Stark County, Ohio - Chapter with an unread heading (no. 37 of those read), 1881

To me did soiun Appareled in celestial light - The glory and tin- freshness of a dream. It is not now as it hath In in of yore : Turn wlieresoe'er I may. By night or day. The things which I have seen I now can see no "lore. " _ Wordmorth.

THERE is much in a name, notwilhstanding the poet's confident assertion that u rose by ajiy other name would be as sweet. It is interestin<i to know that little things, which have no seeming importance or value, olten control the destiny of individuals or nations. It was but a little piece of red-white-and-blue cloth that the rebels tired upon at Fort Sumter, yet it kindled a flame of fiery wrath throughout the nation that swept through the ' iSuuny South '' to the (Julf, and that is yet smoldering in all the Northern States, ready to burst forth at any moment into angry activity at the prospect of impending calamity to the country. It was but a little cliiki, born at the obscure village of Hethlehein, in Judea, among thousands that claimed that beautiful country as their native land, that has filled the whole earth with triumphant joy and bewildering hope. How sweet is the name Bethlehem in ever}' Christian's heart ! It is like the memory of joys that are past. It is a symbol of God's presence on earth, and is a comforting lullaby in moments of despondency. The name is immortalized on earth, and is lovingly bestowed upon dear or honored objects by those who profess an adherence to the faith proclaimed to the world by the "Babe of Bethlehem." A large colony of Moravians that came to Pennsylvania a centuiy and a half ago settled in a beautiful valley and founded a village, which was named Bethlehem. Followers of this sect from this locality' came to the Tuscarawas \'alley long before the State was settled by the whites, and established missions among the Indians. One of these was located in what is now Bethlehem Township, and is fully described in another chapter of this volume. The early settlers were well aware of this circumstance, and when the township was created, appropriately named it Bethlehem.

The township is not of the usual size - six miles square - but lacks about four sections of being up with the standard. This is owing to the fact that the southern boundary of the township is partly of the Greenville treaty line, which takes a dip to the southwest from Section 34. Entering the township about a mile east of the northwest corner, thence flowing with many windings in a southeasterly direction and leaving from Section 34, is the famous Tuscarawas River. It is now only about two-thirds its size in early years. Boats drawing several feet of water were accustomed in earl}- j'ears to ascend this river to the northern part of Stark Co. or farther, to take loads of grain down the river to the Ohio, thence to New Orleans to market. This would be impossible at the present depth of the river. The township is well and thoroughly drained by various small tributaries of the Tuscarawas. As a whole, the townslfip is too rolling for agricultural purposes. The valle^-s and level tracts of lands are exceedingl}' rich, as is shown by the heavy crops raised upon them aimually. The forest is left standing on the more rolling land. In some cases such land has been converted into meatlows or pastures. Coal and stone are found at several places. Out from the river the laud is leveler. though even here it is far from flat.

The question of first settlement is always one of great interest, though it cannot alwa3's be solved, owing to the non-recording of early transactions. It is a curious fact, yet people are constantly' doing things of which thej' will be sorry. A little thought is sufficient to convince thera. though at the time they are as blind as Cupid to all results. People deceive themselves, because they color their judgments with their prejudices. They seem incapable of taking an unbiased view of any object or question wliere their interest is involved. Jletaphysicians prescribe as a fixed rule for the mental mastery of any subject, a complete rejection of all prejudice, that tile mind may be as free as air in all its movements. But few persons are capable of this. With some, the greater the effort, the greater the difficulty. Some have formed wrong conceptions of their own interest. Tliey have studied long and have acquired extensive knowledge, but wisdom still lingers. These are the persons who are unable to tell what is best for tliem. These are the persons who neglect to record passing events, and thus refuse to provide for ascertaining the probable future, for from the past do we judge of the future. Although people are not in the habit of recording passing events, j-et many tilings are stored in the memory that are recalled when needed. Tradition is a library of fact (sometimes somewhat doubtful) that the historian is at liberty to peruse. It is the deepest spring from which the waters of the past are drawn, Old records are often valuable, as will be seen below. The following is a catalogue of all the land-holders of the township for the year 1827 ; Ebeiiezer AUman (320 acres), Jacob Anspaugh, Harman Buehtel, Jacob Bixler, Samuel Bixler. (Jeorge Brantingham (625 acres), Christian Blough, John Burkholder, John Baclitel. Joiin Brinton. Jacob Burkholder, Jacob Burns, Henry Burkholder. John Cook, James Chapman, Aaron Culver, John Kreighbaum, Jonathan W. Condy( wlio owned nearly all the lots' in the village of Bethleiiem), William Christmas, John Dinnius, Peter Dinnius, Hugh Davidson, Henry Fry, George Foulk, Michael Finley, Henry Grendle, Joseph Gibbon, Christian Garber, Abraham Gallodaj', Horton Howard, John Hutchinson, Samuel Hughes, Edmund Hogg. John llousel, James Hughes, Henry Hipsh, William Jolly, John Kerstetter, George Keen, Baltzer Koontz, Adam Kemmel, William Lewis, Charles Linerode,

Among the above are some of the earliest settlers in the township. Many came in prior to 1827 and left before that date, and their names, of course, would not appear on the list. The following regarding the early settlement of the township, is taken from sketches written a few years ago by Rev. David Yant :

The Indian capital of Tuscarawas at -the old Indian crossing place above Fort Laurens, the Post Mission and Calhoun's trading-house were located at and near the mouth of Sandy, and were included in the original boundaries of Bethlehem Township. Richard Carter, a Quaker, and Joshua Coiuly, a brotlier-in-law of Carter's, settled at the mouth of Sandy at an early day. Elizabeth Himes, whose maiden name was Musser. says that the Musser family came to Laurensville, opposite Fort Laurens, in 1807, and that Richard Carter was then living at the mouth of Sandy. Carter was a bachelor, his two sisters, Sally and Maria Carter, two pleasant young ladies, keeping house for him. The}' are well remembered by the writer. A tradinghouse had been built upon the ground previously occupied liy Mr. I'ost's mission, b}' John Fleming, a mulatto from Canada, and a man by the name of Armstrong, who had been captured wlien he was but fourteen years of age by the Indians, and grew up to manhood among them, acquiring their tastes, habits and modes of life. His father found him and tried to persuade him to return to his home in Western Pennsylvania ; but it was in vain. His nature bad been entirely' recast in the Indian mold. He said he would not work, and returned to the Indians, It is much easier to make an Indian out of a white man in life and habit, than to make a white man out of an Indian. Kichard Carter got posses-sion of the trading house after Fleming left, and kept up a brisk trade with the Indians. The friendly treatment of William Penn and bis Quakers had so far won the confidenoe of the Indian tril)es generally, tliat the former were classed as a distinct race. Beaver Ilat said : - When an Irishman fills my powder horn, he fills it about half full ; an American fills it a little higher ; but a Quaker fills it up full.' The same generous and Christian treatment would have secured the same confidence to the Irishman and the American. But the country has reaped the harvest of a bad seeding with the Indian, Richard Carter went to Wheeling for supplies, and left Elizalieth Iliraes (then Musser) nged fifteen, and her brother, in charge of the trading house. The young fellow was fond of the hunt, and left his sister two days alone with the Indians, She said she was not afraid unless they got fire-water, but an Indian came along who was on a ' bust,' lie took a butcher knife, cut the string of the window shutter and proceeded to throw out the furs and skins, and completely emptied the post, Mrs, Himes knew there was no use to oppose him, but a squaw came along and persuaded the Indian awa\\ and returned and put things to rights, Mrs, Comh', the wife of Joshua Comly, took the fever at the mouth of Sandy, and died. She left her heart-stricken husband with the care of four small children. This was, perhaps, the first death among the settlers, Mrs, Comly was buried on the Slump farm. Mrs, Elizabeth Ilimes kept house for Mr, Coml}- until he was able to make further provisions,

'-The great flood of 1815 is still remembered. It took place in the month of June, Carter's house stood by the house of John P, Bordner, A canoe had been tied at the bank of the river, and tlie water had risen during the night so as to leave only the untieil end of the canoe upon the surface. My father, Abraham Yant, and Philip Yant, my grandfather, managed, by swimming and diving, to untie the canoe, and run it on the porch of tlie house. The inmates iiad retreated to the second story, and were carried out, and brought to our house, until the liood abated, Hichard Carter owned over 500 acres of land, of what has since been known as the Brantingham tract. He traded the land

- Many chapters might be filled with interesting incidents and anecdotes, but a few only can be given. Game was abundant ; deer were so numerous that they were hardly ever out of sight for a tla}". Bears were not so plenty, but they were frequently met with. On one occasion, John Swank, who lived iu sight of our farm, went through the woods to George Kuhn's, somewhere near where Davidson Brown now lives. He treed four cub bears on a dogwood sapling, made strings of some tow he had in his pocket, climbed the sapling and secured the cubs by tying two together. When he came to the ground the noise of the cubs attracted the mother, who rushed at him with her jaws wiile open. He dropped the cubs on the side of a large fallen tree and jumped upon it, and the bear came up on the opposite side, but did not attack him. He broke off a dead limb and frightened her off, and after following her a short distance, returned, caught the cubs, made his escape and brought them home. Swank parted with two of the cubs and kept two, which grew finely. The bears and a pet pig slept in the shelter of a hollow sycamore that had been sawed off and placed for the purpose. One rainy night after washing day, when a grapevine full of clotiies had been left out, the bears put their natural instincts to work, and taking the clothes proceeded to ihe woods and climbed a large red-oak tree, the top of which parted into three branches, where the}' made a nest of the clothes and lay snugly down, hi the morning the clothes were gone, and the bears were gone. After many conjectures and a protracted search, the white clothes were seen and soon the whole mystery was solved. Then the (juestion was, how to get the clothes. This could onl}- be done by chopping the tree. When the bears became sensible of the situation, they coolly ran out on a limb, rolled up into a ball, dropped to the ground, and scampered off home. Thev afl'orded abundance of amusement, and in our evening visits, would waylay us in the dark. In the chase the hindmost -' codger ' was sure to be caught bj* the foot in the paws of the bear, frights and screams availing nothing, but we were never hurt. My father had a large, strong, active greyhound, named Beaver. Swank's children came on an evening's visit and one of the bears accompanied them. Beaver was frantic with rage at the bear, but never would taiie hold of it. The bear ran up a tall sugar tree, sat among its branches and growled. When the children left it came down and took to the fence, and the dog followed, making a fearful noise and threatenings of mortal combat. Init would not come in reach of the bear's paw. I never saw an animal for which T had formed so strong an attachment, as Beaver. He lived until old age rendered him nearly- helpless. He had been mj' constant companion in m3' hunts and rambles, killing and treeing the wild game ; but at last it was determined that he should be killed to put him out of his misery. I pleaded for his life, caught him round the neck and wept as though he were my brother, but without avail. " Richard Carter left the mouth of Sand}- in 1816. George Brantingham, a Quaker, his wife Phoebe, and Sarah Bolton, an unmarried sister of Mrs. Brantingham, with four children, came to the mouth of Sandy in the spring of 1816. Mr. Brantingham traded city property in Philadelphia to Richard Carter for a tract of 500 acres of land, and settled upon it. The Brantingham children were Joseph, Hannah, George and Sarah. The children, like their father, were full of life, and soon exchanged their city ways for the more free and active enjoyments of the backwoods. My father's familj- and the Brantingham farailj- became much attached to each other, and were lifelong friends, notwithstanding their different religious views. When my father would kneel in family praj'er, George Brantingham would sit in solemn reverence, with his hat on, and worship God in the spirit. The want of religious society of their own faith, rendering the further stay of the Brantingham family at the mouth of Sandy undesirable, and the tract of land owned by Mr. Brantingham was subdivided and sold. The neighbors tried to reconcile him to stay, stating as a reason the fertility of the land, to which he replied : "If we live for hog and hominy, we need not leave ; but if we live for something better we had better go.' This striking declaration of the choice of a good man contains an important adm(mition. There are many, vast numbers indeed, who live onljfor ' hog and hominy.' Esau lived for hog and hominj-, or he would not have sold his birthright ; Lot was governed b^' hog and hominy or he would not have pitched his tent toward Sodora. In 1821, the Brantingham familyremoved to the vicinity of Salem, Ohio, where George Brantingham, Sr., died, in 1845, aged seventy-five years. Phiebe Brantingham, his wife, died in the spring of 1853, in her eightieth year. Among the early settlers, none were more conspicuous than Mathias Sheplar, Nicholas Stump and Ebenezer Allman. Mr. Sheplar was born in Westmoreland County, Penn., November 11, 1790. His first wife was Elizabeth Retan. He came to Bethlehem Township in an early day ; was for many years a Justice of the Peace, and several times a member of the Legislature, both of the House and Senate; served one term in Congress and filled various minor otHces, in all of which stations he retained the confidence of the people, as a moral, upright man, and faithfully discharged the various duties assigned him. Mr. Shepler was nianled three times. His first wife died while yet young. He was married to Elizabeth Bechtel, who died in 1837. His last marriage was with Sarah Linerode, the widow of Otho Linerode, and daughter of John Sherman. She still lives at the age of seventy-six, though much enfeebled. Mr. Shepler died in April, 1863, a member of the United Brethren Church. His remains are interred in the Sheplar burjing ground, on the farm where ho formerly resided.

" Nicholas and Frederick Stump came from Chambersburg, Franklin Co., Penn., in 1808. Most of the goods belonging to Nicholas were lost in crossing the Nimishillen, Frederick Stump settled in Perry Township, on the farm now "occupied by his son, Levi Stump. Nicholas Stump settled on the northwest quarter of Section 10, now owned by Henry Myers. Nicholas Stump was elected several times to the office of County Commissioner, when public honesty and economy were the rule. Kings, jobs and reckless extravagance are the results of a superior refinement and the advancement of the age.

" Ebenezer Allman came from Bentleysville, Washington Co., Penn., in 1807. HissonsGeorge and William were out a year or so previous. They settled on the northeast quarter of Section 4, now occupied bj- Mrs. Eve Allman, a daughter of Frederick Stump, and the widow of Barney Allman. CarroU Allman was killed by the falling of a tree, in his seventeenth year, and was the first death in the family. Jane was married to George Klingle, referred to as the first dry goods merchant in Betiilehem, Parali, another (hiughter, was married to Jerr}- Sluts. The family consisted of seven sons and two daughters. Kbenezer Allman died in 182S, aged sixty-four ; Agnes, his wife, died in 1839, aged sixty-six.

" Abraham Yant came from Allegheny Co., Penn.. to Bethlehem Township, in the fall of 1812. He stopped at the house of Nicholas Stump, who went with him and showed him the northeast and southeast quarters of Section 2 t, then vacant. He went to Steubenville, located one quarter, returned to his home, seven miles from Pittsburgh, near the .Monongahela River, worked at the shoe bench until the spring of 1814, when he came out and located the other quarter, built a shanty or camp of butternut poles, stayed three months, cleared a field, planted it in garden vegetables, corn and potatoes. While at work in the wild woods his supplies of bread were procured from the settlers, the wild turkeys and pheasants suppliiKl him with eggs, and his rifle abundantly supplied him with venison and turke^'. He returned in Jul}', and started for his new home about the 1st of September, and arrived at the cabin on the 10th of September, 1814. The family consisted of my grandfather, Philip Yant, Sr.. my inicle. Philip \''ant, Jr., my father and mother, .Miraham and Catharine Y'ant, my brother .\nthony, and my sister Magdalene, I being then sixteen months old, and the youngest. The moving party were on the road two weeks, with wagon and two horses. The season was remarkably wet. My mother says she carried me all the way ; that it rained every day, and I cried the whole journey. The little hut had a fire-place on the projecting corner, and it contained room for kitchen purposes, a bed, and the dear old " trundle-bed " The rest of the family slept in the covered wagon, A cabin h<juse was soon put up, with a log fire chimne}', puncheon floor and clap-board roof The farm in its natural state was heavily timbered with oak trees of immense size on the hill slopes, and the bottoms were covered with sugar maple, beech and hickory. It was hard labor and a slow process to clear up a farm ; but by perseverance, late and early, every year added an eight or ten acre field to the opening. I^abor was cheap. The best choppers could be hired for $8 or $10 per month. The sugar season aflbrded the greatest enjoyment and the hardest labor of any other part of the year. Camping out and running the sugar camp day and night was full of fun and excitement, through slush, snow and rain. The exposure was not considered dangerous. Half a dozen different camps, within neighboring distance of each other, afforded a vast amount of social enjo}'- ment for the young folks. The log-cabin pioneers, with all their hardships and simple, rough fare, were healthier and enjoyed social life to a greater degree than falls to the lot of their more refined and weakly descendants. Abraham Y'ant became a minister of the German Baptist denomination. Tlie last few yeai-s of his life were spent in the tJospel ministrj'. He died in January, 1842, aged sixty-one 3-ears, His widow, Catharine Yant, survived him, and reached the unusual age of ninety-three years before her death occurred.

-' Prior to 181"). Bi'thlehem and Pike were included in Canton Township; V)ut, in 1815 and 181(i, Pike and Betiilehem held elections jointly. Bethlehem Townshi[) was created on the 12th of December, ISlti, and an election held in .\pril, 1817. Baltzer Koonts was the first Justice of tiie Peace. The first couple married in the township were .Vcjuilla ('arr and his wife, Nelly ; her maiden name is forgotten. The ceremony was performed b^- Squire Koonts. .Vdam grounds, the father of Jacob Grounds, came to Bethlehem in ISOO or 1807, The first three Ijarrelsof salt were brought into the township by Mr. t'arr. He conveyed them up tlie Cuyahoga River in a canoe, hauled the canoe across the Portage, south of Akron, to the Tuscarawas, and floated down to Bethlehem. He sold one barrel to (iodfrey Huft' at the mouth of One-leg Creek ; Mr. (hounds g(5t one barrel, and the other was secreted in the woods, to keep the Indians from finding it. The salt was sohl at $25 per barrel, l)ut Mr. (Jarr said he wouhl haul no more at that price. Jacob Grounds taught the first school at Bethlehem, and was clerk of the first election held at Canton. James Gatt' made the ballot box, for which he received 50 cents. The first entries of land were made by Brinton & Condy. Richard Carter. Nicholas Stump, Kbenezer .Vlhnan, Harman VanDorston, .^Iathias Sheplcr. Charles Linemde and others.

of Cnlcuttii, liad :i sale of lots, and built a warehouse on the bank of the rixer. Several flat-bottom boats were loaded here for the southern trade, the caigoes consisting of flour, whiskj', bacon and potter_v ware, the latter being manufactured at Canton. A store was also established and continued for several years bj- Frederich C. I'hcrsieh, a German. His goods were valued at about $500. and comprised axes, hoes, salt, tobacco, groceries and a small quantity of prints and muslins. Of course he kept wiiisky. There was where his greatest profit was realized. His store became quite a resort on this account. Some six or eight dwellings were erected in Calcutta, in which as many families resided for a few years. A blacksmith appeared, and, it is said, a printer named White came there with the intention either of starting the somewhat doubtful venture of a newspaper, or of doing a general ad\'ertising business, or both. He was probably looking up a location, as he stayed there but a few mouths. The outlook was decidedly unfavorable for such an enterprise. The warehouse did quite a thriving business for a few years, until the river v,'as no longer safely navigable b^' the flat-boats. Calcutta was considered the head of navigation on the Tuscarawas. The river, except at a high stage of water, proved unsafe, and a number of shipwrecks, with loss of cargo, put an end to the New Orleans trade upon the Tuscarawas. The last flat-boat that passed down the river was about 1822, or a year later. As the leading idea of building up a town of some commercial importance, was directly connected with this trade, the prospects of the future city of Calcutta were abandoned with it. The town plat was vacated, and is now embraced in the farm of John Kaler.

-' Tiiomas and Charity Roach, from Kendall, Stark County, frequently stopped at Brautingham's, on their way to visit the Zoarites, in whose welfare they interested themselves greatly. George Brantingham went with Thomas Roach to a Yearly Meeting at Mount Pleasant, Jefferson Co., Ohio, during which Mr. Roach took sick and died, and was buried at the Short Creek Quaker burj'ing ground. Charity Roach and her husband, Thomas Roach, were without children. Charity, with the true spirit of Christian benevolence and charity, founded the ' Roach Charity School.' She requested Sylvanus Buckius, a tinner, to make a ' roach '

(a fish) to be placed upon the building as a vane, so that the name should not be forgotten ; it is there to this day. There was but little need of this, as the ' name of the righteous shall be an everlasting remembrance.' Although not upon an extensive scale, it is one of the noblest charities in the State. Men of wealth who do not know what to do with their abundance, should pay it a visit, then ' go and do likewise.' The remains of Charity Roach rest in the old burying ground at Kendal. Many a poor orphan has stood by her humble grave and called her blessed.'

" The village of Bethlehem was laid out by Jonathan W. Condy. in 1800. Mr. Condy and Martin Brinton, a brother-in-law, were lawyers from the citj' of Philadelphia. They located large tracts of land in Bethlehem 'Township. Jfr. Condy was accompanied by the Rev. Richard S. Goe. Religiously, the3- had embraced the tenets of Emanuel Swedenborg. Their project was to establish a religious societ}-. molded after the Moravian Society at Bethlehem, Peun., after which the town was named. Mr. Condy was a man of enterprise and integrity. He built a saw-mill on the stream east of the village, and contracted the building of a gristmill ; but the latter was abandoned. He erected a storehouse on the northwest corner of Market and Second streets, which was occupied b3' James Klingle. This was the first dry goods store in the village. It was afterward occupied by Mr. (ioe as a store, and was torn down but a few years since. For various reasons, Mr. Condy s expectations were not realized. He returned to Philadelpliia until after the location of the Ohio Canal, when he came to see his landed interests. On riding across a corduroy bridge his horse was attacked by yellow jackets, became frantic, tiirew Mr. Condy, broke his shoulder, and otherwise very seriouslj* injured him. From these injuries he died a short time afterward, and was buried in the old graveyard. This was in August, 1827.

"After the location of the Ohio Canal, Navarre was laid out by James Duncan. The year before, Nathan McGrew had laid out on the western side a village, which he named Rochester. Rafl'ensperger and Chapman afterward laid out an addition to Rochester. The three villages, Navarre, Bethlehem and Rochester, became places of immense trade in wheat and drj' goods. The principal merchants were D. &

H. Allman, Flill & Co., Chapman & Rafl'ensperger, I'oe & Co.. Wirt& Biirgent. Tlie leading export was wheat. Bet'oiv the opening of the Ohio Canal it did not bring thirty cents in cash, but now coiniuanded remunerative prices. For some years this sudden im|)ul.se in trade went on in a torrent, results quit(^ satisl'actory wei-e realized, and handsome fortunes made. Its influence upon the country was seen and felt in tlie enhanced value of real estate, the taste of buildings and all kinds of improvements. This season of prosperity was followed b\- the stringency and reverses of 1837 to 1840. Fortunes that had been gathered in the years of prosperity, were more quickly swept away. The failures in mercantile circles were as common then as at the present. Trade, like the ocean, seems to be subject U> ebbs and flows. .Much of the money made in wheat raising remained in tlie hands of the purchaser. All the original firms largel\' engaged in the produce trade failed, but the farmers did not. They jogged on, slowly and surely, some wiser than before. Ever}- generation learns this truth - that dealing in large sums begets recklessness and extravagance. Quickly made is quickly spent. A post otiicc was established at Bethlehem, Februar}- 8, 1828, Thomas Hurford being the first Postmaster. On the 14th of August, 1843, the name of the office was changed to Navarre, and George \V. Sweringen became Postmaster. Soon after Navarre was laid out, James Duncan built a mill, and connected with it a store. Tile Ohio Canal supplied the water-power procured from the State. The mill did a prosperous business, and was a great advantage to the pla(;e and the surrounding country. It is now owned by James Corl. and is doing a good custom business. Soon after Rochester was laid out, James Sproul built the steam-mill. After changing hands several limes, it is now owned and successfully operated by the Coup brothers. The prospective importance of Navarre, as a business point, soon began to decline. The superior advantages and enterprise of -Massillon drew capitalists to that point. The Fort \Va3'ne & Pittsburgh Railroad, the iron works, machme shops and car works located at that point and successfully carried on, have largely directed trade from Navarre. The latter is still a place of considerable business. Projected railroad facilities, should they be realized, may add to its present value."

The village of Bethlehem was laid out while Stark was j'et a part of Columliiana (!ounty. The original village plat maj* be seen at the county seat of that county. Calcutta was laid out as stated above, in 1819. though the plat thereof does not appear on the i-ecords at Canton. One of two things must be true : either the record of the plat has been lost or destroyed, or the plat was not properly recorded. When the Ohio Canal was built through the township and opened, Bethlehem was re-enforced by population and prosperity. By 1830, there were some twenty dwellings. H. & I). Allman opened a store there in about the year 1828, and had a stock of goods worth probably $4,000. In October, 1833, Nathan JMc(irew laid out thirtysix lots on fractional Section 5, about three hundred yards west of Bethlehem, along the bank of the river, and named the village thus begun Rochester. He immediately ottered the lots for sale, but Bethlehem proved a formidable rival, and he did not succeed very well. In March, 1834, James Duncan laid out nineteen lots on the bank of the canal between Rochester and Bethlehem, and named this village Navarre. The reason for the projection of new villages so near together and so near Bethlehem is not very clear. The latter village was so situated that quite a steep bluff' was between it and the canal. This rendered the shipment of all kinds of productions a troublesome matter, as buildings could not be located on the bank, and, even if they could, teams could not approach to unload grain. And besides this, there was considerable fun thrown at the village on account of its inactivity in the management of the grain trade. People seemed afraid to locate there, and men with capital moved on to localities which pleased them better. This state of things continued until a few years after the opening of the canal, or until the other villages were laid out. Mr. McGrew laid out Rochester on the bank of the canal. I)ut there the approaches were unfavorable to the rapid handling of grain. These facts led Mr. Duncan to lay out Navarre. The Massillon Rolling Mill Company was in existence at that time, and had considerable capital at its command. This was partly invested in land. Mr. Duncan was a member of the company, and was authorized to [)urchase the land upon which the village of Navan-e now stands. This he did. He also laid out the village with the intention of building his up at the expense of the other two. His plan, owing to the imperfect location of the other villages as regards the canal, and the jealousy that had sprung up between them, was in a measure successful. The Allraan Brothers, who were then keeping store in Bethlehem and doing a general warehouse business, wei'e induced to transfer their interests to the new village of Rochester. This movement met with opposition from the Bethlehemites who at first endeavored to persuade them to remain, but finding this course unavailing they made efforts to kill out Rochester. Duncan built a store building in Navarre, and J. & W. Chapman, who were selling goods in Bethlehem, moved to the former place. The withdrawal of the Ciiapmans and the Allmans from Bethlehem was a serious blow to the expectations of that village. McGrew who had been in business there had left and laid out Rochester. Tiiese men saw that, in view of the growing trade at that point, a better location was not onlj- desiralile but, if extensive business on the canal was to be done, it was neeessarj-. This, among other things, led them to break away from Bethlehem. After they left, G-eorge Pfoiitz o|)ened a store where they had been, and bought grain at the old warehouse they had occupied and deserted. This was about the year 1835. Duncan built at Navarre a grist-mill and a saw-mill, besides other buildings, including several dwellings. In short, he did his best to build up the village he had founded. The saw-mill was soon afterward burned down, but was immediately rebuilt. After a few years, it was again burned down, and was then permitted to remain down. Stump & Fisher opened a store at Bethlehem in about the year 1838. The Allman Brothers, when they went to Rochester, built a storehouse and also a large warehouse. From this time forward there was constant rivalry between the three villages. In each there were merchants who were bujnng large" quantities of grain and produce, and as a necessary consequence each was envious of the prosperity of tlie others, ('lose margins were made in consequence, the merchants endeavoring to undersell each otiier in store goods and over pay each other in the trade in grain. The results are easily guessed. Their business soon languished under this pressure, and when the financial troubles of 1837 came on, the merchants failed and made an assignment of their property. From this time onward almost every man who engaged in buying grain at the villages failed in business. As soon as a man opened a store in either of the villages he must dabble in the speculation in wheat. These men did not profit by the experience of those who had failed before them. They, forsooth, were shrewd enough to foresee the future condition of the markets. And another thing : they would not permit the other buyers to do a more extensive business than themselves ; tliat would not do. The facts are curious, yet this was about the condition of affairs for a number of years. Failure after failure succeetled each other, and still a fresh supply of daring capitalists crowded their way to the front. Among the men who have been in business in the villages are the following : Isaac Hawk, Charles Poe (a descendant of the renowned borderer of that name), p]nos Raffensperger. who with Chapman, in 1845, laid out a large addition to Rochester, Hill & Waldron, Martin & Harris, Brobts & Rudey, R. & J. Sprankle, Davidson & Company, Mr. Wertenbergert, D. Mentzer, Bash, Minor & Company, Goodman, Chapman & Company, J. & M. Bash, Goshorn & Rose, Goshorn & Eckrode, Dennius & Draoenstrod, Zerby & Gorgas, H. V. Beeson & Company, Hall & Companj', Loutzenheiser & Company, Hetzler & Company, Thompson & Baxter, J. & J. \V. Raffensberger, G. H. Cross, and others. Among the present business enterprises are, G. H. Cross, John Weidman, Daniel Metzer, Alexander Garver, G. W. Henline, (xrossklaus & Ricksecker, Gnau & Moog, A. Schmidt, J. Loud, Mrs. Donnovan, milliner, and others.

In about the year 1850, there was formed what was called the '' Farmers' and Mechanics' Association." This company of perhaps fifty men was not incorporated, but it had a paidup capital of nearly >;2(l.00(l, which was divided into shares of $25 each. The business was controlled by a board of directors. A large warehouse and a large dry goods store were built, and the Company began buying grain and dealing in goods. It owned one or more canalboats and a large hardware store. As high as 3,000 bushels of grain were bought in one day, and, during the years of the company's greatest activity, nearly 100,000 busiiels of wheat and other grains were purchased and shipped to Cleveland on the canal. The company had unbounded credit, and soon went beyond its means.

Within about six years after its promising start, the company found that almost its entire capital was swallowed up in liook accounts and stock in store. From the fact that the company was conducting a similar business in other villages, and had come to about the same strait in those places, it was found impossible to continue. An assignment of the proi)erty was made, and the individual members were required to make up what the assets lacked of meeting the liabilities.

In about the j'ear 1 84-1. W. Wann erected a suitable building, and l)egan manufacturing plows, stoves, steam engines, hollow-ware. etc. He employed a few assistants, and, after continuing a few years, admitted a partner named Widgeon. These men then extended the scope of the enterprise somewhat, and after the lapse of a few years, sold to C. & J. Snyder. Finally, Yant, App & Company purchased the foundry, and, in addition to what had been manufactured before, began making wheat drills. After this, under other owners, the business was changed to that of wagon and carriage making. At present, under R, Hug, the building is a planing-mill, where doors, windows, blinds, etc are manufactured.

The first public house of entertainment was kept l)y John ."^halter, on the southwest corner of Third and Market streets. The first one in Navarre was opened by J, Yant, opposite Mr, Sisterhen's shoestore, and was known as " Yant's Hotel.' The building is yet standing. He was succeeded by a Mr. Horton. The " Reed House," known first as the " Navarre House." was built by Richard Goe. The present landlord is B. F. Reed, whose good looks are proverbial, and whose knowledge of horse-flesh is almost infinite, >ren named Wingert and Sprankle kept tavern in Bethlehem at an early day. Since the earliest times, as might have been expected, ri\'alry and jealousy have marked all commercial relations between the villages. Nothing serious has transpired, the rivalry usually confining itself to bitter thoughts.

On the 2!tth of .Vugust, 1871, a petition, signed by over fifty <iualilied voters, residing in the combined villages, was presented to the Commissioners of Stark County, praying for the incorporation of Bethlehem. Navarre andRochester, under the name of Navarre. The subject was laid upon the table until the September session, when all things, pro and con, having been duly considered, it was ordered that the prayer of the petitioners be granted. The boundaries were fixed, but were afterward amended. In April, 1872, the first municipal election of the incorporated village of Navarre was held. As soon as the officers were qualified, the necessary ordinances were drafted and adopted, and a small tax levied for municipal purposes. A small, strong, wooden jail was built at a cost of about §150, The following is a list of the city officers ui> to the present time, with the dates of the commencement of their terms of office :

Councilmeii - 1872. Samuel MilliM-. two years; Mathias Sisterhen. two years; Peter Tlicohald. two years; .Tolin Baltzer. one year; Gotlieh Winter, one year; William O. Siffert". one year, 1878. Peter B. Welsh. (Jeor^re W. Swarensren. Enos Raftensl)erger, Edw;u(i .1. Hu?: 1874. A. S. i:)uley. .John Leow;

The first school in the township was taught at Bethlehem by Jacob Grounds. When this occurred is not known. The village was laid out as early as ISOG ; but the school was not probably taught until eight or ten years later, when a log schoolhouse was crec'ted. This house, or log building which succeeded it, was yet standing in 1835. Soon after this date the old schoolhouse was abandoned, and a large, two-story structure erected in its place. Navarre and Bethlemen could not agree on school privileges, and the former and Rochester united means and erected a small brick schoolhouse, to which a large addition was made some time afterward. This building is yet standing, and is used as a dwelling. In 1871, the three villages, or rather the one village of Navarre, contracted with M. V. Leeper and A. W. (Joshorn for the erection of a large, brick union school' building. It was completed during the summer of 1872, and cost, including the furniture, etc., about $11,000. It is two stories in height, and contains four rooms. R. 8. Page was the first principal in this building, and received $70 per month for his services. His assistants were Misses M. E. Adams and R. E. Poe, the one receiving $35, and the other $25 per month. Tlie present enumeration of scholars in this union district is about 325, with an average attendance of some 70 per cent. The school year begins in September and ends the following May. The early country schools were slow in starting. In 1820,. tliere were but two or three sciioolhouses in the township outside of Bethlehem. B3' 183(1, there were five or six and in 1840. nearly as many as there are at present. Log schoolhouses were usually first built, and afterward, as time passed and settlers became numerous, better ones took their place. The following is the condition of the township's school funds :

" The first house of worship in the township was the German Lutheran log church in the northeast part of the village. This was built about 1810. Jacob Grounds was employed to erect the building, which he did in a creditable manner. The next was the Salem Church, known as the Sherman Church, built and occupied jointly by the Lutheran and German Reformed denoiuinations. Rev. Anthony Weyer, of Canton, was the Lutheran Pastor of both these churches. Rev. Benjamin Foust was the Pastor of the German Reformed society. Salem Church was built in 1818. Rev. Weyer served the congregation for many years. Late- Ij' the house, a large two-story log building, was sold and torn down. The Lutherans built a neat frame church in 1871. Previous to the building of Salem Church, Mr. Weyer held religious services at the house of John Sherman, who donated the ground for the church and burying ground.

"The Catholics have a good church building and school. Their first church was a log building that had been intended for a wag n shop. It was taken and altered, provided with necessary furniture, and occupied I)}' the congregation. After a time they built a brick church, which, not many years ago, was enlarged and is their present church. The Catholics have the strongest church society- in the township. They have also a separate school building. This is a frame building, and was constructed in 1872, at a cost of 81,800. Between 70 and 80 scholars are in attendance, though but one teacher is employed, who usually is a female, and receives about $30 per mouth for her services. The (ierman Lutheran, the English Reformed and Lutheran, the Methodist Episcopal and the United Brethren in Christ, have each good houses of worship, fiourishiug Sabbath schools and fair congregations.

" The first Jlethodist society was organized bj- Revs. Walter Athey and Curtiss Goddard, at the house of Ebenezer Allman in 1815. Mr. Allman was leader of the class. The members of the society were Ebenezer Allman, Agues Allman, Abraham and Marj' Phillips, Mrs. Elizabeth Sheplar. wife of Mathias Sheplar, Elizabeth Sheplar, Abraham Sheplar, Samuel and Sophia Miller, Capt, John and Ellen Brown, John Alexander and Henry Coiler, Regular preaching was continued at the house of Mr. Allman until 1835, when the church was built in Bethlehem. John Brown was not satisfied as a member of the Methodist Church, and in after years he connected himself with the Catholics, and died in that faith. He is buried in the Catholic burying ground at Navarre.