Strasburg, Ohio

Several archaeological remains of considerable magnitude have recently existed in this township, but the ravages of the plow are rapidly effacing all traces of them. About sixty rods above Sugar Creek Falls, on the north side of the stream, a raised earthwork extended across the plains. The embankment may yet be clearly traced where the land has not yet been cleared. A large white oak, standing on the top of the elevation near the north end, attests the antiquity of the works. About three-fourths of a mile south of Strasburg, on the Hartline farm, near the edge of the plains, is a fort, inclosing about a half acre. The embankment in early days was three or four feet in height. On the east side in one comer, was a gateway or entrance.

Passage source: The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, published 1884.

The earliest white settlers of Franklin Township were not land owners. A few squatters built temporary cabins on the plains and tilled a little soil, but hunted and trapped principally for a living, and the school lots in the southwest part of the township were leased and occupied before much, if any, land was entered and settled. It is impossible to state with any degree of certainty the name of the first pioneer. John Burris is said to have been here more than eighty years ago. He came from Maryland, was a noted hunter and Indian fighter, and participated in the war of 1812. More than one Indian is said to have fallen beneath the aim of his rifle. Burris was of a roving disposition, leased a school lot for a time, owned no property, and died in the township. William Smoyer is accredited by some with being the first settler. He was an old bachelor and a squatter. He cleared a little patch of ground on the Zeltman farm, a half mile north N of Strasburg, lived there for some time in a little cabin, then encamped farther up the stream on the Zimmerman farm, southeast quarter of Section 13. In his old age, he shook the dust of Tuscarawas County from his feet and departed for a wilder, more western habitation.

Passage source: The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, published 1884.

Abraham Brenninger came from Pennsylvania about 1809, and settled on Military Lot 13, in the northern part of the township. He was a respected citizen, and remained here through life. Henry Duncan owned and occupied Lots 16 and 17 in the extreme northern part of the township. John Casebeer entered and settled on the northwest quarter of Section 12, in the southern line of the township. He subsequently moved West. Abraham Forney emigrated from Somerset County, Penn., to Dover Township about 1809, and entered a farm on Crooked Run, which he sold to Michael Welty, and in 1814 came to Franklin and settled on the northewest quarter of Section 2. He was a local minister of the United Brethren Church, and preached a great deal, at first in his own neighborhood, but later on the circuit. He died about 1825, aged forty-one years. Two of his eight children still reside in Franklin. Walter Griffith entered the southeast quarter of Section 13, and settled here about 1816. After his death his family removed West. Benjamin Gundy was the. owner and occupant of the southwest quarter of Section 20, prior to 1820. Originally from Pennsylvania he had lived in Harrison County for awhile, and after a residence for a time in Franklin Township, he returned to Harrison County. Again changing his place of abode, he sojourned in Wood County for a brief season, then returned to this county and died here. Christian Gnagy came from Pennsylvania about 1818, and purchased the southwest quarter of Section 19. He was a noted local minister of the United Brethren persuasion, and in his old age removed to Wood County, where he died. Michael Kohr was one of fhe earliest pioneers, and also one of the largest landholders. In 1811, he came from Maryland, and settled on the east half of Section 8, which he had entered. He first came out alone, boarded at Knistrick's, built a cabin and cleared and planted about two acres, hired Mr. Noftzinger, of Dover Township, to tend it, then returned East for his family. He lived in this township till old age, then re-married and removed to near Navarre, Stark County, where he died. Philip Knappenberger was born in Northampton County, Penn., in 1783. Attaining his majority, he made atrip West, entered the east half of Section 9, in his father's name, and the northwest quarter of the section in his own name. Returning, he married and brought his wife to the new country. In the face of the Indian troubles, during the war of 1812, he returned East, and at the termination of hostilities, again took up his residence in Franklin. He was a Justice of the Peace, a gun-smith and a farmer; he was a disbeliever in the Bible, and wrote and published a book expressive of his views. Mr. Knappenberger was twice married and died in this township. Jonas Kline emigrated from Pennsylvania before 1820, and settled about two miles west of Strasburg. He afterward went West David Porter owned a little place, and lived for a time in the northern part of the township. Thomas Lappingtqn originally from Maryland, emigrated to Stark County, there married Mary Shutt, and entered and removed to the southwest quarter of Section 9, Franklin Township. He died here before 1820, and his widow and child returned to Stark County. George Wallick, a Pennsylvanian, was an early settler, and the first tanner in Franklin. He purchased and occupied until his death, fifty acres in the western part of Section 19, now the Eberly place. Jehiel Savidge, a native of Connecticut, came from Portage County in 1818, to the plains about a mile north of Strasburg, possessing a faith in the value of this soil, which was ridiculed by many of his neighbors, but which proved in the end to be well founded.

Passage source: The History of Tuscarawas County, Ohio, published 1884.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Franklin Township - it names this place 6 more 6 times.