until the meeting above referred to, had been regularly represented in that body. Ou this occasion, the church presented to Presbyter}' a resolution previously adopted, requesting a dissolution of its connection with that body, which was granted at the meetingaforesaid. Since then, the church has been an independent Congregational body, except as it has entered into mutual relations with other Congregational Churches.)

" From April 5, 1 847, to October 12 of the same year, the pulpit was supplied by various individuals, but chiefly by Rev. William C. Foster, whom the church and society invited to become their pastor, and was ordained and installed by Council, October 12. 1847. The relation thus entered into continued until May 28, 1849 (a little more than a year and seven months), when the relation terminated by his request, acquiesced in by the church and action of Council, called for the purpose. A few Sabbaths after, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. S. P. Leeds, who, having supplied the pulpit for two years, accepted the call of the church and society, and was ordained by Council June 18, 1851. Mr. Leeds continued the relation thus entered into, until June 23, 1855 (four years), when it was terminated by his request, reluctantly acquiesced in by the church and Council. From the termination of Mr. Leeds' labors, June 28, 1855, down to May 2. 1858, the pulpit was supplied b}- many different ministers - for several months by Prof H. B. Hosford, of Western Reserve College, and for one year by Rev. J. L. Tomlinson ; subsequently, b}' Prof H. N. Day, of Western Reserve College, for several months to May 2, 1858, when Rev. Dr. T. S. Clark, who is still with us, commenced his labors.

"January 1, 1838, Jabez Hamlin and Ogden Wetmore were chosen Deacons of the church. On the 8th day of June, 1841, Deacon Wetmore died, and, on the 24th of November following. B. Booth was chosen his successor. January 7, 1858, Deacon Hamlin, by reason of the infirmities of age, requested a discharge ft-om further duties of the office and a successor chosen. Whereupon Mr. Charles Clark was chosen his successor.

" Mr. E. N. Sill was the first Clerk of the church, and held the office to Ma}- 24, 1841, when iVIr. Charles Clark was chosen Clerk. Mr. Clark held the office to October 5, 1842, when B. Booth was chosen.

" The church was organized in a schoolhouse standing on the same lot or near where the present churcli edifice stands. The next year a building was erected on an adjoining lot bv the citizens of the village, for public assemblies, called the Lyceum, which was, however, under the control of our church for religious purposes. In this house the church worshiped until the spring of 1847, when the present church edifice was dedicated.

'-There was a revival in the spring of 184(1, while Rev. W. C. Clark was Pastor, the fruits of which were added to the church by profesfession, at the communions in April and July, twenty-five persons. One in the spring of 1 848, under Rev. W. C. Foster's pastoral labors, whereby there were added to the church in April and July, thirteen by profession. One under the pastoral labor of Rev. S. P. Leeds. in 1854, when in July seventeen were added to the church by profession."'

Since that time, 215 liaA'e been added to the church, 137 by profession. The present number of members is 165 - male, 50 ; female, 115. Hon. E. N. Sill is the onh' remaining one of the original ten members.

Dr. Clarke's labors terminated June 8. 1862. During the two years following, the pulpit was supplied b}- various individuals - from June 19, 1864, to April 1, 1866, by Rev. D. M. Rankin. October 28, 1866, Rev. E. V. H. Danner commenced his labors ; was ordained and installed January 3, 1867, and is still the Pastor. In 1870, the church edifice was enlarged and improved, at an expense of $6,121.56. The Sunday school was organized in 1838, and has been held uninterruptedly since then. Organizations under the management of the ladies of the church, sewing societies, or dime societies, have existed almost from the organization of the church, and have proved very efficient aids in raising funds for the church. In March, 1875, two ladies' missionary societies (one for young people) were organized, and are still active. Annual contributions are made by the church to the American Bible Society, the American Board of Commissioners of Foreign Missions, the American Home ^Missionary Society, the American Missionary Association, the Education Society-, and the Congregational Union. During the pastorate of Rev. S. P. Leeds, this church and Pastor were active in the formation of the Puritan Conference.

The Church of Christ is the youngest of the church organizations at Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, its existence as an independent church body dating from the 27th day of March, A. 0.1881. The history of the efforts made by the disciple that led to the organization of the church, covers a period of about two years.