Before Massillon there was Kendal, Ohio. Kendal was founded on April 20, 1812 by Thomas and Charity Rotch, prominent Quakers from powerful New England whaling families. Kendal was the first town established directly west of Canton, far predating Massillon, founded by James Duncan in 1826. In 1853, Massillon was populated enough (due largely to the canal) to incorporate into a village, absorbing Kendal to the northeast and West Massillon to form one unified village, now city. The town was named after a renowned textile center of Cumbria, England. Thomas Rotch aspired to make Kendal the textile center of Ohio with his woolen factory on Sippo Creek and merino sheep flock at Spring Hill Farm.

Thomas platted the town of Kendal with 102 plots in 1812, adding 45 more plots in 1815 when the area became more populated following the end of the War of 1812. Kendal spanned from Lake Avenue NE to State Street, with Wales Road (originally Front Street) acting as the main north-south path. Both Kendal and later Massillon were active Underground Railroad locations, with “routes” developing in Kendal as early as 1817.

After the passing of Thomas and Charity Rotch, Arvine Wales I became the executor of the Rotch estate. He sold several acres of land to Owenite missionaries that attempted a utopian socialistic community between 1826-29, presided by Jehial Fox. Some prominent historical figures that also resided in Kendal include the parents of abolitionist and women’s rights activist Lucretia Mott; Mayhew Folger; James Austin;

The story of these communities is a tapestry of local, national, and international history. Using new archival discoveries in the Massillon Museum, Spring Hill Historic Home, and Massillon Public Library collections, this book tells stories of the early Kendal and Massillon, shedding light on the Ohio frontier and its pioneers from 1812 to 1860.