Bethlehem Township

Bethlehem Township

The township waa settled by Richard Carter, a Friend, with hi JoBhua Condy, at tho mouth of Sandy, aa early aa 1802, Carter kept a tradinghouse at Post's migfion atatiou, on land lately owned by Elias Young. A French Canadian passing in 1780 to 1785 from Detroit south, speaks glowingly of tho beauty and richnoas of tho country. Tuscalala Village contained throe thousand inhabitants, and several thousand acres of land wore in corn.

In 1S02, the Delawaroa wore a powerful tribe; full five thousand warriora wore between Bethlehem and Fort Lawrence. Tho " Loni Lonapo" have diaappoared, and Cooper'a " Last of tho Mohicans" preserves in romance a atory of the race. Tho plowshare levels their graves, and tho powerful Delawaroa ore no more. Carter supplied ammunition to the Indians, in exchange for their furs and polts, and, in tho fall, they hung their venison around his cabin for aafo-keeping, and told him to take what ho wanted.

Tho first death in IJothlehom Township was Mrs. Condy. Her remaina lio on tho old Allman farm, near Bothlohom. Mrs. Kline kept houao for Condy and took care of hia four children.

Jonathan Condy laid out tho village of Dethlohom, built tho firat houao, and Mr. Klinglo, father of James Klingle, of Sugar Creek Township, kept the first Btoro. James Grounda taught tho firat acbool at Bethlehem, aud waa clerk of the firat election held at Canton. James Galf made tho ballot-box used on tho

Bethlehem Township was incorporated in 1816, on the 12th of December. Tho petition was presented to tho CommisaionorB, then in sossion, - .John Krydcr and William Albin.

The flrpt entries woro made by John Sbaltcr, Nicholas Stump, Georgo Kohn, Malhias Sheplor, Reprosootativo in the Twenty-fiftii Congress, from 18;!7 to 1839, J. W. Condy, Kreighbamn, Ebenezer Allman, and John Shalter. Rev. Richard S. Qoe, a Swcdenborgion, was the earliest known minister. He and Cnndy came West to begin a system of society in tho Tuscarawas valley such aa haa been tried by Owen, at New Harmony, Indiana, and elsewhere in the United States.

Condy was a man of groat ontorpriBo aa well as personal probity of life. Ho erected a steam grist- and aaw-miU in 1816. The mill-house was contracted to bo built of stono fjuarried from tho vicinity of Hurford's mil!. Tho townahip ia irregularly formed on tho aonth. Tho Ohio Canal following tho bends of the Tuscarawas River, and nearly parallel in ita course, extends through the townaliip. Rolhlehein, Roehoater, and Navarro are three cloBcly-aituated villages, known principally by the latter name, and situated on the river, in the northwest part of tho township. Thia place haa an old-time reputation for wheat shipments.