OHIO STATEWIDE FILES OH-FOOTSTEPS Mailing List *********************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. *********************************************************************** OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest Volume 99 : Issue 250 Today's Topics: #1 Medina Co. History Part 9 [LeaAnn Rich Subject: Medina Co. History Part 9 Historical Collections of Ohio Henry Howe LL.D. The Great Competing Sleigh-Rides of the Winter of 1855 and 1856 of Summit, Cuyahoga and Medina Counties The following completes the series of articles by Mr. Peirce, from details largely supplied by Hon. Thomas Palmer, of Lafayette, this county. The event at the time created interest, not only the leading newspapers in our country giving full accounts, but those of Europe. The London "Times," among them, it is said, chronicled it as one of the novelties in the line of amusement the Western Yankees had originated. During the winter of 1855 an 1856 there were about one hundred days of almost continuous sleighing throughout Northern Ohio. In February the people of Solon Township, Cuyahoga County, organized a sleigh ride, consisting of seven four horse teams, and drove to Akron, Summit County. It seem that there hd already been several smaller parties there from Medina and several other counties, and it was understood that the Solon party intended to eclipse any previous party, for among other decorations used by them was a small cotton flag (33x55 inches) painted with the regulation number of stars and stripes, and containing in addition a profile with thumb to the nose and fingers extended. This was interpreted by the people of the townships through which the party passed as a banter and invitation to take the flag if they could muster a larger party; indeed, an Akron paper published an evidently authorized challenge to that effect. The people of the township of Twinsburg, through which the Solon party drove, concluded that they could easily capture the flag, and upon trial mustered fourteen four horse teams and went to Solon. The flag was gracefully surrendered to them and was carried to Twinsburg. The people of Royalton, Cuyahoga County, concluded that the flag must come back to their county. They rallied thirty-eight four horse teams and appeared at Twinsburg, when the flag was duly surrendered to them. The matter now became a county affair; Cuyahoga, Summit and Medina entering into the competition. The competing delegation met at Richfield, Summit County (which township adjoins both Cuyahoga and Medina Counties), on the 14th day of March. Medina had 144 four horse teams, Cuyahoga had 151, and Summit 171; in all 466 four horse teams and sleighs, each containing an average of fourteen persons, total 6,524 and 1,864 horses. In addition to these there were a large number of single sleighs with their loads, which did not enter into the count. In each party were a number of brass bands, for in those days nearly every township in that part of the Reserve had a brass band. Of course, Summit captured the flag and took it to Akron. As the competition had been mostly between Cuyahoga and Summit counties, the Medina delegation upon their return trip decided that the correct thing would be to have the flag removed into Medina County, and four days later (March 18,1856) they appeared at Akron about noon with 182 four horse teams, and one team of four mules. They carried a great number of banners and devices, and were accompanied by numerous brass bands. They were received by the citizens of Akron with extravagant demonstrations, including the ringing of bells, firing of cannon and uproarious cheers. Word was passed back from the head of the line to the last load, which commenced cheering, and the cheers came swelling back up the line, and were taken up by the rapidly congregating citizens until the town was in one deafening roar of human voices. The flag was presented to the delegation by President Peirce, of Hudson College, with appropriate remarks, which were responded to by Charles E. Bostwick, chief marshal of the delegation. Two songs, composed expressly for the occasion, were then sung, after which refreshments were served, and the delegation returned to Medina County with the flag, probably the largest and most joyous party of the kind ever assembled. No accident occurred, and, like the Hinckley Hunt, no one got drunk. ------------------------------ X-Message: #2 Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 03:40:18 -0700 From: LeaAnn Rich Subject: Medina Co.History Part 10 (bios) Historical Collections of Ohio Henry Howe LL.D. Biography BURKE AARON HINSDALE, educator, was born in Wadsworth, this county, March 31, 1837. He was a pupil of James A. Garfield, in Hiram College, and from 1870 to 1822 was its president, and then four years Superintendent of the Public Schools of Cleveland. He is the author of various books, religious, historical, educational, and edited the "Life and Works of James A. Garfield," of whom he was a strong personal friend and admirer. GENERAL RUSSELL A. ALGER, ex-Governor of Michigan and ex-Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, and the Republican party of Michigan's favorite candidate in 1888 for the Presidency, is a native of this county, and here he passed his early years. The family graveyard is at West Richfield, a short distance east of the Hinckley line in Summit County, where rest the remains of his parents and oldest sister. A beautiful monument stands there, erected to their memory by the illustrious son and brother. WILLIAM T.COGGESHALL, journalist, at one period resided in Wadsworth, where, in 1851, his daughter Jessie was born. He was born in Lewistown, Pa., and in 1841, then 17 years old, came to Ohio and connected himself with the Cincinnati Gazette, published "The Genius of the West" in 1854-1856, and was State Librarian in 1856-1862. In the beginning of the war he was appointed aid to Governor Dennison, with the rank of colonel. In 1865 he took charge of the "Ohio State Journal," at Columbus. In 1866 he was appointed United States Minister to Ecuador, hoping that his declining health, brought on by exposure when on secret service in the war time, might be restored by the pure air of Quito; but he died the next year. He wrote much for magazines, published various books, the one, perhaps, of most lasting value, was "Poets and Poetry of the West," Columbus, 1860. He was a man of cheerful temperament, companionable and loving. EDITH M.THOMAS, poetess, was born in Chatham, August 12, 1854, daughter of a successful and talented teacher. She was educated at Geneva, Ohio, Normal Institute, where, until recently, many years of her life have been passed. Now New York City is her home. She has contributed largely to the "Century," and other first-class magazines, and has published, in book form, "A New Year's Masque and Other Poems" (Boston 1855); "the Round Year" (1866), and "Lyrics and Sonnets" (1887). She is deemed by many of the eastern critics as, in that higher class of poetry, the subjective, with few peers. Her poems touch the finer chords as from the song of a spirit unseen, and grow into fuller appreciation by familiarity. R.H. Stoddard calls her "an American Keats," and as "possessing the greatest gift any poet can have, quality." These specimens illustrate her power: EXILES They both are exiles; he who sailed Great circles of the day and night, Until the vapory bank unveiled A land of palm-trees fair to sight. He has no sight of Saxon face, He hears a language harsh and strange; She has not left her native place, Yet all has undergone a change. They both are exiles; she who still Seems to herself to watch ashore, The wind, too fain, his canvas fill, The sunset burning close before. They both are exiles; nor have they The same stars shining in their skies; His nightfall is her dawn of day, His days spring westward from her eyes. Each says apart, - There is no land So far, so vastly desolate, But, had we sought it hand in hand, We both had blessed the driving fate. THE HOUR GLASS Time is no rushing torrent, dark and hoarse, As thou hast heard from bards and sages old; Sit here with me (wouldst thou the truth behold) And watch the current hour run out its course. See how without uproar or sullen force Glides the slim, shadowy rill of atom gold, Which, when the last slow guileful grain is told, Forever is returned unto its source! This is Time's stream, by whose repeated fall Unnumbered fond ones, since the world was new, Loitered as we, unwarned of doom the while; Wouldst think so slender stream could cover all? But as we speak, some eddy draws us too- Meseems dim grow thine eyes and dim thy smile. FRAILTY'S SHIELD Look what arms the fenceless wield- Frailest things have frailty's shield! Cockle-boat outrides the gale That has shred the frigate's sail; Curlew skims the breaker's crest; Swings the oriole in it's nest; Flower a single summer bred Lightly lifts its jaunty head When is past the storm whose stroke Laid the pride of centuried oak; Where with fire the soil was bathed The white trefoil springs unscathed. Frailest things have frailty's shield: Here a fly in amber sealed; There a bauble, tossed aside Under ancient lava tide, Meets the musing delver's gaze. Time the king's memorial lays, Touching it with sportive staff, But spares Erotion's epitaph. Frailest things have frailty's shield, Guarded by a charm concealed; So the gaunt and ravening wild Softens towards the weaning child, And along the giddy steep Safe one glideth, blind with sleep. Art thou mighty?- Challenged fate Chooseth thee for wrestling mate! Art thou feeble?- Fate disarmed, Turning, leaveth thee unharmed. Thou that bendest shall not break; Smiling in the tempest's wake, Thou shalt rise, and see around How the strong ones strew the ground; Saving lightness thou didst wield,- Frailest things have frailty's shield! ------------------------------ X-Message: #3 Date: Sun, 18 Apr 1999 03:54:06 -0700 From: LeaAnn Rich Subject: Medina Co. History Part 11 (final) Historical Collections of Ohio Henry Howe LL.D. Wadsworth is eleven miles southeast of Medina, on the N.Y., P.&O. Railroad. Newspapers: Banner, Independent, James E. Cory, editor and publisher; Enterprise, Independent, John A. Clark, editor and publisher. Churches: 1 Methodist Episcopal, 1 Evangelical Lutheran, 1 Reformed, 1 Disciples, 1 Congregational, 1 Baptist, 1 Colored Baptist, 1 Church of God. Bank: Wadsworth, C.n. Lyman, president, J.K. Durling, cashier. Population, 1880, 1,219. School census, 1888, 698; Arthur Powell, school superintendent. Capital invested in manufacturing establishments, $29,700; value of annual product, $31,000.--(Ohio Labor Statistics, 1888) The famous Garfield ejectors and injectors are made here. It is in a rich farming region, with abundance of coal on the east. SEVILLE is ten miles south of Medina, on the C.L. & W. Railroad. Newspaper: Review, Independent, H.E. Bassett, editor and publisher. Churches: 1 Methodist Episcopal and 1 Congregational. Bank: Exchange, John Taylor, president, A.B. Taylor, cashier. School census, 1888, 134. Chippewa Lake is on the C.L.&W. Railroad, five miles southerly from Medina. There is a hamlet with an United Brethren church, express and telegraph office. The lake is nearly two miles long, half as broad, and in places sixty feet deep. The lake is a popular summer resort for fishing and boating. A small steamer plies on its waters. There are there a hotel and pleasure grounds, where campers stretch their tents. -------------------------------- End of OH-FOOTSTEPS-D Digest V99 Issue #250 *******************************************