Bethlehem Township (part 1 of 23)

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.

Source changes here: from History of Stark County, with an Outline Sketch of Ohio, by Perrin, William Henry, D. 1892? Ed, published 1881; 358,162 words in this source stream.

Bethlehem Township

mentation, and the membership is, at present, the county. This is due to the fact that many on the increase. The township is not so well of the citizens belong to churches located supplied with churches as otlior portions of | without the limits of the township.

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.

Establisiimen'Ts- Villaoes. Churches And Schools

\/\ ANY of tho more valuable portions of XVJ_ the history of Lake Township have been carelessly permitted to ])ass into forgetfiilni'ss, and the truth of the old saving, " Wliat is everybody's business is nobody's liiisiness" has thus been verified. This is to be de])lored, as not only are the early incidents interesting and even fascinating, but they often fiu'iiish important information, without which endless disputes would arise and extreme bitterness be engendered among quondam friends. The j)reservatiou of old records is often of great })ublic moment: yet, notwithstanding this fact, it is unfortimately too often the case that men, in whose keepingsuch records are confided, become negligent, whereby valuable material is lost or destroyed, thus entailing upon their successors and succeeding generations an infinite amount of trotible and annoyance. It is as if some person should eonti"ict some troul)lesonie and disgusting disease, and afterward transmit it in its most malignant type to his descendants through several successive generations. Such ])rocediire has a lasting effect, and guileless jiarties are made to suffer the consequences, that should have fallen like the ciu-se of Jove upon the offender. AVhile township records are not usually of general jmblic value, they oc('a.sionally are so, and should be preserved with that prospect in view.

ization as such, was for a time attached to Columbiana County, and in alwiit the year ISOf) was divided into two townships, Canton and Lake, which included all th(i present comity and more. The boundary between the two townships was the line running east and west between Canton <md Plain Townships. How they came to be called Lake and Canton is a mystery more profoiuid than that of Eleusis. Dr. Slusser thinks that Lake, which included all th<' northern half of the county, was thus named because it was nearer Lake Erie, or because a portion of it was drained by stresmis which flowed to that hike. It is the opinion of the wTiter, however, after much inipiiry, that th(> towushi]) derived its natue from Congress Lake. The presence of that lake was undoubtedly known, as it must have been discov(>red by hunters, and by those who were looking at lands with a view of settling. The hunters in Cohuubiana County can be imagined as saying, " I'm going up in the lake country to hunt bears,'" so that the region became designated as " the lake country." At all events, that jiortion of the coimty was known as Liike Township while it remained attached to Columbiana. When Stark was organized, the ]irescnt Lake Township was a part of Plain, and remained thus tuitil the 8th of April, 1^1 1, when all the noi-tli western portion of Plain, including the present Lake, was organized as Green Township. No other changes were made with Lake Townshi]i, as it now stands, until the following ju-oceedings relative thereto were enacted in June, l<Slt), by the County Commissioners: "Ordered, That the 1 l^th'Township, in the Nth Range, be, and it is herby, erected into a separate townshij) by the name of Lake. Ordered also. That the qualified electors of said townshij) meet at the house of Joseph Moore in said towusliip, on the 4tli of June, 1816, for the election of to^sTiship officers. Ordered further, That advertisements for said election in Lake Township be put up at the house of Peter Dickerhoof in the town of Union, and at the hoiise of Joseph Jloore. (Signed) James Latimer, John Krvder, and James Drennen, County Commissioners."

The name of the fu-st settler in this township is not known with certidntv. Among the earliest, however. wiTe Joseph Moore. Henry Schwaiiz. the Markleys, Jacob Brown. jVIr. Camp, John Fryberger. George Machaner, John Morehart. Martin Bachtel. Peter Beam. Ml". Wise. 'Mi. Meyer. Mr. Pontius and several others. It seems, upon examining the count\' records, that while the fii-st election of officers was ordered to lie held at the house of Joseph Moore, on the 4th of June. ISKi, the meeting was not thus held, which fact called out this fmther act fi'om the commissionei-s: Ordered, that an election be held June "29, 1816." at the house of Joseph Moore to fill the necessary township offices. The names of the fij-st officers cannot be recovered. The township soon became quite well populated, and the material condition of the settlers became more satisfactory. Land was rapidly taken up. and soon Government land became a thing of the past. The following were land-holders in the township in 18'2(t: Chi'istopher Auble, Jacob Bachtel, John Bnshong, Jacob Bauer, John A. Bauer, Jacob Brown, Conrad Broombaugh. John Creighbaum, George Creighbaum. John Clay. Christian Cbrist, Jacob Critshal. Peter Dickerhoof. George Everhard, Peter Eby, George Frank. Jacob Fouse. Jolui Fouse, George Nodle, Simon Harsh. William Holsinger, Anthony Housel. William Irwin, Jesse Johns(m. John Euder, George Myers. Joseph Moore, Jacob Mayer, Christian Balmer, Peter Pontius, Daniel Mai'kley, George Mai-kley, John Markley. John Morehart. John Muny, George Null. Benjamin Pontius. Solomon Pontius. Nicholas Pontius, John Raber. Thomas Piaber. Abraham Reem, Peter Reem, Conrad Raber. Philip Roser, Jacob Ruff. John Shorh, William Stripe, Jacob Sell, Jacol) Sholt. John Wise. John Weller, George Westerberger, Michael Snyder, Henr\- Swartz. Jonas Smith, George Stnt,

George Snyder, Jacob Schaffer. William Staddon, George Stidger, Daniel Smith, John Thompson, Jacob Warstler, William Wise, Henry Wise, and John Wise. This list is taken from the tax duplicate of that year, at the county seat.

The township was an inviting locality for the settlers. The soil had every appearance of being very rich, and gave in its silent way ample promises to the prospective husbandman. An unusttal munber of small swamps abounded, but it was seen that the most of these could be drained in after years without any very great cost. An abundance of limestone was to be found by removing a few feet of earth, and coal. also, was soon found to be abundant in the western pai-t. The to\vuship is situated on the " Ohio Water Shed," as the waters of the southern part reach Nimishillen Creek, a member of the Ohio River basin, while the waters of the northern part flow into the Little Cuyahoga, a member of the Lake Erie basin. In the northeastern part is a fine sheet of water called Congress Lake. How it came to receive this name is not stated. It is likely that for many years the lake remained the [)roperty of Congi-ess, and finally became so designated. It is about a mile imd a half long by halt a mile wide, and is perhaps fifty or sixty feet deep. It is well supplied with fish. Since the Connotton Valley Railroad has been projected through the township, it is the design to make a pleasure resort of the lake. Suitable buildings are to be erected on the lake shore, for the comfort and accommodation of pleasiu-e-seekers. This will add to the attractions of the township as a locality in which to live.

Lake To^^^lship, on account of its swamps and bodies of water, was the resort, in early years, of large numbers ^ of wild animals, which found a safe retreat there when piu-- sued. It thus became a favorite hunting ground, for, in the winter, when the marshes and sti'eams were fi'ozen, hunters could ti'ace the quaiTy to its lair, ilany of the settlers were skillful hunters and trappers, and on account of the bounty ofl'ered for scalps and the market vahie of the fiu's, made considerable money. The country was destitute of everv kind of monev. When the settlers first appeared, they often had considerable means, but this was soon drained from them like blood. After that they were obliged to do without money as a medium of exchange, and substitute Uieir own wants instead. All commercial relations were caiTied on by a system of exchanges, the base of which wore the individual wants of the parties participating. This gave rise to what were known as the " trade price " and the " ca.sh price." Those who were fortunate enough to have considerable means at their command, and who were wise enough to invest it judiciously, soon amassed large fortunes, and their descendants are now reai)ing tie advantages. Men without money or property, and with large families dependant upon them for support, sufl'ered incredible hai'dships and privations, and were often compelled by the force of circiunstances to relinquish their title to their half-improved farms, and retiun to the Eastern States. The most of those who came to the West, however, made up their minds before stai^tingto undergo the coming adversities, and to be cheerful under the burden of difficulties and dangers. The taxes on their farms had to he paid in money. This money was often raised by the sale of fiu-s. There were the fiu-s of the mink, the beaver, the muski'at the otter; and the skins of the bear, the wolf, the panther, the deer, and various other animals. The pursuit of these animals, both for sport and profit, led to many an exciting adventure, as thrilling as any of those nairated on the page of fiction. Several of these incidents which transpired in Lake Township have never been made public. George Xodle, one of the earliest settlers, owned two cows that were permitted to roam at will thi'ough the woods in quest of iooA. On one occasion about sunset, the c<jws not having retiu'ned, ilr. Xodle started with his little dog in quest of them. He was an experienced and skillful hunter, and as usual when leaving home, took his rifle with him, although he had but four and a half bullets left. Reaching one of the streams which had overflowed its banks, Mr. Xodle was unable to proceed any farther, but sent his little dog across to start the cows, should they prove to be on the oi)posite side. Away went the dog, and was soon barking vigorously oflf in the woods, although after several minutes it did not appear with the cows. Mr. Xodle at last succeeded in crossing the creek, and hurried forward to ascertain what the dog had encoivntered. It was now almost dark, but as the settler approached the sjxjt where the dog stood at bay, he knew that something unusual was about to transpire. He cautiously peered through the twilight, and saw with astonishment a mother beai- and her thi-ee cubs. He instanth' di-ew up and shot the lai'ge beai-, and then, loading rapidly, shot in turn each of the cubs. He now had but half a bullet remaining, and it became a question of doubtful propriety in his mind whether he had better await the return of the sire of the bear family that had been slaughtered, or leave the spot immediately. He finally adopted the latter course. It is probable that the cows remained undisturbed in the woods that night On another occasion, a bear caught and partly consumed a member of the genus Sua belonging to Mr. Xodle, who, the following night, guarded it with his rifle in hopes of killing the marauder. During the night the beai' appeared, but was shot by the imeiTing himter. Many circumstances simihu- to the last occiuTed. The beai's were extremely fond of jwrk, and would often come boldly into a door-yard, in broad daylight, and in sight of the family, who were peering in fa-ight from the windows, seize and carry off a hog or calf. A very unusual and siuiirising incident occmred on one occasion - one that in many respects has no parallel in the history of the {>ast The incident is related on the authority of several prominent citizens of Greentown, and is as follows: An early settler, wht>se name could not be remembered, was one day in the woods without his gun, when lie was attacked in some manner by a bear, and compelled to ascend a small free for safetj*. Tlae bear was terribly enraged, and began making desperate efforts to dislodge the terrified settler, perched like a hawk ill the branches above. It began to te<ir at the tree with teeth and claws so savagely as to threaten, if continued, the speedy fall of the free. The settler hallooed repeatedly and loudly for assistance. The calls finally attracted the attention of a bov of about four- teen years of age (probably the son of the distressed settler), who started with gnn in hand to discover what was meant Ijy the continued calls. As he approached the sjiot, he was probably cautioned by the settler in the tree, and directed how to jiroceed. At any rate the boy caiitioixsly approached the place until the bear was seen, when he drew up, took deliberate aim, and sent a bullet crashing thi'ough Ihe bear, at which the animal fell over and gave u]) the ghost (if it had one). The settler, considerably relieved, descended from the tree, which was found to be completely girdled, from the effects of which it died. The settler would not permit the tree to be felled, but kept it standing, in remem brance of the occurrence, until it was blown down. Did not the boy display remarkable intrepidity in approaching and shooting the bear? Many other incidents of a similar natui-e could lie mentioned, but these will suffice to show that extreme danger often accompanied the sojourn in the backwoods.

Industries began to spring into life immediately after the township was first settled. Saw-mills and grist-mills of primitive fashions began to appear on the various streams, to supply for the increasing demand articles nearer home. Roads were a])pareutly bottomless, and the sticking qualities of the mud were demonstrated to the settlers - often to their infinite annoyance and sorrow. The continued impassable condition of the roads (if they can be properly called such), led to a demand for mills, stores, etc., near home, and led to their speedy erection. Whisky was an article found on the mantel in every household, for to be without liquor was thought to be without one of the necessities of life. Men at work in the field must have it: and, when visitors appeared, it was deemed a gruss breach of hospitality to restrain from setting up the drinks. No house or other building could be raised without it. It is asserted that there were fewer drunkards then than now; but this is undoubtedly a mistake. The custom of imbibing was so ctmmou and drunken men were so numerous that people did not notice the evil effects as they do now. Time has wi'ought a wonderful change in this, as in manv other things. Saw- mills started up as early as any industry, but these, like those of the gods, were compelled to move slowly. The streams were sluggish, though there was double the volume of water th^n than now. George Creighbaum erected his saw-mill on a branch of the Nimishillen some time before 1830, and for many years did extensive work, as there was a steady and increasing demand for lumber to be used in the const niction of dwellings and bams. His son William operated it after him imtil but a comparatively short time ago. when Elias, son of William, and grandson of George, assiimed ownership and control. This mill in its time has been a good one. Simon Harsh also built an early one, not far from the year 1825. This was also a good mill in its time. Other mills will be mentioned farther along. The following men have, at various times, conducted distilleries in the township, some of them beginning in veiy early years: Jacol) Harbrook. George Everhart, Lewis Hanshalter, Mr. Shriver, John Bushong, Andrew Pontius, George CreighViaum and Henry Swartz. More than one of these men owned the same distillery. There were certainly enough to supply the township with all the licjuor needed, which is saying a good deal, as the Gennan element of humanity can carry as much liquor without staggering as any other. They are cold and phlegmatic, and not easily persuaded to fall, when King Alcohol beckons. There are fom- villages in the township - three of th(m wholly, and one partly in Lake and partly in Plain. These four are Cairo, Hartville. Greensburg and LTniontown. The origin of these names is obscxwe or perhaps altogether unknown. Cairo is numerically the weakest, although it began its career many years ago. D. T. Machamer has been condiacting a store there for a number of years. The village has a post office, and a church, built by the Lutherans and Reformers perhaps forty years ago. When these few things have been said, the past history of Cairo has been almost wholly unfolded. The records of Hartville are not much more voluminous. So far as could be learned, neither Hartville nor Cairo was ever properly laid oiit and recorded. Hartville has had a population of some twelve or fifteen families, while Cairo can scarcely boast of having had that number. As nearly as can be remembered. John Houghton opened the first store in Hartville soon after ISHd. His stock of goods was small, but included many useful articles. Joseph Brown omb;u'ked on the mercantile sea some time afterward. Peter Shellenberger was another early merchant. It is likely that t)thers have sold goods in the village, Init their names arc locked forever in the casket of forgetfulness, and the key is concealed. Some futm'e historian may discover it. John Morehart opened a tavern about the ye;ir 1888. Daniel Baum is the present landlord. George Machamer and Hem-y (Trossenbaugher are the present merchants. They have a fair country ti-ade. and iire presumed to be making some money. Dr. Hoflfman was located in the village quite early. Some other things might be said of the village, to its credit. Some thirty years ago, Elias Shriver erected, in the northern part of the township, a large grist-mill, in which were placed five sets of stone. The cajiacit}' of the mill, which is operated by steam, is said to be 3(30 bushels daily. The present owners are Bitter Brothers. The mill is in operation both day and night, and not only does, it have an extended custom tr;.de, but it ships considerable flom- to distant {wints from the station at Uniontown. It is probably the best mil] of the kind ever in the township.

The town of Union was laid out by Elias Brenner and Thomas Albert, owners and proprietors, in April, 1816, from portions of the northeast and the northwest cjuarters of Section 7, Township 12, Range 8. Sixty lots were laid out, and immediately offered for sale. Albert was an old baclielor, and like all members of that class was pussessed of ciu-ious or eccentric ti'aits of character. A few houses were immediately built, and as many families resided therein. As early as 1825, George Myers and W. H, Whitney opened a store, and not long afterward secured the location of a post office at the village. It is said that George Guisweit was in with a small stock of goods before these men, which, if true, would make him the first merchant in the village. \Mieu he first began selling goods is not so well knovra. He peddled his goods all over the suiTounding country, which fact secured for him the universal and homely appellation, " Cheaj) George the peddler." He did not have altogether more than $200 worth of goods, and although a ])ortion of these was sold at his house in the village, the greater portion was peddled as stated. He became known to everybody, who seemed to think that he was a proper subject for their jokes. All was taken in good humor by him, aud he was well liked and well ])atronized; so that, although he sold his goods very low, he contrived to make considerable money. After him came Myers & Whitney, who kept a good countr}' store, and had an extensive trade. Other merchants in the village have been Aultman & Holwick. Samuel Woods, J. B. Woods, D. T. Frank, William Steese, Feather & Glasser, M. & M. Josejih, Woolf & Foust, Stutzman & Price, W. H. Nees, Nees & Price. Ml'. Nees is yet in business in the village. It is probable that others than those named have followed the mercantile i)ursuit in Uniontown. Charles Brown is one of the present merchants, as is also the firm, Hunsman & Schick, Some of the earlier stores were inferior and short-lived, while others were well filled and had an extensiv(> trade. There have been times when Uniont«iwn was a lively business village. In early years, when there were no railroads on which to transport goods and thus vwy the cost of conveyance, one store was aliout as good as another. Stores in small villages could sell as cheaply as those in large villages, and in consequence, if they were well filled, it was better to patronize them, for they were nearer. Some of the early stores had on hand as high as §1(XOOO worth of goods, and probably Hunsman & Schick have more than that quantity at present. John Bolender built a cabinet-.shoj) in 1868, which he has since conducted. He fm-nishes work for some three emjiloyes, and manufactures burea\is, tables, chairs, 1>ed-steads. secretaries, etc.. and has a fair trade. Jose])h T. Halloway ])receded ^Ir. Bolender at the occujiation, for .he began not far from the year 18;?(t, and continued a number of years. John A\'oolf was another, who made spinning-wheels, etc. Samuel

Woods opened a tannery many years ago, beginning with some ten vats, which were afterward increased to more than twenty. Large quantities of leather were prepared, and whal could not be used at home was shipped to distant places. There were no such persons in early times as commercial travelers. Merchants in the West were in the habit of going East twice or more times a year to pnrchase their goods, which were then hauled by wagon to their destination. Then it was that settlers crowded in to have their choice of the stock on hand. Weai'ing apparel of all kinds was not ready made, but made to order. Farmers were obliged to buy the cloth with which to clothe their families, after which either a tailor was employed to do the cutting, or the task was tm-ned over to the wife and mother. Some of the latter became proficient from long practice, and could furnish a neat fit every time. Joui-neymon tailors ti'aveled tlu'oughout the country to secure engagements at cutting, fitting, or making. Shoemaker's did the same. Leather enough to make shoes for the whole family was piu'chased at the tanneries, after which the services of a shoemaker were called into requisition, and the family provided with shoes for the coming year. In this manner, Samuel Woods' tannery secm'ed a lai'ge trade. His son, J. B., succeeded him. Chai-les Glasser also conducted an early tannery, as did William Motz. There were two of these in the village at the same time, but it is thought that Mr. Woods' disposed of the most leather. George Winters began hatting in the village in about the year 1883; he was an adept at the occupation, having followed it in the East before coming to Ohio. Except, perhaps, by means of a few rude mechanical contrivances, all his work was done by hand. During the month of June, he visited the surrounding farms where sheep were kept, and selected the finest article of lamb's wool to be found to be used in hatting; he owned a small shop in which his goods were kept for sale; he continned some ten or twelve years, manufacturing, in the meantime, large ntmibers of excellent hats; his hats became celebrated for their capability of resisting rough usage and continued wear; he finally left for other fields.

In about the year 1855, C. W. Lane erected suitable buildings and began manufacturing plows, kettles, pots, skillets, etc., an occupation that he followed a number of years, when he sold the foundry to H. B. Richards and John Fritch. These men built a large shop and greatly increased the scope and capacity of the undertaking. They attempted the mauufactm-e of cultivators, but failed to pi-oduce satisfactory imj)lements, and finally the whole project was either abandoned or trausfeiTed to some other locality. The following doctors have practiced in the neighborhood, while residing in the village: Devaux, Reed, Zollers, Parlimau, Weimei', Buchtel, Ashman, Steese, the present physician, Allen, Hatcher, McConnell, Waldron and Richards; this may not be a complete list. George Bolinder opened a tavern in about the year 1825; he had for a sign a large blue ball; in 1827, this sign was removed, and an ordinary signboai'd erected in its jilace, bearing the date 1827. Other tavern-keepers have been William Waguer, Isaac Statden, Samuel Swinehart, Joseph Dreese, J. W. Creighbaum, John Bender, Leonard Ral)er, Amos Johnson, James Woolf, Urias Weitman, Euos Fasnocht and John Leed, the present landlord. Joseph T. Halloway is said to have been the first Postmaster, receiving his appointment about the year 1825. The office is now under the control of Mrs. Dr. Steese. This concludes the brief history of the village of Uniontown. Greentown has had a similar histoiy, varying only in names and dates. No one can realize the truth of the maxim, "History repeats itself," until he has made history a study. Hiunan natm-e is the same the world over, and as history is but a record of human exj)eriences and achievements, it necessarily rejieats itself. Greentown was laid out in February, 181(5, by Henry Wise jmd Peter Dickerhoof, owners and proja'ietors. A total of sixty-f(jiu' lots was laid out, thirty-two of which were on the land of each proprietor. The lots were laid olf from the northeast and the southeast quarters of Secticm 30, Township 12, Range 8. In accordance with a peculiar freak of the owners, the village was unusually and peculiarly laid out. Each square was divided by two diagonal alleys.

and at the four corners of the central square were four small open parks, or squares, the one at the northwest beinc; called Jones' Square, the one at the northeast. Burrow's Square, the one at the southeast. Blakely's Square, and the one at the soutliwest. Allen's Sijuare. Mr. AVise owned the northern half of the village, and Mr. Dickerhoof the southern half. Both men. in after years, did a p^eat d(»al to build up the village. It is said that the daughters of Mr. Dickerhoof worked regulai-ly in the fields. One day, Betsey, his daughter, while busy in the field, suddenly felt something touch her shoulder, and. turning quickly wound, saw a tall Inchan standing laughing at her side. It is also related that there was a man at th(> village, in early years, who had lost an arm and a leg. both from the same side of the body. One day Betsey asked him how he came to lose his limbs, but he avoided her repeated cpiestiouing for some time, and at last said; ""1 will tell you, if you promise not to ask another question." This she agreed to do, whereupon the man said: "'They were bitten off." As may be imagined that answer made the wli(jle subject more mysterious than it was before; but her promise prevented Betsey from asking any fiu-ther qtiestions. But to retiu-n to Greentown. It is said that James McNabb built the first house in the village. When this building was torn down, a few , years ago. the air-dried body of a rat was found between the walls, in such a position as to show that it must have been inclosed there when the building was constructed. It is thought that this building was erected immediately after the village was laid out. Other btiildings were soon erected, and erelong, several families were found residing in what may be called ancient Greento\vn. It is probable that a man named Goodwill o])(>ned the fu-st store in the village. The date is not given, although it was not far from 1820; he did not own over S'iOO worth of goods. Hiram Myers, who succeeded him. had a very good store, and made some money, devoting the most of his time to this pm'suit. Other merchants have been: Ej)hraim Ball, who failed, and "became $1,000 worse off than nothing," G. & M. Wise, W. J. Lininger, Henry Nunamaker, Wylie, Smith & Co., Henry Clemmer,

Isaac Hiinsberger, Thomas Gorgas, Pollock & Hayes, J. H. Wise & Co., Henry Shanafelt, Young & Stine, Feather & Glassor, Willis & Baugh, H. Shanafelt & Co., Peters & Shafer, Prance & Bair, S. S. Bumberger, who failed, ( ). P. Shanafelt, Shanafelt & Shafer and Isaac Hall. Some of these kept large fine stocks of got)ds on their shelves, and received excellent j)atronage. Others had small stocks and small patronage. It has in all cases been true that a good store at the village has done well; it is the case in all small villages, and in large ones, also, that poor stores, miserably conducted, apparently poison tlit* public confidence and respect. They vitiate the public taste for good ones. This is true everywhere. Too many men undertake the mercantile pursuit, as a result of uncontented dispositions, who were never cut out for John B. Astors or A. T. Stewarts; knowing nothing of this interesting occupation, they blindly peg along for a few years, perhaps, after which the significant words, "failed" or "busted" could bo appropriately inscribed on their banners. This is true in every occui)ation in life. Men should search for the ]mrsuit best adapted to them; when foimd, it should be followed to the exclusion of all others. The system of skilled labor has become both a science and an art. E.\j)erience teaches that it is better to seek excellence in few things than mediocrity in many. Various industries have flourished from time to time in Greentown. In about the year 1S57, Hovick, Morgan & Co. purchased the old Methodist Church, intending to use it as a shop in which to begin the manufacture of engines, etc. One was really constmcted, several othera repaired, and then the undertaking w;us abandoned, much to the disappointment of those men at the village who may be looked upon as capitalists, and who had expected to be financially benefitted by the presence of the industry. After the enterprise was abandoned, the owners built the grist-mill, which is yet in oi)eration in the village. The mill is operated by steam, and has two run of stone. A small custom trade has been the extent of the mill's operations. It has changed owners several times; one of the owners, finding that ho could do better with the mill elsewhere, threatened to remove it to Alliance, in case he could not sell it. The citizens did not wish the mill removed, and to prevent this disposal of it, finally formed themselves into a company with the title. Wise, Housley & Co.. and pm'chased the mill projierty for $('),()(*(), paying much more than it was really worth. These men were Leidigh Housley, John H. Wise, Michael Wise and Abraham Miller. Several changes in the ownership were afterward made, until the mill is at present owned by Housley & Ball. It is doing a limited custom work. A number of years ago. Christian Kryder and Henry Shanafelt, Sr., started a furnace on Section 36, and began manufacturing stoves. plows kettles, pots, skillets, ete. They at fii'st bought their pig iron at Hanging Rock, and had it shipped by canal to Massillou, wheuce it was hauled by wagon to the furnace. The enter])rise was begun soon after 1840, and was continued by these men some twelve years, when the j)ro]>erty went to Levi Kryder, son of Christian, who conducted the business until ten or twelve years ago, when it was purchased by Wise & Acker. The present owners are Wise, Acker & Hissner. who manufacture scrapers, cultivators, some hollow- ware, plows, making a specialty of plow points, of which they manufacture great numbers. Col. Ephraim Ball, who resided at the village about forty-five years ago. had his attention called to a new threshing machine, and, after he had examined it, he concluded to engage in the manufacture. Himself and brother finally formed a jiartnership, and purchased the right for Wayne County for |'2()(), giving their written obligations for that amount. After some maneuvering, they finally built ap])ro])riate buildings at Greentown, and Mr. Ball made the first machine with his own hands, having scai'cely any tools, or other suitable im])lements: he had no money nor credit in the undertaking, for all the neighbors looked upon the prjject as erratic and visionary, and liesides Mr. Ball was in debt over $1,000. This first machine was sold to John Miller, of Greentown, for $102. It was not portable, which was considered a serious drawback to the value of the thresher; so Mr. Ball set his wits to work to devise one that was portable. The necessary jtatterns for the castings were made and taken to Messrs. Hart & Brown, of Massillon, where they were criticised imd j)ronoimced satisfactory, if about §2r> worth of jiaint and varnish was added. Here it was that, from the criticisms on his labors, Mr. Ball became a skilled pattern-maker. About this time he began wooding cast-iron plows. A horse-power for the thresher was made, but the machine had to be sent out of the coimty to be tested, to escajie an execution in the hands of the Sherift". After being te'^ted, the machinery was pronoimced imjierfect and unsatisfactory, and was finally sold, and the proceeds used in paying off" the execution. In February. 1840. IVIi-. Ball and his three brothers, having obtained a ])romise from their father for §400, concluded to build and conduct a fovindry. Their intentions were ridiculed by the citizens, who looked upon the undertaking as wild and visionary. Everything was got in readiness, and, finally, in June, 1840, the citizens, to the number of several hundi'ed, assembled to see the "big fizzle" at the first casting. When the castings for three plows, a dog- iron or two, and a few skillets, were taken in good shajie from the moulds, it is said the citizens would scarcely believe their eyes, but handled the various articles to see if indeed they were genuine pot-metal, and sound. It is said that Mr. Ball. Sr., was so pleased with the result that he bought a bottle of whisky and treat.ed all hands. It was extremely difficult to get ])atterns for the different articles of machinery, as the ])rices were very high,' and the Ball brothers were without money. Necessity compelled Mi\ Ball to devise some for himself. He finally made one for a plow from a piece of tough, knotty majile plank: and. so excellent were the plows made from this pattern, that hundi'eds were sold all over the county, and even in distant places. All this business was done in the face of executions and judgments that poured in as soon as it was discovered that Mr. Ball was handling a little money. There were eleven executions held against him at one time. The brothers manufactured cooking stoves, plows, hollow- ware, and a few threshing machines. One day several men came to Mr. Ball and offered him $000 for his foimdry; but the latter, knowing that it was worth much more than that, refused to take less than $1,000. Thev threatened that if IVIr. Ball did not sell for !?(500 they would build a rival estaMif^limcut. This was linall}- done, and the first thin^' >Jr. Ball knew, his rivals had purchased the rif^ht to manufacture the plow upon which h(^ had been engaged. This left him almost helpless, but he went to work, and finally devised a jiattern of his own, which, in the end, jiroved as valuable as the one he had lost. After a time Mr. Ball began manufacturing the Hussey reajier, six being made at one time. Three of these were sold in the county, and three were taken to Illinois. This was in about the year 1S4S. Twelve were constructed in 1S4U, and the haiTest was almost over before one was sold. One was taken to Louisville, where a public exhibition of its workings was given before a motley crowd of men. wcmen and children. The farmers saw with astonishment how uicely the standing grain went down before it. The owner of the held immediately purchased the reaper, but his cradlers were so bitterly opposed to it, declaring that it would leave them, like Othello, without an occupation, that it was finally returned to keep peace in the family, as it were. Other public exhibitions were given amidst much o])positiou and numerous discouragements Vnit, in the end, ten out of the twelve reapers were sold, at low prices, and on time. Mr. Ball constructed a few separators about this time. The motor for his foundiy was an old horse, nannd '"Brince." This now venerated animal ^\as apparently subject to fits and starts, sometimes running the motion of the machinery up to a frightful rapidity, and then suddenly lowering it so that no motion, or but little, could be perceived. At last a ten-horse-j)ower engine was ]>urchased, at Cuyahoga Falls, for S-IOO; this proved to be a great improvement on the old horse. In January, 1851, Mr. Ball's partners sold their interest in the foundry to C. Aultman and David Fouser, and, in Aj^ril of the same year. George Cook and Lewis Miller were added to the ])artnership, which then became known as E. Ball & Co. Soon after this, the whole business was transferred to Canton, but just before this occurred. Jacob Miller became a partner, and the firm name was changed to Ball, Aultman & Co. The subsequent wonderful career of this jtartnership will be found in another portion of this volume. The eiiterjtrise l)eguu by Mr. Ball tmder so many discoiu'aging circumstances, and against such o])position, has 8j>road its branches over all the earth. More than 11,- 000 reapers have been mamifactured in a single year, and shipped to ail parts of the woi-ld. A valuable lesson, well worthy of perusal, may be read in the history of this enterprise.

But little more remains to be told of Greentown. Among the j)hysicians at the village have been Stough, Ogden, Parliman, Dolwick, Chittenden, Ashman. Jones, Stephens, Bomberger, Belding, and J. E. Dougherty, who has been at the village for some thirty years. His son, L. E., a graduate of the Cohmilms Medical College, is at i)resent associated with him. Almost every physician in the township has been of the allopathic jiersuasion. Anioug the tavern-keepers have been "William Ruj^p, Mr. Eoberts, G. H. ^Vise, Henrv Shanafelt, Sr., Peter Shanafelt, Israel Schlott. C. F. Dunseizen, Samuel Getz, H. B. Herr, Gerhart Leed, Benjamin Eby, I'rias Wei(hiian, Samuel Miller. Samuel Botz. Samuel Shriuer, Haak & Shanafelt, Buck & Haak and Mr. Gre(nwalt. H. P. Houek Iniilt a saw-mill in the village twenty-five or thirty years ago. It has changed owners several timi s, but is yet in operation. The Greentown Coal Company and the Mogadore Coal Ccmpany rre mining black dionionds near the village. The former employs seme fifty hands, and mines not far from one hundred tons daily, while the latter is yet in its infancy. Ferdinand Schumacher, of Akron, has lately completrd a large warehouse at the station, where a little \illage is in the act ui siiriiiging into life. About six years ago, Isaac Strife began burning drain tiles, red and fire bricks, near the station. Hiram and James Stripe have just began to manufacture sewer-])i])es, tire bricks and roof tiles. Daniel Myers buys and shi] s quite a number of cattle during the winter ni( nths.

Schools were early instituted in Lake Township. It is probable that several terms were taught before schoolhouses were erected, the sessions being held in dwellings or in deserted buildings. Much of the early school history has been forgotten. Too bad. If accounts are correct, the first schoolhouse in the township was a hewed log building, erected in Unioutown about the year 1820. This house was used miiny years and for all purposes; it had a broad fire-place, and iiide seats that soon became smooth and polished by continued Use. When the weather was cold, and a blazing fire was roaring on the hearth, the room was pleasant to contemplate. More than one old settler will remember this old house, as the first place where he heard the word of Grod preached, or where he received his first instruction of a literaiT character. It was a homely room, but within its venerated, if not classic, walls, minds that have since shaped the records of the township, first caught glimpses of the multiplex afl'airs of the busy world. In about the year 1S26. another schoolhouse was erected, but it was not intended to take the place of the former. The citizens were not willing that their children should forget, or be deprived of learning their native language. One of the schools was to be English, and the other German. Teachers were employed, and for a niunber of yeai's the villagers boasted of having two schools in session at the same time. Some fifteen or twenty years later, both houses were abandoned, and an old church that had been built bj- the Methodists was secured and devoted to school purposes. However, it miist not be understood that before this both the English and German schools were kept in session continuously. The German school was somewhat irregular, and did not continue many years after about 1826, when it first started. The present school building was erected some twelve or fifteen years ago. It is not remembered with certainty when the first school building was built in Greentown. It is likely, however, that it was erected soon after 1820; at least, in 1835, a respectable log schoolhouse. in which was a ten-plate stove, was used by the villagers. Inasmuch as another house was built between 1840 and 1845, it is tij be jiresumed that the building referred to was the first erected, and had been used since soon after 1820. A man named Guss was one of the eai'ly teachers in the old house; he was accustomed to adopt un visual modes of pimishment, compelling troublesome scholars to stand or sit in extremely unpleasant and excniciating positions. It is said that he sometimes put red pepper in the mouths of bad childi-en. On one occasion of this kind, while he was administering the pe])per punishment, the scholar, in a rage, bit his fingers severely. The teacher did not die of hydi'ophobia, neither did the scholar sufier fi-om the bite he had taken, other than by means of the that probalily followed for the unscholarly act. N. W. Goodhue, an attorney of Aki-on, taught the first school in the second building. This house was a comfortable frame structure; it was used until a few years before the last war, when the present building was constructed, at a cost of about $1,800; it is a one-storied building, and has two rooms. Two teachers are employed a portion of the time. The country schools sprang into existence between 1820 and 1830. Some of these were German schools, and it was only after the lapse of time that their character was altered. The to%vnship is well supplied with good schools. The Methodist Church, in Gi'eentowu, was erected a short time before the last war, and cost in the neighborhood of $2,500; it took the place of one that had been built in an early day. A short time before the second house was built, the old house was purchased by Houck, Morgan & Co., who converted it into a machine shop, mention of which was made a few pages above. The present membership of this society is large. The Reformers and Lutherans built a church in the western part of Uniontowu some fifty years ago; this cluu-ch is yet in use, although a short time ago the members remodeled it so that it now has the appearance of a new chiu'ch. It is a large, fine- looking frame building, with a steeple that rises, perhajis, seventy-five feet in the air. The membership is quite large. The Methodists early built a chiu-ch in Uniontown. The building was a small concern, and, as stated above, was finally converted into a schoolhouse. After that the Methodists had no organization worthy of notice until about twenty years ago, when two societies - the English Methodists and German Methodists (or Albrights) - united means, and built a comfortable chvtrcli; this is yet used, and the two societies are in a thriving condition. The English Iteformers built a chm-ch in Uniouto^vn nearly forty years ago, which was used until during the last war, when their present building was consti'u<'ttxl. Some thirty years ago, the Methodists built at Hartville, but after about twenty years, sold to the Reformers, who are now in ])08sessiou of the chiu^ch, and are (juite strong. About six years ago, the Lutherans also built at Hartville; this society is in a prosperous condition. The

Dunkards built a church north of Hartville a few years ago. Another society of this denomination, about twenty-five years ago, built a fine little chiu-ch south of Hartville. These societies are said to be |>rosiierous, with a good average membership. The Lutherans and Keforniors have a church at Cairo, which is said to have been built at an eiu'ly day. The townshi)) has some ten cluu-ch sociiities, and twelve school districts. This speaks well for Lake. Can any <jther township equal it in this respect? If so. we will pause for an answer.

"Alas for them I their day is o'er. Their fires are out on hill and shore ; No more for them the wild dccrlioiinds. Tile jilow is on their huntinir-u'ioiinds : Tlie pale man's ax rinjrs tliroutrli the woods. Tile pale man's sail skims o'er tlieir floods ;

^"^HE common experience of old age is an ear- -1 nest wish to live over again the life that is swiftly drawing to a close. How many mistakes have been made! how many hours have been unprofitably spenti how blind to go(Ml advice and influence! The stealthy and inev-

Let us learn from the wretched experience of others learnfrom the lives that have gone down amid the gales of stjrrow that encompass the earth, to shun the shoals and (piicksands that beset oiu- coiu-se, that the sunset of life may be gilded with the gold of eternal joy.

Then^ is a strange attraction in reviewing the occun'ences of ])ast years, and in noting the wonderful im])rovement that has resulted from the expanding intelligence of man. Within the short s))ac(^ of the last half-century, the United States has ex])erieuced almost un])aritable api)roach of death baffles the desire for ! alleled growth in all tliatmakt^s a people gi-eat.