3F#9 Mary Viola Cahow's parents were 3F#18 Robert Cahow and 3F#19 Maria Eva Smith.

Robert was born in Maryland, according to the U.S. census, about 1802. On 3 July, 1836 he married Maria Eva Smith in Portage County, Ohio. The couple settled to raise their family in Coventry Township, in what became Summit County, which was founded in 1840 from Portage and two other counties. Coventry was located in the growing settlement of Akron.

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"The first settlement in the area was along a branch of the Cuyahoga River, known as the Little Cuyahoga in what is now East Akron, in 1804..."

Donna Lenora, her husband Elmer Corbin, and their family resided near the Little Cuyahoga River in 1942, in a rear four-room cottage on Bank Street. Ronald and this author allegedly swam in the river.

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"The founder of the settlement was an ex-sea captain named Joseph Hart. The settlement came to be called Middlebury, after a community in New England. It was placed at a 12-foot drop of the river to provide energy for manufacturing. The settlement was three and a half miles east of the Indian portage between the Cuyahoga River and the Tuscarawas River.

The original Akron was established by land speculator General Simon Perkins of Warren, and partner Paul Williams, head of the only family living within the boundaries. They started their town about midway between Middlebury and the Indian portage. The original Akron is what is now known as South Akron. "North" Akron was platted by Dr. Eliakin Crosby and General Perkins in 1833.

Middlebury's public square became today's Perkin's Square. An undeveloped section between the two Akrons came to be known as the "gore," a term used by seamstresses because of its triangular shape. This section was eventually put to use for the emerging Summit County's courthouse use, and for other civic uses.

Scenically, the country around Akron was superb. The gorges cut through solid rock with dignity and majesty. The hills and valleys were treated kindly by the wind, sun and rain and were covered by forests of oak, walnut, hickory and maple; stands of elm, beech and occasional willow, and the infrequent Buckeye. Wild flowers and berry bushes were flush and glorious, and scarlet sumac contrasted with the autumn's multi-colored leaves.

Akron was born in 1825 with the building of the Ohio Canal..." [from A History of Akron]

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Robert Cahow was a farmer in the outlying Coventry area.

Maria Eva Smith was born about 1820 somewhere in Pennsylvania, according to the 1850 U.S. census.

Researching Maria's family, this author found in the 1830 census, six years prior to Maria's marriage:

The John Smith family of a male aged between 30 and 40 years old; a male aged 5 to 10; a male under five; a female aged 30 to 40; and two females aged between 10 and 15 years old.

The Jacob Smith family of a 40 to 50 year old male, one male 10 to 15; two males 50 to 10; a female aged 15 to 20; one female 10 to 15; one female 5 to 10; and two females under five years old. Both families were recorded in Coventry Township.

The IGI lists one Maria Smith christened in April of 1817 in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, dau of John Smith; and one Maria Smith christened 12 September, 1819 in Berks County, Pennsylvania, dau of John and Dana Smith. Interestingly, while Maria Eva is listed as 30 years old in the 1850 U.S. census, she is listed as only 37 years old in the 1860 U.S. census.

Neither John nor Jacob Smith of the 1830 census was found in the 1850 census. It is for the descendants of Maria Eva Smith to trace her origin.

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The Cahows had at least three children:

3F#18.1 Sarah E. Cahow- b 1837, m 30 December, 1857 to Lyman Wolcott, a carpenter- b 1834; at least two children: 3F#18.1.1 Charles Wolcott- b 1864; 3F#18.1.2 Frederick Wolcott- b 1869.

3F#18.2 Milo Cahow- b 1843, m 1.) 25 February, 1872 to Amanda Dreisbach- b 21 July, 1852, d 12 January, 1875; one child: 3F#18.2.1 Harvey Cahow- b 25 October, 1873, m to Edna Wentz; at least one child: 3F#18.2.1.1 Lolo Burtse[?]- b 15 March, 1899. m 2.) 26 December, 1876 to Clarissa Dreisbach; at least three children: 3F#18.2.2 Irvin Cahow- b 1 October, 1877; 3F#18.2.3 Eva Cahow- b 21 July, 1882; 3F#18.2.4 Dorothy Mildred Cahow- b 5 December, 1902;

3F#18.3 Mary Viola Cahow- b 1848, d about 7 May, 1916, m 6 December, 1868 to 3F#8 William D. Corbin; at least nine children.

Other Cahows in the area who were probably related include:

David Cahow, a carpenter/joiner- b 1810, of Ohio, wife Harriet- b 1819, of Ohio. Children: William M. Cahow- b 1840; Elinore A. Cahow- b 1842; John P. Cahow- b 1844; Hellen A. Cahow- b 1846; Mary A. Cahow- b 1849; all of Ohio; William Cahow- b 1802, of Maryland; Francis E. K. Cahow- b 1845, of Ohio.

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