The establishment of Akron began in 1829 when Jonathan Russell purchased lot 26 and built a framed house that also served as a small store. This building, which now operates as a cigar manufactory, was Akron’s first structure. That same year, a gristmill known as the Wilder Mill was built by Mr. Whicher, attracting people from the surrounding area. The early development of the village included the construction of a sawmill by Elisha Hill, the arrival of the first physician, Dr. Isaac Parcell, and the opening of a tavern by Spencer S. Harrington in 1831. Akron’s business community expanded with various stores and mills, and by 1836 the village adopted its name, derived from the Greek word “Akros,” meaning extreme or highest. The discovery of hydraulic limestone in 1839 further spurred Akron’s growth, leading to the establishment of significant industries like cement manufacturing, which played a crucial role in the village’s economic development.
The first move towards building a village on the site of Akron was made in 1829, when Jonathan Russell bought lot 26, erected a framed house and in a part of it opened a small store. This first of Akron buildings has been well preserved and is now occupied by Arthur Stapleton as a cigar manufactory. Mr. Russell kept a store there for ten years. According to Mr. James Harrington, in the fall of the same year a Mr. Whicher built a gristmill now known as the Wilder Mill, to which, as it was the first in this region, the people brought their grists, frequently on horseback, from all directions. At this time the great Indian trail between the East and the West, long used by the warriors of the Six Nations, was still plainly to be seen.
Elisha Hill purchased land covering the west end of the village, shortly after the opening of Russell’s store, and built the sawmill now owned by F. E. Dunham & Co. About 1831 Isaac Parcell located himself in the new village, being the first physician there, and practiced there until his death, about 1860. Dr. Wright came soon after Dr. Parcell as did also Dr. F. Norton, the latter remaining until his death, which occurred not far from that of Parcell. By 1831 a tavern was erected, and in that year Spencer S. Harrington (father of James Harrington) bought the building, finished it and opened a hotel, of which he was the proprietor several years. The same year Mitchell Osborne established a grocery, and after the expiration of fifty-two years he is still engaged in the same business. Elisha M. Adams opened a general store about the same time at the point where H. H. Newton & Sons are now carrying on business. John Wainwright and Harrison Osborne went into the mercantile business together in 1832 or 1833. Mr. Osborne withdrew erelong, but Mr. Wainwright remained in business twenty-five years.
About 1832 “Squire” Huntley built a stone dam across Murder Creek and erected a carding and fulling-mill. 1)We are informed that the building was originally intended for a sawmill but was soon transformed for the purpose mentioned above. A year or so later Hezekiah Cummings bought the mill and engaged Mr. Huntley as superintendent. A large custom business was done for many years but was given up as early as 1850. Harlow Cummings then occupied the building until about 1874, as a hub-factory.
The cluster of business places and dwellings thus established had no definite name, but by general consent was called “The Corporation.” There was at first no post office, but there seems to have been a special arrangement by which the mail for “The Corporation” and the vicinity was brought over from the “Newstead” post office on the Buffalo Road and distributed to the people. In 1835 there was a mail route from Medina to the Newstead post office, on which the mail was carried once in two weeks. Lorenzo D. Covey, then a young man, came through on one of those trips as temporary mail-carrier, and had hard work to find his unaccustomed way through the dense forest. His accidental journey made him a life-long resident of Akron, as Mr. Harrington employed him for a time in his tavern, after which he became a clerk in a store, and subsequently a merchant and prominent citizen.
Charles Ainsworth came to Akron in 1836 and has resided there most of the time since. He states that the place was then more like a log-yard and lumberyard than a village. Each side of Main Street was crowded with logs with only a narrow passageway along the middle. A piece of ground had been donated for a park, but it was used as a general storage-place by the people. Considerable lumber was usually piled there, and if a man had a wagon, a sleigh, a lot of shingles or anything else, for which he had no convenient place, he generally stored it in the park until he wanted it.
We cannot learn the exact date at which the name of Akron was adopted, but it must have been as early as 1836, for a state register published in 1837 shows that there was then a post office called Akron, kept by S. Goff, and it is generally admitted that Mr. Goff was the second postmaster, E. M. Adams being the first. It may have been earlier than 1836, though not much. 2)The dates given us vary from 1829 to 1837, but we think it must have been in 1835 or ’36. Mr. James Harrington states that a meeting was held at his father’s hotel for the purpose of deciding on a name for the growing village, doubtless with a view to obtaining a post office. Captain Joel Huntley was the chairman. Hezekiah Cummings proposed the name of Millville, another gentleman that of Leeds and still another that of Brighton. Sylvester Goff, however, suggested Akron as a convenient appellation, declaring it to be a scripture name, and after some debate it was adopted by a small majority. It is derived from the Greek word Akros, meaning extreme or highest. As there are some good-sized hills at Akron, from which one can obtain a wide view of the level country around, the name is not inappropriate. 3)We have seen several statements that this village was named after Akron, Ohio, but have found no evidence to that effect. It was generally assented to, a post office was established by that name, and ere long “The Corporation” was no longer spoken of and Akron took its place.
In the year 1839, an event occurred which changed the whole subsequent history of Akron. In that year Mr. Jonathan Delano discovered a stratum of hydraulic limestone or water limestone, cropping out on the bank of Murder Creek, at the point subsequently known as Fallkirk, and now the eastern part of the village of Akron, between the sites of Newman’s cement-mill and flouring-mill. He obtained a lease of the land for three or four years, and in 1840 he built a small kiln and began the manufacture of water lime, making about two thousand barrels 4)Some authorities state the amount to be far less. It is not practicable to ascertain it with any certainty. of three hundred pounds each, the first year. Not long after the manufacture was begun, the Canal Commissioners of the State caused a thorough test of the new cement to be made, and finding it to be of superior quality, awarded a contract to Mr. Delano for a large quantity, with which to build the Genesee Valley canal and the feeder-dam on Tonawanda Creek. The cement was hauled by teams to the points where it was to be used.
This new industry of course increased the business of the village, and in 1843, a large brick block was built by J. D. Jackson. About the same time or a little earlier, H. D. Jackson built a tannery at the foot of Main Street, where he carried on a large business for many years. The building has long since disappeared. In that year Mr. Delano’s lease having expired, Mr. Daniel Fisher, the owner of the land, conveyed it to James M. Souverhill, who soon sold it to Mr. James Montgomery. That gentleman largely increased the capacity of the works, so that in one year he manufactured 10,000 barrels of cement, which was then considered an enormous quantity. Mr. Montgomery had contracts to furnish cement for the construction of a large stone dam at Attica, of the new locks at Lockport, and of other important works. Of the present cement works we will speak a little farther on.
While Mr. Montgomery was the owner of the cement works, about 1840, an Indian brought him a stone for examination. He broke it up as fine as he could with a hammer and then ground it in a coffee mill and found it to be a fine quality of gypsum, commonly called “Plaster of Paris” or simply “Plaster,” and considered excellent for use on land. After some bantering, he gave the Indian two dollars to take him to the place where he found the stone. This was on the reservation near Tonawanda Creek, and not far from the locality of the old fairgrounds. There Mr. Montgomery found a rich stratum of gypsum. It was a soft, grayish-white stone, and was ground in the cement mills without burning, producing an almost perfectly white powder. Large quantities of it were ground at the mill owned by Montgomery, and afterwards by the Newmans, and the farmers came with teams from localities twenty-five and even thirty miles distant to obtain the desired fertilizer. In 1853 or 1855, H. Cummings & Sons engaged largely in the business, grinding the gypsum during the winter months only, and manufacturing from two thousand to three thousand tons every winter. The raw material was obtained as before, on the reservation, and the passage of new laws regarding the management of the reservation, with other causes, so embarrassed the business that it was closed about 1865.
In June, 1847, the ambitious citizens of Akron procured its incorporation as a village. All the records relating to that event were destroyed by fire in 1871. The incorporation, however, was a proof rather of ambition than population, for by the census of 1850 there were but four hundred and sixty-two persons within the corporate limits. In 1849-1850, Hezekiah Cummings built the stone grist mill now standing at the foot of Main Street. The flood of 1860 destroyed the dam, which has never been rebuilt. Since 1850, although the growth of Akron has not equaled that of some western towns or oil emporiums, yet we believe it has been more rapid than that of any other village in Erie County, except, possibly, Tonawanda; the population being now at least 1,500 in number. We will now call attention to some of the leading industries and occupations of the place, and then to the various religious and other organizations.
Flouring and Cement Works of E. J. Newman & Co. — This establishment is the direct successor of the first cement works at Akron, already mentioned. Enos Newman, previously of Onondaga County, became a partner of James Montgomery in the manufacture of cement before 1850, and shortly before the death of the latter gentleman, in 1852, Mr. Newman became sole proprietor. During the year last named he sold the original works to his brothers E. J. and Leroy Newman, also of Onondaga County, and then in company with his son, Amos Newman, established other cement works on the south side of Murder Creek which they carried on until 1864.
Meanwhile, Messrs. E. J. and Leroy Newman built a three-story stone flouring-mill, thirty feet by sixty, with a big waterwheel, with which the cement works were connected. In 1858 they built their “perpetual burner,” thirty feet high, and then manufactured one hundred barrels of cement per day. In 1859 they built their second lime kiln, and the same year, owing to their increased business, they took their cement works away from their flouring-mill, building a separate cement-mill at the lower falls of Murder Creek.
In 1864, on the death of Mr. Enos Newman, Messrs. E. J. & Leroy Newman bought the works on the south side of the creek from his son, Amos Newman, and united them with their former establishment. They also admitted their sons, C. Newman and H. L. Newman, into the firm, which became E. J. Newman & Co.
In 1870, their cement-mill was destroyed by fire, after which they built a new one, which is operated by steam. About the same time they began tunneling to obtain the water-limestone instead of removing the earth as they had previously done, and speedily reduced the cost of manufacture nearly one-half. They have also increased the number of their kilns to six and now manufacture from five hundred to six hundred barrels per day. Their new flouring-mill, built in 1878, produces about one hundred and fifty barrels of the widely known “Akron flour” daily.
Akron Cement Works. — In the year 1854, H. Cummings & Sons established a cement manufactory in the valley of Murder Creek, near Akron, on the farm belonging to H. Cummings. It was operated by both steam and waterpower and had a capacity of one hundred and fifty barrels per day. It was maintained in active operation until the autumn of 1865, when it was abandoned; being, however, immediately replaced by another situated on the same farm (close to the quarry from which the hydraulic limestone was obtained), and erected by Uriah, Homer H., and Palmer Cummings, sons of H. Cummings. This establishment was capable of producing four hundred barrels of cement daily.
In the year 1869, the works, with the adjacent quarry, were sold to a joint stock company known as the “Akron Cement Works,” and have ever since been carried on by it. The president of the company at the present time is Hon. D. N. Lockwood, the treasurer is Frank S. Coit, and the manager is Robert M. Skillen. It has one three-story mill and six lime-kilns, manufacturing about five hundred barrels per day, and employing an average of fifty-five workmen.
Cummings Akron Cement Works. — Although, as just stated, H. Cummings & Sons began the manufacture of cement at Akron in 1854, yet the establishment bearing the above name dates from 1870. In the fall and winter of 1870 and 1871, Uriah and Homer H. Cummings established a cement mill and opened a quarry west of Akron Station. Afterwards, the owners organized as a stock company, by the name of “Cummings’ Akron Cement Works.” Their establishment is capable of producing four hundred barrels of cement per day and forms an important part of the system of cement works, extending through several States, operated by the Standard Cement Company of the city of New York. Uriah Cummings is the general superintendent of the Standard Company, and Palmer Cummings is the manager of the Cummings’ Akron Cement Works.
Merchants. — H. H. Newton & Sons occupy the locality where Elisha M. Adams kept one of the first stores in Akron. The business has been carried on successively by E. M. Adams, Adams & Baker, E. M. Adams & Co., Adams (B. K.) & Knight, Adams & Newton, H. H. Newton, and H. H. Newton & Sons. The block was burned in 1871, but was rebuilt. A. Post has been a merchant in Akron for twenty-five years. Major W. T. Magoffin, a soldier in the Mexican war and the war for the Union, located himself in Akron in 1864 and engaged in the mercantile business; Magoffin & Sons have now an extensive store. W. M. Cummings, C. D. Smith, W. P. Hoag, and M. Osborne are all engaged in the grocery business.
Hotels. — The Akron House was built by John Baird. It was first kept by S. S. Harrington in 1831, then by Harrington & Stewart, then by Stewart alone, then by George Brown, then by N. B. Wickware (who is still the proprietor) and then successively by George Shannon, Thomas Blackmore, C. A. Smith and Smith & Wells, the present landlords. The Eckerson House was built by A. B. Wheeler a little before the late war. He was succeeded by Arthur Stapleton and Mr. Webster. In 1868, John Eckerson bought the property, which he still owns. The American Hotel was built in 1872, being first kept by Charles Townsend. Since 1881, it has been owned by G. M. Vancleef. I. E. Altenberg is the proprietor of the recently erected Altenberg House, at the foot of Main Street.
Physicians. — Its citizens claim that Akron has been noted for the great number of doctors who have located themselves there but have been compelled to leave on account of the healthfulness of the village. We have mentioned three of the more prominent early physicians. Of the present practitioners, Dr. L. P. L. Parker moved to Akron from Clarence in 1861. Dr. O. P. Crane and his son, Dr. L. D. Crane, located in the village in 1877, while Dr. S. W. Hurd came in 1881.
The Akron Breeze. — The only newspaper ever published in Akron is the Akron Breeze, established in September 1878, by Frank G. Smith, who has ever since been the editor and proprietor. It is a twenty-eight column weekly and is the only paper published within fourteen miles in either direction. It is independent in politics and the originality of the name selected by the proprietor has proved typical of the character of the paper. It has devoted considerable space to the local history of its village and town, and we are indebted to it for many of the facts here reproduced.
The Methodist Episcopal Church. — This church originated in the class, already mentioned, formed in 1807, at the house of Charles Knight, who became the first class-leader. This was the first-class west of the Genesee River. The members were Charles and Mary Knight, Lemuel and Lydia Osborne, David Hamlin, Sr., David Hamlin, Jr., Anna and Rebecca Hamlin, Jedediah and Persis Felton, and Persis Haines. The Hamlins, and we believe the Feltons, resided in what is now Clarence. VanNess and Jenks were the missionaries in charge, their circuit covering a large part of the Holland Purchase. In 1808, there were fifty members of the class and in 1809 there were ninety.
The Genesee Conference having been formed in 1810, John Kimberlin and William Brown were appointed preachers for the circuit and as a result of their labors, we find the amazing number of two hundred and sixty members reported as belonging to this church. In 1811, L. Grant, E. Metcalf, and M. Pearce were the preachers in charge. The house of worship used at that time stood on the Buffalo road, on the northeast corner of Lemuel Osborne’s farm. In 1812, A. Owen was the preacher in charge and in 1813, G. Laning. There were at this time twenty preaching places on the circuit, each to be occupied once in two weeks. The preacher in charge in 1814 was J. S. Lent, in 1815 R. Menshall, and in 1816 J. H. Harris and W. Jones.
In 1817, a new circuit was formed in which Clarence was the leading station, with A. D. Hamilton as preacher in charge. In 1818, the preachers were A. Seager and J. Foster. There were then about ninety members in this class. At that time, Glezen Fillmore, then an exhorter, used to walk from Harris Hill, nine miles, to the log school house in the Osborne neighborhood, preach a rousing sermon and return in the same manner. Z. Paddock preached in 1819, and in 1820 Mr. Fillmore, having entered the ministry, was placed in charge of the circuit. That year a log or block meeting house twenty-four feet by thirty-six, was erected. “All turned out who could hew or score.” Lemuel Osborne gave the site, and the building cost but $250. In 1821, a log house belonging to Mr. Osborne was fitted up by the church for a parsonage; N. B. Dobson was the first to occupy it. In 1822 and 1823, Elijah Boardman was the preacher in charge, succeeded in 1824 by Cyrus Story, and he in 1825 by George Wilkinson. In 1826, Joseph Atwood was the preacher, under whose ministrations there was an important revival, when seventy additions were made to the church. The following preachers officiated during the next ten years: Reeder Smith and Squire Chase, 1827; Mifflin Harker, 1828; Ira Bronson and B. Gardner, 1829; Sheldon Doolittle and J. B. Lanckton, 1830 and ’31; S. Judd and D. D. Nichols, 1832; William D. Jewell, 1833 and ’34; O. A. Abbott and M. Preston, 1835; Aaron Palmer, 1836.
In the last-mentioned year, the present church edifice was erected at Akron, the site being given by Jonathan Russell. Rev. Glezen Fillmore was then the presiding elder of the Pembroke circuit, to which this church belonged. The building was not completed and dedicated until 1840, when Rev. Allen Steele preached the dedication sermon. The preachers for 1837 were Fuller Aikins and Asa Warren; for 1838 J. G. Gulick and Philander Powers; for 1839 J. Gulick and John Zimmerman; for 1840 J. W. Vaughn and S. Salisbury.
At that time, Akron was made the head of the circuit, which was thenceforth supplied by one preacher. The ministers from that time to this have been as follows: Samuel Salisbury, 1841; Allen Ripley, 1842; Nelson Hoag, 1843; S. Judd, 1844 and ’45; D. J. B. Hoyt, 1846; Sumner C. Smith, 1847 and ’48; E. S. Furman, 1849; David Nichols, 1850; John Timmerman, 1851 and ’52; J. Watts, 1853 and ’54; A. W. Luce, 1855 and ’56; Henry Butlin, 1857 and ’58; R. N. Leake, i860; R. D. Miller, 1861 and ’62; W. J. Tuttle, 1863; J. Kennard, 1864 and ’65; E. F. Greene, 1867 and ’68; L. L. Rogers, 1869; W. Seism, 1870; C. Eddy, 1871, ’72 and ’73; P. R. Stover, 1874, ’75 and ’76; G. W. Kittinger, 1877, ’78 and ’79; T. Cardus, 1879, ’80 and ’81; W. B. Cliff, 1882 and ’83. The church now numbers one hundred and forty-six members. Present stewards are Dennis Churchill, Eliza Churchill, H. H. Newton, William T. Magoffin, J. W. Tuttle, H. A. Wilder, C. D. Churchill, F. N. Bell and John Dorst; class-leaders, James Center, J. W. Tuttle, H. H. Newton, W. T. Magoffin, C. D. Churchill and John A. Vroom; superintendent of the Sunday school, H. T. Newton.
The Akron Baptist Church. — For many years before 1837, a Baptist Church had existed in Newstead, which held meetings on the Buffalo road about two miles from Akron. As the business of the vicinage, after 1828, was gradually transferred to Akron, the former meeting place was found inconvenient, and the church became feeble. In 1837, it was disbanded and its members united with others in organizing the Akron Baptist Church. The first pastor was the Rev. Mr. Marshall. In 1838, its first meeting-house was built on Main Street, Akron, in which the church worshiped during thirty-five years. In 1873, the present church edifice was erected at a cost of $12,000. The pastor at that time, the Rev. Mr. Wilkinson, died suddenly a few days after the dedication of the new building while seated in his study preparing a sermon for the coming Sabbath.
The greatest number of members which the church has had at one time is one hundred and sixty-one. Its present number is one hundred and five. Its present pastor is the Rev. A. Lindsay, who has occupied the position for four years.
The Presbyterian Church of Newstead. — About 1820, when the territory of Newstead was a part of Clarence, a church was organized by the name of the Presbyterian Church of Clarence, at least half of the members of which resided in what is now Newstead. They built a framed house of worship on the Buffalo Road in Newstead which they occupied nearly twenty years. In 1835, the Presbyterian Church of Newstead was organized with eleven members, but a large majority of the Presbyterians of Newstead still remained attached to the Clarence church. In 1839, the presbytery passed a resolution dividing the Clarence church and authorizing the members residing in Newstead to form themselves into a separate organization. These numbered twenty-eight who had united themselves with the Church of Newstead already formed, as did also twelve others, making a total of fifty-one members. Of these, we are able to give the names of thirty-seven, viz.: Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Mills, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Jackson, Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. John Seaton, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Seaton, Mr. and Mrs. Silas Saxton, Mr. and Mrs. Elbridge Little, Mr. and Mrs. W. M. Cofran, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Davis, Mrs. Green, Nancy and Elizabeth Green, A. Tompkins, Wm. Strickland, Wm. Whitley, Mrs. Prince, Mrs. Rogers, Catharine Rogers, John McNillib, Mrs. Cyrus Hopkins, Jane Johnson, Mrs. Joseph Harris, Miss H. Ferris, Moses Nash, A. K. Hubbard, Huldah Bates, Mrs. P. Burt, and Calvin C. Kingsley. The board of elders then elected consisted of John Seaton, Wm. Jackson, Elbridge Little, Silas Saxton, and Wm. Cofran; Mr. Little being the clerk. In 1852, the society erected a framed house of worship in the village of Akron, and thenceforth held their meetings there. The first pastor in the new church was the Rev. E. Taylor. He was followed successively by Frederick Graves, D. Hamilton, Welcome Moddisett, E. Taylor, Ezra Jones, Isaac Dwight, and John Long, the last of whom left in 1881, since which time the church has had no regular pastor. The elders of the church at the present time are E. Beardsley, Lot S. Wilder, and Perry Cofran; the trustees of the society are Charles Clark, E. Beardsley, Hugh Carson, Perry Cofran, Monroe Johnson, Chas. Ainsworth, and Lot S. Wilder. The church has but about thirty members.
The Catholic Church of Akron. — The first visit of a Catholic priest to Akron was made by Father Loughan, in 1847, who celebrated mass at the house of Thomas Downey, but remained only a few days. There were few if any Catholic services at Akron from that time until the autumn of 1853, when Father James M. Early took up his abode there for a short time. As near as can be ascertained, “the old church” was completed and opened for divine service by Father Richard Story, in July 1854. The pastors who have had charge of the church in succession since that time have been Fathers J. V. O’Donahue, Sheehan, Martin Cavanagh, D. English, Sisto, James, Samuel, Joachim, Bonaventure, Constant, Cunningham, Maloy, O’Dwyer, John O’Donohue, P. P. Mazaret, Dennis Daley, J. Fitzpatrick, P. M. O’Meara, M. O’Shea, and M. P. Connery. The last-named pastor came to Akron in May 1882 and has since been in charge of the church. The Catholics of Akron and vicinity are now erecting a handsome house of worship, at a cost of about $5,000.
German Methodist Episcopal Church. — This church was organized in 1867. The first minister, the Rev. Philip H. Hendeges, was installed in December of that year. The first trustees were: Charles Sparling, Anson Sparling, John Etzold, Henry Holtz, and Edmund Weinange. In March 1868, sixty-eight members were added to the church. During that year, the society bought the church edifice of the Catholics, which they have since occupied. There are now about seventy-five members. The following is a list of the pastors following Mr. Hendeges, with the years in which they respectively took charge of the church: Reverends John Flad, 1872; F. W. Vogel, 1875; William Schlueter, 1878; C. Schaerff; John Boeger, 1883; Charles Stoecker, since April 1883.
The present trustees are: Edmund Weinange, J. Holtz, Lewis Kraatz, Christian Tesnow, Charles Lorenz, and Charles Yuerke. The last named gentleman is also the superintendent of a flourishing Sabbath school.
Akron Lodge, No. 527, F. & A. M. — This lodge was organized in 1860, with nine members; there are now about eighty. Further details of the lodge will be found in the chapter devoted to secret societies.
See Further:
Footnotes:
| ↑1 | We are informed that the building was originally intended for a sawmill but was soon transformed for the purpose mentioned above. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | The dates given us vary from 1829 to 1837, but we think it must have been in 1835 or ’36. |
| ↑3 | We have seen several statements that this village was named after Akron, Ohio, but have found no evidence to that effect. |
| ↑4 | Some authorities state the amount to be far less. It is not practicable to ascertain it with any certainty. |