Stark County, Ohio - Chapter 9, 1881 (part 1 of 2)

PREVIOUS U) the year 1805,Bezaleel Wells, of Steubenville, who was descended from the Quakers, and was a man of means and with a speculative turn of mind, entered in the land office at that place, a number of sections of land west of the Nimishillen Creek, including the portion now embraced within the limits of the city of Canton, and extending beyond and including Meyer's Lake, for many years called Wells' Lake. In 1805, as he anticipated the speedy organization of a new county, with an eye to speculation he determined to lay out a town on jDart of his purchase, and make a contest to secure for it recognition as the new county seat. There were already' two contestants in the field, a paper town named Nimishillen town, not far from the present Louisville, in Nimshillen Township, which, for want of lot purchasers and buildings, never came to anything, and the already projected town of Osnaburg. five miles east of Canton, which, platted and entered a few months earlier than Canton, already contained several houses. West of the Nimishillen were, at that time, the plains or barrens, destitute alike of timber and stone suitable for building. These disadvantages resulted in the choice of the site between the two branches of the Nimishillen, in preference to a location a little further west, which presented somewhat superior advantages in some respects. The town was survej^ed and platted liv James

P. Leonard, and the plat was regularly recorded in Columbiana Connty. in the Clerk's office at New Lisbon. At this time, this was a part of Columbiana County. A tew lots were disposed of at private sale in the fall of 1805. and a few cabins were erected. In the spring of 180G, a public sale of lots occurred. That a crowd might be brought together at this sale, a horse race, to come off the same day at Canton, was extensively advertised, and the result was that many people from Steubenville, New Lisbon and Beaver were pre.sent, more interested, however, it seems, in the races than in the sale of lots. Some lots were sold, but at a merelj- nominal price. But a good beginning had been made. The original plat had the boundaries of the streets at this time known as North street, Saxton street (formerl}- East), South street and Wells street (forraerl3- West). At the sale of lots above mentioned, Leonard bought the lot on the corner of Market and Seventh streets for a trifle, with the understanding that he would immediately liuild a brick house upon it, with a view of inducing others to come in and help build up the new town. The house was built by Leonard, according to contract, and stood until the year 1879, and is yet well remembered by most of those residing in Canton as the old " Oberly Corner," where Sherrick & Miller's large and imposing hardware store at present stands. The first settler in Canton was Garret Crusen, who started a tavern on North Market street, between Fourth and l"'illii streets. His house was a log cabin, with one room about eighteen feet sqiuiri', which served amply all the purposes of the day, as bar. dining and silling-room.and kitchen ; two small shed additions furnished comfortable sleeping apartments for the family and guests, and a storeroom for general iiurposes. Jcjhn Matthews, a butcher, had a cabin on South Market street, where Dumont's grocery now is. with a pen at the rear of the lot used as a slaughter-house. John Bower, a blacksmith, built a cabin and blacksmith-sliop on part of the lot now occupied by the court hou.se. and on this lot the first well in town was dug. Bower did not tind his trade suttteient to meet the demand for the support of his family, and he. too, went to keeping tavern. Having exposed himself a great deal at night in fishing. he soon after took sick and died. The families of the parties just named were the only ones in Canton in the 3-ear 180G. Several other cabins were erected, but were not occupied until later. Mis. Matthews died in the spring of 1808. of child-bed fever ; hers was the first death in the town, and her child the first one born in Canton. I'p to the year 1807. there was no regularly-established road eastward, and, west of the Tuscarawas l{i\er, the country was yet all a wilderness, and the sons of the forest held undisputed sway. But in this year a road was laid out between New Lisbon and Canton, afterward, with some alterations, between Osnaburg and Canton, known as the State road. Being a more direct route, and affording a better accoramoilation to travelers, it soon became the favorite road for those seeking homes in the Far West, as Canton was then called, or coming here to speculate in lands. On this road were two noted places - noted for directly opposite reasons - viz. ; " Hahn's Bottom," dreaded because it was a very difficult matter to get over it with a heavy load, and -' Shull's Tavern," a place of good cheer to every weary traveler when once it was reached, as everjone on the road trieil to do. who needed a stopping-place overnight. By means of this new road. Canton was brought into closer connection with the eastern counties and States ; parties who had been out prospecting gave flattering accounts of the prospects of the new town, and the result was that a number of persons came here durina the summer and fall of 1807.

with a view to settlement in or near Canton, or for business. Among those who came for busine.ss were Philip Kroft, with a stock of goods from Pittsburgh ; Hugh Cunningham, in the tinning business, with which he associated the selling of whisky to the Indians, contrary to law. on the corner of Market and Fifth streets ; John Shorh, with a stock of goods from Baltimore, consisting mainly of tobacco, tea, hardware implerai'uts, leather, some drugs, a small supply of cotton goods, such as -- cross-bar " ginghams and a few pieces of calico, in one corner of Leonard's new building, and George Kirkpatrick, who had a blacksmith-shop on the east end of the court house lot. Col. Thomas (Til)s()n. John Nichols. Christian Palmer and John Harris were also about this time identified with the interests of the town. Still other parties made investments, but went East again in the fall, with the intention of returning with their families early during the following year. I'hilip Krofts building had itut two rooms, the front one occupied liy his family and the rear one containing his stock of goods ; as there was only one outside door, customers had to pass through the family room into the store. Hugli Cunningham incurred the displeasure of the Indians, and shot himself for fear of falling into their hands. An account of his tragic fate has been given in the preceding chapter. John Shorb also brought his family, consisting of his wife and three children, with him, from Baltimore to Canton. He was a much-honored and highly respectable man : many of his descendants are still residents of Canton and the vicinity ; others are scattered about in diflerent parts of the country. We shall have more to say of Mr. Shorb later in this history of Canton. The winter of 1807-8 was a dreary one for the few residents (jf the town ; there were no mails, no newspapers, and but very few books ; habits of living were changed and many comforts and even necessities, which they had in plenty in the old homes, were scarce or entirely wanting ; the bleak winds from the plains beyond the creek, with not a tree to break their force, came with their fury, penetrating houses and even clothing, and chilling to the blood ; and the only break to the almost unbearable monotony was furnished by the coming together occasionally of the older settlers from the townships round about, and the relation of adventures in hunting or in dealing with the Indians.

The men, in this way, managed to get through tile winter with tolerable composure, but, according to all accounts, the women, who were to a great extent debarred the comforts of any and every alleviation of their hard condition, became inconsolable and begged their husbands to return at once to their former homes. But the winter passed, and, with the coming of spring, many new ari'ivals soon cheered up the spirits of the most despondent. Of those who settled in Canton in 1808 and took an active interest in the prosperity of the town, we have the names of ( reorge Stidger, 8amuel Coulter, Moses Andrews. John Sterling, Dr. Andrew Rappee, Philip Ilewalt, James Drennan, Joseph Handlan. Jdliii Hunter, Daniel Fasher, and Alexander and John 3IcConnell. Gen. one of the most prominent of these, was naturally fitted to become a leader of men in all movements of a public character. He was a large, portly man, of commanding appearance, agreeable in his manners, attached to his friends, and ready always to do them a favor, but, when opposed, a formidable combatant. He exerted a great and generally a good influence in the community. Samuel Coulter, a staid Presbyterian, rented Leonard's new brick house and commenced keeping tavern, as the hotel business was then called, with the sign of the Green Tree." John Sterling, a quick, bustling kind of a man, a sprightly talker, and one popular with the people, came from Washington, Penn.. bringing with him a stock of goods from Pittsburgh. He had before bought out Hugh Cunningham, and immediately took possession of the frame building, corner of Market and Fifth streets, with his family and stock of goods. Mi-s. Sterling was a woman of heroic mold, and came with her husband carrying her two little daughters along on horseback - Fannie (the elder, afterward Mrs. Binkley), and Eliza (a babe, afterward Mrs. Daniel Dewalt). one behind her on the horse, the other in her arms. A brick building was erected on this site in 1819, On the southwest corner of Market and Tuscarawas streets, now occupied by the First National Bank, a two-story log build- | ing, built by John Shorb. had been purchased by J'hilip Dewalt, and he also commenced keeping tavei-n therein with the sign of the " Spread Eagle." This corner has. from this circumstance, always since been known as the Eagle corner, and the imposing brick block upon it now goes by the name of the Eagle Blo(;k. Mr. Shorb removed to his fiirm immediately west of town and lived there until his death. The McConnell brothers were carpenters, and built a frame house on the east side of the square. Dr. Rappe, a German, and the first ph3-sician to locate in this county, after his arrival in this country, went first to Steubenville. Here he made the acquaintance of the Shorb family, and was shortly afterward married to Mr. Shorb's daughter. On coming to Canton, he erected a building on the southwest corner of the square, the cellar under it having been dug bj- an Indian squaw. For many years Dr. Itappe was the only doctor in town. His practice, extending over a large area of country, was laborious but great and remunerative. He acquired considerable propertj', and accumulated more means by the legitimate practice of his profession than any physician of Canton has ever been able to do since. He was the proprietor of an eye sahe. called Rappe's Invaluable Eye Salve," that maintained a good reputation for its healing properties long after his death.

The boundary lines of Stark County vvc^re established February \H. 1808. In June, following, the Commissioners of Columbiana County appointed Eli Baldwin and Elijah Wadsworth to fix the county 'seat. Nimishillentown soon backed out of the contest, and was soon lost to the geography of the county forever. The question was narrowed down to a choice between Osnaburg and Canton. Strenuous eflbrts were made by the patrons and friends of both places. Osnaburg had the advantage of containing, at this time, a larger population, and of having building material more abundant and more convenient than Canton.

James Lceper, the jiroprietor of Osnaburg, was quite a demonstrative talker, but of somewhat unsteady habits. The bleak winds from the plains were urged with much force against Canton. But Bezaleel Wells, the proprietor of the latter place, a man of few words but of fine personal appearance, excellent reputation, impressive in what he did say by his earnest, honest language, a member of the convention that formed the first constitution of the State, and liberal in his offers to donate lots, by the sale of which much of the expense in erecting county buildings might !je raised, more

^irongiy impressed the members of the comuiission than Leepev. A f'tor a proper inspection of the ground, and hearing the arguments in favor of each i)hice. Canton was chosen as tiie count3- scat, in January, 1800, the Legishxture completed the action necessary' to make Stark an independent county.

.Vftcr the survey of lands in 1808, west of the Tuscarawas River, a land oflicc; was established in Canton, with James (^lib.son as Register and John Sloanc as Receiver. In January, 180!». a post oMice was established here, and James Coulter was the first Postmaster. The mail was carried on horseback, once a week, from New Lisbon to C: nton. At the time of the location of the town, and for some 3ears afterward, a lake, covering some thirty- acres of ground immediately adjoined it on the northeast. It was supplied by Shriver's Run, from strong springs north of town. In many places this body of water was more than six feet deep, and, as it was abundantly supplied with fish, it was a great resort for the fishermen of the period. Shriver's Run was also the outlet of this water, but its course was a considerable ilistnnce west of tiie present run. which was changed to accommodate several tanneries in the cast part of the town. At the edge of the lake stood a cottonwood tree, which, for nearly two generations, was the meeting-place of the l)oys when about to engage in their active outiloor sports. The lake was drawn off. in pursuance of an act of the Ucnera! Asseniljlv. in ISIC.

The fiist courts were held in the Kagle Tavern. kei)t by Philip Dewalt. and afterward they were held, in ISIO, for a short time, in an upper room at Coulter's. His cellar was used as a Jail. The first criminal was that of a man convicted of larceny for stealing corn ; he was sentenced by the court to ten "days imprisonment in the cellar-jail. At this time whipping was yet considered a legitimate punishment for the commission of crime, and it is said that, in this case, the court hesitiited between the usual infliction of -forty lashes save one." for such crimes, and imprisonment ; but as it was in evidence that the man was moved to steal the corn on account of actual need in his family, the Court mercifully gave the sentence of imprisonment. A refusal to pay debt,s was also in those days a crime, and a prominent citizen refusing to a pay a judgment for debt rendered

Roswell W. 3Iason. Canton's first resident !aw3-cr. came here in ISld. He purchased ten acres of Wells, immediately west of town, and built a twoslory frame house just aliout where the beautiful residence of Mr. Jacob Miller now stanils on West Tuscarawas street, so long and well-known as the property of .Air. Samuel Lahm. Law business however, was meager in this new coiuitry. and the prospects in the near future were not very. encouraging. Jlr. Mason accordiugl)-. after living here somewhat isolated for se\eral years, removed to Warren. His house remaining unoccupied for some time, soon presented a forlorn appearance, and on accoiuit of the creaking of doors and windows was soon regarded with superstitious eye as a 'haunted house" by many of the dwellers in Canton. A family by the name of Rurchfield lived in it a short time. l)ut were' soon frightened away from it by the many strange and unusual noises which disturbed their sleep at night. The ghosts, however, were considerate enough not to let themselves be seen, and were entirely exorcised some years later by Rev. James .Morrow, who bj- Ins piety and a little necessary repairing, got rid of them all without much ado. Jerry J,,ind, who is still living, was engaged during this time in trapping muskrats along the banks of the West Creek, and he avers that the exaggerated reports about the haunted house made it difficult for him to keep his hat on his head w-hen he was passing the house before daylireak in the morning, in going or returning from his traps. But Mr. Lind was no more fortunate in .seeing the ghosts than others.

In Decemlier. 1811. the sessions of the court were removed to the Stidger Tavern, newly erected, on the site of the present St. Cloud Hotel : the upper story of a house near \>\. occupied by Daniel Faun, was rented for a jail. The seconil resident lawyer of Canton. Jeremiah H. llalleck, came here in LSI 2, but soon afterward removed to Steubenville. He, some years later, became President Judge of the circuit, and served with great acceptance in this capacity for fourteen years. Many yet living remember him well as a true gentleman, as well as an upriaht. conscientious Judge. Judge llalleck died in 1847.

Court in fact, although, until he reached his majority John Harris was nominally Clerk with Eaynokls as Deputy. Mr. Rajnolds came here as a .younp; man. and grew up with the town. He was a man of consideralile information and of strict integrity, and exerted great influence in the earlier and somewhat later days of Canton, upon all who came in contact with him. He has the credit of having been in many things a kind of "Sir Oracle'' among the people of this vicinity.

The first county jail located on a lot donated to the county by Mr. ^^'ells, corner of Third and Market streets, was completed in the _year 1814. The northern part, intended for the jail, was constructed of a double tier of hewed logs, with a partition dividing it into two cells, one for debtors and the other for criminals; each of these had an entrance from the hall, with a heavy door of two-inch oak plank, covered with plate iron. The south part of this building was intended as a residence for the Sheriff of the county. It was a frame, but both parts were weather-boarded together to give it the appearance of l)eing a single .structure. Several sessions of the court were held in the family part of this building just before the completion of the old court house, on the northwest corner of the square and Tuscarawas street. This was built in 181G. at a cost of nearly $G,000, and was in its day quite a pretentious structure.

Among those who settled in Canton previous to the year 1812, were Winans Clark, William Fogle. James Hazlett Jacob Sowers, James Leeds, Thomas Hurford and Samuel and John Patton. and each of these men exerted considerable influence, in his own way, in shaping the destin}- of the town. Clark was a butcher, attentive to his Itusiness, and made money. He built the brick house on Market street, between Ff)urth and Fifth, now owned by John R. Miller. He remained here only about ten years, and then removed to Arkansas. William Fogle was from Germany. Fpon his arrival in the country, he first settled at a place called '- The Glades, " in Somerset County, Penn., and engaged in the practice of medicine. From some dissatisfaction or other with his profession, he concluded to go AVest and change his business. He stopped awhile at New Lisbon, but soon after came on to Canton. He purchased the lot now owned bv Mr. Martin Wikidal, northwest corner of Fifth and .Market streets, upon which a small frame building had been previously erected. In this he opened a store, and, among other things, he kept on hand a general assortment of drugs, which, as a physician, he had selected with a special view to the needs of this new country. Although known as a physician, he did not engage in general practice ; but, upon request, would frequently prescribe in cases of sickness, and, upon emergency', he would sometimes even visit a patient. Dr. Fogle, as he was familiarly called, was a successful merchant, and accumulated some property. He had, as he deserved, the confidence of the people, and, as a man of good judgment, and more than ordinar}- intelligence, his counsel and advice were frequently sought by others. His great popularity is witnessed by the fact that he was for many years cashier of tiie " Farmers' Bank of Canton,'' that he was twice elected County Commissioner, and that he held and acceptabl}- filled the office of County Treasurer for eight successive terms. He built the residence on the northwest side of the square where Mr. Wikidal resides ; but not satisfied that this building might not soon be eclipsed in Canton by some more elegant structure, and himself taking great pride in a fine residence, he conceived the idea of building one so grand that no one in town would be able to excel it. He. therefore, engaged Abraham Donghenbaugh, a reputable carpenter with architectural taste, to design and superintend the construction of the colonnade structure on the hill on Xorth Market street, still standing, which was erected without restrictions as to cost. It was, indeed, a noble structure, and honoied the public pride of the projector, and the good taste of the architect. Rut -- vanity of vanities " is .written of all earthh" works, and he who dreams to do what future generations, in a progressive age, will not surpass, has simply the pleasure of his dream and nothing more. The well on this lot is the deepest in the city, being nearly ninety feet deep. While it was Jjeing walled, an old man by the name of Rutfner fell into it and was killed. The building originally had a platform on the roof of the main part, which gave a good outlook over the surrounding country. At the time of Bachtel's execution for murder, it was crowded with people eager to see the sight. The grounds around the building were tastefully laid out in walks.

whifli urtonletl tine promeiuules. and, on this account, evening parties gi\cn Ijy tlie family to the young people of Canton arc yet rememljcred by some of our now older people as very enjoyable occasions. Dr. Fogle died in 1847, aged eighty -seven years.

Coteraporary with Ur. Fogle, and, like him, engaged in the pursuit of merchandising, was James Hazlett. He came from Ireland while yet in his minorit}', first settled in Belmont County. Ohio, and, in 1811, came to Canton. He commenced business in a frame building on the southeast corner of the public square ; and, having been prosperous in business, he erectetl on the old site a two-story brick house, which, though materially changed, is still standing, and is now known as the McKinle\' Block. Mr. Hazlett was much respected as a friend and neighbor ; in his younger years, in connection with the store business, he was connected with other branches of business, among which may be named a tan-yard, corner of Seventh and \\'alnut, a forge or bloomary at Sparta, in Pike Township, and a furnace at North Industry ; but ever}- one of these has " gone the way of all tiesh," and are no more recognized in the land of the living. He was at an early day elected one of the Associate Judges of the Count}-, and held the place until these unnecessar}' appendages were done away with by our present State Constitution. An incident occurred in the heated '' Log Cabin and Hard Cider" campaign of 1S40, between tlen. Harrison, of Ohio, and Martin Van Buren, of New York, rival candidates for the high ottice of the President of the United States, in which, at the election, Mr. Hazlett's vote was challenged. He had, at this time, exercised the privilege of an American voter for thirty years without challenge ; he, of course, acted in good faith, and believed he had the right to vote, but, under the naturalization laws, his vote was rejected. His political friends were naturally indignant at the rejection of his vote ; but he himself, with a keen sense of justice in the premises, and a high regard for the prerogatives of an American citizen, took no umbrage, and was only sorry that he had so long unwittingl}- violated the law. Before the next election, without opposition from either part}-, his disabilitywas removed.

ton. Samuel kept a tavern stand in a frame building on the corner of Court and Tuscarawas streets. Several years later, he took charge of the Slidger House on the ground now occupied by the St. Cloud Hotel. Here he died. John was a teacher, and held school in a frame building on Market street, south of the old Oberl}- corner. He is said to have been a man of line personal app(!arance, and very popular among the ladies. He afterward removed to Bolivar, Tuscarawas County, where he died some years ago.

Thomas Hurford. father of Alexander, still living among us, was born in Chester County, Pcnn., where he learned the milling liusiness. He worked for awhile in a mill belonging to Bazaleel Wells at Steubenvillc ; then rented the mill and ran it in his own name. During the time, he took a tlat-boat loaded with flour to New Orleans, and, on this' venture, cleared $:i,500. With this money he came to Canton, and entered a ijuarter-section of land just south of the present city limits ; he was so closely identified with Canton from his social disposition, and thi! frequency of his visits to town, that he was always considered as one of the early residents. He liuilt the mill yet standing, but for many 3ears no longer in active use, just southwest of Oak Orove. Though the sound of its grinding has for many years not been heard, it is still in the old place - one of the remaining monitors of times long past and gone. Mr. Hurford was very fond of compan}-, and particularly fond of discussions on religious matters. He, having been born and reared in Chester County, Penn., a region of country almost entirely oix-upied by Quakers, the followers of William Penn, the founder of the State of Pennsylvania, and in the very vicinitj- of Philadelphia, the City of Brothcrl}- Love, was very naturally under Quaker influences in his earlier years. He tells his own story of the reasons which caused him to dofl" the habit of his religious faith and early training. Having been sent to Winchester, Va., at an early day, on business for his employers, he was assailed, while passing along one of the streets, b}' a cry from an upper window, as he supposed, -' You're a Quaker," but looking up he could see no one from whom the insulting language, as he construed it, had come. He went on, but after a few steps, he heard the same cry repeated. Naturally indignant at what he considered an insult to his religion, he angrily turned round to discover the impudent assaulter, but no one was in sight on the street or at the windows. Several hours after this, as he was passing the same locality, came a third time tlie cry. You're a Quaker." when, turning (juiekly, he discovered the guilty party to be a parrot exposed in a cage at an upper window. This trivial circumstance so mucli annoyed him, that he took off his Quaker dress immediately upon his return home, and never resumed it afterward. Upon such little things, sometimes, do the destinies of men and nations hang.

Jacob Sowers, grandfather of Percy Sowers, an attorney of the city of lo-day. came in the year 1809. to Canton, from Maryland, and bought with him his two sons, Frederick and Eli. The old geifcleman intended to make some investments in his own name, but not finding things in all respects to his taste, and. concluding to defer tlie matter to some future time, returned f]ast. leaving his two sons here. Frederick was bound to George Cribs to learn the trade of a potter. He liked neither his master, nor the trade, left without ceremony, and went back to his native State, where afterward he became a highly successful Baptist minister, but contracting a severe cold from immersing in the winter season, he died from the effects of it, Kli, the other son. was apprenticed to Alexander Cameron, to make of himself a practical carpenter. He served out his time, married a daughter of fleorge Dunbar, and, for many years, carried on this business extensively and successfully, until, witli the acquisition of a competency, advancing years admonished him to retire from active luisiness. He was elected one of the Associate Judges of the county, and filled the position with credit for a number of 3'ears. Tlie Judge often spoke of the great eclipse of 1811. when he. with others, was engaged in shingling the old Kaufmann House, corner of Ninth and Market streets. The sun gradually disappeared, darkness soon en\'elopcd everytliiiig aliout them, and the men, one and all. iii'ccipitatclv aliaiidoncd the roof witii llie impression (bred of tlie want of knowledge and considerable suijerstition) that the world was coming to an end, or that some other dreadful calamit}' was immediately impending. The sun. however, soon brightened up again and the world still stands. >

In these earlier days, and some of the later ones, people hereabouts, without fixing precise dates, would refer to things which happened before or nftcr the war of 1812 with Great Britain. Hence the references above given of those who were here before 1812. There were, of course, many others, who either made no record, or, following the Westward course of rule and civilization, have entirely passed away from the recollections of men.

Many of the pursuits of former times have passed away, and a few words touching the arts that the improvement of machinery or greater facilities elsewhere have destroyed, are in place. In pioneer days, here as elsewhere, those pursuits which minister to man's immediate comforts and needs were the first ones started and longest continued. A young lady's outfit, in town as in country, then, alwajs included a spinning-wheel and its accompanying reel. From the first settlement of the county, and for a couple of score of years thereafter, these articles were in great demand ; at one time, there were no less than three establishments in Canton engaged in their manufacture, those, namely, of Joseph Handlin, Joseph Musser and Jacob Bncher. Ilandlin left first, Musser ran away with another man's wife, but Mr. Bucher continued in the business as long as there was anything to do. and amassed a very respectable fortune. But the music of 'the onestringed piano," as some one has facetiously called. the spinning-wheel, no longer enlivens the dreary long winter nights, or the sultry late summer evenings. Tom Marshall, from Steubenville, where he had previously engaged iu the same business, started a nail factory and continued it for a few years. He heated his iron-plate iu a forge, and cut and headed the nails by machinerj'. His shop was on Tuscarawas street, about where the parsonage of the First .Mctliddist Churcli now stands. He could and did make from fifteen to twenty pounds a da}-, which sold readily at 50 cents a pound. Messrs. 'Webb. Toiler, Schrf)ggs, Sweeney and Albert carried on the hatting business at an early day and for many years. Hats, at that time, were made only of fur and wool, both kinds, a stiff hat with a high crown. When a man or a boy wanted a hat, he went to the hatter and had his head measured, and the hat, made over the measure, would be finished in a month or six weeks. It was not a great wliilo, howevi'i'. before tho rueieluints bt^gau to bring on bats and slices from the Kast. The hatters and shoemakers, of course, considered this an intrencbment upon their prerogative, and tlie3' made common cause against tlie merciiants ; but the old tight of sup|)ly and demand, and of the right to buy goods in any legitimate way. where they could be bought for the least money, won the da^" eventually ; the war cca.sed. the merchants had the trade, and the hatters and shoemakers were obliged to yield. The hatters finally left the field, and those of them who remained in town, went into other business. There have been as many as nine tanneries in different parts of Canton, mostly on or near Shriver's Kun. and seven of the nine running at the same time ; now there is none. The same might be said of the hatters, who. after the first fight with the merchants, were only known here by an occasional itinerant coming once in awhile, to brush up and renovate old hats ; a year or two since, however, an old and experienced hatter from I'hiladelphia htcated in Canton, and though he does not pretend to cope with the older houses Hast or West, in making new hats, he has succeeded in establishing a good business in the renovating line. In the former days, there were Sterlings, Stidger's, Kroft's, Fogle's, Slusscr's. Hazlett's, Christmas'. Dobbs' and Kimballs tanneries, the last seven at the same time. As this circumstance indicates there was a very urgent demand f(jr leather, so urgent indeed, sometimes, that people would take it awa\ before! the leather had been fully and properly tanned. A". R. Kimball, who started his tanner\' in 1882. at the corner of Cherry and Third streets, where Alexander's woolen factory is now located, ground his bark bjsteam-power, and as his was the first steam engine ever seen in Canton, it was a great curiosit}-, and attracted, for awhile, crowds of people eager to see this wonderful substitute of heat and water for horse-power. The engineer was named Albert Kugle, and the boys of the period considered hira the greatest man in town. The stage driver, up to this time, was the man of most importance in the eyes of the boys, l)ut he had to yield to Kugle. .\s g.ame was then abundant, and every man and boy considered himself deficient in something essential to liis manhood, if he had not a gun or did not know how to use one. and as emigrants going further WvM brought this part of their outfit here, the demand for guns and rifles was sufficient to keep three shops ruiniing. .Vdani Kimmel. John Clark and Jacob Danner engaged in the business, and the}' all made money out of it. Associated with the regular gun business, Mr, V. A, Schneider, the pioneer hardware merchant of Canton, started and kept in operation for some time, a gun-barrel factory on Fifth street, between Walnut and Cherry. The building was afterward diverted into other uses ; it is still standing, but has been turned into a number of tenement houses. Among others of those who pursued in former years, what are now entirely or comparatively lost arts in Canton. George Faber, a man of decidedl}' inventive turn of mind, and a good citizen, manufactured for several years all kinds of cards, such as vvool-cards, horse-cards and the like.

Although a distinct portion of the history of Stark County will be devoted to the medical fraternity, in which all the pioneer physicians will receive full notice, we deem it due to the history of Canton to revert brief!}- to the earlier doctors, who came here after Dr. Rappe, of whom, as the first one, a fuller notice has above been given. After him, the brothers John and Thomas Ronfield came and practiced in this city and neighborhood. Dr. John came first. and. though a man of decided abilitj'. was somewhat odd in his manners and dress, and had a penchant for hohling some public otiice, an ambition, however, which he was never able to gratify. Dr, Thomas S, came shortly after, and was in nearl}' every respect totally unlike his brother ; ho was a popular practitioner, a zealous member of the Methodist Church and a noted skater. After these came Dr. Thomas Hartford, who first engaged in the practice of his profession and afterward in merchandising. Highly successful in both callings, he amassed considerable wealth, which by his will, alter making liberal provision for his widow during her lifetime, he bequeatlied as a perpetual poor fund to till! cit}' of Canton. Dr. Hartford removed to Pittsburgh in 1S32. and lived there in ease and comfort all the balance of his days. Dr. James Jerow was the fiflli physician, a good practitioner, l)ut a very ttecided and somewhat arbitrary man. He died in 1825, of a malignant fever. Dr. George Breyseciier, the next, came from Germany, and settled in Canton in

1819. He was reputed a good physician and a very successful hunter. Drs. (lardner and Simmons came here in or about 182(1. Tlie former died in Canton. The latter, aljout the year 1830, removed to Cincinnati, and afterward to St. Louis, where he died only a few years ago. Many of these older settlers have left historical reminiscences highly interesting and instructive. We will give a few of these which we deem of especial interest. John Shorb. who came here in 1807, was a native of Zweibruecken, in (Termany, and when yet (juite young, he came and settled in Baltimore, where he married Catharine Gross, a sister of Mrs. Andrew Me3-er, from Neiderbronu, Elsass. Mr. Shorb had pursued ditferent branches of business in Baltimore, and had made some mone}' before he came to Canton. He kept store a few years, first in Leonard's building, and afterward in his own l)uilding. (riving up the store to his son John, he removed to his farm just northwest of the old city limits, now, however, nearly all within the city. When he went East in after 3ears to buy goods, he invariablj' made the trip on horseback, accompanied at difterent times by his wife, a feat of horsemanship that but few women of the present day would dare to attempt. In 1815, he became President of the first bank in the town, called "The Farmers' Bank of Canton." He did considerable business also in real estate. He took an active part in public affairs, and was always ready to give a helping hand to his neighbors. An example will perhaps give some insight into this part of his character. It was customary in the early times for sea captains to bring over emigrants destitute of means, and. in order to pa^' their passage and expenses, to sell them out to service for a number of yeai's. Sometimes whole families were thus sold out into this condition of white slavery. A Swiss, by the name of Imhoff, was one of this kind of emigrants. He came from Basle, and was a tailor by trade. He was sold to one of these -- dealers in human flesh," who was instinctively a tj'rant. Soon finding his condition unbearable. Imhotf took the first favorable chance, as man}' others in like positions did, and ran away, taking his family along with him. With other parties going West, he came first to Plain Township, and then to Canton. He had been pursued, and on the day of his arrival here, he was caught by his pursuers, together with his family, and they were in danger of being taken back to their sla\ery, and to suffer the punishment of whipping for running away. They were almost exhausted with weariness and the want of sustaining food, and the terrible fate awaiting them if they should be taken back to Philadelphia l)ecoming known, many of the then residents of the town took compassion on them, and one of them, John Shorb. being in good circumstances ottered to buy their fieedom. The pursuers were at first unwilling to make any terms for the release of Imhofl' and familj', but they were soon brought to terms I)}' the loud mutterings of the anger of the people, and the threats of lynch law if they did not quickly accept their money and leave. One who vouches for the truth of this transaction said : " The scoundrels took themselves ofl" might}- quick when thej' heard of hanging." Shorb was a zealous member of the Roman Catholic Church, and one of the founders of the first congregation in Canton. He was injured while giving a helping hand in the erection of the old Catholic Church corner of North and Poplar streets, and on the 24th of July, 1824, he died from his injuries, at the age of sixty -fi\'e j-ears.

Philip Dewalt was also one of the noteworthy pioneers of Canton, and came here in 1808. His parents came from (rerniany to America in the year 17(11, and Philip was born on the vessel during the vo3'age over the ocean. The family went first to Hanover. York Co., Penn., next to Center County, and finally, to Stark County in 1808. The parents lived to great old age ; the lather, aKso named Philip, died at the age of one hundred and five jears, and the mother at one hundred. Both were buried in the old graveyard on Plum street in Canton. The subject of our sketch first engaged in making -small beer" and 'pepper cakes," but in the winter following, commenced keeping the '' Spread Eagle ' tavern ; he did a good business. From 1809 to 1812, large numbers of people from the East came to look up and locate lands, and iNIr. Dewalt had often as many as twenty guests passing the night with him. His son. Daniel Dewalt, now over eighty years old, still resides here and knows more about the early settlement of Canton, from his own knowledge, than any other citizen. At the end of twenty years, Philip Dewalt sold the Eagle Hotel to his oldest son, George, and built another tavern stand on the northeast corner of Tuscarawas and I'hini streets. He died in 1844, aged eight\--tliree years. His wife Eva was called home some seventeen years before at the age of sixty-four years. They had a family of seven children, live sons and two daughters, of whom I'ncle Dan,'' tolerably hale and hearty, alone survives, one of the last links connecting the primitive age of Canton with the present. A history of Canton would be very incomplete without a more (>xtended notice of Uncle Dan." In the spring of 1809, he went to school to a Mr. Oeorge Gcisweil, northeast of the present fair grounds, and received instruction in reading, writing and arithmetic, both in English and German. The tuition in this school was 50 cents per month One Andrew Johnson, taught the lirst English school in Canton, in a log schoolhouse, erected in 1807 on the lot now occupied by the court house. Daniel Dewalt made fair progress in school, and afterward helped bis father in the tavern. He attended to the horses in the stable and blacked boots for the guests, sometimes assisted by his mother, and frequently did not get done with his work until after 1 o'clock in the morning. He, however, pocketed all the cash paid for this service himself, and often drove a profitable trade. He took to horses naturally when ((uite young, and while yet a boy did some sharp Iradhig, as early as the year 1812, when the last war with Great Britain broke out. About this time he owned, in his own name, a Hock of sixty sheep, which found good and abundant subsistence on tiie rich plains near Canton. One day a farmer came to' the Eagle Tavern, with a tolerably good horse, which he wanted to exchange for sheep. Daniel gave him four sheep and took the horse. .\ few days after, his father sent him on business to New Philadelphia, and he. of course, took his horse along with him. On the way he saw a very beautiful, dark chestnut horse, which took his fancy, and he traded his own iiorse and a gold watch, worth $:!0 or -S40, for him. When he came home on his nol)le charger, he was a wonder to his father and ail the people at the hotel. He traded this horse again a few days later to the soldiers, at that time encamped on the court house lot, receiving in exchange two other horses and $75 in money ; one of these he sold soon afterward for $100. He, some years later, learned watch-making and jewelry business, but not finding this his particular forte, he has spent the greater part of his life in trading. He was generally successful in his ventures. In the summer of 1809, there was a great scarcity in horse feed in this neighborhood, and to meet the urgent demand, Philip Dewalt sent to New Lisbon, a distance of thirty-three miles. His two daughters, Mary and Nancy, aged respectively twelve and fourteen years, made the journey in two days. They rode horseback anil leading other horses bj' the bridle, brought three sacks of oats on each horse. Those days developed hearty and brave women, as well as hard}' and daring men, women wiio were in every respect helpmeets to their linsl>ands in town and country.

Before proceeding to other early reminiscences it will be well to give a resume of the early settlers which, from a paper published a number of years since, we find read}' to our hands, as follows, viz.: " The first white settler, not only in Canton but in Stark Count}", was James Leonard, who came here in 1805. The first white child was born a couple of miles north of Canton, on the Spangler farm, and was a daughter born to Hugh ('unningham, who, however, lived but a short time. The first marriage was that of James F. Leonard with Sarah Barber, in 1806. Leonard built the same year the first brick house, on the old Oberly corner. The first death was that of James Culbertson, in October, 1805. The first grist-mill was erected by Philip Shisser in 1807. The first saw-mill was set up the same year on the present site of Trump's Mill. The lirst tavern was started by Garret Crusen. on Jlarket street, between Fourth and Fifth streets, in a log house. The first well in town was dug on this lot. The first store was opened by Alirahain Kroft, corner of Market and Fifth streets, in 1807. The first blacksmith who did work here was John Bower, who built his shop and commenced business in 1809, on the court house lot. The first shoemaker was Barney Mayhan, on Poplar street, between Fourth and Fifth, in 1809. The first tailor was L(!vi Jones, on South Market street, between Seventh and Eight streets, in 1808. The first wheelwright and chair-maker j was Joseph Handlan in 1807. The first wagonmaker was Jacol) Sirine, in 1818. The first [ cabinet-maker was Peter M. Bainbridge. on I West Tuscarawas street, in 1815. The first 1 house joiner was John Hanna. in 1809. The first brick-layers were James McMahaii and Stillinger, partners in business, in 1812 ; they also followed stone-eiitting and jilastering. The first tan-yard was started by Abraham Ki'oft, in 1808. The first lawyer was Roswell Mason, in 1810. The first Doctor was Andrew Rappee, in 1808. The first teacher was Andrew Johnson, in 1808. The first resident minister of the Gospel was Rev. Anthony Weier, in 1812. The first drug store was opened by Jacob Sala in 1820, though drugs were extensively sold in Canton by other parties before this time. The first hatter was George Stidger, on the St. Cloud cornel', in 1809. The first tinner and copper-smith was John Buckius. East Tuscarawas street, in 1811. The first saddler was John Read, in 1814, who occupied asiiop in common with a tailor by the name of Parker. The first gunsmith was Adam Kimmel. in 1816. The first watchmaker was Alexander Wilson, in

1814. The first butcher was James Matthews. in 1809. The first brewery was built by Thomas Hartford and Samuel Coulter, near the East Bridge, in 1820. and was operated by John Cake. The first barber shop was started by William Baker in 1820. Previous to this time the citizens of Canton shaved themselves. The first gravestone cutter was Josepli Trout, who came here in 1809. The first printing office was started by John Saxton in 1815; this is still in existence, and is carried on by his son, Thomas Saxton, and is well known as the Ripository establishment, on Court street. The first portrait painter was John K. Dunbar, in 1827. The first church edifice, a low frame building, was erected by the Lutherans, on the lot upon which the Presbyterian Church now stands, corner Tuscarawas and Phim streets, in 1810. The first regular schoolhouse was built on the opposite corner, where the West school building now stands, in 1811. The first steam engine wss brought to Canton by V. R. Kimball, in 1833, and put to service in grinding bark at his tannery on the corner of Cherry and Third streets."

1815, a meeting of the business men of tlie town was called for the purpose of organizing a bank. The population at this time was about 500. There were seven stores, and several flour-mills drawing trade to Canton from a

; great distance on all sides. At the close of the war of 1812, a new impetus was given to business ; immigration from the East, which, dur- ! ing the war. had nearly ceased, set in again, I and there soon arose a demand for greater facilities in the way of furnishing an adequate supply of circulating medium, and in making transfers of funds. Wooster, thirty miles west of Canton, began to loom up as a rival town, and. what at this time appears rather laughable than otherwise, the contest for superiority was I almost entirely based upon the relative advani tages of Killbuck and Nimishillen Creeks for i future purposes of navigation. The meeting I called, as above stated, was considereil a good stroke of policy to gain other advantages. Five Trustees were appointed viz. : John Shorb. William Fogle. Samuel Coulter. Thomas Taylor and James Hazlett. with instructions to take initiatory steps at once to compass the end desired. In the month of April a notice was published in the O/u'n Rcjiasitory for a meeting at the Eagle Tavern, of Philip Dewalt, to hold an election for nine Directors of a bank I to be called - The Farmers' Bank of Canton," the word ' Farmers " being adopted at the suggestion of Dr. Fogle. At this election, Thomas Hartford, John Shorb, John Myers, William Fogle. Winans Clark, James Hazlett, Philip Slusser, Jacob Myers and George Stidger were chosen directors. John Shorb was made President, and William Fogle. Cashier. Subscription books were immediately opened to raise stock for the new bank at Canton, at Tallmadge, at Stow and at Cleveland. In the summer of 1815. a banking house was erected on Lot 28, which is no longer standing, and in the fall of the same year it was occupied as such, tuid the bank went into operation. They at once issued notes for ciroulatiDn and sent them out upon their mission for good or for evil. At that time, there was considerable opposition to a paper currency, and. at the February terra of court in the year 181G, an indictment was found against John Shorb, President of the Farmers' Bank of Canton,'' for - signing and making bank notes without being, by law, authorized to do so." George Tod was President Judge, and John Hoover, Samuel Coulter and William Henry, Associate Judges of the Common Pleas Court at the time. At the trial, however, the sympathies of the com munity must have been largely with the bank, and that they wanted it sustained, was evident from tlie fact that tile juiT, after hearing the case, returned a verdict of not guilty, without even the formality of retiring to make up their verdict. Jeremiah H. Halleclv represented the prosecution, and ^lessrs Wright and Tappan the defense. But this decision, prompt and decisive as it was for the bank, did not relieve it from all its troubles in this direction. During the same year, Henry Swartz, who owed the bank S800 on his note, resisted its payment, on the ground that tlie bank had issued paper money in violation of law. Tliis case was argued at length by J. W. Lathrop for the bank, and by John >I. Goodenow for the defendant. The court, liowever, again gave judgment in favor of the l)ank, and the legality of this branch of its business seems to have been thus finally established. The bank also issued fractional currency to a considerable amount, of which counterfeits soon made their appearance. Tlie Repasitori) of that date warns the public against them in this wise : -' 'J'hey are from 75 cents downward, printed on deep fancy pink paper, with larger type than the genuine, and dated May 3, 1810.' It seems that a publisher of a newspaper near the center of the State, manufactured with impunity a considerable amount of this fractional currency, and escaped prosecution on account of the fear of being able to prosecute him successfully for an^- penal ofl'ense. John Sterling and Thomas Alexander were elected Directors of the bank in 1811). James Drennan was Cashier in 1817, and gives notice that - a dividend of 4 per cent on the capital stock actually paid in. will be paid to stockholders, or their legal representatives." From a bank statement published in December, 1818, there vi&s, capital stock paid in, S83,710 ; notes in circulation, $20,308 ; debts due, $18, - 000; deposits. $3,112; bills discounted, $75, 162 ; specie on hand, $1,90!) ; notes of other banks, $1 .400. .\ financial crisis was approaching, and the bank soon liegan to. feel its effects. They struggled on and endeavored to weather the storra until November, 1818, when as many other banks had already been compelled to do, they suspended specie payments, but gave notice that they would continue ' to redeem their notes in good chartered paper. ' In January, 1820, in compliance with an amendment of a law then in force, the board of Directors was increa.sed to thirteen. Renewed efforts were made to sustain the bank's credit and its life; but the reserve forces were insuHicient, and in March, 1821, the bank building and lot. and the ollice furniture were sold at pufilic auction. The first " Farmers' Bank of Canton " was dead. It was afterward resuscitated, bill its later history is not so closely identified with the purpose of our work, and we do not deem it necessary to pursue it any further.

We find the following interesting biograiihical sketch of one of the first Board of Directors of the bank, and the last of them all to pay the last debt of man to nature was Mr. Jacob i^Iyers : -- He came to this county in 1810, finding it only a wilderness. Though they were few and far between, the hearty old-fashioned hospitality of the early pioneers was a topic on which Mr. Myers loved to dwell, and he wa.s himself one of its best exponents. In the Ihll of 1811. he returned to Hagerstown, Md., antl. while there, he built a wool-carding machine. In the spring of 1812, he returned to Canton, whore he ever afterward resided. He brought his carding-machine with hiin, it being the first erected in this part of Ohio. It was put into operation on the site known as Roland's Mill. Both mill and carding-niacliiiie having been Iiurned out. he bought a lot in (Janton, southwest corner of .Market and Figlith streets, rebuilt his shop on the same, and ran it by horsepower. Mr. .Myers was once the owner of part of the land on which Massillon now stands, near the confluence of Siiipo Creek with the Tuscarawas. On this he built a saw-mill and a powdermill, on a site on Sippo Creek, a short distance above where the Sippo Mill now stands. This was the first and only powder-mill in Stark County. At the time of which we speak, the Indians had a camp on the high bank west of the Tuscarawas River, now partly occupied by the site of West ,Massillon. In "]815. Mr. Myers sold his Massillon property, including the land and the saw and powder mills, to Folger & Coffin. He al.so sold his Canton town property, and. in 1810, leased the tract upon which he built his mill, just south of Canton, on Cherry street, and where he lived, until his death, fifty seven years, lie leased the land because being school land it could not be .sold ; but it afterward became his by purchase. He afterward erected a tlistillery. the foundation of which still remains, though the superstructure has long since disappeared. (J rain at that time was a drug, as there was more raised than was required for liome consumption, and there was no foreign market, at least no means of transportation. Wheat was 25 cents a bnshel. and rye from 15 to 20 cents. Mucli of the surplus crop was converted into whisky, and Mr. Myers soon had a large quantity on hand. For the purpose of disposing of it to the best advantage, he. in company with Daniel Slanker, who had a mill in Jackson Townsliip. and iiad a lot of flour on hand, built a boat on the Tuscarawas River, at a point known as the " Old Bridge," a short distance above the present stone bridge. This was in 1823, at a time when our forefathers anticipated great results from the navigal)le qualities of the Nimishillen and Tuscarawas. This boat, loaded with 300 barrels of flour, pork and whisky - Shmker furnishing the flour and pork, and Myers the whisky - started for New Orleans, where they expected to find ready sale lor the cargo. The crew consisted of five. In addition to the owners, who accompanied the craft, there were John Brown, of Bethlehem, and Eli Myers, of Osnaburg, who were the steersmen. There was another, whose name is forgotten, who, anxious to see the world, gave his services as a sort of roustabout for the passage. They floated with the current and tied up at night. All went along smoothly until near Zanesville, on the Muskingum River ; there they ran against a raft of logs, tore off a side plank, and, notwithstanding every ettbrt at the pump, the boat sank. To raise the vessel, it was necessary to unload. After it was raised, repaired and reloaded, the parties engaged a man by the name of Kincaid, who had considerable experience as a river-man, to take charge of the vessel and cargo, dispose of it to the best advantage, and make due return. Slanker and Myers returned home ; Kincaid, instead of going to New Orleans, went up the Cumberland as far as Mussel Shoals ; there sold out, and vamoosed. He was pursued, eanght in Kentucky, and lodged in jail at Louisville, The parties, finding the trouble and expense of prosecuting him likely to cost more than they could recover, al)andoned the suit. Tlie same year. Dr. Andrew Rappee, of Canton, loaded a flat on the Tuscarawas River with like commodities for New Orleans ; but they ran aground near Zoar, and the enterprise was abandoned. During Mr. Myers' long residence of two generations in Canton, he always sustained the character of an honest, upright citizen. He was a man of decided and independent opinions, kind of heart and open-handed to the poor. In his intercourse with his neighbors, he practiced the golden rule - he made it a point to do unto others as he would be done by. He took his share of the privations, and sustained his part in life as became a good citizen from first to last, during the long life, which measured in its span the growth of this great nation. In October, 1863, he had a stroke of palsy in his right side, and he was (juite feeble ever afterward. In October, 1872, he had a stroke which partially paralyzed his left side ; the ultimate result of these severe attacks being his death at the advanced age of nearly ninety years.''

Forty or fifty years ago, as is incidentally mentioned in the above sketch of Mr. Myer.-^, much of the surplus grain raised hereabouts was manufactured into whisky ; in those days lager beer and other beers were unknown among the people in this Western world ; whisk3' was used to some extent in almost every family ; the morning bitters were as regular as the morning meal ; and places where liquor was sold, were the taverns under a stringent license law, to do a lawful business, and to keep a decent and respectable house. While drunkenness was probably not as prevalent then as now, there was, however, enough of it to awaken attention, and to cause measures to be taken for its suppression. Modern temperance movements were in their infancy, and were to a great extent entirely unknown in Canton. Occasionally, however, measures were taken for the cure of drunkards, by citizens, which though not always strictly within the law, were at times (juite effective. We find a vivid description of the application of one of those methods in print, headed, Crusading in Ye Olden Times," which is as follows ; " Forty years ago, or thereabouts, when whisky sold at three cents a glass, and drujikards were made according to law under the old license system, they h.ad a summary way of reforming topers, that often proved more effective than moral suasion. It was in the days of the old apprenticeship system, when Canton, with a population of less than two thousand inhabitants, contained more of that class of boys than can be enumerated at the present time, notwithstanding it boasts five times the number of inhabitants. To a considerable extent they constituted of a class of tliemselves, isolated from the societ}' of others. They were mostly from the country, removed from the ]);iternal influences, and ready for almost any kind of deviltry. When a "greeny " came to t<jwn, they were sure to take liim through a process of hazing. There were no police in tiiose da3"s. and the}- generally managed to keep out of tlie way of the Constables. There are many yet living who rememl)er how these young fellows got after the drunkards. If caught on the streets after night, they were sure t<i be taken through a process that may be called the hydropathic and motorpathic system, the modus operandi of which will be described in the case of Scth Godder. Seth was a shoemaker by trade - a clever, social roan - who fell into the ruinous habit of indulging in strong drink. It was not long before his family came to want, and then his wife, a good, industrious woman, was compelled to take in washing and work out in order to keep the wolf from the door. She bore witii her husband's weakness as long as patience was any virtue, then reasoned with him, entreated and threatened, all to no purpose. Finally, she concluded to let the --Regulators " take him in hand. She talked with John Caskey, an apprentice in the Rcpnsilori/ office, and a ringleader among the b'hoys of that day ; she told him slie had exhausted all her resources in trying to reform her drunken husband and failed ; and now she wanted the boys to take him in hand and do anylliing they plea,sed with hiui, only not to take his life. As several topers, caught on the street after night had alreaily been taken in hand, Godder, to avoid similar treatment, had taken the precaution to wend his way home before dark. On the evening of the day up(Mi wliicli the event we are about to chronicle occurred, (iodder came home drunker than usual, and. if possible, made himself more disagreeable to his family than ever before, Mrs, Godder lost no time in notifying Caskey of the condition of her husband, and re(|uested that he be taken in hand forthwith. The company was summoned. There were John Hoover, Sam Cove, John Moblej% George McNabb and a lot more of choice spirits, including, if we rcineniber rightly, (ioorgc Haas and John Huckius. They repaired to the house of Godder, found him quite demonstrative, and asked him to take a walk. He at first declined, but finding it useless to resist, at last apparently yielded. They led him to the town pump, then on West Tuscarawas street, set him under the spout, and held him there, while two or three of the boys did the pumping, and it was effectually done to the extent of drenching him completely. Meanwhile a fence-rail had been procured, astraddle of which Seth was assisted, and securely held by one on each side, while two stout boys carried the rail on their shoulders. As they moved off singing -Jim Crow." Godder joined in the sport, but as the railbearers would give him an occasional bound and gyratory movement, the treatment became somewhat p;\inful. and he began to protest. They asked him to quit drinking, but lie re- 1 fused. They renewed the march, and the rail movement. He swore worse than the '- arm\' in Flanders." On North Market street, at the public pump, they gave him another dose more copious than the first. The night was somewhat cool, and the patient became chilled. Remounting him on the rail, the march was resumed. It continued until (iodder became apparently quite subdued and helple.ss. Speaking to him without obtaining an answer, a halt was ordered, and on lowering the rail it was discovered that he was apparent!}- dead - cold, clammy and speechless. Terribly frightened, the bo^s hastily bore him to his home, while one of their number summoned I)r, Brysecker, On being placed in a warm bed, by the application of mustard to the extremcties and hot pi^ppermiut tea internally, he gradually revived, but the shock to his nervous system confined him to the house for several weeks. He became a sober man. Never again, as long as he lived in Canton, did he drink intoxicating liciuor. He secured the respect and esteem of the comiuuiiitv. We have often thought t Insame treatment would be more effectual in curing our most notorious drunkards of the present day. than fines and imprisonment."

In that earlier day. there was also among many of our young people a desire to add improvement to amusement, and the history of facts concerning the earlier theatrical performances in Canton should also have a place here. Thes(! performances, it must be remembered, were given by home talent exclusively. The first effort of the kind was on Christmas Eve, in the 3-ear 1817. It was rendered in the long room of John Patton's tavern, standing on the lot now occupied by the St. Cloud. The performances, as advertised, were -' The most interesting parts of the celebrated tragedy of Pizarro, to which will be added patriotic, sentinieutal, moral, humorous and comic dialogues and single speeches." On the evening of July 3. 1818, at the same place, "Douglas, or the Noble Shepherd,' was performed, and on the evening of the t3th, a repetition of " Pizarro, or the Spaniards of Peru.' was given. As there are none now living who have any distinct recollection of the particulars, the names of manjof the performers and patrons of this early drama have gone into unmerited oblivion. Among them, however, were Samuel Buckius, John P. Coulter. Joseph Alexander. Lewis Barnes. James Sloan, Jacob Rapp, Samuel Penniwell, John Shorb and Adam Fogle ; Christian Palmer, a violinist of some note and pretensions in that da}", led the orchestra. In the winter of 1822-2;>, the "Thespian Society of Canton" was organized. William Raynolds was one of the most active in getting up this organization, and to his efforts its success was largely owing. Their first performance was in the south part of the Eagle Tavern, then owned and occupied by George Dewalt. now also among the things of the past. The main play first presented on this occasion, was the tragedy of - Barbarosa, or the Usurper, of Algiers ; " this was followed by an after-piece, called " She Stoops to Conquer,'' from Uoldsmith. The male performers were William Christmas, James Beggs, James Allen. Prank and Jeff Raynolds, James Graham. Harmon Stidger, I)i'. Jerome, Val. Buckius, Lewis Fogle, and the two Coulters. Dr. Thomas Bonfield, F. J. Myers, Madison Raynolds and Lewis Fogle performed the female parts in these plays. William Raynolds acted in the double capacity of prompter and stage manager. The scenery, made of curtain calico and wall-paper, exhibited considerable taste and ingenuity. The next play rendered was " Othello." in which James Allen represented the Moor, and Frank Myers, Desdemona. Although the stage

I (.lecorations and scener}' were necessarily of a rustic character, and the wardrobe scant and only improvised for the occasion, all accounts agree that these entertainments were quite at-

; tractive and successful, quite as much so. indeed, to that generation as the more pretentious, but certainly not more creditable performances of to-da}' often are. And there was one beauty about them from which the modern theater, especiallj- when some celebrated "star" is to be on the boards, has gone far awaj-, the admission fee was 25 cents, and no reserved seats. There was but this one season of performances in the Eagle Tavern. When our native talent next came to the front, it was at Trump's Tavern, a two-stor^' brick, on the corner of East Tuscarawas and Cherry streets. Among the plays rendered here with great success, were " The Robbers." '- Damon and Pjthias," "Servant with two Masters," "The Review, or the Wag of Windsor," and " Robin Rougii Mead." In the play of "Coriolanus," Andrew Myers took the place of the leading character. Besides the persons already named, the performers at Trump's included William Boweu, Dwight Jarvis, Henry Dickinson, Adam Bowers and Thomas and Joseph Blackburn, The last-named afterward became a popular clown in a traveling circus, and was performing in England at the time of Queen Victoria's coronation. There were about the same time, also, .some performances at the house of Jacob Wareham, on West Tuscarawas street, where Mr. George Althouse resides. About the year 1828, Joseph Shorb, who kept store in a onestory frame building, erected another story upon the same building and had it fitted up ex- I)ressly for theatrical entertainments. The stage fixtures, scenery and accommodations for the audience were at that time considered verygood. The house was usually well filled, and the receipts at each performance amounted to 125 or $30. Performances were given in this place about once a week for five or six successive winters. The principal actors, some of whom as jurists and other professional men attained great celebrity at a later day, were Hiram Griswold, G. W, Belden, Andrew Myers, John Rappe, Isaac Steese, William and Henry Mj-ers. Henry and John Buckius, William Clark, 0. P. Stidger, William Fogle and Jacob R, Palmer, A few of these as respected and honored citizens are still residing in Canton, Isaac Hartman, James Cameron and Daniel Burgert are remembered as the principal representatives of female character, The Broken Sword" was a popular piece pla3'ed here, as was also "Bombastes Furioso, " a very laughable farce, Dan Meeds, commonly known as "Black Dan," led the orchestra. The Shorb property changed hands about the year 1834, and after this a new company was organized, and the upper rooms of the old academy, known as the -Salt Box," were fitted up for their accommodation. A German artist by the the name of Schweighoffer, painted the scenery, which was considered very good. Performances were given here every week or two for several winters. Among the more notable new actors, who here appeared upon the scene were S. P. Ilullihan, Sol Stout, John Taylor, Isaac Hartman. H. P. Dunbar, Eli Sala and James Armstrong. Among the boys acting female parts were William Mathews, F. L. Carney, John L. Saxton and George Dunbar. Jr. Since the close of the performances at the "Salt Box." some forty j'ears ago, there has been no effort, we believe, to organize the home talent, except upon a few special occasions, in this direction. At the expiration of the academy performances, one of the most pleasant of the enjoyments of the olden tiTne came to an untimely end.

Horse-racing was also one of the popular pastimes of the pioneer period. A horse-race excited general interest and attention, and always drew a crowd. At the first sale of lots in Canton, then competing with Osnal)urg for the count}- seat, Bezaleel Wells, the proprietor of the town, arranged for a race in order to draw the people together from a distance, and succeeded. Our old and esteemed friend and fellow-citizen in }*lain Township, Judge Loutzenheiser, was present, and is authorit}' for the statement that there was a great crowd, and also for the additional one. that the people were more interested in the racing of the horses, than the}- were in the sale of the town lots. The race-course was on Market street, from North to Tuscarawas streets, which was especially prepared for the occasion by the grubbing and the clearing away of timber and underbrush. Canton, if not exactly born of a horse-race, commenced with one under the auspices of the father of the town, and though, perhaps, not one of her peculiar institutions, the horse-race was a popular institution with the pioneers of this as of nearly every new town then growing up in the West. ' Like parent, like ciiild," holds good for towns as well as for people. For a generation and longer, nearly every town and village in this part of the country boasted in the possession of a horse never beaten on the turf. Not only the owner of such a horse, but with him every man and boy was willing to back up the town's favorite by bets of money, or whatever else of value they happened to possess down to a bull-eye watch, a dog-knife or tin-whistle. Betting in those days was very general, whereas now it is confined almost entirely to professional sporting men. There were, however, also, in those days, men who made it a regular business to travel the country with running horses, and who were ready to match them for a consideration, with anything that offered. There was another set of fellows, owners of horses, well calculated to take in the unwary and too eager betters on horse-fiesh. Their horse was a kind of '- Sleepy Davy," and they went round in disguise pretending to follow some other business, by which ruse they frequently threw people off their guard. An adventure of theirs with Cantonians of two generations ago, will well illustrate their method of proceeding. On a warm summer day, a stranger might have been seen leading a horse up Tuscarawas street. He was clothed in the style of the day, but his clothes were somewhat the worse for the wear and exposure they had undergone. He wore a dilapidated stove-pipe hat, and a swallow-tail coat mounted with brass buttons. The horse had on a riding-saddle loaded with tinware. The man and his horse moved along as though they were tired, and as they approached Cherry street, a lot of boys playing there caught sight of them, and at once began poking fun at them. The man paid no attention to the boys, Ijut moved along unconcernedly until he reached the Bell Tavern, now the American Hotel, then kept by Hahn, where he stopped and hitched his horse to the signpost. At that day. Canton received the mail but twice a week, and newspapers were rarel} seen ; the coming of a stranger never failed to draw a crowd eager to learn the news from the outside world. The old man. however, paid but little attention to them, but kept on talking about the assortment and prices of the tinware he exposed for sale, until some one in the crowd made an ironical remark about his horse, upon which the owner, being quick to see and to improve his opportunity, offered to run him against anything there was in town. Jess Kaffensperger, who was then carrying on blacksmithingat the corner diagonally opposite, was the owner of a little gray that, in several competitive trials, liad given proof of gor d racing qualities, and Jess was of the opinion that he was harcl to beat, and had intimated his desire to match him againsCany horse that came to town. John Rex, then a bo^' of some twelve years of age, was present and heard the peddler's banter to run his old horse against anything there was in town, and he at once ran over and told Raffensperger that there was a man over at Hahn's who wanted a race. Jess immediately dropped his apron and went over to the tavern. When told that the horse hitched to the sign-post was the one it was proposed to run against his little gray, he considered himself badly sold by some one, so mopy and unlike a racer did the old horse appear - like his master, he was playing his role well. But when Jess was convinced that the peddler was in earnest, he felt inclined to humor what he regarded a good joke, and asked the peddler how much he wanted to wager on the race. The latter, taking out his wallet and counting over his money (all in silver) very deliberately, replied, that he had $5, which he was willing to stake on the result. " Oh ; " said Jess, somewhat contemptuously, "I wouldn't run my horse for less than 125. If j-ou can raise that amount, I'll show you how easy it is to part a fool and his money." That was more than the peddler could raise, he said, but if any gentleman in the crowd would loan him S20, he would give the horse, saddle and tinware as security. By this time, the crowd were getting eager for the race, and were thrown entirely off their guard ; so that when another stranger, who had joined them without being observed, stepped forward, and just for tiie fun of seeing the race, accepted the peddler's security, and advanced the S20, not the least suspicion was aroused, and the stakes were at once put up, and preparations made for the race. The peddler stripped his horse of the tinware and saddle, and .sought among the boys for some one to ride his horse : but the old horse's movements were so awkward that the boys, fearing he would stumble and fall, placed too high an estimate on their own necks to accept the position, and the old man was obliged to ride his own horse. Eli Sala rode Raffensperger's horse. The race track, at this time, was just south of town as it was then, from Coulter's house to Frederick's hill, or as it would now be known, on Market street, from the Melchoir

Bros, to the residence of Mr. Peter Housel below the railroads. To this place all parties repaired ; judges were selected, and all things were made ready for the race. In the meanwhile the stranger, who had advanced the $20, took all the bets that offered. When the horses were about to start, the peddler's horse exhibited so much spirit that it required two men to hold him until the word was given, and at the word. " Go ! " he dashed out like a streak, soon took the lead, and came out at the end several lengths ahead. The Cantonians were badly taken in. and no one more so then Raffensperger himself ; his remark about the ease of parting a fool and his money was indeed verified, but ''the saddle was on the other horse." He and other citizens, for a long time, were shy of traveling racers, especially of the " sleepy " kind.

In the summer of 1834, a compan}' of enterprising and liberal minded citizens of Canton, had a circular track constructed immediateljwest of town on land owned then by John Harris, now part of the estate of Simon Miller, deceased. Tliere were races dail}', distance from one to four miles and repeat. The horses entered were all blooded stock, and brought here from a distance, the majority of them from West Virginia. The most notable feature of the enterprise, and one that will be longest remembered, was the new gambling devices for the first time introduced into this community kn .wii as '- roulette '' and " sweat cloth," by which many of our people both from town and counti'y were inveigled into a trial of their " luck ;" some escaped with only a slight scorching, while others lost all they had. This track was kept up two seasons, when by a colipcration with parties at Massillon, it was removed to grounds midway between the two towns, and continued there one season more, but as the patronage was not suflScient, the enterprise was abandoned.

Before concluding this chapter on the early settlement and reminiscences of Canton, nothing seems more proper than to give a history of the Oberly Corner, which from the beginning till within a very few years past, has played so important a part in the history of the citj'. We give it almost verbatim from an article in the liepositorij of a couple of years ago, and signed by the familiar letters. L. S. It says: '- The lot on which the building stood, was sold by

Bozaleel Wells, the proprietor of the town, to James F. Leonard, in 1806, the year the town was located. The deed names the consideration $1, from which we would infer it was a gift. Leonard (an uncle of William Barlier), was a surveyor and land-jobber, and laid off and platted the town, and was in a position to render Wells' service, and the probabilities are, that the gift was made either for favors received or expected. At this time it was ' hip and thigh ' between Osnaburg and Canton, which should lie the county seat. This consideration may have been the agreement of Leonard to improve the lot, and put up a building upon it at once. At an}- rate, the bricks were made the same summer, just outside the original town plat, near where the Schaefer Rink was until lately. As early as the weather would permit in the spring of 1807, work was commenced, and the building was completed and ready for occupancy in the fall, being the first brick house erected in the county. There was no cellar under the liouse, for the reason that no wallingstone could be procured within a reasonable distance. The first occupant was John Shorb. He came from Maryland that year, and brought with him a small st<Jck of store goods. He remained in it but one year, when Samuel Coulter, from Washington County, Penn., rented it for a tavern. Before the expiration of the year. Coulter bought the property i of Leonard, for S600, and put up a frame addition, intended for a dining-room and kitclien. Under this part was a cellar, walled only on two sides, with bowlders. This was the second tavern in Canton, then known ijy the traveling public as " Coulter's Tavern, sign of the Green Tree." In the winter of 1808-()S), a post ofHce was established in Canton, and Coulter was ! appointed Postmaster. There was but one mail a week, and that was (rarried on horseback to and from New Lisbon, in Columbiana County. Canton was then on the western border of civilization. All that country west of the Tuscarawas River was given up to roving bands of Indians. The upper story of Coulter's building was partitioned into three rooms. The waj- up was by a ladder, through a trap door in tile floor above. The reason for adopting this mode of ascent does not ap[)ear. In this upper story, County Court was held for several sessions. The Hon. Calvin Pease, then President Judge, a resident of Warren, was in the habit of walking from one county seat to another in the discharge; of the functions of his office. It was out of the question to travel with a vehicle, and the probability is the Judge preferred walking to riding on horseback. The hole under the frame building was used as a jail. In it there must have been several incarcerated, for there are those still living who remember one imprisoned for debt and one for stealing corn. The County Commissioners also iield their sessions in this building. At the April sessions in 180!), it was -' ordered tliat for every wolf or panther scalp, luider six months old, 50 cents be paid, anti for every one over that age, $1." They also '-ordered that Samuel Coulter be paid $3 for the time each session of court was held in his house." John Harris, then a youiig man of energ\% was engaged in teaching school, and doing odd jobs of surveying. He was, also, a fine singer, and at the solicitation of friends, he started a singing-school in the court room of tlie Coulter tavern. For a time it flouiished. liut the difficulties and embarrassments encountered by the female scholars in their efforts at climbing the ladder to the second story, deterred them from going, and the school was finally abandoned for want of the female accompaniment. The organization was turned into a debating society. Here they met weekly to discuss " Which affords the greater pleasure, tiie pursuit, or the possession of an object," or Which was the greater man. Hannibal or Julius Cffisar?" Sometimes their discussion took a metaphysical turn, and then they had the question, Is there such a principle in the human mind as disinterested l:)enevolence '?" The principal disputants were Samuel Coulter, John Harris, John Patton. uncle of Thomas Patton, Daniel McClure, Roswell Mason, Moses Andrews, William Raynolds, father of John Ilaynolds, Dr. Stidger, Dr. Jerome and Jeremiah H. Halleck, afterward President Judge of this district, and John Sloan and Col. (Jil)son, then connected with the land office in Canton. It was in this debating society that John Harris developed that forensic ability, which, in after years, distinguished him as a prominent member of the bar, the compeer of Tajjpan, Wright, (ioodenow. Loomis. Silliman and Tom Fwing, Sr.. with all of whom he came in contact. Coulter continued his tavern until 1820. when he concluded to relinquish the business.

He had a farm below town, the same land which is now occupied by several thousand people, knonn as South Canton. (.)n it he had built a frame house, the one formerly occupied by Mr. Peter House). Coulter rented his Canton property to Dr. Thomas Hartford, who came to Canton that spring from New York State. Dr. Hartford was a man of large heart, kind and benevolent. As an instance of his generous feeling, here is an advertisement, copied from the Reposihini of June 12, 1820 ;

'Mr. Thomas Hartford hkrebv informs such as are in indigent circumstances, in the county of Stark, that in cases of sickness (tilvicf and iiiedicine will be given to them ymtis.'' Imagine a physician of Stark Count}' of the present day, offering to the poor of the county advice and medicine ynituitomlij. Such examples, however, were no more cliaracteristic of that day than of the present. It is in proof, that a cotemporary physician, for three visits in a case of fever, took the only cow a poor man had. Then no propert}' was exempt from execution for debt, and rather than have iier levied upon bv tlie Constable, and sold for what she would bring, he gave her to the rapacious doctor. There is no doubt that Dr. Hartford was sincere in making this proposition, that it was in good faith, and not for buucoml)& '' or to advertise himself It is well known that his heart went out in charity for the poor. His munificent bequest to the poor of Canton, which the}- are enjoying to-day, is only one of the many evidences showing his l)enevoleut disposition. In 1821, Dr. Hartford Itought the property from Coulter for $2,000. The price was considered high, but it was in a time of general prosperity, and prices had become inflated. The Doctor had a drug store in the lower room in connection with his practice. In a few years after, his nephew, John Titus, came from the East, and assisted him as clerk. Witli drugs, he also kept Ary goods. There are many still living in Canton who will remember John Titus, from the sport they bad as boj's at his expense. In 1830, Hartford sold the south half of the lot to Luther L. Foote, his brotherin-law, for S600. As the number of physicians increased in Canton, Dr. Hartford gradually withdrew from practice. He continued his store, and would prescribe for all who applied without charge. He was then in good circumstances, owning considerable real estate in and around Canton, He never had anj- children, Mrs. Hartford was much like her husband, and was a very estimable lad}-, highly esteemed by all who enjoyed her personal acquaintance. Lawyer Metcalf of Canton, a particular friend of Dr. Hartford's, removed to Pittsburgh, and in a year or two after induced the Doctor to follow him. Following the Doctor's removal, the property was occupied by different parties as rentors. Canton at that time was flat, Massillon taking the lead, and the rent was merely nominal. Among the different occupants remembered was Joe Parker, a tailor, with a wooden leg, who for several years was bellringer. At that time a town ordinance recjuired the court house bell to be rung at 8:30 A, M,, at 12 M, and at 9 P, M, The ringing at night was the signal for the stores to close, work to cease in the mechanic shops, the bojs to leave the streets, and e\er}-body to retire to their virtuous couches. The apprenticeship sj'stem was then in vogue, and men in the mechanical arts worked fifteen hours a day. There were no saloons. Topers kept their whisky at home, or got it at the taverns. The only luxury to be had in town was spruce beer and gingerbread. But we are wandering from the text, Dr, Hartford sold tlie corner half, including the brick house, in 1839, to John Bauer, for $1,500, Bauer opened a grocery, whicli, in after years, partook of the character of a saloon, Bauer was County Recorder from 1843 to J 845, In 1840, he sold out to a company compo,sed of Henry Somers, David and John (Jarber and Abram Richards, They rented the propert}' to Christian Oberlj-, who purchased it in 1861, for the same they gave. During the time 3Ir, Oberl}' occupied the old brick and its back addition, and the property adjoining it on the south he has used it as an eating house and saloon. In the year 1877, Mr. Oberlj' sold twenty-three feet front and two hundred back to the alley in the rear, to Sherrick & Miller, for ;?10,000. During flush times he could easily have had double that amount. Sherrick & Miller, one of our best established hardware firms, both of them gentlemen of great business capacity, of great experience particularly in their line of business, and of strict integrity and morality, tore down the (jld corner building, the old time-honored brick that had weathered the storms of more than seventy }-ears, and erected in its place their splendid three-story brick building, twentj'- three feet by one liundred and eleven, in the year 1879, and us soon as it was finished removed their bnsiness into it. The building is both a credit to them and an honor to the city. The old one had a checkered experience, and was equally honored in its day ; but all old things must yield to the progressive spirit of the age.