Business & Industry

Although most of its earliest residents were farmers, Tallmadge also supported various tradesmen whose goods and services were vital to the growing community.  These early businessmen included blacksmiths, carpenters, and tanners.  Because water power from the Little Cuyahoga River was available, both grist and lumber mills were established.

For many years, coal was one of the community’s most important industries.  As early as 1809, coal was being mined in Tallmadge.  In 1838, the Tallmadge Coal Company was formed by Daniel Upson, Francis Wright, and Charles Whittlesey.  This company was so successful that its owners built a tramway over two miles long to transport coal to the Pennsylvania & Ohio Canal.

Another natural resource that influenced early industry in Tallmadge was clay.  Large deposits of clay located throughout the area provided raw material for several successful pottery factories, including the U.S. Stoneware Company.

Carriage making may be the industry most closely associated with early Tallmadge.  In the mid-1820s, William C. Oviatt came to Tallmadge as a blacksmith.  He joined with a wagon repair business to commence making wagons.  This company became Oviatt and Sperry Carriage Works, later to become Oviatt, Sperry and Ritchie, which was among the most well-known carriage makers of the time.  The company closed in 1870 due to competition from factory made carriages.

Tallmadge continues to support numerous and diverse businesses, helping to make it the thriving and prosperous community that it is today.