Canton Township (part 3 of 62)

Thomas and Charity Rotch from Kendall. Stark county, frequently stopped at Brantingham's on their visit to the Zoarites, in whose welfare they interested themselves great!}'. George Brantingham accompanied Thomas Rotch to a yearly meeting at ^It. Pleasant. Jefferson county. Ohio, during which ?ilr. Rc^ich took sick and died, and was buried at the Short Creek Quaker burying ground. Charity Rotch and her husband. Thomas Rotch, were with out children. Charity, with the true spirit of Christian benevolence and charity, founded the Charity Rotch School. She requested Sylvanus Buckius, a tinner, to make a "roach" (a fish) to be placed upon the building as a wane, so that the name should not be forgotten. There was but little need of this, as the "name of the righteous shall bean everlasting remembrance." The remains of Charity Rotch rest in the old burying ground at Kendall, and many a poor

The want of religious society of their own faith rendering the farther stay of the Brantingham family at the mouth of Sandy undesirable, 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 admonition. There are many, vast numbers, . indeed, w ho live only for "hog and hominy." Esau lived for hog and hominy, or he would not have sold his birthright. Lot was governed liy hog and hominy, or he would not have pitched his tent toward Sodom.

In 1 82 1 the Brantingham family removed to the vicinity of Salem, Ohio, where George Brantingham, Sr., died in 1845, ^.ged seventyfive years. Phoebe Brantingham, his wife, died in llie spring of 1853, in her eightieth year. Sarah Bolton died in the winter of 1864, aged eighty-six. Joseph died of cholera in 1833, on his way to Minnesota. Captain White lived on the Brantingham land, on the east side of Sandy. The three boys, Alfred, David N. Whte and James White, were schoolmates at Laurensville. James and Albert lived on farms in Portage county, Ohio, and learned the printing business with John Saxton at Canton. He afterwards worked in the office of the Pittsburg Gazettte and liecame its proprietor and was also a member of the Pennsylvania legislature.

Bair. He was born in York county, Pennsyl- \-ania, and when grown removed to Columbiana county, then a part of Jefferson, and when Ohio was yet a territory. At the call for a convention in 1802 to frame the state constitution, Bair was chosen as one of the delegates. The convention completed the work for which they had assembled in twenty-nine days, an example of industry and faithfulness contrasted with the' disposition of many of our officials at the present day. Bair was a member of the first legislature after the adoption of the constitution, which met in Chillicothe on March 8, 1803. Rudolph Bair, Sr., generally called "Rudy" Bair, was a man of more than ordinary ability. Though his education was limited, his natural Endowments were above the average. He had a liberal share of good, common sense, a qualification not acquired at college. Such confidence had the community in his judgment and disposition to do right between man and man, that he was a very general referee to settle questions of difference, and from his decision no appeal was taken. He was a member of the German Reformed church, and his daily life was consistent with his religious professions. Though known as a farmer, his business was more particularly that of a land speculator. To accommodate emigrants of limited means he often sold land on lung-time payments, and though these were not always met when due, he was never known to oppress a delinquent. Rudolph Bair died in 1820, and is buried in the ground he gave to the town of Paris for a cemetery. The walnut slab erected to mark his grave has long since gone to flecay, and there is now nothing by which a stranger could identify the place where he was buried. The citizens of Paris, of which village he was a founder, owe it to themselves to erect a suitable monument over his resting place.

Ixick through the eastern porlioii of Stark county, witli the view of selecting land to enter. They contiiietl their explorations along each side of what was later known as the State road, at that time a mere bridle path. They selected a number of quarter sections in Paris and Osnaburg townships, which they entered in the land ofike at Steubenville. Among the number was the south half of section 5. On this place Rudolph Bair, Jr., settled in the fall of the same year. He built a log cabin, into ^\-l^ich he moved with all his household goods before the floor was laid or the doors hung. As a substitute for the latter, a quilt was suspended from wooden pins. In this rude shanty the wife was left alone with her young babe several days and nights while her hus- Ijand returned to C(jlumbiana for supplies. There were Indians camped on the creek a short distance below, where the State road crossed the creek, but there was no white person nearer than Osnaburg. five miles distant. At night the wolves came howling around the cabin and in order to frighten them ofif Mrs. Bair would throw out chunks of lire, which had the effect to keep the wolves at a respectable distance.

In 1808 George Thoman, of Bucks county, Pennsylvania, obtained a patent for the northwestern quarter of section 19, upon which he settled the same year. Hife son Jacob, who now owns the place, was drafted in the war of 1 81 2 and sent to Detroit. While there there was a call fur \oIunteers to go on a perilous expedition to Mackinaw, and he was among the first to offer his services. He assisted in building the fort at that place, and was with the English forces in an engagement August 14, 1814, under Colonel Colgrove. His immediate commander was Major Roller, of Columl)iana county.

In i8o8-() Thomas Deweese, Jasper Daniels. John Byers and John Augustine settled in the township. The latter was a prominent citizen, well known over the county. Deweese opened a farm on section 16 and lived there a number of years. His son Daniel has freciuently told of going to Slusser's mill, on Nimi.shillen creek, with a bushel of corn on a bull, and to Yellow creek lor a bushel of salt, for which he paid eight dollars This same son was drafted in the war of 181 2. Thomas Deweese, Jr., w-as born in the township in b'ebruary, 1808. The cabin in y hich the family then lived was not chinked, nor had it any floor except the native earth.

In the spring of 181 1 Conrad Henning, originally from Liuicaster, but subsequently from Beaver county, Pennsylvania, settled in the township. He purchased of Rudy Bair one hundred acres of the southwest quarter of section 4, for two hundred dollars. He was the first blacksmith, and for several years did all the work for the settlers, at the same time opening up a farm. Mrs. Henning having proxen herself efficient in assisting married women upon interesting occasions, was constrained to take upon herself the duties of a midwife, and it is related that she was remarkably successful, as she liad. in a practice of thirty-five years, attended between fi\e and six hundred cases, without e\xr calling assistance or having a death.

The first school in the township was opened in the winter of 1810-11. in the dwelling of Jasper Daniels, father-in-law of Thomas Deweese, the teacher. The second school was taught by Conrad Henning. in a building expressly erected for the purpose, (^n section 4. and the first of the kind in the townshi]). It was a log structure, with a clapbf«ird r(M>f, the ground only ])arliall\" covered with slabs. There was no chimney, but for comfort a fire was built in one corner and the smoke allowed to esca])e through the crevices. Holes were cut for windows, and these covered with greasted paper, a common substitute for glass. The first marriage in the township was John Bair to Catherine Henning.

.\niong' iither eaii_\- settlers may be mentioned Peter Musser, a notorious fighter, Za- <;l(jck and John Welker, John and Wilham Mc- Jnderfer, Adam Shall, John Thomas, Fulton and Scovey, who were brothers-in-law ; Micliael Stonehill. George Crowl, Daniel Shively, Samuel Neidig, John Cameron, Vance, Pipher, Wickart and Jacob Hayman, of whom the story is told, that returning home from a "raising," he came across a 1)ear that had been wounded bv a rifle shot. Armed with an axe, and his courage stimulated with whiskey he had drank at the raising, he concluded to have a bear as a trophy for his wife. Advancing upon him with the axe uplifted, intending to cleave the skull, his arm was unsteady and the blow ineffectual. The bear grappled him, and before he C(juld extricate himself, he was severely wounded. He concluded to play quits, and left the bear to depart in peace.

The first sawmill in the township was built by Rudy Bair in 1812, one-half miles southwest of Paris, on Black creek, so named from the dark appearance of the water, caused by the swamp in which it rose. The mill was. destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt and afterward abandoned. The first grist-mill was erected by the same party two years later on the same stream about a mile up. It was a twostory frame, with two runs of stone. On the death of. Bair, the mill passed intii the possession of of his son, Daniel, and at his death to Benjamin Roop, and from him to John P. Myers. The water supply failing, this mill was abandoned, and a steam mill erected near by. A few years afterward, Myers sold the mill to Greiner, who removed it to Strasburg.

A town site was located on the northeast quarter of section 8 by Rudy Bair, December 2 J, 181 3. Tn casting around for a name he concluded to call it Paris, as at that time the city of Paris. France, was considered the metropcilis of the world. The town was surveved by Daniel L. ^IcClure, July i, 1816, and recorded in the clerk's office September 10 following. Bair donated two acres of the ground to the German Reformed and Lutheran congregations for church and burial purposes. Upon this lot a log building was soon erected and used both as a school house and church. Among the ministers who preached there were Rev. Mahnesmith and Hewett. They were itinerants. The first regular preaching was by Wier and Foust from Canton. John Augustine taught the first school in the building. The first funeral was a child of Robert Stewart.

The town's location on the State road, at that time and for many years afterward, the main thoroughfare of travel, gave it considerable prominence. John L'nkefer kept the particular ta\'ern, and as he belonged to the bonvivant class of landlords and could spin a good yarn and furnish a square meal, it gave his house and the town a widespread reputation. The stages that ran that road changed horses and the passengers took their meals there which contributed to give it greater notoriety abroad. They had likewise an organized military company, and were out at all general musters. They w^ere much praised for their fine appearance and excellent discipline. John Unkefer was captain, David Unkefer, lieutenant, and John Henning, ensign. The musicians were Peter Myers, drummer, and Samuel Unkefer, fifer. The fir.st village blacksmith was Michael Keiselman.

The first store in Paris was opened In* Samuel Putman. His stock of merchandise was quite limited, but the wants of the people of that dav were confined to a few necessaries of life, as they had not the means to indulge in luxuries, had they been attainable. Putman sold his stock and good will to Albert Alexander. Daniel Burgert soon after engaged in the Ijusiness and carried on a large trade, dealing extensively in horses and cattle. About 1838, l'n\in£r business in Steuben\ille, he started for that place on horseback. The following morning he was found dead in a saw-mill race in Jefferson county. The supposition of some was that during the night, which was very dark, he had mistaken the mill for the bridge and was killed in falling off. By others it was believed he was robbed and murdered, as it was known he frequently carried large sums of money on his person. The nxystery was never solved. A postoffice was established in the town August 12, 1822, and Daniel Burget was the first postmaster appointed.

The townsb.ip of Paris was organized April I. 1S18. At a meeting of the county commissioners (John Sluss, \Villiam Alban and John Saxton) on that day, it was entered as a part of their proceedings that "Rudolph Bair presented a petition for tlie incorporation of a new township by the name of 'Paris,' now a part of Osnaburgh, signed by himself and others, and that the election of township officers be held on the nth inst., at the town of Paris, in said township."

Previous to this time citizens of the township Aoted at Osnaburgh. as they were under the jurisdiction of that township. At the first election Thomas Deweese and Samuel Bosseman were elected justices. Deweese declined serving, but Bosseman accepted his commission with some distrust of his ability to discharge the duties. His first case so "ferhuddled" him he refused to act and threw up his commission. As no one could be found willing to accept the office. Daniel Burget, a resident of Osnaburgh township, agreed to move to Paris on condition they would elect him, which agreement was complied with. As the early records of the township are lost, it is impossible to ascertain who the other officers were.

A very singular circumstance occurred in the township many years ago, that should be mentioned. Mr. Carr and wife, of Wayne county, were traveling in a one-horse buggy east, on the State road. It was in the summer and on a still day, not a breath of air stirring. A short distance beyond the town of Paris, as they were passing a dead tree standing beside the road, it fell directly across the buggy, crushing the vehicle and both the occupants to the earth, killing them instantly. The horse broke away, but was caught by a neighbor who happened to be on the road, taken back, and the couple found as described. Though yet warm, there were no signs of life. A sad ending of an anticipated pleasure trip. The melancholy event created quite a sensation in the neighborhood, and w^as the subject of comment and speculation for a long time after. Inscrutable are the ways of Providence.

The first physician of the town and township was Dr. Robert Estep, who came from Fayette county, Pennsyh'ania, and settled in Paris in 181S. He served an apprcnticesliip as a silversmith, but soon abandoned that business for the study of medicine, for which he exhibited more than ordinary aptitude. Thrown upon his own resources for pecuniary aid. he was unable to attend medical lectures, but. like the majority of practitioners of that day in the west, set up his business without having obtained the degree of doctor of medicine. He very soon acquired a reputation not only as a successful practitioner, but as a bold and skillful operator in surgery. Twice he performed the caesarean section, the only physician for many years in the county who attempted the operation. He left in 1834. removing to Canton and was succeeded by Dr. Preston.

There is no record of New Franklin. It was laid out by John Unkefer about the >ear 1 83 1. A postoffice was established in the place r'ebrnary 20, 1S3J, and Jesse Shoard a])])Minle(l pc^stmaster.

The proprietor of Robertsville was John Robard, who had the town survey.ed and had the plat recorded November 23, 1842. A postoffice was established December i, 1862, and Peter Adoli)h made inistmaster.

Alinerva. a part oi whicli is in Paris township, is an old town, but just how old must be guessed, as the plat was not recorded until May 25. 1873, long after the town was located and could boast of having quite a population and an extensive trade. A postoffice was established February 8, 1828, and John Paul made

Ximishillen was named after the creek \\hich takes its rise in the township. There is a tradition that the stream was named from the l)lack alder which grew very abundantly along the Ijank. the Indian name of which is said to he iNIissilla ; prefix to this word ni, which probabh- meant stream or water, and you have nimissilla. since corrupted into Nimishillen. Colonel Bouquet, a British officer stationed at Fort Duquesne (now Pittsburg), in his narrative of an expedition through this section in 1764, gives the orthography of the stream "nemen chelus," from which the present name was evidently derived.

The first settler in the township was John Bowers, from ^Maryland. He entered the south half of section 32 in 1805, and in the following spring moved out with his family and commenced an impro\'ement on the east quarter. The winter following his son John, then a stout boy, was taken sick with a fever. There was no physician near and the parents were compelled to rely upon their own resources to do \\hat they could for his relief. Teas made from roots and herbs, reputed sovereign remedies in fever, were freely administered, but without avail. The lad continued to grow worse, and in a few days died. It was a terrible shock to the family. The mother blamed it all upon the new country and regretted having left their eastern home. The few distant neighbors were promptly on hand to condole \\'ith the afflicted familv and render such assistance as was in their power. A rude coffin was constructed out of an old wagon box and the boy buried in the woods, some distance from the cabin. A tree was felled across the grave to protect it from the wolves. Bowers sold this quarter to Bollinger, and bought fifty acres of land from Samuel Flickener in Canton tov.'nsliip, to which place lie removed, and then died and was buried in Osnaburgh. He was one of the early county commissioners, and also tax collector, when the office was distinct from that of treasurer. Fie is yet remembered passing from house to house with a cylindrical tin liox strapped over his shoulder, which contained his papers.

There was an Indian trail running east and west, that passed through the township. John Thomas, a resident of Columbiana county, with the help granted by the commissioners, had this trail widened, so as to make it passable for teams. It was afterward known as the "'Thomas road." Penticost & Scott, a firm of laiid speculators, laid out a town on this road, on the southwest quarter of section 28 and called it "Nimishillentown." Their idea was to make a strike for the county seat. Daniel L. McClure, surveyor, made a plat of the projected town, giving the streets attracti\e names. A square ^vas donated for the court house and jail, one for a school and another for a church. The proprietors erected a cabin, covered it with clapboards, fastening them with nails wrought by a blacksmith in New Lisbon. In the cabin the two men kept "bachelor's hall" and as emigrants came from the east to purchase land, either for a home or on specidation, thev beset them to purchase a lot in the new town. Meanwhile Osnaburgh and Canton began to loom up as prominent sites in competition for the county seat. It soon became evident that the contest for the court house was between these two towns. A few lots of Nimishillentown were sold, but no improvement made, and the project of a town was aban-

In 1806 Daniel Mathias, with a wife and three children and his father, then a widower. came from Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and settled on the southeast quarter of section 14. Unloading their cooking and farming utensils they bivouacked under a tree imtil the men erected a cal)in. Jacnh .Mathias. a hmther of Daniel, came out at the same time with a wife and two children and settled near by. A child was born to Mrs. Daniel Mathias in October, 1806, which was the lirst white child born in the township. Indians were accustomed to camp along the creek during the season of hunting and fishing. They were inofifensive, but, like tile tram]) of the present day. \\ere persistent beggars. The_\- were j^articularly fond of whiskey and when once indulged with a taste, there was no let up to their importunities for more "whisk," as they called it. ]\Iathias brought a keg of several gallons with him from Pennsylvania. On the occasion of a visit from several of the tribe he treated them each to a drink. This soon spread among the rest and it was no long until he was besieged by such numbers that his supply of the stimulant was soon exhausted, nor would they accept his statement that he had no more until he exhibited the empty keg, when they made fruitless ef-. forts to squeeze out a few more drops.

The great eclipse of 181 1 was noteworthy. Mrs. Mathias was away from home on that day on a visit to a neighbor. On her return home it suddenly began to grow dark, although the sun had just been shining brightly. It was soon so dark that she was unable to see the path and she was com])e]]ed to stop until darkness passed away. She was mucli frightened and supposed the workl had come to an end.

and, with the help of a hireling, made a clearing on the southwest quarter oi section 11 and erected a cal)in about twelve feet square. Rupert made a clearing upon the adjoining quarter and built a cabin the same year. I,out7enheizer sold his land a few years afterward to Martin Houser, a Revolutionary soldier, and bought the quarter upon which Ximishillentown had been located. Michael Ru])ert, uncle of Plenrv Loutzenheizer. married an Indian squaw, and by her had se\-eral children. His brother ]^Iartin and cousin, Martin Ilouser, were both taken prisoners during tiie I\e\olutionary war bv the Indians while driving cattle to the army. In 1822 he built a brick house in Louisville, which was the first building of brick in the township. Vnv many years lie kept tavern here. sign Spread Eagle, far and near and ping place for traxelers. It was one of the places in the county at which "general muster" was held in early times, while the Revolutionary struggle and the war of 181 2 kept alive the martial sjjirit. Da\id Bair, of Paris t(jwnsliip, was colonel and Henry Loutzenheizer, major. Dr. Robert Estep, of Paris, belonged to the staff and on parade occasions was out in full dress uniform, brass buttons, epaulets and a chapeau with a large white feather tipped w ith red. Those were gala davs for old and voung. They usually closed with a few fights and a dance. Ilenr}- Loutzenheizer was tlie father of twenty-fi\-e children, all living at one time, the i)roduct of three wives. Notwithstanding latter da_\' achiexements, this feat is unri\-aled in the history of Stark county. Daniel Brown, living on section 25, same township, was the father of eighteen children. About the year 1814 two of them, a boy and a girl, the former eight and the latter ten years old, were lost in the woods, having been sent by their mother toward exening to bring up the cows. I'olJowiug the path leading in the direction where the cattle were accustomed to graze, tliey came to wliere it forkeil. tiere tlie}' disputed wliicli was the right path. It appears both were mistaken, as neither led in the direction of the cattle. As a consecjuence both children were lost and unal)le to hnd their way home. The cattle returned without tliem. The parents becoming alarmed at their long absence, started in pursuit. Night (ivertaking them, they aroused the neighlwrs within reach and everybody that could be spared turned out. Through the long and dreary night they kept up a din of noises and shouting, blowing horns, in hopes of attracting the children, but no response came. It was feared that some wild animal, a bear or panther, had destroyed them. Daylight came and yet no tidings. More persons were procured and the search continued. About noon the boy was found at a cabin in the eastern part of Washington township, which place he had reached but a short time before. The girl was not found until the second day, and when approached was in a thicket gathering berries, apparently as unconcerned as though she had just left home.

Nimishillen township was organized in iSoQ. The earl}' records are lost, so that it is impossible to give a list of the first officers elected, but it is believed Daniel ]\Iathias was one of the first trustees and Jacob Tombaugh, first constable. The northeastern part of the township attracted the greater part of the settlers, mainly because of the beautiful timber. It was a comman saying that "the poplar an.d chestnut were so, tall you had to take a rest to see the top." The locality also abounded in ginseng, which was (|uite a source of revenue. It was an article of foreign export, and in China was said to be worth its weight in gold.

Besides the early settlers already mentioned, may be named Mathias Bowers, brother of John, George \\''ertenberger, Ulrich Shi\ely, John flans, John Thomas, Benjamin Breyfogle, Henry Warner, Henrv Sanor, lohn Hildebrand, John Thomas and Robert Huston. A son of Ulrich Shively was bitten by a rattlesnake and was said to have been cured by the application of mud to the bitten part.

Harrisburgh was the first town in the township and was laid out in 1827 by Jacob Harsh. The first store in Harrislmrgh and the first in the township was started by David W. Rowan about the year (832.

Louisville was located in 1834, by Henry Loutzenheizer and Frederick Kaini, joint proprietors, as the land of each constituted part of the plat. It was originally named Lewisville, after a son of Loutzenheizer, but on application for a postotfice it was ascertained there was already one of that name in the state, and at the request of the postoffice department the orthography of the name was changed to Louisville, which it has i;ince retained. The first store in Louisville was started by Kuntz & Gorgas, from Osnaburgh. The first physician in the township was Dr. John Schilling, who came in T837, direct from German}'. The first grist-mill was built by John Eby in 181 1 on section 31, fuit was aljandoned for lack of water. The first preacher in the neighborhood was John Gans, a Tunker. It was the custom of his denomination to hold worship in barns. Edward Carl, direct from "ould Ireland." settled in the township in 181 1. He was a tanner and an enthusiastic Catholic, and soon gathered around him others of the same denomination, when they were' accustomed to have worship in private houses. The Moftit brothers, James, Patrick and Thomas, early settlers of the same, creed, were great talkers and exercised (|uite an infiuence in the community as compared with the staid Pennsylvania German, who had his Ijrejudices against any book knowledge beyond the Bible and almanac.

John Bowers was county commissioner from 1 819 to 1826, when the pay was from twentv dollars to twenty-five dollars a year and no perquisites. John Htjover was twice elected to the legislature in 1822 and 1823. The legislature at that time met on the first Monday in Dccemher. With a change of underclothing in a pair of saddle bags, the member of that day would start from home a week before the opening of the session. By short stages, and carrying a rail through Killbuck bottoms, he would reach Columbus in four or five days. Once there, he never thought of leaving until the close of the session. The style of those days \\ ould now be considered a rude state of civilization. The home of the early settler was a rough log cabin, made with an axe and auger. He obtained a scanty subsistence from the earth by hard labor. He had few comforts and no luxuries. Clothing was made of homemade fabrics, colored from the bark of trees, and wants were few, yet they lived happily, because there were but few failures, and pride and ambition was not then, as now, the ruling passion.

The first settlement in what is now Sandy township was made by Isaac Van Meter in the spring of 1805. He came from Brooke county, A'irginia, with a wife and child, accompanied l)y his father-in-law, James Downing, Sr., who had previously entered the land upon which llicy intended making an opening". Their outfit, consisting of several cooking utensils, a few tools, a little bedding and some provisions, was carried on pack saddles. On reaching the land, northeast quarter section 29, they made a temporary shelter for Mrs. Van Meter; then, clearing away a small piece of ground, with the help of several friendly Indians, soon had a cabin raised and covered. Their furniture was such as could be made in the woods with an axe and auger. They constructed a sort of plough with a wooden mould-board.

and made home-made "gears" out of bass w^ood and hickory bark. After a fashion of that day, they broke up several acres of ground and planted it in corn and garden vegetables, after which l^owning returned to his family in \'irginia. At that time there was no w'hite inhabitant nearer than Gideon Jennings, who lived four miles soutli, nor was there another neigh- Ijor within ten miles. There were a few scattered families above the forks of the Nimishillen. but the distance was over fifteen miles, too far for social intercourse. The winter of 1805- 6 was passed without the family seeing the face of another white person. They had frequent "calls" from Indians, then roaming over the country, but their visitations were something like the "tramp" of the present day, not calculated to excite pleasant emotions.

In the spring of 1806 Downing returned with his family, consisting of a wife, three sons. James, Hugh and Adam, and a daughter, Sarah, afterward married to Robert Thompson. During that summer and until spring, the two families lived together. In June Mrs. Van Meter \vas confined ; the birth was a boy, and he w'as named John, the first born in the tnwnship. This' first-born attained manhood, and iiiust have been a man of considerable muscular ability, as it is \vritten of him by one who knew him well, that "he never met a man who could lay him on his back, or outrun him in a foot race."

In the spring of 1807 Van Meter moved onto the quarter section upon which Waynesburgh is located. In the fall of 1S08 his son James, then about four years old, while in the act of climbing over a fence, fell, pulling the tiij) rail upon him, and broke his thigh. There was no physician nearer than Steubenville, a distance of forty miles. A neighbor named James Reaves, assisted by several others, adjusted the leg to a natural position, while an Indian medicine man ])reparefl a splint of white elm bark, freshly pealed, which he bandaged on the limb with strip of like material, leaving a space immediately over the fracture for the apphcation of stewed herbs, wiiicli an old squaw would apply every day, at the same time assisting the cure by a powwow. The boy recovered in due time with a fair limb. The father mo\-ed to Richland county in 1815.

There were undoubtedly persons who settled in the township in the year 1807, but in our researches thus far we have failed to ascertain who they were. In 1808 William Thompson, from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, settled on the northeast quarter of section 30. His cliildren were Margery, married to John Forsythe ; Jane, married to John Reed ; Polly, married to David Griffith; James followed the ocean as a sailor and was lost at sea ; John died in the war of 1812, and Robert married Sarah 1 iwning. When father Thompson was about making his will, as he had accumulated considerable property, he told Robert, his only survi\ing son, that he intended leaving him all his property. Roljert replied that if he did not leave a fair share to his sisters, he w-ould never touch any portion of it. Thereupon his father made an equitable and satisfactory distribution among all his children. Such an act of disinterestedness is worthy of note.

James Hewitt and wife, his brother, John Plewitt. a bachelor, and his nephew, John Creighton. Jr., from Allegheny county. Penns}"lvania, came in the same year with Thompsr)n. and settled on the northeast quarter of section 23. Their first child, named James, was born January 30, 1809. William Knotts also came that year bringing his family, his halfbrother. John Van Emmon, and their mother, Mrs. \'an Emmon. The only emigrant known to ha\-e settled in the township in 1809 was Morgan Van Meter, a brother of Isaac.

The township of Sandy was organized ]\[arch 6, t8oo. Its jurisdiction extended over the T5th and i6th townships in the 6th range - Brown. Rose and Harrison in Carroll county. The first election was held the first Mondav in

.\pril, 1 810, at the house of Isaac Van Meter. James Hewitt was elected justice of the peace, and Morgan Van Meter, constable. The township proper had originally less area than the law required, being only five miles north to south. In the formation of Carroll county, two rows of sections were taken from the east side, leaving the township about twenty square miles instead of thirty-six. For many years the place of election was at the house of John E. Pool, in what was known as Hambvu'gh. It was removed to Wayriesburgh about 1825. The following persons settled in the township in 1810: Mathew Mayes, Philip, Henry and George Shultz, John and Alexander Cameron, Simon Shook, William Welker, David*Silver and Benjamin Greathouse. When the war of 1812 broke out the following men went from Sandy township: James Downing, Jr., who was elected captain of a company, James Reeves, Benjamin Miller, Benjamin Greathouse, James Carothers, John Creighton, Jr., Henry Shultz, John and Robert Thompson and George Shultz. George Shultz contracted fever while in the army, obtained a furlough and died soon after his return home. John Thompson also took the fever and died on his way home. He was buried at a place then called Slippery Rock. They ;dl served under General Harrison.

In 1812 Jonas Baum, with his wife and two children, accompanied by his ag'ed father and mother, settled on section 15. John Creighton came the same year with his two sons, James and Robert, and a daughter, Anna. Michael Keefer and family came in 181 3 from Somerset county, Pennsylvania. The next year there came from the same county Daniel Shaeffer, Peter Shaefifer, Valentine Rinehart, Henry Gibler, Thomas Filson and Daniel Bonebreak.

The first school house in the township was built on the Knotts farm in the fall of 1808. It was a rude log structure, with a fireplace at one end large enough for an ordinary saw log. greased paper windows. s]")lit logs for seats - in short, in outward adornmeiits and internal arrauifenients, tlie connter])art of the school house III" that day in this region of the country. William Lee taught the first school and John Laughlin the second.

The first couple niarrietl in the township was I-Iugh Downing and Mary Hibbit. May 13, 1813. They came to Canton and had the marriage ceremony performed by Samuel Coulter, a justice of the peace. The first death was Airs. Y-dw Emniiin, mother of William Knotls. She was Iniried on the farm in Xoxember. 1808. The place continued to be a public burying ground, known as "Ivnotts's Graveyard." The first preaching in the settlement was conducted by Joshila Beer, a Presbyterian minister, who came in 181 8 and held worship at the h< luse of James Downing, Sr.

W^aynesburgh was laid out by Joseph I land- Ian in 1814. 7'he year previous John Laughlin had built a cajjin o\\ the site, a little north of the railroad water tank, in which Handlan kept a tavern. The same year Handlan sold out to Daniel Shaeffer, wiio became proprietor of the town. Handlan must have been of a speculating turn of mind, for the ne.xt year, in company with John C. \\'right and John M. Goodenow. he laid out Hamburgh, adjoining Waynes- 1)urgh, on the opposite side of the street. The l)lat numbered one hundred and eight lots, but was ne\'er recorded, and as corner lots were not in demand, the project was soon abandoned.

Handlan built a saw-mill in 1816, the first in the township, Ijut as the foundation was sandy, it gave way before completing the first "through'" in the lirst log. Handlan remo\-ed til Wheeling in i8i<j.

The first .school taught in the town <>f Waynesburgh was liy John Alexander, the wintre of 1819-20. in a log cabin built by Robert Alexander. The first store was kept l)v Joseph Tlrmdlan and Barnhart .Mahou in 1816; first blacksmith. Job AUertcm. 1816; first tailor,

Enoch Ross and his wife r^Iargaret. with a family of eight boys and three girls, came from Pennsylvania in 1815 and bought the Mewitt farm. Ivoss died in 1824, leaving" a large family to be provided for, and a balance yet due on the farm. Mrs. Ross was a remarkable woman and ])rovefl equal to the emergenc\'. She raised her children in the wa\' they shoukl go, respected and esteemed b\' all. Se\-- eral girls became popular teachers, while two boys studied law and practiced in the west. The youngest graduated at college, intending to enter the ministrv. but died before completing his stutlies.

Ixichard Klson was an carl_\- settler. - a jolh". rollicking sort of a fellow, fond of fuu. and a leader at fights and frolics. He was a successful business man, became a large land owner, built a grist and sawmill. ga\-e considerable attention to raising fine-wool sheep, was a strong partisan of the Whig stripe, and hated a Democrat as the devil does holy water.

A somewhat noted character at an early day was John Marks, as was also his wife, whose maiden name was ]\Tary Shultz. Pie ac(|uired note for skill and indnslry in felling timber and splitting more rails in ;i d;iy than any other man in the valley, and she, for her fecundity, ha\-- ing had nineteen children in twenty years! Too much "usufruct" for Marks, so he decamped for parts unknown, and has never been heard of since. All the regret Mrs. IMarks expressed in h.er grass-widowhood was that her husband had left befc^re she had the twentieth.

Of the later prominent citizens of the township may be mentioned Dr. James ^^'elsh. a highly, esteemed physician : Jehu Brown, millwright and Baptist minister; Robert McCall, all of these men representing the countv in the state legislature: Alpheus Brown, who served

Robert K. Gray was one of tlie notaljle men of There is a bit of romance connected A\ith liis ad\ent into the township tliat is worth mentioning. Mr. and Mrs. Gray came from Ireland and, as the story runs, Mrs. Gray was the wife of a titled gentleman and (iray was their coachman. The ])lind god who ofttimes plays such strange pranks, worked his sticks between thehi, and the consequence was they eloped and came to America. When he first came into the township he undertook to farm and raise siieep, but in this he was not successful, and a few years afterward removed to W'aynesburgh and engaged in the mercantile business. He soon became popular and did an extensive business. For years he was the leading merchant of the place, did an cxtensi\-e business, and accumulated considerable wealth. Mrs. Gray kept herself secluded from society, for the reason, it was said, that she did not wish to be questioned in reference to her antecedents. She was regarded as a woman of more than ordinary intelligence, l)ossessing many fine accomplishments. She had no children. Several years after the death of Gray she married John Whitacre. The union was not congenial, and after a year or two they separated by mutual consent.

Recollections Of Andrew Faulk, Jr

"^ly father came from New Jersey and settled in Sandy townshiji in 1815. I was then eight years old, and \vell remember many circumstances connected with our early experience in a new country. My father and brother John drove the co\ered wagon in the woods and commenced to cut down trees for a cabin. It was constructed after the style of cabins of that day, except that in place of a door a (|uiU was huiig. As soon as the cabin was cm'ered.

"In the fall of that Vear father bought ten a]:)ple trees of Dr. Rappee in Canton, and planted them among the timber. Three of those trees are still living and bear fruit. We had' no cow and mother would go around among the neighbors and get all the flax she could to spin, to pay for butter and meat. ^.ly uKither's spinning wheel made sweeter music than any piano now-a-days. She would spin late at night lay the light of the fire, and we children were lulled to sleep b_\- the hum of the wheel. Father was an iron worker and was much of the time away from home at work at the forge or furnace. ?klany nights we heard the howling wolves. One time mother and I went to Alexander Camerpn's, about a mile distant, on an errand. Returning home, we lost our way. Wandering around for some time we came to a high hill, on reaching the top of which mother was rejoiced to recognize our clearing by ths deadened trees.

"\\'e had two horses that father brought fnjni New Jersey. As we were short of feed and the means to purchase, they were turned into the woods to pasture. There was a bell on one by which we could with less difficulty find theuL One morning they were missing. The bell was nowhere to be heard. After several days' fruitless search, father came home satisfied they had wandered off some distance and had gone eastward. Believing they Avould make for Xew Jersev, he concluded to start after them next morning. Mother was up bright and early, baked him se\eral pone, whicli he carried in a wallet oxer his shoulder : taking w hat money he h.ad. which was less than a dollar, and the two bridles, he started, not knowing but what he would have to go half the way to Xew Jersev. as the horses had sexeral days the start. I'^ijllowing their trail, which he couhl do Ijy their Ijrowsiiig, up hill and clown, across bottoms and streams, he first heard of them in the 'Knapp settlement," near where Oneida is now located. After passing this locality it was evident they had become bewildered, as they wandered around among the clearings, but still making eastward. IJe came up to them not far fr.jm Xew Lisbon and was home again after an absence of four days. We were all much rejoiced to see him return with the horses.

"I-'ather was not nuich of a hunter, but depended upon his labor for the support of the family. We boys, with the help of our dog, would occasionally catch a coon, 'possum or ground hog, which we had cooked and would eat for a change. \Ve w'ould fry out the fat for shoe grease, sometimes getting half a gallon out of one 'possum. Our first sheep was a pet lamb, obtained from Mrs. Philip Shultz. \A'e Ijoys taught him how to Initt. One day Airs. Yahna came to visit ninther. Just as she opened the cabin door the lamb espied her, and gave her such an impetus that she went in rather unceremoniously. The scene was ludicrous.

"The first school house in the neighborhood was built in 1815, on Alexander Cameron's land, section 4. Our first teacher was Alpheus Brown, from the state of Maine, the same who afterwards became so well and favorably known as county auditor.

"AS' there was no market for farm products at that day, father found it difficult to raise money sufticient to pay taxes (though they were then trifling comi)ared to what they ai"e nowl and purchase the few store articles needed for the famih", such as leather and salt. To meet these wants he was oj^liged to work from home in the iron works, at Pittsburg, Steubenville and in latter years at Congress Furnace. To illustrate how difficult it was to sell farm pro(hicts fnr mone\\ I must relate the circumstance of Cousin John Faulk and I taking eighteen dozen eg'gs for mother to Canton to sell. The stores wouldn't buy or barter for them at any price. We took them to a tavern iust west of the court house. The landlord picked over them and found two that were rotten. He looked at us with a lowering brow :ind said, 'Boys, if you are not careful you will get into trouble,' at which we were much frightened. .A.fter chafering some time he told us he worild give us twenty-five cents for the lot, seventeen dozen and ten ! \\'e were glad to take the twenty-five cents and leave for fear we should get into trouble for offering rotten eggs. "Mv first pair of boots were gotten in this way ; I was twenty-one years old in July. My father gave me from the first of February to the middle of March preceding to work for myself. I was ambitious to have a Sunday suit of store clothes. Upon inquiry, I learned I could get employment cutting cord wood at Congress b'urnace. I secured a contract at twenty-fi\c cents a cord, and board myself, made an agreement with an aunt (who lived about a mile from the chopping ground) to give me my lodging and do my cooking, J to furnish raw material, which 1 brought from home. In the morning I had breakfast before day, took with me bread, krout or potatoes and boiled meat for dinner, and was at work as soon as it was light. I would w^ork regardless of wind or weather until dark. My dinner in the basket would often be frozen solid, especially the krout and bread. I cut and ranked up thirty-two cords, for which I received in cash eight dollars, and I was proud. With this money I bought leather and had a jiair of hoots made, some cloth, out of which Frederick Boegle made me a regular swallow tail coat : imt in cul - ting it got the waist up between my shoulders. T^icture to yourself a gangling youth with such a fit. Iriuimcd out with large brass liuttons.''

Pike township was organized March 6, iSiy t'oi" purposes of jurisdiction the sureyed township west (now .Bethlehem), not tiien organized, was attached. The first election for township officers was held the following month, at the house of Henry Bordner, on the southwest quarter of section 5. In filling the different offices, men were selected from both townships. The township was named after General Zebulon Montgomery Pike, who was killed in the war of 1812, while in command of an expedition against York (now Toronto), the capital of Upper Canada.

The first man known to have settled in the township was George Young. He was born in Maryland, and while yet a boy left home to work for himself. He went to Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and after remaining there a year or two married, at the early age of nineteen. From Somerset he removed with his wife to Jefferson county, Ohio. Here he remained several vears. working whenever he could obtain employment, saving his earnings until he had suiticient to purchase two horses and a few fanning implements. Packing on the horses some corn meal and salt, his family clothing and stock of farming implements, he started in the spring of 1800 to settle upon a piece of land he had leased from the owner, who resided in Jeffers<,)n county, Mrs. Young, with a youngbabe, rode one of the horses ; the other horse ]\Ir. Young led, carrying his trusty rifle, with which lie expected to obtain all the meat they would want. What a contrast to the facilities afforded at the present day for migrating- west. After several days of wearisome travel through a wilderness country, a portion of the distance by an Indian trail, crossing Sandy creek at Downing's ford, they reached tlie Sulphur spring at the head of Limestone creek, in section 9. Here he constructed a siielter of poles and brush, which serx'ed as a protection during a storm and a lodging place at night. His nearest neighbors were John Nichols, then building a mill on the Nimishillen four miles north, and John Faber, whose land was in Tuscarawas county, adjoining the boundary line of Pike, distant five miles.

For weeks this couple worked together, clearing ground and preparing it for crop. At night the horses, until they becatne acquainted with the locality, were tethered or hobbled, and fed upon the luxuriant pea vine and grass with which the woods abounded. Having completed sowing and planting. Young returned with his wife and child to his former hoine in Jefferson county, to harvest the wheat crop he had put in the year previous, and in which he had an interest. While engaged in this Mrs. Young obtained employinent at weaving from the neighbors, by whi-ch she not only secured board and lodging for herself and child, init made some money. After the grain was cut, Young disposed of his share, which afforded him the means to purchase a cart and a load of merchandise, consisting of flour, corn, meal, salt, whiskey and tobacco. With this accumulated stock Mr. Young felt as proud and independent as did ever the millionaire Stewart on the occasion of an, importation. Hitching his horses to the cart, tandein style, he returned to his home in Pike, cutting his way through the woods after crossing Sandy. He built a log cabin and constructed some rude furniture, sufficient for all their wants. In those days a sugar trough answered the purpose of a cradle and a doughnut tray. It was a lonely, dreary winter. The time was mainly spent in cutting down trees and preparing fire wood. It was seldom thej' saw the face of white man. Indians were roaming over the country and would frequently call for something to eat. They were harmless, and yet would frequently frighten the women, if they happened to be alone. On one occasion Mrs. Faber was coming out of their cabin after dark with a crock of milk, intending to store it in the cave fur the night. Just a,-;: slie upened the cabin door, there stood a big Indian, whose appearance frightened her so that slie let the crock fall and made a rapid retreat for the cabin. The Indian laughed heartily at her alarm, walked into the crJjin and made himself at h(jme, as was their custom.

On this leased land Mr. Young struggled along until i8i i, by which time he had accumulated sufficient means to enter the northwest quarter of section 21, upon which he died. JMr. Young was drafted three times during the war of 1S12, each time furnishing a substitute. While troops were encamped at Canton and Wooster he supplied them with beef cattle. For many years he had a small store at his house, in which he kept and had for sale such staple articles as salt, iron, nails, glass, leather and other commodities in geu-e'ral demand.

In common with many other good people of that day, especially those of German descent, ^\r. Young belie\-ed in witches and witchcraft. He was left-handed, which he claimed gave him supernatural power over this unseen agency. He also boasted of having in his possession a book, purchased at a high figure from Dr. Fogle (one of the early merchants of Canton.) containing instructions how to control witches. Our early hunters, especially those who were considered crack marksmen, and participated in shooting matches, were inclined to believe in the power of certain persons to put what they called "a spell" on your rifle, which would materially impair its accuracy of shot, never acknowledging that the fault was in the shooter.

Ifenry P.ordner and IMiilip Seffert settled in the township in 181 r, and both were chosen township oiificers at the first election. A daughter of Bordner married her cousin, lohn P. Bordner, one of the very few men given tc sporting who were at the time successful as farmers. The same year Johnathan Cable, from Somerset county, I'ennsylvania. entered and cnnimenccd imprii\-ing the southeast quarter of section 27. With the help of a hireling, he put up a cabin, cleared and plowed five acres, which he sowed in wheat. He had lived the year previous at Yellow Creek, Jefferson ct )unty, and when he came out he brought with him provision enough to last him while engaged in the work. During inclement nights he lodged in the cabin of George Young. Early in the spring of 181 2 he moved his family out, then consisting of a wife and three children, two by a former wife. Mr. Cable had hardh' settled in his new home when notice was served upon him that he was drafted and that by a certain day named he must appear in person or by substitute, armed with a rifle and necessary accouterments, prepared to meet the enemy. Here was a trying time; Mrs. Cable with three children, the oldest under five, in the woods, neighljors few and far apart ; the air full of rumors of Indian encroachments and massacres; the tlmught of being left alone was any thing but pleasant to contemplate. But the woman was ecpial to the emergency. She determined, if possible, to hire a substitute. With the help of a friend, who sympathized with her, she found a substitute for sixty dollars, which she paid with earnings she had saved while they kept tavern on Yellow creek. As the man had no gun, she was compelled to give up their rifle, which she much regretted, as she had early acquired skill in its use, which enabled her at any time she wanted fresh meat to take (liiwn s(|uirrel or wild turkcw with which the woods then abounded. It was a common custom with Mrs. Cable during moonlight nights after her children were asleep, to g(i out into the new ground and assist her husband to roll logs and burn brush. She could split rails, make fence or cut cord wood. In the harvest field she made a full hand and continued to do so as long as her husljand li\-ed. Mr. Cable died in 184S. Mrs. Cable, who sur\i\c'(l her husband, was the finest type of womanhood in Stark countv. She was tall.

C.-Ixtox Axd Stark County, Ohio

Pitnev Guest came in 1S12, with his father-in-law, Benjamin .Miller. They were fnini Xew jersey. Miller served in the war of the Re\olution, most of the time under General Greene. He was wounded in an attack made bv Cornwallis m North Carolina, init remained in the service until the close of the war. He died in 1828, and is buried in Sandvville. The two families "squatted" on section 16. They slept in the wagon in which they came until a log cabin was built. ]\Ir. Guest had learned the shoemaker's trade, and he was enabled to procure many of the necessaries of life by making and mending shoes for the early settlers, as there was no other member of the craft in the settlement. At that time the neighbors would frequently join together and load a canoe with such articles as they had to spare, float down the Nimishillen, Sandy and Tuscarawas to a place known as the "station," where parties called traders kept whiskey, tobacco, iron, salt, nails, pepper, coffee, etc., wliich they would barter for corn, flour or anything else that could be disposed of to emigrants. The return trip was irksome and laliorious and as soon as the roads would admit traflic was transferred to Cleveland. In the last call for troops in the war of 181 2 Mr. Guest was drafted, Init before he was called "Ut peace was declared. He lived on section iC) about three years: then sold his improvements for one hundred dollars and entered the northeast f|uarter of section 7. .Mr. Guest was the first justice of the peace elected in the township. He was an ordained minister of the Baptist church, and in exercising the functions of pri,est and squire did much marrying. He was a man of fine appearance, sound judgment and more than ordinary intelligence. When l)arties came to him for law, it was his invariable custom to make an efi^ort to have them reconcile their difl:'erences or compromise, rather than resort to legal measures. He held the office of justice over twenty years, and might have held it to the day of his death, had he consented. 'Slv. tluest was killed in 1856, being- thrown from a wagon in a runaway, his head striking a piece of timber with great force, fracturing his skull. He was seventytwo years of age. His widow died in 1874, aged ninety-two.

John Holm and his father, Michael Holm, from Maryland, settled in Pike in 1812. They purchased the northwest quarter of section 8, from a man named Andrews. On the farm was a fine spring of water, where the Indians were in the habit of loafing. Arrow heads, implements of stone and Indian trinkets have been found around the place.

In 1814 Amos Jenny, a hickory Quaker, settled in the lower portion of the township. He was a sin"\-eyor Ijy profession, but had an eye to business and speculation. He built a saw and grist-mill, the first in the township ; the latter was quite a primiti\e structure, the frame simply four corner posts set in the ground, forked at the top for poles to support the rafters, and clapboard roof : the sides were not weatherboarded. There was a run of stone quarried from a rock in the neighborhood, and a bolt about the size of a feather renovater. .\1- though the flour made at this mill could not l)e compared with the fanc}- brands of today, it had the good quality of digesting itself.

Jenny conceixed the idea that the country around, with the natural influ.x of population likelv to follow, would support a town ; thereupon he had surveyed, staked off and platted upon paper, in the "third month, twenty-second, 1815" (quoting his own language, as recorded in the office of the county clerk), Sparta, hoping it would grow and prosper equal to its ancient prototype. It is the only town in the township, and although it has not attained the greatness hoped for by its founder, the town has held its own remarkalj])- well, which is more than can be said of many other places known in history. In the original plat there were but four streets, these being designated by the animalish names of Wolf, Bear, Buffalo and Elk. A postoffice was established in Sparta in 1854, and called Pierce, after the then President of the United States, and John Graft was appointed first postmaster.

J uther Drury, a Yankee, who left his wife because she liked another man too much, came to Sparta in 1819, purchased ground and built a bloomery (furnacej for the production of malleable iron direct from the ore, the first establishment of the kind in Ohio. The ore was broken up and mixed with charcoal, placed on a stone hearth, heat applied, the ore smelted and run (iff into blooms, from which it was forged by the Ijlacksmith. It is said that during several seasons when there was a scarcity of corn parties would load their boats with this iron, float down the river to Lirichsville (Egyptas they called it) and trade it for a return cargo of corn.

In 1823 James Hazlett, of Canton, purchased the bloomery and converted it into a forge. Pig iron was taken from Congress Furnace (located at North Industry) and here made into bar iron.

Abraham Kaiser opened a small store in Sparta in 1820. but soon after Hazlett became owner of the iron works he sent his brother-inlaw. John Laird, there with a store, and Kaizer closed out. It was about this time the first religious demonstrations were made in the township. Morgan J. \'an Meter, John Russell, Heydon and Amos Jenny commenced a series of meetings, which were held by appointment at private houses. They were not intended to be denominational, but the parties engaged in them called themselves Bil)le Christians. A number of converts were made. The same body afterwards became Disciples, and John Whitacre preached for them. The ^lethodists, under the leadership of Lupper, Kaizer and Pierce, stirred up the waters for a few years before and made some converts. The early settlers of the Lutheran and German Reformed persuasion were in the habit of meeting at the house of Ailani Phillips for worship. As their number increased, they united their forces and built a log house on section 4, known as ^lelchheimer's church, named after the minister in charge, who li\ed near by. The grave yard attached to this church was the initial burying ground. The first school house in the township was built in 1813 on section 13, and the teacher was Adam Jackson. The next, near Sparta, had a female teacher.

John Eaber came into the neighborhood ir, 1805. with his father. Philip Faber. and bought just across the line in Tuscarawas count}', what was then called soldiers' land. He bought it on time, at two dollars per acre, because he had no money to enter government land. The quarter in Pike, later owned by John Faber. waentered by his father, and was somewhat improved before James occupied it. Faljer s nearest neighbors for sexeral years were Hofifs. near Zoar. eight miles, and the Worleys. six miles east.

Prier Foster was a well-known early settler. He was a thoroughbred Ethiopian, and the first of the race in Stark county. He was married in the "Oberly Corner" Ijy Squire Coulter, in 181 1, to Rebecca Butler, a comely white girl of good sense but perverted tatse. Foster was a hard-working, industrious man, of large frame and great physical strength. He was a miller by trade and was often heard remark that he never saw the horse that djuld carry as much at one load as he could. It is said that a stranger, passing his house, stopped in inquire the road to a certain place. ^Irs. Foster was alone and in reply to the inquiry said : "My dear will soon be in and he can tell you." Presently Foster made his appearance. The stranger, in utter astonishment, looked at the husband and then at the wife, at a loss howto reconcile the incongruity. "Aladam," said he, "did I understand you to call that man your dear?" "Ves, sir," she replied. "Well, I'll be d - d if he don't look to be more like a bear." Foster liad a son George, quite black, w ho was married to a white girl by Esquire Guest. The S(|uire at first declined to perform the ceremony, but, after consulting- an attorney in Canton, decifled to comply with the request of the couple, much against his ideas of propriety. Miscegenation is not confined to the southern states.

Of the early settlers not already named may be mentioned Michael Worley, Jacob Miller, John Ixichards. Daniel Beachtel, Joseph Kell, Jacdb bdora. Michael Apley, John Games, Cornelius Ucnline. John Brothers, Hartley Williams. b>hn Xcw house. John Berheimer, Martiri McKinney. Jacc^b Bowman, Daniel Pryan, John Stanetz, the Howenstines, Painters, Princes, Keysers and Hemmingers. Isaac Skelton w-as well known. He gave considerable attention to the cultivation of small fruit, particularly peaches, and delighted to talk about fine horses, especially the Arabian stock.

Residents of the township enjo3'ed a fair measure of health, and were ne\er scourged with a malignant epidemic. When the)- needed a jihysician they sent to Canton or Sandyville. Jn such cases as usualh' bring joy to the household Mrs. Henry Becher and Mrs. Philip Fetters rendered all necessary assistance. An interesting surgical operation occurred in the family of Da\-id E\ans, which at the time created considerable talk in the neighborhood and is worth repeating. His .son, a lad about fourteen years of age, accidently lodged a peach stone in his throat. Every effort by the family to dislodge it proved abortive. Alarmed at the danger likely to result, Mr. Evans called in Dr. Simmons, of Canton, who happened at the time to be in a neighboi-ing house \isiting a patient. The ddctor. after trying different expedients, with no success, concluded to postpone ftirther effort until next morning; iiieanwhile he would return home and consult the books on the subject. He was back early next morning and reported to the family, as the result of his researches, that the stone rnust be brought out and must not go down. Having decided to w-ork to this end, he went to Lupher's ])lacksmith shop close by and had a pair of pinchers made. With this rough instrument he made repeated eti'orts to grasp the stone, but w hen he thought he had it and made traction, the instrument would slip off and hurt the boy, who began to complain bitterly. The doctor finally gave it up and expressed the opinion that the stone would only be rem(i\-ed by cutting from the outside. This alternative alarmed the famil\- and they concluded to send for Dr. Bonfield, wdio was their regular family physician. To this Dr. .Simmons agreed and a messenger was immediately dispatched for Dr. Bonfield. Meanw-bile Dr. Simmons left to ^'isit another [jatient in the neighborhood, expecting to be back in a few hours. Before he returned Dr. P.onfield arrived, and at a glance, taking in the situation, asked for an umbrella, cut out a piece of whalebone, greased it with melted tallow, and in less time than it takes to write this paragraph, ))ushed the peach stone dow-n the boy's throat, to the great relief of the boy and the delight of the bystanders. Dr. Simmons returned soon afterward and on learning the facts was chagrined and mortified at liis want of success.

The first settled physician in the township W'-as Dr. D. L. Gans, who purchased the farm formerly owned by John Russell, near Sparta. He came out 18.47.

Jesse Hines, who came to the cnuntx' in 1823, moved into Pike in 1827, In that day it w-as the universal custom to furnish whisky to bands who worked in the har\-est field or helped at a raising. To attempt either witiiMul this adjunct was considered impracticajjle. Freriuenth- hands indulged in such an excess that they were unfit for work. At the last harvest Mr. Hines furnished Hquor (1830) he had nine men in the field, and they drank nine quart bottles of whisky by ten A. M., and were then so drunk that the}- -were unable tO/Continue work. This so disgusted Hines that he determined to have his harvest cut in the future without the help of whiskey. The neighbors doubted his ability to secure the necessary help without this inducement. Temperance, as understood at the present day, was not then known. The whisky bottle was in every household. It was kept in all the stores, and supplied to customers free of charge, as an incentive to purchase. Not im frequently it was handed around among the friends on a funeral occasion. Mr. Hines was a man of settled con\dctions, and when his mind was made up was not easily moved. He determined liis next harvest should be cut without the help of whisky. When the time came he succeeded, after considerable effort, in engaging sexeral hands, under promise to furnish them a drink, but it should not be intoxicating. His "succedaneum" was what is known as metheglin. a mixture of molasses, vinegar and water. Several of the hands indulged to such an excess in this drink that it gave them the diarrhoea, and they became so weak that they were compelled to lay oft'. Mr. Hines succeeded that year in getting off his crop without whisky and never afterward would he permit its use as a beverage on his place. To him is iustly due the credit of being the first practical temperance man in Stark county.

Pike township is sometimes called the "Switzerland" of Stark, from a fancied resemblance in miniature to that rough and mountainous country. Persons who reside in the more level portions of the country wonder, as they climb the steep hills and descend into the low valleys, whatever possessed the early settlers to select such land when there was so much that was level to be had at go\'ernment prices. And what is stranger still, that the present inhabitants continue to slave their horses and themselves, ploughing up and down and around the hills, among stumps and stones, when the rich prairies of the great West offer ^uch inducements; but and that is the reason why Hannah continues to smoke and is content to trudge in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother. But there is a mountain of wealth underneath those hills notwithstanding the rugged appearance of the surface, good crops are raised and the soil yields excellent pasturage for sheep.

The time of the government survey, place and terms of entry, of the land west of the Tuscarawas ri\er is given in my history of Lawrence township. In the treaty of Fort Mcintosh (1785) the Indians ceeded to our government their claim to the land east of the Cuyahoga and Tuscarawas. Their title to the lands west of those rivers was not extinguished until 1805, at the treaty of Fort Industry. The fee in the ground co\ered by the channel of those rivers is yet in the Indians, a fact not generally known.

In the history of Tuscarawas township, by R. H. Folger, Esq., as published in the .'\mencan, the following statement appears : "The first permanent settlement in the township, tlien known as part of the 'New Purchase' was made' bv two brothers. John and Robert Warden." The vear the Warden brothers settled in the "New Purchase" is not given, but in a historical article written by Mr. Folger and published in the American in March, 1870, he says : "In the spring of 1807, the Wardens crossed tlie Tuscarawas ri\er and finding a good spring of" water at a place now known as the 'Section,' tliev halted and commenced prospecting." Taking- the two articles in connection, the reader \\ould be led to infer that the Wardens came to Tuscarawas township in 1807, and were the first to make a permanent settlement. Though it may Ije a matter of little importance who was the first actual settler of Tuscarawas township, yet as our people are becoming interested in pioneer matters, it is well to have actual facts, so far as they are obtainable.

In the spring of 1808, soon after the land office was opened in Canton for the sale of land west of, the Tuscarawas river. Philip Slusser, then running a saw and grist-mill on the east branch of the Nimishillen, where he had been living over two years, entered three quarter sections in what is now Tuscarawas township, - the east half of section 14 and the southwest quarter of section 21. In the fall of the same year Peter Slusser, a son to Philip, who had married the year before, assisted by his brother Philip and his brother-in-law, Henry Augustine, built a cabin on the lower quarter of section fourteen. This was the first building in the township and believed to be the first one on the west side of the river within the limits of the county. The next spring (1809) he moved out \vith his family, cleared about three acres and planted it in corn which yielded well. The next two cabins were erected by Andrew Augustine and David- Gafif.

In the spring of 1809 the following persons settled in the neighborhood and made improvements : Robert and John AVarden. Charles and Daniel Hoy, Isaac Poe, Peter Johnson, William Henry. John Mason and Edward Otis. In 1810 came David Bowersmith, Isaac Charlton, Robert Rarr, Lewis Rogers, Frederick Oberlin, Stephen and Thomas Eldredge, William Byal, John Noel. Seth Hunt and the Tottens. Most of these came from Pennsylvania, the balance from the New England states.

order of the county commissioners, all that portion of Stark county lying west of the Tuscarawas river was organized into a separate township, and named "Tuskarawas." It will be observed that the orthography of the township and the river from which it takes its name have since that day been changed in accordance with a modern rule in grammar. For many years after its organization the name was frequently written and called Tuscaraway. Among the settlers about Canton the term "over the river" was applied to it, but emigrants from a distance usually designated it as "the new purchase."

Tuscarawas was the first township organized west of the river and its original boundaries included in part or in whole, Jackson, Lawrence, Perry, Bethlehem, Sugar Creek and Franklin, now in Summit county. On the formation of these several townships portions of its municipal limits were set off, until reduced to its present limits, which was in 1816. Previous to its organization the northern part of the township was a part of Plain ; the southern belonged to Canton.

The first election was held on the first Monday in April, 1810, at the house of William Henry, which was located near the river a short distance above the stone bridge. The result of the election was as follows : Justices of the peace, William Henry and Daniel Hoy; trustees, Stephen Harris, Daniel Hoy and Peter Slusser ; overseers of the poor and supervisors, Henry Clapper and Thomas Chapman ; fence viewers, Adam Lower and William Crites; house appraiser, Andrew Augustine; treasurer, William Henry ; constable, Stephen Harris ; clerk, Peter Johnson. William Raynolds, then county clerk, administered the oath of office to the township clerk, and by him it was administered to the other officers. The place of election was removed the next year to the house of Daniel Hoy on section t6. It will be observed that the duties of several offices were performed by one person, the cause of which was not so much the scarcity of material as the unwilHngness of many to serve for the inadequate compensation for services rendered. In the "Book of Orders" in the Clerk's Record for 1812, I found one in favor of William Henry for eighteen and threefourths cents, "for paper by him found and for his services as treasurer of said township."

The first white child born (May, i8iy) in the township was Samuel Slusser. The secontl was Amanda Henry, afterwards the wife of C. B. Cummins, and it is worthy of note that the first county election held in the township was going on simultaneously with her l)irth in the same house. Grandmother Stoner, who resided upon the opposite side of the r'wtr. was the accoutheur of the neighborhood, and it is interesting to hear our pioneer settlers discant upon the difiticulties of obtaining help upon those interesting occasions.

The first death west <>f the river, within the limits of the county was that of John Ritter, who became sick while moving out in the spring of 181 1. As there were no house accommodatiiins, he lay in his wagon and there died. He was buried on his place, now Perry township. The first death within the present limits of the township was a daughter of Joseph Poysor, in the sinnmer of 181 1. She was buried in the w<iods. on the land later owneil by John Crisman. In the summer of 1813 .Vndrew Augustine was sick with a fe\-er, and Dr. Hartford, of Canton, was called to attend him. He paid him three visits, and his bill was thirty-six dollars. I mention this circumstance by way of contrasting the charges for medical services at that day with the present. The ability to pay then compared with now. makes the contrast still more striking.

The first settled physician in the township was Dr. David Anderson, who came in 1832. Previous to his coming the settlers were dependent upon Canton and I<Iendall for medical aid. Drs. Scott and Brooks, residents of the latter place, were usually called upon. The first season of the prevalence of cholera in the west, an emigrant family, in passing through Brooksfield, had a child to sicken and die of the disease, from which it spread, and some eighteen or twenty of the inhabitants of the neighborhood fell victims. During the rage of the epidemic Dr. jMichener, then a resident of Massillon, took up temporary quarters in Brookfield and rendered efficient aid in relieving those who were attacked by the fell destroyer. He afterwards purchased a farm near the village and remained there in practice a number of years. Besides the two physicians named, others have come and gone. The first marriage was Daniel Hoy to Mary Gouty, solemnized by William Henry in 181 1. The second was Wesley Hatton to Mary Forsythe, the year following.

The first preachirig in the neighborhood was by Edward Otis, a Baptist from one of the eastern states. He would frequently hold forth at private houses and is represented to have been an efl:'ective speaker. The Presbyterians were the most numerous of the different denominations, and at an early day had stated preaching at the house of James Latta. The first permanent place of worship was a log building erected l)v them in 1812 on section if). Rev. James Adams was their first pastor. .\ church was organized, and regular services continued to be held there until the building became dilapidated and the organization broke up. The first gra\eyard in the township was attached to this building. The Methodist Ijrethren commenced holding meetings about the same time. They met in private houses, generally at \\'illiam Dean's and I'eter Johnson's. The first regular preacher was Rev. Jacob Frey. First public place of worship, the brick school house in BrookfieUl. erected in 1825 and originally designed to answer the dotible purpose of school house and church. They continued to occupv this until the erection of their new building, in 1843. The first school on the west side of the river was taught by Jehiel Fox in the winter of 1812-13. It was a night school and had quite a reputation as scholars attended it from what would at the present day be considered a great distance. The first day schools were taught by David Lawson and John Boreland.

The first grist-mill was erected by Lewis Kogers on Newman's creek in 181 2. It was a tub mill and for several years only did chopping. Afterwards a bolt was attached, which was considered quite an accession, though it had to be turned by hand. Previous to the completion of this mill the settlers were compelled to take their grist to the mills on the Nimishillen. For a number of years the mill of Esquire Rogers did all it had capacity for, but the erection of others in the vicinity having improved facilities for doing work so curtailed its custom that it was finally abandoned and the building allowed to decay.

The first saw-mill was erected in 181 1 by William Henry on Sippo creek. It continued in operation only a few years, as the supply of water was insufficient to make it profitable.

With the Indians who continued to roam o\er the territor)- until the declaration of war, the settlers had no difficulty. As long as they remained in the settlement they were treated with kindness and ofttimes lavish generosity. Unsuccessful as they sometimes were in their pursuit of game, their demands for food were never denied. Apprehensions of injury at their hands were seldom entertained. Immediately upon the breaking out of the war the Indians left the neighborhood, yet many of the settlers were apprehensive of an attack from them. All sorts of reports were afloat as to their movements. At one time it was rumored that they had collected to the number of eight hundred, in the bend of the river, south of Bethlehem township, making all preparation for an attack upon the defenseless settlers. A deputation was sent to Canton to ascertain the truth of the report and, if necessary, procure aid. Scouts were sent out to reconnoitre, who returned and reported no signs of Indians. Still, as the frontier was unprotected, the fears of the settlers could not ht entirely allayed, and for their better protection William Eldrege, who had erected a substantial hewed-log house, had it converted into a temporary fort, pierced in its different sides with two-inch auger holes to admit a rifle. In this fortification some twenty persons remained until news arrived that our army was between them and the enemy.

During the war the following residents of the township were drafted and marched out; William Eldrege, Ezekiel Otis, Peter Johnson, John Warden, Charles Floy and Henry Newstetter. Stephen Eldrege, William Henry and Frederick Oberlin were also drafted, but hired substitutes. William Eldrege was elected ensign and Peter Tohnson lieutenant of the militia. Eldrege died of fever at lower Sandusky. Cliarles Hoy joined a volunteer company raised by Captain Roland, of Columbiana county, and was elected lieutenant. David Hostetter was elected ensign of the same company. !Uit two of the company, Nevvstetter and Otis, were engaged in battle with the enemy. It was in the attempt to retake Fort Mackinaw (Aui;ust 4. 1814), then in possession of the British. Major Homes, with a detachment of seven hundred men. militia and regulars, made an advance, but was repulsed, with a small loss. Among the slain was Richard Smallwood, of Canton.

Brookfield, the first village in the township, was never laid out, but the land was sold by the owner, Jonathan Winter, in half and quarter-acre lots to suit purchasers. It was first called Slusserstown, from the circumstance of Philip Slusser's building in it a large frame house, the first of the kind in the township, in which he opened a tavern. Peter fohnson, at an earlv dav, had a small store in this building, previous to wliich the trading of the settlers was principally done in Canton and Kendall. Henry and Cummins erected a steam mill here in 1831, which was the first steam works introduced in the county.

The early settlers of Tuscarawas township were above the ordinary class of "border ruffians." Rarely was their neighborho(.)(l disturbed by tlie broils or contentions that so fre- (juently characterized the settlement of a new country. Imbued with a proper sense of character, and conscious of their mutual dependence, they were respectful in their intercourse with each other and reciprocal in their accommodations. In politics they were as one man in the support of the then existing administration, with the single exception of John Mason, who was in sentiment a Federalist, nor did he have any hesitancy in avowing it. He was bitterly opposed to the war, and although willing to rejoice with his neighbors on the receipt of intelligence of a victory obtained by our army, he would jocularly remark that he could throw up his hat with them, but not quite so high.

Among them, too, were some notable men. William Henry occupied a prominent position among the early settlers of the ubiquitous west. He was the first member sent to the legislature from our county, and was soon afterward elected to the bench, after which he bore the title of Judge. He was an early land jobber and one of the original proprietors of Wooster.

Adam Poe, who was engaged with his brother, Andrew, in the celebrated fight with Big Foot, died and was buried in this township, in 1812. In the particulars of that encounter, given by some writers, he is confounded with his brother Andrew. It was Adam who shot Big Foot, and whenever the subject was alluded to in his presence, as it frequentl}' was purposely to draw him out, his eyes would sparkle, his whole countenance light up, and he

Daniel Hoy was remarkable for his physical strength. According to accounts he was without doubt the stoutest man that has ever lived in Stark county. His equal was not to be found in his day, in the opinion of his cotemporaries. He was over six feet in height, well proportioned, possessing powerful muscular development and activity. It was not uncommon for him, at raisings and upon other occasions, to lift against four and even six ordinary men. He was not a fighting man, as his very appearance was sufficient to intimidate the stoutest heart who might have ever been eager to measure his pugilistic power. He was rather inclined to be a peacemaker, and frequently prevented fights by threatening to chastise both belligerents. On one occasion, at a militia training at Kendall, two stout-looking men had stripped, chosen their seconds and entered the ring. He made his way through the crowd, stepped fearlessly into the ring, grasped each of the combatants, held them at arms' length, bumped their heads together and ordered them to desist, upon penalty of severe chastisement. The stories told of his feats of strength and agility are wonderful. His sister, Amanda, who married Andrew Poe, was likewise noted for her physical ability. On one occasion, while yet single, at a trial of strength among a company of young men assembled at her father's house, in an attempt to lift nine bushels of shelled corn in three bags tied together by their mouth, which feat, with difficulty, could be done by any of them, she deliterately raised the bags by her shoulders and carried them across the room. It was easy for her to shoulder a three-bushel bag of wheat and throw it upon a horse, a feat that would require at least a pair of strong minded women of the present day to perform. Two of her sons, Daniel and Adam, entered the Methodist ministry. Daniel was a missionary among the

Iiulian tribes of the northwest, was transferred to Texas, and there died. Adam had been presiding elder, was connected with the Methodist Book Concern, and later was associated editor of the Western Christian Advocate.

The Wardens, Eldreges and Harrises were all prominent and influential citizens of the township. Stephen Harris first settled in what is now Lawrence, but removed within the present limits of Tuscarawas in 18 14. In that year he set out an orchard, which, it may be stated as a remarkable fact, never failed to yield fruit. In seasons when peaches were not to be found far or near his orchard would yield at least half an average crop.

William Elliott, from York county, Pennsylvania, settled in the township in 1814. He was a man of integrity and of reliable judgment, and was ofttimes called upon to arbitrate matters in dispute, such as naturally arise in the settlement of a new country. When our country was engaged in war with France, in 1798, and congress had given orders to raise a land force, and appointed General Washington commander-in-chief, Mr. Elliott enrolled himself in the army. But the difficulty was adjusted upon the waters, without the recjuisition of the army. For morality, thrift, general intelligence and the ordinary attributes constituting a right community, the settlers of Tuscarawas township will compare favorably with anv in the countv-

This township., so named in honor oi the first President of the United States, lies in the eastern part of Stark county, with the following boundaries : Columbiana county on the east, and the townships of Lexington, Paris and Nimishillen on the north, south and west, respectixely. It is civic township 18. range

6 of the congressional survey, and contains about thirty-six square miles of territory, which for agricultural purposes, stock raising and all that tends to material prosperity is perhaps unexcelled by any like area -in the county of Stark. Topographically the township is varied, being gently undulating in portions, broken in others, but in no part is the land too rugged for successful tillage, being in the main comparatively level and traversed by a number of small streams and water courses which afford ample drainage. From east to west, through the central part, is a ridge separating the head waters of Sandy creek from the Mahoning river. This ridge, though irregular and severed at intervals, is distinctly defined and serves as a water shed, the land to the north sloping gradually in that direction and sending its waters into Beech creek, the draining to the south finding its way into Black Plughes and Sandy creeks, the last named one of the leading affluents of the Tuscarawas. The township was originally covered with a dense growth of the usual varieties of timber found in this part of the state, - oak, walnut, poplar, beech and a variety of other species predominating on the broken lands, while elms of gigantic size grew on, the lower portions and skirted the water courses. The soil, in the main a deep black loam resting upon a clay subsoil, is rich in all the elements of plant food, and, as already indicated, is peculiarly adapted to general agriculture, all the grains, fruits and vegetables raised in this country being of sure growth and prolific returns.

At this late day it is impossible to ascertain with any degree of accuracy who were the first white men to locate homes within the present limits of Washington township, no record of the early settlers having been kept, and but little attention being paid to anything concerning them. It is possible that the first comers were "squatters" or hunters, a restless, adventurous class that appeared as the precursors of ci\ ilizalimi. and wlio, after remaining a brief peril 111. abandoned tlieir temporary improvements and migrated furtber westward. Tbe names of tbese early comers will never be known, as tbey left no traces behind by which they could be identified or by which the story of their strange, simple lives could be learned. One of the first permanent settlers of whom there is any definite knowledge was a man by the name of Ezekiel Marsh, who was known to haA'e made a small improvement in section 14 prior to the year 1810. ^^l^en seen b_\' Ellis N. Johnson, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, that year, who made a tour of the country, Marsh was living alone in a rude log cabin furnished with a large rough chimney, lighted by a small window consisting of a simple pan'e of glass, and supplied with a few hand-made articles of furniture of the simplest pattern. Around this ])rimitive domicile; he had cleared about an acre and a half of ground, which, planted in corn, beans, potatoes and other \egetables, supplied his few household necessities, and. with the abundance of wild game with which the forest abounded, furnished a comfortaljle subsistence. After living a few years where he originally settled this indomitable pioneer sold or traded his claim to Isaac Tinsman, and, purchasing another piece of land in the same locality, improved the same to the end of his days. Mr. Marsh was a large man w ith the strength of a Samson and absolutely a stranger to physical fear. Upon one occasion, while passing a neighbor's house, he heard several frightful screams issuing therefrom, and, (|uickly entering, found a drunken lirute of a husband cruelly beating his wife, who, prostrate on the floor, was writhing beneath the l)lows of a heavy oaken cudgel. Marsh at once interfered and, seizing the man by the shoulder, threw him by main force to the opposite side of the room. In the movement the frenzied man caught uj) a. large biUcher knife, and, as soon as free, ])lunged it deep into ^larsh's alulomen, inllicling a horrible wound, from the effect of which he died in great torment a few days later. The nnirderer was arrested, tried, convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the penitentiary. Isaac Tinsman improved the old man's farm and lived upon it many years. William Shafer was an early comer and aijout the time of his arrival the Harbster, Stucky and Dickey families came to the township, they being joined shortly afterwards by a lunnber of substantial pioneers who settled in \arious localities and made good imprtnements. Among the early settlers were a numlier of thrifty (Jermans, and several Quaker families also came in when the countr}- was new and took an active part in its developnieiu. In the year 1827 the following men owned land in the township, namely, - Samuel Bas.serim.ui, John Boyer, Isaac Bonsell, J. Conrad. Henry Davis, Michael Dickey. Joseph (irim. John (ialbraith, Holland Green, F. Harbster, Charles Hambleton, Jesse Hughes, Caleb Johnson, E. X. Johnson, Simon Johnson, Jacob Kittsmiller, Jacob Klingman, Timothy Kirk, Russell Knees, David Miller, John :\Iillison, R. M. Mason, John McHenry, Jonathan Pierpont, Silas Risely. John Ruse, Jr., Samuel Stucky. John Shi\ely, Jacob Shively, John Shellenberger, Jacob Shideler. Daniel Shideler, William Shaffer, John Spoon, Jacob Sechrist, Jonathan Shappless, John" Towns, Sanuiel Talbot. John Talbot, John Unkefer. David Unkefer. 'i'homas Wickersham and William Wood, the majority of whom moved to their respective claims, improved good farms and became permanent residents, the others, in a few years, disposing of their holdings at figures far in advance of the original price of entry.