There are now in operation within the corporation one foundry and rolling mill for railroad axles and. hollow bolts, two flour mills, two saw mills, a rivet factory and clay mill, a wire factory, wire weaving works, a large foundry and machine shop, a small machine shop and town clock factory, two paper mills and another partly built, an extensive sewer pipe factory, two potteries, a planing mill, tannery, and several wagon, tin and other shops, besides the tow bagging mill of John Hinde & Son, which latter employs about one hundred and fifty hands. There is also a factory for making roofing tile by improved machinery, which has been in operation a short time by Camp & Babb, which turns out about three thou sand per day. They are admirable in all respects, and promise to be a very great improvement upon previous methods of making, and it is thought will supersede them. The machinery was invented by Horace Camp, and is very simple and easy of management.

The depression of the iron trade which has been so severe throughout the country, has seriously affected all these industries; but while struggling under great embarrassment, from the scarcity of money and the failure of establishments at other points, nearly all have escaped the fate of many of their contemporaries, and have avoided suspension of business.

The services which led to the establishment of St. John's church were began in a log cabin at Stow corners, in 1818, by Mrs. Josiah Wetmore, she reading the service, and her husband the sermon. Her house was crowded with interested worshippers, but after three years the family returned to the east. The interest was continued and maintained by lay reading, with an occasional visit from a clergyman, till 1830, when the parish was organized. They met in school houses and private houses till 1835, when the edifice was erected which they now occupy. It was consecrated to the worship of God in 1836, by Bishop McIlvaine, and remains as originally built, except the change in the chancel made two years ago. It is the oldest church in this part of the country, except the church in Tallmadge, and has been changed much less than that.

The first rector of the church was the Rev. Wm. H. Newman, who was succeeded respectively by Revs. Messrs. Cushman, Blodsoe, Bonnar, Fairchild, Guion, Burger, Holden, Bosley and Fairchild, the latter returning in 1872, and is the present rector.

The Methodist Episcopal church was organized in 1829. Their church edifice was completed in 1840, and was dedicated on the 31st of December of that year. It was enlarged in 1864, and the church has prospered up to the present time. It was embraced in what was called Twinsburgh circuit. The first preacher who officiated here was Rev. Thomas Carr.

The Congregational church was organized in 1834. For some time they met in school houses, but finally united with the school district and a literary society, in the building what was called "The Lyceum," which stood east of the ground occupied by their present church edifice. It had an audience-room upon the upper floor, and school rooms in the basement. This building was used by them till 1845, when steps were taken to build the present edifice. This was finished the following year, but has been enlarged and improved since, by the addition of Sunday school room, study and parlor, after the building of the church.

The lyceum was removed to the lot now owned by Austin Babcock, and put upon the spot where his house now stands, but was finally purchased by Mr. Hinde, and forms the south part of his mill.

The pastors of the Congregational church have been Revs. Messrs. Baldwin, Buyington, W. C. Clarke, Foster, Leeds, Tomlinson, Rankin, Dr. T. S. Clarke, and Danner, the present incumbent.

The school building which stands north of St. John's church, was built by persons who seceded from the Methodist Episcopal church, and organized under the name of “Wesleyans." But they soon disbanded, and the building was sold to the school directors for a high school. In 1872 the new high school was ready for use, to which that school was transferred, since which time this building has been used for schools of lower grade.

The subject of education has always held a high place in the estimation of the people. After the building of St. John's church, a female seminary was kept in the school room adjoining, by Miss Sarah Carpenter. She was succeeded by Miss Frances C. Barron, and she by Miss Eliza Deaver. The public schools have been well sustained, and are now the pride of the village.

One of the first efforts in the promotion of education, was the organization and charter of an institution called the Cuyahoga Falls institute, under the management of Rev. Mr. Brooks and Charles Clark. The school was started and kept in operation some time, but the hard times which came on in 1837 made it necessary to abandon the project.

The people of Cuyahoga Falls were long remark able for their social qualities. They were from very different places, and reared under different influences before emigration, and being brought into contact upon settlement, there was a toning down of many of the asperities which were peculiar to New Eng land manners and habits of thought, and the consequence was that there was a friendliness which has never wholly disappeared; and perhaps no town upon the Western Reserve was more remarkable for its sociability and good fellowship than this. Later years, and the coming in of new residents, have changed this somewhat; but not 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 for the change, shows how superior was the enjoyment of those early associations, to the more restrained, though perhaps, politer habits of the present. But it is not wholly the fault of the present. In early times they were wholly dependant one on another for their pleasures, and their cares were confined to narrower bounds, and they were driven to find amusement in each others company, for the want of any other resource, while now the daily papers and pressure of business occupies the attention.

It would be a very ungrateful return to those who gave their lives to save their country in her hour of need if we should omit to mention the readiness with which the young men of the town enlisted in her army. A large number of men were enlisted in several regiments and batteries, how many I have not been able to ascertain; of these, twenty-nine now fill soldiers' graves. The names of those who fell are as follows : Captain D. N. Lowrey, Thomas Evans, J. D. Cooke, J. I. Patterson, William Lyons, George L. Holden, David McArthur, First Lieuten ant John Eadie, Jr., Second Lieutenant J. C. Ely, J. W. Eddy, Robert Gaylord, I. J. Wood, C. Neeley, A. K. Goodrich', F. B. Purine, Robt. Green, Edward Green, John Patterson, J. B. Lyon, Seneca Blood, John Congdon, John Shell horn, Chas. E. Moon, G. G. Crane, J. Murphy, John C. Schneible, H. F. Eddy, H. J. Ingalls and J. Hogle.

These names we cherish as a precious treasure, which we will hand down to posterity, that they may give them the honor they so justly deserve. To them and their associates we owe the preservation of our country in its integrity, and we hold our selves responsible to their memories for its continuance to our posterity.

The houses upon Front street, from the Perry House north, on the west side, were nearly all built between 1825 and 1830; of those below that point, Henry Wetmore's was built in 1835; Ogden Wetmore's, which came next, and now stands back on Second street, in 1830; E. N. Sill's center part of house in 1834-5; the wings were added many years afterward. Dr. Rice's house in 1832; Mr. Hollo way's in 1831, and Israel James' about the same time.

It may also be proper to say that Mr. Holloway was the first resident preacher of the gospel in the town, and still remains to enjoy the respect of his townsmen for a well spent and useful life.

The first store of goods ever opened here was by Stow & Wetmore, in 1825 ; and in 1829 a small store was brought by Col. Stanley, and opened on the corner of Water and Broad streets, north of the covered bridge.

The first birth in the town was Edward, son of William Wetmore, Jr., who now resides in North ampton; this was in 1827.

The first death was a son of the same family, in 1826. The first adult who died here was the first wife of Mr. E. N. Sill, and daughter of Henry Newberry.

The first marriage is believed to have been the daughter of Deacon Hamlin to Washington Butler. The first Post Master was Henry Newberry, who held the office till he was led to resign it through the pressure of his other business.

The first Trustees of the village were Henry New berry, Horace A. Miller, and P. G. Somers. The first Clerk Grant B. Turner. The first Justices of the Peace C. W. Wetmore, and Josiah Wetmore.

The first Bank in the County was the Summit County Bank, organized under the State Banking law, and was in Cuyahoga Falls.

It was customary in early times, in this as well as other places to make free use of whisky on all occasions. It was thought to be almost as necessary as bread for all laborers. Stow and Wetmore furnished a barrel a week to their workmen as their stated supply; and kept it upon their counter at the store for the use of all who chose it, and few refused it. 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 work men. Upon this the men withdrew in a body to consult upon the course they should pursue. They soon returned and demanded their accustomed sup ply. Upon the repetition of the refusal, they left the 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 about two months before their places were filled by new men, and they could go on with their work; but 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 be the first in Ohio. It number ed at first but nine members; but Judge Stow offer ed a lot in his township to the town authorities for public benefit, if a majority of the people would join the society, whereupon 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 were all closed.

After the great revulsion in money matters, in 1837, there was great embarrassment for want of a currency, which led to the adoption of a plan for issuing 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.

In 1832 a Mutual Insurance Company was organized, under the name of the “Portage Mutual," and did business for over twenty years. This was undoubtedly a very useful institution in its day; but stock companies became popular, and this company withdrew and closed up its affairs.

The town has been visited by several destructive fires. In 1833 a warehouse of Stow & Wetmore's, filled with paper stock, was burned; and 1851 the flour mill on the east side of their dam was burned by an incendiary. In 1866 the stone building known as the Bank building, which stood upon the site of James' block, and occupied by H. C. Lockwood, with several adjoining buildings were consumed. At this fire John Marsh Hinde lost his life.

The woolen mill on the west side of the river, as we have before noticed, was burned; also the paper mill on the same side twice.

Messrs. Bill's machine shop and foundry, and the Empire Paper Mill, belonging to Hanford Brothers, were consumed in 1872.

Several residences have been burned at different times, but they were not of great value. From the earliest times the town has been exceedingly fortunate as to its dwellings in regard to fires, and have enjoyed singular exemption from loss by that means.