Canton Township (part 9 of 62)

On the south end of the present Barnett hotel lot Jacob Bucher had erected a good-sized frame barn, M'ith its gable facing Cherry street, and this stood on the site until the erection of the hotel. A little east of the Bucher house, on Tuscarawas street, and about midway between the house and Saxton street, stood for many years a one-story frame building, occupied sixty years or more ago as the locksmith shop of the firm of Earnhardt & Youngblut. J. B. Barnhart was the father of Mrs. Joseph Biechele, of this city, and he lived for many years in a frame building which stood on the southwest corner of Tuscarawas and Saxton streets, while his partner and brother-in-law, Nicholas Youngblut. li\ed on the southeast corner. Both came from

Germany, and the writer well recalls the time of their arrival, and also that they came often to his father's gunsmith shop to exchange tools, the same kind being demanded in many kinds of work in the two establishments, while the principals of the two were on the best of terms with each other and ever ready to extend accommodations. Both the scenes and business of those early days have greatly changed.

Old Home Of The Belden Family

Among the most fashionable and popular homes in Canton two generations ago was that of Hon. G. W. Belden and family. This old brick cottage was the scene of many a happy gathering, not only of the immediate family and relatives, but also of the best citizens of those days. The outlines of the old cottage are still standing on the lot on the northwest corner of Tuscarawas street and Cleveland avenue, but the business building located immediately in front of it has, with other obstructions, conspired to almost place this fine old home out of sight.

When this substantial brick cottage was built by Mr. Belden, the entire grounds in front were kept in fine order, and the interior furnishings of the house were of the best of those days. Mrs. Belden was a most excellent and intelligent woman, and the home was always a pleasant one in which to visit. Mrs. Belden was a most genial and gracious entertainer and the writer bel!e\es that she was a communicant of the Protestant Episcopal church, but as there was no church organization of this denomination in Canton at the time, she generally attended the Presbyterian church. About fifty years ago her sister, Mrs. Peter Hugus, also resided here, and she and her husband were both active and consistent members of the Methodist

Episcopal church during a residence of about a decade in the town. They went hence to Omaha, Nebraska, where they passed the remainder of their lives. Their son, John, is living in Pasadena, California, and is a man of wide influence in that locality, and a successful business man.

George W. Belden was a man of great ability and was the architect of his own fortunes. His parents were of the old New England stock, the father from Massachusetts and the mother from Connecticut. Of the ten children in the family, George W. was the second son. He was born in Canandaigua, New York, September 24, 1810, and died in Canton, Ohio, on the i6th of August, 1868, being fifty-eight years of age. For some time the Belden family lived at Middlebury, Ohio, and while there young George worked at the printing business. He afterward assisted in the survey of the Ohio canal and later clerked for som etime in the store of Mathew Johnson, in Massillon. about the year 1828. He began the study of law in the oflice of Hon. David A. Starkweather, in. Canton, in 1829, and the latter part of that year he was appointed receiver of tolls from the canal, in the office of James Duncan. In the early part of 1830, in company with Dr. J. Townsend, he started a newspaper in Massillon, the Massillon Gazette, but early in the history of this enterprise they turned the paper over to Captain James Allen, who made a success of the publication. The Captain had been previously a citizen of Canton, and was a brother-in-law of Mrs. Harriet Whiting, who still resides here. Captain Allen's wife was an older sister of Mrs. After Mr. Belden disposed of his interest in the Massillon Gazette, he resumed the study of law, while for a short time he again held a position in the collector's ofifice in Massillon. In June, 1830, he was united in marriage to Miss Rachel E. McCormick, who proved a most excellent and prudent life com- panion. They became the parents of three daughters and one son, and the son, Henry S., and the eldest daughter, Sarah B., the wife of Hon. Joseph I-'rease, are yet residents of Canton.

In 1 83 1, after his admission to the bar, George \V. Belden became a law partner of John Harris, under the firm name of Harris &; Belden, and they gained quite an e.xtensive practice, Mr. Harris having at that time been considered one of the giants in his profession. On the .30th of June, 1834, Governor Robert I.ucas appointed Mr. Belden lieutenant colonel of the First Regiment of Riflemen in Ohio, and in October of the following year he w-as elected prosecuting attorney of Stark county, while in 1836 he received further military honors through his appointment, by Governor Lucas, to the oflice of brigadier general of the Sixth Division of the Ohio state militia. In 1837 Hon. Joseph Vance, then governor of the state, appointed General Belden district judge. After the expiration of his term on the bench, he entered into a professional partnership with the late Louis Schaefier, but shortly afterward he was returned to the bench by popular vote, and after his term of office he united with B. F. Leiter in forming the law firm of Belden & Leiter. During the term of this professional alliance his son-in-law, Hon. Joseph Frease, studied law in the office of the firm, as did also Hon. Jc* seph Pool, who later attained distinction as judge of the superior court in New York City. After these various changes Judge Belden was again called to this district bench, and after retiring therefrom he and his son-in-law, Joseph Frease, formed a professional partnership, under the title of Belden & Frease. After a few years of successful practice, the firm was dissolved, owing to the fact that Mr. Belden had received the appointment of United States attorney, while Mr. Freas was elected to the bench of the court of common pleas, which office he ably filled for a number of terms. Finally Judge

Belden again resumed the practice of his profession, taking into partnership a young man who was then but little known, but who had the love and esteem of those with whom he became acquainted, and that was William McKinley, Jr., our late revered and martyred President. Judge Belden passed the remainder of liis long and useful life in Canton, and his memory is revered by those who have recognition of his life and services.

The remodeling and enlarging of the old ^lathews block, now known as the Mrs. George D. Harter block, whereby the whole lot, sixtyseven by one hundred feet in dimensions, was covered by the one store building, reminded the writer of the changes that have there taken place since he first knew the location. When he was a boy of about nine years, the site was occupied Ijy a two-story frame building, standing at the corner of Market and Eighth streets. This building was only eighteen by twenty-eight feet in dimensions, and it is yet standing at 708 South High street. When Dr. J. H. Mathews built his three-story brick block on South Market street, the old frame building was moved to the northeast corner of High and Michael streets, its present location. New siding has since been put on the house and an addition built on the rear, but the main building remains practically the same as. when first erected, more than seventy years ago. In the south half of this building, Martin Lohr had his dry-goods store, while the balance of the building was used as his residence. He later removed to a twostory brick building on the northwest corner of Tuscarawas and Court streets, w^hich was the original part of the Hurford hotel. Mr. Lohr there continued in the mercantile business until his death, some ten years later. Mrs. Lohr was an excellent assistant in the store. In those days lady clerks were not employed, but sometimes the wife of the proprietor would assist, and Mrs. Lohr did this admirably. They had one son, Menias Lohr, who would occasionally assist in the store, though he devoted most of his time to other occupations. He became the father of several children, and his death here occurred several years ago. Martin Lohr Avas devoted to his business and was very frugal, so that he succeeded in accumulating a considerable amount of property. For some time he owned the entire block of lots on the east side of Cleveland avenue between Eighth and Ninth streets, finally selling to George Rank, who built for a residence the two-story brick building now occupied by the Woman's Exchange, and also the three-story block occupied by the plumbing establishment of Theobold & Company. Mr. Rank erected the latter building for a planing mill and carpenter shop, and he thus utilized it until his death. Martin Lohr also owned the entire block of lots where the United Brethren church now stands, on the east side of Cleveland' avenue between Tenth and South streets, and a portion of this block was the last to pass out of the possession of Menias Lohr, his only son.

Immediately north of the little two-story buildi-ng first mentioned in this article stood a one-story building of frame construction and about fifteen by twenty feet in dimensions. This was used by Esquire Dunbar as his office, he having been incumbent of the position of justice of the peace for a number of years. It was also used as the postoffice of the town at one time, and for various other purposes at different intervals. Both of these buildings stood on the lot now owned by Mrs. George D. Harter. On the next or middle lot of said black was a one-story frame building, and adjoining this on the north was a two-story frame building. These two buildings were occupied seventy years ago by Dr. Gardner, as office and residence, respectively. After his death the property passed into the hands of Dr. Robert Estep. who utilized them for the same purpose as had his predecessor. Dr. Estep built up an excellent practice and was known as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of this section. He was the father of Dr. Joseph Estep and the late James B. Estep, who was engaged in the dry goods business in Canton and later in ]\Iassillon, while later he removed to Cokimbus, Ohio, where he passed the remainder of his life. Dr. Joseph Estep entered into his fathers extensix'e practice and well upheld the professional prestige of the name. He died several years ago. and the property mentioned soon afterward passed into the possession of Louis Dumont. who erected the present building on the site, the two frame building's having been destroyed by fire.

The older citizens will recognize these hurried outlines as correct, and to the younger folk it may prove entertaining as a part of the history of the growing city of Canton.

The Hazlett Property

The McKinley block, southeast corner of the public square, is familiar to everyone in Canton and to multitudes outside the city. Sixty years ago this was well known as the Hazlett corner. James Hazlett built a fine two-story brick Iniilding there more than eighty years ago. In the corner room next to the square he conducted his mercantile business for a number of years. It was called a dry-g'oods store, but all such establishments in the early days kept some groceries, hardware and crockery in stock, in connection with the general stock of dr^ goods, ' wliile in exchange for goods were received various kinds of country produce, such as butter, eg"gs, lard, dried fruit and other smaller products of the farm. Mr. Hazlett also bought a great many liides and pelts, since he also conducted a tan yard, which has been described in a preceding article. This tan yard was located one block east of his store, and in making excavations in later years for the brick building now standing on tlie lot several of the old tanning vats were found. James Hazlett was also interested in a furnace located in North Industry and known as the Congress furnace. The writer can well remember the old-style ten-plate stoves manufactured there and bearing upon them the inscription, "Congress Furnace." John and Matthey Laird were interested with Mr. Hazlett in the furnace business.

The brick building erected by Mr. Hazlett on the site of the present McKinley block is still an integr.'il jjortion of the modern and attractive block which bears the name of the late and martyred President, whose interest in his home city of Canton remained insistent and deep until the time of his tragic death. James Hazlett retired from the mercantile business about 1843, and his store room was thereafter vacant for a number of years. In 1849 t^^ writer returned to Canton from Massillon, where he had resided for nine years, and rented from Mr. Hazlett this store, in which he conducted his clothing and merchant tailoring business. Finally finding the room too small for the proper accommodation of the enterprise he pre\-ailed upon Mr. Hazlett to enlarge the store by taking in the hall and parlors of the residence portion of the building, and the business was continued in the enlarged quarters until 1858, when it was sold to Herman Meyer and Solomon Fisher, who had been clerks in the store and who there conducted a successful business for a number of years. The rooms were later changed, while various lines of business have been there conducted prior to the final remodeling of the block and the building of the present fine structure.

James Hazlett had four sons and two daughters, namely : William, Isaac, James, Robert, Mary and Emma. All are now deceased except tlie last named. William Hazlett became a successful physician in Pittsburg; Isaac was an attorney and held the office of probate judge for some time; James, Jr., finally removed to Iowa, where he became successful in business, his death there occurring several years ago; Roljert died before attaining his majority. The writer lielieves that Canton has ne\er had a family of higher reputation for honesty and reliability than the Hazlett family. Mrs. Hazlett was a sister of the late John and Matthew Laird. Isaac Hazlett will be remembered by many as having been the second incumbent of the o.flice of probate judge in the county. Judge George W. Raff having been the first. James Hazlett, Sr., was likewise known as judge, as he had been appointed one of the associate judges under, the old regime. Judges Loutzenheizer and Christmas, as well as Judge Welker, of Perry township, all gained their titles in a similar way, none of these having been lawyers. The adoption of our present constitution, more than half a century ago, abolished this judicial office. James Hazlett, Sr., had one very prominent peculiarity, and that was that he was extremely episodical in conversation. In speaking of any person or event he could not avoid reference to contingent circumstances and various incidental allusions, thus making his story of far greater length than it would have been given liy the average man. But all who knew him loved hini and regarded him as a true and honest man, and when time was not making insistent demands all enjoyed listening to him, but those in a hurry would sometimes wax restless. Most persons have some peculiarity of idiocyncracy, and this was the peculiarity of Mr. Hazlett, who built and occupied for years what is now known as the McKinlev IjJock.

The Old Begges Building

On the lot now occupied by the Commercial block, on the northeast corner of Market and Seventh streets, there was erected about eightyfive years ago a good substantial frame building of two stories. It was built by James Begges, father of the late David J. Begges, and was occupied by the former as a residence and store until his death, in 1830. James Begges was among the first merchants to locate in Canton. He came here from New Lisbon, Ohio, his brother, Da\id, of that place, having been greatly interested in the building of the Sandy & Beaver canal, which ran from the Ohio river, near Smith's Ferry, to Bolivar, this state. The canal was completed but was never practical, only one boat ever passing through the same. This ventui'e proved a great financial loss to David Begges. while others were so crippled by the incidental loss of their investments that they never fully recovered. James Begges was a young man at the time of his death, and his widow and their son, David J., lived in the house mentioned for a number of years after he had passed away. David J. clerked for a number of years in the store of the late Isaac Harter, and about this time his mother became the wife of Judge William Henry, of Wooster, Ohio, whither she moved, her son remaining in Canton. After clerking for Mr. Harter, Mr. Begges was fortunate in securing a legacy from some of his relatives and he then engaged in business for himself, opening a china and toy store on the east side of south public square, where he did a good business for a number of years. Ray J. Bour was one of Mr. Begges' first clerks and in this capacity gained his first experience in the crockery business. The store in the Begges building occupied the south room, and the room north of the hall was used as a parlor by the family, while the remainder of the building was also adapted to residental purposes and thus used by the family. It was in this store that the late Martin Wikidal began his mercantile career in Canton, and there he continued several years, after which he purchased the Joseph Shorb property, which was the middle lot of the present court house block, and there he maintained his mercantile business until he retired permanently from the same, eventually selling the property to the county for the use to which it is now applied. While Mrs. Begges was yet residing with her son in this house the Rev. Timothy M. Hopkins, then pastor of the I'resbyterian church, rented the room over the store for the purpose of opening a select school, and at this time an outside stairway was constructed, to aft'ord access to the school room without interfering with the remaining part of the house.

In those days we had no public schools, all being privately conducted and maintained, and as the Rev. Mr. Hopkins was a competent scholar and a very genial and popular man, his school room was soon filled with the best young folk of the town, among the families represented being the Hazletts, Saxtons, Kimballs and other leading ones. The Presbyterian church at that time was quite weak, and from the support given the pastor in the maintaining of his school the church was enabled to keep so excellent a man much longer than it could have otherwise, without extraneous support from some other source. The school continued for some time and will lie remembered by many of our older citizens.

The Begges building stood until 1851, when the property was purchased by the Farmers' Lhiion, when the old frame building was removed and the present three-story Ijrick building erected. The Farmers' Union, a stock concern, also engaged in the mercantile and milling business, having purchased the brick mill of John Shorb, as is noted in the article descriptive of that and other mills, on preceding pages. This companv soon became financially in\'olved and finally the building passed into the hands of Louis Koons, while it is the belief of the writer that it is still owned by his heirs. For quite a time the large hall on the third floor of this building was the largest and best public hall in the city. Concerts, lectures and Sunday school entertainments were often held in this room, which was comomnly known as Commercial Hall. Finally other assembly rooms more easy of access became available, through the erection of new buildings, and the old Commercial Hall was finally abandoned for such uses.

The grading on Seventh street at this point has made considerable change in the surrounding properties. At the time the Begges building was standing on the corner the ground from Market street to the back part of said building was almost level, and from there on the hill was quite steep, while it descended lower than the present level of Piedmont street at that point. This hill was a favorite coasting place for the boys of the town.

Mrs. Begges removed to Wooster after her marriage to Judge Henry, as before stated, and after his death she returned to Canton and with her son erected a pleasant cottage on North Market street, a short distance above Calvary Presbyterian church, and now owned and occupied by Mrs. F. M. VVertz. D. J. Begges married Mrs. J. D. Snider and with his wife and mother he resided in the cottage mentioned until both his wife and mother died, and they are laid to rest in Westlawn cemetery, as was also Mr. Begges, who died when well advanced in years.

Many will remember that D. J. Begges was, familiarly known as "Doc" Begges. This was not because he ever studied medicine or had practiced, but was due to the fact that when he was a small boy he often went into Dr. Simmons' office and said he wanted to be a doctor. To please the little fellow, Dr. Simmons would occasionally give him a vial or two filled with colored water, which greatly pleased the youngster. In his mature years there is no indication that he ever manifested any desire to study or practice medicine, but the title of "Doc" clung to him until his death. Such are the trifling incidents which some times perpetuate sobriquets or nicknames from youth to old age.

The Old Shorb Corner

The Cassilly block, on the southeast corner of Market and Tuscarawas street, is familiar to all citizens of Canton. Sixty years ago a two-story brick building stood on this corner, which was then known as Shorb's corner. The building was erected by Jacob Shorb, the grandfather of Thomas and Edward Cassilly, who now own this fine and valuable property. The building there erected in' Jacob Shorb had but two store rooms, on Market street, there being one on either side of the central hall, which served as an entrance to the residence portion of the building. The store room on the left of the hall vvas the corner room and was occupied by the general store conducted by Mr. Shorb. The room at the right of the hall was occupied for some time by Peter Cassilly, for general merchandising, gi^oceries constituting the mo.st important part of the enterprise. After this George W. Sickafoos had a general store in this room for a number of years. He removed from Canton to Freeport, Illinois, where he continued in the mercantile business until his death, several years later. His wife was a daughter of Mr. Vogelgesang, who lived three miles southwest of Canton.

After Mr. Shorb gave up his mercantile business, the room which had been his headquarters was occupied for some time by D. B. Pecker, who there conducted a dry-goods business. One of his principal clerks was Daniel Burget, who came here from the village of

Paris, this count}-. He was a very good musician and was popular among the young folk of those times. Afterward the room on the corner was occupied for a number of years by the late Joseph Hartman, where, he had his clothing and merchant-tailoring establishment. For quite a time his son-in-law, Peter Shimp, was associated with him in business. Mr. Shimp came here from Osnaburg, and he will be well remembered by many of our older citizens. He clerked for a number of years in the dry-goods store of O. T. Browning, but after his marriage to Miss Elizabeth Hartman he became associated with his father-in-law in the business mentioned. Later he removed to Chicago, where he became cjuite successful in the real-estate business. Both he and his wife died a number of years ago.

It was in this same Shorb corner that Schilling & Herbruck afterward engaged in the drygoods business. The firm was composed of John Schilling and Augustus Herbruck. That part of the lot of the Cassilly block now occupied as an eating house was vacant for a number of years, but was eventually built up with a two-story structure of the same design and construction as the remainder of the building previously erected. This store was occupied for some time b}- Henry H. Myers, Avho was there engaged in the dry-goods business. Afterward Patton & Saxton there conducted a gTocery, and still later D. J. Begges had his grocery and toy store in the rootn.

The old two-storj' building first erected on this corner by Jacob Shorb ran back about seventy feet on Tuscarawas street. Beyond that to Piedmont street were wooden buildings, mostly one story in height. Near the center of this cluster of frame buildings was a twostf>ry house, and in this C. C. A. Witting conducted his drug business for several years, utilizing the rear portion and second floor of the building- for residence purposes. On the east end of the lot. up to Piedmont street, stood two one-story frame buildings, with quite a number of attachments, the same having been occupied for many years by the late L. Boerner for his bakery and also for residence purposes. The present three-story block, known as the Cassilly block, was built by the Cassillys in 1868, but originally extended east from Tuscarawas street only about one-half the length of the lot. A number of years later they completed the eastern part, down to Piedmont street. As the building now stands there are three good store rooms on Market street and quite a number on Tuscarawas street, together with many rooms and offices on the second and third floors, making the block one of the important ones in Canton. One thing is particularly noticeable in connection with this building, - the tenants are usually permanent, some of the occupants having been there for more than twenty years, while many of them have been tenants for periods varying from ten to fifteen year.s. There are very few properties in Canton that have remained in the same famil}' connection for so long a period as has this building, - an interval of nearly a century.

Jacob Shorb was a native of Maryland and was a cousin of John, Adam A. and Joseph Shorb. He removed to Stettbenville, Ohio, and was there engaged in merchandising for several years, after which he removed to Columbiana county, whence he came shortly afterward to Canton, about the year 1813. He had one son, Jacob, Jr., who assisted him in his store and who died at the age of about forty years, a bachelor. Of the two daughters, the elder was - Catharine, who became the wife of Peter Cassilly. They resided a number of years in Zanesville, and there the eldest of their four sons died, while the youngest died in Canton, when quite young. The two living are Thomas A. and Edward A. Cassilly, who yet own this valuable property. The former resided here several years, but is now living in Maryland. Edward A. lives on one of the Cassillv farms, near Canal

Fulton, in this county. The _younger daughter of Jacob Shorl) was Miss Louisa, who died about 1850, when about thirty -five years of age, her motlier dying within twenty-four hours of her demise.

There were three branches of the Shorb family to settle in Canton between 1807 and 1815. First there was John Shorb and his family. He was the father of John, Adam A. and Joseph Shorb, who were so w'ell known here fifty years ago. Jacob Shorb, who is so frequently mentioned in this series of articles, was a cousin of the three last named, and Adam L. was a son of still another brother of the older Shorbs. They were Catholics and were excellent citizens.

The Old Haas Homestead

The citizens of Canton and surrounding country well remember George B. Haas, who for so many years carried on the business of making chairs and other furniture in the building which still stands at the southwest corner of Rex and Tuscarawas streets. The Ixulding has been improxed by the placing in of larger windows, gi\ing an open front for business purposes, but otherwise it remains practically the same as ^^'l^en erected, about seventy-five years ago.

George Buckeye Haas was a native of Vireinia, and came to Canton when about sixteen years of age. Flis father. Rev. Fred Haas, had five other sons, Frederick, Benjamin, John, William and Luther, and a daughter, Margaret. He was a clergyman of the Lutheran church and was in charg'e of the congregation of that denomination in Canton for some time in its early history. In 1841 George B. Haas married Miss Elizabeth Ely. She was a noble woman and one held in aft'ectionate regard in this comnumity. She came here from Washington, Pennsylvania, several years prior to her marriage, making the entire trip on horseback. A year or two after their marriage Mr. Haas took up their residence in the building mentioned and there resided until the death of the former, in 1878. Thereafter Mrs. Haas continued to reside there for several years, and then she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Ada B. Cox, until she was summoned into the life eternal, about two years ago, at the venerable age of eighty-two years, her husband having been sixty-five years of age at the time of his demise. They became the parents of two children, Mr."^. Ada B. Cox and Marshall E. In 1861 the latter enlisted as a member of Company F, Fourth Ohio \'o]unteer Infantry, and he participated in a number of the important battles of the Rebellion, including those of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and Gettysburg. At Morton's Ford, Virginia, he was wounded, a ball having pierced his bofly, and the effects of this injury clung to him until his death, in 1876. He was married and later removed to Centralia, Illinois, i.vhere he died, leaving a widow and one son. He was a \'ery excellent young man and was taken in the prime of life.

George B. Haas was a natural mechanic and took great delight in handling tools, and he con- ' tinned in the manufacturing of furniture in the building mentioned, for a long term of years, having been an expert workman. The wareroom and salesroom were in the eastern part of this house, while the remainder of the building was used as the family residence. About fifteen feet south of this building, on Rex street, was the workshop, and these two buiklings were connected by an elevated open platform, whereon most of the furniture was placed for painting on pleasant days. Chairs in those early days were not turned out by machinery as now. Mr. Flaas would often load up a large wagon full of chairs and go to Waynesbung, Magnolia and other villases within fifteen miles of Can- ton and dispose of the products, while his warerooms in Canton were kept constantly supplied with stock for the local trade. In later years he became associated with the late William Prince in the undertaking business, and for some time they were the only undertakers in the town. After that came the late J. B. Mc- Crea and a number of others. Caskets were not kept in stock as at the present time, the oldstyle coffins being manufactured to order as needed, and thus delays occurred very often and work was done at unseasonable hours in order to make ready for the appointed time for burial. The question has been asked as to whether or not Mri. Haas personally erected the old homestead, and the writer is not able to give a positive answer to the query, though he is quite certain that Mr. Haas was not the builder, since personal recollection authorizes him to state that such a house was there standing as early as 1836. The records show that Bezaleel Wells sold the lot to Jacob Rapp in 1815, and that he did not dispose of the same until 1838, when it was transferred to John H. Boltz, while two years later it was sold by the sheriff to Hiram Myers, who later sold the property to Michael Rohrer. who held it about ten years and then sold it to Mr. Haas. Thus it is to be inferred that the building was erected by Jacob Rapp, and this must have occurred about seventy-five years ago. Many changes have been made since the erection of the building, but the principal exterior improvements was that of the introduction of the open front. This property has now passed into the possession of Philip Wild and brother, the consideration being twenty-two thousand dollars, and it is quite certain that within a short time a modern business block, in harmony with the many other fine buildings which have lieen erected in the city, will be built thereon. It will be but a short time before all these old landmarks, now so familiar to us, will have given place to new structures, and none can regret the march of improvement, even though cherishing the memories and associations of the past.

At 230 North Cleveland avenue in the city of Canton is an historic brick house which was for more than sixty-three years the home of one of the city's patriarchal citizens, William Lemmon, who lived to attain the age of nearly a century. The house was erected by David Agnew, in 1833. He came here from Pennsylvania in 1829, having been a tailor by trade, and Mr. Lemmon came here at the same time, having been an apprentice of Mr. Agnew. Mr. Agnew occupied the house mentioned until 1839 or 1840, when he left Canton. In the meanwhile Mr. Lemmon had completed his apprenticeship, and in 1840 he was united in marriage to Catherine Knapp, of West Brookfield, Ohio. Shortly afterward he purchased the Agnew property and there took up his residence. This was his home during the entire period of his married life save for a brief interval prior to his purchase of the property.

David Agnew was a stanch Democrat and rather zealous as a politician. During the latter part of the administration of ]Martin Van Buren INIr. Agnew obtained a few names to a petition for obtaining the office of postmaster in Canton, but the citizens rebelled and, after several public meetings, succeeded in securing the appointment of Henry Kline as postmaster. He retained this position several years, having the postoffice in a one-story brick building that stood at 210 North Market street, this old structure having long since given place to the three-story brick building now located on the site. This disappointment to Mr. Agnew, as well as the general drift of affairs, did not

In 1837 the two-story frame market house that stood in the center of the north puhlic square was completed, and Messrs. Agnew and Lemmon occupied one of the rooms on the second floor of said building for their tailoring business, and there Mr. Lemmon continued the business after Mr. Agnew removed from Canton. He there remained until i860 when the market house was removed to the northeast corner of Cleveland avenue and Eighth street and converted into an engine house, Mr. Lemmon removed his tailor shop into the one-story brick building which had been utilized as the postoffice by Mr. Kline, as before noted. Later he continued the business at his residence until the infirmities incidental to advanced age compelled his retirement. He was consecutively engaged in the work of his trade about seventy-five years. Mrs. Lemmon was a most worthy woman, her death having occurred a few years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Lemmon had six sons, four of whom are living at the time of this writing. Mr. Lemmon became a member of the Presbyterian church in 1833 ^^^^^ ^"^^^ ^^'^'' afterward a consistent and zealous worker in the same during his active career, his noble wife having likewise been a member of the church until her death. The older Cantonians will well remember Mrs. Lemmon's flower garden, just north of the residence, as well as her generosity with the flowers which she loved so well. She was always ready to share with others not only the blossoms but also the seeds and bulbs and roots from her carefully tended garden. She was a true and excellent wife, a loving mother and kind neighbor, and it can be said of her that she did what she could to make others happy. There are very few of the old citizens of Canton who have not at some time worn clothing made by Mr. Lemmon. He was

The house which was so long the home of this \\orthy citizen has the same e.xterior appearance as when first erected, seventy years ago. When JNIr. Lemmon purchased the property the house was not fully completed on the inside, and he finished the interior and also made an addition in the rear, but the front elevation remains practically unchanged.

The Old Kimball Building

The old Kimball store building, east side of the public square, was erected about 1845 by V. R. Kimball, who was one of Canton's most extensive and progressive merchants in his day. When this store was first built it was about half the depth of the building as it stands today, the extension having been put on during its use by the present occupant, George H. Spangler. When the building was erected it was looked upon as one of the largest and most modern business blocks in the county. At that time the large windows were not enclosed by single plates of glass as at the present, a number of smaller panes being used. V. R. Kimball was a native of the state of New York and was a tanner by trade, following this occupation for some time after coming to Canton, about 1827. He came here as foreman of the new tan yard established by William Christmas, the same having been described in a preceding article. He proved a valuable man in this connection but the position was not one that could permanently satisfy as well qualified a man as was Mr. Kimball for the handling of an independent enterprise. A few years after coming here Mr. Kimball decided to enter business on his own re- sponsibility, and accordingly opened a store in the two-story building then known as the Kitzmiller building, just north of and adjoining the building mentioned in the heading of tliis article. In this Kitzmiller building Mr. Kimball built a very extensive mercantile business, while he also established a tannery, as has been noted in a foregoing article relative to that class of enterprise in Canton in the early days. He was a man of more than ordinary ability and of energy and enterprise, and he rallied about him men and clerks who were efficient and accommodating, so that in a short time he built up one of the most extensive business concerns in this region. He also had a warehouse and entered more generally into the purchase of country produce than did any other merchant then in Canton. Associated in business with him for a time was his sister's husband, John P. Harley, who likewise was an active and enterprising business man. One of Mr. KimlialTs efficient and popular clerks was David A. Dangler, who has since become a prosperous and representati\^e business man of Cleveland, being the head of the Dangler Stove Manufacturing Company, of that city. After a few years of successful business Mr. Kimball married Miss Craighead, who was a most noble woman and devoted Christian, being an active member of the Presbyterian church. As nearly as the writer is able to recall the facts, Mr. and IMrs. Kimball became the parents of four sons and three daughters. The eldest daughter. Miss Josephine, is living with her Ijrother. R. C. Kimball, in Brooklyn, New York, and tlie other two daughters are deceased. R. C. Kimball has become a successful business man in New York city. William G. is residing in Tiffin, Ohio, and has been prospered in temporal affairs. Thomas W. Kimball died a numljer of years ago, and it is believed that the youngef son, Arthur, is also a resident of New York. It should not be forg-otten that Thomas W. Kimball was tlie pioneer in the whtjlesale grocery business in Canton, and he was succeeded by the firm of B. Dannemiller & .Sons, whose success has been noteworthy. Thomas W. Kimball also erected the residence which has since become so well known as the home of our lamented president, William Mc- Kinley. The house has been enlarged and remodeled since that time but it continued to be the home of Mr. Kimball until his removal from Canton.

After the death of his first wife V. R. Kimball married the widow of George Faber, and their one daughter, Jessie, is now the wife of Paul D. Rider, of this city. Mr. Kimball \\\t(\ only a few years after his second marriage, and was about fifty-six years of age at the time of his death. His son, R. C. Kimball, who \isited Canton somewhat more than a year ago, has passed the seventieth milestone on the journey of life and is still energetic and in good health. He loves to revert to the scenes and events of his early life in Canton. At the time of his birth the family resided in a house which stood in the center of the east side of the north public square. About 1835 ^'''^ father purchased the lot on which the Baptist church now stands, on the southwest corner of Market and Ninth streets, a good two-story brick house ha\ ing previously been erected on said lot. This was the home of the family thereafter until the death of the father, and so the children have no recollection of any other home in Canton. To show the appreciation in the value of property in Canton since ]Mr. Kimball purchased that lot, with its excellent house and good barn, we may say that he paid for the same only fifteen hundred dollars. In 1870 the Baptist congregation purchased the property for eight thousand dollars and had all the old buildings removed to make room for their present large church edifice, which was erected the following year. About the same time that Mr. Kimball purchased this property the two lots just south of it, upon one. of which was a good two-story frame house, was sold by John Slusser, as admuiistrator of the estate of PhiHp Slusser, for the nominal consideration of six hundred dollars. It seems almost impossible to believe that at any time property so centrally located could have been so cheap in Canton. But those were dark days for the town. We had no railroads or, otlier means of transportation save by recourse to the Ohio canal, with Massillon as the shipping point, and this circumstance gave that place a great advantage over Canton until the advent of railroads. Notwithstanding, however, that Massillon was attracting much trade to the disadvantage of the county seat, V. R. Kimball controlled a large business here and bought much produce. His reputation as an enterprising business man extended all over the county.

The Old Dunbar Homestead

\'ery few of the citizens of Canton passing on West Eighth street and seeing the building on the southeast corner of Eighth and Court streets, now occupied by J. A. H. Greenwood as a restaurant, realize that the building when first built was the home of some of the best families in Canton, yet such is the fact.

The house was built about sixty-five years ago, as the residence of George Dunbar. It originally stood on the southwest corner of Market and Eighth streets, immediately across the street from the new Mclvinley hotel. When first Ijuilt it was considered one of the nicest residences in Canton, but when it was moved to the west end of the lot and converted into a business room the foundation was made much lower than before. The whole front was changed and the nice projecting cornice in front taken down.

The side cornice on Court street has been left as originally built and the pitch of the roof is as at first built, but outside of these two features the house would not be recognized as the pleasant home of George Dujibar and family.

George Dunbar was an excellent and intelligent citizen, a chairmaker by trade. He had four brothers and two sisters, all active and useful citizens. They were Captain John E. Dunbar, who was quite an artist ; William Dunbar, who was an excellent school teacher and w'ho was also admitted to the bar for the practice of law. At one time he edited and published the Stark County Democrat. He afterwards moved to Mt. Vernon, where he published a Democratic paper and was a useful and active citizen until his death, some years ago; Robert Allison Dunbar, who was for many years in the sheriff's office, either as sheriff or deputy, and was quite popular; Horace P. Dunbar, who was a lawyer of considerable reputation and influence in his day. The one sister was Mrs. Sowers, the wife of the late Judge Eli Sowers, and the other was married to Dr. John Sala, who at one time was one of our best citizens. The father of these five brothers and two sisters was George Dunbar, Sr. He, in his lifetime, was also a man of much influence. For quite a time he held the office of justice of the peace and was also postmaster fori some time. For some years be lived in a frame house that stood on the lot where Kenny Brothers' big store is now located. The last years of his life were spent in his home at the southeast corner of Cleveland avenue and Third street,, where he died many years ago. He was quite old at the time of his death.

George Dunbar, Jr., who built the house we describe, had but two children, a son, named George, who left in early life for the west and died when but a young man : and Ethalinda Dunljar, who married a ^Methodist minister by

When the tirst excitement broke out about the discovery of gold in California, in 1849, George Dunbar left his pleasant home just spoken of, and went to California. Almost all of the journey had to be made overland, and it took from six to eight weeks' hard travel to go from this region to California. Many lost their lives in their first attempts to go there, some being attacked by warlike Indians and others by exposure and fatigue. George Dunbar made the journey successfully, but died shortly thereafter. To the best of my recollection all the Dunbars, from the j'oungest to the oldest, were Democrats, but they had the respect of the Whigs and others opposed to them in politics.

After the death of George Dunbar, who built the home described, the widow remained there for a few years, after which the late George W. Raff bought the propeinty and occupied it for several years, after which he sold it to L. V. Bockius, who was married in 1855 and very soon thereafter moved into this same house. He never added much to it. but kept it in good repair and well painted. Mr. Bockius and family continued to live in this house for almost twenty-nine years. Mrs. Bockius. who is still living, says that all their, children were born in this house.

Before George Dunbar built his line cottage home on the corner of Market and Eighth streets there stood there a two-story frame building which was occupied eighty years ago by Joseph Trout and family. Joseph Trout, Jr., who died about eight years ago, was born in this house and so were others of that family.

The elder Joseph Trout was a good stone mason and said he was induced to come to Canton by John Shorb, Sr., to help build the first house of worship of the St. John's Catholic church, which was among the first churches built in Canton. Joseph Trout, Sr., claimed that he was the first German emigrant to settle in Canton, as one of its citizens, and I have never heard it contradicted. That of itself is quite an honorable record. In later years Joseph Trout, Sr., built the two-story brick building yet standing on the northwest corner of Cleveland avenue and Third street, and there died many years ago, at an advanced age. This house is still owned by the Trouts. In later years Joseph Trout, Jr., built the twostory frame luiilciing just north of the brick building, but on the same lot, and there is where his widow with one or two of the daughters still reside.

In looking over the "old landmarks'' of this article we cannot fail to observe two things : First, the great change made in fifty years and how soon our places are forgotten. Fifty years ago old Father George Dunbar and his excellent wife and their five sons and three daughters were all married and settled in Canton. Now there is not one left to perpetuate the name in the community. Only a few distant relatives, of different name, now reside here. Truly the places that know us now shall soon know us no more. The second change to which we would direct attention is here noted. Fifty years ago the southwest corner of Eighth and Market streets had more attractive buildings than are theire today. The new McKinley hotel directly east of this corner is a fine modern building of six stories. Directly north of this is a fine three-story building, and to look down from these pretentious structures to find a one-story frame building on the corner is to cause the hope that a new and harmonious building may soon occupy the site.

A Veteran Hotel Man Central Engine House, Canton

as Philip and George Dewalt and William Hawk, Sr., and his son, William, Jr., but Massillon also had one veteran hotel man who was well known throughout this section. This was the late Thomas S. Webb. Sixty-two years ago the Franklin house, kept by Mr. Webb in Massiilon, was considered one of the most homelike stopping places in the country. When the writer first went to Massillon to live, in 1840, he boarded for a time in this hotel and became well acquainted with Mr. Webb.

The Franklin house stood on Canal street, one square south of Main street, being a twostory frame building. On the north side of the lot was an alley that led back to the barns. This house was always well kept while controlled by Mr. Webb. It was not as well located for first-class trade as was the Commercial hotel, kept by the late William M. Folger, who was also a successful and popular host. The Commercial was a two-story brick building, located at the northeast corner of Erie and Main streets, and was afterward enlarged by the addition of a third story. One incident may be recalled in illustration of the hospitality and social nature of Thomas S. Webb. More than sixty 3'^ears ago Dr. John Schertzer, of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, started out on horseback to look up a location for practice, in Mansfield or some place west of that. He stopped at Mr. Webb's hotel in Massillon for the night and was so well pleased with the cordial reception and treatment received there that he concluded to settle in Massillon, and he there gained a reputation as an able physician and excellent citizen. He was succeeded by his son, Dr. J. V. Schertzer. Each controlled a large practice and both died in Massillon.

Finally Mr. Webb made the venture of engaging in the hotel business in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, ^^]^ere he opened a large fourstory brick building on the east side of North

Third street, and very soon he built up a large business. Most of the merchants from this region made his hotel their abiding place when in the Quaker city for the purpose of buying goods. This hotel was known as the Eagle. After conducting the same successfully for a number of years Mr. Webb moved into a larger and more modern brick building on the north side of Arch street, between Third and Fourth streets, and immediately opposite one of the largest Friends' churches in the city. This was known as the Union hotel and gained a large patronage from all over the country. Mr. Webb succeeded in pleasing his many guests and in making money. All Stark county people made the Union hotel their headquarters during the regime of Mr. Webb, and as in those days the merchants throughout this region visited Philadelphia twice each year for the purpose of buying goods, a number of persons from this part of Ohio were to be found almost any time in the old "City of Brotherly Love." The opening of railroads and the more modern plan of selling goods to the retail trade through the interposition of traveling salesmen have revolutionized all the old-time customs, so that comparatively few of our people now visit Philadelphia as compared with the olden time when Mr. Webb was there engaged in the hotel business.

One thing that militated somewhat against the complete success of Mr. Webb was the fact that he was a man who generally became much excited during political campaigns and sometimes allowed his utterances to be of such a nature as to offend those who held opposing views. This lost him some patronage, yet he was very popular and successful and accumulated considerable money in the hotel business. Mrs. Webb was a most excellent woman and well adapted to managing the affairs assigned to her charge, but she was delicate in health and was thus much handicapped in her efforts. The success attained by Mr. Webb in Phila- delphia finally prompted him to enter the same line of business in the city of New York, where he opened a large hotel on the south side of Courtland street, near Broadway, where he built up a very good business, which he continued several years. Mr. Webb was always an ardent admirer of Massillon and had many warm friends there, and he finally decided to retire from the hotel business and make his home in Massillon. He accordingly secured a home nearly opposite Cedar street, on the south side of East Main street, where he continued to abide untl his death, a few years ago, his wife having passed away a few years previous. Their sons, Frank and Jesse, are also deceased.

The old Franklin hotel in Massillon was kept open as a hotel for some time after the departure of Mr. \'Vebb from the city, buti ts popularity waned soon after his retirement. The building is still standing, but is much changed in general appearance and in the uses to which it is applied, but it is one of the old landmarks of the county.

As reference has been made in another article to William M. Folger as having been one of the old-time hotel men of Massillon, it is quite proper that further mention be made of the pioneer family of which he was a worthy representative. In 1826 Mayhew Folger, father of ^Villianl M. and Robert H. Folger, conducted a hotel in Kendall, which is now one of the wards of Massillon. Upon the completion of the Ohio canal and the beginning of the town of Massillon, in 1828, he removed to the new tow n and on the northeast corner of Main and Erie streets erected a new hotel, to which he ga\e tlie name of the Commercial Inn.

Four years later his death occurred and the hotel was then kept open by Joseph Lazaret and others until 1841, v/hen William M. Folger rented his father's old established hotel, which he conducted until 1843, when he removed to Ravenna, this state, and became the proprietor of the Prentiss house, there continuing business until the building was destroyed by fire, about 1862, and he then removed to Akron, where he conducted the Empire hotel for the ensuing five years. For a short time after this he was engaged in the same line of enterprise in Reno, Pennsylvania, his place being known as the Folger house, and in the centennial year of our national independence he went to Philadelphia and assisted his old Massillon competitor, Thomas S. Webb, in the management of his hotel during that year, the two ha\'ing been warm friends during all the years they had been in competition.

William M. Folger was born in Nantucket, Massachusetts, in 1804, and his death occurred in Mantua, Ohio, in 1891, at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. After Mr. Folger retired from the hotel business in Massillon Samuel Hawk, of Canton, took the hotel and greatly enlarged and improved the building. After there continuing a successful business for several years he went to New York city, where he attained no little prestige and success in the same line of business, having at one tmie conducted the St. Nicholas, one of the popular and well known hotels on Broadway, and he accumulated quite a fortune in the hotel business. His father, William Hawk, came to Canton some years before and purchased from the late George Dewalt the Eagle hotel, on the southwest corner of Market and Tuscarawas streets, where he rem.ained until his death. While he was conducting this hotel his son, Samuel, who had been thoroughly trained in the business, removed to Massillon, as noted previously. Samuel Hawk married a daugh- ter of Dr. Estep, of Canton, no children being born of this union. WiUiam Hawk, a younger brother of Samuel, was also trained in the hotel business. He married Miss Ella Buckius, of Canton, and their only son, William, Jr., is at the present time one o-f the most popular and successful hotel men in New York city.

Robert H. Folger, the attorney of Massillon, who died there in recent years, was a younger brother of William M. Folger, and at the time of his death must have been about eighty-eight years of age. It was said of him in his later years that he was the oldest practitioner at the Ohio bar. While a young man he was captain on one of the packet boats then plying on the Ohio canal between Massillon and Cleveland. As we then had no railroads itiany sought the accommodations of these comfortable canal packets, and frequently men of national reputation would be among the passengers. On one occasion John Ouincy Adams, then ex-president of the United States, was a passenger on Mr. Folger's boat, and the latter greatly enjoyed the privilege of having so distinguished a passenger.

From the inception of the town of Massillon until the death of Robert H. Folger, a fewyears ago, the name of Folger was familiar among the residents of that city, but it is believed that none of the name are now residing there. The two daughters of Robert H. were living there at the time of his death, removed to Toledo, and the only son has been a captain in the United States navy for many years, occasionally visiting Massillon during his father's life. The father of William M. and Robert H. Folger had been a sea captain for many years prior to coming to Ohio. Mrs. Levi Rawson was his daughter, and after the death of her husband she made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Perkins, in Akron. The firm of L. & S. Rawson sixty years ago was known as being one of the largest buyers of wheat in this part of Ohio, their headquarters being in Massillon, where they had large storage and warehouses, also being engaged in the mercantile business. They operated a canal boat on the canal, utilizing the same for the transportation of wheat to Cleveland. The late John Jacobs was the captain of the boat and did a large business, becoming quite well off. He was a hard worker and an honorable man, and he died in recent years, having attained the age of nearly ninety years.

It was recorded of Captain Mayhew Folger, who had so long been on the sea before coming to Ohio that he had circumnavigated the globe three times. His last voyage was made in the Topaz, of Boston, in 1810, and he then decided to abandon the seafaring life, coming to Ohio and locating in Kendall, now a part of Massillon, as has been already noted in this article. The city of Massillon and all the people of Stark county can take a just pride in the fact that such excellent people, industrious, moral and trustworthy, were numbered among our pioneers. The Folger family were members of the Society of Friends. William M. Folger in later years became a member of the Baptist church in Massillon and was always a consistent Christian worker. He was a strong advocate of temperance and in all his hotel life never kept a bar in connection. It is the impression of the writer that Mayhew Folger had a daughter Sarah, who became the wife of Jefferson Raynolds. of Canton, but as the)^ have been dead many years no definite information is accessible. There was a younger daughter who married James D. Ladd, of Jefferson county, and they afterward moved to Ottumwa, Iowa, where they resided until death. They were married in the old Friends' meetiing house in Kendall, the ceremony beingconducted after the customary manner of the Quakers, there being no officiating clergyman but each of the contracting parties vowing to take the other as life companion.

One Of Our Earliest Families

Sixty years ago John Slusser, fatlier of the late Dr. Lew Slusser and Samuel D. Slusser, kept a store in a two-story brick building which stood on the northeast comer of Tuscarawas and Piedmont streets. This building stood about six feet lower than the present building on that site. At that time East Tuscarawas street to Piedmont street showed quite a steep grade, and in making the present grade in later years the buildings east of Piedmont street were thrown five or six feet below the new grade.

The Slusser family came to Stark county in 1805. Old Grandfather Philip Slusser, the father of John, came here from Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, with a family of five sons and five daughters, the youngest of the latter being the mother of the writer of this series of reminiscent sketches. All the children of this pioneer have passed away, the mother of the writer having been the last to be called to the life eternal, her death occurring more than fifteen years ago. All died and were buried in Stark county except one son, Philip, Jr., who had lived for a number of years near West Brookfield, this county, whence he finally removed with his family to Vandalia, Illinois, where he passed the residue of his life, his death occurring about forty years ago. Philip Slusser, the father of these children, was an active member of the Methodist church, as was also his wife, and all the members of the family became active Christian workers. The majority were Methodists, several joined the Presbyterian church and one. if not more, united with the German Baptists. John Slusser, with whom this article has more particularly to do, was a Methodist for many years. He had much experience in connection with pioneer life in the early history of Stark county. At the time the family came here

Indians were still numerous in this region, and white settlers but few. The writer has often been told that at that time our now prosperous city of Canton did not have more than six or seven buildings, these being log cabins of the primitive type. The original German spelling of the the name was Schlosser, and this was retained until about the time Philip Slusser came with his family to Stark county. He built the first mill in the county, the same having been located east of the little hamlet of Canton, very near the point where Ninth street crosses the east creek, and about the site where the Rowland mill stood many years thereafter. The mill thus erected by Philip Slusser was destroyed by fire within a few years after its erection. The year preceding the building of this flouring mill he had erected a saw mill near the site of the grist mill later put up, and John Slusser, who was at the time about sixteen years of age, was placed in charge of this saw mill. The responsibility was great for one so young and without experience in that kind of work. The settlers soon began to buy boards, slabs and other saw-mill products to use in the erection of houses. John Slusser often, in later years, referred to his experience in his father's saw mill and said it had been a means of great education to him, both in the conducting of business and in learning the use of tools. Very soon he was able to handle ordinary carpenter tools with as great facility and skill as many who had served a regular apprenticeship at the trade. At that time there were no cabinetmakers living here, and such a thing as a furniture store of the modern type was not heard of. Thus as new families came to settle in and around Canton they naturally needed such things as dough trays, cupboards, tables and other furniture which could not be brought with them by the primitive means of transportation then available. Very soon it was made known throughout the new settle- ment that John Slusser could manufacture such articles, and the demand soon became greater than one man could supply. He made all he could, and each article was good and sti'ong, and in the family are yet retained a few of his products in this line, the same having been made before any of the present generation knew about such things, and they are strong and solid today and could not be purchased for any price, the writer being favored in having such articles from the hand of John Slusser in his home today.

In the year 1812 John Slusser enlisted as a soldier, near the present site of the city of Sandusky, but he was attacked with an illness which incapacitated him from active service and was afterward honorably discharged. Not long after his return to Canton he married Nancy Dewalt, sisteii of Daniel, George and Philip Dewalt. He had obtained from his father some land about a mile from town, on what is now known as the Fulton road. There he settled and remained for a number of years, giving most of his attention to cabinet work, in the manufacture of bureaus, clock cases, tables and such other useful household furniture as the country at that time much needed. In 1825 he exchanged his property with John Webb for the property on the northeast corner of Tuscarawas and Piedmont streets, the same being improved with the two-story brick building first mentioned in this article. After coming to town he continued to make some furniture, but concluded, in view of the fact that he had a good central location, that he would open a store, and in company with others who wished to buy goods in Philadelphia and New York, he rode on horseback to those cities. In those days a few staple dry goods, a little hardware, boots and shoes and a general variety made up the requisite stock. He continued in this business until 1850 and was quite successful, but finally retired from all business and purchased another property, two squares further east on Tuscarawas street, on the south side of the same, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1859.

In 1842 John Slusser's frrst wife passed away. They became the parents of seven children, namely : Sarah, who became the wife of Madison Raynolds ; Samuel D. and Dr. Lew Slusser; Mary and Alfred, both of whom died of scarlet fever in 1833; John, Jr., who lived in the southern states until i860, when he died, his remains being brought to Canton and interred in the family lot in "VVestlawn cemetery; and Rebecca, Mrs. David ZoUars, who is now the only one of the children living. Some time after the death of his first wife John .Slusser married Mrs. Catherine Whitman, no children being born of this union.

During the time that John Slusser was in the mercantile business he bought the lot on the north side of East Tuscarawas street, just east of Saxton street, and there established a tan yard, which he conducted quite successfully, with William Dobbs as his tanner. In later years his son, Samuel D. Slusser, had become an excellent tanner, and he conducted the business in that tan yard until the enterprise was finally abandoned. Just across Saxton street, on the site of the present Wheeling & Lake Erie passenger station, is the lot on which Jacob Hane had lived and conducted his tan yard, and though he and Mr. Slusser were competitors in business for many years they were warm friends. Most of the old buildings on the Slusser lot are still standing, but are converted to other uses, while the building of the Hane tan yard was removed to give place to the best passenger station in the city, that of the Wheeling & Lake Erie Railroad. All these changes may seem very singular to our young people, but the old citizens are quite familiar with the same and therefore enjoy a reminiscent glance.

The Bockius Family

The two-story brick building on South Market street, in which Charles J. Bockius has his shoe store, was built many years ago by his grandfather, John C. Bockius, and the major portion of the building was utilized by the latter as a residence during the time he lived in Canton. The name is one which is familiar to the people of Canton and vicinity. Valentine Bockius, great-grandfather of Charles J., was a hatter by trade and lived for a number of years on South Walnut street, near Tenth. He was very fond of fishing and made frequent trips to Meyer's lake for that purpose; very few of the citizens of Canton at this time remember this veteran, who lived to quite a venerable age. He must have approached very near to the century mark before he passed a-\^'ay. He was born in the United States, but went to Germany, his father's native land, and there was married, and while he was livingthere his son, John C. Bockius, was born, so that the father was an American by birth and the son a German. In 1819 they all came to the United States. John C. Bockius. while yet in Germany, served several years in Napoleon's army as a drummer boy, after which he learned the trade of shoemaking. In Canton he opened the business of making and keeping for sale boots and shoes, and he continued in active business here until his death, in 1878. His son, L. V. Bockius, was associated with him in the enterprise for a long term of years, under the firm name of J. C. Bockius & Son. The shoe business appears to have been congenial to the family, as three generations have been identified with the same in our city, representing a period of seventy-five years, and there are at the present time two firms perpetuating the name here in this line of enterprise, namely L. V. Bockius' Son, 116 South

When John C. Bockius first opened his shoe store in Canton it was looked upon by local shoemakers as a distinct innovation, since prior to that time it was the invariable custom here for all shoes to be to order and by special measurement. There were at the time a number of shoemakers in the town but no shoe store. Among the old shoemakers of those days were Seth Godden, Edward White and Louis Fournace. John C. Bockius was the pioneer in Canton to open a store exclusively confined to the sale of boots and shoes.

The other family of Bockius, on Buckius, in the county are the descendants of John Buckius, who adopted the English form of spelling the name, v/hile the other branch, just mentioned, have retained the original German orthography. Both descended from the same family stock several generations back. From both branches have come some of our best and most useful citizens, all industrious and engaged in honorable occupations.

John Buckius, Sc, about seventy-five years ago, had for a time carried on the business of a tinner in a frame building which stood on the site of the present store of W. D. Caldwell, on the northeast corner of the public square. He afterward erected on the same ground a two-stor}' brick building, in which for a time he conducted a hotel, known as the Franklin house, and in later years other hotels in the town were known by this name, as will be recalled from the perusal of preceding articles in this series. Henry Buckius, son of John, for many years lived and carried on the tinning business on the west side of North Market street, between Fourth and Fifth streets; and his brother, John, Jr., was a saddler and harness maker by trade and was located for many years on the southeast corner of Tuscarawas street and Cleveland avenue, where the first

Methodist Episcopal church now stands. In later years he erected a good brick house on the same lot and opened the St. Cloud hotel, the first of the name in the town, which has already been described, as has also the old Hurford house, which he likewise conducted under the name of St. Cloud after the burning of his original house.

L. V. Bockius lived for many years in the cottage originally erected by George Dunbar, on the southwest corner of Eighth and Market streets, and all his children were born there. Later the family took up their residence at 71 1 North Market street, where Mr. Bockius died, his willow still retaining her home in this dwelling.

Early Lutheran And Reformed

Li studying the early history of Canton it becomes evident that a large percentage of the early pioneers held the faith either of the Lutheran or German Reformed ciiurches, or were reared under the training of the same, and it is therefore quite consistent that these two denominations be the first to gain consideration in this publication. The first preaching in the neighborhood was in a barn owned by Michael Reed, a short distance from the site of the present county infirmary, and the clergyman was Rev. John Stanch, a Lutheran, who lived in western Pennsylvania and who visited Stark countv at stated intervals during the pleasant- summer months. The seats provided in this primitive place of worship were made from slabs secured from the sawmill of Philip Slusser, said mill having at the time been located in the east end of the little village of Canton. Li the winter season services were occasionally lield, principally in private houses,

Li 1810 the German Lutheran and Refonned congregations jointly took possession of the block of lots in West Tuscarawas street where the Presbyterian church now stands. This block of lots was left by Bezaleel Wells for church purposes. The two societies mentioned built a small frame house of worship, but it was never fully completed, being used for services on several occasions before it was even plastered. As the donation of the block of lots by Mr. Wells designated no denominations the congregation feared that other church organizations might wish to utilize the ground also, and (Jii this score doubtless the society did not care to make more expenditure of funds than was absolutely necessary. Li the early history of the congregation Rev. Anthony Wier, a Lutheran minister, became the pastor of the chmxh, and it is said that he was the first resident clergyman of Canton. Through his influence the congregation decided to buy ground of whose control they could always be sure, without fear of molestation on the part of other congregations, and they therefore bought the block of lots, in East Tuscarawas street, the First German Reformed and the Evangelical Lutheran churches now stand. Here they erected a two-story edifice. As they were not financially able to complete this building it stood for many years in an unfinished condition, but under roof, and in the meantime it was injured somewhat by lightning, but it was finally completed. The Reformed congregation had no regular pastor, but was occasionally supplied by Revs. Mahneschmidt and Sonnendecker. The interior of this old church would appear quite extraordinary to the present generation. The gallery extended around three sides, south, east and west, and was ten or twelve feet from the lloor, while the pulpit, on the north side, was raised to the height of the gallery. A steep little stairway, with a railing, led up frcmi one side into this pulpit, which was so small that hut two persons could occupy it simultaneously. The pews weiie primitive in style, with s(|uare end pieces, while the backs stood straight u]) and the seats were liard and level, thus making it quite as coinfortahle to stand as to he seatetl. In later jfears the seats were somewhat im])roved.

The first regular pastor of the Reformed church, according to the most authentic accounts, was Rev. Benjamin Foust, who took char,ge of the congregation in 1818. The frame church, in Tuscarawas street, fir.st mentioned, was occupied by the two congregations about four years, and the new brick clunch was completed about 1822, and the two congregations worshiped there until the early '60s, making in all about forty years that they occupied the same house of worship. Rev. Benjamin Foust died in i8_^2, and soon thereafter Rev. Peter Jicrbruck assumed the pastorale, .altluuigh not i|uile twenty years of age at tile time. I le li.ul come here as a young theological student from (iermany, when eighteen years old, and was under the instruction of the Rev. Mr, l'\)ust until the death of the latter. Mr. I levhruck rcm.iincd pastor of the congregation about fifty-three years, - until he felt that he was tco old to fill the place. He was very popular .tniong his own people and well liked among other congregations. At the time of his jubilee or fiftieth anniversary of his pastorate over this congregation it was said he had performed more marriage ceremonies and ofliciated at more funerals tli.ui any other man in Ohio, at least while pastor of the same church. it was stated on that occasion that he had married nineteen hundred and sixty-one couples and attended two thousand sixty-six funerals, and he later ofticiated many times in these capacities, so that it is safe to say that few if any pastors in the state have equaled his reconl in these lines.

used a portion of the block of lots which they purchased as a burial place for their dead, but this burying ground has long since been abandoned and luany of the bodies transferred to larger and more distant places of interment. Several of the pastors were buried on the north side of the old brick church, and among the number the writer l)elie\es were Rev. Benjamin Foust and Rev. Fred Haas, the latter being the father of the late George B. Flaas, of Canton. After the death of Rev. Anthony Wicr kev. Rrofes.sor William Schmidt h;id charge of the Lutheran congregation for a time, and during his pastoral incumbency the Fvangelical Lutlieran synod of Ohio and western 1 'cnnsyl\;uii;i started the project of a theological seminary, upon the organization of which Professor Schmidt was made a member of the faculty. Jt is believed that this original organization occurred in Canton, and the seminary was here established for a time in a portion of the Holben building, in West Tuscarawas street, but the permanent location of the institution was lin.illy made in the city of Columbus.

Within the time of his residence in Canton Mr. Schmidt married Miss Rebecca Buckius, daughter of John Buckius, Sr. Old Mr. Buckius was a tinner by trade and carried on his business for a number of years on the northeast corner <^f the jiublic square. Me cliimed he was the last man to look iq)oii the face of George Washington. He was living in Alexandria, Virginia, at tlie time of W^ashingtou's de.ith and was called upon to seal the casket which held the remains of the great patriot before they were laid to rest in Mount Vernon.

About i860 the Reformed congregation withdrew- from the union with the Lutheran and built a new brick church on the west end of the block of lots. At that time the late Conrad Schweitzer. Sr., was one of the most active .uul cfliciciit members .-nid

In 1837 a portion of the English-speaking members of the Lutheran congregation withdrew to organize an English church of the same faith. Rev. J. J. Fast was the first pastor, and their first service and Sunday school were held in the old town hall, on the second floor of the old market house, which is described in an article elsewhere. The congregation afterward had their place of worship in the main room of the high school building, in West Tuscarawas street, this room being on the first floor, and they continued to occupy the same until they purchased the lot where Trinity Lutheran church now stands, on West Tuscarawas street. Here they built their first independent house of worship, the same being a neat and comfortable brick structure. It has since been razed to give place to the fine stone church that now occupies the same site, the organization Ijeing now one of the leading ones in the city, while there is probably more wealth represented in its membership than in any other Protestant congregation in Canton. The Trinity Reformed church is an English 'ofifshoot of the German Reformed church, its organization occurring about 1870, while Rev. J. B. Shoemaker was the first pastor. He held the charge but a short time, and the next incumbent was Rev. E. Herbruck, who served the church about seven years, when he resigned and .went to Dayton, where for a number of years he published the Christian World, devoted to the interests of the Reformed church, and in later years became connected with the church institution, Heidelberg College, at Tiffin, though still retaining his residence in Dayton. Upon his resignation of the pastorate of Trinity church his brother, Rev. E. P. Herbruck, became pastor, and under his ministry the congregation has materially grown and strengthened, the church being one of the largest and most prosperous in Canton. The history of both Lutheran and Reformed churches shows that in the early days most if not all of their services were conducted in the German language, but as the second generation matured they demanded English in the church services, and this fact led to the establi.shing of the new churches as noted.

St. John'S Church, Roman Catholic

In the very early period of Canton's settlement there came here from Baltimore, Maryland, several very excellent Catholic families, among whom were those of John Shorb and Andrew Meyer, who came here as early as 1808 or 1810, while very soon after the war of 1812 other Catholic families joined the settlement. Andrew Meyer invested very largely in land, becoming the owner of several thousand acres, including the whole of the popular resort still known as Meyer's lake. Efforts have been made by other owners since that time to change the name, but the public have consistently-adhered to that given in honor of the original owner, and it is to be hoped this title will perpetually be retained. Among other members of the Catholic church who came here between 18 12 and 1818 were John and Francis Pirrong, Joseph Traut, Sr., the Cassilys, Owens, Grimes, McCormicks, George Hossofross, Adam Rider, the Pieros and many others. Catholic missionaries occasionally held services in Shorb's grove and also in the house ^vhich is a part of the residence now occupied by Miss Harriet A. Shorb, 710 West Third street, she being a granddaughter of the John Shorb, to whom reference has lieen made. These missionaries came here about twice a year, and proclamation of their coming was made througliout tine county and beyond, so that pilgrimages were made to these meetings by many living five to twenty-five miles distant. Well informed members of the church in Canton state that St. John's is the oldest Catholic church in the Cleveland diocese.

John Shorb and his wife were especially active and zealous workers in the church. The first house of worship, a brick structure, was liegun in 1823 and completed in the following 3'ear. About fort)'-eig"ht years ago Father Lindesmith built an addition to the west end of the church, which gave the building the appearance most familiar to the older residents of the city today. It may be consistently noted again at this point that Mr. Shorb lost his life as the result of an accident while assisting in the erection of the church edifice, mention having previously been made of this fact. Originally the edifice was only forty by ninety feet in dimensions and had a pointed spire running up from the belfry. The priest's house was in the east end of the building, facing McKinley avenue, while the auditorium was always in the western end. the entrance facing the old cemetery, while the building stood near the southeast corner of the lot. The present large and handsome building of St. John's parish stands some distance further to the north than did the old church. The cemetery near the church was never very large, and was well filled Ijefore the opening of the new parish cemetery on North Cleveland avenue, in Plain township. Adjoining the old burying ground was a smaller one owned by the Shorbs and their relatives, this not being opened for general use.

Among the notable women of early days in the Catholic church here was Grandmother Shorb, who had for years been a faithful attendant of the sick. Wherever she went, among Protestants as well as among her own people, she was beloved and was looked upon as an angel of mercy and benevolence. Then there was "Mother" Grimes, who was Irish and could talk, but never to the harm of anyone. She was impulsive and kind-hearted and was noted for her acts of kindness to her neighbors, without regard to sect or party. She lived in the hope that her adopted son, John McSweeney, would become a priest in the church, but this hope was never realized. He was well educated and became one of the fore-, most criminal lawyers in Ohio. He finally removed to Wooster, where he died, and his son and namesake is likewise a member of the bar and is a talented and influential man.

From 1830 to 1845 the Catholic church in Canton received the most strength from immigration. At that time the tide of immigrants to this country was very great, and after the completion of the Ohio canal Massillon became the great wheat city of this whole region. So when the roads were good in the autumn of the year long trains of wagons could be seen going from Canton to Massillon, loaded with wh.eat and other products of the farm, and when these wagons returned it was no unusual thing to see them loaded down with immigrants, with their ponderous trunks, chests and other luggage, seeking homes in this new country. A large percentage of these immigrants were Catholic, although there was quite a numlier of Lutherans and other sects. Then it was that such sterling families as the Biecheles, Danneniillers, Bechels and others came among us. Our young people will bear in mind that in those days we had no railroads in Stark county,, and the Ohio canal was a wonderful impro\'ement over the old Conestoga wagons and other primitive means of transportation _ utilized in the pioneer epoch.

The first priest in charge of the Canton congregation of the Catholic church was Rev. John A. Hill, who was a nephew of Lord FTill, of England, and a relative of Rev. Roland Hill, the famous Baptist clergyman of

England. He had been coniniander of a regiment in the battle of Waterloo and afterward had married. He and his wife were soon converted to the faith of the Catholic church and eventually became impressed with the idea that it was their duty to consecrate themselves to its service. They therefore separated by mutual consent, the wife entering a convent in Italy, while Mr. Hill prepared himself for the priesthood, the church canonically authorizing their separation and the dissolution of the marital bonds. After the completion of his theological education Father Hill came to America, where he served a few years as a Catholic missionary. He came to Canton about the time the first edifice of St. John's church was completed, in 1824. He assumed the pastorate of the parish, but lived only a few years, his death occurring September 3, 1828, and, in harmony with his own request, his remains were laid to rest near the church, on the south side. Before the old church building was taken down, in Seijtember, 1848, the mortal remains of Father Hill were exhumed and removed to St. Jo.seph's cemetery, about a mile south of Somerset, Perry county.

For several years after the death of Father Hill the clnnxh had brief pastoral incumbencies, and in 1831 Rev. John M. Henni became the priest in charge, remaining until 1834. During his pastorate, about 1833, this region was visited with a serious scourge of cholera, and about that time one of the bishops of the church visited the parish. While on his way home he was taken violently ill of this dread malady, while on the stage coach, and died soon afterward. Massillon suflfered from the ravages of the cholera to a somewhat greater extent than did Canton, but here also w'ere a number of sudden deaths, including that of Mr. Bernard, the first proprietor of the Stark County Democrat.

Father Henni became archbishop of the diocese of Milwaukee, VMsconsin, while still later Father Alemany was made archbishop of the diocese of San Francisco. For ten years after 1834 pastoral changes were frequent, but from the foregoing it will be seen that among the priests who served the parish in the early days were men of high ability and two who attained distinctive eminence in the church.

Tn 1844 about twenty-five families withdrew from St. John's and organized a German Catholic church, under the name of St. Peter's. They built their first house of worship on North Cleveland avenue, between their present church and the parochial school. Peter Meyers, one of the active members of the congregation, was the designer and builder of the first church, he having been one of the leading contractors and builders of the town at that time. Rev. Father Luhr was the first pastor to minister to the congregation of St. Peter's, and there were several other pastoral incumbents before the coming of the present popular and loved shepherd. Rev. Father V. Arnould, who has been in charge for nearly forty years. After the Germans had withdrawn from St. John's Rev. Father Doherty was pastor for a number of years, and he was succeeded by Father Lindesmith, who was very popular in the community and who Avas an active temperance worker. His successor was Father Bartolett, with whose work the writer is not familiar, but the present large and elegant church edifice was erected during his regime. The present priest in charge is Father P. J. McGuire, who has been here fully a quarter of a century, being a man of ability and one who commands uniform respect and esteem in the community.