Editing Massillon, Ohio (section)

===19th century===
[[File:OhioandErieCanalMassillon.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ohio and Erie Canal]] in Massillon at the turn of the century <ref>{{Cite web |title=Massillon History: Canal |url=https://massillonmuseum.org/51 |access-date=2023-09-11 |website=Massillon Museum |language=en}}</ref>]]
The original settlement of [[Kendal, Ohio|Kendal]] was founded in 1812 by Thomas Rotch, a [[Religious Society of Friends|Quaker]] originally of [[New Bedford, Massachusetts]], and [[Hartford, Connecticut]]. James Duncan of [[New Hampshire]] first settled in Kendal before recording the plot for Massillon on December 6, 1826.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://massillonohio.gov/residents/about-massillon/city-history/ | title=City History }}</ref> Duncan, known as the city's founder, named the town after [[Jean-Baptiste Massillon]], a [[French people|French]] [[Catholic bishop]], at the request of his wife.<ref name=starkplats>{{cite book|title=Stark County Recorder's Office, Plats, Book 5|pages=17}}</ref>  The town plat was established along the east bank of the [[Tuscarawas River]], which was the surveyed route for the [[Ohio and Erie Canal]] being constructed to connect [[Lake Erie]] with the [[Ohio River]]. The canal section spanning from [[Cleveland]] to Massillon was completed in 1828.<ref>{{cite web|title=Captain Pearl R. Nye: Life on the Ohio and Erie Canal - Timeline 1803 -1950|url=http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/nye/timeline2.html|publisher=U.S. Library of Congress|access-date=November 30, 2012}}</ref> Among the leading merchants were the Wellman brothers Hiram and Marshall.<ref>[https://www.visitcanton.com/blog/stark11-11-historic-homes-in-massillon/ 11 historic homes in Massillon]</ref> Marshall Wellman was the grandfather of the American author [[Jack London]]. Massillon quickly became a major port town along the canal route, known as the Port of Massillon, following the canal's completion in the 1832.<ref>{{cite web|title=Captain Pearl R. Nye: Life on the Ohio and Erie Canal - Timeline 1803 -1950|url=http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/nye/timeline3.html|publisher=U.S. Library of Congress|access-date=November 30, 2012}}</ref> The first [[telegraph line]]s would reach Massillon in 1847, and the [[Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne and Chicago Railway|Ohio & Pennsylvania Railroad]] would extend its rails to Massillon in 1852.<ref name=timeline /> Massillon incorporated as a village in 1853. In 1868, Massillon incorporated as a city when the populated reached 5,000.<ref name=timeline />

The [[Ohio Women's Convention at Massillon in 1852|Ohio Women's Convention]] met at Massillon on May 27, 1852.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=First Women's Rights Movement - Ohio History Central|url=https://ohiohistorycentral.org/w/First_Women%27s_Rights_Movement|access-date=July 14, 2021|website=ohiohistorycentral.org}}</ref> The president of the convention was [[Hannah Tracy Cutler]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Dodson|first=Angela P.|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jl-dDQAAQBAJ&q=Massillon+1852+convention&pg=PT116|title=Remember the Ladies: Celebrating Those Who Fought for Freedom at the Ballot Box|date=May 23, 2017|publisher=Center Street|isbn=978-1-4555-7095-9|language=en}}</ref> The meeting was held in Massillon Baptist Chapel.<ref name=":1">Sarah Miller Little, [https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/230131607.pdf A Woman of Property: From Being It to Controlling It - A Bicentennial Perspective on Women and Ohio Property Law, 1803 to 2003], 16 Hastings Women's L.J. 177 (2005).</ref> Attendees voted to establish the Ohio Women's Rights Association (OWRA), which held its first meeting the following year in [[Ravenna, Ohio|Ravenna]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Massillon History Timeline|url=https://massillonmuseum.org/50|access-date=July 14, 2021|website=Massillon Museum|language=en}}</ref>

[[File:Russell and Co Works, Massillon, May 5th 1908 (North front - Russell Sawworks and Threshing Machines)v01.jpg|thumb|left|Russell & Company Works (1908)]]
The [[Russell & Company (Steam Tractor)|C. M. Russell & Company]], formed in 1848<ref name=timeline /> by Charles. M. Russell and his brothers, Nahum Russell and Clement Russell, manufactured [[threshing machine]]s and other agricultural implements in Massillon. The company began producing train cars in 1852 and incorporated in 1864 as [[Russell & Company (Steam Tractor)|Russell & Company]] Inc. In 1884, Russell & Company began producing its famed steam traction engines and quickly became one of the largest producers of industrial and agricultural equipment.<ref name=russellhistory>{{cite web|title=The Early History of The Russell & Company|url=http://russellcollectors.org/articles/russell-company-history.asp|access-date=November 30, 2012}}</ref>  A merger with the Griscom-Spencer company in 1912 created the Griscom-Russell Company.<ref name=vogtreflections>{{cite book|last=Vogt|first=Margy|title=Massillon: Reflections of a Community|year=2009|publisher=Margy Vogt}}</ref> Griscom-Russell produced heat exchangers for the [[United States Navy]] during [[World War II]].<ref name=greatestgeneration />  The company closed in 1962.<ref name=timeline />

The [[Massillon Bridge Company|Massillon Iron Bridge Company]] was founded by Joseph Davenport in 1869 <ref name=timeline>{{cite web|title=Massillon Museum {{!}} Research|url=http://www.massillonmuseum.org/research_massillonhistory_timeline.html|publisher=Massillon Museum|access-date=November 30, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120923233359/http://www.massillonmuseum.org/research_massillonhistory_timeline.html|archive-date=September 23, 2012}}</ref> after moving to Massillon from Boston to work at the C. M. Russell & Company. Davenport also invented and built the first locomotive "cowcatcher" and cab in Massillon. The company incorporated in 1887 as The Massillon Bridge Company. The Massillon Bridge Company designed and built steel truss bridges up through the mid-1900s, many of which stand today.

[[File:Massillonstatehospital2.jpg|thumb|right|Massillon State Hospital in early 1900s]]
The Massillon State Hospital for the Insane opened in 1898<ref name=timeline />  on 240 acres of land given to the state of Ohio for the purpose of constructing the hospital. The hospital was established by Ohio governor [[William McKinley]]. By 1950 there were 3,100 patients in the hospital.<ref name=museumhosptial>{{cite web|last=Sues|first=Hannah|title=Massillon History: Massillon State Hospital|url=http://www.massillonmuseum.org/research_massillonhistory_statehospital.html|access-date=November 30, 2012}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>  Today it is known as Heartland Behavioral Healthcare.<ref name=mentalhealth>{{cite web|title=Heartland Behavioral Healthcare|url=http://mentalhealth.ohio.gov/what-we-do/provide/hospital-services/regional-psychiatric-hospitals/heartland.shtml|publisher=Ohio Department of Mental Health|access-date=November 30, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121228235408/http://mentalhealth.ohio.gov/what-we-do/provide/hospital-services/regional-psychiatric-hospitals/heartland.shtml|archive-date=December 28, 2012}}</ref>