Canton Township (part 6 of 62)

The "High" mill, so generally known by this name, standing in the western part of Jackson township, on the road from Canton to Canal Fulton and about ten miles northwest of the county seat, was built about the same time as were the two already described. It was erected b\- Daniel Slanker. With changes of proprietors and surrounding country, the mill, has about tlie same appearance as when first built, but the development of the country and the habits of doing business have so greatly changed that the old trade with farmers from the surrounding districts has departed from the mill. A man named Koch, who lived in Canton, \\as a millwright by trade, and he installed the machinery in each of these mills, all of which were equipped with the old-style hoppers, the roller process not having been invented until many years later. Quite a number of changes in ownership and in millers ha\-e occurred in the old High mill, but the writer is not sufhciently familiar with the facts in the case to attempt a farther reference. Of the three described, this mill has withstood fire and other changes to a greater extent than either of the other two. In fact its exterior appearance is about the same today as when it was built, seventy years ago, and it certainly may be consistently mentioned as an old landmark of the county. Reference might be made to other mills in this connection, but these three were among the earliest and largest and serve to indicate suiiiciently the changes of the fleeting years.

Early Potteries In Canton

In the early history of Canton we had two stoneware potteries that did quite an extensive home business. One of these was owned and operated by y\dam A. Shorl), who built the two-story brick house now standing on the northwest corner of Fifth and Wells streets. The brick shop building, in which crocks, pitchers, jugs, etc., were turned, stood a short distance west of the residence, facing on Fifth street, and the kiln in which the ware was burned was a short distance west of the shop. For many years Daniel Grace was employed by Mr. Shorb as his principal and most reliable man. Mr. Grace died more than twenty-five years ago and is well remembered by the older citizens. He was for a number of years an active and much beloved deacon in the Baptist church of Canton, and all who knew Deacon Grace, as he was called, had the utmost confidence in liini. Adam A. Shorb was a large man of genial presence, and was very fond of fishing and hunting, to which he devoted much of his time, while he personally worked but little in connection with his pottery. He was a conscientious Catholic and he treated those who differed with him with the greatest cordiality and respect, and thus it was that he and Deacon (irace always maintained the most pleasant relations. Each had confidence in the sincerity O'f the other, and the fire of intolerance never l)urned in their hearts, nnr should it ever be kindled in any heart.

The other stoneware potter was Adam L, Shorb, cousin of Adam .\. Shorb. He had his ]X)ttery on a tract of ahdut one acre on Fulton street, near the present residence of (leorge W'. Irwin. For some time he resided on this same tract of land, his house being a two-story frame building, standing about one hundred feet back from the street, and such was its exterior appearance that its resemblance to a mill or warehouse was often remarked. The pottery was carried on there fur many years and for some time after the first mentioned pottery had ceased operation. In later }ears Adam L. Shorb built a two-stor\- brick residence on the southeast corner of Tuscarawas and Dewalt streets, where he WxtA for a number of years. In later years this property was acquired by H. H. Myers. who> remodeled and added to the same, and it is now owned 1)\- Dr. D. A. Arter.

In tlie days when both Shorbs were thus engaged in the pottery business the most common way of distinguishing them was to designate them respectively as "Big Adam" and "Little Adam."' Adam A. being somewhat above the average height and his cousin a little less than the average. As both bore the name Adam it was quite natural and very convenient for our citizens to make the distinction referred to, and all people, old and young, were familiar with the appellations.

Potteries in those days manufactured for home consumption only. We had no facilities for sliipping except by wagon, and therefore the pottery-ware was sold to the .stores and to the farmers of this region. The fall season was always the time of great demand, as then it was that fruit was gathered and apple butter made by almost all the settled citizens, not only in the country but also in the towns. There were two other potteries in Canton about the time the Shorbs were here engaged in that line of enterprise. One was located on the lot now occupied by the Martin block, on North Market street, and the other on the lot on which the buildings of the Canton Brewing Company are now located. It is the impression of the writer that these two potteries manufactured a softer type of ware than did the other two mentioned. The ware made by the Shorbs was known as stoneware, while that of the other potteries was known as red or clay ware, and for general purposes was inferior to the former. All these potteries used wood for fuel in the burning of their ware. At this time wood \\as cheap and plentiful, while our home coal fields were but slightly developed, while foreign coal could not be brought in, as a matter of course, owing to the fact that we had no railroads. The coal then used here in Canton was principally brought in by country teams from the neighborhood of Osnaburg and Mapleton, mostly bv the Yohes, McKinneys and Millers. Both wood and coal were mostly sold for barter of some kind, being exchanged for stoneware, groceries, dry- goods or other articles for family use, wliile comparatively little was sold for cash. In those days dry-goods stores were somewhat ditiferent from the emporiums in the county today. All received butter, eggs and other country products in exchange for goods, and the stores were opened by the rising of the sun and kept open until nine o'clock at night, when the courthouse bell would ring for all to close. The writer can well remember when he was employed in the store of Martin Wikidal, from 1836 to 1840, while Impertus Martin was employed in the adjoining store, conducted by M. & J. Laird, and very often after the closing hour at night it became the duties of such young clerks to go to the cellar and pack the butter that had been taken in during the day, sometimes amounting to twO' or three firkins, the work demanding an hour or more in its completion, while we were supposed to "rise with the lark of the early morn." The earlier hours of closing now in vogue are much more humane, and the writer would regret to see a reversion to the custom which obtained when he was a boy in a store, but it is well to call attention to the difiference in view of the complaints entered by many of the young folks employed today. Arduous and prolonged as were the daily tasks laid upon us sixty years ago, it is practically a fact that there was not as much discontent and complaining on the part of clerks as there is in these days of modern usage. The greatest trouble is that "Young .\merica" now expects to begin at the point where the preceding generation ended, but this is not always possible, and therefore trouble often arises. Li those days no women were employed as clerks, all were boys and men, and in this respect the new custom is a distinctive impro vemen t .

County

The only public execution ever held in Canton was that of Christian Bachtel, on Friday, November 22, 1833. The scaffold on which he expiated his crime was erected on the commons east of Walnut street, between North and Third streets, the tract being now built up. The crowd that gathered was immense. The day before the execution the town began to have many visitors from all directions, and they were atracted hither by the cruel sight which they expected to witness. On the morning of the execution the streets were filled from all directions. Christian Bachtel had lived in Pike township, a short distance south of North Industry. He was a good and industrious citizen as long as lie abstained from the use of liquor, but the appetite for strong drink became so fjistened upon him that quite often he would return home greatly into.xicated. His wife, who was an excellent and industrious woman, was compelled to do the best she could for the support of the family, and one night he returned home crazed with liquor and ready to find fault with all his good wife had done. Finding that he was not in a condition to reason upon any subject Mrs. Bachtel turned awav from him while lying in bed and was supposed to be asleep. The drunken man struck her on the head with an ax helve, fracturing her skull, and being still unsatisfied with the results of his frightful act, committed during the insane frenzy of intoxication, he struck a second blow, which made sure her death. After committing the horrible deed the poor inebriate took his flight, having nothing with him but the miserable clothes which he wore and a flask of whiskey. He left his motherless children and went forth as a fugitive, to wander he knew not where, but he inliuence of the liquor left him, self-condemned and half crazed with the thought of his horrible crime. He could not travel fast and as there were no railroads in the state at that time he could not escape by such means. After wandering in a dazed condition for three days he was arrested not far from Wooster, being brought to Canton without any resistance on his part. His trial took place in the old square brick courthouse. Starkweather and Jarvis being the prosecuting atorneys, while Harris and Metcalf appeared for the defense. These four lawyers were among the best in the county at that time. David A. Starkweather was afterward our representative in congress for some time. Dwight Jarvis moved to Massillon, where he remained until his death. Jolin Harris lived in the house now owned and occupied by Mrs. Catherine .\. ]\leyers. on West Tuscarawas, the residence having been erected by him and having been long looked upon as one of the best in the town. When deeply interested in a case of law Mr. Harris was frequently seen on his way home making gestures and revolving in his mind what he should say in the coming trial. Mr. Metcalf afterward removed to Pittsburg and became quite eminent in his profession.

In 1S80 a very notable execution took place within the walls of our present courthouse, three men, or rather good sized boys, being executed at one time. Two of them were convicted of murder, in the east end of the county, and the third committed a similar crime in the western part of the county, all expiating their crimes at the same tmie. Although it was known the execution would not be public, yet many persons came to Canton on that day, attracted by an unfortunate and morbid curosity. It was claimed that at the time of the execution of Christian Bachtel forty thousand people came here, but half that number would probably represent a more accurate estimate. In later years all condemned to death for murder have been taken to Columbus, the executions taking place within the walls of the state penitentiary, with very few witnesses present. This is certainly a wise change. Public executions such as that which occurred in Canton seventy years ago, could not fajl to have a demoralizing" effect, and it were fortunate if every state in the Union did away with such public executions. Quite a number of murders have taken place in Stark county, resulting" in the sentencing of the criminals to imprisonment for life, among them the murder of Daniel Mead, in Osnaburg, and the Keefer tragedy in Massillon, and, to the best of the writer's reccollection, from first to last, intoxicating liquors have had more or less to do with all these crimes, as is generally true in all such cases in our state and nation, and the significance of this fact cannot fail to appeal to every right-minded citizen.

Meyer'S Lake In The Olden Days

Andrew Meyer, the grandfather of the generation now living in the county, came to Canton in 1810 and secured twenty-two hundred acres of land in the vicinity of the village, partly by entering the same from the government and partly by purchase from Bezaleel Wells. Most of the land lay west of Canton and was known as plains land, being covered with small saplings and underbrush, and from the fact that few large trees were to be found on the tract the early settlers thought it was not productive land, and they went to remote parts of the county and invested in heavily timbered land, making a great mistake in this respect, while in the purchase of the land Mr. Meyer displayed good business judgment. Included in his purchase of lands was our popular resort, known as Meyer's Lake. The name will

Andrew Meyer was a native of Alsace, France, where he was born in 1760, and he came to the United States in 1791, settling in Baltimore. Maryland. He had two brothers, Godfrey and Frank. Upon the outbreak of the war waged by Napoleon, Andrew and Godfrey came to America, but Frank entered Napolei on's army, in which he rose to the office of j colonel. At the close of his military service he joined his brothers in Baltimore. By trade Andrew Meyer was a gilder and draughtsman, and while a resident of Baltimore he was largely interested in a brass foundry. After settling in Canton his time was taken up in managing and improving his large landed estate. He lived for some time in a two-story brick building which occupied the site of the store of Klein & Heffelman, on the east side of North Market street. Finally he removed to his' farm, taking up his residence in a one-story frame building a little west of the brick mansion }'et standing. This fine old mansion was erected about seventy-five years ago, while the two brick ware rooms or storage houses on either side of the residence were used for the storage of grain and other products. In those days there was no convenient market for such produce, there being no railroads, while the nearest shipping point was Massillon, on the old Ohio canal.

At the bottom of the hill and in front of the old Meyer homestead is a very large spring of fine water, antl the same has quenched the thirst of thousands of persons. The native Indians thought much of it, and it has been said that at the time Mr. Meyer secured possession of the property an Indian chief, who bore the name of Beaver Cap, had a wigwam erected hard by this spring, remaining there for some time after the property had passed into the hands of Mr. Meyer. He was of tlie Wyandot tribe and very peaceable and inofif^nsive, winning the favor and esteem of many of our early settlers. The writer lias personally seen in his boyhood days se\eral canoes, hewed out of solid logs, which were made by the Indians and left on the lake when they fled before the new settlers. The lake was a favorite resort of the Indians in early days, and they were expert fishermen, supplying themselves -with many a meal of fish. About a half mile south-east of the old Meyer homestead was a sawmill, which was operated by water which formed the outlet from the lake and also by that supplied by the spring, to which reference has been made. At that time this outlet of the lake carried quite a heavy stream of water, but the flow is slight at the present time.

Andrew Meyer was an intelligent and well educated man. The family were descendants of royal blood in the old world. He was a soldier of our w-ar of 1812, and being a man of more than ordinary wealth he wielded a great influence in the community. He became the father of three sons and two daughters, namely : Andrew J., P^rank J., Joseph, Mrs. James Cassilly and Mrs. Thomas Patten. Anlrew J. Meyer built the brick residence now owned and occupied by James F. T. Walker, at 2015 West Tuscarawas street. The house has since been enlarged and remodeled. At one time Mr. Meyer kept a store in the old E^gle block. Frank J. Meyer lived for a number of years on a farm a short distance northwest of the lake. He afterward built a good two-story residence on North Cleveland avenue, nearly opposite St. Peter's church, and there he passed the remainder of his life. He was the father of the late Joseph A. Meyer and also of Mrs. Caroline Trout.

Joseph Meyer followed farming and stockgrowing, having been the youngest of the three sons of Andrew Meyer. He died in his home, at 917 West Tuscarawas street. He was the father of Edward and George Meyer, and also of Henrv Mever, who was accidentally killed in this city several years ago. Joseph Meyer was also the father of two daughters, Mrs. John F. Blake and Miss Celeste, the latter residing in the old homestead. The elder daughter of Andrew Meyer, the pioneer, was Mrs. James Cassilly, who died in Canton, as did also her husband. They had no children. The younger daughter became 'the wife of Thomas Patton and they had quite a large family of children, the greater number being sons. They lived for a number of years in the old Meyer homestead, on North ^Market street. Thomas Patton was an industrious and active man, and was engaged in business here for many years, having been at one time a member of the hardware hrm of Patton & Pepple, his partner having been the late Ephraim Pepple. Andrew Meyer died in 1848, at the adv^anced age of eighty-eight years. He was greatly missed in the community in which he had been so active a factor in laying the foundations of the prosperity and opulent resources today enjoved in this section.

The iirst town yon paper) in the county was located near the head waters of the Nimishillen, and named after the stream - Nimishillentown. It was laid out along an Indian trail running east and we^t. which at that time was the main thoroughfare for persons coming west to invest in lands, whether fur homes or on speculation. This trail, through the efforts of John Thomas, of Columbiana county, was widened and improved so as to make it passaljle for wagons, and was afterwards known as the Thomas road. It is the same road, with few alterations, that now runs from Louisville to Freeburgh and Lexington.

The proprietors of Nimishillentown were Pentecost and Scott, land speculators. It was surveyed and platted by Daniel L. McClure. The plat looked well on paper. The streets had attractive names; a block of lots was donated for a court house and jail, one for an academy and another for a church. A cabin was erected, covered with clapboards fastened with nails made by a blacksmith of New Lisbon. In this cabin the two men kept "bachelor's hall," and as emigrants and prospectors came along they were importuned to invest in the new town. The proprietors remained on the ground through the summer of 1806, when, finding themselves unable to compete with Osnaburgh and Canton, they prudently retired from the contest and the plat is now a cultivated field.

Osnaburgh was the next place that [)ut in an appearance for the county seat. It was laid out in 1805 by James Leeper, of Washington county, Pennsylvania, and named after Osnabruck, in Germany. Leei^er built a one-story log" cabin and started a tavern. The way it was kept and the accommodations afforded to man and beast will be better understood by giving tlie personal experience of John Larwell, late of Wooster, as he gave it to the writer of this article.

Larwell's home was at Fawcettstown, now East Liverpool, on the Ohio river. In March, 1807, he was sent on horseback with provision to his brother, Joseph IL Larwell, then in government employ, surveying lands immediately west of the Tuscarawas river. He went l)y an Indian trail leading from the Ohio river, crossing Sandy creek near the mouth. Having heard of Osnaburgh, he concluded to return home that way, as the distance was about the same. Leaving the' camp of his brother early in the morning, crossing the Tuscarawas at the ferry, he made his way over the plains thrnugli

Cantor., then containing but a few scattered cabins, and reached Osnaburgh in the evening. Riding up to the most pretentious house in tlie village, Mr. Larwell halloed, and out came the landlord. . Inquiring whether lie ci:)uld stop with him o\er night and receiving an affirma* ti\-e answer. Mr. Larwell dismounted. No stable appearing in sight, he wislied to know what acconunodations he had for his horse. Leeper pointed to a beech tree that had just Iieen cut down, saying the horse could be tied to a top limb and feed upon twigs. As there was not a stable in the town, there was no alternative but to be satisfied with such accommodations for the jaded animal. The cabin hatl but one room, with a loft which was reached by a ladder. The room was intended to answer the purpose of kitchen, dining and sitting room, the sleeping room being in the attic. The floors were made of puncheons and the chimney of sticks and mud. The chimney had sometime been on lire, for there was a hole near the grounil, Inuut through. The supper consisted of corn pone and fresh pork. While the jione was baking on the hearth a pig of the land-pike breed came through the hole in the chimney, snatched up the pone and escaped by the same hole. Mrs. Leeper ran out of the door, gave chase, recovered the pone, replaced it upon the griddle and watched the hole until the baking' was completed. \\ hen it came bedtime Mr. Larwell was offered his choice of a blanket on the floor below or in the loft. As the night was growing colder he ])referred the former, and, wrapping himself in the blanket with his feet toward the fire, obtained a comfortable night's rest. His breakfast was the same as the supper. He found his horse browsing at the beech tree and standing in a foot of snow which had fallen during the night. The bill was seventy-fi\e cents. The ])articulars of this entertainment are given b\- way of contrast to those furnished at the present day in western towns competing for a county seat.

As Leeper's house was the only stoppingplace for travelers in the town, it gave him a favorable opportunity to influence those who were looking for homes to settle in Osnaburg. He had induced a niimber of mechanics to pm'- chase lots and build during the summer of 1806. He could boast of a store, blacksmith shop, tan-yard, hatter shop and a half a dozen or more private residences. Much stress was laid upon the superior natural advantages - water and building material. Meanwhile Beza- leel \\'ells, the proprietor of Canton, was hot; idle. He v.as a man of education and had j served as a member of the state convention which framed the first constitution of Ohio, , which fact gave him character and influence. , The friends of Osnaburgh were unsparing in their denunciations of the locality of Canton - that it was between two streams, bordered with swamps, sure to create fever and ague; that there was no water, nor could any be obtained by digging ; there was neither timber nor stione with whicli to build; that the adjoining lands west were barren, and never be cultivated. Such were the arguments used against Canton, and there was so much force in them that had I.eeper been a man of as good address, habits and influence as Wells, Osnaburg would have carried off the palm. But Leeper was dissipated and dissolute and proved himself unworthy of confidence, while, on the contrary, every man who came in contact with \\'ells was favoralily impressed and had entire confidence in his integrity. ?Ie agreed to donate a number of lots for the beiTefit of the town, which he afterwards did.

The following entry appears in the commissioners" journal of Columbia county : "June 14. 1808. - The board of commissioners of Columbiana county, consisting of Daniel Harbaugh. Joseph Richardson and GeiM-ge Atfer- : hnlt, NDted and jjai;! tliirteen dollars each to: Kli Baldwin an.d l^liiah Wadsworth tor serviiie

The first county commissioners for Stark county were elected in the fall of that same year. They were John Bower, James Lattimer and John Nichols. The first court was held in the Eagle tavern, corner of ]^Iarket and Tuscarawas ; ne.\t year at the Coulter taverii, comer of Market and Seventh streets, the cellar being used as a jail ; ne.xt in the Stidger tavern, corner of Tuscarawas and Court streets, and here it v.'as retained until the completion of the first court house and jail, corner of Market and Third streets.

Early Newspaper Press

In 1S14 John Sa.xton visited CantonWith a \-iew of publishing a paper there. Proposals were issued, and the Ohio Repository was commenced on the -^oth of March, 181 - time the Repository was commenced there was a paper printed at Warren, Trumbullcounty. one at New Lisbon, one at Steubenvill6, one at St. Clairsville, and one at Zanesville.ahd these, with the Repository, embraced the \\ hole number in the state north of Chillicothe. For manv years the publishers had to get their paper from Pittsburgh and Beaver, points sixty and ninety miles distant.

' In October, 1819, Edward Shaffer started the first German paper at Canton, aiid the second in the state, called the Westliche Beobachter (Western Observer), and continued 'it until the 24th of August," 1S26. It 'was then continued by John Sala, with some interruptions, until January, 1828. In January, 1829, Solomon Sala and Christiait D. Lehmus comm'ericed the 'N^-itefL-ind's Freund TThe Patriot), which.

ill the summer of 1831, was purchased by Peter Kaufmann, who continued it till August 12, iS-12, when he transferred it to H. J. Nathnagel, his son-in-law, and it was published by him until the 23d of March, 1846. It was then suspended, for several causes, the principal of which was to collect arrearages. Late in 1846 Mr. Nathnagel commenced the publication of the Ohio Staat Bote (the State Messenger), which is still continued. In 183(3 or 1837 John S. Wiestling commenced a Whig German paper, and continued it a year or eighteen months, when he removed to Columbus, and died there.

In the spring of 1828 Joseph W. White, a veteran printer, who has started more papers than any other man in Ohio, if not in the Union, established the Stark County Democrat at Paris, Stark county, and continued it there until February, 1829, when he removed to Canton and published it here some six weeks, when he sold to James Allen, who continued it until April, 1830. Mr. Allen then removed the establishment to Massillon and commenced the Massillon Gazette on the 12th of May, 1830, with John Townsend as partner. In 1831 the Gazette was enlarged under the joint ownership of Allen & McCully. In May, 1832, Mr. Allen left Stark county and did not return until 1837. He then purchased the Massillon Gazette office of Robert Wilson, who after various changes in the editorship, which we can not now bring to mind, became its proprietor and conducted it alx)ut a year, and Allen commenced its publication as editor on the 12th of May, 1837, and continued it until March, 1839, when he went to Columbus and took the editorial chair of the State Journal. Several changes followed in the Gazette establishment, lAice and Worstel, and then Painter and Wilson, and John Hanna, having edited it for brief periods, and Wilson started a new paper, but, after a short existence, it was merged with the other. It is now called the Massillon News, neutral in politics, and edited by William C. Earl. The mutations in this establishment we think unparalleled in the annals of newspaper enterprises. In January, 1822, Solomon Sala & Company commenced a paper at Canton, entitled the Canton Gazette, but of this but one number was issued. In 1834 Mr. Bernard commenced the Stark County Democrat in Canton, but died in a few months, after which William Dunbar took it and continued its publication until April, 1835, when it was destroyed by fire. In July, 1835, it was again started, by Dunbar & Gotshall, and continued one year; then it was conducted by William and George Dunbar, and continued about three years ; then by Daniel Gottshall from 1839 to 1847; then by Carney & Leiter for fourteen or fifteen months; then by John McGregor & Son until the sudden death of John McGregor, when Alexander McGregor took the editorial chair.

The Stark Cou'Nty Democrat

It was during the administration of General Jackson and the political throes of that period that the Stark County Democrat was born. The county leaders of the Democracy of that day, sensible to the fact that they labored under a disadvantage in not having an organ, determined to overcome that disadvantage and have a press. Among the most active and liberal in furnishing material aid for that purpose were D. A. Starkweather, Dr. Stidger, the Dunbars, Judge Loutzenheiser, Sanders Van Rensselaer, Arnold Lynch and Judge Greenwood, of Paris, Judge Miller and Mc- Cully, of Massillon. A press and type were procured. Henry Bernard, a practical printer with considerable experience as a political writer, then engaged in an office in Massillon, was hired to take charge of the paper. A room was obtained 011 the second floor imnieiHately o\^er the room later occnpied by J. A. Bachniann, on Tuscarawas street. Here, in tlie spring of 1834, was the first numlier of the paper issued. That year the Asiatic cliolera made its first appearance west of the mountains. Bernard was a free th-inker, a good suljject for the cholera, and the first to be taken off. His remains are in the Plum street graveyard, ^\-ith nothing to mark their resting place. He was a caustic writer, and I well remember frequently seeing him set uyi editorials without copy. _At his death William Dunbar, who at fhe time had a school in the old .Academy, took charge of the editorial columns, assisted by Al)ijah Baker, a bibulous type of the tramp order, who had a reputation as a sharp writer. (Jharley Burr was the lu'st "de\il" connected with the office, and he had a penchant for writing for the paper. Newspaper controversies at that day constituted the life of the town. In the fall of that year the office was removed to a frame building on Walnut street, belonging to Judge Sowers, formerly occupied as a carpenter sh(^p. In the spring of 1835 this building took fire and was destroyed, with all the contents. In the summer following the office was resuscitated jjy Dunliar & Gotshall. and occupied a room in Tuscarawas street, over Houser's meat market. They were the proprietors until 1847, when the office was sold to Leiter & Carney, who ran it for a year or more and then sold out ti) John McGregor & Son. McGregor, Sr., flied within a year or two, when the son, Archibald, became the manager. In 1861 the office was in an upper room of a county building then occupying the court house square. The Civil war stirred up a feeling against many Democrats who favored compromise measures, and as the Democrat was their medium of expression, the editor was charged with gi\'ing aid to the south. When a mob spirit is abroad it takes but little encouragement to fan the flames into an outbreak. A crowd of thoughtless men and boys broke nito the oflice in the night time and destroyed the press and emptied the cases of type into the street. Not a man or bo)" engaged in that work but afterward repented his action. The office was soon resuscitated and established in the building it occupied imtil the last removal. 'idie Xews-Democrat was established March 31. 1883.

The function of the rural press has been mucli enlarged ot late years. The telegraph liad been the means of contributing to this end - communicating transactions of ever\' kind and from any distance immediately after the_\' occur. Reporters are a modern inxention - picking up local news antl, when hard up for material, manufactiu'ing it to order. Tliey now make a wonderful cock-and-bull story out of an affair that could be told in a paragraph. The particulars of Bachtel's e.xecution occupied less tlian a column. The accident whereljy Freymeyer and Booze lost their lives in the caving in of a sand bank on Tuscarawas street, just beyond the east bridge, and the drowning of Lewis Brown and his horse in the Ximisbillen were gi\en in a paragraph. There was not tliat morbid taste then existing that has since been cultivated, lint the public are not now satisfied with meagre statements. They want it more full\- and. according to the law of supply and demand, they must ha\'e it. and the secular newspaper that does not furnish it is liable to fall behind.

]Mr. A. McGregor conducted the Stark Count}- Democrat from 1847 to June of 1888, a period of forty-one years, and made it a jjower in state politics and a reputation as one of the ablest Democratic journals in Ohio. On the 14th of May, 1888, the paper was purchased by the Democrat Publishing Company.

It was soon after the close of the last war with England that a nnmljer of the more intelligent and ambitious men of Canton conceived the idea of getting up a circulating library. .\fter se\eral preliminary meetings and discussions of. ways and means suggested, it was finally agreed that the cost should be divided into shares of three dollars each, which would entitle the holder to the use of a book for two weeks. .\ number of the members took several shares, and when sufficient money was raised one of the merchants of the town was commissioned to make the pmxhase in Philadelphia. Canton then contained a population of a thousand or twelve hundred. The following is a list of the stockholders, as near as can be ascertained : James W. Lathrop, John Harris, Orlando Aletcalf, John Sloan. Dr. Rappe, Dr. Jerow. Dr. Bonfield, William Christmas, Samuel Coulter, William Raynolds, John Saxton, George Stidger. Andrew Meyer, Thomas Hurford. John Slusser, George Dunbar. Winans Clark. -\ case was made for the books and they were kept in the clerk's office, William Raynolds, then county clerk, acting as librarian.

The following is the list, as near as can be made out: Rollin's "Ancient History," Sturm's "Reflections," "Letters of Junius," Hume's "History of England," Robertson's "History of America." "Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin." Marshall's "Life of Washington." "Locke on Human L'nderstanding," Riley's "Narrative," Burke's "Dignity of Man." Watt's "Improvement of the Mind," "The Spectator," Gibbon's "Roman Empire," Flint's "Lidian Wars of the West," Randolph's "Memoirs of Jefiferson," Abercrombe's "Moral Feeling," Rush on "The Mind." "Brooks' Gazetteer."

Novels were not so abundant then as now, nor' had the taste for reading then been acquired to such an extent. There were but few such books in the library, and yet they were about all that had been heard of in the west. Goldsmith's "Vicar of Wakefield," Fielding's "Tom Jones," Smollett's "Perigrine Pickle," Swift's "Jonathan Wild," Miss Porter's "Scottish Chiefs" and "Thaddeus of Warsaw" about constituted the lot. The women were not educated then as now, consequently had not cultivated the taste for reading. The adults piously inclined confined their reading to the Bible, and the young' to the study of the catechism. The library continued in existence until about 1830, when the books were divided among the stockholders. A few are still in existence, but the bulk have "gone glimmering through the dreams of things that were."

Early Banking In Canton

In the year 181 5 a meeting of the business men of Canton was called for the purpose of organizing a bank. The town at that time had a population of about five hundred. It contained seven stores, which, with the several flour mills in the vicinity, drew trade from a wide extent of surrounding country. The close of the war of 1812 gave a new impetus to business, increased immigration and created a demand for more circulating medium. ^Vooster at this time was looming up as a rival town, each place claiming superiority over the other, in the prospective navigable features of the Killbuck and Nimishillen. As a stroke of policy this meeting was called and five trustees appointed, viz : John Shorb. William Fogle, Samuel Coulter, Thomas Taylor and James Hazlett, who were instructed to take the initiatory steps in ftu'therance of the project.

be held at the house of PhiHp Dewalt (then the Eagle Tavern, a two-story log structure, located on the corner later occupied by the Eagle Block) for nine directors for a bank, to be called the Farmers' Bank of Canton. It was at the suggestion of Dr. Fogle that the prehx Farmers' was adopted. The election was heid, and resulted in the choice of Thomas Hurford, John Shorb, John Meyers. William Fogle, \V\- nana Clark, James Hazlett, Philip Slusser, Jacob Meyers and George Stidger. John Shorb was elected president, and William Fogle cashier. Immediately afterward books were opened for the subscription of stock at Canton, Tallmadge, Stow and Cleveland.

During the summer of 1815 the building located on the north half of lot 28, the same later occupied by V. B. Snyder as a grocery store, was erected for a banking" house, and in the fall was occupied as such. Immediately afterward notes were issued and put in circulation.

There was then opposition to a paper currency. At the February term, 181 6, of the common pleas court, - George Tode, president ; John Hoover, Samuel Coulter and William Henry, associates - an indictment was found against "John Shorb. president of the Farmers' Bank of Canton, for signing and making bank notes without being by law authorized so to do." It was evident that the mass of the community were disposed to sustain the Ijank, fur, after the jury heard the indictment read, they returned a verdict of not guilty, without leaving the box. Jeremiah H. Halleck appeared for the state, and Wright and Tappan for defendant. Notwithstanding this decision, Henry Swartz the same year resisted the payment of a note of eight hundred dollars held by the bank against him, on the ground that the bank had issued paper in violation of law. The case was argued at length by J. ^\^ Lathrop for the bank and John M. Goodenow for defendant. Court gave judgment for plaintiff.

which there were counterfeits in circulation. There was a publisher of a newspaper located in the central portion of the state who engaged with imi^unity in the manufacture of this fractional currency. He was not prosecuted, as there was a question about its being a penal offense.

John Sterling and Thomas Alexander \vere elected directors in 181 6, but whether as an addition to the number of the board, or in place of two retired, we are unable to ascertain from the archives at our command. James Drennan was cashier in 1817, and gives notice that "a dividend of 4 per cent, on capital stock actually paid in will be paid to the stockholders, or their legal representatives."

From a statement of the condition of the bank, published in December, 1818, there was capital stock paid in $33,710; notes in circulation, $20,398; debts due, $18,000; deposits, $3,113; bills discounted, $75,162; specie on hand, $1,969^ notes of other banks, $1,406. A financial crisis was approaching, and the bank began to feel its effects. They struggled along until November, 1818, when, following in the wake of a number of other banks, they suspended specie payment, but gave notice that they would "continue to redeem their notes in good chartered paper." In January, 1820, in compliance with an amendment of a law then in force, the Ijoard of directors was increased to thirteen. Renewed efforts were made ta sustain the credit of the institution, but the reserve forces were insufticient, and in March, 1 82 1, the banking house and lot, with the office fixtures, was sold at public auction, and the Farmers' Bank of Canton expired.

Court

building erected by John Shorb on tlie soutbwest corner of Market and Tuscarawas streets, Canton. The building was afterwards owned and occupied by Philip Dewalt as a tavern, sign of Spread Eagle. It \\as torn down in 1827, and the three-story brick building erected in its place. How man}- terms of the court were held, or how long it continued in this place, we have not been able to ascertain, but it is well known that in 18 10 it was held at the tavern of Samuel Coulter - sign of the Green Tree - in the upper story of the frame addition, the same afterward owned and occupied by C. Oberly, corner of Market and Sixth streets. The cellar underneath the building was used for a jail, and some laughable- incidents that occurred from its use for that purpose are told.

In t8i2 the court was removed to an upper room of a brick building erected the year previous by George Stidger, on the lot later occupied by the Cloud Hotel. Here it remained until the completion of the log jail, corner of Market and Third, in 181 4. The north half of the building had two cells, and the whole of the south side was appropriated as a court room. Here it remained until the completion of the court house, in 1817. The contract for the erection of the latter building was given out in I Si 6. The county commissioners of that year John Kryder. John Sluss and William Alban. Before the completion of the building John Saxton was elected in the place of John Kryder. Thomas A. Drayton was contractor for the brick work, and J. D. Hendley for the wood work. The brick were made and furnished by Timothy \\'allis. The amount paid the contractors was $5,515.70.

In the spring of 1820 the commissioners advertised for proposals for "inclosing the lot on which the court house stands. The fronts on Market and Tuscarawas streets, and the west end. to be made of good substantial posts and rails and sawed palings. The balance to be formed of boards." This fence was never constructed. Messrs. Harris and Raynolds having about that time leased the west end of the lot and built a store room thereon, the necessity of a fence, in the opinion of the commissioners, was obviated.

The internal arrangement of the first floor of the court house was afterward materially changed. There was a partition in the south side, and between it and the outer wall was a small room occupied as a la\\yer's office. On the left was a broad stairway leading to the second story. There was no back stairway. The judge's stand was reduced in height and the prisoners' dock removed.

V Once Prominent Family Of

There are many who remember Jacob Sala, of Canton, the pioneer druggist - ^apothecary, as it was called in early days. He had acquired a knowledge of the drug business in Germany, came to America soon after attaining his majority, settled in Somerset, Pennsylvania, married a niece of General Morgan, of Revolutionary fame, and united with the religious denomination known as Tunkers. In 1819, with a family of nine children, six boys and three girls, he left Somerset for Ohio. In crossing the mountains one of the boys fell from the wagon and was killed.

On his arrival in Canton ]\Ir. Sala secured a two-story frame building owned b)- Jacob Schlosser, corner of Seventh and Public Square, on the same ground now owned by Durbin, \\'right & Company. He remained there two years, then purchased the property, a frame building, corner of Tuscarawas and Walnut, now known as the Winterhalter corner, where he continued in the drug business during the

John assisted his father in the drug store until he attained his majority and for several years after. When he commenced business for himself he opened a confectionery and variety store in a small frame building on the ground now occupied by the Canton Hardware Store. As it did not pay well enough to satisfy his ambition, he engaged in different other pursuits for several years, when the idea struck him that the patent medicine business could be made lucrative, as there were millions in it. No sooner thought than determined on, he fixed up a compound which he dubbed "Sala's German Vegetable Elixir," the recipe for which he claimed to ha\e obtained from an old German medical book of his father. It was made of whiske}' (then twenty cents a gallon) and sugar, with a few aromatics, something like "Hostetter's Bitters." It was agreeable to take, had an exhilerating effect, and was popular with the patients affected with any chronic ailment, as it made them temporarily feel better. It was put up in six-ounce bottles and retailed at fifty cents, affording a big profit. It was advertised extensively, depots established in dififerent parts of the country and had an extensive sale. From that time forward Jolm was called Doctor, and, imagining himself doctor on the principle of the faith cure, he established himself as a doctor in the village of Western Star. Medina county, and there died in the 'fifties, \vithout leaving either a fortune or fame.

Solomon was considered the wise member of the family. He was early apprenticed to the printing business, to the Westliche Beobachter, a German paper then published in town, of which in time he became editor-inchief. He was fond of controvers)-, but as the field in German did not give him sutificient scope to ventilate his quixotic notions, he sokl out anr! used the columns of the Ohio Repository. He was full of visionary schemes, and made several efforts to organize a company as a commune, but failing in tiiis united himself with the Zoarites, who were then in the zenith of their glory. How long he remained with them I am unable to state, but we next hear of liini in Allegheny, where he died without succession.

Sam was the butt-cut of the family, not in the sense the term was used in the army, but rather as a butt without the cut. He didn't like to go to school and wasn't ctjnsitlered a;^ bright as the rest of the famil}-. He was apprenticed to the plastering trade, in time graduated, did. business on his own responsibility; married, moved to Illinois and was lost sight of. excepi. that friends learned of his death.

Eli had a predeliction for sport. Kepi game fowls and had a trotting horse, the first of the kind Ml the town. The animal was a blue 'lunn with a black streak down the back. On pleasant evenings during the summer Eli would speed his trotter, riding him bareback from opposite the Lutheran church, on East Tuscarawas street, to Sterling's hill, eliciting the huzzas of the boys along the pavement. I don't know that the horse was ever time<l, but I have no idea he could make a mile under four minutes, for at that da}' the noted trotters of the countrv were Tkhi llninib. of St. Louis. and Top Gallant, of Xew Jersey, and when they made a mile in three minutes it was considered a wonderful teat. When, a few \-ears later, I'lora Temple beat that record and made it in 2 :40. the country was electrified. 2 ;40 was the standard for everything sujjposed tn excel. Eli had a taste for the stage and was a performer in the uld Acadeniw His aml)itic>n was for tragedy. l:)ut as his memory was at fault he fretpiently stuck in the rendition of his part.- which rather impaired his reputation as a star performer. He studied medicine with Dr. Bre\'sacher. went west and set up in ])ractice llrst in Iowa, afterwards in Illinois. Two of his sons enlisted during the war. Eli took his father and mother and with him they lived during the halance of their days. Eli died a number of years ago.

Benjamin was in some respects the flower of the family. He was popular with all classes, old and young, and had the good will of e\-eryone with whom he came in contact. He was cpiite a gymnast and did all the ground and lofty tumbling iov the jux'enile shows of his day. He could turn a handspring, or somersault forward and backward, equal to a professional. He learned the tailor trade, which was his life occupation, and in which he accfuired the reputation of a skilled workman. He was a member of the Disciple church and sometimes spoke in meeting. Several members of his family were good singers, and he had acquired the skill of imitating- with his \'oice the sound of a trombone. With this adjunct io the choir, the family tra\'eled and gave concerts several seasons under the name of the "Sala Family." Ben's last residence was in Toledo, w here he died se\-eral years ago, the last of the original family.

Levi, the youngest of the lioys, was rather inclined to he wayward. His taste ran "in the direction of shows, and l)efore he attained manhood followed one south. He ne\'er, to my knowledge, returned to Canton, l)ut for a number of years !i\-ed in New (Jrleans, as an attache of a theatre. From there he drifted to Gal- A-eston, Texas, and engaged in the same business. Little is known of his career, only that he died some years ago. Two of his sons w^ere in the Rebel army, and the story is told by surviving members of the family that the two cousins on each side uf the contest met during the war at (h-een Ri\er, Kentucky, and had (|uite a chat on family matters. To one who had served in the army and knew how-- difficult it was to bring about such an event it would

Charlotte, the eklest daughter, married Sam McDaniel, the John L. Sullivan of Stark county, a butcher and noted pugilist. The ])articulars of the fights he had with the Rising Sun and the Cro.ss Keys on East Tuscarawas would make interesting reading matter for the columns of the Sporting Times. AlcDaniel went to Illinois and died there, after which Mrs. McDaniel removed to the home of her lirother. Solomon, in .Mlegheny, and there died about 1850.

Lena married Andrew b'lliott, a fashional)le tailor, the first to exhibit a fashion plate in Canton. He was an active member of the Methodist church, of the emotional type, and occupied a seat in the "amen corner." He removed to Navarre, and there both he and his wife died, sometime m the 'forties.

Sophia, the \'oungest of the girls - "the liird in the cage," as her father was in the habit of calling her, as well as the boys about the town in imitation - married a man I)y the name of McCulver, in .\kron and there died many years ago.

Thus endeth the chapter from which the student of genealogical research would naturally conclude that at the same rate of increase it will not be many years until the name of Sala is lost. It may be proper to state that much of the infiirmation contained in this article I obtained in an interview with the widow of Benjamin Sala, now residing in Toledo.

The old tavern kcjjt by Jacob Hentzell on the northeast corner of Tuscarawas and Cherry streets, and known as "Travelers Rest." is still standing, but changes made in its facade in adapting it to Imsiness uses have materially altered its appearance. Six or seven decades ago there were three other hotels on East Tuscarawas street between the Hentzell hotel and the public square. The first of them was conducted by Henry Slusser, in a two-story brick building which stood on the site of the present store of Hoeland & Heingartner; and the next was the American house, which was kept for many years b)- two veteran and competent landlords. - first by Fred Hipp, who had received his early training as a hotelkeeper from the Hawk;', of the old Eagle hotel, mentioned in another of these reminiscent sketches. The American was a two-story frame structure, and was a building of considerable size, the same being eventually replaced by a more modern building of brick, three stories in height. The next caravansery was located at the northwest corner of Tuscarawas and Walnut streets, being a frame structure of two stories, and at the time of its destruction by fire, a few years ago, it was km iwn as the Max Elbin building. Since that time rather inferior buildings have occupied the ground. The writer's first recollection concerning this last mentioned hotel date back tc) the time when it was conducted by John Clark. He was a gunsmith by trade. His son and namesake was a skillful drummer and finally enlisted for service in the Mexican war, from the close of which he passed but a brief interval of his life in Canton. John Black, Jacob Flohr and John D. Snyder kept hotel in this same building, presumably in the order named, the last mentioned having been longest in tenure. He also conducted a hotel for a time in the Hurford house building, prior to its enlargement to its present dimensions. John Black also subsequently kept hotel in the old .Abraham Lind house, a two-story brick, which stood on the site of the Central Savings Bank building, on the southwest corner of Tuscarawas street and Cleveland avenue. Next east of the "Tra\-elers" Rest" was the Hippee home.

This building still stands, but has been radically changed, through its remodeling for business purposes. This stood about twenty-five feet distant from the Hentzell building, and the intervening space is now occupied by another frame building of two stories. George Hippee was a carpenter by trade, but in his later years conducted a grocery, the greater portion of the time at the northwest corner of Tuscarawas and Cherry streets.

Next east of the Hippee house, where the driveway to the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad passenger station is now, stood the residence of the late Jacob Hane, while his tanyard was located on the grounds now occupied by the depot mentioned, while across the railroad tracks, on Saxton street, is the lot utilized as a tan-yard by Samuel D. Slusser. On the front of the lot stood the family residence, which is still standing, though radically changed in appearance.

At the time when the four hotels to which reference has been made: were in operation, Christian Elane kept a hotel about one-fourth of a mile east of the present home of Hon. Joseph Frease, on East Tuscarawas street, ?Totels in and about Canton" in those days were much more numerous than they are today, but it is needless to say that the capacity and accommodations of the several taverns together would not equal that of a single one of our modern hostelries. The writer recalls the time when there were five hotels between Canton and Massillon, and to these reference will be made on other pages of this volume. In this pioneer epoch Stark county had no railroad facilities, and the Ohio canal constituted the great outlet for the farm produce of this and the several adjoining counties. Sixty years ago train after train of from five to ten wagons each could be seen passing through Canton transporting wheat to Massillon, whence the shipments were made by the canal, the town being then known colloquially as the Wheat City. From 1840 until 1S44 the writer was in the employ of L. & S. Rawson, of that city, who were extensive merchants and wheat buyers, and well recalls the great number of wheat wagons that came filing into the town from both east and west, and the scene was indeed a busy one during the season when the wheat was transferred to the Axarehouses and to the canal boats. This was what aided ^-ery materially in sustaining the country taverns, for the farmers comingthrough from Columbiana, Carroll, Jefferson and other counties had to secure food and shelter while on such pilgrimages.

Tanning Business In Early Days

With all our rejoicing at the growth and prosperity of Canton, we must confess to one "lost industry." and that is the tanning business. There have been in the history of our city seven tanneries or tan-yards; now there are none. Still standing on the southeast corner oi Cherry and Third streets, and known to the most of our citizens as the Alexander woolen mills, is a building which was erected as a tannery by the late V. R. Kimball, who al one time was one of our most enterprising and successful merchants. The changes in the exterior of the building have not been very great, the main building being of brick, while the original power house was a frame addition at the rear, the same having long since been torn down.

Probably the oldest tanyard was that of George Stidger, which is yet recalled by a few of the oldest citizens as having been located on the blvjck of lots on the north side of East Tuscarawas street, between Piedmont and Walnut streets, and this was probably the first to disappear. On the west corner of said block John Slusser, father of the late Dr. Lew Sltisser. had a store, and on the east corner was Clark's tavern, which stood for many years. Mr. Scroggs had a hat shop adjoining the Slusser property, said lot now being occupied by the three-story brick building of C. C. Snyder. In the middle of the block, formerly the site of the Stidger tannery, the late John Malline resided and conducted a grocery for many years. The two-story brick buildings which he there erected are still standing. The third tanyard recalled by the writer was known as Fogle's, and was located on the east side of Walnut street, between Third and Fourth streets. The residence built by William Fogle was on the northeast C(irner of Fourth and Walnut streets and is still standing, being a two-story brick building. It was occupied for many years by the late Robert Latimer and family, while later tenants were Joseph Crevoisie, Sr., and David Sherrick. In 1864 the late Nicholas Bour jjurchased the property and took up his residence there, while the house is still occupied by his children. The finu'th tannery was that of James Hazlett, and this \\as in operation for many years. It was located on the south side of .Seventh street, running from Piedmont to \\'alnut street. The main building was a twostor_\- frame structure, located on the corner now occupied by Parr's brick blacksmith and wagon shop. Tanning- vats filled almost the entire lot. This building was afterward used for school purposes for a time, and in later \-ears was utilized as a wagon shop.

The brick building several hundred yards northwest from the power house of the present city w ater works and occupied of late years as a brewery, was erected by the late William Christmas as a tannery, who there contiimed in this line of enterprise until his death, when a comparatively young man. He was also engaged in the mercantile business at the same time, and his death was considered a great loss to the community. At the time he built his tannerv he also constructed the dam that now forms the htautil'ul little pniid cir lake in Westlawn cemetery, and du^ therefrom the race to his tannery, therehy utilizing the outlet of Meyer's lake for ])o\ver in the grinding of bark. \V\s son, Willi.ini JI. Christmas, died shortly after the Ale.xican war, in which he was a particijiant. Hane's tanyard was of more modern times. riiis tannery occupied a two-story frrnne building that stood on the site of the present Wheeling & Lake Erie railroad station, on b'ast Tuscarawas street. The proprietor. Jacob l.lane. will be remembered by nian_\- of our citizens. , He died several years ago. having lived retired for a l"ng period in his home on High street. The .Slnsser tannery was undoubtedly the last to be built in Canton and was also proiiably the last to abandon the industry here. It was built by b)lin Slusser and carried on in later years by his son. the late Samuel D. Slusser. This was likewise located on b'ast Tuscaraw.as street, immcdiatelv across the railroad track from the passenger station above mentioned, Saxtoii street separating this tanyard from that df Air. Hane. The two-story frame building used for so many years by ]\Tr. .Slusser for tanning is still stanchng on the original site, and is fitted u]) for residence pur- ])oses. 'i'he one-storv brick building, facing on Tuscarawas street, that had been used as a residence by Samuel D. Slusser, is also standing. is used for various purposes. Of the seven owners of lanyards, as noted in this connection, all except Mr. 1 lane had also been merchants in C"anton Mr. Kimball did a \ery large business and finall\- built the store room now used by George 11. Span.gler, on the east side of South Market street square. The building was considered at the time of its erecticMi a mammoth affair. .\n addition has since been made at the rear. Init the front remains almost the same as it was at the time of erection.

Mr. Ilazlett was the fir>t lu build there, the original building having been a twt)-story brick structure, running south as far as the present .\ndrews l)akery. On the site of this bakery st(jod a t\\i>-stiir\' frame l)uilding. whicii was used by Mr. Ilazlett as a wareroom in cmmection with his st(jre. The storeroom on the corner was not quite as wide as that miw occupied by Mr. Sweitzer's bank, and the balance of the bm'lding was used by Mr. Hazlett as a residence. After the property passed into the hamls of Messrs. .Saxton and .McKinley the building was extended south U\ the Eockius building and all made three st(iries in height, since which time it has been known as the McKinley block. I'"(ir some time after Mr. Hazlett retired from the mercantile business the store room was not occupied. In 1840 the writer of this sketch rented said roiini from Mr. Hazlett and had it enlarged, and then moved from Massillon tr> Canton and Continued in liusiness in this location for ten years, when the l)usiness was sold ti^ two former clerks in the store. Messrs. Meyer and Fisher, who there continued the mercantile enterprise for a number of years.

The store of William Christmas \\a- in a one-story frame building that stood about where the east entrance to the present court house is located, anrl the late Isaac Harter. Sr.. \v?s his most reliable beljier. ( leorge Stidgei' had his store near the middle of the east side "i the public scpiare. and William l'"o,gle'~ store was on the northeast ci irnei' of the i)ublic .--quarc. the budding ha\'in.g been an ordinar\' two-story

Along from iNio to iXi_> the Indian- were (]uite troublesome along our northwestern borders, and our pioneers were in constant jeo|)- ardv from this source, while (ireat r.rit'ain sliowed lier sympathy w itli the Indians, so that in June. 1S12. war was declared against Great Britain, wliile prior to this time an act of congress authorized an increase in our regular army of thirty-five thousand men, many volunteers coming forward. L'nder this act Governor R. J. Meigs, tiien chief executive of the state of Ohio, raised three regiments of troops to serve twelve months, their headquarters being at Dayton. Duncan AIcArthur was colonel of the h'irst, James Findlay of the Second, L.ewis Cass of the Third Regiment. A fourth regiment came from Urhana, under the command of Colonel Miller, who liad been a particil)ant in the battle of Tip])ecanoe.

About the mil Idle of June this little army of t\\enty-fi\e Innulred men. under ciimmand of (leneral William Hull, governor of Michigan, started toward the northwestern part of the state, landing on the Mauniee river and having" erected Forts McArtluu\ Necessity and Findlay. By carelessness on the part of the government no official word had been sent to the frontier regarding the war, while the Britisli liad taken advantage of tiiis oversight by making ready to take our men Ijy storm. While on the borders of tiie Maumee the personal effects of our army fell into the hands of the enemy, and that campaign ended in demoralizing the army and in ignominious defeat, greatly discouraging further efforts for a time. As nearly as can be ascertained. Canton was at that time the headquarters for the Third Regiment of the Second Brigade of the Fourth Division of Ohio militia. W'hen a call for troops was issued (ieorge Stidger. who had seen military service in the east and had been honored with the title of general, was made captain of the Canton company. There were not enough NoKinteers and consecpiently a draft was made, while one hundred dollars was the standard price for substitutes, and tlie company was thus enabled to bring its membership up to alxnit seventy-five men. After some research the following list of names was obtained b\' the third auditor of the L'nited States treasury : (jeorge Stidger, captain: Robert Cameron, lieutenant; Daniel McClure, ensign; John Miller. John Shorb. William \'. Chamberlain. Christian hdickinger. sergeants; John Rowland, Ge(.)rge Cribbs, Jacob Fssig, Closes Andrews, corporals; Thomas Neily. bugler; and tlie following prixates: Ezekiel .Vlexanrler, William Andrews. Thomas .'\lexander. William Brouse. John (iutchall ( ])robably (jotchall). John dinger, George Crasimore. John Carper, Benjamin Croninger, Garret Crusen, Alexander Cameron, Samuel Duck, (jeorge Dew alt. Adam Fssig. John Elder. Daniel Farber. James (irafi:'. Thomas (iraft", 'Jhomas Hurf<:ir(l. John Kroft. John Koontz, ( ieorge Kirkpatrick. Flenry Li\'- ingston, Samuel McClelland, George Monroe, Jacob Afyers, James Moore, John Potts, Samud Patttjn, John Risey. Jacob Myers. James Aloore. John Potts, John Rogers, Abraham Ro(_)se. James Riddle, John Risey, Jacob Swigert, John Slusser, William Smith. Daniel Stephens, Thomas Shields. John Shineberger. Jacob Slusser, Robert Sorrels and Bezaleel Thompson. It is not known whether this was the list when the)' enlisted or when ihev were mustered out.

Captain Stidger"s company camped for several weeks at Wooster. where there was a block house. Finally the company received orders to go forward toward the ?klaumee. to a point near where the village of Perrysburg is located. They remained there for some time, but saw no active service and were finall\' musterefl out. I'or some time after this they often met for drill and parade, feeling that there might still come a sudden call for tliem to defend their homes and countr\-. but tliat time did not come to them as an organization.

After the war of 1S12 militia trainings or musters were much in \-ogue and each season were lield until about the middle of the last centur\-, when the\- were gi\en up. These annual gatherings brought a good many ])eo])Ie from all parts of the county ; the place of meeting was most frequently in Canton, although quite often they met at Osnaburgh and a few other towns in the county. When they assembled in Canton the Stidger ten-acre field was the usual place of meeting and drilling. This tract then consisted of a field beginning at the southwest corner of Seventh and Wells streets, running south to South street, west to Clarion, then north to Seventh street and east to Wells street. No buildings were then located on this large tract of beautiful land except a barn, which stood for a number of years near the entrance corner, Seventh and Wells streets. Along the upper and west line of said field was quite a long row of wild cherry trees, which afforded shelter from the sun. Among the prominent men who todk part in these parades was General Jolm Augustine. of Osnalnirgh township, and Captain George Krieghbaum, of T,ake township. The two-story brick building in wliich the latter lived is still standing, about one mile east of Greentown. Colonel Cribbs, of Canton, was also more or less conspicuous in those early military trainings. Then there was ^Villiam Beals, who was particularly interested in the cavalry department. He was by trade a harnessmaker and had his shop on the same lot which is now occupied iiy tlie First Methodist Episcopal church. He removed finally to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he passed the remainder of his life. After Mr. Beals retired from the liarness business on the corner of Cleveland a'-enue and Tuscarawas street, the late John Euckius took possession of the property and there continued in the same line of business for many years.

Among the bpys who gathered to see the military training and parades the writer recalls J. Sweeney. W. H. Chapman, William Mc- Curdy, John S. Saxton. William Hartzell, Charles Burr, F. R. ]\Iyers. Lewis Slusser, William Hartman, Alcnias Lohr, D. J. Begges. Edward Drayton, J. Patton and many others, all except two or three of whom have passed to the other world. The great Stidger field is nowall closely built up with comfortable and beautiful houses, with intersecting streets and beautiful shade trees. The change is wonderful and still the change continues from year to year, representing, it is to be hoped, a tending toward the better and higher life, so that oiu' progress may ever be onward and upward.

Canton'S First Fire Engine

The first fire engine used in Canton was the "Phoenix," which was purchased about 1822. The next engine brought here was tlie "Fairmount," which was introduced in 1830. The late William Christmas, one of the leading merchants in Cantun at that time, was delegated by tli6 village authorities to buy said engine. It had been used a short time in the city of Philadelpliia. but was practicallv as good as nev\- when brought here, and while it was much larger than the "Phcenix," antl had a doul)le tier of brakes, the "Phanix" having but one, it required a much larger force of men to move and operate the second engine than tlie first, therefore tlie new engine never became po])ular among the people. It was good for display and dress parade and made a fine appearance, ])ut for real efficiency and practical use it never was consitlered a success.

Neither of these engines was a suction engine. All the water thrown by either of them had to be introduced into the reservoir by means of buckets, pumping or other primitive methods. Under this condition of things the town council had passed an ordinance requiring every freeholder to lie provided with fire buckets. These were made of sole leather, tall but narrow, and held about as much as the ordinary water bucket. The name of the owner, and sometimes fancy decorations, were painted on these buckets, and they were kept in some convenient place, so that at the first alarm of lire they were accessible. A few of the old leathern buckets are yet in the possession of the descendants of some of our pioneers. At the time of the burning of the old jail, which stood on the same block of lots now occupied b}' the Yohe hotel, on North Market street. Canton experienced what was considered a great fire, this being about the year 1833. The building was constructed of a double tier of heavy logs and a frame construction outside of this, so there w^as much combustible material in the building, this being added to by the material in the carpenter shop which was there conducted by Thomas Cunningham.

All citizens were supposed to be in line to supply the engine with water, boys and women in the empty-bucket line and able-bodied men in the line along which the filled buckets were passed. Upon the occasion noted a few men who were lookers on and refused to go into the line so angered the man in charge of the nozzle that he turned the w^ater upon them for a few moments, soon sending them away well drenched, and no further refusals for such volunteer service were heard of for some time afterward. Joseph S. Saxton has furnished an old record of 1836, in which the followingnames appear in connection with the personnel of the fire department of that time, the occupation of each being subjoined for the purpose of more ready identification at the present : Firemaster, Dr. Harmon Stidger; axmen, S. A. Stout, Samuel Petree (weaver), Henry Slusser (hotelkeeper) ; laddermen : Daniel Hilbert (carpenter), John C. Bockius (shoe dealer), George Dunbar, Jr. (chairmaker), John Hoover (carpenter) ; bookmen, Samuel Slusser (tanner), Daniel Gottshall (printer), Samuel Lahm (attorney), J. D. Brown (attorney).

linemen; Abraham Lind (carpenter), John Shorb (merchant), John Slusser (merchant), J. G. Lester (hardware dealer), Martin Wikida! (merchant). Every citizen of those times was recognized as a fireman, or at least it was expected of him to work assiduously and unvaryingly at every fire, as if that were his only business.

The first suction engine used in Canton was the "Rescue," which was brought here in 1855, and soon a well-drilled company was organized to care for the same and see that it was put in good use on all occasions of fire. The late R. Allison Dunbar and Thomas W. Saxton were the first two captains of said company, on whose membership roll appear many old and familiar names, but the list is too long to be consistently entered in this connection. A few of the members are still living, but the great majority have passed away. The next suction engine that was brought here was the "Washington," in 1859, and of the company in charge of the same many will remember that the late Christian Oberly was captain. He took a. great interest in the fire department and his company often engaged in contests with other towns in the trial of their machines, and quite a number of medal? and trumpets were secured as trophies in this way and are retained in the possession of his grandson, Charles L. Oberly, of this city. Upon these are inscribed the dates of the contests, thus marking the time of the several \ictories of Captain Oberly and his men. The late John Snyder was for a long time first lieutenant and Peter Roemhill second lieutenant. On one occasion Captain Oberly was badly beaten and as badly disgusted. This was shortly after the completion of the Canton water works system. The company was anxious to make a display of its ability to make its engine cope with the new system. The company turned out in fine spirits and attached its suction hose to one of the public hydrants and the word was given to turn on the water, but the pressure w as so great that it burst the connecting hose ot the engine and the water went in all directions to the dismay and discomfort of the captain and his excellent company. There was another small suction engine in use for a time, known as the "Stark," but it has been impossible to learn the exact time of its introduction. The late Z. P. Bowen was captain of the company which handled this engine, which was sold about thirty years ago, to the citizens of Orrxille. Ohio, whereupon the Canton company in charge of the same was disbanded. For so small an engine it was considered a very good one.

Tile first steam lire engine was introduced in Canton in iS68, the same having been purchased largely through the efforts of the late Louis Schafer. and the same was therefore named in his lionor. It is still in the possession of the city. The second steamei" was brought here in 1880 antl was called the "Daniel Worlev" and this is kept in the central engine house. while the "Louis Schafer" is stationed in hose house No. 2. Both of these engines are available for use at any time. Imt the present effective water system and fire department of the city almost entirelx do away with the use of the steamers. Chemical engines w'ere first introduced here in 1885 and lia\e proved so useful in the first stages of a fire that it is not probable they will be dispensed with.

After the water works were established, '.ib(jut thirty years ago. and numerous hose houses were located in the various parts of the city, it soon de\eloped that we could not rel\- upon fire ])rotection by \olunteer companies, as in early times, and therefore a i>aid fire department became necessary. Through the maintenance of the same, with the e.xcellent facilities provided, it is believed that Canton has- as good fire i)rotection as any city of comparative population.

In 1850, somewhat more than a half century ago, we had no railroad in Canton, and our only outlet for produce was via the Ohio canal, jMassillon being the chief shipping point, as has been stated in i)receding articles. Considerable produce was broug'ht in and shipped from Navarre and Canal FuUon, but our neighbors in Massillon had the boom at that time and the town was righth' designated as the "\\dieat City."

Our merchants in Canton in getting their supplies from the east had to transport them by way of the canal to Massillon and thence overland to their destination, or ha\e them hauled from P'ittsburg by such teamsters as Barry Goodin and John Sell. The latter method involved a heavy rate of freight charges, while six or seven days were required to make the trip. The writer, looking from the w indow of his residence, at the corner of Tenth and Market street, can scarcely realize how great ha\e l;een the changes since the Pittsburg, Fort \\'ayne & Chicago Railroad w as first completed in J 852, while other roads have entered the city since that time. i\e\erting to the appearance of the city at that Inue, it may be .'^aid that the south line of the xillage corporation was South street. On the southeast corner of that street and Market street resided E. C. Patterson and family, in a one-sory building, jiartly brick and partly frame. On the opposite corner, the southwest corner of South and Market, lived Peter Shorb, the industrious cooper, m a small frame house. Bevond this corner at that time on the west side of Market street w'as the Raynolds field of about ten acres, used for agricultural purposes. On the east side tliere was no house beyond that of Mr. Patterson on Market street until was reached tliat of Adam Kininiel, the gunsmith. Ho li\ ed in a two-story frame house, about tlie site of the present home of John Class, while his barn stood about one hundred feet farther .-uuth and als(/ fronted on Market street.

CJn the i)pposite side of Market street, there were no houses until near the present store of the Melchoirs. 81 1 South Market street. A little neirth. of this Irication stood a two-story frame house, which was in turn occupied by a inimber of different families. The residence ai 806 South Market street, owned and occupied for man}- years by Mrs. Elizabeth Melchoir, was the nrst home for a long time previously of a \ery i)eculiar old woman In- the name of Frederica I'iegner. For years the boys would tease This old lady by going past her house and whistling vigorously. For some reason this indulgence on the part of any person passing her domicile would cause her to grow greatly excited and if they did not mo\-e on very quickly, she was certain to appear at her door and gi\e ihem a relentless "tongue lashing" for their conduct. The boys learned of this weakness and often improved the opportunity to annoy the old woman, so that the entire village lM?eame acquainted with the facts. After leaving the house mentirmed no others were south of ;it on either side of the street until the farm hou.se of Dr. Willett was reached. This property was iifterward purchased b}- the late Peter Hoiisel. and soon after the ad\ent of the railroad this fami was platted into town lots, and the old two-store frame dwelling was removed over to Navarre street, just west of McKinle}- a Venue and on the south side of the street. The present residence on the original site of this was erecfted afterward and \vas occupied by the Hijusel famil}- until after the death of Peter Housel, and later by H. W. Thomas.

" :'At that time tliere were still visible all ^lc»iag past the Willett farm to the creek, evidence of the old canal tliat was finished a numbi?f'.iit Aears before, but ne\'er used or e\'en hlled with water. On South Cherry street at that time there were no houses south of the present railroad track, except the John Hane farm house, while the large barn stood on the opposite site of Cherry street. The old farm house is still extant, south of Plane street. This entire farm is^now built up, having been sold in town lots very soon after the railroad was an assured thing. John Hane was active as a Christian worker in the early history of the E\-angeIical church, on East Fourth street, and ga\e very freely in support of the cause. His son John removed to Marion, Ohio, and became one of the leading bankers of that city, acctxmulating a large fortune. He died a few years' ago.

\'ery soon after the railroad became an assured fact, Ephraim Ball and Cornelius Aultman came here and located on the site of the present Aultman works. Other manufacturers were also attracted here. Wheat buying began and the exodus of trade from Canton to Massillon gradually ceased. The three or four hotels which had prex'iouslv conducted a profitable business along the highway between the two towns began to feel the loss of their trade and one by one they were closed as places of public entertainment. A few years after the first railroad passed througji Canton others came in, and a \ariety of manufactories began to spring up. The town began to grow in population and to enlarge its borders, while the old corporate lines are almost forgotten, and the future of the city is most auspicious.

Canton is now much larger than Massilloii, but it is gratifying to note the fact that the "Wheat City" has not gone backward, though its business is quite radically changed. With the loss of the produce l)usiness to the town, other avenues of enterprises were opened. Rich deposits of coal have been found-and been properly developed, and through this source the prosperity of the citv has been enhanced in later vears, while manufacturing' and commercial enl6o terprises of wide scope and importance have been there built up. It is true of Massillon, as of Canton, that it is surrounded by one of the best agricuhural sections in the state. Both cities have business men, manufacturers and capitalists who are in the front rank, so that the march of progress is certain to continue, the places being now connected by electric railways, with suburban residences springing up in both directions, while the relations between the two municipalities are most friendly, and it is not difficult to imagine that when another fifty years shall have passed the two will be practically one great city. It is certain that neither Canton or Massillon would consent to give up the railroads and go back to the slow-moving canal boats, the Conestoga wagons, with six-horse teams and the stage coaches, or do without the modern facilities of electricity in its various applications, as in the olden days. The world does move; let us move with it, and we should strive to improve the goodly heritage allotted to us.

Canton'S First Mayor

The old two-story frame residence that stood for so many years on the northeast corner of Tuscarawas and Dewalt streets, was occupied for a long time by John Myers and family, and about 1850 he sold the property to Dr. Brackebush, who resided there a number of years, and up to the time of his death. He had an extensive practice and was well known throughout the county. In later years the property was purchased by Dr. J- M. B}-e, who erected the fine brick residence now standing on the lot.

John Myers, after selling this property, moved across the street into the brick house in which Dr. E. O. Morrow now has his office, and there he lived until his death, in 1856. He was the father of Henry H. Myers and also of Hiram Myers, who at one time kept the Franklin hotel, which was the original part of the old Hurford house. At that time it was a two-story brick building, occupying less than one-fourth of the ground covered by the Hurford hotel. At one time he was also engaged in merchandising. John Myers was also the father of Frank R. Myers, who was so long known as general ticket and passenger agent for the railroads in this part of Ohio, and who later removed to Athens, Tennessee, where he is still living at the time of this writing. Another son was Dr. \Villiam Myers, who had quite an extensive practice at Sandy ville, twelve miles south of Canton, where he died at the age of thirty-eight years. John Myers had two daughters, - Lydia, who married Philip F. Geisse, of Wellsville, Ohio; and Pauline, who died at the age of eighteen years.

John Myers came to Canton in 1810. He was an intelligent and active citizen, was engaged to a considerable extent in farming and stock-growing, and gave some attention to politics. He was the first mayor of Canton, and he had his executive office in a small frame building which he erected on what is now commonly known as the Upham property, west of Dewalt street, while he also used this office for other business purposes.

Shortly after coming to Canton Mr. Myers entered claim to three quarter-sections of land southwest of the village. One of these he sold to George Stidger, and the quarter section west of the Stidger place was known for many years as the Vogelgesang farm. In the early days of Mr. Myers' residence in Canton he was appointed clerk of the courts, and in 1820 he was elected a member of the Ohio legislature, serving two terms. Through his influence while a member of this body George Stidger and Thomas Hurford were appointed associate judges of the court of common pleas.

High School Building, Canton

John Myers purchased at sheriff's sale the tract of land lying south of South street and west of rium street (now knowii as McKinley avenue) and running west to the creek, securing the property at seven and one-half dollars an acre. Afterwards Henry H. Myers bought this property at forty dollars an acre. The block of lots on which the McKinley avenue public school is now located is a part of this tract. At one time Henry H. Myers sold the property to be used for burial purposes, in connection with the old cemetery which lies north of it. Quite a ninnter of interments were made there, but after the opening of Westlawn cemetery and other larger cemeteries that block was abandoned for burial purposes, the remains there interred bemg removed elsewhere, wliile the old burying ground north of the Myers addition is now a nice little park. It was never wholly given over to cemetery purposes. The block was left to the citizens of Canton for burial purposes, and therefore no effort has lieen made to remove all the graves. It is well cared fof and serves the double purpose of a resting place for many of our early citizens and as an attractive little park. The writer can well remember the time when we seldom saw a hearse on the streets. It was the custom in the early history of Canton, when the old cemetery was the general place of burial, to carry the dead on a bier borne on the shoulders of four men. In case the corpse was heavy or the distance greater than usual they would often have two sets of bearers, to relieve each other. To see such a funeral procession passing through our streets tiiday would attract everybody's attention. The same plan was followed in connection with the Lutheran, German Reformed and Catholic cemeteries, all of which were well within the present city corporation. At the time that Henry H. Myers sold the block referred to for cemetery purposes a large barn stood about the site of the present McKinley avenue school building. This was removed by Mr. Myers to the southeast corner of Seventh and Dewalt streets and is at the present time used as a' livery stable, but for some time after its removal to the present site it was used in connection with the lumber business. At that time Henry H. Myers occupied the entire block where the postofifice and Odd Fellows hall now stand. In connection with his lumber business, which was quite extensive in those days, Mr. Myers also kept a general store for a number of years, in the Cassilly block.

The records, so far as the writer has been able to discover, indicate that John Myers was born in Maryland, in 1774, and that he came fo Canton in 1810, his death here occurring in 1856. His mother was a noble Christian woman and lived with him in Canton until his marriage, after which she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Gibson, at Minerva, this county. She was eighty-three years of age at the time of her death.

Canton'S Oldest Hotel

The old Hurford hotel building, which stood for so many years at the corner of Tuscarawas and Court streets and which remained as a familiar landmark until a short time ago, when it was torn down to make way for the ]M-esent fine modern structure on the site, had been vacant for some time previously, having been condemned for hotel purposes.

In 1 814 George Stidger erected the first two-story brick building on this site, and there he kept a hotel for a short time, but during the greater portion of his residence in Canton he lived on the east side of the north public square. He was the father of Mrs. Harriet Whiting, also of the late Mrs. J. G. Lester and of O. P.

and John Stidger, the latter of whom removed to CaHfornia a number of years ago and there passed the remainder of his hfe. After Mr. Stidger retired from the hotel business the same building was used as a hotel, under the ownership of Jacob and Henry Troup. They were brothers of Mrs. John Graham and uncles of Mrs. L. Renick, both well known to Cantonians. After the Troup regime the hotel passed into the hands of Martin Lohr, who was one of Canton's pioneer merchants. He thereafter occupied the entire building until his death, utilizing the front corner room for his store and the remainder of the house as his residence. After his death his nephew, Hiram Myers, kept a store in the same room for some time, after which he again converted the building into a hotel, calling the same the Franklin' house. He built up a good business and was finally succeeded by John D. Snider, who retained the same name to the hotel. After that Hatcher & Ellison bought the property and added another story to the building and extended the same somewhat farther north on Court street and west on Tuscarawas street, making quite an attractive three-story hotel building for those days.

After the original St. Cloud hotel, on the site of the present First Methodist Episcopal church, was destroyed by fire, in 1858, the proprietors, Buckius & Hawk, bought out the firm of Hatcher & Ellison, of the Franklin house, and there continued in the hotel business for a number of years, changing the name to the St. Cloud hotel, by which title the old Hurford block was familiar to the older residents of Canton for many years. A few years after this the property was purchased by Alexander Hurford and the late Peter P. Trump, who leased the hotel to Thomas Nelson, who continued the business, retaining the name of St. Cloud. Later on the hotel was leased by Henry H. Geeting and John Faber, but they were not experienced hotel men and did not long continue the enterprise, which proved a failure. After this the hotel was conducted for some time by Mr. Gillett, who was succeeded by Mr. Cook, who had an excellent reputation as a hotel man, and he did a successful business there for a number of years. He was succeeded by E. D. Ely, who continued to run the hotel for a longer period than had any of his predecessors. After he gave up the house Alexander Hurford was at a loss to secure the right kind of a man to take the property, and though he kept the house open, depending entirely on hired help, this was not satisfactory, and finally he was fortunate in securing the interposition of E. Barnett, who soon revived the business. But the hopes of Mr. Hurford in having thus secured a satisfactory tenant were of brief duration, as the owners of the hotel building on the southeast corner of Cherry and Tuscarawas streets ofifered Mr. Baniett much better financial inducements and agreed to call the hotel the Barnett. and Mr. Barnett accepted their proposition. This again left Mr. Hurford without a landlord, and he then went to Wheeling, West Virginia, and arranged with Edward Norton to come and take charge of the hotel. A few years later John A. Simons became landlord of the Hurford, and he \Aas in time succeeded by Herman Kuhns, who conducted the hotel until it was closed for hotel purposes, on the ist (^f October. 1899, and thereafter it remained vacant until it was finally dismantled to make way for the new building.